The Islanders

I always read this author\’s book. I am always impressed with how well her characters are crafted, with many dimensions and distinct voices. The story line is touching. I bought this for a beach read, but it has so much more depth than a typical summer book. Well done!

Always a real treat to find a new author got this book because it takes place on Block Island RI where I have never been but plan to visit this summer I really enjoyed the storyline and characters and great descriptions of the island and felt like I was there so looking forward to my visit.

I wanted to read this new novel because my favorite author Elin Hilderbrand recommended it as a good summer read while on her recent book signing tour that I attended. It was a light and easy read that took place in the summer on Block Island (I recently read and enjoyed the book The Summer Wives and reviewed that one which also takes place on Block Island) but I don\’t think the author did as great of a job as painting/describing the Island\’s beauty the way that Hilderbrand describes Nantucket. She does it so well that I fell in love with the island and booked my own trip there! I did really enjoy Anthony\’s character and the build up to learning why he was such a disgraced literary star. The other two main characters are likeable enough…but I just didn\’t find myself falling in love with any of them. Also the drama and build up in this book is just SO predictable. Oh course if you lie about your past to a new love interest it\’s eventually going to come back to haunt you. Of course if you hide a secret project from your husband he\’s eventually going to find out about it and you will have to have a tête-à-tête when he finds out what you are up to. While there were parts of the book I liked, waiting to the \”climax\” or the breaking point for these drama situations just seemed kind of expected and cliché to me. Overall it was an ok summer read, but I wouldn\’t go out of my way to pick this one up to try this year.

This book begins at the end in the aftermath of a storm on Block Island where an unknown (to the reader) person has died. Anthony comes to the island a seemingly broken, sad, newly impoverished man, to get away from his past. He soon meets Lu, his neighbor, and mother of two with a mostly absent husband, and Joy, who is the owner of Joy Bombs, a bakery specializing in mini whoopee pies. She is a single mother with an early teen, Maggie. In time an interesting story line is developed between these major characters. On the surface, this book is a romance, but it has a lot more to say. I have not been to Block Island, but now I feel as though I have; the depiction is vivid. I am something of a \”foodie\” and so the food blog with its descriptive meals is a plus. But the story is about much more – feminism in theory as opposed to reality, deceit, life for an inhabitant of a tourist island and the hard existence that poses, the meaning of motherhood and what is expected of women, self-sufficiency, redemption. There is a tension that develops between people but also the tension, for the reader, of who did die in the storm. I was thoroughly charmed by this book and plan to find more to read by this author. My reading time was well spent.

Very well developed characters, who felt likable & real, and a unique, believable, attention holding plot kept me reading this book. Which I ended up liking a lot. A fun, light summer read.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member