What a wonderful story about a modern day family. Blythe Benedict is a forty-something divorced mom of four spending her summer with her children on Nantucket . She loves Nantucket and is happy that her children get to summer as she did when she spent summers there with her grandmother. Her ex-husband is in a newish relationship with Teri and Blythe is happy for him. Blythe has a great and loving relationship with her ex-mother-in-law, Celeste, who lives close by on the Island, and a slightly complicated relationship with her ex-sister-in-law. But nothing is as surprising as running into her high-school boyfriend and first love, Aaden, who moved to Ireland after graduating high school and then meeting Nick, a handsome widower who lives in Boston. This story intertwines Nantucket, Blythe's budding romances, a secret she knows about Teri and Celeste's health issues, alongside teenage angst and love. It is the perfect beach read and is my third Nancy Thayer book. Thanks to NetGalley, Nancy Thayer and Random House for the opportunity to read this book, which I think will be one of the great beach reads of 2025.

After several serious literary novels or near-future dystopian stories, it is a simple delight to pick up this year's summer beach read by Nancy Thayer and climb on the Nantucket Ferry. In the past, my reviews of Thayer's books have criticized her repetitious descriptions of clothes, restaurants, food and multiple ponytails and messy buns. This book has many fewer of those mentions and it is an improvement. I was 88 % into the book before a man appeared in board shorts. Thanks, Nancy.

Summer Light is about Blythe, a 45-year-old divorced mother of four., who faces a summer of decisions. Should she resume a relationship with her first high school love? Should she pursue a new relationship with an attractive widower? Should she tell her ex-husband a secret about his current girlfriend and tell his current girlfriend her husband's secret? Should she take that full-time teaching job in Boston in the fall? These and other challenges are charmingly addressed, interspersed with yummy picnics on the beach, dinners at the Club and those tempting descriptions of sun and sand and scenery on magic Nantucket. If you enjoy escape in lovely surroundings without major tragedies, (or tariffs, or politics or plunging stock markets), this latest Nancy Thayer novel is for you.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for this fun read of the ARC copy.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Nancy Thayer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s start with the things I liked…

This book is about a divorced mom in her 40s. The FMC, Blythe, (semi-reluctantly) is finally open to a potential relationship.

Lots of family drama. Some of it interesting, some of it frustrating and left unresolved. Seriously, what was Kate’s issue?!

I liked learning about her 4 kids and how they were all different but had good sibling relationships. Each kid was going through their own journey over the summer as a side storyline.

Overall, I was interested and it was a quick read.

Things that didn’t work for me…Blythe and Aaden sounded very formal and like they were from another century. Maybe it was internal bias as their wealth became clear but I was reading it as old English “swoon. oh how shocking, I just cannot imagine leaving my children”. I didn’t notice this until like 40% in but then it lasted the rest of the book.

The frequent mention and focus on the looks of children was excessive and felt very dated.

Freaking out about going out of the country - away from her kids despite them having a capable parent with them was frustrating. Moms have enough guilt. Let this woman live! It’s one thing if she didn’t want to but you’re made to think she wants to but just cannot survive being away from her kids.

The L bomb was dropped pretty liberally in my opinion - not necessarily a bad thing but just didn’t feel genuine.

How does Blythe afford literally anything. She occasionally substitute teaches and then gets child support but she’s paying for private chefs and for tennis/sailing lessons for not just her kids but an extra kid. Plus has a small home and a coastal vacation home to maintain.

Blythe, a divorced mother of four and a middle school teacher, has been divorced for three years and is content with her life. Each summer, she and her children go to Nantucket to live in the house her grandmother left her. Although Blythe loved her ex-husband, she never quite got over her first high school crush, Aeden, who left right after they graduated. He went to college in Ireland and joined his family’s business there after graduation. Blythe never saw him or heard from him again—until that summer in Nantucket, when old memories and feelings resurfaced for both of them.
This summer proves to be filled with family drama. Three of her children are teenagers, and the oldest has invited her boyfriend, adding another layer of teenage conflict. Celeste, Blythe’s former mother-in-law, grandmother to her children, and a dear friend, is experiencing some serious health issues. An island friend introduces Blythe to Nick, a handsome widower who is also a teacher. The friendship that forms between Blythe and Nick creates further confusion regarding her renewed feelings for Aeden. Amidst the family drama, Blythe’s conflicted emotions for Aeden and Nick, she finds herself entangled in a serious situation between her ex-husband and his girlfriend, all stemming from a secret Blythe knows. You learn that each child has their own personalty and you can relate as a mother. bonus mom or just a person observing. You see the opportunity to live the past again and the decisions you make where they lead you. When gifted an opportunity for a past love or the unknown love in the future the choice determines the course of your life. Summer LIght on Nantucket will be published by Ballantine Books on April 22,2025. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

Blythe and her children love spending their summers in Nantucket. This particular summer brings lots of changes to the entire extended family. I enjoyed the sweet story of romance and love for one’s family!

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer is the newest of the summer reads about Nantucket. I love her books! I always feel like I am lying on a beach in the sun while I am reading! There is nothing like reading about love and romance in Nantucket during the summer with the sun and ocean all around you.

Blythe Benedict has four children, divorced and living in Boston, except in the summer she and her children move to Nantucket and live at her grandmother’s house. The summer is time for the kids to be out and about the island and she will have time for other things. She has been offered a job for the fall teaching Middle School English. Her children still need her, even though they are mostly teens. Little does she expect to run into her boyfriend from High School and then she meets him. Meanwhile teenage drama with love and friends and choices cause mischief. Her mother-in-law (she kept her in the divorce) seems more frail.

I felt Blythe had a lot going on, although I did wonder how she could possibly afford to live on Nantucket for the summer with all the country club fees and activities her children were in. I decided to go with the flow of the book and not worry, since she wasn’t worried. Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer was a great read with just enough drama to make it interesting.

This is great family drama, perfect beach read this summer! I was invested in each character and definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my review. I absolutely loved this story. Blythe is divorced and raising her 4 children. During the Summer , they stay in Nantucket at her home the whole Summer. Nantucket holds so many memories for her and her family. Her ex mother in law still lives there and they have remained very close even after the divorce. There is aloe going on in this book from teenage love, parenting issues, second chance at romance and oh so much more. I love that Nancy Thayer makes you feel like you are right there. I do recommend this great beach read.

Nancy Thayer brings us back to Nantucket for another feel good summer read revolving around a divorced 40ish Mom and her four kids. There’s lots going on with the whole family including her ex and his new love interest, her ex mother-in-law, and new and old “friends”. This was not a boring story to say the least. We are also reminded of the idyllic island life of Nantucket in the summer. Maybe some day I’ll visit. Until then, I can always count on a good Nancy Thayer novel!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
1 like

Nantucket setting, past and new loves, and the love of family and friends make the summer in Nancy Thayer's latest novel, Summer Light on Nantucket, a captivating read. Wondering what love interests would pan out kept me reading until the end. Thayer can always be counted on for a good summer read, and this one did not disappoint.
I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Summer Lights on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer is a sun-drenched, emotionally engaging family drama perfect for fans of heartfelt women’s fiction. Blythe, a divorced mother of four, returns to her grandmother’s Nantucket home for the summer, only to confront old flames, new romance, and tangled family secrets.
Thayer’s signature charm shines through in this story, blending second-chance romance, complex family dynamics, and the idyllic coastal setting of Nantucket. The characters feel real and relatable, and the pacing kept me turning pages. If you love beach reads with depth, small-town romance, and multi-generational storytelling, this is a must-read!

This book was exactly what I expect a Nancy Thayer novel to be. First off, you have Nantucket as the gorgeous background of this novel. It is truly a destination that I traveled to purely because of how many books I've read set there. Anyways, our main character Blythe has been divorced for a few years, her kids are getting older and don't need her as much and she is wanting to entertain the idea of dating again. She is reconnected with her high school boyfriend at the same time that she is introduced to a new man by a mutual friend. I enjoyed her large family and the way her family floated in and out of each others' houses. Also, Celeste - talk about the best mother-in-law!

I’ve read many books by Nancy Thayer. Summer Light on Nantucket is all the things you’ve come to expect from one of her books. It has romance, the beach and family drama. This is a perfect light read for your beach vacation or anytime of year. I received this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

So good!

I really enjoyed this perfect summer novel. Nantucket is a magical place, and the author captured its beauty so well. I also loved the author's use of alliteration (can't quote it because this review is pre-publication), but you'll see it when you read.

Blythe is a good Mom to her 4 children. She's a good ex-wife to her ex-husband, happy that he has found a new love that even the children like. She's a great friend to her ex-mother-in-law. What she's not is as good to herself, having not giving herself permission to be in a loving relationship despite it being 4 years post divorce. This summer she will experience old and new relationships and have to make a choice.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Nancy Thayer never disappoints, though I’m pleased to see her last couple of books harken back to her earlier works some 25 years ago when she explored family dynamics in depth and drew her characters w many layers. In essence this book took the time to allow us to really get to know the characters. When Blythe Benedict makes her annual trip to Nantucket for the summer, her life in Boston had changed. Newly divorced, at loose ends career wise, she has decisions to make. She decamps to the island and will face a beloved mother in law whose health is failing, an old HS boyfriend who complicates her life, and another man who is interested in her. She’ll need to dig deep to decide what the next stage of her life will hold. Recommended for all public libraries.

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer is a wonderful family-oriented story in the summer at Nantucket. We meet Blythe Benedict, who is a divorce mother of four children: Miranda is the oldest at 17, Daphne is 15, Teddy is 13 and Holly is 11. Blythe is content living in Boston, raising her four wonderful children, planning on returning to middle school to teach; and looking forward to spend their annual summer each year at Nantucket. Blythe inherited their Nantucket home, and the family looks forward to spend time seeing family and friends.
Blythe must deal with Miranda’s angst, wanting her boyfriend, Brooks, to go on vacation with them. She is very close to Celeste, who is her ex-mother-in-law; and she has a good relationship with her ex and his girlfriend, as they all get along, especially with the kids sharing time between homes.
Blythe’s best friend, Sandy, introduces her to a handsome and charming man, Nick, whom she becomes attracted to. While at the restaurant, to her shock, she sees her former high school sweetheart, Aaden, who moved to Ireland, with many years having pasted. Blythe finds herself trying to deal with two men who are determined to win her over. The romance becomes complicated, especially with someone new, who enters the picture; and Aaden pressuring her to visit Ireland. Who will Blythe choose: Nick or Aaden?

Things fluctuate between Aaden and Nick; her ex-mother-in-law getting sick, lots of issues with her children; and a secret that her ex was hiding from his girlfriend. Blythe also has to deal with her 4 children, as they are reaching teenage years, and more difficult.
Summer Light on Nantucket was a wonderful, sweet, family oriented, love, children and a terrific summer at Nantucket. I really enjoyed this story. Summer Light on Nantucket was very well written by Nancy Thayer.

Summer Light on Nantucket is everything you'd expect from a Nancy Thayer novel! Her latest, debuting April 22, centers around Blythe, who is a divorced mother of four children. Years ago, her grandmother left her the family house on Nantucket, so every summer, Blythe and her kids pack the car and head for the Island. Blythe's ex-husband, Bob, is seeing a younger woman, Teri, who the children enjoy being with. Bob's mother, Celeste, also owns a house on Nantucket, so the children can visit with her all summer, too.

The story begins at the end of the school year. Blythe has been serving as a substitute teacher to supplement her income, and has been offered a full-time teaching position for the Fall. When they arrive on Island, they meet for dinner with Blythe's ex-mother-in-law for dinner at the Yacht Club. There, Blythe meets a new man, Nick, who is staying with friends, and Aaden, Blythe's high-school sweetheart who left her to return to his family in Ireland. Blythe suddenly has the dilemma to juggle two suitors, as well as her children's busy schedules, and her oldest daughter's boyfriend, to boot!

Summer Light on Nantucket is a gentle, relaxing read - just what you need to unwind on the beach or at the pool this summer.

Special thanks to the publisher, and Net Galley, for the Advance Reader Copy of this fun read!

This book was just okay for me. I love books set on Nantucket and the descriptions of the scenery and things to do definitely do it for me. Other reviewers have noted that the author was overly descriptive on food-related things, but I'm telling you, I'm definitely here for that and I love that about Nancy Thayer. I did question the timeline in the book - example: if it's 2025 and Bob and Blythe were together for 20+ years, then they did not take Uber home from their first meeting, because Uber was founded in 2009. This was relatively early on in the book and it threw me and I could not get over it.
I would recommend this as a beach read, something you're going to put in your bag and not take too seriously.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. I adore Elin Hilderbrand and with the end of her Nantucket books, I’ve looked for a way to fill that void. When I was offered this ARC, I was excited. Alas, it didn’t fill the Elin void. Blythe is content with her life. She’s divorced, and she’s busy raising her teenage and preteen children. Her ex has a new girlfriend that she can tolerate, and it’s summer. She’s a teacher, so hooray! Blythe and the kids head to their summer home on Nantucket. Blythe expects typical summer days filled with tennis, the beach and snacks. Suddenly, she’s juggling two handsome men, one of which was the love of her life who broke her heart at 18. Do we ever get over our first loves? In between, her dates, Blythe must deal with her beloved mother in law’s health and the needs of her bust teens. This book was just ok for me. I wasn’t that invested in the drama. Disappointing. #books #nancythayer #nantucket #bookstagram #whatiread #advancedreaderscopy #reading #bookgram #bookworm #reader #whatsinyourbeachbag #netgalley #goodreads #libbyapp

What a light, wonderful story of family, love, moving on, and starting over. I absolutely loved this story. The characters were well developed and the plot flowed smoothly from scene to scene. An excellent book to read at the beach, on vacation, or if you just want a feel good story.
Another hit from Nancy Thayer.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.