This story reminded me so much of Succession! I absolutely LOVED the sibling banter. It was so quick witted and fun. I thought the Jack storyline was a little cheesy, but overall enjoyed this read! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another good quick read from one of my favorites. Highly recommend this book. Another winner for sure.

Gawd, I wish this was a series! I would read about all the Storms and their family drama forever. This was so much fun and is going to be SUCH a perfect summer read! This might just top Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, which has still remained my favorite MacLean novel over the years. But now that she’s writing contemporary, all bets are off!

ETA: Sorry, those were my thoughts immediately having finished the book at midnight last night, after being sick for a week and not feeling like reading anything, and I was a little excited.

The thing is, though, this book was really good. Like, if I'd never read a book by this author before, and this had been my first foray into her novels, I would believe that everything she's written before this must be pure gold. (Not to say that all her books aren't, in their own way.)

But this story was the perfect blend of summer, romance, drama, and weird (read: rich people) family dynamics. I always imagine that the wealthy live so far removed from the rest of us, and to some extent, they do. But they still have their own set of issues to contend with. Mo' money, mo' problems, am I right?

If I were to compare this novel to others, I'd have to say it's like if Sugar Daddy and The Inheritance Games had a baby. It's part ridiculous patriarch still playing his silly games from the grave, part affluent family at each other's throats, and part sweet-if-possibly-misguided romance. I think in one of my last updates before I fell ill, I likened it to Knives Out but without the murder aspect...though, I wouldn't put it past some of those family members. (I'm looking at you, Sila. o_O)

I do wish this were going to be a series, even if each book featured a different family member. I just want to see how everyone's doing down the road. If that family chat group holds up the test of time. If the Storms did indeed weather the storm in the end. (Har dee har har.)

I am a big fan of Sarah Maclean’s historical romance novels and she did not disappoint in bringing the conflict and the longing and the craft to her initiation into contemporary.
The main character, Alice, third child and black sheep, returns to her family’s private island to take her part in the deliciously toxic inheritance games required by her late billionaire father for her siblings and mother to inherit “their share.” Although this story centers around the seemingly trauma bonded siblings and how they simultaneously navigate camaraderie and old sibling rivalry wounds, the main character, Alice, unknowingly has a one night stand with her father’s second in command and now manager of said inheritance games. Chaos and drunk fueled pettiness ensues. A never ending thread of secrets are revealed. And while the main story here is about how Alice can move forward with a family that wrote her off years before, it’s also an incredibly romantic story of should be enemies. These Summer Storms was a hurricane grade 5 and I loved every single sentence of it.

Errors I noticed in my copy:

Page 21 - “That’s she hadn’t realizeD she missed . . .” The “d” was missing from the word realize.

Page 214 - “ago” is duplicated

Page 253 - “realized” should be “realize”

Page 306 - Jack takes off his sunglasses and says wave to Larry and then several paragraphs later, removes his sunglasses again to look at her.

Sarah’s writing is so beautiful and I loved the constant storm theme throughout this book. The battle between siblings and family secrets were so juicy, not to mention the chemistry between Alice and Jack - which was off the charts. The RI Island setting made it all the more fun to read and was I was completely transported into the story. I could picture everything the author described as though I was there, which is a testament to her writing. This was a fun one and a beautiful statement on the importance of family and being true to yourself.

Captivating and vividly summertime.

Classic coastal New England, sunglasses, sailboats, and giant awkward family gatherings full of drama. Gin and tonics, heirloom desks in opulent home offices, and skeletons rudely falling out of closets in front of company. ‘These Summer Storms’ is full of dysfunctional family dynamics amid glamourous first world chaos. Every character is duplicitous. Each has secrets they keep from others and lies they tell themselves, and they all communicate in a hilarious shorthand only families with a lifetime of exclusive shared experiences can develop. Mix the privilege-induced world views of billionaires and their offspring with the threat of the loss of their inheritance, and the author gives us an astutely satirical commentary on loyalty, self awareness, and how the 1% of the 1% handle inconvenient situations from the convenience of their private islands.

I can’t wait to read this again from my beach chair in July so I can match this book's vibes.

I am a huge Sarah MacLean fan so I was very intrigued and excited that she wrote These Summer Storms. It's a departure from what she usually writes so I was curious.

I am ecstatic to report that I loved this! I devoured it in one go. The plot was exciting and had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. Plus a messy and complicated family dynamic add a lot of juicy drama. The characters are entertaining and kept me engaged. I was also pleasantly surprised by the romance here.

While reading this I got vibes of The Perfect Couple tv show from Netflix. It's an ultra-wealthy world, lush landscape of Rhode Island, and plenty of drama. I was definitely glued to this.

Would highly recommend!

In "These Summer Storms," Sarah Maclean masterfully explores the complexities of familial struggles following the loss of a patriarch. The novel delves into the lives of the surviving family members, each grappling with their grief and the emotional chasm left behind. Maclean's poignant storytelling captures the rawness of their pain while highlighting their individual journeys toward reconnection. Through moments of tension and vulnerability, the characters learn to navigate their relationships, discovering strength in vulnerability. The evocative prose beautifully conveys the bittersweet nature of healing, making this a compelling read about love, loss, and the enduring bonds of family..

I've been a Sarah MacLean superfan for close to a decade, so I was very excited when I heard about this book. Overall, I thought it was a great read with a lot of interesting (if not particularly likeable) characters. The family drama is the main focus of the book, with a side of romance. Alice and Jack's scenes were my favorite, and I wanted more. That said, the romance felt a little misplaced for a contemporary book because their feelings went 0-100 very quickly (I'm more used to seeing this in historical romance and romantasy). That's not necessarily a complaint because I get it (Jack is HOT).

I know this was a contemporary, but I pictured them in 1950s clothes a lot, especially Jack, Elisabeth, Tony, and Greta. It was probably because of a combination of the New England setting, the wealth factor, the old house, and the train/boat travel (ignoring the helicopter). I enjoyed how the little mysteries and family secrets unfolded throughout the book, although I did think the slow march toward the reveals was confusing/frustrating sometimes. Also, the writing had a lot of parentheticals, em dashes, and sections of dialogue without tags or action beats, which interrupted the flow for me.

I wanted more resolution at the end. Maybe a jump forward in time so we could find out how everyone is doing. I'd be especially interested in Sam, not because I liked his character, but because I liked where his character might be going.

Takeaway: This is a fantastic book that readers will love. I don't know if I was the target reader because I wanted less family drama and more romance. But for readers who love a good family drama, this book is perfect!

This is NOT a pure romance, the family relationship is the primary focus. I really enjoyed it but the family dynamics were very intense so I had to pause every once in a while to take a step back. Great writing as always with witty banter and a fabulous story. The twists improve the story; it was a really good read but maybe a few the trigger warnings should be at the beginning for people who have similar family dynamics.

I love family dramas. but I wasn't familiar with this author. This one had me hooked from the first page.

I know I am going to come back on here to NetGalley and revise this with a more nuanced review soon, BUT I just finished These Summer Storms and I couldn't wait to give my immediate impression.

This book hooked me from the first page and never let up. I stayed up much of the night and this morning to finish it, even though I had lots of things I SHOULD be doing instead. Sarah MacLean has always been an engaging romance writer, and she really knows how to keep story tension flowing, but I wasn't sure what to expect from her first non-romance novel (there is romance, but it is the B plot). She knocked it out of the park.

So many themes and thoughts fly across these pages: wealth vs. happiness, parental love vs. manipulation, sibling rivalry vs. sibling solidarity. So much to think about, all wrapped up in a story that keeps twisting and turning to the final chapters. So, so good!

I loved this book. I'm a mood reader and this book made me want to seek out more books like this! I really liked the mix of a romantic elements mixed with the with the tension and suspense of all of the family secrets coming out.

This was my first read from this author and let me just say, it was quick to capture my attention! I loved the storyline, I loved Alice and Jack. It was great!

Succession if Logan Roy secretly loved his children and made them battle it out for their inheritance on their private Newport, RI island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending me this book!

These Summer Storms is the story of a family with quite the complex dynamic and drama. When their father and husband unexpectedly dies, this family is brought back together on the private island off the coast of Rhode Island. The reason the family is back together is to collect on their inheritance, but that requires playing the game left for them. This isn't a fun familr game, rather it is a game where everyone is out for themselves and will stop at nothing including lies, deceit and betrayal. While this game pushes them to their limits, it forces their hands. They must be honest with themselves and each other addressing traumas from their pasts. They also must figure out how they will function as a family unit going forward. This definitely falls into the romantic drama genre and gives you glimpses into the life of the "rich and famous", and the lengths they will go to keep secrets or unearth others to get what they want. The characters are complex and definitely give off the "love to hate" vibes at time, similar to how you may feel about characters in shows such as Yellowstone. They all have their demons and downfalls, but also have qualities that redeem them as the story continues.

If you love family dramas set among the privileged upper crusts of society, then you're going to dive into These Summer Storms and never want to resurface. This was full of secrets, scandal, luxurious islands, sibling rivalry, and inheritance games a'plenty!

Franklin Storm, the patriarch of the Storm family, and a billionaire tech genius to boot, was a force to all who knew him. Especially to his children. When he dies suddenly and unexpectedly, the whole family, including Alice, who has been estranged from them all for the last five years, are expected to appear on their private island off the coast of Rhode Island for a week. As it happens, they're not just there to attend the funeral, pay their respects and leave, but to participate in an inheritance game where, even in death, their father is still manipulating and pulling all the strings.

There to make sure the game runs smoothly is Jack Dean, Franklin's "fixer." His second in command at the company. However, as is the case with any dysfunctional family, the ripples of chaos are already there waiting for them. Lying under the surface. Finally ready to break through the tide and unveil all the dirty secrets. But while there's anger, betrayal, and grief pulling them under, there might be a chance of healing, too.

I'm excited for other readers to get their hands on this. It's a big divergence from MacLean's usual content, but I loved the contemporary setting and the lens-like focus on complicated familial relationships. There was a Succession-like sensibility to this, with all the siblings/children vying for their parents' love, estimation, and respect that made it both a suspenseful and an emotional read. Romance between Alice and Jack played a part, but it didn't overwhelm the plot. Only enhanced and complemented it, which I liked. In fact, if anything, I think this was more about the Storm family and the Storm children trying to work out who they were, and who they could be, when no longer pressed beneath their father's thumb.

Easily bingeable! The patriarch's presence looms large, like a storm converging on the beach's horizon line. A perfect choice for those who love books about grief, love, life choices, and messy families.

These Summer Storms, by Sarah MacLean, is a definite departure from her usual historical romance novels—but I certainly hope it is the beginning of many contemporary novels to come!!! I couldn't nit turn my digital pages fast enough!!! A very messy billionaire family spends the summer together on their ultra-luxe Rhode Island estate and, of course, all hell breaks loose. The Storm family is a storm unto themselves, and I am so here for it! Drama, betrayal, secrets, romance, love, hate, jealousy, resentment. These Summer Storms has it all! Download asap and dive in!! Highly recommend!!!!!

More Women's Fiction than Romance.

The incomparable Regency Romance Writer of "Helle's Belles" and Bareknuckle Bastards" ventures into contemporary fiction with this novel. Here it's less of a story of two main characters, Alice and Jack. And more of a story of families and the secrets they keep.

What was missing for me? Physical description of Alice (only physical characteristic is her height and her tushy). Usually, the author provides a more physical facial description of her main character. Jack is more even handed with his forearms, height and shoulders. Also, wish there was more interaction between Sam and Elizabeth, especially if he is her favorite.

Tone is less HEA, more of a drama filled read. The puppeteer a.k.a. family patriarch manages to control beyond the grave. Didn't feel closure at the end but unsure if this was done purposefully or not.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


#TheseSummerStorms #NetGalley

The thing is, Sarah MacLean has now proven that she can write anything, and as someone who's been a longtime fan of her historical romances, These Summer Storms was a glorious trip into a deliciously dark and dazzling contemporary world. A page-turner from beginning to end. This is the kind of book I NEED on my screen every Sunday night, like Succession or The White Lotus. It's made to be on the screen. Romantic, wild, hilarious, sharp, cutting, and so so good!