Hobby Island is a private retreat for crafters. Eloisa Hobby, who owns the retreat,believes if you can lose yourself in perfecting your hobby, you will prepare yourself for life’s challenges. Jeanie, who has foolishly lost her money to a romantic scam, wins a golden ticket to the retreat for an expense paid summer, and a chance to win a lot of prize money making if her quilting wins first place. She brings her daughter, Luna,whose recently deceased husband, has gambled away their savings. Artie, her granddaughter, a rebellious teenager, reluctantly agrees to join them. And thus their story begins.
The premise for this story had potential, but the writing seemed flat and predictable. I forced myself to finish it, so I could write a fair review.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC :)

3 stars leaning towards 2.5.

I loved the description of Hobby Island a lot and that for me was the best and most well done part of this book.

The author skimmed the surface on a lot of aspects like magical realism and I wish authors would stop inserting so much unnecessary dramatics when it does not add anything.

I enjoyed reading this story. At the very beginning, I was a little confused since there are so many characters, but the more I read, I was able to figure all the characters out. I absolutely love the description of Hobby Island! It sounds like a beautiful place that everyone should visit. I also enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. This island is just the place that Jeanie, Luna, and Artie needed.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this ARC.
#thesummerthatshapedus
#netgalley

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde is an emotional story about three generations of women reconnecting on a charming Gulf island. With themes of healing, family bonds, and self-discovery, the novel delivers heartfelt moments, though some twists feel expected. I will say, I would love to visit Hobby Island myself!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyage and Netgalley for the Adanced E-ARC of this title.

I think this book had really good bones, but missed on the execution. There is a lot going on, but yet big plot points are forgotten or resolved in a mere chapter.
I liked the element of mystery in the book and that is really what captured my attention to finish it.
I just don't think this book was for me.
I won't post review to Goodreads or Amazon to not affect author or book ratings ahead of release.

Thank you!

Hobby Island is a beautiful place to spend time. Luna has moved back to her mother's house with her teenage daughter. Lunas husband was killed while working in the ER and she finds out there is no money, and she has to sell everything. Jeanie is keeping secrets from her daughter and struggling to keep ownership of the family home.
Eloisa Hobby owns the island, and she invites special guest to spend the summer for arts and crafts with a grand prize winner each year. This year she has invited Jeanie along with her daughter and granddaughter.
Upon arriving Luna finds that her teenage boyfriend lives and works on the island and she hasn't seen him in years.
This is a wonderful story of letting go and learning to trust and live again.

This book follows Jeanie, who is invited to Hobby Island for a quilting competition, her daughter Luna, and her granddaughter Artemis. I really liked the premise of each woman being on their own individual journey of self discovery and healing while also being on a journey together, strengthening their bonds.

This book had great potential, but in my opinion, it fell slightly short. The underlying sense of magical realism could have been explored more which would have kept me more engaged and interested throughout the book. Additionally, I found several unnecessary conflicts and dramatic events among characters that felt random and unrelated to the main storyline. I would rate this a 2.5, it just wasn’t for me, but am rounding up to 3.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

⭐️ 2/5
Third person POV, multiple narratives

I thought this story had an interesting premise, but the execution fell flat. The characters lacked depth, and the pacing felt uneven, making it hard to stay engaged. It was almost as if multiple authors or AI wrote the book. It just wasn’t polished and seemed rather choppy. While the small-town setting was charming, the emotional impact didn’t quite land. It had potential, but overall, it was just okay.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me this ARC of the book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

It seems that Hobby Island is more than a getaway for hobbyists. With its beautiful scenery, fragrant flowers and wonderful weather it could almost be paradise, at least for crafters that is.
This book focuses on and family consisting of Jeannie (Grandmother), Luna (Mother) and Artemis (daughter) who through a series of setbacks have been chosen to receive a golden ticket for a two month stay on the island with an opportunity to win $100,000 as grand prize money for the best finished item in a hobby category.
Sound fanciful? Yes, but it is also an island where friendships are made, where the future is not dictated by your past and where love shines through. The author has written a wonderful book of hardships, heartache and treachery. But also of how a fractured family can finally heal.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collin’s Publisher for the Arc. This review is my honest opinion.

The Summer That Shaped Us is a sweet story of 3 generations of women. Jeanie, her daughter, Luna and granddaughter, Artemis, travel to Hobby Island to spend the summer crafting. All three have secrets they’d rather not share, but as they form new relationships on the island they learn about themselves and each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This my review for this book.

I wanted to like it. It is so hard to follow with missing plots I do like the aspect of a free island getaway. I loved the island and the people on the island. The book jumps around alot and I didn't care for it.

Jeanie wins a coveted golden ticket to Hobby Island, and takes her daughter, Luna, and granddaughter, Artemis with her. All three are dealing with major life issues and could use some relaxation and healing. Jeanie hopes to win the grand prize in the quilting competition, but things don’t go as planned. Although most of the residents, employees, and guests on the island are friendly and helpful, there are a couple of individuals with agendas of their own who will stop at nothing to get what they want, regardless of how it might affect others.

A story about grief, loss, healing, trust, forgiveness, personal growth, second chances, new beginnings, and more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was not for me, it was very hard to read and keep my attention on I constantly found myself looking at the clock and the page numbers annoyed that the book just seemed to be dragging along and not enjoyable to read at all.

There didn’t seem to be much of a plot at all or maybe I just missed it, the writing was bad to the point it was painful and the characters had little to no personality and where quite dislikable from the beginning.

I really tried to give this book a chance but I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc

"The Summer That Shaped Us" by Lori Wilde is a heartfelt story about three generations of women—Jeanie, her daughter Luna, and granddaughter Artemis—who come together on Hobby Island, a secluded getaway for creative souls. Each of them is struggling with personal challenges, but as they spend time on the island, they begin to heal, reconnect, and discover new paths forward.

Wilde does a beautiful job of bringing the island to life, making it feel like a magical place full of second chances. The relationships between the characters are rich and emotional, showing the ups and downs of family bonds. The story is full of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery, making it a deeply touching read.

While some moments in the book might feel a bit unrealistic, the overall message is uplifting and inspiring. It’s a wonderful novel for anyone who enjoys stories about family, personal growth, and the power of new beginnings.

Lori Wilde’s “The Summer That Shaped Us” is a book with several genres represented. It contains a little romance, mystery, women’s fiction, and it flirts with aspects of fantasy novels.

Luna and her daughter, Artemis, have been living in Julep, Texas for over a year with Luna’s mother, Jeanie. They’ve been dealing with the aftermath of losing Luna’s husband and Artemis’s father in a tragic way. Jeanie and Luna also have a complicated history that they have never fully dealt with or healed their relationship.

Jeanie is a quilter who is a member of online crafting forums run by Eloisa Hobby, a billionaire heiress. She also owns and runs Hobby Island, a private resort for crafters. A select few receive a coveted golden ticket, which invites them and their family members to the island for a couple months, all expenses paid.

Jeanie receives one of the golden tickets and arrives on the island with Luna and Artemis. Both Luna and Artemis are enchanted by how magical Hobby Island is when they arrive, but both are initially skeptical of Eloisa and others who are on the island.

As the summer unfolds, Luna, Artemis, and Jeanie work on their relationships with each other, themselves, and those around them. They learn lessons around trust, forgiveness, and hope.

The chapters tended to go between different narrators, which worked for this book. There were parts of the book where I found the dialogue was a bit uneven and unrealistic, but overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

What a heartfelt, solid 3 star read!

This story is a beautiful exploration of forgiveness, family, friendship, and personal growth.
I loved how the narrative unfolded from multiple points of view, which really brought the world of Hobby Island to life. It was especially powerful to experience the different journeys of the three Montgomery women—Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis. Each faced their own challenges and showed incredible resilience, and it was inspiring to watch them evolve over the course of the story. The grace they demonstrated is something we can all learn from.

What I really appreciated was the opportunity to hear from all three generations—grandmother, mother, and daughter. The distinct voices of each character perfectly captured the essence of their era, creating a sense of depth and reliability.

This book is a delightful mix of love, mystery, whimsy, and just the right touch of magic. It hooked me from the start, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent in this world. I wish I could move to Hobby Island! Lori Wilde did an amazing job painting a beautiful picture of the island with all of its flowers, jacaranda trees, and cobblestone paths.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a heartfelt story with some quirky characters and complex themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #TheSummerThatShapedUs #NetGalley

A heartwarming tale of friendship, second chance romance, forgiveness, and self-discovery. In The Summer That Shaped Us, you'll follow three generations of the Boudreaux family as they embark on a summer stay unlike any other on the idyllic Hobby Island. You'll meet naive and people-pleasing Jeanie, who has been accepted to participate in a quilting competition; her daughter, Luna, who keeps everyone at arm's length; and finally, Artemis, the edgy teenager who feels way too cool to be stuck on an island without cell service with a bunch of crafty old ladies.

This book would be a good fit for someone who is looking for a low-stakes summer/beach read, who is interested in exploring complex family dynamics that include betrayal and forgiveness, and/or who enjoys a charming second-chance romance. I personally found myself the most invested in Luna's development and second-chance romance with her old high school flame, casually named Paul Chance. While the romance kept me fed, I found myself underwhelmed and unimpressed by Jeanie's story, despite all the growth that her character made. So many alarming choices were made in her life that it was hard to feel the pity I think the reader was meant to feel. Artemis's story was enjoyable, though the portrayal of a teenage mind was inconsistent. At times, she felt entirely believable, as if the author were channeling her own 21st-century granddaughter, and other times, Artemis threw out some strangely outdated language that pulled away from her story.

Overall, I found the book enjoyable and pleasant enough. Reading it in the summer would probably add the right atmosphere to make it more of a page turner than I found it to be during a snowstorm in February.

Paul Chance is the real hero of this story. We need more men like Paul Chance.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts I've shared here are my own.

This book isn't for everyone because there were some serious plot holes and other issues that cause me to not really think the story was believable. Overall an interesting book if the plot holes could be fixed.

Thank you Netgalley and author/publisher for the ARC!

This is a bit of a whimsical story but it draws on emotions that are very real and deals with them in a unique way. It’s a horrible feeling to be swindled out of your life savings and have that event become pivotal in how you address issues of trust and forgiveness among those you love. Luckily there’s this lovely island off the coast of Texas where magic can still happen and people help you along your journey back to sanity! This was an easy read for me, and I thank NetGalley for the chance to read it before it is published and offer my honest review.

I loved everything about Hobby Island! Eloisa has created a wonderful environment for all things crafting and hobby. Luna, Artemis and Jeanie could all use a little healing and a little luck. Their time on the island does not disappoint. I truly loved this book and cannot wait to get back to the island!