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Friendship Beach #1
Summer Island Book Club: Sweet Beach Read
Widow, Julie Boone has lived her life and is content, so she thought until her daughter gives her the perfect nightmare of a fiftieth birthday gift-her three childhood besties. The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 8, 2021
About the author
Ciara Knight
118 books811 followersCiara Knight is a USA Today bestselling and Maggie Award-winning author of heartwarming romance.
Her popular sweet romance series, Sweetwater County (rated for all audiences and enjoyed by over a million readers), is a small-town romance full of family trials, friendly competition, and community love.
Her popular sweet romance series, Sweetwater County (rated for all audiences and enjoyed by over a million readers), is a small-town romance full of family trials, friendly competition, and community love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 2, 2021
EXCERPT: 'What's this?' Julie eyed her daughter's handwriting on the front of the envelope.
'Open it.' Bri took a large bite, but Julie wasn't hungry all of a sudden.
She opened the first envelope and read the single sheet.
A call to Summer Island Book Club January 14th
Julie shook her head. 'I don't understand.' Her words were hollow because her brain was processing a thirty two year old message. The last time she'd seen those words, she was graduating high school. All her friends had moved on with their lives, leaving the slow, dyslexic, artsy girl behind to marry young because that was her only choice. Not that she regretted her years with Joe, not at all, but she had envied her friends worldly lives after graduation. Kat went Ivy League. Wind landed a part in a Broadway production. Trace joined some world renowned ocean conservation company and made headlines cleaning up oil spills and inventing new ways to combat the plastic problem in the oceans.
Julie had stayed in the same town, doing the same thing, for three decades. 'No,' she mumbled under her breath. 'I don't want to see them.'
ABOUT 'SUMMER ISLAND BOOK CLUB': Widow Julie Boone has lived her life and is content, so she thought until her daughter gives her the perfect nightmare of a fiftieth birthday gift-her three childhood besties. The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
MY THOUGHTS: Summer Island Book Club by Ciara Knight is a quick, easy, sweet and entertaining read, but it's very little to do with a book club, other than historically.
I like the characters, and I like that they are an older age group than what is usually found in a romance novel. I found Julie really easy to relate to, probably because we share a lot of the same personality traits.
I liked that the love interests don't immediately jump into bed, but I did feel that the whole 'romance/falling in love' scenario was extremely rushed, happening over a very short period of time, approximately two weeks, give or take, by my calculation. That was a negative for me.
And, as I mentioned, there actually isn't a book club, or any books read, or discussed. In fact, until right at the end, there isn't even any mention of books. Julie never sits down with a drink and a book, never reads a book on the beach . . . there's no mention of books in her house! And I do love the cover. I could easily insert myself into it.
But, this was a fun read and one not to be taken seriously. I enjoyed it, but it is not one that I will remember for long, although I do have it's follow up, Summer Island Sisters queued up to read.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#SummerIslandBookClub #NetGalley
I: @ciaratknight #authorcollective20
T: @ciaratknight
#contemporaryfiction #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: A friend once told me that I live eighty percent of my life in my imagination and twenty percent in the real world. I can’t deny this. I'm Ciara Knight
USA Today Bestselling author of sweet contemporary and southern romance. I've written almost fifty novels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Authors Collective 20 for providing a digital ARC of Summer Island Book Club by Ciara Knight for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Open it.' Bri took a large bite, but Julie wasn't hungry all of a sudden.
She opened the first envelope and read the single sheet.
A call to Summer Island Book Club January 14th
Julie shook her head. 'I don't understand.' Her words were hollow because her brain was processing a thirty two year old message. The last time she'd seen those words, she was graduating high school. All her friends had moved on with their lives, leaving the slow, dyslexic, artsy girl behind to marry young because that was her only choice. Not that she regretted her years with Joe, not at all, but she had envied her friends worldly lives after graduation. Kat went Ivy League. Wind landed a part in a Broadway production. Trace joined some world renowned ocean conservation company and made headlines cleaning up oil spills and inventing new ways to combat the plastic problem in the oceans.
Julie had stayed in the same town, doing the same thing, for three decades. 'No,' she mumbled under her breath. 'I don't want to see them.'
ABOUT 'SUMMER ISLAND BOOK CLUB': Widow Julie Boone has lived her life and is content, so she thought until her daughter gives her the perfect nightmare of a fiftieth birthday gift-her three childhood besties. The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
MY THOUGHTS: Summer Island Book Club by Ciara Knight is a quick, easy, sweet and entertaining read, but it's very little to do with a book club, other than historically.
I like the characters, and I like that they are an older age group than what is usually found in a romance novel. I found Julie really easy to relate to, probably because we share a lot of the same personality traits.
I liked that the love interests don't immediately jump into bed, but I did feel that the whole 'romance/falling in love' scenario was extremely rushed, happening over a very short period of time, approximately two weeks, give or take, by my calculation. That was a negative for me.
And, as I mentioned, there actually isn't a book club, or any books read, or discussed. In fact, until right at the end, there isn't even any mention of books. Julie never sits down with a drink and a book, never reads a book on the beach . . . there's no mention of books in her house! And I do love the cover. I could easily insert myself into it.
But, this was a fun read and one not to be taken seriously. I enjoyed it, but it is not one that I will remember for long, although I do have it's follow up, Summer Island Sisters queued up to read.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#SummerIslandBookClub #NetGalley
I: @ciaratknight #authorcollective20
T: @ciaratknight
#contemporaryfiction #romance #womensfiction
THE AUTHOR: A friend once told me that I live eighty percent of my life in my imagination and twenty percent in the real world. I can’t deny this. I'm Ciara Knight
USA Today Bestselling author of sweet contemporary and southern romance. I've written almost fifty novels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Authors Collective 20 for providing a digital ARC of Summer Island Book Club by Ciara Knight for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 11, 2021
Julie became a widow three years ago and is turning 50 soon. To surprise her mom and encourage her to restart her life, her daughter invites her best friends from when they were teenagers into town. In the meantime, Julie meets handsome divorcee Trevor who recently moved into town to restart his life. Will romance bloom between them?
I loved the small beach town setting as always and the fact that Julie is an older woman finding love and romance again. It was a delightful, sweet and short summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the small beach town setting as always and the fact that Julie is an older woman finding love and romance again. It was a delightful, sweet and short summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2021
This was a cute, sweet and clean summer romance book. I like that it had characters that were a little older than typically are found in romance novels.
Julie had been a widow for 3 years and had been going through the motions of life. Leading up to her 59th birthday, her daughter comes home and tells her she’s arranged a meeting of her mother’s old books club with her best friends that she hasn’t seen in many years.
Trevor has moved to town after a messy divorce and wants to start life over in a much simpler way. He meets Julie one day when her per ferret steals a tool from his boat shop and he chases it to Julie’s store. They are both attracted to each other, but are both hurting and not ready to get hurt again. Until the friends come back to town and help Julie and Trevor see that their friendship is meant for the long run.
It was nice that the characters didn’t jump into bed as soon as they met, and also that they were real about their feelings. And I always love a story set in a beach town and then add in a book club and what more could you want?
Thanks to Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Julie had been a widow for 3 years and had been going through the motions of life. Leading up to her 59th birthday, her daughter comes home and tells her she’s arranged a meeting of her mother’s old books club with her best friends that she hasn’t seen in many years.
Trevor has moved to town after a messy divorce and wants to start life over in a much simpler way. He meets Julie one day when her per ferret steals a tool from his boat shop and he chases it to Julie’s store. They are both attracted to each other, but are both hurting and not ready to get hurt again. Until the friends come back to town and help Julie and Trevor see that their friendship is meant for the long run.
It was nice that the characters didn’t jump into bed as soon as they met, and also that they were real about their feelings. And I always love a story set in a beach town and then add in a book club and what more could you want?
Thanks to Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
May 13, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley I received
a acr for a honest review
I love when I read a book that has an older female character. First I fell in love with the cover. It was a nice sweet summer read. I I've love reading Julie Journey this book will always have a special place in my heart. 5 star read.
Happy Reading 📚
Lisa
Sent from the all new AOL app for Android
a acr for a honest review
I love when I read a book that has an older female character. First I fell in love with the cover. It was a nice sweet summer read. I I've love reading Julie Journey this book will always have a special place in my heart. 5 star read.
Happy Reading 📚
Lisa
Sent from the all new AOL app for Android
June 3, 2021
I love to read books that has a main female character is older and close to my age. It makes it much easier to relate to what the character is experiencing. This book fit that perfectly. I wish there were more!
A nice clean, uncomplicated, well-written storyline about a widow and her new future with reacquainted childhood friends, her daughter and a new man in her life. This would be a perfect book to read while enjoying the sunshine at the beach or in your backyard. I recommend it!
Thanks to the publisher, Author Collective 20 and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this delightful book!
A nice clean, uncomplicated, well-written storyline about a widow and her new future with reacquainted childhood friends, her daughter and a new man in her life. This would be a perfect book to read while enjoying the sunshine at the beach or in your backyard. I recommend it!
Thanks to the publisher, Author Collective 20 and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this delightful book!
May 19, 2022
Welcome to Summer Island, Florida. A small town with roots so deep that people just keep coming back for the love and friendships.
A story of strong women that share a strong bond that no one and nothing can hurt them when they stand together.
Julie Boone runs the family owned Island Gift Shop, just when she thinks her 50th birthday will quietly come and go her daughter shows up to stay with her.
She decides that her mother needs a visit from her BFF's that moved away from Summer Island. Kat, Wind and Trace have always been there for each other in the past and will be there once again for their other BFF Julie. Time she regained her faith in herself and her talents. Let the antics begin!
Meanwhile, a new man has come to town to live, Trevor Ashford is trying to start over after a divorce from a horrible woman.
All he wants to do is start a little business for himself and live the quiet life.
A story of two tender souls and one sneaky ferret named Houdini.
A lovely story of starting over.
Summer Island Book Club
A story of strong women that share a strong bond that no one and nothing can hurt them when they stand together.
Julie Boone runs the family owned Island Gift Shop, just when she thinks her 50th birthday will quietly come and go her daughter shows up to stay with her.
She decides that her mother needs a visit from her BFF's that moved away from Summer Island. Kat, Wind and Trace have always been there for each other in the past and will be there once again for their other BFF Julie. Time she regained her faith in herself and her talents. Let the antics begin!
Meanwhile, a new man has come to town to live, Trevor Ashford is trying to start over after a divorce from a horrible woman.
All he wants to do is start a little business for himself and live the quiet life.
A story of two tender souls and one sneaky ferret named Houdini.
A lovely story of starting over.
Summer Island Book Club
May 7, 2021
Julie Boone has been a widow for three years. To make her happy, her daughter organize a meeting with his club of friends' books, which they created before they went their separate ways when they were young.
Trevor Ashford moves to Florida after a divorce from Seattle. He wants to open a small shipping company and live a life in peace.
However, it is not as simple as it seems. Everyone gets there in the same place at the right time. it’s not easy for both but you can both give yourself a new opportunity. There is attraction, trust, friendship and more.
I love the slowing taking part of the friendship in the first place. Discovering leaf after leaf the pure nature of all friends. And it was so nice to read abut people in late 40s. The times goes too fast. But we can live it is so many ways. Maybe some other book of them would be nice to read. So much worm really.
I received a copy on Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Special gratitude goes to
BookBuzz publishers who approved me.
Pub Date 08 jun 2021
Trevor Ashford moves to Florida after a divorce from Seattle. He wants to open a small shipping company and live a life in peace.
However, it is not as simple as it seems. Everyone gets there in the same place at the right time. it’s not easy for both but you can both give yourself a new opportunity. There is attraction, trust, friendship and more.
I love the slowing taking part of the friendship in the first place. Discovering leaf after leaf the pure nature of all friends. And it was so nice to read abut people in late 40s. The times goes too fast. But we can live it is so many ways. Maybe some other book of them would be nice to read. So much worm really.
I received a copy on Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Special gratitude goes to
BookBuzz publishers who approved me.
Pub Date 08 jun 2021
May 31, 2021
Julie has been a widow for three years and is content with her life. Her daughter comes home and throws her a fiftieth birthday party. Three of her closest childhood friends also return for the party and Julie realizes it is time to move on with her life. It doesn't hurt that there is a new resident on the island who catches her eye. I enjoyed this book and loved how the characters were middle age. Great summer read.
June 8, 2021
This is a sweet second chance romance with a cast of strong characters centering on Julie and Trevor. The author does a fantastic job building the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She brings an emotional and heartwarming story filled with humor and romance and delivers a beautiful story with friends, family and love.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
June 12, 2023
I wanted a light, easy read so this looked the part. Unfortunately I found it a bit lacking in depth. I didn't feel the connection with the characters and I didn't feel the friendship bond that has supposedly lasted all these years. Also there was a lack of book club in the summer island book club, right up until the end there was hardly any mention of reading at all.
Just not for me. 2.5 Stars
Just not for me. 2.5 Stars
April 26, 2026
Summer Island Book Club is the first book in the Friendship Beach series by Ciara Knight. Widowed Julie Boone thought she was content with her life until her daughter, Bri, shows up with a surprise. Bri had invited her three childhood friends to celebrate Julie’s fiftieth birthday. Julie begins to panic. The arrival of her friends begins to overwhelm her once peaceful life with melodrama, makeovers and matchmaking schemes especially with the handsome new stranger in town. Trevor Ashford comes to their small town after his failed marriage. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company and live quietly. That is until Houdini, a mischievous ferret, leads him on a merry chase and into the arms of Julie. Will Julie and Trevor take a second chance for love?
Summer Island Book Club is a sweet, mild romance with the meddling antics of old friends. There was a little humor especially with Houdini. His antics were pretty funny. Ms Knight certainly gave him a great personality. Unfortunately, there isn’t an actual book club in the story. It is what Julie and her friends called themselves during their childhood. At first, I was a bit confused as to why Julie wouldn’t want her old friends to come back to the island. Then I understood. I did enjoy Julie as she slowly starts to reclaim herself and her passions beyond her what if questions. Overall, it is a sweet, quick read story. A great story for a weekend read. If you enjoy second chance romances and old friends, I recommend Summer Island Book Club.
Summer Island Book Club is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
Summer Island Book Club is a sweet, mild romance with the meddling antics of old friends. There was a little humor especially with Houdini. His antics were pretty funny. Ms Knight certainly gave him a great personality. Unfortunately, there isn’t an actual book club in the story. It is what Julie and her friends called themselves during their childhood. At first, I was a bit confused as to why Julie wouldn’t want her old friends to come back to the island. Then I understood. I did enjoy Julie as she slowly starts to reclaim herself and her passions beyond her what if questions. Overall, it is a sweet, quick read story. A great story for a weekend read. If you enjoy second chance romances and old friends, I recommend Summer Island Book Club.
Summer Island Book Club is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
August 4, 2023
Cute story. Ended a bit abruptly.
March 6, 2024
Fun and easily read about long time friends who haven’t seen each other in about 3 years gathering for a birthday celebration. Fun character of the ferret!
March 22, 2024
Such a sweet women's fiction style book to read this spring or summer (or anytime of the year). It's heartwarming and lovely.
March 23, 2024
Meh, it was alright….just too predictable and sappy for me.
May 26, 2024
I enjoyed this book and the interaction between the friends. A few twists and turns to make it interesting. Love of daughter, friends and fellow wins again.
June 19, 2024
I loved this book! I love stories that include beaches, friends and a romance too!
June 8, 2021
Summer Island Book Club
by: Ciara Knight
Publisher: Author Collective 20
publication date: 6/8/21
reviewed by: Jennifer Smith
As her milestone fiftieth birthday approaches, coastal Florida resident Julie Boone's past, present, and future are aligned to merge. Author Ciara Knight makes those connections through her sweet, gentle, and funny writing with focus on preserving treasured friendships, healing from lost love, and readiness for acceptance of new love.
The past - Julie is a widow of three years, having lost her beloved husband Joe. She also is a member of her beloved Summer Island Book Club from her high school years, although her friendships with members Wind, Trevor and Kat have faded like old photographs over the years.
The present - She is the content mom of thirty-one-year-old daughter Bri, pet mom to Houdini, a ferret with personality plus, owner of Summer Island Gift Shop, and an artist at heart.
The future - Is love on the horizon? Kind, handsome, and witty Trevor Ashford, a recent divorcee, has just moved to Summer Island from Seattle for a fresh start as a charter boat company owner and guide. Can faded friendships become vibrant again? Bri has invited the members of the Summer Island Book Club to return to their childhood town to help Julie celebrate her birthday and keep the legacy of the club going.
Knight's story is as warm as the Florida sun and as breezy as the ocean winds, with special surprises surrounding the club's secret meeting place, Friendship Island. This book is for all who believe in the enduring power of lifelong female friendships and the exciting possibility of second chances at love. Celebrate with Julie, her friends, family and community on the occasion of her fiftieth birthday in Knight's romantic, funny and tender Summer Island story.
Thank you to Net Galley and Author Collective Twenty for the Advanced Reader's Copy and the opportunity to review this book.
#SummerIslandBookClub #NetGalley
by: Ciara Knight
Publisher: Author Collective 20
publication date: 6/8/21
reviewed by: Jennifer Smith
As her milestone fiftieth birthday approaches, coastal Florida resident Julie Boone's past, present, and future are aligned to merge. Author Ciara Knight makes those connections through her sweet, gentle, and funny writing with focus on preserving treasured friendships, healing from lost love, and readiness for acceptance of new love.
The past - Julie is a widow of three years, having lost her beloved husband Joe. She also is a member of her beloved Summer Island Book Club from her high school years, although her friendships with members Wind, Trevor and Kat have faded like old photographs over the years.
The present - She is the content mom of thirty-one-year-old daughter Bri, pet mom to Houdini, a ferret with personality plus, owner of Summer Island Gift Shop, and an artist at heart.
The future - Is love on the horizon? Kind, handsome, and witty Trevor Ashford, a recent divorcee, has just moved to Summer Island from Seattle for a fresh start as a charter boat company owner and guide. Can faded friendships become vibrant again? Bri has invited the members of the Summer Island Book Club to return to their childhood town to help Julie celebrate her birthday and keep the legacy of the club going.
Knight's story is as warm as the Florida sun and as breezy as the ocean winds, with special surprises surrounding the club's secret meeting place, Friendship Island. This book is for all who believe in the enduring power of lifelong female friendships and the exciting possibility of second chances at love. Celebrate with Julie, her friends, family and community on the occasion of her fiftieth birthday in Knight's romantic, funny and tender Summer Island story.
Thank you to Net Galley and Author Collective Twenty for the Advanced Reader's Copy and the opportunity to review this book.
#SummerIslandBookClub #NetGalley
May 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Widow, Julie Boone has lived her life and is content, so she thought until her daughter gives her the perfect nightmare of a fiftieth birthday gift-her three childhood besties. The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
-----
This was a sweet summer read, enjoyable especially to me because the characters were a little different than your average romance novel. Instead of a dog (and I love almost nothing more than I love dogs), the book featured a pet ferret. Instead of a protagonist in her 20s or 30s (and I have nothing against women in their 20s and 30s), the book featured someone quickly approaching 50. It was refreshing to read about someone who was entering a new phase in her life, instead of someone who was experiencing her first great love story. And the supporting characters were all delightful as well. Whether you read this one sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean, out on the beach listening to the waves, or curled up in your living room, as I did, letting your imagination take you there, this is a fun, entertaining book that anyone would enjoy. I absolutely recommend it.
-----
Widow, Julie Boone has lived her life and is content, so she thought until her daughter gives her the perfect nightmare of a fiftieth birthday gift-her three childhood besties. The arrival of her wildly successful, buttinski friends, overwhelms Julie when her life goes from peaceful to melodrama, makeovers, and matchmaking. Especially when they make her believe there is still life to be lived with one handsome sailor who’s just moved to town.
Trevor Ashford retreats from big city life to sunny Florida after a failed marriage and damaged reputation. His only wish is to open a small boat charter company in peace, but when Houdini-a mischievous pet ferret-steals an engine part and leads him on a merry chase into the arms of Julie Boone, he has to choose between being a recluse or embracing a new love.
-----
This was a sweet summer read, enjoyable especially to me because the characters were a little different than your average romance novel. Instead of a dog (and I love almost nothing more than I love dogs), the book featured a pet ferret. Instead of a protagonist in her 20s or 30s (and I have nothing against women in their 20s and 30s), the book featured someone quickly approaching 50. It was refreshing to read about someone who was entering a new phase in her life, instead of someone who was experiencing her first great love story. And the supporting characters were all delightful as well. Whether you read this one sitting on a deck overlooking the ocean, out on the beach listening to the waves, or curled up in your living room, as I did, letting your imagination take you there, this is a fun, entertaining book that anyone would enjoy. I absolutely recommend it.
May 8, 2021
I received an ARC from Author Collective 20 Publishing through NetGalley. Julie lost her husband three years ago and her daughter comes to visit because she is worried about her mother. Julie has basically stopped living too, not wanting to move forward without her husband. Her daughter has a surprise for her 50th birthday. She has invited the girls from the Summer Island Book Club for a reunion, and they haven't seen each other since they all went their separate ways to begin their adult life.
At first Julie was upset because she thought her old friends had gone out into the world, and she had stayed and done nothing. Her daughter reminded her of the best thing she had accomplished, and said none of them would come any way, so her daughter gave her the envelopes, and they had all accepted and was excited about getting together again.
Meanwhile, Trevor has moved to Florida to open a small boat charter company. As he and his friend was taking apart the engine of one of the boats, a furry animal came aboard and took a screw that they would need to put the boat back together. The animal seemed to be playing with them as they followed it and ended up at Julie's shop. Houdini the town ferret was playing matchmaker. Trevor had just got divorced and didn't want any woman.
It is going to be a couple of weeks, of getting reacquainted, getting to know who they each are now, and who they each are becoming. Yes it definitely is a recipe for some mischief with Houdini, and he does add some spice, but it is also about taking the time to get to know a person before judging them.
This is a great book to read, the people are fascinating, and it is interesting seeing in just a few short weeks all they learned about themselves, and like a butterfly emerged changed.
At first Julie was upset because she thought her old friends had gone out into the world, and she had stayed and done nothing. Her daughter reminded her of the best thing she had accomplished, and said none of them would come any way, so her daughter gave her the envelopes, and they had all accepted and was excited about getting together again.
Meanwhile, Trevor has moved to Florida to open a small boat charter company. As he and his friend was taking apart the engine of one of the boats, a furry animal came aboard and took a screw that they would need to put the boat back together. The animal seemed to be playing with them as they followed it and ended up at Julie's shop. Houdini the town ferret was playing matchmaker. Trevor had just got divorced and didn't want any woman.
It is going to be a couple of weeks, of getting reacquainted, getting to know who they each are now, and who they each are becoming. Yes it definitely is a recipe for some mischief with Houdini, and he does add some spice, but it is also about taking the time to get to know a person before judging them.
This is a great book to read, the people are fascinating, and it is interesting seeing in just a few short weeks all they learned about themselves, and like a butterfly emerged changed.
May 8, 2021
What a great story about life and friendship. It doesn’t matter where you grow up or where you end up living, those true friendships you make will never die. Also, life goes on after losing that special love one or getting through a nasty divorce. This story shows us all of that.
Julie never really wanted to leave her small town but even if she thought about it as a teenager, that was not to be. So she stayed on, married and raised her daughter there. She is always thinking about “what if?” and never wanted her friends or daughter to ever have to do that. She cuts out those special friends from her life because she wants them to live their lives and not pity her. She wants her daughter to be able to do the things she was not able to do. But as a widow, she is living in the past and not able to move on.
Trevor is running away from a nasty divorce and the big city life. He loves the ocean and wants to start a new life and business on it. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that you cannot run from problems, you have to face them and solve them.
This story is fun to read and there is just enough drama to keep you wondering what will happen next. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes Julie, Trevor and the other characters on their next adventure.
Julie never really wanted to leave her small town but even if she thought about it as a teenager, that was not to be. So she stayed on, married and raised her daughter there. She is always thinking about “what if?” and never wanted her friends or daughter to ever have to do that. She cuts out those special friends from her life because she wants them to live their lives and not pity her. She wants her daughter to be able to do the things she was not able to do. But as a widow, she is living in the past and not able to move on.
Trevor is running away from a nasty divorce and the big city life. He loves the ocean and wants to start a new life and business on it. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that you cannot run from problems, you have to face them and solve them.
This story is fun to read and there is just enough drama to keep you wondering what will happen next. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes Julie, Trevor and the other characters on their next adventure.
May 27, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
A small town contemporary romance novel about an almost 50 year old recently widowed Jewels and the recently divorced Trevor (similarly aged!). The secondary story line followed Jewels reuniting with her high school best friends and restarting their Summer Island Book Club. A special beach, an alligator and old stories helped make this book one I couldn't put down. The angst and issues over Trevor's' exwifes pregnancy and appearing randomly to cause drama were well written and the beach scene was absolutely hilarious!
I normally don't read or like what I would term middle aged romance or clean romance (aka no sex). Having said that this book was fantastic. The camaraderie ad witty banter between the Summer Island Book Club members was funny and realistic. I barely noticed the middle aged thing and the caring and tenderness between Jewels and Trevor was so sweet that I didn't miss the sex in the story.
My only criticism was that Jewels daughter Bri was prominent in the story and the mystery surrounding her reasons for returning home were not really explored in any way.
I can't wait to read the next in the series!!!
A small town contemporary romance novel about an almost 50 year old recently widowed Jewels and the recently divorced Trevor (similarly aged!). The secondary story line followed Jewels reuniting with her high school best friends and restarting their Summer Island Book Club. A special beach, an alligator and old stories helped make this book one I couldn't put down. The angst and issues over Trevor's' exwifes pregnancy and appearing randomly to cause drama were well written and the beach scene was absolutely hilarious!
I normally don't read or like what I would term middle aged romance or clean romance (aka no sex). Having said that this book was fantastic. The camaraderie ad witty banter between the Summer Island Book Club members was funny and realistic. I barely noticed the middle aged thing and the caring and tenderness between Jewels and Trevor was so sweet that I didn't miss the sex in the story.
My only criticism was that Jewels daughter Bri was prominent in the story and the mystery surrounding her reasons for returning home were not really explored in any way.
I can't wait to read the next in the series!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 29, 2021Julie is trying to adapt to her new life as a widow. After losing her husband of 25 years she thought she was doing well adapting until her daughter shows up for her 50th birthday and surprises her with a reunion of her oldest, successful and somewhat meddlesome friends. When they turn Julie's life upside down and help her find love again will Julie finally be ready to find herself again?
Oh boy, I had a hard time with this one. I was hoping for a fun, light summer read and this turned into a "force myself to finish it" book. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters Julie and Trevor. I was never really convinced of their romance as it felt really forced and rushed. My other seriously dumb hang up was the fact that the book was called the "Summer Island Book Club" and there was never, not one single time, any mention of books or a book club in the actual story. I don't get it. I don't understand how that even got in the title. It just made no sense at all to me and only turned this into a book I had to force myself to open and read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinion.
Oh boy, I had a hard time with this one. I was hoping for a fun, light summer read and this turned into a "force myself to finish it" book. I had a hard time connecting with the main characters Julie and Trevor. I was never really convinced of their romance as it felt really forced and rushed. My other seriously dumb hang up was the fact that the book was called the "Summer Island Book Club" and there was never, not one single time, any mention of books or a book club in the actual story. I don't get it. I don't understand how that even got in the title. It just made no sense at all to me and only turned this into a book I had to force myself to open and read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinion.
June 29, 2021
#summerislandbookclub
#ciaraknight
#friendshipbeachnovel
#romance
#NetGalley published 6/8/2021
#authorcollective20
⭐⭐⭐💫 (rounding up for rating to 4⭐)
I've never read a romance as an ARC. It used to be my genre go-to, but no longer. I decided to try this. IMO, this would be the perfect kind of story for #harlequinbooks to pick up and publish.
It's 270 pgs but a super quick, fun, easy read. It's a second chance romance. Which is my favorite of the romance tropes. She's widowed. Her daughter and friends are pushing her to get out there. He's divorced. His best friend is pushing him. And of course some silliness ensues. As well as the normal miscommunication that comes with these stories.
It's a cute book. Perfect for the romance lovers. I just like my books with more than just romance to them. I've decided to round up from the 3.5 for ratings bc I'd be curious to try another one of her books.
#humor
#womensfiction
#friendship
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish
#ciaraknight
#friendshipbeachnovel
#romance
#NetGalley published 6/8/2021
#authorcollective20
⭐⭐⭐💫 (rounding up for rating to 4⭐)
I've never read a romance as an ARC. It used to be my genre go-to, but no longer. I decided to try this. IMO, this would be the perfect kind of story for #harlequinbooks to pick up and publish.
It's 270 pgs but a super quick, fun, easy read. It's a second chance romance. Which is my favorite of the romance tropes. She's widowed. Her daughter and friends are pushing her to get out there. He's divorced. His best friend is pushing him. And of course some silliness ensues. As well as the normal miscommunication that comes with these stories.
It's a cute book. Perfect for the romance lovers. I just like my books with more than just romance to them. I've decided to round up from the 3.5 for ratings bc I'd be curious to try another one of her books.
#humor
#womensfiction
#friendship
#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookrecommendation #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish
February 10, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. There is a story of friendship that lasts decades, along with some romance. Julie Boone lives in Summer Island, Florida. The town is a quiet, laid back beach town as the backdrop to this story. Julie is a widow who has kind of lost her way. When her adult daughter invites her three best friends from high school back to town to stage an intervention, of sorts, she remembers the value of their kind of friendship.
Trevor Ashford has recently moved to Summer Island to get away from his life. He is recently divorced and wants nothing more than to start a charter boat business operating from Summer Island. When he meets Julie, he is instantly smitten, and frankly, so is she. As their relationship develops, there are forces at work to keep them apart. It will take trust and the promise of true love to keep them together.
All the characters in this story were so well developed and wove a truly beautiful story that I was completely caught up in and was sad when it ended. I can't wait to read more in the series.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Trevor Ashford has recently moved to Summer Island to get away from his life. He is recently divorced and wants nothing more than to start a charter boat business operating from Summer Island. When he meets Julie, he is instantly smitten, and frankly, so is she. As their relationship develops, there are forces at work to keep them apart. It will take trust and the promise of true love to keep them together.
All the characters in this story were so well developed and wove a truly beautiful story that I was completely caught up in and was sad when it ended. I can't wait to read more in the series.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
May 27, 2021
A nice light hearted read. I read through this rather quickly.
Julie, widowed and adapting to life as a single woman is surprised when her daughter, Bri, shows up back home. Worried about her mother and that she is not loving life to the fullest has decided to throw a 50th birthday bash for her mom. Including inviting all her former high school best friends.
Trevor, recently divorced has come to the small Florida town to hide away and begin again by opening a charter service. His side kick Derek is dead set to bring Trevor back to Seattle with him.
As the ladies start arriving and Julie meets Trevor, hearts are turned upside down.
There is nothing better than lifelong friends and I love the fact that this book is about middle age people. I could identify with each character to an extent. The ferret annoyed me and I felt was totally unnecessary, but the story was I clean, not too sexy but just the right amount of all different kinds of love we encounter throughout our life. It’s worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
Julie, widowed and adapting to life as a single woman is surprised when her daughter, Bri, shows up back home. Worried about her mother and that she is not loving life to the fullest has decided to throw a 50th birthday bash for her mom. Including inviting all her former high school best friends.
Trevor, recently divorced has come to the small Florida town to hide away and begin again by opening a charter service. His side kick Derek is dead set to bring Trevor back to Seattle with him.
As the ladies start arriving and Julie meets Trevor, hearts are turned upside down.
There is nothing better than lifelong friends and I love the fact that this book is about middle age people. I could identify with each character to an extent. The ferret annoyed me and I felt was totally unnecessary, but the story was I clean, not too sexy but just the right amount of all different kinds of love we encounter throughout our life. It’s worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!
June 9, 2021
After losing her husband of over twenty five years, Julie is trying to adapt to her new life alone. Three years in, shes still missing her husband and having difficulty even getting rid of his things. Her daughter sounds the alarm to her high school girlfriends who called themselves the Summer Island Book Club. While running her store she meets Travis, who awakens feelings inside her she hasn't felt in years.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this book for a few reasons. First off, the romance felt rushed and without much heart. Second, no books were ever discussed. While its obvious all four women are friends, why they're called a book club doesn't make sense. While it was nice to read about a woman turning fifty in a romance, the fact that she "looked and felt" her age was made clear while Travis was only two years younger yet described as ripped and fit and sexy. For me, this was three stars.
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Ciara Knight, and Author Collective 20 for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this book for a few reasons. First off, the romance felt rushed and without much heart. Second, no books were ever discussed. While its obvious all four women are friends, why they're called a book club doesn't make sense. While it was nice to read about a woman turning fifty in a romance, the fact that she "looked and felt" her age was made clear while Travis was only two years younger yet described as ripped and fit and sexy. For me, this was three stars.
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Ciara Knight, and Author Collective 20 for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2021
Julie is trying to adapt to life as a single woman, she still hasn't gotten over the death of her husband three years before. Her daughter sees how unhappy her mother is so she decides to throw her a 50th birthday party inviting her best high school friends. They call themselves The Summer Island Book Club.
While her friends are arriving she meets Trevor when her pet ferret steals a tool from him. He is getting over a divorce and came to Florida to start to rebuild his life and get charter service going.
I loved this book because of the friendships, there always there when you need them even if they aren't close by in distance they are always in your heart. And it's never to late to start over even if tragedy happens.
I received this temp e-book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is in the mood for a book about great friendships and love. I loved the characters they where fun to get to know, and sometimes life does have happy endings.
While her friends are arriving she meets Trevor when her pet ferret steals a tool from him. He is getting over a divorce and came to Florida to start to rebuild his life and get charter service going.
I loved this book because of the friendships, there always there when you need them even if they aren't close by in distance they are always in your heart. And it's never to late to start over even if tragedy happens.
I received this temp e-book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is in the mood for a book about great friendships and love. I loved the characters they where fun to get to know, and sometimes life does have happy endings.
June 8, 2021
It is rare to have a friend for a lifetime, and Julie is fortunate enough to have three! She also has a daughter who is very loving and supportive. They all come to the island in Florida that they grew up on, to celebrate Julie’s fiftieth birthday. She has spent her whole life in the same spot and struggles with some of the issues that arise from that decision. Trevor is new to the island but comes with some baggage that will need to be resolved. When the two meet, they feel an instant attraction. The relationship felt rushed with too much too soon. The friends celebrate in traditional and new ways the birthday as well as the reunion. If you want to escape to a beautiful beach with lovely, talented women, to get lost in friendships renewed, with a clean romance on the side, I would definitely recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2021
Julie is turning 50 and has been in a rut since her husband died 3 years ago. As a surprise her daughter contacts her 3 high school besties to come back to Florida to help her celebrate. It's been years but they click again and its as if time stood still.
Trevor has escaped Seattle for sunny Florida to start over after a divorce from a manipulative and conniving model.. He's bought a run down motel and marina hoping to run charter and sightseeing cruises. While overhauling a marine motor, an adventurous ferret steaks one of the screws he needs to put the motor back together. That's how Trevor and Julie meet, but can they overcome their pasts to follow the sparks and forge ahead in new relationship territory?
It's a cute, funny, and quick read that I enjoyed. Perfect for reading at the beach or poolside.
I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.
Trevor has escaped Seattle for sunny Florida to start over after a divorce from a manipulative and conniving model.. He's bought a run down motel and marina hoping to run charter and sightseeing cruises. While overhauling a marine motor, an adventurous ferret steaks one of the screws he needs to put the motor back together. That's how Trevor and Julie meet, but can they overcome their pasts to follow the sparks and forge ahead in new relationship territory?
It's a cute, funny, and quick read that I enjoyed. Perfect for reading at the beach or poolside.
I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.
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