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A Summer Reunion
One perfect villa, four old friends, and a holiday that will change everything...
Amy, Linda, Kate and Jane were best friends at school. Now, years later, they have grown apart. When Amy discovers her husband has been stealing from her successful interiors business, and with a milestone birthday looming, she decides it is the time to reach out to her old friends once again.
So, she decides to invite the other three to her beautiful villa in Mallorca for a reunion weekend. As the four friends gather, secrets are unearthed, old scores settled and new friendships forged. Will this holiday bring them together or tear them apart? And will each of them grasp their second chance for happiness...?
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2019
124 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Fanny Blake
38 books117 followers Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing fiction and general non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written several bestsellers and acted as ghost writer for a number of celebrities. She is also Books Editor of womanandhome magazine. Her novels include The Secrets Women Keep (Orion) and With a Friend Like You (Orion).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 29, 2019
A tense reunion between school friends 40 years after they parted ways set in a Mallorcan hideaway.. an entertaining and unexpectedly insightful story.
The protagonist in A Summer Reunion is Amy Green, successful businesswoman and inspiration behind the interior design range she founded almost thirty years ago. From the outside she looks to have the perfect life, but when she discovers her husband, Rob, has been defrauding the company and conducting a lengthy affair, she feels like her world is crumbling. Instead of looking forward to her milestone sixtieth birthday, her business hangs in the balance and her relationship in ruins..
For Amy, faced with a life in tatters it is an all too painful reminder of the last time her future was turned upside down as a seventeen-year-old sixth former with ambitions of being a doctor. That incident which led to Amy’s expulsion from St Catherine’s School for Girls in the summer of 1976 marked a parting of the ways for the previously thick as thieves quartet of Amy, Jane, the ringleader for whom image was everything, bright as a button Linda and easy-going Kate. Over forty years later Amy remembers the all-consuming pain and the mix of disbelief, hurt and fury which left her branded a liar and a thief. But having overcome one such disaster and eventually triumphed, what can Amy learn from resolving the past and forging onwards into a future without Rob by her side?
When Amy gets in contact with Linda, Kate and Jane and invites them all to a five day reunion in the stunning surroundings of her palatial Mallorcan hideaway in the mountains just above the village of Fornalutx, it is evident she has an ulterior motive and intends to confront the person responsible and straighten out the record. There is more than a frisson of tension as the group initially meet up, making it hard to believe they were once inseparable but each of the three women has their reasons for taking the chance to escape from their lives back home - not that they have any intention of sharing with the others:
Farmer’s wife for over thirty years and mother of five, Kate, is sick of being taken for granted by her family and longs for some excitement amidst the daily drudgery of life on a busy working farm; librarian, Linda, is expecting to be made redundant from her lowly job on the enquiries desk now that the project she was hired for and the married man who was her boss and long-term lover has retired and their romance is over; medical oncologist Linda is the high-flyer, married to her second husband with an impending work tribunal on the horizon and an ongoing affair on her mind.
As Amy does her best to make her trio of guests relax the superficial fake smiles belie the undercurrents of tension and as chapters alternate from Amy in the first-person to one of her guests in the third-person, rotating around each of Linda, Kate and Jane, Fanny Blake fleshes out each of the group in vivid detail. But as the tension edges higher as events and unexpected arrivals intrude with dramatic effect there is plenty of amusement! The denouement holds quite a few shocks in store as it turns out there are far more complex issues ensuring several of the group had their own specific reasons for being reticent about discussing the events of the past, and as Blake draws these circumstances out, friendships are renewed whilst others flounder... Realistic, insightful and uplifting, A Summer Reunion takes the reader behind the facades each of the women uphold and explores how their formative schooldays experience has gone on to impact their lives.
Not only did the novel far exceed my expectations with the mix of drama, perceptive insights and depth, it was also a well-paced, suspenseful and best of all, unpredictable read. I was completely unprepared for the secrets that were unearthed with the more painful memories sensitively handled and managed to bring a credible and poignant conclusion to the drama. But whether the guilty party will belatedly take responsibility for their actions or if the reunion is ever likely to be repeated is for the reader to discover...
A wonderful exploration of revisiting friendships, coming to terms with the past and dropping the facades we often present. I am definitely keen to read more of Fanny Blake’s novels featuring mature women exploring situations which any ordinary woman might find themselves facing.
The protagonist in A Summer Reunion is Amy Green, successful businesswoman and inspiration behind the interior design range she founded almost thirty years ago. From the outside she looks to have the perfect life, but when she discovers her husband, Rob, has been defrauding the company and conducting a lengthy affair, she feels like her world is crumbling. Instead of looking forward to her milestone sixtieth birthday, her business hangs in the balance and her relationship in ruins..
For Amy, faced with a life in tatters it is an all too painful reminder of the last time her future was turned upside down as a seventeen-year-old sixth former with ambitions of being a doctor. That incident which led to Amy’s expulsion from St Catherine’s School for Girls in the summer of 1976 marked a parting of the ways for the previously thick as thieves quartet of Amy, Jane, the ringleader for whom image was everything, bright as a button Linda and easy-going Kate. Over forty years later Amy remembers the all-consuming pain and the mix of disbelief, hurt and fury which left her branded a liar and a thief. But having overcome one such disaster and eventually triumphed, what can Amy learn from resolving the past and forging onwards into a future without Rob by her side?
When Amy gets in contact with Linda, Kate and Jane and invites them all to a five day reunion in the stunning surroundings of her palatial Mallorcan hideaway in the mountains just above the village of Fornalutx, it is evident she has an ulterior motive and intends to confront the person responsible and straighten out the record. There is more than a frisson of tension as the group initially meet up, making it hard to believe they were once inseparable but each of the three women has their reasons for taking the chance to escape from their lives back home - not that they have any intention of sharing with the others:
Farmer’s wife for over thirty years and mother of five, Kate, is sick of being taken for granted by her family and longs for some excitement amidst the daily drudgery of life on a busy working farm; librarian, Linda, is expecting to be made redundant from her lowly job on the enquiries desk now that the project she was hired for and the married man who was her boss and long-term lover has retired and their romance is over; medical oncologist Linda is the high-flyer, married to her second husband with an impending work tribunal on the horizon and an ongoing affair on her mind.
As Amy does her best to make her trio of guests relax the superficial fake smiles belie the undercurrents of tension and as chapters alternate from Amy in the first-person to one of her guests in the third-person, rotating around each of Linda, Kate and Jane, Fanny Blake fleshes out each of the group in vivid detail. But as the tension edges higher as events and unexpected arrivals intrude with dramatic effect there is plenty of amusement! The denouement holds quite a few shocks in store as it turns out there are far more complex issues ensuring several of the group had their own specific reasons for being reticent about discussing the events of the past, and as Blake draws these circumstances out, friendships are renewed whilst others flounder... Realistic, insightful and uplifting, A Summer Reunion takes the reader behind the facades each of the women uphold and explores how their formative schooldays experience has gone on to impact their lives.
Not only did the novel far exceed my expectations with the mix of drama, perceptive insights and depth, it was also a well-paced, suspenseful and best of all, unpredictable read. I was completely unprepared for the secrets that were unearthed with the more painful memories sensitively handled and managed to bring a credible and poignant conclusion to the drama. But whether the guilty party will belatedly take responsibility for their actions or if the reunion is ever likely to be repeated is for the reader to discover...
A wonderful exploration of revisiting friendships, coming to terms with the past and dropping the facades we often present. I am definitely keen to read more of Fanny Blake’s novels featuring mature women exploring situations which any ordinary woman might find themselves facing.
June 16, 2019
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Another fascinating and insightful read from Fanny Blake! There’s a sunny location to enjoy but this books has lots of depth and hidden shadows as four friends gather in a Mallorcan villa
What I love about Fanny Blake’s books is the way she takes very ordinary older women and gets inside their minds, lives and makes them open up to the world. Sometimes older women in fiction aren’t given prime story lines but these characters have them in bucket loads. There’s some secrets amongst this lot. Just when you think four women approaching a landmark birthday might be enjoying the quiet life!
Amy’s husband is cheating the company and cheating on her, Kate has two husbands on the go. One is an ex – but he’s very much in the present! And as for Linda and Jane! It’s all very Housewives of Mallorca if there was such a programme. They could fill several episodes and then some.
Joking aside, the story gathers them at a villa in Mallorca, a gorgeous setting far away from their hum drums lives to open up and relax, think about what they want in live, and to reconnect not just with themselves but with each other. The idea of going to such a gorgeous village sounds lovely and it would help anyone sort their head out. But secrets even come out here…
Fanny is a writer who writes from the heart and puts real-life, realistic women in difficult and challenging situations. It goes to show how important female friends are! And that the phrase – a woman is like a teabag – you don’t know how wrong she really is until she’s placed in hot water is very apt here.
Oh and just one more thing – I really must go to Soller market and buy the ensaimaidas!
June 15, 2019
Without doubt The Summer Reunion has become my favourite book by Fanny Blake. It was thoroughly enjoyable and even though it had a relatively short timeframe overall, as it was more or less set across one long weekend, there was so much happening that the story was kept fresh and invigorating keeping the reader on their toes. The book itself has a simple concept, a group of four women now in their early sixties gather together at a reunion of sorts at a villa on the island of Mallorca. Each woman comes to the gathering with plenty of baggage just waiting to spill forth and the events of the past while they were in their final year of school still have a heavy emotional impact on their lives today. Will the weekend away prove all fun in the sun or is now the right time for everyone to get things off their chest, to air their grievances and reveal hidden secrets which have long been tearing them apart?
A weekend away sounds glorious, so peaceful and relaxing but from the outset I'm not sure that's what was in store for everyone. I really enjoyed how everything was more or less drip fed to the reader at a steady pace. The stages of reveal were just perfect, not too slow to have me slogging through chapters and finding them hard going with little or no action or moving forward with the story. Just at the most apt moments a little nugget was thrown in to have you questioning everything you had thought to be true. It showed how certain characters in particular could not be taken at face value and that really you were best to sit back and let everything unfold and observe the fallout from what was said or done.
Initially we are introduced to the four women and given some information about their backgrounds and their current life situations. Often I find it difficult to keep track of who is who and what is ongoing in their lives but here I found it relatively easy. I was keen to see how each of them connected together and what exactly was it that was eating Amy up inside. Amy was the instigator for the reunion as she was the one who issued the invitations to her villa bought on the back of her success with her interior design company Amy Green. It has been very successful but things are looking a little ropey both personally and professionally as she discover two things about her husband Rob that have thrown her ordered world into chaos.
She has to re-evaluate everything and having the weekend away will also provide her with the ideal opportunity to confront a major event from the past the affects of which she still feels deeply in the present. She was expelled from school in her final year, the full and true circumstances of which only become known the further we delve into the story. This life changing event had an adverse affect on her as her dreams were shattered and she feels at times she had to settle for second best even though she loves working in interior design. Amy feels her life was overturned, that an injustice was served and that if she can right the past she can begin to put some control on her life which she believes may be beginning to spiral out of control.
Amy was clearly still being eaten up by the cruelty she feels has been inflicted upon her and that in order to right the wrongs she needs to find out the truth. But which of the three other women was the one who made sure the blame was laid at Amy's door and why did they do this? Over the course of several days Amy bides her time but one thing is for sure they will not leave the villa until all the facts are out in the open. I loved the tension that was simmering from every chapter. As the feelings of unfinished business intensify, I felt everything was like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. With one careful nudge everything would explode. As we progress further through the story it soon becomes apparent that everything wasn't as straight forward as one might have first thought and that there are many layers to be peeled back.
It was obvious for some this weekend away was about recharging the batteries but for others there were ulterior motives. It sounds like this was a sinister read but it wasn't in the slightest but nor was it a lovely, easy, light read and I was thankful for that. Fanny Blake really gave her readers something to get stuck into. I found the story to be thought provoking and interesting and it tells a lot about women and the inner workings of a group who seem so close at school yet over forty years later they have rarely if at all made contact with each other. Amy was the catalyst seeking understanding, retribution and answers. But would she be willing to forgive once she heard the true extent of what was going on? I admired her for having the courage to face what had tormented her for so many years but would she be willing to deal with what she slowly starts to uncover as the pieces of the puzzle begin to slot together?
Kate's story was perhaps the weakest in my opinion. She just seemed a little too stereo typical of a character. She was perfectly nice but I did feel her story had been covered many times before in books. She had what she had always wanted in life but now was unhappy with it. She is married to a farmer and has four more or less grown up children and lives in a beautiful house but she feels put upon and taken for granted. That her life is one of routine and the same old thing day in day out with her family presuming she will always be there to answer to their beck and call. She decides to do something for herself in the hopes that her husband and children will recognise and value her more. So she accepts Amy's invitation to get away from it all in the hopes of overturning her mundane life. Her storyline once on the island, again seemed like I had read it plenty of times previously and I didn't like the direction it was taking. Would she give into temptation when a little interest is shown her way or will she realise the love she has for her family and maybe there is a way to make her feel more valued and worthwhile?
Linda was the one out of the group who I felt was really floundering in her life and perhaps she was the weakest. She seemed all over the place emotionally and now that she is faced with a life changing decision she hasn't the courage to just go for it. Abandonment issues and work problems formed the core of her character. What she viewed as her rock and crutch had been taken away from her and without this it was like she was cast adrift at sea searching for the life ring but it always seemed to elude her grasp. In a way Linda surprised me the most when she tries to come clean with things and time and time again the opinions I had formed of certain characters changed because of something they said or did and I didn't know who to believe with regards to past events or current developing situations.
The final woman to make up the group and perhaps the most reluctant to accept the invitation is Jane. She works as an oncologist in a very high powered role that is emotive and stressful. With regards to her job she is facing a major challenge which could see her carefully constructed career go up in smoke. She is nervous and apprehensive about the trip but also fearful of certain things about her being discovered. I can honestly say I didn't like Jane at all. I thought her personal situation with regards to romance what on earth was she up to. She was like the cat that got the cream but went about doing so in the most despicable of ways and if the others knew their already shaky viewpoint of her would rapidly change.
Jane was playing a very risky game and I felt she was very unpredictable and she was a loose cannon that could go off at any minute. She didn't endear herself much to the other women nor to me. I thought she was selfish wanting two major things and keeping one hidden from the other. Why couldn't she be satisfied with what she had but perhaps the drive she has for her job overlapped into her personal and family life and once she was on a roll with something she had no desire to stop it. I did want her to get some sort of comeuppance not necessarily amongst the group of women but within her family life as I thought she was cruel and egotistical.
As the women gather for an eventful few days at the villa. I thought all the problems, feelings, assumptions and judgements were perfectly balanced with the glorious descriptions of the island which Fanny Blake showcased to perfection. It would definitely make you want to go to Mallorca and read this book while you were there and be thankful that you yourself weren't going through such tumultuous times. It was certainly a revelation to watch carefully constructed lives and façades fall apart and it made for a riveting, compelling and engrossing read. Don't be fooled by the beautiful cover there is certainly a lot more going on in this book than at first meets the eye and I was so glad I choose to read this story. Definitely recommended to be read a soon as possible.
A weekend away sounds glorious, so peaceful and relaxing but from the outset I'm not sure that's what was in store for everyone. I really enjoyed how everything was more or less drip fed to the reader at a steady pace. The stages of reveal were just perfect, not too slow to have me slogging through chapters and finding them hard going with little or no action or moving forward with the story. Just at the most apt moments a little nugget was thrown in to have you questioning everything you had thought to be true. It showed how certain characters in particular could not be taken at face value and that really you were best to sit back and let everything unfold and observe the fallout from what was said or done.
Initially we are introduced to the four women and given some information about their backgrounds and their current life situations. Often I find it difficult to keep track of who is who and what is ongoing in their lives but here I found it relatively easy. I was keen to see how each of them connected together and what exactly was it that was eating Amy up inside. Amy was the instigator for the reunion as she was the one who issued the invitations to her villa bought on the back of her success with her interior design company Amy Green. It has been very successful but things are looking a little ropey both personally and professionally as she discover two things about her husband Rob that have thrown her ordered world into chaos.
She has to re-evaluate everything and having the weekend away will also provide her with the ideal opportunity to confront a major event from the past the affects of which she still feels deeply in the present. She was expelled from school in her final year, the full and true circumstances of which only become known the further we delve into the story. This life changing event had an adverse affect on her as her dreams were shattered and she feels at times she had to settle for second best even though she loves working in interior design. Amy feels her life was overturned, that an injustice was served and that if she can right the past she can begin to put some control on her life which she believes may be beginning to spiral out of control.
Amy was clearly still being eaten up by the cruelty she feels has been inflicted upon her and that in order to right the wrongs she needs to find out the truth. But which of the three other women was the one who made sure the blame was laid at Amy's door and why did they do this? Over the course of several days Amy bides her time but one thing is for sure they will not leave the villa until all the facts are out in the open. I loved the tension that was simmering from every chapter. As the feelings of unfinished business intensify, I felt everything was like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. With one careful nudge everything would explode. As we progress further through the story it soon becomes apparent that everything wasn't as straight forward as one might have first thought and that there are many layers to be peeled back.
It was obvious for some this weekend away was about recharging the batteries but for others there were ulterior motives. It sounds like this was a sinister read but it wasn't in the slightest but nor was it a lovely, easy, light read and I was thankful for that. Fanny Blake really gave her readers something to get stuck into. I found the story to be thought provoking and interesting and it tells a lot about women and the inner workings of a group who seem so close at school yet over forty years later they have rarely if at all made contact with each other. Amy was the catalyst seeking understanding, retribution and answers. But would she be willing to forgive once she heard the true extent of what was going on? I admired her for having the courage to face what had tormented her for so many years but would she be willing to deal with what she slowly starts to uncover as the pieces of the puzzle begin to slot together?
Kate's story was perhaps the weakest in my opinion. She just seemed a little too stereo typical of a character. She was perfectly nice but I did feel her story had been covered many times before in books. She had what she had always wanted in life but now was unhappy with it. She is married to a farmer and has four more or less grown up children and lives in a beautiful house but she feels put upon and taken for granted. That her life is one of routine and the same old thing day in day out with her family presuming she will always be there to answer to their beck and call. She decides to do something for herself in the hopes that her husband and children will recognise and value her more. So she accepts Amy's invitation to get away from it all in the hopes of overturning her mundane life. Her storyline once on the island, again seemed like I had read it plenty of times previously and I didn't like the direction it was taking. Would she give into temptation when a little interest is shown her way or will she realise the love she has for her family and maybe there is a way to make her feel more valued and worthwhile?
Linda was the one out of the group who I felt was really floundering in her life and perhaps she was the weakest. She seemed all over the place emotionally and now that she is faced with a life changing decision she hasn't the courage to just go for it. Abandonment issues and work problems formed the core of her character. What she viewed as her rock and crutch had been taken away from her and without this it was like she was cast adrift at sea searching for the life ring but it always seemed to elude her grasp. In a way Linda surprised me the most when she tries to come clean with things and time and time again the opinions I had formed of certain characters changed because of something they said or did and I didn't know who to believe with regards to past events or current developing situations.
The final woman to make up the group and perhaps the most reluctant to accept the invitation is Jane. She works as an oncologist in a very high powered role that is emotive and stressful. With regards to her job she is facing a major challenge which could see her carefully constructed career go up in smoke. She is nervous and apprehensive about the trip but also fearful of certain things about her being discovered. I can honestly say I didn't like Jane at all. I thought her personal situation with regards to romance what on earth was she up to. She was like the cat that got the cream but went about doing so in the most despicable of ways and if the others knew their already shaky viewpoint of her would rapidly change.
Jane was playing a very risky game and I felt she was very unpredictable and she was a loose cannon that could go off at any minute. She didn't endear herself much to the other women nor to me. I thought she was selfish wanting two major things and keeping one hidden from the other. Why couldn't she be satisfied with what she had but perhaps the drive she has for her job overlapped into her personal and family life and once she was on a roll with something she had no desire to stop it. I did want her to get some sort of comeuppance not necessarily amongst the group of women but within her family life as I thought she was cruel and egotistical.
As the women gather for an eventful few days at the villa. I thought all the problems, feelings, assumptions and judgements were perfectly balanced with the glorious descriptions of the island which Fanny Blake showcased to perfection. It would definitely make you want to go to Mallorca and read this book while you were there and be thankful that you yourself weren't going through such tumultuous times. It was certainly a revelation to watch carefully constructed lives and façades fall apart and it made for a riveting, compelling and engrossing read. Don't be fooled by the beautiful cover there is certainly a lot more going on in this book than at first meets the eye and I was so glad I choose to read this story. Definitely recommended to be read a soon as possible.
July 13, 2019
After the first four chapters, one for each of the main characters, you could tell instantly that they all had secrets, and had an inkling they were all remembering the school year they were last together, aged 17, in a different light to each other.
We get hints along the way, about Amy's side of things but she is keen in light of recent events to finally see if she could set the record straight about that incident, in order to help her accept her latest blows in her life.
The ladies haven't been reunited until Amy invites them all out to her villa in Mallorca, and its clear early on that tensions run high, through these ladies in their sixties. All of them have accepted the invitation more because they need an escape from a decision in their own lives, than any real desire to reconnect as a group.
So it is rather interesting to see everything, from all the points of view, and get to know about Amy, Linda, Kate and Jane's lives. It was rather hard to have any empathy at all for Jane, but the other ladies were all wonderful and I really did enjoy seeing their stories develop over the long weekend in Mallorca.
Having worked two summer seasons in Mallorca, I feel I know the bare bones of the island at least, and although I don't know the area near Soller other than by name, nor the other areas mentioned just by name, everything did feel incredibly authentic and and very much Mallorcan.
There are plenty of secrets in this book, and I couldn't get enough of our leading ladies. I loved their differences and even Jane who I really wasn't keen on, did have some admirable qualities, and is probably more misguided in her actions than truly malicious!
I'm not sure I'd want to spend a long weekend abroad with anyone that I went to school with, but it is a book that makes you think what you would do in that sort of situation.
This is a book about 4 strong women, facing their next steps in life at an advanced age, and seeing just how they can cope with the challenges thrown at them, while trying to get resolution on their childhood at long last.
I loved every moment of A Summer Reunion, and to me its easily one of Fanny Blake's most enjoyable and best books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
We get hints along the way, about Amy's side of things but she is keen in light of recent events to finally see if she could set the record straight about that incident, in order to help her accept her latest blows in her life.
The ladies haven't been reunited until Amy invites them all out to her villa in Mallorca, and its clear early on that tensions run high, through these ladies in their sixties. All of them have accepted the invitation more because they need an escape from a decision in their own lives, than any real desire to reconnect as a group.
So it is rather interesting to see everything, from all the points of view, and get to know about Amy, Linda, Kate and Jane's lives. It was rather hard to have any empathy at all for Jane, but the other ladies were all wonderful and I really did enjoy seeing their stories develop over the long weekend in Mallorca.
Having worked two summer seasons in Mallorca, I feel I know the bare bones of the island at least, and although I don't know the area near Soller other than by name, nor the other areas mentioned just by name, everything did feel incredibly authentic and and very much Mallorcan.
There are plenty of secrets in this book, and I couldn't get enough of our leading ladies. I loved their differences and even Jane who I really wasn't keen on, did have some admirable qualities, and is probably more misguided in her actions than truly malicious!
I'm not sure I'd want to spend a long weekend abroad with anyone that I went to school with, but it is a book that makes you think what you would do in that sort of situation.
This is a book about 4 strong women, facing their next steps in life at an advanced age, and seeing just how they can cope with the challenges thrown at them, while trying to get resolution on their childhood at long last.
I loved every moment of A Summer Reunion, and to me its easily one of Fanny Blake's most enjoyable and best books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orion for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
June 22, 2019
I love Fanny Blake's books and this one is brilliant. Her descriptions of Mallorca make it feel so real; the villa, its restaurants and markets are mouth-watering. A tautly written, pacy tale of four old school friends getting together after over forty years at a time of change in each of their lives. Amy, the hostess has never got over being expelled from sixth form, and is searching for answers. A wonderful read.
June 11, 2019
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Oh I thoroughly enjoyed this!! If you're sitting there thinking that 'A Summer Reunion' is going to be all sunshine and relaxation, you have another thing coming. I, like you no doubt, thought the same when I first saw the cover of Fanny Blake's new novel. So, the more of the book I read, the more surprised I was to find that 'A Summer Reunion' has a lot more to it than I originally thought.
As the title suggests, the book is about a reunion which happens in the summer. However, what the cover doesn't state is just how stressful that particular reunion is. Firstly, the four women involved; Amy, Jane, Linda and Kate, haven't seen each other for many years. The last time they were in close proximity of each other ended up severing ties for them. Aside from Jane and Kate though, they're the only two who have had any involvement in the years that have passed since their school days.
What on Earth could have caused such a ruckus? I know that not everyone stays friends with who they went to school with, but seeing as their friendship group is the reason that Amy's life didn't quite go to plan, it must have been something major for them to part ways.
I'm not going to go into detail as to what the ruckus ended up being, and even though the author hints at issues throughout the book, the truth doesn't get revealed properly until nearer the end. What an absolute bombshell. I mean, considering the extremity of said situation, I was very impressed by the way in which Fanny Blake handled the finer details surrounding it. It is an incredibly difficult thing to talk about and, as weird as this sounds, I just loved the way the author approached it as she did the characters, and anyone else who had been in a similar situation, very proud.
I flew through the pages of 'A Summer Reunion', and I lapped up the storyline like the four women lapped up the sunshine in Mallorca. It made a nice change to read about characters who were at a later stage in their life, instead of reading about characters who were merely starting theirs and didn't know much. The wisdom of the four women enlightened me and got completely under my skin - I loved it!
'A Summer Reunion' is an uplifting tale of true friendships, emotional hardships, and uncertain futures. Fanny Blake has written such a heartwarming, atmospheric storyline which allows the reader to be captivated by the trials and tribulations of each individual character. It's deep, it's moving, it's detailed, and it's empathetic. It has everything I could have wanted from a book, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to lose myself in Amy, and her friends lives.
Oh I thoroughly enjoyed this!! If you're sitting there thinking that 'A Summer Reunion' is going to be all sunshine and relaxation, you have another thing coming. I, like you no doubt, thought the same when I first saw the cover of Fanny Blake's new novel. So, the more of the book I read, the more surprised I was to find that 'A Summer Reunion' has a lot more to it than I originally thought.
As the title suggests, the book is about a reunion which happens in the summer. However, what the cover doesn't state is just how stressful that particular reunion is. Firstly, the four women involved; Amy, Jane, Linda and Kate, haven't seen each other for many years. The last time they were in close proximity of each other ended up severing ties for them. Aside from Jane and Kate though, they're the only two who have had any involvement in the years that have passed since their school days.
What on Earth could have caused such a ruckus? I know that not everyone stays friends with who they went to school with, but seeing as their friendship group is the reason that Amy's life didn't quite go to plan, it must have been something major for them to part ways.
I'm not going to go into detail as to what the ruckus ended up being, and even though the author hints at issues throughout the book, the truth doesn't get revealed properly until nearer the end. What an absolute bombshell. I mean, considering the extremity of said situation, I was very impressed by the way in which Fanny Blake handled the finer details surrounding it. It is an incredibly difficult thing to talk about and, as weird as this sounds, I just loved the way the author approached it as she did the characters, and anyone else who had been in a similar situation, very proud.
I flew through the pages of 'A Summer Reunion', and I lapped up the storyline like the four women lapped up the sunshine in Mallorca. It made a nice change to read about characters who were at a later stage in their life, instead of reading about characters who were merely starting theirs and didn't know much. The wisdom of the four women enlightened me and got completely under my skin - I loved it!
'A Summer Reunion' is an uplifting tale of true friendships, emotional hardships, and uncertain futures. Fanny Blake has written such a heartwarming, atmospheric storyline which allows the reader to be captivated by the trials and tribulations of each individual character. It's deep, it's moving, it's detailed, and it's empathetic. It has everything I could have wanted from a book, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to lose myself in Amy, and her friends lives.
June 15, 2019
Novel set near Fornalutx - Mallorca
Assembled on Mallorca: “.. a close-knot group of friends who over the years had survived bouts of bullying, exclusion, betrayals and secrets but who still scapegoated anyone who fell out of line…”
Amy Green is a very successful interior designer, head of the company of the same name which she runs together with her husband. He however has announced that he is leaving her, with one of their employees in tow, to set up a similar business elsewhere. He has also purloined a considerable sum of money from the company.
Back in ’76 Amy was at school with GP Jane (actually she is an oncologist), Librarian Linda (to differentiate her from Jane, as they are a little indistinguishable in the early chapters but certainly grow into their characters as the story progresses) and Country Kate, a farmer’s wife up in Yorkshire. Amy was wrongfully accused of stealing her art teacher’s watch after he had sexually tried to assault her; she was then summarily expelled, dashing her hopes of a career in medicine. She is fully aware that one of her close friends set her up! But, who?
The departure of her husband stokes the desire to understand her past so that she can be free to tackle her future, and the idea of inviting the three erstwhile best buddies to her dream home on Mallorca seems a perfect way to uncover the old, mouldering truth. And get some closure on an old wound.
And thus the four reunite. All are now in their early 60s and each has a personal backstory. In the Mallorca sunshine they enjoy Amy’s luxurious hospitality in beautiful surroundings with wonderful food and wine, an enticing pool and more…. and as the hours pass, the story unfurls to reveal the circumstances of her expulsion. The then trendy art teacher certainly turned a few adolescent heads!
I read this book whilst on holiday in Mallorca and I was charmed to have many of the experiences that were going on in my daily life reflected in the strong prose in this novel. Here’s to many more ensaimadas!
A very readable novel that will transport you to sunny Mallorca. Perfect for a good read by the pool.
A Summer Reunion will also be the #TFBookClub read in July/August 2019. Keep your eyes peeled for further information!
Assembled on Mallorca: “.. a close-knot group of friends who over the years had survived bouts of bullying, exclusion, betrayals and secrets but who still scapegoated anyone who fell out of line…”
Amy Green is a very successful interior designer, head of the company of the same name which she runs together with her husband. He however has announced that he is leaving her, with one of their employees in tow, to set up a similar business elsewhere. He has also purloined a considerable sum of money from the company.
Back in ’76 Amy was at school with GP Jane (actually she is an oncologist), Librarian Linda (to differentiate her from Jane, as they are a little indistinguishable in the early chapters but certainly grow into their characters as the story progresses) and Country Kate, a farmer’s wife up in Yorkshire. Amy was wrongfully accused of stealing her art teacher’s watch after he had sexually tried to assault her; she was then summarily expelled, dashing her hopes of a career in medicine. She is fully aware that one of her close friends set her up! But, who?
The departure of her husband stokes the desire to understand her past so that she can be free to tackle her future, and the idea of inviting the three erstwhile best buddies to her dream home on Mallorca seems a perfect way to uncover the old, mouldering truth. And get some closure on an old wound.
And thus the four reunite. All are now in their early 60s and each has a personal backstory. In the Mallorca sunshine they enjoy Amy’s luxurious hospitality in beautiful surroundings with wonderful food and wine, an enticing pool and more…. and as the hours pass, the story unfurls to reveal the circumstances of her expulsion. The then trendy art teacher certainly turned a few adolescent heads!
I read this book whilst on holiday in Mallorca and I was charmed to have many of the experiences that were going on in my daily life reflected in the strong prose in this novel. Here’s to many more ensaimadas!
A very readable novel that will transport you to sunny Mallorca. Perfect for a good read by the pool.
A Summer Reunion will also be the #TFBookClub read in July/August 2019. Keep your eyes peeled for further information!
June 13, 2019
A Summer reunion focuses on a group of four school friends who haven't really kept in touch since an unknown incident at school. One thing they have in common is they all seem to have aspects of their lives they are unhappy with. When one of the ladies, Amy , suggests a long weekend break at her villa in Mallorca they all reluctantly attend in the hope of salvaging their friendship, figuring out their own lives and hopefully solving issues of the past.
What I found refreshing about this novel is that the four main protagonists are all older characters, making them more relatable to a lady of my age than some characters can be. Some of the ladies are more likable than the others but I think any reader would recognise aspects of themselves and their own friendship groups in all of them. Each character is written beautifully to be individual from the others and to have real life flaws that most of us can identify with.
The setting is stunning and I defy anyone who reads this not to want to buy a villa in Mallorca. Rather than a complete beach setting, Ms Blake has opted for a more picturesque mountain view in a stunning location. despite all the drama in the story plot, it's difficult not to get lost and enjoy the surroundings.
The plot is a page turner and is far from being a simple light story about friendship. It deals with many issues around love, parenting friendship in a mature a sensitive way. Throughout the main story arc, gentle clues are offered to an event that happened when the girls were close to finishing school. This is described and referred to as an event that had a big impact on the girls and changed the course of their lives. The manner in which this event is carefully and daintily woven into the story line makes it impossible to put this book down until you know what it is....and I'm not telling you!
This book is the perfect summer read with a hint of suspense and a beautiful setting.
What I found refreshing about this novel is that the four main protagonists are all older characters, making them more relatable to a lady of my age than some characters can be. Some of the ladies are more likable than the others but I think any reader would recognise aspects of themselves and their own friendship groups in all of them. Each character is written beautifully to be individual from the others and to have real life flaws that most of us can identify with.
The setting is stunning and I defy anyone who reads this not to want to buy a villa in Mallorca. Rather than a complete beach setting, Ms Blake has opted for a more picturesque mountain view in a stunning location. despite all the drama in the story plot, it's difficult not to get lost and enjoy the surroundings.
The plot is a page turner and is far from being a simple light story about friendship. It deals with many issues around love, parenting friendship in a mature a sensitive way. Throughout the main story arc, gentle clues are offered to an event that happened when the girls were close to finishing school. This is described and referred to as an event that had a big impact on the girls and changed the course of their lives. The manner in which this event is carefully and daintily woven into the story line makes it impossible to put this book down until you know what it is....and I'm not telling you!
This book is the perfect summer read with a hint of suspense and a beautiful setting.
May 7, 2019
Life is never perfect… and these four women definitely find that out over the course of A Summer Reunion. They’re all approaching sixty, they were all childhood friends, and their lives are all missing something (this is of course the premise for any great chick flick). So one of the four, Amy, invites them all to her villa in Mallorca for some bonding, and for a chance to put the past to rights.
Though juggling four different points of view can be confusing at times, stick with it: it’s a funny and wise look at how to tackle the curveballs that life throws your way. Though the characters might not all be likeable, they’re definitely all relatable, and by the end you’ll be cheering for all of them.
Though juggling four different points of view can be confusing at times, stick with it: it’s a funny and wise look at how to tackle the curveballs that life throws your way. Though the characters might not all be likeable, they’re definitely all relatable, and by the end you’ll be cheering for all of them.
July 18, 2019
Set in a beautiful villa in Majorca, four old school friends meet all together for the first time in many years. Scarred by an event which happened when they were in the Sixth Form, successful entrepreneur Amy Green, tries to get some kind of closure. As they gradually open up to each other, we see how they were each affected over the years and all of them are carrying their own secrets. I desperately hoped they would make the right decisions and enjoyed the diverse characters even if I couldn't warm to Jane. Beautifully written, great characters and a fabulous setting - perfect for reading by the pool.
August 11, 2021
A bit slow in places but a really good and easy read but still with an interesting story line
June 20, 2020
First book I have read of Fanny Blake's and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I found the description of surroundings and the lives of the 4 women who met for a reunion after many years. I look forward to reading another book from this author. It was lighthearted read but kept me interested.
June 29, 2019
We meet four women; Amy, Kate, Jane and Linda who were best of friends at school. However that was more than forty years ago. Amy decides to invite them all to her villa in Mallorca for a long weekend of sun, sea and sand. The story is mainly told from Amy’s perspective however we also hear from the other women too, this had me turning the pages all too quickly. They all have their own challenges in life but Fanny intertwines these characters perfectly. I found all of the main characters interesting and really wanted to know how each of their stories ended. I feel there can be more to share of the lives of these four incredible determined women.
‘A Summer Reunion’ is about friendship mainly however we see themes such as trust, betrayal and family life issues. Also knowing who has your back no matter what happens 😊
This is my first and certainly won’t be my last ready by Fanny Blake. I love her writing style, it can be very light hearted but when she needs to write about serious matters this is felt through the pages ❤️ ‘A Summer Reunion’ will take you on a journey of twists and turns that you won’t see coming (well I certainly didn’t see them coming!) I give this beautifully written story 5*/5*.
Thank you to Alainna for an advanced copy of this book.
‘A Summer Reunion’ is about friendship mainly however we see themes such as trust, betrayal and family life issues. Also knowing who has your back no matter what happens 😊
This is my first and certainly won’t be my last ready by Fanny Blake. I love her writing style, it can be very light hearted but when she needs to write about serious matters this is felt through the pages ❤️ ‘A Summer Reunion’ will take you on a journey of twists and turns that you won’t see coming (well I certainly didn’t see them coming!) I give this beautifully written story 5*/5*.
Thank you to Alainna for an advanced copy of this book.
September 28, 2020
Reads like a travelogue – plenty of detail about the place. It was hard to get into at first and I found the characters a bit flat, sometimes it was hard to tell who was who. The “mystery” didn’t take long to resolve, why did it take them so many years to have it all out? There were a lot of irritating typos, particularly missing words such as “a” which jarred after a while. It was a pleasant enough read but ultimately disappointing.
December 1, 2019
the descriptions are nice indeed imagas were fluid and vibrant. and i did want to finish it. i liked the initial set up. then it got a bit slow and sticky for me. and i couldn t remember who was who neither. maybe i am to blame...
June 13, 2019
The main characters in "A Summer Reunion" are Amy, Jane, Kate and Linda. They're all in their sixties now, and used to be inseparable childhood friends, until the event that has changed Amy's course of life. There are still things open and so Amy decides to invite all three to her house in Mallorca, in the hope to uncover what has really happened all those years ago and maybe to reconnect. However, as it turns out, they all have secrets and not all of them wants for those secrets to see the light of the day.
I loved the fact that the characters in "A Summer Reunion" are mature and already experienced, that they really have something to tell. There was wisdom in them, although it doesn't mean that they weren't still making mistakes, because they were, but it only made them feel more realistic in my opinion. I simply think that Fanny Blake has brilliantly captured the personalities of her characters, got under their skin and made them living, breathing women who tried their best but not always succeeded, with their lives full of trials and tribulations.
The story is told from different points of view, as we have four main characters here. Mostly it wasn't confusing, except for the chapters that were told from the first person's narration, I always had to wonder which one of the women it is. But other than that you really don't have to worry, simply go with the flow. Though the characters weren't totally likeable for me, I must admit, or at least not all of them, they were for sure relatable, and the one that I liked most must have been Kate, a total housewife, but also relaxed and - at least I had this feeling - taking things with a grain of salt. Well, she had to, with the big family, right?
What surprised me was the fact that this story is not, like I expected, sunshine, cocktails and funny childhood memories, as the cover may suggest. There is so much more to this book than meet the eye, guys, there is depth to it, there is mystery and drama and it went so well with this gorgeous setting and complex, well - drawn characters. You know from the very beginning that Amy, Jane, Linda and Kate were best friends but something bad has happened and they haven't seen each other for years, and I liked that it didn't take the whole book for the secret to be revealed, enlightening what has caused the mutual aversion and all the changes. And it was shocking, this revelation, trust me guys, and it was absolutely well handled by the author. Even though I guessed who it was right from the beginning, it didn't spoil the joy of reading this interesting book, and I wanted - as much as Amy - get a full closure.
Altogether, "A Summer Reunion" was a gripping and thought - provoking story about the fact that grass is not always greener on the other side, about appearances and about appreciating what you have in life, but also not taking this life for granted and grabbing it by the horns. It was wise, it was light - hearted but also poignant and with some heavier issues touched upon. It was a deep, moving but also heart - warming story with a gorgeous setting in sunny Spain about friendship, also the toxic one, full of drama, lies and secrets but also more relaxing moments. It was raw and gritty and bitter - sweet and it pulled me into its midst. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
I loved the fact that the characters in "A Summer Reunion" are mature and already experienced, that they really have something to tell. There was wisdom in them, although it doesn't mean that they weren't still making mistakes, because they were, but it only made them feel more realistic in my opinion. I simply think that Fanny Blake has brilliantly captured the personalities of her characters, got under their skin and made them living, breathing women who tried their best but not always succeeded, with their lives full of trials and tribulations.
The story is told from different points of view, as we have four main characters here. Mostly it wasn't confusing, except for the chapters that were told from the first person's narration, I always had to wonder which one of the women it is. But other than that you really don't have to worry, simply go with the flow. Though the characters weren't totally likeable for me, I must admit, or at least not all of them, they were for sure relatable, and the one that I liked most must have been Kate, a total housewife, but also relaxed and - at least I had this feeling - taking things with a grain of salt. Well, she had to, with the big family, right?
What surprised me was the fact that this story is not, like I expected, sunshine, cocktails and funny childhood memories, as the cover may suggest. There is so much more to this book than meet the eye, guys, there is depth to it, there is mystery and drama and it went so well with this gorgeous setting and complex, well - drawn characters. You know from the very beginning that Amy, Jane, Linda and Kate were best friends but something bad has happened and they haven't seen each other for years, and I liked that it didn't take the whole book for the secret to be revealed, enlightening what has caused the mutual aversion and all the changes. And it was shocking, this revelation, trust me guys, and it was absolutely well handled by the author. Even though I guessed who it was right from the beginning, it didn't spoil the joy of reading this interesting book, and I wanted - as much as Amy - get a full closure.
Altogether, "A Summer Reunion" was a gripping and thought - provoking story about the fact that grass is not always greener on the other side, about appearances and about appreciating what you have in life, but also not taking this life for granted and grabbing it by the horns. It was wise, it was light - hearted but also poignant and with some heavier issues touched upon. It was a deep, moving but also heart - warming story with a gorgeous setting in sunny Spain about friendship, also the toxic one, full of drama, lies and secrets but also more relaxing moments. It was raw and gritty and bitter - sweet and it pulled me into its midst. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
Gathering old school friends for a Mallorcan reunion may not be plain sailing.
What a joy to return to Fanny Blake’s writing, not least when one of the characters has the same first name as me so that I felt instantly engaged (even if I wasn’t terribly sympathetic towards Linda to start with)! In A Summer Reunion, Fanny Blake demonstrates again just how perceptive she is about more mature women and their lives, hopes and dreams making A Summer Reunion such a satisfying read.
Although all four women, Amy, Jane, Kate and Linda, are equally well represented and defined, I thought it was inspired to contrast Amy’s narrative through the first person with the third person for the others because she is the initial catalyst for all the action. I also thought Dan’s presence added depth and balance to the women when the other male characters are mainly off scene.
Baldly, the plot sounds quite prosaic as four women spend a few days together and reminisce about the past but my goodness that doesn’t do justice to the events, themes and personalities that shimmer through the narrative. There are lies and deception, love and passion, menace and memory so that I never quite knew how the events from the past might be resolved. I thoroughly enjoyed the level of mystery and I really wanted Jane to have a terrible comeuppance, but you’ll need to read the book to see why I had that reaction and if it worked out as I’d hoped.
However, aside from the plot which I so enjoyed, it’s the glorious quality of Fanny Blake’s writing that is so appealing. The use of the senses to evoke Mallorca, the naturalistic dialogue that conveys friends chatting, the small details that bring a scene alive, all blend to make a smooth and pleasurable reading experience. Reading A Summer Reunion felt a little bit like a homecoming. I empathised with the characters. I could see traits of myself in their personalities. I wanted to be beside the pool with them in Amy’s villa and I had my own ideas about a certain artist, but I won’t spoil the plot by saying more…
A Summer Reunion is a smashing book. I loved the underlying message that, although our past may have shaped who we are in the present, it doesn’t have to define our future and I finished reading feeling uplifted and content. A Summer Reunion is the perfect holiday read. I can only hope there will be more about all four women in the future!
What a joy to return to Fanny Blake’s writing, not least when one of the characters has the same first name as me so that I felt instantly engaged (even if I wasn’t terribly sympathetic towards Linda to start with)! In A Summer Reunion, Fanny Blake demonstrates again just how perceptive she is about more mature women and their lives, hopes and dreams making A Summer Reunion such a satisfying read.
Although all four women, Amy, Jane, Kate and Linda, are equally well represented and defined, I thought it was inspired to contrast Amy’s narrative through the first person with the third person for the others because she is the initial catalyst for all the action. I also thought Dan’s presence added depth and balance to the women when the other male characters are mainly off scene.
Baldly, the plot sounds quite prosaic as four women spend a few days together and reminisce about the past but my goodness that doesn’t do justice to the events, themes and personalities that shimmer through the narrative. There are lies and deception, love and passion, menace and memory so that I never quite knew how the events from the past might be resolved. I thoroughly enjoyed the level of mystery and I really wanted Jane to have a terrible comeuppance, but you’ll need to read the book to see why I had that reaction and if it worked out as I’d hoped.
However, aside from the plot which I so enjoyed, it’s the glorious quality of Fanny Blake’s writing that is so appealing. The use of the senses to evoke Mallorca, the naturalistic dialogue that conveys friends chatting, the small details that bring a scene alive, all blend to make a smooth and pleasurable reading experience. Reading A Summer Reunion felt a little bit like a homecoming. I empathised with the characters. I could see traits of myself in their personalities. I wanted to be beside the pool with them in Amy’s villa and I had my own ideas about a certain artist, but I won’t spoil the plot by saying more…
A Summer Reunion is a smashing book. I loved the underlying message that, although our past may have shaped who we are in the present, it doesn’t have to define our future and I finished reading feeling uplifted and content. A Summer Reunion is the perfect holiday read. I can only hope there will be more about all four women in the future!
June 15, 2019
I feel like I really should have read a Fanny Blake novel before, but this happens to be my first and I enjoyed it very much indeed.
We start off meeting Amy, a woman who has a very successful home interiors business (think shades of Laura Ashley). When she finds out her husband has betrayed her in more ways than one, it forces her to think of an old hurt, one which was never resolved and which has been in the background of her life since she was a schoolgirl. To try and put the matter to bed she invites three old friends from that time to her villa in Mallorca. Given that they haven't seen much of each other over the years it's quite a risky strategy and I did wonder how I would feel suddenly being thrust together with people I knew at school.
Anyway, Linda, Jane and Kate accept Amy's invitation and they spend a few days together. There's plenty of ups and downs, mostly because of the quite difficult Jane, but by the end of the holiday things are quite different for all of them.
Two things about this book really stand out for me. The first is that this is not a group of twenty-something women, these are sixty year old women. It's so nice to read a story featuring this age group for once. They're women who have been through plenty in their lives to get to where they are and whilst it hasn't always been easy, they can use their experiences to make the next stage of their lives even better. The second thing is that I thought the author really brought Mallorca to life with her evocative descriptions. I could really feel the sunshine, and the smells, sounds, places were there quite strongly in my imagination.
A Summer Reunion is a lovely read, perfect for a holiday but great for any time really. The writing is absorbing and enjoyable, and it's easy to read, yet doesn't shy away from difficult subjects. Friendships from the past don't always last but in this case the characters have had a second chance and I loved that. I'm sure this won't be my last Fanny Blake book.
We start off meeting Amy, a woman who has a very successful home interiors business (think shades of Laura Ashley). When she finds out her husband has betrayed her in more ways than one, it forces her to think of an old hurt, one which was never resolved and which has been in the background of her life since she was a schoolgirl. To try and put the matter to bed she invites three old friends from that time to her villa in Mallorca. Given that they haven't seen much of each other over the years it's quite a risky strategy and I did wonder how I would feel suddenly being thrust together with people I knew at school.
Anyway, Linda, Jane and Kate accept Amy's invitation and they spend a few days together. There's plenty of ups and downs, mostly because of the quite difficult Jane, but by the end of the holiday things are quite different for all of them.
Two things about this book really stand out for me. The first is that this is not a group of twenty-something women, these are sixty year old women. It's so nice to read a story featuring this age group for once. They're women who have been through plenty in their lives to get to where they are and whilst it hasn't always been easy, they can use their experiences to make the next stage of their lives even better. The second thing is that I thought the author really brought Mallorca to life with her evocative descriptions. I could really feel the sunshine, and the smells, sounds, places were there quite strongly in my imagination.
A Summer Reunion is a lovely read, perfect for a holiday but great for any time really. The writing is absorbing and enjoyable, and it's easy to read, yet doesn't shy away from difficult subjects. Friendships from the past don't always last but in this case the characters have had a second chance and I loved that. I'm sure this won't be my last Fanny Blake book.
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March 2, 2024This was the first novel by Fanny Blake that I read. I was looking for a book about women in their 50s-60s and this, with a 'milestone birthday' coming up seemed to fit the bill. The four main characters each had their own dedicated chapters detailing their individual stories - both what they were going through individually in the present, and what linked them to a life-changing moment during their school days.
I loved the opening sentence: 'I still remember that morning, the morning my life changed irrevocably and not for the first time'. There is so much in that sentence that made me want to read on. Firstly, that repetition of 'that morning, the morning' showing how important the events that followed were to the main character, Amy. And then we find out that there had been (at least) one other life-changing situation which hooks the reader straight into the action.
I like the way, while we're going through Amy's heartbreaking troubles in the present, information about what happened in the past is being drip-fed to the reader, whose job it is then to piece it all together before the reveal.
It was interesting that Amy's chapters, as the main character, were written in the first-person and that the other three were written in the third-person, thus giving the reader different degrees of psychic distance. We need to know how drastically these life-changing situations affected Amy whereas it was not so important to have that insight into the secondary characters' minds.
This was a fun read, with some very tense moments. The ending was refreshing as it didn't tie everything up with a neat bow - life's not like that. Instead, this was more about people who used to be close exploring the possibilities of becoming close again but with their past actions holding them back a bit. It was notable that Amy states 'I was so glad to have these two women back in my life again', rather than the full three.
I would thoroughly recommend.
I loved the opening sentence: 'I still remember that morning, the morning my life changed irrevocably and not for the first time'. There is so much in that sentence that made me want to read on. Firstly, that repetition of 'that morning, the morning' showing how important the events that followed were to the main character, Amy. And then we find out that there had been (at least) one other life-changing situation which hooks the reader straight into the action.
I like the way, while we're going through Amy's heartbreaking troubles in the present, information about what happened in the past is being drip-fed to the reader, whose job it is then to piece it all together before the reveal.
It was interesting that Amy's chapters, as the main character, were written in the first-person and that the other three were written in the third-person, thus giving the reader different degrees of psychic distance. We need to know how drastically these life-changing situations affected Amy whereas it was not so important to have that insight into the secondary characters' minds.
This was a fun read, with some very tense moments. The ending was refreshing as it didn't tie everything up with a neat bow - life's not like that. Instead, this was more about people who used to be close exploring the possibilities of becoming close again but with their past actions holding them back a bit. It was notable that Amy states 'I was so glad to have these two women back in my life again', rather than the full three.
I would thoroughly recommend.
July 4, 2019
This was my first book by Fanny, and it was a lovely introduction to her writing.
A book about four friends who reunite for a break at a villa in Mallorca. Each of them has their own backstory - Amy has her own interior design business and a philandering husband, Linda is missing the man she is having an affair with. Kate works on a farm with her family, including her husband who bought her a duvet for her birthday! Jane is in a bit of bother at work and in her sticky home life - and all of them need a break in the sunshine.
Amy was expelled from school following a traumatic event, quashing her dreams of being a doctor - but nothing about the history surrounding this moment is what is seems, and this tight-knit circle of friends has been part of her life for so long... but there are secrets within the group. These secrets hold the key to Amy's past, and the group's future.
And Amy wants to know what these women are holding back....
Each of the women has their own life dramas and baggage - past and present. And as the book continues, history is fleshed out and secrets are revealed.
From looking at the cover of the book, you might mistakenly think this is a romcom, a Shirley Valentine-style reawakening of four middle aged women seeking something new in their lives - you'd be very wrong. The book is dramatic, sad, suspenseful, and a deep dive into the female psyche, with Amy leading the pack in search of answers to help heal her emotional wounds.
I really enjoyed A Summer Reunion and recommend it for a summer read with a difference.
A book about four friends who reunite for a break at a villa in Mallorca. Each of them has their own backstory - Amy has her own interior design business and a philandering husband, Linda is missing the man she is having an affair with. Kate works on a farm with her family, including her husband who bought her a duvet for her birthday! Jane is in a bit of bother at work and in her sticky home life - and all of them need a break in the sunshine.
Amy was expelled from school following a traumatic event, quashing her dreams of being a doctor - but nothing about the history surrounding this moment is what is seems, and this tight-knit circle of friends has been part of her life for so long... but there are secrets within the group. These secrets hold the key to Amy's past, and the group's future.
And Amy wants to know what these women are holding back....
Each of the women has their own life dramas and baggage - past and present. And as the book continues, history is fleshed out and secrets are revealed.
From looking at the cover of the book, you might mistakenly think this is a romcom, a Shirley Valentine-style reawakening of four middle aged women seeking something new in their lives - you'd be very wrong. The book is dramatic, sad, suspenseful, and a deep dive into the female psyche, with Amy leading the pack in search of answers to help heal her emotional wounds.
I really enjoyed A Summer Reunion and recommend it for a summer read with a difference.
June 14, 2019
Amy runs a successful business but it's not what she wanted to do when she left school. Now over thirty years later things are going wrong both in her business and personal life. She realises that to move on she needs to confront what happened to her at school and why it caused her life to spiral out of control.
She knows she was let down by her three childhood friends,Jane, ,Linda and Kate and that probably one of them was to blame for what happened to her.
Over years the friends have been in touch with each other now and again but Amy decides to invite them all for a week end at her villa in Mallorca.
As they all meet expecting to have a chilled out few days from their problems the last thing they expect is to see a face from the past and to be confronted by Amy about what went on back then.
I enjoyed this book it was an easy read. One of the woman wasn't very likeable and it stayed that way with me throughout the book.
I thought Amy was quite mad to think they would all get on over a few days but I don't think she really cared that much.
The descriptions of Mallorca and the villa made it all very real. I have visited Soller where the women went for meals and drinks and it's just as lovely as described.
I love that Fanny Blake writes stories for older women. Her women are strong and vibrant and also get the better of the men who are usually weak and useless.
Another good story by a great author.
She knows she was let down by her three childhood friends,Jane, ,Linda and Kate and that probably one of them was to blame for what happened to her.
Over years the friends have been in touch with each other now and again but Amy decides to invite them all for a week end at her villa in Mallorca.
As they all meet expecting to have a chilled out few days from their problems the last thing they expect is to see a face from the past and to be confronted by Amy about what went on back then.
I enjoyed this book it was an easy read. One of the woman wasn't very likeable and it stayed that way with me throughout the book.
I thought Amy was quite mad to think they would all get on over a few days but I don't think she really cared that much.
The descriptions of Mallorca and the villa made it all very real. I have visited Soller where the women went for meals and drinks and it's just as lovely as described.
I love that Fanny Blake writes stories for older women. Her women are strong and vibrant and also get the better of the men who are usually weak and useless.
Another good story by a great author.
June 11, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the tour organiser
An entertaining story about friendship and life, A SUMMER REUNION by Fanny Blake is a delightful read for the summer.
Amy, Linda, Kate, and Jane are all now in their sixties and when they were at school they were inseparable until that one day that changed the course of Amy's life. Now Amy's life is undergoing another change and it has made her think about her old school chums, some of whom she has remained loosely in contact with. Needing a break Amy invites the three other ladies to spend some time with her in Mallorca hoping to reconnect and uncover what happened all those years ago. But each one of these women has their own turbulent and emotional issues going on in their own lives and coming together may just blow the lid off their polite camaraderie.
Each character is very different and relatable, and some are definitely more likeable than others. There is plenty of drama, laughs, misunderstandings, and secrets along the way, all set against the beautiful backdrop of sunny Spain where some of them may even find the missing piece in their lives while on this holiday.
A SUMMER REUNION by Fanny Blake is sure to entertain fiction fans and I enjoyed this novel.
An entertaining story about friendship and life, A SUMMER REUNION by Fanny Blake is a delightful read for the summer.
Amy, Linda, Kate, and Jane are all now in their sixties and when they were at school they were inseparable until that one day that changed the course of Amy's life. Now Amy's life is undergoing another change and it has made her think about her old school chums, some of whom she has remained loosely in contact with. Needing a break Amy invites the three other ladies to spend some time with her in Mallorca hoping to reconnect and uncover what happened all those years ago. But each one of these women has their own turbulent and emotional issues going on in their own lives and coming together may just blow the lid off their polite camaraderie.
Each character is very different and relatable, and some are definitely more likeable than others. There is plenty of drama, laughs, misunderstandings, and secrets along the way, all set against the beautiful backdrop of sunny Spain where some of them may even find the missing piece in their lives while on this holiday.
A SUMMER REUNION by Fanny Blake is sure to entertain fiction fans and I enjoyed this novel.
June 18, 2023
This was my first book by this author ( #9 of 23 for 23 ) and I really enjoyed it.
It's the story of four women, Amy, Jane, Kate and Linda, who were all best friends at school.
Now many years later they have grown apart.
Amy runs a successful interior design business, but when she discovers that her husband has been stealing from the business, she decides it's time to reach out to her old friends.
Amy owns a beautiful villa on the island of Majorca, so she invites the other three out there for a reunion weekend.
Whilst there, secrets come to light, there is an attempt to settle old scores, and brand new friendships are formed.
But will this break bring them back together to bring the great friends they once were all those years ago, or has too much time elapsed ?
This was a great summer read, the descriptions of Majorca were very vivid, reminding me of the couple of trips I've made there myself in the past ( although the opposite side of the island ) and really made me want to return at some point.
I've also decided that I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
It's the story of four women, Amy, Jane, Kate and Linda, who were all best friends at school.
Now many years later they have grown apart.
Amy runs a successful interior design business, but when she discovers that her husband has been stealing from the business, she decides it's time to reach out to her old friends.
Amy owns a beautiful villa on the island of Majorca, so she invites the other three out there for a reunion weekend.
Whilst there, secrets come to light, there is an attempt to settle old scores, and brand new friendships are formed.
But will this break bring them back together to bring the great friends they once were all those years ago, or has too much time elapsed ?
This was a great summer read, the descriptions of Majorca were very vivid, reminding me of the couple of trips I've made there myself in the past ( although the opposite side of the island ) and really made me want to return at some point.
I've also decided that I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.
May 16, 2019
I only discovered Fanny Blake a few years ago, but then devoured several of her books avidly and she became one of my favourite authors.
I absolutely loved A Summer Reunion. I took it on a cruise with me and it was perfect, although it was hard to put down when I needed to eat or sleep.
Four school best friends have kept in touch with each other sporadically over the years, but then the very successful Amy decides to invite Linda, Kate, and Jane for a short break in her holiday home in Mallorca. They are all a bit puzzled as to why she’s invited them but they all end up accepting.
There’s something from Amy’s schooldays that she wants to sort out and get closure for herself, especially as it affected her future. Which one of her friends set her up for a fall?
The story is mostly told from Amy’s angle, but the other three characters also have turns, and it flows very well. A very interesting storyline and well-written. I’d highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
I absolutely loved A Summer Reunion. I took it on a cruise with me and it was perfect, although it was hard to put down when I needed to eat or sleep.
Four school best friends have kept in touch with each other sporadically over the years, but then the very successful Amy decides to invite Linda, Kate, and Jane for a short break in her holiday home in Mallorca. They are all a bit puzzled as to why she’s invited them but they all end up accepting.
There’s something from Amy’s schooldays that she wants to sort out and get closure for herself, especially as it affected her future. Which one of her friends set her up for a fall?
The story is mostly told from Amy’s angle, but the other three characters also have turns, and it flows very well. A very interesting storyline and well-written. I’d highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
July 27, 2019
I must admit that although this book is only short in length I was pretty gripped from the start and it only took me a few days to complete it.
At the forefront of the story is Amy Green who is a likeable character. With her life in tatters she decides to revisit some difficult parts of her past and make peace in order to move on with her life without any feelings of hurt and regret. She finds the best way to do this is to contact her old school friends as she feels like some things have been left unsaid.
I would have honoured this book more stars but I didnt feel that I could as it was quite serious and far fetched in some parts. I was intrigued to read about the villain from the ladies past and how he connected all of the old school friends together.
I really didn't connect with Jane and at times she made me cringe and I found myself getting angry with her dishonest character. I was absolutely glad to hear the last of her.
Overall this book is set in a beautiful location and the plot is good. I would love to read more by this author.
At the forefront of the story is Amy Green who is a likeable character. With her life in tatters she decides to revisit some difficult parts of her past and make peace in order to move on with her life without any feelings of hurt and regret. She finds the best way to do this is to contact her old school friends as she feels like some things have been left unsaid.
I would have honoured this book more stars but I didnt feel that I could as it was quite serious and far fetched in some parts. I was intrigued to read about the villain from the ladies past and how he connected all of the old school friends together.
I really didn't connect with Jane and at times she made me cringe and I found myself getting angry with her dishonest character. I was absolutely glad to hear the last of her.
Overall this book is set in a beautiful location and the plot is good. I would love to read more by this author.
July 14, 2019
I started reading this on Friday evening and got literally NOTHING else done all day on Saturday as I just couldn't stop reading. The formula of "old friends who have grown apart getting together but all having secrets" has got so popular that it could be getting stale now, but by making the characters older - in fact my age so I could identify with them - and setting the story in Mallorca, Fanny Blake has made it work beautifully.
I thought all the characters were very well written - not just the central ones but the incidental ones too. And the descriptions of the island, the villages and Ca'n Amy were so clear I could see every detail, even though I've never visited the Balearics.
I loved the way the various stories intertwined throughout the book and everything came to a satisfactory, it unsurprising, solution. I've read far too many books recently that left everything up in the air.
Undemanding yet not trivial, a well told story, a perfect summer read.
I thought all the characters were very well written - not just the central ones but the incidental ones too. And the descriptions of the island, the villages and Ca'n Amy were so clear I could see every detail, even though I've never visited the Balearics.
I loved the way the various stories intertwined throughout the book and everything came to a satisfactory, it unsurprising, solution. I've read far too many books recently that left everything up in the air.
Undemanding yet not trivial, a well told story, a perfect summer read.
April 22, 2019
A gorgeous book about relationships between family, friends, partners and lovers. The main character Amy appears to have a perfect life, husband, successful business and a holiday home tucked away in the Mallorca hills. Now in her sixtieth year Amy wants answers to an event that got her expelled all those years ago. She decides to invite her 3 old school friends to Mallorca for the weekend. They haven’t kept in touch much through their lives and each think the other has a better life in some way. Will the truth come out or will more lies be told? An interesting book that shows nothing is ever as simple it seems.
Thanks to Fanny Blake, Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the advance e book copy.
Thanks to Fanny Blake, Netgalley and Orion Publishing for the advance e book copy.
December 26, 2022
Summary: Amy, Linda, Kate, and Jane were best friends at school. But their lives have taken them in different directions. Successful, dissatisfied, seeking something different in equal measure, they know that life is not always easy. So when Amy invites the other three to her beautiful villa in Majorca for a reunion weekend, each of them is drawn by curiosity - and each has a reason for wanting to get away from home for a while. Against the backdrop of the stunning Mallorcan hills, the four friends will look back over their lives - the choices they made, the families they have built - and they'll reassess what is important to them and whether now is the time to grasp those second chances, or whether this reunion will change everything.
September 8, 2022
Light Summer read, and I did find myself wanting to know what happened in the end. Added a star for the exquisite descriptions of this part of Mallorca. Flowers, meals, sun and shadows, brilliant whites and cobbled streets. Had me yearning for a holiday by the end of it! Sadly the men are mostly dull or without any integrity, and the book explores those school pecking order relationships that either revert to old patterns or have managed to break out of them. It also explores the moral issues around adultery, sexual abuse and lying, and the genuine importance of repentance and forgiveness, but does so with a light touch and lots of hope. Friendship and shared history is life enhancing.
March 15, 2022
An entertaining story about four 'friends' who get together on the island of Mallorca at the invitation of one of them who's determined to get to the bottom of what broke them apart as schoolgirls. Each woman has a story to tell, each has a version of events. As they resist the telling, they are drawn into each other's stories and realise that all is not how it seemed. Meanwhile, present-day problems present themselves as the women open up to discuss the past. A beautiful island setting draws the reader into the depth of this engaging story.
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