Quoting the character Ruby, "Three cheers for summer. May it be made only of long Days". I suggest that some of those coming days include reading Michelle Gable's new novel "The Book Of Summer". The Book of Summer is set on Nantucket and is the story of three generations of women and their summer house. The time period alternates between the early 1940s and the present.

I have vacationed on Nantucket and appreciated that the author based the novel on real situations that exist on the island.

Do not be intimidated by the book's length, 404 pages in the advanced readers' copy. Michelle Gable is to be commended for not wasting one word or subjecting the reader to superfluous narrative. In my opinion Gable is a master of the written word and character development. In my 40 years of reading it seems that often one character stands out and the others exist as support. Not so in The Book Of Summer. I found that each of the principles were fully developed by the author and I looked forward to the change in the timeline and different story lines.

In my opinion this is an exceptional novel that entertains and informs. It is set to be published just in time for summer.

Daisy Goodwin's current novel "Victoria" is an account of Queen Victoria during the early years of her life and a historical account of the early Victorian period in England. I was surprised that Goodwin did not include a family tree to explain the numerous relationships. I have an interest in this period and found that the author had no difficulty introducing characters and their relationships' as part of the narrative. It was fun to read about history as part of a story as opposed to dry facts. I highly recommend "Victoria" to anyone who enjoys a well written novel and / or English history.

I was not aware of the authors first 4 novels but was lucky BookBrowse offered "If I Forget You" for review. The impression I had was this was a love story. It is, but it is so much more in the hands of the author,Thomas Green. It is this reviewer's opinion that the author's use of alternate chapters allows the story to flow so smoothly that at times it was almost poetic. Green's choice of topic, character development and smooth writing style held my attention to the last word. I look forward to his next offering and have ordered his prior novels.

" If I Forget You" is a well written novel to be read and enjoyed anytime and would make a beach vacation memorable.

Wow! In this reader's opinion Gable's second novel deserves a strong 5 rating. The author loosely based the story on a real person she discovered while doing research for her first novel. The story develops thru alternating narrative of a mother and daughter. Gable skillfully has the main characters divulge a story that unfolds in present day Paris but has it's roots in Paris of yesteryear. The Author moves the novel along with to the point narrative and short chapters which kept me reading long into the night. In my opinion Ms. Gabel has created a unique storyline. interesting characters and unexpected plot twists which makes for a great read. I am hoping for a sequel !

The narrative of Susannah Marren's debut novel is so smooth and detailed at times I forgot that I was not reading a biography. The novel captured my attention from the first page with a theme of what life looks like for women who move and loose the life they made and love for the sake of their husband's career. I found the book to be not only a compelling read but also a character study on how each family member was affected. This contemporary novel will hit home for many readers and left me wondering what choices I would make given the same set of circumstances. A perfect choice for the beach.

A good book for me captivates and transports me to another time and place of the authors choosing. Sally Hepworth , in her debut novel met these criteria and held me captive until the end. Hepworth seamlessly tells the stories of three generations of women each with a unique perspective on being a Midwife and secrets that, if disclosed, could be life changing The Author's character development and seamless transition between each women's story was so smooth I found that I was not disappointed at the end of a chapter as so often happens. I carried the book with me so as not to miss a moment of reading time.

As an avid reader I rarely find that I am captivated by all of the characters. This novel not only held my attention from beginning to end but also left me with a longing for a sequel. I highly recommend the novel and I am adding Sally Hepworth to my Author "A" list.

Marissa Stapley's debut novel, Mating For Life, should be on every avid readers summer list and a priority for reading groups. I had to keep checking to make sure I was correct in reading that it was her first novel. The choice of subject matter and subsequent unfolding of the plot surprised, delighted and kept me reading. This novel takes a common theme of mothers and daughters and creates a family unique in their personalities and choices when it comes to love. We are then
provided a perfect vantage point to watch life begin to unfold at the annual summer cottage weekend. The reader is witness to each women arriving at her own truth after much soul searching and admissions of past mistakes. The novel's quick pace and witty dialogue will not disappoint.

Julia MacDonnell's novel, Mimi Malloy At Last held me captive from the first page. I often found myself losing track of time, reading late into the night. The novel deals with issues facing an extended contemporary New England family. Many of the family's concerns will speak to Baby Boomers who have retired or are planning to retire. MacDonnell has assembled a diverse family of female characters: mothers, sisters and daughters with such detailed personalities the reader may recognize many of their traits in their own family members. The novel, while set in present day New England takes us back to Mimi's long forgotten childhood trauma, repressed as a survival instinct that will no longer be denied resolution. These lost memories are critical to Mimi's health and happiness. The people and the plot are so completely believable that at times I felt that I was reading a biography.

Mimi Malloy At Last is that perfect book to read on a cold winter afternoon or to take along on a hot summer day at the beach. Mimi Malloy At Last is a must read and has earned a place on my read again bookshelf.

I am an avid reader with a preference for all books set in Asia. Anyone who has read Ms. Tan's prior works knows she is a excellent story teller with an exceptional command of language. Reading THE VALLEY OF AMAZEMENT I found that I did not just read a book but was transported on a lifelong journey with Violet. At times I felt I was living her life and became a bystander to my own which I can do since I am retired. My husband gave up trying to pry the book out of my hands as I slept. I wanted the book at my fingertips when I awoke so I could continue on my journey with Violet. The novel spans a lifetime for Violet and all the major characters. Ms. Tan did something I find rare..she somehow provided the sense that I now knew the complete story, no questions left unanswered but with a wish that I had 100 more books of this caliber waiting for me. I recommend reading the Acknowledgments which explains the amount of research that went into writing the book which I think explains why the book seems so real. Enjoy!

This is a unique historical fiction of five generations of women living in northern California. It is unique in that it contemporaneously weaves each woman’s story around the family matriarch as opposed to the usual technique of writing each person's story in chapter form. This is a book that does not read as a debut novel. Ms. Santo has written an outstanding novel that not only kept me awake reading, but woke me up because I felt I was living the lives of the characters. I look forward to many more novels from the author...she is now on my five star must read list. Not to be missed!

This is the author's first novel. The theme revolves around an extended Chinese-American family trying to reconnect. The one departure from the usual is a family vacation to China. I wonder why the author set the story in China because the narrative lacked any in depth description of the Chinese culture or it's many natural wonders. It was not a page turner for me.

Theroux shares a brief insight into her life as a writer in the first ten pages. She then graciously allows the reader to enter her interior thoughts, questions and experiences in the form of short journal entries from 2000 to 2005. Although the book has no identifiable plot it reads like a well written novel. The author's use of metaphors and analogies made this reader want to stop and reflect on her questions, insights and wisdom. So happy to be a member of BookBrowse because I might have missed one of the best books of 2010.

I have been an ardent fan of Mr. Conroy and waited impatiently these last 14 years for another novel, after reading Beach Music. I was ecstatic to see that South of Broad was 500 plus pages and looked forward to his unique command of language and his ability to spin a story that captures a reader's attention from the first sentence.

The 14 year lapse did nothing to diminish his wonderful way with words, drawing the reader into a world of words that are pure pleasure to reread over and over. I can not say the same for the plot or the character development. I found the plot to be predictable and boring. The novel seems to be overburden with too many characters that lack character development and a reason to continue in their varied relationships. The novel is disjointed in the 20 year transition from childhood in 1969 Charleston to Part Two where the only thing that changes is the year,1989.
I had no doubts that my 14 year wait would be rewarded with another Conroy masterpiece ...sadly, I was wrong.

As an avid reader with a love for novels set in the orient I waited impatiently for The Commoner to arrive. I was not disappointed and could not put the book down. A reader will find nothing ordinary in Schwartz's writing. The author captivates the reader with detailed descriptions and smooth prose so that one feels like they are eavesdropping on the characters. This is a must read for all who appreciate excellent writing and a good story. I found myself caught between my desire to keep reading and dreading the novels end. I am happily looking forward to reading Schwartz's earlier novels