Member Reviews
Libby R, Librarian
Multigenerational book of families in a summer getaway in Maine. I initially had a hard time getting into the novel, I stuck with it. Beginning in WWII and progressing up to the present, a novel of families who are are confronted with different challenges. I admired the character of Marin, what she had to go thru and how she dealt with many family situations. I was confused with the Anne character until the end where everything was brought together, An enjoyable read. |
Thank you NetGalley, Virginia Hume and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Haven Point. This is my personal review. Haven Point is the debut novel by Virginia Hume. It is the story of three generations of women and the time they spent in Haven Point, Maine. Maren is a young nurse who marries Oliver Demarest, a doctor. They spend summers in Haven Point, Maine where Oliver’s has a summer home. The story reaches into the lives of each woman in the family and how life’s story unfolds for them. Maren has a daughter Annie and Annie has a daughter Skye. The book was one that will stay with me for a long time. The author was able to tell the story of how Haven Point was the key to the lives these women lived. The secrets they keep and how the community plays a big part in their lives. |
Librarian 121082
I really enjoyed this lovely novel about 3 generations of women and their family home at Haven Point. The book takes us back to the inception of the relationship between Maren and the Demerest family during WWII. The author beautifully captures the time period and the unlikely relationship. Hume then focuses on her granddaughter, Skye, and the troubled relationship with Annie, her mother and Maren’s daughter. The author conveys the snobbishness of the WASP enclave of Haven Point, which becomes a character in this novel. The stories of these women are told with great understanding and sensitivity. The novel begins in the 1940’s and we are taken not only through the lives of the protagonists, but also a social history of 7 decades in America. I enjoyed this book and will highly recommend it to reading groups since there are so many topics to stimulate rich discussion. Bravo, Virginia Hume, for this impressive debut novel. Thank you Netgalley for having the opportunity to read and review this book. |
Tina D, Reviewer
I must admit just the magnificent setting along the coast in Maine had me itching to read this novel. Add some family drama and secrets and I'm there. This story is told in many different time settings. It begins during WWII in a hospital in Washington DC where a doctor and cadet nurse meet while treating the wounded soldiers. This starts Maren and Oliver's story. They soon wed and Oliver takes Maren to his family home in Haven Point, Maine where they vacation every summer. The community is a bit snooty and gossipy but Maren soon finds some true friends there. The story continues into Maren and Oliver's marriage and subsequent birth of their three children. Another time line is present day as Maren summons her granddaughter, Skye to Haven Point after the death of her mother Annie (Maren's daughter.) Skye's story goes back and forth from past to present as she recalls some visits to Haven Point throughout her childhood. This is a debut novel about a family saga and a buried secret. While I mostly enjoyed this story I did find it fell flat a little in certain areas. The writing is good and I think the author shows promise. I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy. |
This was a fine multi-generational novel. I really want a summer home. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. |
I adore Maine so this book's setting grabbed me even before the story did. This is a family epic tale that is spun through three generations and how their summer getaway in Maine features in all of their stories. This isn't a page turner per se, while there are parts that you keep turning to find the origin of, it's more of a meander through the lives and loves of those brought to life on these pages. If you want to settle in and get lost in another family's drama for a bit, this is a perfect book for you. The characters are believable, engaging and their stories are well-told. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. |
Educator 773738
I received this copy as an ARC from Net Galley. This novel is wonderful! All of the characters, even the minor ones are complex and filled with both tragedy and hope. The three generations of women are strong and propel their families forward through obstacles, heartbreaks and triumphs. The most glorious part of it though is the setting, Haven Point an exclusive beach community on the coast of Maine, is the true main character, shaping the lives of its families and harboring their secrets for generations. |
Mary Lou R, Librarian
I couldn’t put it down! Virginia Hume’s multi-generational story takes place in Haven Point,, Maine, which is a community where every one may know each other, but not, everyone feels like they belong there. Maren is brought there as a young bride, her daughter Annie has exiled herself from Haven Point, and Annie’s daughter Skye is a reluctant visitor, as her visits were tied to her mother’s stints in rehab. Ultimately, there is healing. Settle in a comfortable chair and enjoy! |
Brenda B, Educator
This book was sent to me Kindle by Netgalley free for review. There are two main characters whose stories are told. I enjoyed the older woman’s but not the other. It was too confusing to go back in time and then nearer to the present etc. I could not keep up with this. Others might enjoy this but not my thing. The history is Interesting. |
Patty P, Reviewer
Thank you to NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing me with this early copy. In return my unbiased review is voluntarily given. This is one of those books that you don’t want to put down! Virginia Hume’s Haven Point is an incredible debut with great writing spaning multiple generations, and will satisfy those looking for an intelligent saga. Of particular note is the refreshing logic in a story so full of mystery and emotions from an array of characters and times. This author gave much thought to explain the characters behavior and thinking, and while compared to similar authors, she hits a higher mark. I look forward to reading more from her. |
Deb P, Reviewer
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for one of the Best Reads of 2021! This book was phenomenal, I am soooooo sad it ended. Wow, I cannot believe this was a debut novel. Virginia Hume you are some writer. Soooooo many emotions throughout this book, it was Great. I will say it was a little bit confusing going back between storylines and remembering who’s friends with whom but All in All I will Never stop raving about Haven Point. Come on Virginia, get out another book please. |
Haven Point was such a wonderful, engaging and interesting read. Told through alternating time lines and perspectives, readers are taken on a journey through the lives of two incredible women. Maren, now a widowed grandmother, starts her journey at Walter Reed as a nurse where she meets Dr. Oliver Demarest. Maren is from Minnosota and Oliver is from a prestigious east-coast family, but they are united with love. Their marriage takes Maren to Oliver’s summer home in Haven Point, an exclusive community that Maren can’t quite be accepted into. Over the course of the next several decades, Maren and Oliver raise three kids, experience the challenges of marriage and parenting, navigate addiction and welcome grandkids. Alternating with Maren’s story is Sky, Maren’s granddaughter. Sky was raised by Annie, Maren’s daughter, and her childhood is complicated by her mother’s alcoholism. Maren has always been there for Sky and while she waits for Sky to return to Haven Point, she must confront the many missing pieces of Sky’s history. This novel is part women and family fiction and part historical fiction. I enjoyed the ride of Maren’s life and felt her joy and sadness deeply. Virginia Hume’s writing is beautiful and lyrical and I hope that she’ll follow this debut novel with more! A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. |
Michelle C, Reviewer
This was a slow read and kind of hard to get into. The story kept going back and forth too much for my taste. |
Tracey M, Reviewer
There were a lot of characters in this story and at times it was hard to keep up with everyone. Maren had a hard life, she was not excepted in the town her husband dropped her off at each summer. She had to raise her kids alone most of the year and look after her alcoholic mother in law. Her husband the doctor turned out to be a scumbag and she still held her head high is his home town. When she told the whole story to her granddaughter, she began to understand the whole dynamics of this town. |
A story told from several view points about one family and a place that wasn’t overly friendly to outsiders. It was a descriptive story that has you feeling all their heartache. The characters were interesting and the story good. I enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy |
I had a very difficult time getting interested in this book. The character of Anne wasn’t explained until the very end and, even then, you don’t really understand why she didn’t receive family help. I think the last quarter of the book was more interesting and gave more insight as to what was going on. |
Haven Point by Virginia Hume was a beautifully written novel of three generations of women, tied together by love and by their home, Haven Point, which is a huge character in this novel. Maren, the family matriarch and a beautiful young woman who serves as a nurse in the war and meets her dashing husband who is a doctor. He brings her home to Maine's Haven Point where she summers with their children while he works in Washington, DC. The home and community play a huge part in their upbringing and how they choose to spend their lives, from Anne's issues with addiction and men to Skye's desire to return to Maine to find a piece of her childhood. A wonderful story that will keep you entranced. |
This is stirring novel of love, stories untold, social ostracism, alcoholism, and finding reality. I was moved by the sections of today vs. the past the compose the makeup of the characters and of the town of Haven Point. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. |
Thank you for sending me this book! WOW! I loved this book! You never know what someone has been through in their past and how it is effecting their decisions today. Grace....that is what we can offer people. Lots and lots of grace. Every single person in this book was making assumptions about someone else based on nothing. What an amazing read! I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. |
Janet W, Reviewer
I kind of have a love~hate relationship with this book. It’s 3.75 stars and I rounded up. It’s about three generations of women. The last few books that I read seem to go back and forth chapter by chapter between generations. I’ve gotten used to that. But this book was at times confusing because the same characters were in both generations. I loved the last third of the book which is why I rounded up. Karen is the matriarch of the story, Annie is her daughter and Skye is Maren’s granddaughter. The family has a house on the Maine coast. This house plays a big part in the story. I would probably read another book from this author and I probably would recommend it to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review. |








