Summer Harbor: A Novel

by Susan Wilson

It was a beautiful New England beach town in which dreams were made, and love, like the tide, would fall and rise again....
Kiley Harris hasn't been to her family's summer home at Hawke's Cove for nearly twenty years. As a child, she couldn't wait to be reunited with her two best beach-house friends, Grainger Egan and Mack MacKenzie. Kiley and the boys were an unshakable trio -- sailing and swimming every day, playing cards on the porch at dusk, and sharing their dreams. But everything changed the summer before they left for college, when the boys' friendship turned to rivalry over Kiley -- with tragic results. Since then Kiley has been in self-imposed exile from the place she once loved so much. But now that her parents are ready to sell the property, Kiley feels compelled to return to Hawke's Cove with her teenage son Will and come face to face with the past...and with the man who may be Will's father.
Summer Harbor is a moving story of the frailties of youth, the wisdom that comes with age, and the never-ending mysteries of the heart.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction

353 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 27, 2003

About the author

Born in Providence, RI, raised in Middlefield (Rockfall) Connecticut. Post High School Education, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT and Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and two grandsons - plus four step grands.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.

Those are the stats. I am a novelist, ten published, one in progress. I frequently contribute to the on-line magazine, Stay Thirsty.

Reviews

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

reviewed at : Mama Kucing Books : Summer Harbor by Susan Wilson

This is overall not a bad real. Enough suspense to keep me wondering. A nice books to curl up during a rainy day and a day when you need romance

[Angie Gazdziak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. I asked the librarian for a recommendation. I said I disliked romance, sci-fi, and most fantasy. She suggested this, and it is not so subtly a romance novel. Characters are poorly developed and driven by one motivating factor. There is a "big reveal" regarding one character that you can figure out at the beginning. Everyone is hung up on "THAT SUMMER" and no one has moved on. Arrested development, much? Every character speaks exactly the same way, and they all have extensive vocabularies for people who are supposed to be young or "uneducated" or what have you.

It’s a quick read, but not one I’d recommend. If you like romance novels or books that don’t make you think, go right ahead.

[Morgen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nineteen years ago Mack, Grainger and Kiley were the best of friends, sharing each summer at Hawk's Cove. Their closeness lead to hurt when both boys decided they were in love with Kiley. Now it's the present and Kiley's 18 year old (hmmm...) son wants to know who his father is and what drove his mother away from Hawk's Cove ever since?

[Sally Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this book. This was one of those 'oh this happened and we will all go our own ways and never confront our feelings or finish things up' type of books. Some folks might just love it, and maybe in times gone by I would have as well. But it didn't have the depth I'd like to see in a really good novel, and the pace was pretty slow for my taste.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[M. Schilling · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story was slow moving and so predictable. I almost gave up on it, but scanned the last pages just to put an end to it.

[DBart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading - much needed after Dad's small stroke. :)

[Amy PennyPacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can always count on Susan to provide a sweet, heartwarming story.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story; easy read. Just enough

[Susan Hermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book for people who are always thinking about events that have happened in their childhood that they want to forget, but due to unforeseen circumstances can't.

[Fran]

Debra Webb

[Alyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

story is about three childhood friends: mack, grainger and kiley. things changed the summer they grew up. she loved mack and grainger but each in a different way. one a lover and one a beloved. this love destroyed their friendship, she left the summer house never to come back, pregnant, without knowing the father of her child.

fast forward, eighteen years, Kiley goes back to sell the family summer house. Will, her son tries to open old wounds and stir up old memories....tries to find his father and put his feeling of longing to rest.

i won't spoil the story of telling you who will's father was, it is for you to find out.

a book of tragedy, love, guilt, friendship, family and a whole lot more.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too cookie-cutter. You knew what was going to happen in the end at the beginning of the book. The conversations were weird and choppy and it took the first 150 pages to get thru one day and then 200 pages to finish up 3 more weeks. Also, the main character's son was way too tapped into his feelings. Ick.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a heartwarming book of love, sadness, and redemption. It mixes kids coming of age with the adults they have become. It explores their mistakes, and how it shaped who they were. Another wonderful book by Susan Wilson.

[Karen Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great beach read about three childhood friends and how their lives innertwined when the girl returns to the old family beach house after many years.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was predictable. I pretty much read it because I wanted a light read and this was it. I'm not big into books like this and wouldn't have been a pick of mine to read. I got it as a wedding gift.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

An involved and rewarding story about friendship, love, family relationships and continuity.

Very nicely written with intense feelings.

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular. No surprises to keep your interest.

The ending had 3 options. I'm not sure if I would have chosen the book's ending, but, then again, maybe I would have.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I suggest Susan Wilson.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely easy read about good people ,

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beach read!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice summer vacation read.

[Zoe Jussel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic little chick lit book. Easy read and nothing memorable but not sorry I read it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was pretty good. A little confusing at times when she did the memory recaps. But other than that a good book.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me of some Nick Sparks books , was a nice holiday read .

[Marie Buccellato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book that shows you how to bury the past. Face it & life does go on. Recommend reading this

[Carol Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Susan Wilson. Love her writing. Predictable ending, but a great story line and character development.

[Aleksandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Waste of time, nothing new, nothing surprising. A lot of drama, cheesy drama to be honest. Everything was easy to predict and horribly impossible to happen in real life.

[Star Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was rooting for Grainger, not knowing what actually happened to Mack. Lots of Angst in this one. I wanted to brain the heroine.