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Cynthia A. (Grand Rapids, MI)
WOW!! What a story!!
I loved this book! It kept me interested from start to finish and the end is just perfect! Even though most of the characters were from two different classes, in the end they want the same things in life. This is really obvious when outsiders come on the island. I can't wait to read more of her books!
Barbara H. (Thomasville, GA)
A Summer read not to miss!
I love Beatriz Williams and her amazing novels. I could not put The Summer Wives down! It was a wonderful story that took me back to a different era and to the scenic New England coast. The characters and scenery were all so real that I felt a part of this wonderful story and did not want it to end.
This is just a great read to simply get lost and taken away in.
Shirley L. (Norco, LA)
THE Summer Book
I enjoy all of Beatriz Williams' books and this one is my favorite. The uniqueness of this story is not the plotline but rather the time- bending fashion in which it is told. Reminiscent of the hit TV show "This is Us", rather than learning events in a linear manner the reader follows a spiral timeframe circling around, going deeper and deeper in our understanding of the characters.
The setting is a tiny island in Long Island Sound and the tension between the woking class year round residents and the upper class summer people. The time period is presented as June 1930, 1951, 1969; July 1930, 1951, 1969; and
…more finally August 1930, 1951, 1969. A clever style in which to write a very interesting story. I highly recommend it for summer reading. (less)There are always places in the world where folks live and work the whole year through but that are so attractive that the more affluent come during their most beautiful seasons, temporarily make them their own and then pack their bags and go away. The mountains in winter bring the ski chalet people, lakes in summer bring the cottage and boat people, and islands in the sun bring them, too. Generation after generation they come, interact but don't MIX with the locals, sometimes pal around with the young ones, if they are attractive enough and then go away and forget it all until the next season. These seasonal
…more folks think of the place as much theirs as that of the locals, sometimes even more theirs and in many ways lord their ownership over the ones they leave behind.
And sometimes, especially among the young, romance blooms and even a true love. Both of them know that it is a summer thing but once in awhile the love is real and the romance continues although as secretly as possible. And sometimes that love leads to secrets and unhappiness and causes tragedy that ripples out through families, relationships and the years. This is such a story and it is written in such a compelling way, alternating back and forth from the earliest onset of new young love to the years after and back again. There is mystery for all the secrets are not revealed at once and the reader turns the pages rapidly hoping to find them. And like an onion or the tissue paper surrounding a shiny new toy, the author uncovers each bit, slowly, increasing the desire in the reader for the revelations. Some are euphoric, some sad, some tragic, some surprising, others inevitable but in the end, when all the pieces are out there, resolution and the hope for happiness.
I read this book until the wee hours, slept a bit and woke up to finish it. Haven't done that with a book for a long time! (less)
Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews
The Summer Wives
Miranda has come back after eighteen years to the island where she has spent every summer since her mother married into the prestigious Fisher family. She hasn’t told anyone the reason why she has returned to Winthrop’s Island with bruises that no one mentions, but since she stays for a relatively long time, the reason can be assumed even though it might be the wrong guess.
Miranda's return isn’t a welcome event even after all of this time, though, because of her testimony at the trial of the lighthouse keeper’s son back in 1951 when she was eighteen and in love with the accused.
Miranda hadn’t grown up with the
…more elite and wealthy. When her mother married Hugh Fisher after her father was killed in WWII, she is introduced to that life and also sees how the year-round residents who fish and work as domestics live.
THE SUMMER WIVES goes back and forth from 1930 to 1951 and then to 1969. We learn about Miranda’s life, the lives of the Fisher and Monk families, the lives of other island residents, and how the lives of the domestic help are all connected by one specific incident during those years.
I enjoyed the story from the 1950’s the best. It was the most interesting and the least confusing. The 1930’s didn’t make sense to me how it fit in, but as I kept reading, I found out that it kept a secret and held a BIG surprise.
Ms. Williams has written another book that will hold your interest but has a bit of confusing story line with all the back and forth.
THE SUMMER WIVES is a story of the typical antics and lives of privileged families. We learn that most of the Winthrop Island families may have had money, but most of them are not happy.
THE SUMMER WIVES has a great setting, good story line, and has characters with problems and secrets both past and present.
I enjoyed Ms. Williams’ latest even though it dragged a bit at times, but the ending had it all coming together and was very satisfying. 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. (less)Miranda has come back after eighteen years to the island where she has spent every summer since her mother married into the prestigious Fisher family. She hasn’t told anyone the reason why she has returned to Winthrop’s Island with bruises that no one mentions, but since she stays for a relatively long time, the reason can be assumed even though it might be the wrong guess.
Miranda's return isn’t a welcome event even after all of this time, though, because of her testimony at the trial of the lighthouse keeper’s son back in 1951 when she was eighteen and in love with the accused.
Miranda hadn’t grown up with the
…more elite and wealthy. When her mother married Hugh Fisher after her father was killed in WWII, she is introduced to that life and also sees how the year-round residents who fish and work as domestics live.
THE SUMMER WIVES goes back and forth from 1930 to 1951 and then to 1969. We learn about Miranda’s life, the lives of the Fisher and Monk families, the lives of other island residents, and how the lives of the domestic help are all connected by one specific incident during those years.
I enjoyed the story from the 1950’s the best. It was the most interesting and the least confusing. The 1930’s didn’t make sense to me how it fit in, but as I kept reading, I found out that it kept a secret and held a BIG surprise.
Ms. Williams has written another book that will hold your interest but has a bit of confusing story line with all the back and forth.
THE SUMMER WIVES is a story of the typical antics and lives of privileged families. We learn that most of the Winthrop Island families may have had money, but most of them are not happy.
THE SUMMER WIVES has a great setting, good story line, and has characters with problems and secrets both past and present.
I enjoyed Ms. Williams’ latest even though it dragged a bit at times, but the ending had it all coming together and was very satisfying. 4/5
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. (less)Another fabulous book by Beatriz Williams. A great beach read.
This book is about the clash of two cultures here – the rich, privileged summer families and the immigrant working class local families who live on the island year round. The interaction of these cultures sets us up for intrigue, mystery, and romance.
Set on exclusive Winthrop Island off the New England Coast, the book alternates between the 1930s with the story of the love affair between a local year-round resident girl and her rich lover, and the 1950s and 60s with Miranda Schuyler’s story.
Miranda’s father has died in the war and in 1951 Miranda and
…more her mother arrive on Winthrop Island. Her mother is marrying Hugh Fisher, part of the inner circle on the island. She also meets her new stepsister Isobel who educates her on the ins and outs of the high society summer families and the year-round local families. Miranda is immediately smitten when she sees Joseph Vargus, one of the locals. Joseph’s father the local lighthouse keeper and in the summers Joseph helps his father maintain their lobster boats. But when summer is over Joseph attends college, wanting to make something of himself. Joseph and Isobel have always had a close relationship and Miranda battles with her attraction for Joseph and her desire not to hurt her sister.
Then in 1969 Miranda returns to Winthrop Island. She is now a famous actress but is shunned on the island because of her association with Joseph who is in prison for the murder of Miranda’s stepfather. Miranda, healing from her own disastrous marriage, learns that Joseph has escaped from prison. She now becomes determined to prove Joseph is innocent.
Beatriz Williams is a master storyteller so you know her books are always beautifully written. The tightly held secrets of the Islanders will slowly unravel as outsiders probe into the mysteries. The characters are relatable and likeable. As I read I could feel myself going with the ebb and flow of the island life. I highly recommend this book. (less)Although I have heard that Beatriz Williams was a good author, I had never read her before. I do have a number of her books on my TBR list however. Now that I have read one of her books, all the rest of them need to be elevated to the top of my reading list. I found her character development to be superb. The story line was well thought out and flowed well, while bouncing between the years of 1930, 1951 and 1969 and alternating between Miranda Schuyler Thomas and Bianca Medeiro.
An Island of summer homes, where the rich and elite vacationed throughout each summer. Miranda was thrown into the mix when her mother
…more married Hugh and Isobel's father. One of her first acquaintances on the Island was the son of the light house keeper, Joseph, one of the poorer working-year-round residents. As the summer draws to a close Miranda is banished from the Island and Joseph is imprisoned for murder.
Eighteen years later Miranda returns to the Island, still being dismissed by the social elite. Joseph has escaped from prison - is he back at the Island? Isobel, who had always laid claim to Joseph, is still as spoiled and remains in the inner circle of popularity. Miranda wants to reignite the love she had for Joseph and prove his innocence. It does not take long for the Island's secrets to begin to unravel. (less)
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