Summer Island: A Novel

Another phenomenal book. A book about love and hate,about shame and guilt, about LIFE. About a mother's never ending love for her daughters. This book will make you laugh and cry, will give you hope and show you that forgiveness can change everything.

Summer Island is a beautifully written exploration of fractured relationships, forgiveness, and the long road to healing. Kristin Hannah brings her signature emotional depth to this mother-daughter story, weaving in themes of regret, vulnerability, and rediscovered love.I really appreciated how raw and honest the characters felt—flawed but relatable. The setting added a lovely layer of warmth and nostalgia, giving space for reflection and growth. While some plot points were a bit predictable and the pacing lagged in a few places, the emotional payoff was well worth it.This isn’t my favorite Kristin Hannah novel, but it still carried that familiar mix of heartache and hope that she does so well. A solid 4 stars and a moving summer read that leaves you thinking about second chances and the power of forgiveness.

This is a story that every mother and daughter should read; probably every family member. So intimate and touching; so thought provoking. This story is full of anger, love, and the growth that comes from forgiveness. Excellent!

I just loved the book! It was cute and emotional and it kept me wanting more! 5 ⭐️’s!Great summer read!

This was a Book Club pick. Decent read, somewhat predictable with all the loose ends tied up with a happy ending.

I love Kristin Hannah - she is masterful at showing us relationships, especially strong female ones. When I read that Summer Island was about a mother-daughter who struggle to mend what got broken, I thought for sure this book was for me. In ways it was, in others, meh, not so much.As with all Hannah's writing it is undeniably flawless. Strong, visual usage of phrasing brings the reader directly into the story. Summer Island is no exception.When Nora Bridge walks out of her life, she leaves behind not only her husband, but her daughters, Caroline and Ruby. As the years go by, Caro's heart softens toward her estranged mother while Ruby's hardens. But when Nora, who has found fame as a marriage and family adviser on a radio show and in print, falls from public grace, she is forced to seek care and comfort with Ruby at home on Summer Island.While back on the Island, Ruby not only needs to learn to navigate what's left of her relationship with Nora, but also try to rebuild the bonds with her childhood friend and boyfriend, while figuring out how far she is willing to go to for her own fame.Perhaps it's because I've read a lot of Kristin Hannah's hard hitting books, the ones that rip your heart out while opening your eyes and then rebuilds you one fragment at a time, that this book was just mediocre. There is nothing wrong with the book, all loose ends are tied up, all relationships (shy of one that was unfortunately more of a throw-in than an actual relationship) are mended, and life ended HEA (which to me is just not realistic).In all honesty I would give this book a 3.5, but am rounding up because of my love for the author and the memories of her other books. If you aren't a long-time reader of Kristin Hannah, you will likely find this book quite good.

Great book! Characters are unique and the story gives you hope for Happy Endings! Loved picturing the island and the house! Hannah does it again

This is my second Kristin Hannah book, and like her previous book, it pulled me in, had me laughing, crying all the feels. Easy read, Definitely recommend.