The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable | book review
The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable
About the book: (from the publisher) The ocean, the wild roses on the dunes and the stunning Cliff House, perched atop a bluff in Sconset, Nantucket. Inside the faded pages of the Cliff House guest book live the spellbinding stories of its female inhabitants: from Ruby, a bright-eyed newlywed on the eve of World War II to her granddaughter Bess, who returns to the beautiful summer estate.
For the first time in four years, physician Bess Codman visits the compound her great-grandparents built almost a century before, but due to erosion, the once-grand home will soon fall into the sea. Bess must now put aside her complicated memories in order to pack up the house and deal with her mother, a notorious town rabble-rouser, who refuses to leave. It’s not just memories of her family home Bess must face though, but also an old love that might hold new possibilities.
In the midst of packing Bess rediscovers the forgotten family guest book. Bess’s grandmother and primary keeper of the book, Ruby, always said Cliff House was a house of women, and by the very last day of the very last summer at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother’s words in ways she never imagined.
About the author: Michelle Gable is the New York Times Bestselling author of A PARIS APARTMENT, I’LL SEE YOU IN PARIS and the newly released THE BOOK OF SUMMER. She is also a mom, wife, former finance executive, former Chargers fanatic, and tennis player.
After growing up in San Diego, Michelle attended The College of William & Mary in Virginia, where she majored in accounting as most aspiring writers do. She currently resides in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, lazy cat, and one very bitey rabbit.
Connect: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Genre: Fiction/Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit/Book Club
[bctt tweet=”THE BOOK OF SUMMER, a @SheReadsBookCLB #SheReadsSummer book pick!” username=”KatherineSJones”]
My take: From its inviting cover to its Nantucket setting and multi-generational cast of spirited females characters, The Book of Summer says beach read all over it. Based on a real-life problem, this story is delivered in a lively and textured narrative. Yes, this book has all of that.
But y’all. I couldn’t finish it. I know, right? So bummed. But it got so…crass. Though somewhat nonplussed by the breezy profanity at the outset, I was willing to see where things would go. It got better…and then it didn’t, and then it descended to places I simply did not care to follow. So I didn’t. Every reader has her limits, and this book met mine.
Just so you know: So yeah. Profanity and explicit sexual material.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me this book free of charge. All opinions are mine.
The Book of Summer is a She Reads Book Club summer selection.
After words: What’s summery books are on your reading list?
Katherine, my estimation of the value of your reviews – already high – just went up another notch. I have often purchased or borrowed books based upon your honest recommendations. Since I lived on Cape Cod for years, the cover and concept of this book would normally draw me, but the other factors you cited are a definite turnoff. I am disappointed that She Reads book club picked this one. Thanks for sharing your candid opinions with your readers!
Thanks, Maggie. I never enjoy writing a negative review. In this instance, it must be said that my opinion is based on content, not quality (although many would argue you can’t have one without the other). Of course every reader has different standards. I know many who wouldn’t feel comfortable reading material that doesn’t bother me. But for what it’s worth, that’s my take on this one.
This is a bummer to hear! I know it happens, but I was really excited to read this one. Glad I have a head up and I’ll give it a shot (since I have it for my blog too) and go from there. There was a book I had to recently do the same thing to – I thought I was going to love it and couldn’t get past 70 pages. :/
Yep, it happens! I was bummed too as I had been looking forward to it as a fun and breezy read. I think, actually, that’s what it was meant to be, but obviously it didn’t land on me that way.