Title: An Island Summer
Author: Jenny Hale
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 9, 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Romance
In the summer, everything feels possible… A heartwarming small-town romance about new beginnings, old secrets and how home is truly where the heart is. Fans of Susan Mallery, Pamela Kelley, and Mary Alice Monroe will fall head over heels for this romantic page-turner.
All that Meghan Gray has left of her beloved Pappy is his cottage on the edge of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Longing to feel close to her grandfather, she returns to the golden sands of Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks for the summer, clutching the manilla envelope he gifted her tightly in her hand.
On her first night on the sun-drenched island, she meets brooding Toby Meyers, a local businessman. She might feel lost without Pappy, but looking into Toby’s sparkling blue eyes feels like coming home.
The beach house where she spent her childhood is just how she remembers: a shingled bungalow with two rocking chairs on the porch and shutters on the windows. As Meghan strolls along the sand with Toby, breathing in the salty air, she realizes she is making new memories…
When Meghan opens the envelope, she finds a black-and-white photograph of someone she doesn’t recognize. If she can find out its meaning, and why Pappy gave it to her, she’ll unlock a secret that has been hidden for decades. The truth has the power to change everything Meghan and Toby thought they knew about their lives—and it will either bring them together, or break their hearts…
-from Amazon
Why This Book
The title says it all: it’s an island summer. Set in the Outer Banks, An Island Summer is full of sun, sand, ocean, and ice cream. As well as an elderly man who seriously thinks Meghan Gray, who quit her waitressing job in NYC to take possession of her late grandfather’s beach house, is a glamorous actress he loved back in the day. But it’s not all terrible. He’s a sweet man and has a very handsome grandson who’s caught Meghan’s eye. As the summer stretches before them, history and secrets emerge, as well as some romance.
Why this book? It really is the perfect summer read. Not only is it set during the summer, but it’s also set on the beach. The characters regularly splash around in the ocean; walk and run along the sand with an adorable, fun-loving dog; enjoy ice cream; and deal with that east coast heat when their house loses power. Everything about it makes me think of summer and makes me imagine a world drenched in sunshine.
Reviews
My review: “Reading this made me feel like I was there, enjoying a wonderful beach vacation myself. I loved that they spent so much time on the beach”
Sandy from Sandy’s Book a Day Blog expressed some disappointments in this book and gave this 3.3 stars, but said “An Island Summer is a quick, light read about a young woman trying to find her place in the world after her career hopes are dashed. There’s some romance, and a little mystery involved”
Laura from loopyloulaura said “An Island Summer is an enjoyable and heartwarming novel”
Splashesintobooks gave this a 5, saying “An inspirational journey, I really enjoyed this moving read”
Robin from Robin Loves Reading gave this a 4, saying “This touching story brings together family drama, pieces of the past, a gentle romance and a bit of mystery, all combined to treat readers to a wonderful summer read”
Jenica from firewhiskeyreader wasn’t a fan, saying “This book is not for people who like for a book marketed towards romance readers to be an actual romance novel. That’s not say this book doesn’t have an HEA. It’s just to say that these two love interests make literally no sense together and therefore, you need to be reading this book for literally any other reason”
Kristin from Kristin’s Novel Cafe said “This book is the perfect remedy for the summer blues. My heart swelled and sang throughout the entire book!”
Purchase Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Booktopia (Australia) | Soundcloud | Walmart | alibris | Bookshop | Fantastic Fiction | Black Book Store
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