A deliciously lovely story of lives transitioning into new beginnings. Told in the voices of sisters Eddie and Barrett, the changes in their lives are exciting but often scary. Their work is cut out for them to get to a place of assurance. They are dealing with a reclusive father, calming a nervous romance writer, and finding love that awaits them. A gem of a novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I just love a book set in Nantucket and this was no exception. In this book, Eddie is returning home to Nantucket after working and living a fast-paced life in NYC w0rking for an author. She needs a break and returns to Nantucket to visit family and support her sister in the opening of her new boutique. She is almost immediately reunited with her ex-boyfriend when she lands at the airport and feelings are still bubbling below the surface on both sides. This book is a quaint and predictable romance, with some added layers of family dynamics. The Nantucket scenery evokes summer through and through and makes this a great beach read.

I was so excited to have the opportunity to receive an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Summer We Started Over from NetGalley! I have devoured every Nancy Thayer book in the past, and this was no exception. I read this book on a flight from Miami to New York and the time flew by! I love that the author writes books about families, especially sisters, and their every day lives on Nantucket. I am anxiously awaiting the next book from Nancy Thayer!

Yet another quick fantastic summer Nantucket read from Nancy Thayer! I feel that these characters have more to say and I am hoping they get another chance to speak soon.

Only 4 stars because I finished it on a recent flight and I REALLY don't like to sniffle and cry in public.....

Nancy Thayer has another hit with her latest novel, The Summer We Started Over. Set in Nantucket, it is the perfect beach read. There is tragedy, overcoming adversity, and building friendships and relationships. It is easy for the reader to become invested in the characters and want the story to continue. I'm hoping for a sequel! Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

In The Summer We Started Over, bestselling storyteller Nancy Thayer transports readers with a moving story about family, courage, and the resiliency of young women.

The book is the perfect beach read. The narrative and the characters are believable and the book is easy to read.

I really enjoyed reading about Nantucket and Barrett’s store.

Pub Date 23 Apr 2024 by
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books

“The Summer We Started Over” by Nancy Thayer
One Family, One Summer
I found this to be an intense story while at the same time an easy, light read? I don’t know if that is the right way to describe my feelings. There were intense emotional times and issues. Yet there were some times where I just smiled and maybe even chuckled. It was an interesting story of the progression from a family where each member is dealing with their unhappiness and ever so slowly inch by inch they each forge new tomorrows. This is a worthy read. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion.

I read this on a beach vacation and could truly channel my time on Nantucket. The story had depth, characters you were rooting for, and did a wonderful job of describing the island. While there were some threads of loss, it was also a story of growth and hope.

Thank you for the ARC!

I am sharing an honest review for The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer, thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books. Sooooo disappointing, what happened with this one. I always look forward to her books, you can count on her to leave you with a smile on your face but this one didn’t even seem it was written by the author. I don’t like giving bad reviews so I’m not going to say more.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy of The Summer We Started Over. The cover is typical Nancy Thayer, bringing to mind the beautiful beach and happy thoughts but the book was not like hers at all. So disappointed, could not wait for it to end. Written for teenagers, it was not an adult book at all. What happened? Every chapter was more ridiculous than the next, I’m sorry to say but nothing like her past books which were addicting.

The Summer We Started Over tells the story of daughters Eddie and Barrett and father William as they each struggle to overcome the losses they've experienced. Three years after tragedy struck their family, will their move to Nantucket finally bring them healing and new beginnings? Another tale that won't disappoint fans of Nancy Thayer.

Wonderful writing. Felt like I was living in Nantucket. This will be a book that will be read on beaches everywhere. The storyline and character development kept me engaged and I wish the book had a sequel because I want to know what happens with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

The book’s cover and Nantucket setting initially intrigued me, but the story disappointed. Despite enjoying Thayer’s other works for their romantic vibe, this one felt amateurish. The plot lacked depth and excitement, mainly depicting mundane daily life without tension or chemistry between characters. Dialogue was superficial, and the love triangle subplot lacked complexity. Repetitive elements and slow character development further diminished the story’s impact, leaving me unsatisfied.

The characters felt disconnected, lacking depth and authenticity for their age. The author’s misunderstanding of this age group was evident, resulting in unrealistic and immature dialogue and interactions. Focusing on characters more relatable to the author’s perspective might have improved the story.

So overall, it was a quick read and somewhat interesting but definitely lacked depth.

Eddie Grant has worked as a PA for Dinah Lavender for two years. She has not had a vacation in two years. Her sister Barrett is opening a gift shop on Nantucket and needs her to come home.
Eddie's family moved to the island five years ago after her brother was killed in a motorcycle wreck. Her mother left the family a few years earlier. Her father William was a professor at a college and need to move away from the memoirs of the last few years.
Eddie lived on the island for 1 year before leaving to work for Dinah. Eddie dated Jeff while living there and still has feelings for him. The book tells of Eddie coming home spending time with her sister and father. She realizes she really loves living in the old farmhouse. Dinah comes to the island and moves in with the family. She is a romance writer and has made lots of money writing.
Nancy weaves a story of Eddie, Barrett and Dinah as the summer continues and their lives all change for the better.
Great women's book.

I feel like a bit of an outlier with this one but it just missed the mark for me. I've really enjoyed several other books of Nancy Thayer's but this one fell flat. I couldn't connect to either main character and found the flow to be disjointed and slow moving. I also just didn't find either romance to be super believable or engaging. The bright spot for me was Dinah - loved her as a character and would read an entire spinoff with more of her story!

As someone who spends summers on Nantucket, I loved this book. I love knowing the beaches, the streets, the hotels….all of it.
Aside frorm knowing the area, I was sucked into this story from the first page. The way the sorrow wraps around this family and then changes into growth and starting over was healing and beautiful to read.
This is my first Nancy Thayer book, but not my last!

If you have read a book by Nancy Thayer, you know what to expect, and what you expect is exactly what you get with this sweet romance set in Nantucket. You'll be transported to the island where there are life problems, but they are all solvable in some way. You may finish the book with a craving to see or experience something blue. It's a perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's always a pleasure to visit Nantucket!

A quick, easy beach read. A story of finding oneself, love, forgiveness, and new beginnings. A wonderful book for the summer!

Make room in your beach bag! I so look forward to escaping to beautiful Nantucket each year courtesy of another tale by Nancy Thayer. And I loved The Summer We Started Over, which from my vantage point is among her best. Thayer has managed to weave a story as colorful and vibrant as the famed Nantucket hydrangeas, with engaging, interesting characters, a focus on family, friendship and romance, and a strong and soothing sense of place. Bonus points to Thayer for the flamboyant romance novelist Dinah Lavender, the used bookstore/barn and a shop called Nantucket Blues, whose shelves and racks I would so like to browse!

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Eddie is a personal assistant to a famous author in New York City. She decides to take a long overdue vacation to return home to Nantucket to help her sister open her new store and help her father clean out his book collection. Eddie’s return to the Island stirs up old feelings for her former boyfriend, Jeff, as well as family memories that are difficult to face. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This title from Ballantine Books will be released on 4/23/24. Special thanks to Net Galley and Ballentine for the Advance Reader Copy of this book! #ballentinebooks #netgalleyarc #nancythayerbooks