I have only read one of Jennifer Weiner’s books but I thought it was absolutely wonderful and such a fun little summer read! Her books are usually about family drama with some humor—I love the balanced blend of humor and seriousness. It really makes for a fun, quick, and refreshing read! When I saw that she had this one coming out, naturally I was interested in it!
What drew my eye is that it gave a nod to the pandemic which I think will make the book relevant and relatable for readers. I know a lot of authors have shied away from writing the pandemic into their stories for a number of reasons, but I like that Weiner decided to include it in some way in this latest book. I am sure the pandemic is not the focus of the book, but I liked that the main character’s step daughter gets engaged to her pandemic boyfriend and that is the catalyst for the story. Personally I think it adds relevance and something for readers to immediately connect with!
Weiner is known for writing wonderful beach reads and she has a large fan following. As a tried and tested author, I know that her books are quality and always a fun read! This book promises family drama, secrets, and a romance the perfect formula for a beach read. If you are looking for something to read on vacation this year, check out this seasoned author for a quick and easy escape!
Summary
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of That Summer comes another heartfelt and unputdownable novel of family, secrets, and the ties that bind.
When her twenty-two-year-old stepdaughter announces her engagement to her pandemic boyfriend, Sarah Danhauser is shocked. But the wheels are in motion. Headstrong Ruby has already set a date (just three months away!) and spoken to her beloved safta, Sarah’s mother Veronica, about having the wedding at the family’s beach house on Cape Cod. Sarah might be worried, but Veronica is thrilled to be bringing the family together one last time before putting the big house on the market.
But the road to a wedding day usually comes with a few bumps. Ruby has always known exactly what she wants, but as the wedding date approaches, she finds herself grappling with the wounds left by the mother who walked out when she was a baby. Veronica ends up facing unexpected news, thanks to her meddling sister, and must revisit the choices she made long ago, when she was a bestselling novelist with a different life. Sarah’s twin brother, Sam, is recovering from a terrible loss, and confronting big questions about who he is—questions he hopes to resolve during his stay on the Cape. Sarah’s husband, Eli, who’s been inexplicably distant during the pandemic, confronts the consequences of a long ago lapse from his typical good-guy behavior. And Sarah, frustrated by her husband, concerned about her stepdaughter, and worn out by challenges of life during quarantine, faces the alluring reappearance of someone from her past and a life that could have been.
When the wedding day arrives, lovers are revealed as their true selves, misunderstandings take on a life of their own, and secrets come to light. There are confrontations and revelations that will touch each member of the extended family, ensuring that nothing will ever be the same.
From “the undisputed boss of the beach read” (The New York Times), The Summer Place is a testament to family in all its messy glory; a story about what we sacrifice and how we forgive. Enthralling, witty, big-hearted, and sharply observed, this is Jennifer Weiner’s love letter to the Outer Cape and the power of home, the way our lives are enriched by the people we call family, and the endless ways love can surprise us. (summery from Goodreads)
The Lit Bitch 