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Summer Secrets
Jane Green delivers her second blockbuster novel of 2015, a story of one woman struggling to right the wrongs of her past, with even more complications in the present.
June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.
June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.
June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.
June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
About the author
Jane Green
69 books8,523 followersJane Green's twenty first novel, Sister Stardust, is out April 5th 2022.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
She is the author of eighteen previous New York Times Bestselling novels, and known as one of the world's leading authors in women's fiction, with over ten million books in print, and translations in over 25 languages.
Previous novels have included The Beach House, Second Chance, Jemima J, and Tempting Fate.
She joined the ABC News team to write their first enhanced digital book— about the history of Royal marriages, then joined ABC News as a live correspondent covering Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.
A former journalist in the UK, she has had her own radio show on BBC Radio London, and is a regular contributor on radio and TV, including as well as regularly appearing on television shows including Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart show, and The Today Show.
Together with writing books and blogs, she contributes to various publications, both online and print, including anthologies and novellas, and features for The Huffington Post, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan and Self. She has taught at writers conferences, and does regular keynote speaking, and has a weekly column in The Lady magazine, England’s longest running weekly magazine.
A graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York, Green is bringing out her first cookbook: Good Taste , with Berkley in October 2016.
She is a storyteller for The Moth radio hour on NPR,
and lives in Westport, Connecticut with her husband and their blended family. When she is not writing, cooking, gardening, filling her house with friends and herding chickens, she is usually thanking the Lord for caffeine-filled energy drinks.
Jane's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Gr...
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,699 reviews
October 27, 2015
★★★★½
I once heard a quote about addiction that said something like: The best soil to grow something new is at the bottom. So hitting bottom, while extremely painful, is also the sowing ground. In Summer Secrets, author Jane Green provides an insightful example of this by showing the main character, Cat, at both her worse and her best in her struggle for sobriety. Through Cat’s perspective, the reader journeys through every stage in the cycle of addiction, making this novel relatable, informative, and possibly perspective-altering for those who have not been personally impacted. Ms. Green's storytelling celebrates the impact Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can have in laying the groundwork for a strong foundation in recovery, and it promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. But mostly, it stresses the importance of making changes for no one else but yourself. Sure, those in your life can be your motivation, but ultimately if you don't really want it for you, it's just not going to last no matter what kind of support system you have access to.
While the main theme of Summer Secrets is Cat’s alcoholism, the overall story features family drama issues that will likely resonate with many fans of women’s fiction. I could appreciate every character in this book, even when their behavior wasn't pretty...and it's not just Cat I'm talking about! Witnessing how alcoholism can impact families and is often passed around through generations like a hand-me-down was heartbreaking, and the overwhelming shame for those struggling was written in a way that creates palpable emotions.
Note: The timeframes jump back and forth periodically through the decades in an effort to reflect on past family issues and Cat's overall journey. There were a few chapters devoted to Cat's mother: Audrey before Cat's birth, and I DID NOT WANT THEM TO END. I understand why those chapters were temporary but I was so invested in Audrey's personal circumstances that I found myself a little irritated that more wasn't written. So a note to the author: If you write more of Audrey's story, even as a novella, I would be SO happy and wouldn't be surprised if others feel the same way. I would read a whole book written just for Audrey! Just consider it...pretty please??
My favorite quote:
"Secrets have a habit of rising to the surface, like milk gone sour."
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press Marketing for generously mailing me a free advance readers' edition of Jane Green's Summer Secrets. In exchange, I agreed to share my thoughts on goodreads and my other favorite social media sites.
Summer Secrets is set for release on 6/23/2015. Visit your favorite book supplier for a pre-order.
I once heard a quote about addiction that said something like: The best soil to grow something new is at the bottom. So hitting bottom, while extremely painful, is also the sowing ground. In Summer Secrets, author Jane Green provides an insightful example of this by showing the main character, Cat, at both her worse and her best in her struggle for sobriety. Through Cat’s perspective, the reader journeys through every stage in the cycle of addiction, making this novel relatable, informative, and possibly perspective-altering for those who have not been personally impacted. Ms. Green's storytelling celebrates the impact Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can have in laying the groundwork for a strong foundation in recovery, and it promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. But mostly, it stresses the importance of making changes for no one else but yourself. Sure, those in your life can be your motivation, but ultimately if you don't really want it for you, it's just not going to last no matter what kind of support system you have access to.
While the main theme of Summer Secrets is Cat’s alcoholism, the overall story features family drama issues that will likely resonate with many fans of women’s fiction. I could appreciate every character in this book, even when their behavior wasn't pretty...and it's not just Cat I'm talking about! Witnessing how alcoholism can impact families and is often passed around through generations like a hand-me-down was heartbreaking, and the overwhelming shame for those struggling was written in a way that creates palpable emotions.
"I used to have such shame in admitting I am an alcoholic, at anyone knowing I was an alcoholic, at my child, of all people, knowing that not only was I not perfect, but I was as flawed as this.I would recommend Summer Secrets to followers of Jane Green's writing and fans of the women's fiction genre in general, despite any personal exposure to the subject of addiction. I thought Ms. Green delivered a well-written and engaging novel that educates those who have not been exposed to the subject and also pays tribute to those who may be all too familiar. At times, the story was both ugly and beautiful, and I even teared up a time or two. But no matter what was going on, I found myself on Cat's side every step of the way, cheering her on!
As if she didn't already know."
Note: The timeframes jump back and forth periodically through the decades in an effort to reflect on past family issues and Cat's overall journey. There were a few chapters devoted to Cat's mother: Audrey before Cat's birth, and I DID NOT WANT THEM TO END. I understand why those chapters were temporary but I was so invested in Audrey's personal circumstances that I found myself a little irritated that more wasn't written. So a note to the author: If you write more of Audrey's story, even as a novella, I would be SO happy and wouldn't be surprised if others feel the same way. I would read a whole book written just for Audrey! Just consider it...pretty please??
My favorite quote:
"Secrets have a habit of rising to the surface, like milk gone sour."
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press Marketing for generously mailing me a free advance readers' edition of Jane Green's Summer Secrets. In exchange, I agreed to share my thoughts on goodreads and my other favorite social media sites.
Summer Secrets is set for release on 6/23/2015. Visit your favorite book supplier for a pre-order.
June 24, 2015
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
3 Stars
I have been a fan of Jane Green ever since I picked up a copy of Mr. Maybe at a book sale quite a few years ago. I don't remember a whole lot about that book but I do remember loving it enough that I pretty much forced my best friend to read it. She ended up liking it as much as I did. I think I even forced that book upon my sister before too much time passed. I will admit that I have not read all of her books and if I am being honest probably not even half of her current titles but I can see a change in how she has grown as a writer. The more recent works that I have read have felt a bit depressing and much more serious. I kind of miss the fun of Mr. Maybe.
This book deals with a very serious subject - alcoholism. There are sections of the book where Cat is having a grand time. I mean she is living it up with her friend vodka which is fun until it isn't fun anymore if you know what I mean. Much of this book rang very true to me. In my mid twenties, I worked in a bar. If you haven't worked in a bar let me tell you that it is a very eye opening experience. I saw people who came in every once in a while and drank responsibly and other people that had serious problems with their drinking. It can definitely have devastating effects on an individual's life and the lives of those who love them.
I am a little torn about what I think about this book. I really liked parts of the story and there really wasn't anything that I disliked but it felt like it was missing something. The story is told from different points in time and at least two different points of view and the overall book lacked a cohesive element that I had hoped to see. The book was very readable but it was never a story that was hard for me to put down. The story just never completely hooked me.
The story focuses on Cat when she is in her twenties drinking heavily and just on the cusp of realizing she has a problem. It also focuses on her in the present as a recovering alcoholic working on the steps in her program. We do learn about the years in between to a certain extent but I wanted more. I didn't feel connected to her or really anyone in the book. This book was really just a glimpse into Cat's life with only certain pieces shown to the audience. I had hoped for a feel good ending and it just wasn't there. At least the book had a happily ever maybe ending but oh how I would have appreciated an epilogue to let me know how things worked out.
I think that many will love this book. It deals with a difficult subject that a lot of people will be able to relate to today. This isn't my favorite book from the talented author but I would recommend it to others. I plan to continue reading Jane Green's work and it looks like I have some catching up to do.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
3 Stars
I have been a fan of Jane Green ever since I picked up a copy of Mr. Maybe at a book sale quite a few years ago. I don't remember a whole lot about that book but I do remember loving it enough that I pretty much forced my best friend to read it. She ended up liking it as much as I did. I think I even forced that book upon my sister before too much time passed. I will admit that I have not read all of her books and if I am being honest probably not even half of her current titles but I can see a change in how she has grown as a writer. The more recent works that I have read have felt a bit depressing and much more serious. I kind of miss the fun of Mr. Maybe.
This book deals with a very serious subject - alcoholism. There are sections of the book where Cat is having a grand time. I mean she is living it up with her friend vodka which is fun until it isn't fun anymore if you know what I mean. Much of this book rang very true to me. In my mid twenties, I worked in a bar. If you haven't worked in a bar let me tell you that it is a very eye opening experience. I saw people who came in every once in a while and drank responsibly and other people that had serious problems with their drinking. It can definitely have devastating effects on an individual's life and the lives of those who love them.
I am a little torn about what I think about this book. I really liked parts of the story and there really wasn't anything that I disliked but it felt like it was missing something. The story is told from different points in time and at least two different points of view and the overall book lacked a cohesive element that I had hoped to see. The book was very readable but it was never a story that was hard for me to put down. The story just never completely hooked me.
The story focuses on Cat when she is in her twenties drinking heavily and just on the cusp of realizing she has a problem. It also focuses on her in the present as a recovering alcoholic working on the steps in her program. We do learn about the years in between to a certain extent but I wanted more. I didn't feel connected to her or really anyone in the book. This book was really just a glimpse into Cat's life with only certain pieces shown to the audience. I had hoped for a feel good ending and it just wasn't there. At least the book had a happily ever maybe ending but oh how I would have appreciated an epilogue to let me know how things worked out.
I think that many will love this book. It deals with a difficult subject that a lot of people will be able to relate to today. This isn't my favorite book from the talented author but I would recommend it to others. I plan to continue reading Jane Green's work and it looks like I have some catching up to do.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
August 15, 2016
“A man who drinks too much on occasion is still the same man as he was sober. An alcoholic, a real alcoholic, is not the same man at all. You can't predict anything about him for sure except that he will be someone you never met before.”
----Raymond Chandler
Jane Green, the New York Times bestselling author, has penned an extremely heart touching yet sassy contemporary fiction in her book, Summer Secrets where the author weaves a tale about an alcoholic woman's life about how she learns to stand up on her two feet after losing herself into the delusional and easy escape of golden and often crystal clear liquid (alcohol), how this woman despite having her own family travels back and forth in time through her mother's childhood days to her struggling single days to some dark secrets that take her back to her own original roots.
Synopsis:
Jane Green delivers her second blockbuster novel of 2015, a story of one woman struggling to right the wrongs of her past, with even more complications in the present.
June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.
June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.
Catherine Coombs, a.k.a, Cat, a British woman, loves her English life style and her job as a journalist, as she can indulge herself in free booze either during the lunch times or in some launch events. And one sudden day, she learns the truth behind the identity of her real father and how she got the genes of alcoholism into her. And that summer destroys quite a few blossoming family bonds of Cat because of her drinking problem and throws her into a downward spiral. Few years down the line, Cat has realized that she has lost everyone she loved because of her alcoholism, her family, her husband, the custody of her children, her new family, and she is ready to make amends for the troubles and pain that she have caused in the lives of those people. Will she be forgiven? Will she finally give up her drinking?
This is the first ever time that I read anything by this author, since I'm not much of a contemporary women's fiction fan, and surprisingly this book held me right at the very start and kept me gripped pretty much all the time, till the very end. The best part of this women's fiction book is that the characters are believable and their problems are genuine and so their demeanor thus making the story rather realistic. Although a women's fiction never fall short in projecting some stereotypical characters, Jane Green's book too featured some cliched characters and highly fictional moments which are often cheesy and mostly vague.
The author's writing style is is eloquent and charming that will make the readers comprehend better with the story line. Also the prose is made emphatic as well as poignant by the author which will help the readers to feel for the characters and their stories. The narrative is emotional yet entertaining and often light-hearted, making sure that the readers will not only shed a drop of tear or two, but will also have a good laugh. The pacing is really swift as the author unravels the story gradually through layers and with through depth.
The characters from the book are well-etched out from realism and are made very striking. The main character, Cat, is a flawed to the core human being, whose drinking problem is the center of this story line, her downfall is vividly arrested by the author with sensitivity and care, only to make sure that the readers feel sympathetic towards this character. The only sad part is that the readers will fail to find where this woman found any strength or solid resolution to put an end to her drinking problem, because AA meetings are not the only solution to cure a person from his/her drinking problems. The rest of the characters are kind of okay.
In a nutshell, the story is captivating and is perfect for a beach read as the story is light, funny, summery, sassy and equally evocative.
Verdict: Charming, fascinating yet poignant drama about alcoholism and family secrets.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Pan Macmillan India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Raymond Chandler
Jane Green, the New York Times bestselling author, has penned an extremely heart touching yet sassy contemporary fiction in her book, Summer Secrets where the author weaves a tale about an alcoholic woman's life about how she learns to stand up on her two feet after losing herself into the delusional and easy escape of golden and often crystal clear liquid (alcohol), how this woman despite having her own family travels back and forth in time through her mother's childhood days to her struggling single days to some dark secrets that take her back to her own original roots.
Synopsis:
Jane Green delivers her second blockbuster novel of 2015, a story of one woman struggling to right the wrongs of her past, with even more complications in the present.
June, 1998: At twenty seven, Catherine Coombs, also known as Cat, is struggling. She lives in London, works as a journalist, and parties hard. Her lunchtimes consist of several glasses of wine at the bar downstairs in the office, her evenings much the same, swigging the free booze and eating the free food at a different launch or party every night. When she discovers the identity of the father she never knew she had, it sends her into a spiral. She makes mistakes that cost her the budding friendship of the only women who have ever welcomed her. And nothing is ever the same after that.
June, 2014: Cat has finally come to the end of herself. She no longer drinks. She wants to make amends to those she has hurt. Her quest takes her to Nantucket, to the gorgeous summer community where the women she once called family still live. Despite her sins, will they welcome her again? What Cat doesn’t realize is that these women, her real father’s daughters, have secrets of their own. As the past collides with the present, Cat must confront the darkest things in her own life and uncover the depths of someone’s need for revenge.
Catherine Coombs, a.k.a, Cat, a British woman, loves her English life style and her job as a journalist, as she can indulge herself in free booze either during the lunch times or in some launch events. And one sudden day, she learns the truth behind the identity of her real father and how she got the genes of alcoholism into her. And that summer destroys quite a few blossoming family bonds of Cat because of her drinking problem and throws her into a downward spiral. Few years down the line, Cat has realized that she has lost everyone she loved because of her alcoholism, her family, her husband, the custody of her children, her new family, and she is ready to make amends for the troubles and pain that she have caused in the lives of those people. Will she be forgiven? Will she finally give up her drinking?
This is the first ever time that I read anything by this author, since I'm not much of a contemporary women's fiction fan, and surprisingly this book held me right at the very start and kept me gripped pretty much all the time, till the very end. The best part of this women's fiction book is that the characters are believable and their problems are genuine and so their demeanor thus making the story rather realistic. Although a women's fiction never fall short in projecting some stereotypical characters, Jane Green's book too featured some cliched characters and highly fictional moments which are often cheesy and mostly vague.
The author's writing style is is eloquent and charming that will make the readers comprehend better with the story line. Also the prose is made emphatic as well as poignant by the author which will help the readers to feel for the characters and their stories. The narrative is emotional yet entertaining and often light-hearted, making sure that the readers will not only shed a drop of tear or two, but will also have a good laugh. The pacing is really swift as the author unravels the story gradually through layers and with through depth.
The characters from the book are well-etched out from realism and are made very striking. The main character, Cat, is a flawed to the core human being, whose drinking problem is the center of this story line, her downfall is vividly arrested by the author with sensitivity and care, only to make sure that the readers feel sympathetic towards this character. The only sad part is that the readers will fail to find where this woman found any strength or solid resolution to put an end to her drinking problem, because AA meetings are not the only solution to cure a person from his/her drinking problems. The rest of the characters are kind of okay.
In a nutshell, the story is captivating and is perfect for a beach read as the story is light, funny, summery, sassy and equally evocative.
Verdict: Charming, fascinating yet poignant drama about alcoholism and family secrets.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Pan Macmillan India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
May 4, 2018
I want to start by saying how much I love Jane Green's writing style, and have enjoyed a number of her books. However, I'm not sure how I really feel about this new book, I felt it wasn't written with Jane Green's voice the characters didn't engage me I did not love the protagonist or customary gay husband, the plot seemed disconnected was it about a girl never feeling like she belonged anywhere or was it about alcoholism in families.
I felt most connected during the last 30 Pages where I felt some true emotions from the protagonist but it didn't follow through to the end where I felt it was rush to close a loose end, I felt a little let down by this read, it wasn't Jane Green's best work.
I want to thank Netgalley and Publisher St.Martins Press ARC for an honest review from me.
I felt most connected during the last 30 Pages where I felt some true emotions from the protagonist but it didn't follow through to the end where I felt it was rush to close a loose end, I felt a little let down by this read, it wasn't Jane Green's best work.
I want to thank Netgalley and Publisher St.Martins Press ARC for an honest review from me.
July 22, 2015
Not your typical beach read, but a very readable book written in flashbacks. Jane Green wrote characters in this novel that drew me in and made me care about how their stories would unfold/conclude. You can't help but root for Cat who is an alcoholic and feel sympathy over the intensity of her addiction and denial. The author did such a great job in showing how alcohol can dominate your life and affect those you love. Be forewarned: there was A LOT of AA stuff. Other themes were divorce, betrayal, love and parenthood. 4.5 stars!
Favorite Quote: “….look for the bad, you’ll find more of the bad, look for the good, you’ll find more of the good.”
Favorite Quote: “….look for the bad, you’ll find more of the bad, look for the good, you’ll find more of the good.”
February 22, 2016
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Lol. Sorry for all the updates to this. I fell in love with this cover when it arrived yesterday and I've never known how to post pictures in review boxes before so I'm testing on this one. *Crossing fingers*
O.M.G. I haven't sat and read straight through so much since before I got pneumonia. I was so far ahead, then that knocked me down, but two days straight and done!! My eyes are so heavy. Hopefully this'll be a new start to the reading streak I was on.
I LOVE LOVE LOVED this story & cannot wait until I can get another Jane Green book! I'm beaten up, so more to come tomorrow, but with a few small hiccups this is a FANTASTIC book!
The authors writing style is, as I said in a status update, eloquent yet still powerful. Making you feel the story and feel a part of it. To love the MC (Cat) and seriously, pretty much every character along the way.
There were a couple times when I had to flip back to another chapter to double check the time change from say, 2013 to 2014, and there was one chapter which I read through totally confused as to what year/place it was until the first sentence or two of the next chapter was that "aha!" moment I knew where and when and no issue after that.
Sorry for this mess in the review box. I've gotta rest my eyes. I'm ready for another Jane Green book. Most notably
<-------Dying for this one!! Any out there that needs a home I'm seeking :-x hehe, my arms waving respectfully, hopeful and excitedly! Lol. I've never written anything like that in a review box before. This author just has that something that I really want and need to read more of. Thank you so much to #Goodreads #StMartinsPress and of course #JaneGreen for this gift of
from the Goodreads First Reads Program! Links will be posted as well.
.@Goodreads .@StMartinsPress .@JaneGreen ~*Thank You*~
Please note that my start and end dates are off as I had a family death and other family emergencies, however the bulk of my reading was the past two days. Apologies for the length of time it seems to have taken for me to read this because I'm not changing the dates due to older updates. I hope that made sense.
April 10, 2015
I received this via GoodReads FirstReads in exchange for an honest review.
----
Still not sure how to rate this, I liked it but wasn't fully in love with it. So I'll say between 3 and 3.5-ish stars.
The first half I wasn't really impressed, but was intrigued enough to keep going. Cat annoyed me at times and I wanted to help her and occasionally shake her. Jason, seemed like a good guy and I slowly warmed up to him.
It was probably my fault but when the back cover said "unthinkable act." I expected something... more. Maybe that comes with reading so many crime type novels over the years, who knows? It was still bad, but not what I was expecting. I can see how that would lead to what happened with her other family though.
Nantucket sounds so wonderful and a perfect getaway destination, though WAAAAY out of my price range haha. I can see what Cat loved what about it though, both times she visited.
LOVED Sam, a bit of an ass sometimes but not in a horrible way. I like how he was a good friend to Cat and a surrogate Dad of sorts to her daughter.
Julia and Ellie... I kind of suspected some things both times in their parts of the story. Julia you warm to right away in the first part and when we meet her again. She draws you in and embraces you quickly while Ellie is still more distant but also with problems of her own.
After awhile something seemed 'off' with Julia to me so I kept a side-eye on her... so to speak.
I was proud of Cat for staying strong and working on her recovery day by day. Things happen to test her resolve but she pushes on.
Things happen later on with a certain person I was kind of surprised at but not for the same reasons as Cat, at first. What surprised me more was nursing it for so long, very petty. I can understand being furious and hurt, but THAT was very immature.
Feel sad for this person really.
This is a quick, but not light nor heavy read. It has it's moments of both. The last part or so (25% maybe? not sure) was wonderful and pulled everything together. It made me smile and hope things would go well for everyone after.
All in all, a good read for on the beach, vacation, or even if your in the mood to just sit in front of a fire or on your porch. Good not great journey, would recommend :).
My first Jane Green and I have to say, it was a nice surprise.
Happy reading!
----
Still not sure how to rate this, I liked it but wasn't fully in love with it. So I'll say between 3 and 3.5-ish stars.
The first half I wasn't really impressed, but was intrigued enough to keep going. Cat annoyed me at times and I wanted to help her and occasionally shake her. Jason, seemed like a good guy and I slowly warmed up to him.
It was probably my fault but when the back cover said "unthinkable act." I expected something... more. Maybe that comes with reading so many crime type novels over the years, who knows? It was still bad, but not what I was expecting. I can see how that would lead to what happened with her other family though.
Nantucket sounds so wonderful and a perfect getaway destination, though WAAAAY out of my price range haha. I can see what Cat loved what about it though, both times she visited.
LOVED Sam, a bit of an ass sometimes but not in a horrible way. I like how he was a good friend to Cat and a surrogate Dad of sorts to her daughter.
Julia and Ellie... I kind of suspected some things both times in their parts of the story. Julia you warm to right away in the first part and when we meet her again. She draws you in and embraces you quickly while Ellie is still more distant but also with problems of her own.
After awhile something seemed 'off' with Julia to me so I kept a side-eye on her... so to speak.
I was proud of Cat for staying strong and working on her recovery day by day. Things happen to test her resolve but she pushes on.
Things happen later on with a certain person I was kind of surprised at but not for the same reasons as Cat, at first. What surprised me more was nursing it for so long, very petty. I can understand being furious and hurt, but THAT was very immature.
Feel sad for this person really.
This is a quick, but not light nor heavy read. It has it's moments of both. The last part or so (25% maybe? not sure) was wonderful and pulled everything together. It made me smile and hope things would go well for everyone after.
All in all, a good read for on the beach, vacation, or even if your in the mood to just sit in front of a fire or on your porch. Good not great journey, would recommend :).
My first Jane Green and I have to say, it was a nice surprise.
Happy reading!
July 1, 2015
I love Jane Green! Her books are always so good. This one was a little different for me as it pretty much hit pretty close to home. As a matter of fact it was a little difficult for me to read this one. Because I saw myself in Cat, WAY too many coincidences.
The author hit it spot on with this story which is truly a sad one. I really felt for the character.
I think a lot of people will find this hitting close to home and for those it doesn't, it is still a very good read and may shed some light for some or even open some people's eyes.
I truly recommend this book whether your an alcoholic or not, it is a good story that deals with much more than just alcoholism. The story also deals with adultery, unhappy marriages, friendships and Cat learning she has a whole other family across the pond.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this very encouraging and entertaining story.
The author hit it spot on with this story which is truly a sad one. I really felt for the character.
I think a lot of people will find this hitting close to home and for those it doesn't, it is still a very good read and may shed some light for some or even open some people's eyes.
I truly recommend this book whether your an alcoholic or not, it is a good story that deals with much more than just alcoholism. The story also deals with adultery, unhappy marriages, friendships and Cat learning she has a whole other family across the pond.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this very encouraging and entertaining story.
July 4, 2015
I feel the need to preface this review by saying that when I love Jane Green, I LOVE Jane Green. Another Piece of My Heart is definitely one of my all time favorites. But now I've just finished Summer Secrets. And even long before I was done reading I knew it wasn't going to be of nearly the same caliber as some of her older stuff.
It's hard to put into words what went wrong, but Summer Secrets just seemed disjointed to me. It also didn't help matters that the story was told out of order. This storytelling technique is done in a lot of books, but unfortunately it's not always done right. In this particular case I think it would have been better if we would have gotten to see some of Cat's struggles AS they were occurring, rather than discuss them after the fact. We know she had issues with alcohol, but the way in which this unfolds is without emotion at times and often a source of confusion.
Then there was Cat's return to Nantucket to make amends. You knew forgiveness wasn't going to be that easy to come by and sure enough, it wasn't. But I'm not really sure what the point of this part of the story was. To show how much Cat has grown? To test this growth? To reintroduce Jason into her life? All of these are questions that remain unanswered as the big "bombshell" doesn't lead to any sort of confrontation. Instead it just seems to lead to disappointment.
Yes, technically Summer Secrets wraps things up at the end, but not in a way that satisfies. I don't know why anyone had to be the villain here. I would have liked everyone better if there was more explanation or a chance at redemption. But I guess that wasn't meant to be. Why it didn't go in this direction though remains a secret to me.
It's hard to put into words what went wrong, but Summer Secrets just seemed disjointed to me. It also didn't help matters that the story was told out of order. This storytelling technique is done in a lot of books, but unfortunately it's not always done right. In this particular case I think it would have been better if we would have gotten to see some of Cat's struggles AS they were occurring, rather than discuss them after the fact. We know she had issues with alcohol, but the way in which this unfolds is without emotion at times and often a source of confusion.
Then there was Cat's return to Nantucket to make amends. You knew forgiveness wasn't going to be that easy to come by and sure enough, it wasn't. But I'm not really sure what the point of this part of the story was. To show how much Cat has grown? To test this growth? To reintroduce Jason into her life? All of these are questions that remain unanswered as the big "bombshell" doesn't lead to any sort of confrontation. Instead it just seems to lead to disappointment.
Yes, technically Summer Secrets wraps things up at the end, but not in a way that satisfies. I don't know why anyone had to be the villain here. I would have liked everyone better if there was more explanation or a chance at redemption. But I guess that wasn't meant to be. Why it didn't go in this direction though remains a secret to me.
June 23, 2015
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
O U T S T A N D I N G !
Master storyteller Jane Green delivers yet another powerful and gripping novel with SUMMER SECRETS (two winners in one year-impressive). Both, off the charts. A riveting, insightful, emotional and thought-provoking page-turner with some highly-charged topics of addiction.
Cat has been comfortable with a bottle of Vodka to help her with her trials and ongoing problems of life. At an early age, she found alcohol numbed her, and became her friend of choice. She never lived up in her dad’s eyes, and even though her mom loved her, she was controlled by her dad, spending most of her life depressed. Cat did not feel as though she ever fit in. Even though she was a successful writer, her continuous wine drinking lunches ultimately affected her job.
At the opening of the book London 2014, with flash backs of London 1998, and separate visits to Nantucket by daughter and mother, over the years. Cat is divorced and now has joint custody of her thirteen- year old daughter, Annie. Cat has been off and on the sauce so many times with rehab and then one disaster, driving her back to the bottle.
Audrey, her mom was a Bohemian style free spirit until she became submissive under her husband Richard’s control. Now, since his death, her mom has been granted her life back, along with her personality and warm spirit. She and Cat now have a close relationship. Her mom has always worried about her daughter’s drinking and comes clean with Cat. Her hidden secret. Cat’s dad is not her real dad. Her mom had a brief affair with her sister Judith’s neighbor in Nantucket years ago. He was an artist, a wonderful man; however, he was/is an alcoholic. At the time she was afraid of her husband, and went on with her life. Her husband never knew he was not the father; however, Cat down deep knew there was no connection, or love there.
Readers hear tidbits and pieces of Cat’s life as well as her moms. From Nantucket to London. Cat has been on and off the bottle so many times. She even lost the love her life, Jason (a recovering alcoholic), her friends, her job, and at one point her daughter.
As we flash back in time, we see the excitement as Cat learns about her real father. Her mom has been in touch and he is also delighted with the news. He is now divorced and has two other daughters by different women. Cat is beyond excited about meeting her new family and the sisters she never had and plans a trip to Nantucket to visit with her Aunt Judith for a reunion.
The older sister, Ellie is not so warm; however, Julia is more like Cat and her relationship with her father is everything she has always wanted. At the time Cat is in a new relationship with Jason, promising him she will go to meetings while she is away. However, with her dad being an alcoholic and Julia and her boyfriend’s non-stop drinking, she is pulled back into the life of social drinking. She does not know how to stop and does something really stupid. She blacked out and does not even recall what she did until she wakes up to discover her life spiraling downward once again. She has betrayed her new family. She continues to lose people important in her life; however, she reverts back to alcohol until she reaches the bottom losing (her daughter and her husband).
Fast forward Cat has now been clean for years and is a freelance writer trying to help other women in addictive situations. Her daughter, Annie is now thirteen and she still goes to AA meetings daily and her sponsor wants her to return to Nantucket to make amends to all the people she has hurt, as part of the the program. Jason has of course moved on with a steady girlfriend, even though Cat would love to get him back; however, he has given her so many chances in the past.
The much dreaded meeting she has to return to Nantucket to face her sisters. She is lacking funds, so her gay best friend Sam (loved Sam)!!!! attains them a travel writing assignment (love these), and lands a house for two weeks. Her daughter is excited about meeting her cousins and aunts. When Sam redecorates the house, sounds like something I would do with accessorizing the cottage, and have done the same. While on Nantucket, Cat reminisces about her time with her family years ago and how she screwed up. She is not proud of all the people she has hurt with her destructive behavior over the years; however, she is determined to make amends and follow her sponsor’s advice in order to move to.
Complications and tragedy arises, once again, testing Cat’s determination to stay sober and this time she may be strong enough to tackle life's problems in a new way light. Sam also finds a love interest and the summer offers a positive ending for all. You have to love summer in Nantucket with glorious summer nights and endless sunset evenings (especially with a great read).
A wonderful exploration into the lives of different women, mothers, teens of various ages, handling their insecurities in many ways. Audrey, Cat, Ellie, Julia, and Annie. An ideal choice for book clubs and group discussions, with a variety of different perspectives.
Jane Green is the epitome of timeless elegance. As she gets older her writing gets better and better. I am not a huge fan of fluff, light beach reads which you often find with romance, women’s fiction, and chick-lit, as why sometimes I stay clear. I prefer deeper, thought-provoking, suspense, emotional literary reads with flawed characters, as they embark on a journey to learn from hard life’s lessons. Life is not all roses, I like a dose of realism and adventure, as rocky as it may be. We all learn from our mistakes.
Hence, I thoroughly enjoyed Jane’s latest two books, Saving Grace and Summer Secrets. She takes contemporary issues of modern working women and tackles with sensitivity. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Amy Hatvany, and Sarah Pekkanen (my favs) will enjoy Jane’s latest gripping story of reinvention and overcoming addictions of alcoholism. Well done.
SUMMER SECRETS is a "JDCMustRead" and should be at the top of your reading list for summer....Green, once again delivers a winner!
JDCMustReadBooks
O U T S T A N D I N G !
Master storyteller Jane Green delivers yet another powerful and gripping novel with SUMMER SECRETS (two winners in one year-impressive). Both, off the charts. A riveting, insightful, emotional and thought-provoking page-turner with some highly-charged topics of addiction.
Cat has been comfortable with a bottle of Vodka to help her with her trials and ongoing problems of life. At an early age, she found alcohol numbed her, and became her friend of choice. She never lived up in her dad’s eyes, and even though her mom loved her, she was controlled by her dad, spending most of her life depressed. Cat did not feel as though she ever fit in. Even though she was a successful writer, her continuous wine drinking lunches ultimately affected her job.
At the opening of the book London 2014, with flash backs of London 1998, and separate visits to Nantucket by daughter and mother, over the years. Cat is divorced and now has joint custody of her thirteen- year old daughter, Annie. Cat has been off and on the sauce so many times with rehab and then one disaster, driving her back to the bottle.
Audrey, her mom was a Bohemian style free spirit until she became submissive under her husband Richard’s control. Now, since his death, her mom has been granted her life back, along with her personality and warm spirit. She and Cat now have a close relationship. Her mom has always worried about her daughter’s drinking and comes clean with Cat. Her hidden secret. Cat’s dad is not her real dad. Her mom had a brief affair with her sister Judith’s neighbor in Nantucket years ago. He was an artist, a wonderful man; however, he was/is an alcoholic. At the time she was afraid of her husband, and went on with her life. Her husband never knew he was not the father; however, Cat down deep knew there was no connection, or love there.
Readers hear tidbits and pieces of Cat’s life as well as her moms. From Nantucket to London. Cat has been on and off the bottle so many times. She even lost the love her life, Jason (a recovering alcoholic), her friends, her job, and at one point her daughter.
As we flash back in time, we see the excitement as Cat learns about her real father. Her mom has been in touch and he is also delighted with the news. He is now divorced and has two other daughters by different women. Cat is beyond excited about meeting her new family and the sisters she never had and plans a trip to Nantucket to visit with her Aunt Judith for a reunion.
The older sister, Ellie is not so warm; however, Julia is more like Cat and her relationship with her father is everything she has always wanted. At the time Cat is in a new relationship with Jason, promising him she will go to meetings while she is away. However, with her dad being an alcoholic and Julia and her boyfriend’s non-stop drinking, she is pulled back into the life of social drinking. She does not know how to stop and does something really stupid. She blacked out and does not even recall what she did until she wakes up to discover her life spiraling downward once again. She has betrayed her new family. She continues to lose people important in her life; however, she reverts back to alcohol until she reaches the bottom losing (her daughter and her husband).
Fast forward Cat has now been clean for years and is a freelance writer trying to help other women in addictive situations. Her daughter, Annie is now thirteen and she still goes to AA meetings daily and her sponsor wants her to return to Nantucket to make amends to all the people she has hurt, as part of the the program. Jason has of course moved on with a steady girlfriend, even though Cat would love to get him back; however, he has given her so many chances in the past.
The much dreaded meeting she has to return to Nantucket to face her sisters. She is lacking funds, so her gay best friend Sam (loved Sam)!!!! attains them a travel writing assignment (love these), and lands a house for two weeks. Her daughter is excited about meeting her cousins and aunts. When Sam redecorates the house, sounds like something I would do with accessorizing the cottage, and have done the same. While on Nantucket, Cat reminisces about her time with her family years ago and how she screwed up. She is not proud of all the people she has hurt with her destructive behavior over the years; however, she is determined to make amends and follow her sponsor’s advice in order to move to.
Complications and tragedy arises, once again, testing Cat’s determination to stay sober and this time she may be strong enough to tackle life's problems in a new way light. Sam also finds a love interest and the summer offers a positive ending for all. You have to love summer in Nantucket with glorious summer nights and endless sunset evenings (especially with a great read).
A wonderful exploration into the lives of different women, mothers, teens of various ages, handling their insecurities in many ways. Audrey, Cat, Ellie, Julia, and Annie. An ideal choice for book clubs and group discussions, with a variety of different perspectives.
Jane Green is the epitome of timeless elegance. As she gets older her writing gets better and better. I am not a huge fan of fluff, light beach reads which you often find with romance, women’s fiction, and chick-lit, as why sometimes I stay clear. I prefer deeper, thought-provoking, suspense, emotional literary reads with flawed characters, as they embark on a journey to learn from hard life’s lessons. Life is not all roses, I like a dose of realism and adventure, as rocky as it may be. We all learn from our mistakes.
Hence, I thoroughly enjoyed Jane’s latest two books, Saving Grace and Summer Secrets. She takes contemporary issues of modern working women and tackles with sensitivity. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Amy Hatvany, and Sarah Pekkanen (my favs) will enjoy Jane’s latest gripping story of reinvention and overcoming addictions of alcoholism. Well done.
SUMMER SECRETS is a "JDCMustRead" and should be at the top of your reading list for summer....Green, once again delivers a winner!
JDCMustReadBooks
June 28, 2015
Jane Green is an outstanding story teller that keeps my attention throughout and many times I have read one of her books in just one sitting if possible as its like pausing a film part way through. So this was the same, I had to settle down and read this from beginning to end.
And What a powerful book this was to read.
This story deals with Alcohol abuse, Adultery, Unhappy marriage, and family
Anyone reading or going to read this book will relate to something in this book as it deals with the heart and soul of society and real life issues.
Its sensitive, its an honest account and as true as anyone could make it.
Cat has been more comfortable with a bottle of Vodka than she's been with people for many a time now. Like many who succumb to drink, they drink to numb themselves from the pain. They know its always going to come back, but for now...........lets send it to the background under a bottle of something.
And like most with an addiction, it brings paranoia and depression, this didn't escape Cat. She was continually in a downward spiral.
She lost her man, she lost her daughter for a time, and she was at rock bottom.
Did Cat ever want to do something about it?
Yes many times she tried rehab, she tried getting off the "sauce" that she knew was ruining her life.
Its a very heartwarming and sometimes heart rending tale to tell. But it was superbly done as only Jane Green can do.
*My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me my copy to read/review and enjoy*
July 10, 2015
Well, I now know more than I ever wanted to know about working the "steps" of AA, meetings, sponsors, higher powers, and the AA prayers. I found it tedious and repetitive. It was also not the most enjoyable narrative given the unreliability of the narrator. The story is told in disjointed flashbacks and present day. Sometimes she was passed out and didn't remember the sequence of events. In some ways it was a bit like being drunk along with her.
And while the doctrine of Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery are painstakingly set forth, some main characters, such as the husband Jason and his motivations, as well as the Nantucket family and their motivations, are glossed over and not fleshed out enough for the reader to feel any empathy for their characters.
I was so disappointed given that I have been a huge fan of Jane Green, and have read all her books. Of course nothing can compare to Jemima J, but some reviews have suggested Summer Secrets is on par with her earlier work and I read this with that expectation which was a let down.
And while the doctrine of Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery are painstakingly set forth, some main characters, such as the husband Jason and his motivations, as well as the Nantucket family and their motivations, are glossed over and not fleshed out enough for the reader to feel any empathy for their characters.
I was so disappointed given that I have been a huge fan of Jane Green, and have read all her books. Of course nothing can compare to Jemima J, but some reviews have suggested Summer Secrets is on par with her earlier work and I read this with that expectation which was a let down.
July 28, 2019
Over the years, Jane Green has written many compelling, entertaining and powerful stories. Stories that have always given me escape, food for thought, and have filled my soul.
Summer Secrets is no exception. This is first and foremost simply a great story. The narrative is quick and I love that a dual timeline was employed throughout, leading the reader through the pivotal moments in Cat's journey. Now, given that Summer Secrets is good, I have to say that it is also a deeply emotional, unapologetically honest book. I've always appreciated that Green writes flawed heroines that are not simply reacting to the story they've been written in to. Her heroines, their struggles and joys and journeys, THEY are the story. I may not always love or agree their decisions, but I do understand and know in the end that she will deliver them to their truth. I know that I will have learned from a Jane Green novel. I feel a kinship to a heroine I relate to, or I may keep lessons learned for future reference. Most importantly, possibly, I will have gained perspective and empathy.
Now. About Summer Secrets. I feel that once you've read the book description, you'll have an excellent idea of what to expect. And honestly, I don't want to recap the plot. I will say that true to form, Jane Green gave me the story I expected, but she gave me MORE. Cat's story was hard, and it was beautiful. I spent a good portion of my reading time with a lovely case of burning eyes and the sniffles because I felt so deeply for what Cat struggled through. This is a testament to how perfectly Green delivered the story. And the ending? Excellent. Cat's happy ending for this story was very nearly not enough for me, but the more I consider, the more perfect it really was.
In Summer Secrets, Jane Green has once again delivered a remarkable story of the indomitable spirit of the woman.
Summer Secrets is no exception. This is first and foremost simply a great story. The narrative is quick and I love that a dual timeline was employed throughout, leading the reader through the pivotal moments in Cat's journey. Now, given that Summer Secrets is good, I have to say that it is also a deeply emotional, unapologetically honest book. I've always appreciated that Green writes flawed heroines that are not simply reacting to the story they've been written in to. Her heroines, their struggles and joys and journeys, THEY are the story. I may not always love or agree their decisions, but I do understand and know in the end that she will deliver them to their truth. I know that I will have learned from a Jane Green novel. I feel a kinship to a heroine I relate to, or I may keep lessons learned for future reference. Most importantly, possibly, I will have gained perspective and empathy.
Now. About Summer Secrets. I feel that once you've read the book description, you'll have an excellent idea of what to expect. And honestly, I don't want to recap the plot. I will say that true to form, Jane Green gave me the story I expected, but she gave me MORE. Cat's story was hard, and it was beautiful. I spent a good portion of my reading time with a lovely case of burning eyes and the sniffles because I felt so deeply for what Cat struggled through. This is a testament to how perfectly Green delivered the story. And the ending? Excellent. Cat's happy ending for this story was very nearly not enough for me, but the more I consider, the more perfect it really was.
In Summer Secrets, Jane Green has once again delivered a remarkable story of the indomitable spirit of the woman.
March 29, 2015
Enjoyable read--I couldn't put it down!
February 22, 2016
"Life is where you look."
One of my top reads of the summer, this thought-provoking book had everything that makes a story great in my eyes. It was heartfelt, honest and most of all - made me feel.
Cat’s story follows her struggle with addiction and feeling like she doesn’t belong. I think it’s a topic that most readers can relate to, in one way or another. The secrets, her questionable choices and the turn of events, kept me on my toes. It was a journey worth taking. A reminder that true change comes from within, not from trying to impress someone or being the person you think they want.
I ADORED the ending.
One of my top reads of the summer, this thought-provoking book had everything that makes a story great in my eyes. It was heartfelt, honest and most of all - made me feel.
Cat’s story follows her struggle with addiction and feeling like she doesn’t belong. I think it’s a topic that most readers can relate to, in one way or another. The secrets, her questionable choices and the turn of events, kept me on my toes. It was a journey worth taking. A reminder that true change comes from within, not from trying to impress someone or being the person you think they want.
I ADORED the ending.
July 4, 2015
oh I almost went with 2 stars. the story seemed so rushed literally the first 48% of book is the fast version of her 13 years of marriage than the last half is summer events of a two week stay in Nantucket. the summer secret wasn't so secret and the main character is an alcoholic so she doing the steps. Sometimes making amends is for yourself and other people just aren't interested. I like this author but this one I felt disappointed. so I am going to go drink my glass of wine and move on to the next book!
December 4, 2015
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. At times, I was completely engaged and couldn't wait to get back to it. Other times, I was bored by the repetitive nature of some of the MC's thoughts and explanations. There were twists and turns, most of which I saw coming. Unfortunately, the end felt like it was a bit all over the place and rushed. I felt a bit let down by the almost jarring end to the story. Overall, I think it was a good story. 3.5 stars
March 27, 2015
I won this free book through Goodreads First reads. Cat, wife, mother with a great job, had a drinking problem. It took the best of her, putting her into a downward spiral. Taking the twelve steps of AA she regained much of what she had lost. Finally she felt free.
May 1, 2017
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Jane Green novel and now that I have read one, I think I can say for sure that I will be adding her other books to my TBR list. Cat, the main character, is an alcoholic struggling with the way her life has turned out. In the beginning she is fairly recently divorced and trying to come to terms with her new life and remembering how she got to this point. Then the author takes us back in time and begins revealing the events that led Cat to where she is now. Although Cat could be a little annoying, it was hard not to feel for her and want her to be able to resolve everything that went wrong in her life. Growing up in a home where the man she thinks is her father treats her as though she is second rate can definitely work to tear a girl down. All of the drama that comes with being an alcoholic really moves this story forward, especially when she finds out she has a long lost family she never knew about. With a shocking twist near the end, the author easily held my attention throughout the entire novel. I really enjoyed reading this book.
This was my first Jane Green novel and now that I have read one, I think I can say for sure that I will be adding her other books to my TBR list. Cat, the main character, is an alcoholic struggling with the way her life has turned out. In the beginning she is fairly recently divorced and trying to come to terms with her new life and remembering how she got to this point. Then the author takes us back in time and begins revealing the events that led Cat to where she is now. Although Cat could be a little annoying, it was hard not to feel for her and want her to be able to resolve everything that went wrong in her life. Growing up in a home where the man she thinks is her father treats her as though she is second rate can definitely work to tear a girl down. All of the drama that comes with being an alcoholic really moves this story forward, especially when she finds out she has a long lost family she never knew about. With a shocking twist near the end, the author easily held my attention throughout the entire novel. I really enjoyed reading this book.
June 22, 2015
I won this book through a First Reads giveaway from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I really didn't care for the book. At all. At two-thirds of the way through, I finally gave up and didn't finish. I have a stack of books waiting to be read, and I just couldn't spend any more time on this one. I found the main character, Cat, boring and shallow, but that could have been how she was written. I didn't really connect with any tertiary characters, and although I commend Cat on her continuing sobriety, I don't enjoy books where the theme of alcoholism takes center stage. I usually enjoy Jane Green's books, but lately they seem to be more and more formulaic, almost like she's writing against a rubric, checking things off as she goes. I almost always want to finish a book I've started, if only that I've got time invested in it, but not this one. Really disappointing.
Unfortunately, I really didn't care for the book. At all. At two-thirds of the way through, I finally gave up and didn't finish. I have a stack of books waiting to be read, and I just couldn't spend any more time on this one. I found the main character, Cat, boring and shallow, but that could have been how she was written. I didn't really connect with any tertiary characters, and although I commend Cat on her continuing sobriety, I don't enjoy books where the theme of alcoholism takes center stage. I usually enjoy Jane Green's books, but lately they seem to be more and more formulaic, almost like she's writing against a rubric, checking things off as she goes. I almost always want to finish a book I've started, if only that I've got time invested in it, but not this one. Really disappointing.
July 1, 2017
If you are looking for the perfect summer read, look no further! It even has Summer in the title, for Pete's sake! If I were to open a menu, and pick out the perfect beach read, this would absolutely be it. It is filled with drama, secrets (again, in the title.. see a trend?), and page turning glory!
On a more serious note, it is also about a woman's journey through addiction. This novel explores not only how the addiction affects the protagonist's life but the lives of her family members as well.
This was my first book that I've read by Jane Green and it won't be my last!
On a more serious note, it is also about a woman's journey through addiction. This novel explores not only how the addiction affects the protagonist's life but the lives of her family members as well.
This was my first book that I've read by Jane Green and it won't be my last!
June 24, 2015
Read this in one day. Ultimate beach book or in my case: story to read while waiting for the Sears repairman!
July 6, 2017
I ready enjoyed reading this book. I love Jane Green.was a great read for the summer..
June 29, 2015
I know what I should do. I know I need to pour this the sink, but before I do, let me sit here a while longer, worship the altar of the god to whom I was once enslaved.
Wow. I knew I was in for a good read when you start the first chapter with those sobering words. Cat our main protagonist and whose soul is pretty much laid bare throughout is a woman that has been hurt with the rejection of her father and the decisions she makes as she seeks to not the feel the pain in her battle with alcoholism.
Her story is one that as CS Lewis once quoted Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What? You, too? I thought I was the only one. This prose does that …Your battle may not be with alcoholism but we all do have battles that we are in and Cat’s battle resonates because it deals with insecurity, acceptance, failures and finding redemption.
After the death of her father, her mother shares with her a Summer Secret that changes her life. The secret takes Cat to Nantucket where she meets the family that she never knew. However, when her battle of the drink gets in the way of any connection she found with her lost family, she runs to the arms of her future husband. However, the battle has not been won, and when she finds herself with her husband and her daughter walking out of her life due to her failure to be sober, she realizes that she does have her daughter to fight for and she begins to understand what the battle entails. I loved how Green walked you thru this with Cat. Being an alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil..
Cat realizes that she has to make amends so she along with her daughter and best gay friend Sam who is her support, goes back to Nantucket to the family that she so desperately wants to reconnect to. I loved this quote from that They say that when you make amends, you have to detach from the result. This is not about gaining her forgiveness but about owning my behavior and doing my best to make restitution.
In Cat’s quest to make amends, she learns Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
I was totally enraptured by this read and I think it will speak to many in different ways. A great read and a voice for the pain of alcoholism.
A Special Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Wow. I knew I was in for a good read when you start the first chapter with those sobering words. Cat our main protagonist and whose soul is pretty much laid bare throughout is a woman that has been hurt with the rejection of her father and the decisions she makes as she seeks to not the feel the pain in her battle with alcoholism.
Her story is one that as CS Lewis once quoted Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What? You, too? I thought I was the only one. This prose does that …Your battle may not be with alcoholism but we all do have battles that we are in and Cat’s battle resonates because it deals with insecurity, acceptance, failures and finding redemption.
After the death of her father, her mother shares with her a Summer Secret that changes her life. The secret takes Cat to Nantucket where she meets the family that she never knew. However, when her battle of the drink gets in the way of any connection she found with her lost family, she runs to the arms of her future husband. However, the battle has not been won, and when she finds herself with her husband and her daughter walking out of her life due to her failure to be sober, she realizes that she does have her daughter to fight for and she begins to understand what the battle entails. I loved how Green walked you thru this with Cat. Being an alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil..
Cat realizes that she has to make amends so she along with her daughter and best gay friend Sam who is her support, goes back to Nantucket to the family that she so desperately wants to reconnect to. I loved this quote from that They say that when you make amends, you have to detach from the result. This is not about gaining her forgiveness but about owning my behavior and doing my best to make restitution.
In Cat’s quest to make amends, she learns Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
I was totally enraptured by this read and I think it will speak to many in different ways. A great read and a voice for the pain of alcoholism.
A Special Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
June 11, 2015
Cat is in her late twenties living the life in London during the late 90s. She has a good job, friends, and many parties to attend. She stays out too late, drinks too much, and often finds herself in compromising situations, but this is the time in her life when she is supposed to do this, right? Before she settles down? Cat refuses to think she has a problem until one time she blacks out and finds herself in a strange man's flat. The man, Jason, is a successful and very good looking TV director who is showing an interest in her both romantically and personally, as he is a recovering alcoholic himself. He convinces Cat to attend some AA meetings and get on the right path. Cat seems to be on the right path, until she gets some life-altering news from her mother. Her mother tells her that her father is not the man who raised her. Instead, it's a man her mother met in Nantucket when visiting her aunt. For Cat, this explains everything about her childhood and after talking with her new found father, she is excited to visit him in Nantucket and meet her two half sisters, Ellie and Julia. Cat is hoping this will be the missing piece of her puzzle. Things go really well in Nantucket, that is until they don't, thanks to Cat's alcohol abuse. Many years later, Cat is faced with an opportunity to make amends in Nantucket with the family she blew it with, but can they forgive her? Jane Green's Summer Secrets is surprisingly dark for a summer read, but in true Jane Green fashion, I couldn't stop reading it. I had to know how it was going to end for Cat and I desperately wanted her to find happiness in her second chance at life.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
August 7, 2015
This book was pretty meh. It's one of those books were the book jacket blurb makes it sound way better than what it is. The protagonist was (again) an unlikable alcoholic. She had daddy issues (2 sets of daddy issues, as it would turn out), man problems, and a genetic predisposition to boozing it up. Of course this ruins her marriage and other relationships. Basically, the first half of the novel is a mess. The author jumps back and forth in time and location to give us an insiders view of the way drinking has ruined the main character's life. Sometimes that works in books, but it didn't in this one. The latter half of the novel was in the present and worked better, but at that point, I no longer cared about the main character or her issues. The big secret was sorta lame, as was the climax of the novel. And the resolution was just cookie cutter and predictable.
I feel like all I've read lately was books about WWII or alcoholic women. And when did unlikable protagonists become a "thing". Sigh.
I feel like all I've read lately was books about WWII or alcoholic women. And when did unlikable protagonists become a "thing". Sigh.
November 15, 2015
Having read and loved so many of Jane Green's books, I'm having a hard time believing she actually wrote this one. I would have given up on it early on if it had been written by anyone else. What a mess. Unlikable protagonist, choppy story, and was it even edited?
Case in point, on page 266, paragraph 2, "You will never know how relieved I am. And Ellie too, so relieved and appreciative. She said she had no idea what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
Paragraph 7: "I imagine that's true, although she is relieved and appreciative you were there. Really appreciative. She said she had no idea what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
Really??
What a waste of time.
Case in point, on page 266, paragraph 2, "You will never know how relieved I am. And Ellie too, so relieved and appreciative. She said she had no idea what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
Paragraph 7: "I imagine that's true, although she is relieved and appreciative you were there. Really appreciative. She said she had no idea what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
Really??
What a waste of time.
July 27, 2015
Jane Green is probably one of my favorite authors. Every time I read about Nantucket I want to get on the internet and rent a cute little cottage on the water. What a way to spend your summer. This book is about Cat who has a family history of drinking. She won't admit she has an addiction problem until several things happen in her life that are so devastating that it brings her to rock bottom. She has to lose everything before she can rebuild her life and rebuild her relationship with Jason, the love of her life. I don't want to give too much way so pick this up. It's a great summer beach read that will entertain you, make you smile and also make you sad.
September 18, 2016
Ne znam kako neko ovo preporucuje kao knjigu "za plazu", jer ja sam se , eto presla i ponela je na more i sve vreme se nervirala dok sam je citala iz vise razloga. Naslovna strana je mala prevara, knjiga nije ni malo vesela kao ona. Ne obecava lake koktele uz veselu muziku, vec mucnu borbu sa alkoholizmom i svim teskim stvarima koje idu uz to. Raspad svega : porodice, prijateljstva, posla, dostojanstva... Dodatno me je nerviralo nevesto nelinearno pisanje, gde zaboravis u toku objasnjavanja proslog dogadjaja sta je bila polazna tacka, kao i vec toliko dosadan stereotip o gej najboljem prijatelju. Moze li vise iko da napise knjigu bez njih ??!
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