Isle of Palms

by Dorothea Benton Frank (Goodreads author!)
Isle of Palms  
published January 4th 2005 by Berkley Trade
first published 2004
binding Paperback
isbn 0425200108   (isbn13: 9780425200100)
pages 512
description Anna Lutz Abbot considers herself independent and happy, until one steamy summer when she must find a way to deal with the secrets of her unpredictabl...more
date added
03-22-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 359)



Ally
09/24/07

Read in September, 2007
recommends it for: south carolina lovers
this is a great summer read since it is set on the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. It also takes place in summer, but that also might be a good excuse to read it in the dead of winter so you can imagine yourself in some warm place for a while. It's a quick read, but a thick book. It deals with a single mother, Anna, and her daughter, Emily, who just finished her first year of college. Emily is not happy about moving home for the summer, especially to a home Anna just bought for the two of t...more
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Ngaire
Ngaire rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
11/27/07

I read this because I was desperate and a friend lent it to me. Dorothea Benton Frank is possibly the worst writer I have ever read. God, she's awful. The story is fine, it's just the hackneyed writing that's impossible to deal with. Honestly, she uses every cliche ever created, and by the end of this book, I wanted to hit her. I mean, how many times can you use the expression "cut some heads" in one book? And she'll only date a man in a suit and slicked back hair? Gross. Even ...more
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Jeanne
Jeanne rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
04/19/08

bookshelves: april-2008
Read in April, 2008
I had trouble finishing this one. I found the author's attempt at humor made it difficult for me to take the story seriously. For me, the wonderful gay husband a bit unrealistic. Even in fiction, I don't think a relationship could be established between a father and daughter when the child was the result of the father drugging, beating and raping the mother on their first and only date on prom night. This is the first (and probably last) book I have read by this author.
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Kathy P
Kathy P rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/14/08

Read in June, 2008
I often avoid novels that look like romance fiction, but Dorothea Benton Frank promised a good tale about an attractive place. Isle of Palms lives up to that promise, albeit with a happy ending too facile for my tastes. Her style is breezy, her characters amusing and well drawn, and her Lowcountry is indeed endearing. So I picked up another of hers, Shem Creek, at the library for some relaxing backyard reading.
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Karen
Karen rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
10/14/07

Again so excited to read her new books but this one truly did not live up to my expectation.It had Lucy,the neighbor, the rebellious daughter, the gay husband, but it never took you anywhere.Some cute dialogue but I found it was just too shallow.Also right when they found her real father the book ended. No other mention of him.Least favorite of all her books.
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Holly
Holly added it
12/29/07

bookshelves: girlybooks
Read in January, 2005
I believe this was the first of her books that I read, which was a few years ago after my sister lent me the book. I have since tried to stay current on her books. I really enjoy them all. I do tend to be biased since they are all based in the South Carolina lowcountry, but the storylines are pretty good as well! They are good "girl" books.
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Babs
09/08/07

Read in September, 2007
This book was just not my cup of tea. I could almost hear fingernails on a chalkboard as I was trying to read it. All of Anna's whining and angst was just too much for me. After reading Pawley's Island by the author, I was so hopeful I'd found another good southern writer. Oh well...
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Kelly
Kelly rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/28/08

I read this while I was vacationing on Isle of Palms. It was cool to read about a place on the island and then go check it out. All of Benton Frank's books make you slow down a little and appreciate the little things - a nice breeze, a strong drink, friendships.
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Sarah
Sarah rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
07/24/08

Read in July, 2008
recommended to Sarah by: another librarian
recommends it for: anyone who likes cute stories
I was told that if I like Janet Evanovich than I needed to try this author. This was a cute book, but I didn't laugh even once. I'm going to try another of her books because although I didn't laugh the book had a good (pretty clean) story.
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Susan
Susan rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/01/07

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in September, 2006
This girl wasn't the smartest, brightest or luckiest person but she made the best of what she had. She didn't take chances and valued people. She'd never hit the popular tabloids but she ended up being very happy.
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Dara
Dara rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
12/29/07

bookshelves: a-personal-favorite
All of her books are easy reads. Great for the beach! And if you love the South Carolina lowcountry, well these are definitely recommended!
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Suzanne
Suzanne rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/02/08

Read in May, 2008
Great summer beach read about a woman standing on her own 2 feet after a very long time. A feel good kind of story that is a fast read.
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Lisa
Lisa rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/25/08

Dorthea Benton Frank writes a lot about Charleston and the areas surrounding. Great beach reads, lots of fun!
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Cathy
Cathy rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/28/07

Read in January, 2005
This book was good! Made me laugh and learn about not sweating the small stuff and reaching for your dreams.
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Allison
Allison rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/31/08

LOVED all of her books - there's a whole series of different parts of the low-country
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Dianna
Dianna rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
07/03/08

Could see all the settings as if it was yesterday, even the house.
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Annie
Annie rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/08/07

Read in October, 2004
Interesting characters... so-so story. Not one of my favorites.
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Susan
01/25/08

Very enjoyable and I fell in love with the characters.
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Julie
Julie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/22/08

If you're a lover of the South this is a most read!
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Joanne
Joanne rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/30/08

A good beach read about the Lowcountry!
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.94 (297 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.95 (269 ratings)
number of reviews: 27






other editions

Isle of Palms (Paperback)
Isle of Palms (Hardcover)
Isle of Palms (Lowcountry Tales (Thorndike Press))