Review: Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

Published: June 18, 2013
Format: ARC provided by publisher
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Rating: 4/5

 Summary via Goodreads

Charming ladies’ man Rory Randall dies with one last trick up his sleeve: His will includes a calculating clause mandating a summer-long reunion for his daughters, all from different marriages—that is, if they hope to inherit his posh Nantucket house. Relations among the three sisters are sour thanks to long-festering jealousies, resentments, and misunderstandings. Arden, a successful television host in Boston, hasn’t been back to the island since her teenage years, when accusations of serious misbehavior led to her banishment. College professor Meg hopes to use her summer to finish a literary biography and avoid an amorous colleague. And secretive Jenny, an IT specialist, faces troubling questions about her identity while longing for her sisters’ acceptance.

To their surprise, the three young women find their newfound sisterhood easier to trust than the men who show up to complicate their lives. And if that weren’t problematic enough, their mothers descend on the island. When yet another visitor drops by the house with shocking news, the past comes screaming back with a vengeance. Having all the women from his life under his seaside roof—and overseeing the subsequent drama of that perfect storm—Rory Randall might just be enjoying a hearty laugh from above.

My Thoughts

This book has everything I love in a great summer read. It has the beach, family, secrets and love. It all starts with three sisters coming together after their father’s death. In order inherit his beach house they must spend the entire summer together or lose out on everything. While a false accusation when they were young cause two of the sisters growing up not really knowing their father. It causes resentment and hatred between all the sisters and all their mothers.

While each one went into this with the intention of only money, all the sisters end up becoming close and realizing all that they missed out on. They come together themselves and not only restore their relationship between themselves but also with their moms. In restoring their sisterhood they also found more about themselves and each grew as a person like never before.

Just when they thought they had hashed out all their old problems and settled them, they realized dear old dad had one more secret. The secret? Another woman…his mistress, who decides she wants a piece of the action and is, set out to get what she “thinks” she deserves. Talk about drama! Nothing screams beach read then a little drama.

This is my first forte regarding a book by Nancy Thayer and I think she’s so fabulous! Why have I waited so long??!! She’s now my new [to me] go to author for awesome summer reads. You can almost feel the Nantucket sun on your face and feel the sand between your toes. I highly enjoyed this book and I know you will too.