This one was a struggle for me to get through. I ended up DNFing it because it could not keep my attention.

Lori Wilde paints a beautiful setting for The Summer That Shaped Us. Hobby Island is magical. Not only is it gorgeous, the ability to spend time dedicated to hobbies sounds heavenly.

Jeanie, Luna, and Artie are three generations of women who are given entry to the island without having to pay. Each is artistic and each is struggling in their life and relationships. Hobby Island provides the backdrop for them to heal and strengthen their relaltionships.

The invitation for them was also done to help oust who in the online community scammed Jeanie of her life savings, leaving the woman on the verge of losing the family home.

For someone seeking an escape, this title can provide it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the electronic advance reader copy to review. All opinions are my own.

A lot of common themes were recycled but the writing style did not hold my rapt attention. Thanks to Netgalley for a reviewer's copy. Good luck to the author!

Step into the enchanting world of Hobby Island, a magical retreat off the coast of South Texas. Each summer, one lucky winner receives a golden ticket to explore their creativity through crafts, art, yoga, and community—with the added chance of winning a $100,000 grand prize. The island, lovingly designed by Eloise Hobby, is more than a contest; it’s a haven for healing mind, body, and soul.

This summer, three generations—Jeanie, Luna, and Artie—are granted entry. Jeanie, a talented seamstress and quiltmaker; Luna, her daughter, a former muralist rediscovering her artistic spark; and Artie, the granddaughter experimenting with creative expression in many forms. Though they arrive chasing the prize, what they discover instead is far more valuable: love, trust, forgiveness, soul-deep bonds, and second chances at the lives they never thought possible.

Heartfelt, whimsical, and brimming with summer magic, The Summer That Shaped Us is a light yet touching read perfect for anyone who believes in the healing power of creativity and connection.

I did not end up finishing this book. I didn’t enjoy the secret keeping and the beginning of the book was kind of weird and seemed to fantasy like almost.

This one was about three women that had difficult lives and needed each other to get through things. This book was about a magically island that, if you were lucky, took care of you in ways that you can't imagine. These three women were family and they were on the outs with each other and they learned to love again, trust again, and grow with in themselves. It was an interesting read. Filled with grief and learning to heal again.

This was a very good book and I look forward to the next one. Then again I really like all of Lori Wilde books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage Publishing for the early read.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Hobby Island is a small, mystical island in the Gulf of Mexico in Texas. It is private island that has been built into a resort where artists come by invitation, to enter contests for their artwork. Jeanie feels special to have won a golden ticket to enter the contest for her quilting skills. She is allowed to bring two guests and brings her daughter, Luna, and granddaughter, Artemis. The three women have a strained relationship, so they are hoping this two month trip will help their relationship.

There is a lot of mistrust between them and the island will help them heal.

This book was a wonderful read. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

3 generations of women (family) coming to terms with who they are and who they want to be. Loved reading about the process, but it was a little heavy for me. I just couldn't connect with the characters or really care much about them.

"Take a chance on chance"

These women have truly been through it—three generations carrying trauma while trying to heal and reconnect during a competition.
The story had heartfelt moments and bits of humor, but I just couldn’t fully connect with the characters the way I hoped.

While this one wasn’t quite for me, I can absolutely see the themes of healing, rebuilding, and fighting through tragedy shine through for each of the women. It’s a story of resilience, even if it didn’t hit as hard for me personally.

Thank you to the publisher in that galley. This book followed three generation of women as they discover their selves in a new environment. I enjoyed the book and the three perspectives I just found it hard to get into in the beginning. I had not read the summary ahead of time and thought the book would be more about the competition than what it was. I also thought the book for follow more of the investigation into what was introduced at the beginning. I am joyed the characters and the romance as it unfolded. I just found the ending and parts to be rushed and I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

The Summer That Shaped Us was an okay read for me. The cover made me expect a romance, but it was more about family, community, and coming to terms with the past — with a touch of romance and even a hint of magic.

This is the first in the Hobby Island series, so there were a lot of characters introduced. I had trouble keeping track of some of the side characters, and I didn’t feel much of a connection with the main three — Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis.

The story reminded me a bit of Debbie Macomber’s women-centered fiction, but there was just a lot going on, and the pacing felt uneven at times. The writing didn’t fully work for me, though I can see others enjoying it.

I’m on the fence about continuing the series — curious about what happens, but not sure I’m invested enough to keep going.

This book is hard for me to review because there is so much going on in it and so much growth of the characters that it is almost impossible for me to pin down the words I want to use.
The basic story is about a grandmother, Jeanie, Mom Luna and her daughter Artemis. Luna and Artemis have moved back to the family home to live with her mom Jeanie. As with a lot of mother/daughter relationships, there are a lot of issues they don’t agree on but they are doing their best to get along. Jeanie is keeping a secret from Luna and it could cause problems for all of them. When Jeanie wins a summer at Hobby Island it seems to be a dream come true, but can she keep the secret from Luna and Artemis?
Luna has lost everything, her home, her job and with no other choice she and Artemis move in with Jeanie to start over. But can she unwind enough to enjoy the island especially when she discovers that her first love is there on the island?
There is more to Hobby Island than just crafting. The owner has found out that Jeanie has been scammed and is bound and determined to get to the bottom of it and correct the issue and she also wants to help the three generations of women to relax and become closer.
I really enjoyed the interactions of the characters and watching their day to day growth on the island was heartwarming to say the least. It’s not all sunshine and roses but what family is. I really enjoyed this book and know my review doesn’t do it justice.
Grab a copy and dive into the drama and the fun!

What a fun, whimsical story about second chances. Three generations of mothers and daughters, each struggling to find themselves and define their relationships, find important life lessons while summering on Hobby Island. Full of wonderfully quirky women and beautifully described locations, this book kept me reading long into the night. I can't wait for the next book in this magical series! Thanks #NetGalley #Avon

I wanted to read this because I love family dramas and enjoy the mother/daughter dynamic. While this book definitely has drama, that’s about all it offers.
The writing is so pedestrian and predictable. I figured out the ending by the third chapter and while I finished the book, there was nothing that hooked me to the point of caring. I was honestly shocked to discover this isn’t a debut novel because that’s how it reads.
I hated the majority of the characters and the growth that occurred happened so quickly it felt forced. While I appreciate the author’s wanting to incorporate some romance the bedroom scenes were just cringey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyage for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. The Summer That Shaped Us hit the shelves April 22.

Jeanie, Luna, and Artie go to Hobby island for a crafting party. Jeanie wants to win the big prize to save her family home. Their lives end up changed. ARC from NetGalley

A warm, nostalgic story about old friendships, second chances, and healing. It’s the perfect book for a cozy afternoon when you want something uplifting and heartfelt.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book fell short of it's potential and felt like it was missing something. The set up of the town was wonderful but the characters were seriously lacking.

This was a quick and cozy story set on an island near Padre Island. The island is a resort for crafters with no cell phones, cars or the usual distractions. In order to solve a mystery the owner has sent golden tickets for a summer stay that also involves a quilting contest. Among the winners is a three generation family of women who need the respite to overcome personal tragedy.

The island inhabitants are a bit eccentric which adds humor to the story. Told in different POVs we get an enjoyable summer read. I would recommend for a good beach read. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review.

I enjoyed this "feel good" novel revolving around Hobby Island, where you have to be invited in order to access the island, and it was a really quick read about Luna, Artie, and Jeanie and their journeys toward their relationships with not only each other, but themselves as well. I really enjoyed the story with the hobbies/crafting, relationships, and focus on truth, honesty, and values.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Lori Wilde for the opportunity to read this Arc.

This was a great fast read, that followed three generations of woman on Hobby Island which is near Padre Island, there is no internet, no wifi, This place gives you time to reflect on yourself, get to know other people, do arts and crafts, explore the island, building long lasting friendships maybe even a new romance. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit., to escape life and learn to live again. Two months on this Island a lot of things can happen. What are you missing from your life? Find it here? Maybe.

The woman that this story followed Jeanie, her daughter Luna and granddaughter Artie, got invited to Hobby Island to participate in a quilting contest. This was about them healing from issues in their lives, secrets get exposed, new friendships formed and possibly love. Is there a sequel???? Time will tell

Some tidbits I liked:
"Let go. Let life unfold naturally." he whispered. As if it was that simple. "We'll get you there," he said, reading her mind. "Step by step...if that's what you want." She searched for her voice. She liked that he said "we" as if he were already committed. "I... don't know what I want. My life is mess. In Flux." "That's okay." "I don't know who I am anymore," "You do know." He gently tapped two fingers at her chest right above her heart. "You've just forgotten."

"Ah, the sea and sky. They're like a blank canvas. waiting for you to paint your dreams." - Eloisa Hobby