I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

This was one of my favorite books of the year. It was long and might have benefited from some more editing - I felt it drag in spots and it wasn't until I was more than half-way through that the plot really started to move with twists and turns that really kept you guessing - and reading! I enjoyed the historical sections a bit more than the modern sections. The present-day characters and their conflicts seemed to only exist as a foil to those in the past and as stand-ins for the reader as they discovered different secrets from the past. But all in all a very enjoyable read.

The Guest Book by Sarah Blake is multi-generational story of privilege and loss. It follows the Milton family within the context of historical events. After an unbearable loss, Kitty’s husband purchases a mansion on an island in Maine in an attempt to lift his wife out of a depression. The Milton’s will summer there for years to come amid revelations of love and betrayal. This book is best read in one sitting because you will not want to take a break! I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys books about interpersonal relationships over time.

I wish I three generations of my family told such a compelling story. That being said, The Guest Book was long and wordy. But very well written, I'm torn with how I feel about this book.

Loved this book. The story arc immediately pulls you in and the characters are richly developed. Blake manages to make Crockett Island feel like it’s own character.

I'm a lover of historical fiction. However, while parts of this story are interesting and made me want to read further, others did not.

I received this book from NetGalley and Flatiron Books in return for an honest review.

I seriously tried to like this novel, but I just could not manage to get past the first chapter. It didn't help that the galley didn't have breaks between paragraphs when the setting changed, so I would get completely confused on what was happening.

To be honest, this was a tough read and it moved sort of slowly at the beginning, but I did grow to love and appreciate it. What is sacrificed in the denseness of the story is made up for by the depth of the characters and the key attention to detail. Intergenerational sagas are a love of mine and you certainly don't want to miss this one!

Sarah Blake has written a moving, thought provoking novel about the intricacies of families and prejudices. Evie’s mother, the last living relative of her generation, has passed away and now she and her cousins must figure out what to do with an island that their wealthy grandparents had purchased in the 1930’s. It is a crucial part of their past, that Evie doesn’t want to part with. As they struggle to come to terms with this decision, pieces from the past come back to change the way they thought of the past and who they are.

Ms. Blake does a wonderful job of building her characters and bringing them to life. She tells the story in the third person, alternating between past and present. I found this method kept the story interesting and moving. It was confusing to me though, until I figured out exactly what was going on and what time period each chapter was written in.

I definitely recommend this book and it would be a wonderful choice for a book. The prejudgments and biases are as real in the 30’s as they are today and could lead to lively discussions. This book is an eye opener for teens to adults.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel on July 25, 2019, from Netgalley, Sarah Blake, and Flatiron Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this historical novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest personal opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend The Guest Book to friends and family. This is a novel you can't put down, so reserve a couple of lazy days and go for it.

The Guest Book is the family saga of the Milton family, old school bankers, beginning in 1935 and carrying through three more generations. The family spends 10 months of their year in NYC or Long Island, but for that wonderful summertime, they hie themselves to their summer place in Maine, on their own Crockett's Island. The men of the family more or less define themselves by their work, but the women and children find their self-image in the summer sun, their hopes and dreams winding around the island trails, their purpose and heart songs all a part of Crockett's, all formed and bound by the island's tides.

We follow them through heartache and pain, joy and happiness, peace and war. We watch as these ladies and girls re-define the roles they wish to play as women in a changing world. And we see all the decisions and choices, good and bad, that go into the making of this tight family, the forming of their alliances with others, the effect of those choices on themselves and others. And the influence on all of them, cast by Crockett's Island.

For some, summer is just a time out. But for others, it is the be-all of their lives. It is how they define themselves, and their relationship with siblings and extended family. What is the cost of remembering? What is the value of memories? And we see the damage done by secrets. I hope you are gonna love this family. I sure did.

I did not finish this book which is rare for me but I struggled to take an interest. I did try multiple times but it just didn't grab me. I hope you try again at another time and will update my review.

Here is an epic tale of an uppercrust American family who are anchored in the small-minded, elitist traditions that money, success and notoriety bring with it. The story tells of the ever-so-proper Milton family as it spans 3 generations and as time progresses, change and recognition of others who would never have been allowed to associate with them, come forward.
The book was fascinating and moved back and forth between stories. Perhaps you couldn't relate to the Milton wealth and heritage, but the themes and contradictions that surface are universal ones. Blake's writing is superb as are her storytelling abilities. I couldn't put the book down. I felt invested in the characters' lives which made the read so compelling.

This is a wonderfully written novel. I had some trouble in the beginning because the subject matter was a little difficult. The story is great and highly recommend this read.

I stayed up until 1am to finish The Guest Book and I’m not sorry about that! Here’s a line that haunts me, “There is the crime and there is the silence.” This quote will repeat and echo through every narrative and generation and probably will surface in your life too, if you are willing to look in the mirror. It was my August #bookbarct book group title and it provided a constant source of discussion for four separate groups. The Guest Book earns five stars all day long from me. Blake’s prose is illuminating, entirely transportive, and morally compelling. Powerful and provoking, this is a tragic story of a family (and a country) that buries the past in whispers, until the present calls forth a reckoning. Highly recommend!

Unfortunately, this one was not up my alley. The pacing was way too slow and although I found parts interesting, my attention was not held for the majority. It took me significantly longer than usual to complete this book 0 another sign that it wasn't calling my name for me to pick back up.

A little slow and lengthy for my test, this book spans generations of a family and their secrets. A lot of issues are addressed in this book, and for me, it was just ok. Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Guest Book follows three generations of a powerful American family, a family that “used to run the world”.


The Guest Book is sure to be a new classic. Sarah Blake’s writing style make it easy to devour this book about the American dream and at what costs it intersects with race and religion.

I really enjoyed a lot of the book although parts of it were wordy, but it seemed to fall apart quickly at the end. So much unresolved. I felt like there were missing chapters.

Could have been amazing...

I had a really hard time getting into this lengthy novel. I normally love family stories but this one just took too long to have anything happen. If you love character driven novels this will be for you! I just needed something slightly faster paced.

"The Guest Book" tells the story of an elite family that hides secrets behind its outwardly beautiful facade. The book spans several time periods and generations.

I had read many reviews of this book before I began to read it, so I started out with great expectations for this novel. I also had read sample chapters in Book Buzz, and was intrigued by the beginning of this book.

However, I quickly became confused by the movement of the action back and forth between generations and characters. I found the book to be wordy and got bogged down part way through. I skimmed the rest of the book, but still felt confused at the end, as if I was missing something somewhere. I really wanted to like this book, but found it did not live up to expectations.

I received the book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.