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The Summer Season

by Julia Williams (Goodreads Author)

3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 · rating details · 59 ratings · 19 reviews

Passions flare, secrets unravel and love blossoms in the heart of the summer season.As summertime flourishes, it’s time for new beginnings…Heartsease House is in desperate need of renovation. Its owner, widower Joel, is struggling to come to terms with life as a single dad. His plans to refurbish the house and garden suddenly seem like one burden too many.Mum to twin girls...more

Paperback, 374 pages

Published 2011 by AVON

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Jul 08, 2011 Rea Sinfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have just finished Summer Season by Julia Williams. I have previously only read one of her books which was Last Christmas which I thoroughly enjoyed. Having seen this on the shelves in my local WHSmith store I decided I needed another Summer read to try and bring this great British weather to an end!

Plot
As summertime flourishes, it’s time for new beginnings…

Heartsease House is in desperate need of renovation. Its owner, widower Joel, is struggling to come to terms with life as a single dad. Hi...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Sharon Goodwin rated it 3 of 5 stars

As soon as I saw the ‘Family Tree’ at the beginning of the book I knew there had to be family history involved and I wasn’t disappointed! In fact the story begins with Joel’s great, great grandparents Edward and Lily in 1890. Heartsease House is the family home and Edward had created the knot garden and was quite well-known for his botany and his contributions to the village community.

In the present day, Joel’s mother had inherited Heartsease House from her great Uncle Jack but due to her illnes...more As soon as I saw the ‘Family Tree’ at the beginning of the book I knew there had to be family history involved and I wasn’t disappointed! In fact the story begins with Joel’s great, great grandparents Edward and Lily in 1890. Heartsease House is the family home and Edward had created the knot garden and was quite well-known for his botany and his contributions to the village community.

In the present day, Joel’s mother had inherited Heartsease House from her great Uncle Jack but due to her illness it was impractical for her to live there so Joel and his wife had brought the cottage and moved from London to the Sussex Downs.

Joel knows very little about his family history but as he and Kezzie work their way through a discovered trunk and Edward’s diary, a few secrets come to light.

Besides the journey through the present day grief-stricken hearts, Edward and Lily’s story is also woven through at key points. Their love story is very poignant.

I liked the way Julia Williams introduces us to her characters by giving us brief details at first …………. where they’re at in their lives but not why. We are left to infer what may have happened to bring them all to Heartsease. We get to know a little bit more about their circumstances as the story unfolds until it all comes together for Joel, Lauren and Kezzie.

The thing I did find annoying (which is only in the first part of the story) is where certain things are repeated and quite close together. For example, Joel’s job is harrowing due to planned cutbacks, which adds to his distressed emotions. A few times the author tells us the same thing using similar words. I thought there could be another way to emphasise how exhausted he was at the end of the day – and similarly for Lauren’s grief for her best friend. This didn’t put me off though as I assumed it was for emphasis in relation to the deep emotions the characters were feeling.

Community spirit is a theme running through which I felt started with the arrival of Kezzie to the village. Kezzie has the motivation not only to renovate the knot garden but also other important areas in the village. For me, the community spirit and reviving it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the story. The tangled emotions and misunderstandings are always a part of this genre so this gave it added interest. Also, looking back in time to Edward and Lily and relating it to the present day made it a much more interesting read.

My favourite character has to be Kezzie as I felt that Joel and Lauren were too wrapped up in their separate grief whereas Kezzie had spirit and motivation despite being heart-broken. I thought Troy’s character was portrayed really well – exuding all that charisma but not engaging with life on a deeper level.

The epilogue had me crying ……………….. I thought it was a great way to end!

I would like to thank Avon Books for sending me a copy to review.
(less)

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Jun 08, 2011 AvonBooks added it

As summertime flourishes, it’s time for new beginnings…

Heartsease House is in desperate need of renovation. Its owner, widower Joel, is struggling to come to terms with life as a single dad. His plans to refurbish the house and garden suddenly seem like one burden too many.

Mum to twin girls, Lauren’s life is a constant juggling act. When her ex Troy turns up she’s determined to keep her distance while he gets to know his daughters. But it’s a lot harder than she imagined …

Then erstwhile guerrill...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Leah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2011, for-review

I’m a big ol’ fan of Julia Williams, having read her first novel Pastures New way back in 2008 and thoroughly enjoying the warmth Julia managed to encapsulate into the novel. I quickly followed it up by reading Strictly Love and Last Christmas, and her fourth novel The Bridesmaid Pact is sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. She’s an author whose books I really look forward to, and I was incredibly pleased to receive a copy of her new novel The Summer Season. It has a pale green cover – I was...more I’m a big ol’ fan of Julia Williams, having read her first novel Pastures New way back in 2008 and thoroughly enjoying the warmth Julia managed to encapsulate into the novel. I quickly followed it up by reading Strictly Love and Last Christmas, and her fourth novel The Bridesmaid Pact is sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. She’s an author whose books I really look forward to, and I was incredibly pleased to receive a copy of her new novel The Summer Season. It has a pale green cover – I was surprised, actually, when I pulled it out and saw it – which is incredibly beautiful and because I hadn’t officially started anything when the postie brought it, I decided to read it immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and although the front cover is summer-themed, I do also think it would be the perfect novel to curl up with on a cold day, as well.

What I like best about Julia Williams’s novels is that she takes two or three characters, introduces us to them and makes us care for them deeply. Although the plot of the novel is wonderful, for me it’s her characters that I truly read her books for because she has such a good grasp for writing sympathetic and warm characters. I always scoff when people liken a novel to a hot drink, it’s so cliched that it makes me cringe, but Julia Williams’s novels do rather make me feel pretty much how I suspect a hot chocolate would. It’s warm and inviting and pretty wonderful, actually. Oh God, I’ve become a reviewer who talks in cliches. Please forgive my indulgence just then. A lot of the novel is about gardening, and I must admit, I’m not exactly ‘up’ on flowers or trees although I do know what a rake and a hoe and other gardening tools are. I found that Williams put a lot of care into the flowers she choose to exhibit as Joel and Kezzie restore Joel’s great-great-Grandfather’s garden. I never once found the flower explanations boring, in fact quite the opposite, I found it very intriguing and the explanations are enough that a gardening novice like me is well able to understand what’s going on.

My absolute favourite part of the novel though, was the backstory of Edward and Lily Handford, Joel’s great-great-Grandparents. Regularly, throughout the novel, we have excerpts from their diaries and we see letters they wrote to each other in the late 1800s into the early 1900s. We get to bear witness to their great love, learn of their life together, their tragedies, but most of all it’s the core of the novel, with the knotgarden Edward created for Lily for her wedding present. Most of the time I’m allergic to novels set in anytime other than the 2000s, but I found Edward and Lily’s life to be enchating, and I longed for more chapters from them, longed to know more of their story. Julia Williams says in her acknowledgements that her editor made her make Edward and Lily’s story a more important part of The Summer Season and I thank her for that because it was a wonderful addition and I can’t bear to think there was less of them in the novel at one point.

I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, from Lauren, Joel and Kezzie in the present day to Edward, Lily and their family way back when. Lauren seemed a bit wiser than her years (she was meant to be 25, if my adding up is correct, but seemed more in her thirties, but I presume having her twins has made her that way!) but I really felt for her, struggling to bring up her twins solo. I felt sorry for Joel, who had lost his wife Claire a year earlier, and was since bringing up their son Sam. His guilt was horrible to witness, and I just wanted someone to make it OK for him again. I had my doubts about Kezzie, but she grew on me quite quickly. I wasn’t a fan of the dope-smoking (yeah, I know, everyone does it, blah blah blah and I’m old before my time at 21) but I just found it quite immature for someone aged 30. I loved her energy though and her enthusiasm for gardening was brilliant. I didn’t think much of Troy, Lauren’s ex, he was too slimy and overconfident for my tastes.

The Summer Season would have been a perfect novel. But I was incredibly disappointed that Lauren gave slimy Troy a second chance. It was inevitable he would come back on the scene, and it’s one of the worst things in Chick Lit. Seriously, there’s nothing that gets on my nerves more than the main character giving her slimy ex another chance because he says he’s changed. I personally think it’s quite lazy, and I find myself increasingly saying it as most authors do it consistently. (I feel a horrible sense of deja vu typing this, I’m fairly sure I’ve whinged about it already somewhere in a review.) It’s my biggest Chick Lit bug bear, and it did knock the shine off what was, up until then, a magnificent read. Julia Williams is a stunning writer, all of her stories manage to suck me in and keep hold of me until I reach the end and The Summer Season was no different. I absolutely loved it, apart from that one thing, and it’s definitely a book to curl up with. I really, really liked it.(less)

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Jun 23, 2011 Dizzyc rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a modern day story with it's roots firmly planted in history. Joel's family history.

The three present day characters are brought together in a little village, Heartsease.
Joel lives in the family house which has a famous historical Botanist as the original owner and creator of a neglected Love Knot Garden. He lives with his toddler son, Sam after tragically losing his wife Claire.

Lauren, Claire's best friend, lives nearby and looks after Sam for Joel.

Kezzie, a guerrilla gardener, comes...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There are some good ideas in this book but overall I found it a disappointing read. The action is set both in the present and the period leading up to and immediately after WW1. The main theme is the restoration of an old knot garden and I did find that interesting. The historical parts were OK but the present day characters might have been more at home in a Mills and Boon novel. Apart from Kessie who was quite interesting they lacked depth and credibility. I normally enjoy family sagas but not...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Barbara Byrne

Shelves: kindle, julia-williams, great-summer-read

Im not a lover of historical books so the beginning of this book made me think i'd chose the wrong book to read.
How wrong can a girl be and it just proves that you should carry on reading as little treasures will pop up.
i found myself looking forward to reading about Edward & Lily and what happened in the earlier days.
This book is wonderful for any gardeners as well as people tracing their family tree ( as i do).I adore the village life feel to the book too aswell as the other characters i...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Emma Baylis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall, despite it sometimes being repetitive and boring, I did quite enjoy this book. I was looking for a light and cheery story, and nothing too intense, and this book was exactly what I was looking for!
I like the easy-to-follow - and quite predictable - plot, and the characters are fun and their stories easy to understand. I would recommend for a nice summer read, just don't expect too much.

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Oct 16, 2012 Lynda rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got so involved in this story....even found myself crying as parts of it were so desperately sad about Edward and Lily's life together but I loved the way the story would switch from the past to the present day and liked the characters,esp Kezzie.....and there was the happy ending I love which made it perfect reading.

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Jul 13, 2011 Karen Gooderham rated it 3 of 5 stars

Found this one ok by Julia Williams. It is set around 3 people all leading different lifes and they all have a very good freindship. All centered around doing about an old garden while dealing with on going problems in their lifes.

This is not one I would highly recommend.

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Apr 19, 2012 Donna Irwin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this tale of gardens and healing, of people unlucky in love. Great characters, and loved the interaction of past & present. And of course, the happy ending!

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Jul 07, 2011 Aileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good book for the beach, lovely cover. Although I was a little bit
bored with it in some places, I would probably recommend.

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Dec 07, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, chick-lit, read-2012

This book is a brilliant read. The way it has historical parts to it as well as modern parts is really good although I wasn't expecting it. The characters were all different and individual and I love the way they each have different backgrounds. I love the little map of the village although it is pretty predictable throughout the whole book. But, everyone loves a good love story right? I wanted to give it a four, but I just couldn't, it's not as good as some other books i've given a four.

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Nov 08, 2011 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I usually love Julia Williams' books but must admit to being slightly disappointed by this one. It was as well written as ever, the sort of superior chick lit we expect from her, but I thought the historical passages seemed a little "bolted on" and some of the characters didn't engage me as much as those in her previous novels. Ultimately forgettable and highly predictable, she's still far better at this kind of book than so many of her competitors... just think I expected more.

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Jul 15, 2011 Kate Rampersad rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book for those living in East Surrey (me), loving beautiful gardens (me), having young children (me). Spot on choice, especially as it was an easy read, and haven't read a whole book in ages. Thanks for a giveaway.

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Jul 06, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun, easy read. I love the history of the garden and the way Edward and Lily come to life!

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Sep 21, 2011 Book-shelf Shelf rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lovely story of a family that spans over 5 generations. One generation building a garden and the 5th reconstructing the garden after years of neglect. The story touches on drugs, single parents, vandalism and bored youths, but brings village life alive with the support net work that grows over a year.

Loved the story & the history.

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Dec 16, 2011 Heidi rated it 5 of 5 stars

I do not read much chick lit but this book was just great fun! As I have mentioned before, I love books with a gardening theme. The twist of the story of three people who become friends in the village and restoring two historic gardens was perfect for a summer's day.

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Apr 08, 2012 Nicki M rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, library-book, chicklit, gardening, gave-up-on, england

I couldn't get into it at all which is a shame as Ithought it was a nice story. It was quite repetitve going over the same details that had been made in previous chapters.Also I was confused by who all the different characters were.

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Mar 14, 2013 Julie Edwards rated it 4 of 5 stars

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