I had high hopes for Summer Island after reading Kristin Hannah’s more recent books, such as The Women. It’s one of her earlier books, and even though it doesn’t have the same emotional impact or narrative skill, it still tells a deeply moving story about broken relationships, forgiveness, and the messy beauty of second chances.
Plot Overview
Summer Island is about Ruby Bridge, a rebellious stand-up comic who is not on good terms with her mother, Nora. Nora is a famous advice columnist with a complicated past and a glossy public image. After a scandal makes Nora look bad in public and then she gets hurt in a car accident, Ruby is forced to come back into her life. What starts out as a bitter reunion slowly turns into a deep look at their shared past, long-buried secrets, and the chance to heal.
The novel takes place in the peaceful setting of Summer Island, Washington, and follows Ruby as she deals with her anger, sadness, and the fact that she may not be the bad person she has always thought her mother was. We also meet Dean, Ruby’s first love, and Eric, a close friend whose story quietly steals the show.
Themes
Summer Island is really about how complicated relationships between mothers and daughters can be. It talks about abandonment, betrayal, and the desire to connect. There is also a strong theme of redemption, which is how we change the stories we tell ourselves and how love can heal even the worst wounds. The book talks about grief, first loves, and the hard process of growing up and realising that our parents are not perfect people.
What Worked For Me
What Worked For MeKristin Hannah is a great writer because she can make characters who are flawed, relatable, and emotionally honest. Ruby annoyed me at first because her bitterness seemed one-note, but as her vulnerability became clear, I began to like her more. You also start to like Nora more and more. Their relationship is messy and uncomfortable, but it’s also real.
Eric was my emotional rock. His story, especially his diagnosis and how Nora reacts, made me cry and was very well written. He added a quiet depth to the story that made some of the more predictable parts feel less so.
Also, the setting is worth talking about. Summer Island is described in such a warm and nostalgic way that it almost feels like a person. Even though it looks calm, you can picture yourself escaping to this place.
Who Would Like This Book
Summer Island is a book for you if you like stories about family secrets, emotional reckoning, and the slow burn of forgiveness. It’s great for people who like stories with strong characters and don’t mind a little sentimentality. Think of Hallmark films, but with more emotional depth.
It’s not as heartbreaking or complicated as Hannah’s later works, but it’s still a beautiful, heartfelt read that would be great for a quiet weekend or a time to think in the garden.
Final Thoughts
Final ThoughtsSummer Island may not be Kristin Hannah’s best work, but it’s still a touching, emotional book about the pain and hope of fixing broken relationships. It made me think that the most powerful stories aren’t always the ones with big changes. Sometimes, they’re the ones that make us look inside ourselves and rethink what we thought we knew, especially about the people who raised us.
A soft, bittersweet book that stays with you just long enough to make an impression.
Thank you to PanMacmillan SA for the opportunity to read this book.
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