Though I’m a fan of this author, this book just did not resonate with me. I felt there was too much information about horses and not enough about the main characters.. Although I like the characters, felt they were not developed enough. I did finish the book but was not one of my favorites by this author. Thank you for the chance to read it.
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I love Mary Alice Monroe and nothing says summer to me like one of her books. I have read the Beach House series twice so I loved that Cara Rutledge appeared again in this book. I found the equestrian theme interesting even though it was a departure from my typical beach favorites. As always, Mary Alice Monroe adeptly weaves together characters that we can connect with along with beautiful settings. Her characters are ever-evolving and growing. I loved this book and am hopeful that there will be a follow-up in the future.

If you love complex stories of friends and family who face a difficult time not only due to the weather conditions around them but personal problems and insecurities, but ultimately weather the storm of self discovery and love then this is the story for you.
I have read many Mary Alice Monroe books in my life and I have always enjoyed them. I do feel this one is a little more choppy compared to most of her stories but ultimately it is still a great story.

4 1/2 stars

I have been a Mary Alice Monroe reader for years, ever since I found one of her books at the library that, though fiction, dealt with ecology and the natural aspects of the beach ecosystem. This nature child was hooked.

The Summer Guests also interweaves natural aspects but its primary focus is on the people, horses, and dogs evacuating when a high intensity hurricane is predicted to hit along the southeast coast. As such, The Summer Guests is probably more episodic than the typical Mary Alice Monroe novel as it moves between the POVs of at least a half-dozen people. Typically this head jumping can be disconcerting, but only once did I find it irritating.

What usually occurs in a novel like this with many central characters is that you have a bad guy/girl. There isn’t in The Summer Guests. The bad girl is hurricane Noelle, which wreaks havoc. While some of the characters are prickly, they are very human. And, almost every character changes by the end, having a revelation that prods them onto a new life course or frame of mind.

I found The Summer Guests to be an engrossing read. I loved learning about the relationships between riders and horses, and I enjoyed the dramas and fun between the characters.

Besides nature, the novel also delved into another of my favorite things: the magical. Even more fun is when a magical event happens to probably the most pragmatic person in the novel and provides a jumping point for her character change.

Likewise, I loved that Grace’s daughter, Moira, has an open connection to animals, meaning that she can communicate with them on another level. I just love this stuff!

By the end of The Summer Guests, I was satisfied, although I would like very much to know what happens as this ensemble of characters moves on and return to their own worlds, if they achieve their dreams and goals or simply find a more fulfilling way of life.

I highly recommend The Summer Guests for nature lovers, horse lovers, Mary Alice Monroe fans, and readers who like women’s fiction that involves all of those things.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer Guests is Mary Alice Monroe’s latest standalone novel and will be a welcome addition to your beach bag this summer. When a hurricane threatens the coast from Florida to South Carolina, an eclectic group of evacuees flees for the horse farm of Grace and Charles Phillips in Tryon, North Carolina. In addition to these people, there are quite a few rescue dogs and horses making the trip as well. The Summer Guests is a novel that invites the reader to consider both the endings and new beginnings that are born from natural disasters and how the bonds of friendship and family can be tested during those times. While this reviewer might have hoped for some of the character stories to be fleshed out further, Monroe fans will be pleased with her newest intimate, heartwarming, character-driven tale.

Once again, Mary Alice Monroe takes readers on a memorable summer vacation. In this story, we find ourselves in a new setting, the mountains of Tryon, NC. As a hurricane threatens the east coast, evacuees begin to seek higher ground. Gracious hosts Grace and Charles Phillips invite an eclectic mix of friends to take refuge at their horse farm in North Carolina. As these friends begin their separate journeys, the reader learns just enough of their stories to be intrigued. One by one, two by two, each guest arrives, adding their diverse personalities to the house party – Hannah McClain and her handsome jockey boyfriend, Javier Angel de la Cruz; Moira, the Phillips’s daughter; horse breeder Gerta Klug and her daughter Elise, an Olympic hopeful; and an old friend to many readers, Cara Rutledge. As the storm heightens, so does the plot and we begin to see the characters’ truer selves emerge.
Interwoven into this storm are stories of love, forgiveness, perseverance and a touch of mysticism. The realism of the characters allows the reader to see their faults and flaws and makes you love them more for it.
After the literal storm and emotional storms have passed, our characters prepare to leave the farm, transformed by their mutual experiences. I honestly felt disappointment at the book’s end, not because of the storyline but because I knew these Summer Guests had to depart.

I liked The Summer Guests but not as much as I have other books by Mary Alice Monroe. Nine chapters in and I was not too thrilled with the book but attribute it to there being so many characters to decipher (Charles and Grace; Moira; Elisa, Angel, Greta and Karl; Cara and David). I did like that the turmoil and devastation of a hurricane mirrors the same for the characters-all in some form of upheaval and change brewing. The building hurricane force also mirrors the building changes in the characters’ lives: abandoned homes for safety-abandoned positions/relationships for personal well-being.
The addition of Cara and David from previous novels was a nice touch allowing for closure in their relationship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Cat 5 hurricane is bearing down on the East Coast, Grace and Charles Phillips invite their daughter and several friends to their farm in the mountains of Tryon, North Carolina. Along with their luggage, the guests bring a menagerie of animals and an abundance of personal problems. Interwoven with updates on the storm and the ton of information on horses, we get a glimpse into the personal lives of the characters. As the storm intensifies so do the conflicts between and within the stranded individuals. I found myself becoming somewhat confused by the large number of characters. Because there were so many, I feel like the opportunity to develop the characters and make them real was lost. And I’m sure that someone who is a horse lover would appreciate the great detail and volume of horse-related text, but having no background in horse ownership, I found myself skimming over much. The Summer Guests was a bit of a departure from her usual books, but it held my interest for the most part and had great characters. I think fans of MAM will like the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read and review it at my request.

You can’t get a better summer read than a novel by Mary Alice Monroe. A story that exudes southern hospitality, The Summer Guests makes you feel instantly at home. For a little change in scenery, this story only has a few snippets of the Isle of Palms (and a familiar character). This time, we’re trading the beach for mountain views, the turtles for horses.

True to Mary Alice’s form, there is a heavy emphasis on the animals, their livelihoods, their personalities, and of course, a rescue mission. There’s Butterhead, Whirlwind, even a kindred spirit named Razzmajazz (aren’t horse names the greatest?). Taking place mostly on a horse farm in North Carolina, everyone is fleeing what could be the mother of all hurricanes. Horses and dogs need shelter, as do the human folk. Friends of the Phillips leave the coast to find a safe haven at their horse farm and together in a sort of fish bowl, they weather the storm. Both figuratively and literally. There are fears that need faced, relationships that need addressed, futures that need a change.

It is always a pleasure to read a book by Mary Alice Monroe. She is one of those authors who, without even having to read a synopsis, I will read their book. There’s never disappointment. You’re welcomed right in. Her books are like coming home.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What an interesting cast of characters! I haven’t read many stories about horse experts, but I enjoyed this one very much. I love Mary Alice Monroe and I can only imagine the research and studying that she did. As Grace says, she “collects” interesting people. How awesome that she and Charles can open their home and stables to these friends in need. I feel like the “horse” community is the same as many unique communities and they do all they can to help each other. I felt like I was right there with these folks and could feel the emotions they were feeling. It was interesting to watch how the dynamics between characters changed. I would definitely go hang with these fine folks again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Honestly, every book that I have read by Mary Alice Monroe is amazing. She paints pictures with words and paints beautiful surroundings and story lines in all of her books and The Summer Guests is no exception.

Being from the South, hurricanes are something that every Southerner knows something about. You know how to prepare, how to evacuate, how to pray, and how to gather with good friends and wait for the storm to pass.

In the intensity of preparing for the hurricane and evacuating, the reader is introduced to the various characters of the book and relates to each emotion that the character feels especially if they are from the South. Because we've been there done that before - several times.

The book is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, emotions, nature, love, heartache - you name it - Mary Alice took on a storm. A storm of mass destruction and not the hurricane but the storm that rages instead of you otherwise known as emotions.

If you are a fan of Mary Alice Monroe grab a copy of The Summer Guests. You are in for a treat!

A major hurricane is threatening the eastern seaboard of the United States. What to do if you are in its path—or worse still have valuable horses you stable who likewise might not come out of the hurricane safe and sound? Thus, an eclectic group of “horse people” shelter at the farm of fellow horse enthusiasts Grace and Charles Phillips in the mountains of North Carolina. Each brings the few treasured items they have with them, along with their horses, who will be stabled at the Phillips’ farm along with them. Every single one of them also brings secrets, happenings in their lives that will have a profound impact. They are a rather diverse group, which only adds to the colorful story in this book. How will they all weather the storm, let alone their own inner “storms”, some of which are raging almost out of control? Mary Alice Monroe has successfully blended the characters and nature, bringing out the uniqueness that embodies human nature as well as its impact on lives everywhere, against the powerful setting of the hurricane.

This is only one of the many books by Mary Alice Monroe that I have read. After reading it, I will admit this book will never be one of my favorites. I truly loved the stories about intricate life and characters at the beach in her other books. In this one, I personally think she took too much time to set forth the characters in the beginning. It might have been a better read to me, if some of the events, feelings and such were brought out throughout the story in words, actions and events rather than take up the space and time she did laying it all out at the outset. I got bored reading about each and every character, how they felt and what was going on in their lives, most of which was based on earlier incidents and words, which she also somewhat delved into. This was definitely not like her other books that grabbed be at the start and kept my attention throughout. In fact, I seriously thought about ditching the book a few times. However, once she got past that, and everyone settled in at the Phillips’ farm, things got a whole lot better. There were many of the fascinating interpersonal relationships I have come to know from her other books. There were “secrets” everyone held, which impacted what they said and did, and only came out much later in the book. The book was all about how the group related during their time at the farm and during the storm. Naturally, the storm took up a lot of the characters’ thoughts, worries and actions, but not that much so that was all there was. No, the author has blended it all together nicely, much like in her other books. I just wonder why she spent so much time introducing the characters in the beginning, rather than let their stories come out during their stay during the storm. I think anyone who enjoys Mary Alice Monroe’s books will also enjoy this one—once you get past the part I just discussed. Her ability to look into people’s souls and bring them out is there as well as her heartwarming stories about them all. All in all, the book did not disappoint. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I received this eBook as an advanced reading copy from NetGalley Books, the author, and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, I would like to thank them for this opportunity.
Mary Alice Monroe takes us inland, away from the beach in this story. With a Cat 5 hurricane bearing down on the coast there are many people accompanied by their horses and dogs evacuating inland to the mountains of North Carolina and taking refuge at Freehold Farm. The characters are very well rounded and enjoyable to get to know. However, I found at times the characters and situations started getting a little too dramatic and there seemed to be too many people to keep track of all the problems. There certainly can be a lot more stories with all the characters. There were so many different storylines that at times it felt disjointed. MAM has never disappointed me with any of her books that I've read. This one was no exception especially when there are horses involved but not one of my favorites. I'm giving it 4 stars because of the horses.

I have been a longtime fan of MAM and was excited to be able to read The Summer Guests. This author does Southern fiction like few others can or do.

The Summer Guests was a bit of a departure from her usual books, but it held my interest and had great characters. The descriptions are wonderful, as always, making me feel like I'm in the path of the hurricane or working with a horse.

I learned quite a bit about the horse world that I didn't know and loved that part of it! I get excited when I learn new things while enjoying a book and you could tell that the author really did her research.

This book joins a long line of successful titles by MAM. If you've enjoyed her previous work, this will make you smile and feel good while reading about a group of people sheltering together on a ranch as they avoid the coming hurricane.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC at my request. My thoughts in this review are my own and freely given.

The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe was a departure from her usual stories. Not the power of the story or the characters, but a new setting in the hills of North Carolina. The story also deviates from the turtles and dolphins to horses and dogs. I found the change interesting even though I am not a horse person.

Grace and Charles Phillips have a huge horse farm and when they recognize a huge, potentially devastating hurricane is on the way, they invite several people to their farm with their horses to help keep them safe from the hurricane. Some of group do not really know each other well while others have been friends forever. As each set of visitors appears with various animals and needs the situations change, with the movement of the horses and people. It is interesting as more information about each person is revealed that we find out more and more about them, we also begin to see the changes that they cause each other.

I learned about jumping and dressage, events I knew about, but not a lot about. I enjoyed reading about the horses and love how they were incorporated as if they were characters within the story. What I didn’t like was the quick bites from characters from the beach, as much as I enjoy them, I didn’t feel they were needed to help carry the story over to the new setting.

The Summer Guests by Mary Alice Monroe, was a good read.

When a monster hurricane begins heading right for the east coast, Grace & Charles Phillips open up their farm in the foothills of NC to several of their closest friends who live right in the path of the storm. Having all of those different people (and personalities) in one place is the recipe for either disaster or the strengthening of current friendships and building of new ones.
I love this author's books. I love that they all take place in the Carolina's since that is where I am from. I also love her way of making the characters seem so real.... like someone you might actually know and be friends with in the real world. This book has all the characteristics of the perfect beach read.

The Summer Guests tells the story of a group of people gathered inland as a hurricane threatens the coast. While this premise could have been interesting, the characters didn't really resonate with me. There was a ton of information on horses - dressage, jumping, etc. so perhaps someone with more of an interest in horses would appreciate this book more than I did. I also felt there were too many characters and not enough development with any of them. Grace and Charles are hosting all of the guests, and we start getting information about Grace, but that stops. Greta and her daughter Elise could have an interesting storyline, but it wraps up abruptly at the end. Moira and Elise have an interesting interaction, but then it's never returned to and just left open-ended. Moira's ability to connect with nature and animals was fascinating, but barely mentioned. Hannah is forgotten midway through the book and Angel's motivations are never clear. Karl disappeared about 3/4 through the book. The side story with Cara seems out-of-place and irrelevant. The ending of the book was very abrupt on its own and didn't really provide any conclusion.
Overall, this book was a miss for me. I would have appreciated more character development from a handful of characters (focus on Grace, Gerta and Moira, for example) and left the other characters as ancillary. It seemed that this is trying to write about too many characters plus horses and it just gets overwhelming.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced reader copy. This book was well written, however, I did have trouble keeping up with all the different characters and storylines. I would have liked a little less horse detail as well as I found it to be a bit boring reading those parts. Overall, it was a good summer read and I liked it but didn't love it. I have read other Mary Alice Monroe books that were better.

It is so rare to come across an author who connects so closely to nature and animals in real life and is able to take her own experiences and transcribe them into wonderful moments that end up being a second story within a book. Mary Alice once again, has done it, and this time with horses.
Usually, when you come across any of her other 18 (19?) books you can bet serious money that there is going to be turtles - and most likely loggerheads. Probably dolphins. At times, there have also been monarch butterflies, eagles, herons, spoonbills, lots of other seabirds and shorebirds! So it’s clear, she loves nature. Well, with the release of the summer guests she introduces her readers to horses and the art behind dressage. Also the care and work of managing these award winning beautiful animals.
I LOVED this book. I loved that as I read it, I could feel the intensity of the looming hurricane, the catalyst for her characters to evacuate the lowcountry (where almost all of her books take place) to the mountains of North Carolina, which feels like the exact opposite!
Here in this beautiful house surrounded by barns, by horses and dogs and strangers and babies, you get this eclectic group of people, who are escaping the storm and are thrown into this new group of people. These women (there are a couple of men around) bond over wine, makeup and animals. But really, over the course of several days, most of their lives completely change.
I don’t want to give too much away in the review, but if you like being surprised, love animals, and want to laugh and cry and love, read this book. I’m willing to bet you won’t be able to put it down until it’s done and that it will change something inside of you!

The Summer Guests was a nice summer read, great to take on a trip. The concept of a group of people converging in one home during a hurricane evacuation was very intriguing and had a lot of potential. While I could tell the author did a lot of research about horses and the equestrian community, the book as a whole felt somewhat snobby and elitist. I hesitate to recommend it because I found myself annoyed most of the time with the characters. I will give it 3 stars for the horses :)
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!