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Summer Rental
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Sometimes, when you need a change in your life, the tide just happens to pull you in the right direction…
Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's ...more
Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she's ...more
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I should start by saying I felt dirty for even finishing this book, it was so awful. I'm pretty sure I lost IQ points somewhere in the middle of it. Don't get me wrong--I'm all for trashy, brainless novels, but this one was god-awful. Every person in it is a caricature, and the author, who apparently can and has written much better novels (though I've never read any and am not likely to start after this one), relies on tired literary devices rather than actually giving her characters and her plo
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These women were idiots. All of them.
Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews
Considering that this is a book about women in their mid thirties, who are educated and worldly I had to say I was rather amazed at how Ms Andrews portrayed them.
We get to spend the month of August with best friends since elementary school—meet Julie, Ellis and Dorie who are spending the month in a beach house on the outer banks of North Carolina. A very diverse group of women that in “real life” may never bond as well as this group does. Add into the mix the sex ...more
Considering that this is a book about women in their mid thirties, who are educated and worldly I had to say I was rather amazed at how Ms Andrews portrayed them.
We get to spend the month of August with best friends since elementary school—meet Julie, Ellis and Dorie who are spending the month in a beach house on the outer banks of North Carolina. A very diverse group of women that in “real life” may never bond as well as this group does. Add into the mix the sex ...more
I grow up in Edenton, NC and I worked in the outer banks when I was a teenager. I love reading books where the setting is in outer banks or Edenton. The characters of this book is writing so well, and I loved each of the characters so much. I also loved how the author wrote the setting. Great book.
Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors. I always enjoy her and I enjoy her books. This was a story of female friendship which she does very well. Her books all take place in the South which is great and sometimes have a little mystery in them. This one had a little mystery but not a lot. It was mainly a story of 3 bestfriends who rented a summer cottage at Nag's Head and , of course, they all had their problems and then they took in a 4th woman and her problems too. but they were all hap
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Alrighty, so I won this on Goodreads, automatically making me quite happy. However, I was in a reading slump and didn't really want to read, but forced myself to anyway. Oh my gosh, I am so glad I did. Summer Rental was so fun to read and I really couldn't wait to write this review. I spent the past for days reading this, rather than studying for my exams.
So, Summer Rental is about three best friends who are all thirty-five and kind of at a turning point in their lives. They had planned to rent ...more
So, Summer Rental is about three best friends who are all thirty-five and kind of at a turning point in their lives. They had planned to rent ...more
I didn't realize this was the same author as a book to which I gave one star until after I purchased it. It was an ok read. Some of the turns of phrase in this book (and in her other one), struck me as...racist. I'm sure the author meant everything in a benign way (or, at most, in a damn-you-PC-people-I'm-not-racist way). I'm sure I'm just a bleeding heart, overly PC type. But, it bothered me, and took away from the otherwise summertime escapism of this beach read.
The good thing is that I will n ...more
The good thing is that I will n ...more
This book was a good, light and easy early-summer read which shouldn't be too surprising given its title, "Summer Rental." I thought it started off pretty strong. Andrews clearly developed the four main characters in the first half of the book. From the beginning, it seemed that Ellis was somewhat of the main character and the other ones were often in the peripheral -- that remained consistent throughout the book, even when the story shifted its attention to the other characters temporarily. I d
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Having just returned from a vacation just a stone’s throw north of the outer banks of NC, I couldn’t WAIT to dive into this beach tale. Happy to say Mary Kay Andrews did not disappoint, and I was immediately transported back to that blissful state of feeling sand in my shorts. On a craft level, gotta give the author props. Descriptions were well (but not overly) done, dialogue rang true to the characters, and timing was impeccable with secrets being revealed at perfect point that “goosed the gas
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Let me first start by saying that I absolutely love Mary Kay Andrews! I have read most of her books and enjoyed all of them. Her settings are usually on the beach or in the south somewhere. Her writing has a way of drawing you in and keeps you interested in the story. I wish I could say that was true for this book. While I enjoyed it overall, it was definitely lacking in areas too. The month that the women spend at the beach together was so boring. It was your typical beach read. They go to the
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I won an advanced copy of this book from a First Reads giveaway here on Goodreads.
I'd never read anything by Mary Kay Andrews before but I had heard good things about some of her other novels. I hate that this was my first of her books because I really struggled with it. It was my understanding that Mary Kay Andrews writes fun and quick "beach reads" so I already had somewhat lowered expectations for this and I was still disappointed.
The whole thing felt too contrived for me to become attached t ...more
I'd never read anything by Mary Kay Andrews before but I had heard good things about some of her other novels. I hate that this was my first of her books because I really struggled with it. It was my understanding that Mary Kay Andrews writes fun and quick "beach reads" so I already had somewhat lowered expectations for this and I was still disappointed.
The whole thing felt too contrived for me to become attached t ...more
I usually can't wait for a new Mary Kay Andrews to hit the shelves, but it took me a while to get around to reading Summer Rental. I looked forward to this read with anticipation. The book is basic chick lit. Three friends, Ellis, Julia, and Dorie, go to the beach to get away from their lives and find out what they really want from life... sort of.
Andrews usually writes with charm and wit and just a bit of attitude. Her stories are generally full of southernisms and over the top characterization ...more
Andrews usually writes with charm and wit and just a bit of attitude. Her stories are generally full of southernisms and over the top characterization ...more
Real life is heavy so trashy mindless books have been escapism. This was awful. Paper dolls have more dimension than these characters and the writing is banal. I feel stupider from reading half of this. There might be some appeal to those who love super cheesy Hallmark movies, but that ain't me.
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I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for an easy light hearted chick-lit read, but I did end up enjoying it very much! It’s a great beach/poolside read, summer vacation book. It’s not heavy in plot, but it’s cozy and easy flowing, about three women who have been fast friends from their early days. Each one has a different personality and background. Each one comes to the beach cottage (Ebbtide), which they rented for the month with some kind of issue in their lives - job loss, impending divorce, b
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Cute and predictable!
Three thirty something childhood friends meet in Nags Head for the month of August. Recently unemployed and anal Ellis, supermodel Julia hiding bruises on her arm, and newlywed Dorie whose husband didn't make the trip as planned. To save money, they rent the fourth bedroom to Maryn/Madison, who they don't realize is running from her husband with the money she's taken from him (which he stole).
SUMMER RENTAL is a lighthearted beach read that tackles some serious topics, though not well. In my opin ...more
SUMMER RENTAL is a lighthearted beach read that tackles some serious topics, though not well. In my opin ...more
Based on writing alone this should be a 2 star book. But what can I say? I enjoyed it. As I noted in one of my updates, it's the kind of book that is like a soap opera. You feel ashamed to admit it, in fact your hate yourself for it, but you really like it. You don't care that the phrase "bracelet of bruises" actually appears in the text. You don't care that it's full of beautiful people who behave predictably and whose stories end sappily. You don't even care that you, yourself have begun to ov
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This book was a fun, light read. A good one to take to bed at night.
Summer Rental is a very nice summer read which takes place in Nags Head. Four women who grew up in Savannah Georgia have agreed to go to the beach for an entire month, all in their mid 30's to be able to reconnect again. One of the friends bails out of the trip making the trip more expensive for the other three.
All three women are at a time in their lives where major changes are taking place. Ellis the main character has just lost her job in the banking industry and doesn't know where her next ...more
All three women are at a time in their lives where major changes are taking place. Ellis the main character has just lost her job in the banking industry and doesn't know where her next ...more
Digital audio read by Isabel Keating
Three women who’ve been besties since kindergarten are each at a crossroads. Ellis was recently fired from her job and is now wondering if she’s made the right choices in life. Julia is a successful model but can barely hide her deep insecurities and is afraid to accept the love of a good man. Dorie is the Southern belle whose never had a problem attracting men, but her husband has just betrayed her, and she can’t face the decisions she needs to make. They re ...more
Three women who’ve been besties since kindergarten are each at a crossroads. Ellis was recently fired from her job and is now wondering if she’s made the right choices in life. Julia is a successful model but can barely hide her deep insecurities and is afraid to accept the love of a good man. Dorie is the Southern belle whose never had a problem attracting men, but her husband has just betrayed her, and she can’t face the decisions she needs to make. They re ...more
In my childhood taking a house-rental at the beach included fun in the sun and time spent with family. On the downside there was no TV, no AC, no telephone and no videogames.
Such are the long-gone surroundings in which three best friends from school days find themselves on a month long reunion on the beach at Nags Head, North Carolina.
Ellis, the hyper-organized planner, has been downsized from a large-bank in Philadelphia. Married briefly and unsuccessfully, fresh out of college, Elly threw her ...more
Such are the long-gone surroundings in which three best friends from school days find themselves on a month long reunion on the beach at Nags Head, North Carolina.
Ellis, the hyper-organized planner, has been downsized from a large-bank in Philadelphia. Married briefly and unsuccessfully, fresh out of college, Elly threw her ...more
Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews makes the perfect beach read, or in my case, the perfect read to get you ready for the beach. The fun story is full of sand, secrecy, and summer romance. There’s nothing too deep going on here, there are no surprising twists, and there’s nothing that the reader really has to think about. It’s just an entertaining story, pure and simple.
Ellis has just been downsized from her job. She needs this vacation. She and her friends, Julia and Dorie have been planning it ...more
Ellis has just been downsized from her job. She needs this vacation. She and her friends, Julia and Dorie have been planning it ...more
This was a fun, easy read. Not a lot of depth, but then I wasn't expecting too much anyway. It's a beach read, obviously. Four women in seaside rented house dealing with relationships and careers and other life choices.
The main character Ellis has a farcical relationship with the guy next door. He's also the landlord and that's supposed to be one of their obstacles to "happily ever after." It's pretty forced and unrealistic, but fun to read for the most part.
Dorie and Julie, her life long friend ...more
The main character Ellis has a farcical relationship with the guy next door. He's also the landlord and that's supposed to be one of their obstacles to "happily ever after." It's pretty forced and unrealistic, but fun to read for the most part.
Dorie and Julie, her life long friend ...more
I loved this book! It was a great summer read - with just the right amount of suspense and mystery! It's the first one I've read by Mary Kay Andrews, but I will definitely be reading more!
I love that each character had his or her own dilemma to figure out. I also love that even though the girls are best friends, they still had secrets that they've kept from each other. But a month on the beach proved to bring the girls closer and allow them to share their secrets with those they loved! I also r ...more
I love that each character had his or her own dilemma to figure out. I also love that even though the girls are best friends, they still had secrets that they've kept from each other. But a month on the beach proved to bring the girls closer and allow them to share their secrets with those they loved! I also r ...more
Summer Rental was the lightest of my summer beach reads. I enjoyed the interaction between the three friends. They knew each other so well that they could speak bluntly and even argue, but they always came back together. Each of them faced a life-choice, which made for three separate interesting stories, but the main focus was their bond and how they joined together to help an outsider. Romance, mystery, and chick lit - great reading choice if you happen to be on a beach or just wish you were.
w ...more
w ...more
I think Summer Rental is your average summertime/beach read. I enjoyed reading it poolside at the time, but the characters are forgettable and the plot was easy to predict.
There are quite a bit of characters in this one and early on I was forgetting which friend was which between Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. I wish there was a bit more on each character before they went to the beach that way it would of been easier to tell them apart.
I’m always looking for some drama in the books that I read and Sum ...more
There are quite a bit of characters in this one and early on I was forgetting which friend was which between Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. I wish there was a bit more on each character before they went to the beach that way it would of been easier to tell them apart.
I’m always looking for some drama in the books that I read and Sum ...more
This novel is a great beach read. Reading it in November made me dream of August days at the beach! There were some interesting plot lines. The characters were engaging but at times, these thirty somethings appeared to act somewhat younger. All in all, a great read!
Sometimes, when you need a change in your life, the tide just happens to pull you in the right direction….
Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she’s made over the past decade of her life. Julia—whose caustic wit covers up her wounds–has a man who loves her and is offering ...more
Ellis, Julia, and Dorie. Best friends since Catholic grade school, they now find themselves, in their mid-thirties, at the crossroads of life and love. Ellis, recently fired from a job she gave everything to, is rudderless and now beginning to question the choices she’s made over the past decade of her life. Julia—whose caustic wit covers up her wounds–has a man who loves her and is offering ...more
Jun 11, 2013
Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
womens-fiction,
fall-2013
Summer Rental is delicious! I am so glad to have "discovered" Mary Kay Andrews! She surely can spin a good story. And it is a great beach read - I have taken it to the beach. Andrews reminds me of Dorothea Benton Frank. Her writing style is smooth and her pace is steady - not too slow nor too fast. I felt as if I gained 5 new friends in Ellis, Dorie, Julia, and Ty. I really didn't want to put this novel down and start my current book. Of course I did and went back home shortly thereafter.
Andrew ...more
Andrew ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Summer Rental / Mary Kay Andrews - 3*** | 4 | 13 | Aug 16, 2019 12:24PM | |
| cars kottayam | 1 | 2 | Aug 05, 2019 12:11AM | |
| Fiction Addiction: Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews | 42 | 30 | Jul 24, 2013 07:05PM | |
| Can see this as a movie | 2 | 32 | Jun 13, 2013 02:54PM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: Summer Rental | 1 | 4 | Sep 24, 2012 02:27PM | |
| Name of book? | 2 | 34 | Jul 20, 2012 07:37PM | |
| Chick Lit Book Club: 6/2012: Summer Rental: Chaps. 51 to end | 8 | 54 | Jul 13, 2012 07:36AM |
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Mary Kay Andrews is the pen name of American writer Kathy Hogan Trocheck, based in Atlanta, who has authored a number of best-selling books under the Andrews pen name since 2002.
Trochek graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree in 1976. She worked as a reporter at a number of papers, and spent 11 years as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before leaving to wri ...more
Trochek graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree in 1976. She worked as a reporter at a number of papers, and spent 11 years as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before leaving to wri ...more
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Summer Reading is sponsored by Lifetime’s Book to Screen Movies.
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“And that point is, it doesn't matter how long you've known somebody. People change. Or you don't really know them as well as you thought you did in the first place.”
—
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“I may be furious and sad about what happened with us, but that doesn't make me believe that what we had wasn't real. And it doesn't make me believe that I won't find something that real again.”
—
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