"The Summer Country" by Lauren Willig is a captivating historical novel that transports readers to the lush and vibrant landscape of 19th-century Barbados. Willig's characters are vividly drawn and utterly compelling, each one contributing to the rich tapestry of the story. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a sugar plantation, the setting is vividly portrayed, immersing readers in a world of tropical beauty and colonial intrigue.

Willig's writing style is elegant and evocative, with prose that captures the essence of the time and place with exquisite detail. The plot of "The Summer Country" unfolds with a perfect blend of mystery and romance, as the protagonist delves deeper into the secrets of her family's past and uncovers the truth behind a long-buried scandal. The pacing is expertly handled, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the next twist in the story. The relationships between the characters are complex and emotionally resonant, adding depth and nuance to the narrative.

Overall, "The Summer Country" is a delightful and immersive novel that is sure to enchant readers with its blend of history, mystery, and romance. Willig's skillful storytelling, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric setting make for an enjoyable reading experience. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or simply love a good story of love and betrayal, "The Summer Country" is a must-read that is sure to leave you longing for more.

This book was way too long and I didn't feel the "current" story was needed. It would have been just a good, if not better, had it just focused on the "past".
I did enjoy learning about this piece of history that I knew nothing about and the authors notes were interesting.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book for my honest opinion

Emily Dawson receives an unexpected inheritance - a sugar plantation in Barbados. When she goes there, she discovers it was left barren after a fire under less than natural causes. The neighbours are eager to have them stay with them, which leaves Emily wondering why? When family secrets begin to unravel and the harsh truth of history becomes clear, Emily must challenge everything she thought she knew about her family, their legacy . . . and herself.

I enjoyed reading about the history of Barbados - something I didn't know much about previously. There is a sad history of the slave trade there so those parts were a bit hard to read, but obviously important to learn about. I enjoyed the cast of characters, each with a unique story.

Thanks to WIlliam Morrow for the e-book!

Wonderful multi-generational saga set in Barbados on the early to mid-19th century. The setting was easy to visualize with the author’s writing style and the historical background intriguing. The themes of family relationships and conflict, slavery, spread of infectious disease, racism and class discrimination we’re complemented by the book’s location. The ending was heart-warming and the only addition that would have pleased me would have been for the main character to actually meet her grandparents rather than just occurring at an expected future date.

Hidden beneath my recent books was a story that waited to be told. Finding 'The Summer Country' in the middle of winter was an unexpected yet rewarding read. I love historical fiction and this novel chronicled a time in history that's often overlooked.

Featuring a dual-linear timeline, the novel skirts between decades that allows readers to learn about Emily's ancestry while she discovers her future. Emily might be surprised about her origins but will she allow the truth to afford what she wants out of life.? Thank you to the #NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this poignant and powerful novel!

The Summer Country by Lauren Willig brings readers to Barbados. Written in a dual timeline style we go back and forth from 1812 to 1854. I have never read anything about this time in history and it was so refreshing to learn more about it. Lauren's research is amazing! A story you have to read!

Gorgeous atmospheric historical fiction novel based in different countries. That is a tale of full family hope and love.

Great summer read (or anytime, really), nice exotic setting, a mystery and wonderful narration. The story drew me in with its story of a young English vicar's daughter who goes off to Barbados and finds out about her roots. Vivid descriptions of the setting and the scenery, the relationships and other narratives were all intriguing but overall, the novel moved very slowly.

Thank you to Book Club Girls for the free Friday read. Very good book! Loved all the characters. Will recommend

Emily, a young woman from England, finds herself in 1854 Barbados when she unexpectedly inherits a sugar plantation called Peverills from her grandfather. Travelling to the island with her cousin and his wife, she begins digging into the 40 year old secrets of her grandparents.

A good historical fiction book always teaches me something about a time or place I don’t know much about, and The Summer Country did not disappoint. It includes so many thought-provoking topics of the times, including slavery, spousal abuse, interracial relations, epidemics, uprisings and extramarital relations. I wish there was a sequel, so we know what happened to all of the characters!

Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Club Girls for the copy of the book.

The Summer Country by Lauren Willig is an interesting story people who thought their only way out was to lie. More than one of them, lying. It is also the story of sugar plantations in Barbados, and of slavery. One of the many problems with slavery is that in order to be a successful slave owner, you need to be totally self-centered...no concern for anyone else. Emily is in Barbados after learning that she had inherited a defunct sugar plantation from her grandfather-her birthright he had said. The story is told primarily in two different times: 1812-1816, and 1852. It is the story of three families: the Beckles, the Fintys, and the Davenants. The Beckles and the Davenants lived on neighboring plantations and Finty worked for the elder Davenant. George, the elder Davenant, had lived most of his life in England. As the elder son, he had been sent there to get an education. His father never indicated there was any reason to hurry back, so he didn't. Then his father died and George returned to find his brother, Robert, had his own ideas about how to run the plantation and live the life of a plantation owner. Mary Anne Beckles was the orphaned daughter of her plantation, and the ward of her uncle, Colonel Lyons, who was not a good man. It gets complicated from here.

Emily discovers some family secrets as she spends time in Barbados, the guest of Mary Anne Davenant, who had married Robert. She verifies what she know with a former friend of her grandfather's in Bridgetown, just as a cholera epidemic is breaking out. She had ridden to town with her cousin, Adam, who, as he comes to retrieve her for the ride home, falls to the disease. It spreads so easily that there is no question of them returning to Beckles, but she nurses him there, in Bridgetown. She is thrown into constant contact with Dr. Nathaniel Braithwaite, a former slave, with who she works very compatibly in treating other victims of the disease. Emily is firm in her convictions and at loose ends at this time in her life. No matter how silly it seems to revive her plantation, that is her aim. As she investigates her family roots, she becomes firmer in her beliefs about slavery and races. She speaks her mind without fear. She IS this story. The plot is excellent...pointing out the discrepancies between the rules in a slave society and how people really behave. Kudos to Ms. Willig on a fine story, well-written, full of surprises, and unbelievably, with a happily-ever-after on several fronts. I recommend it fully.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Summer Country by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #thesummercountry

I'll be honest, at the outset, I wasn't sure I'd like this one, but the dual timeline as it were, managed to hook me about halfway through. I loved the 1812 and 1854 storylines, each for different reasons, I found the 1812 storyline far more intriguing, in terms of overall plot, and I felt the characters in 1812 were slightly more defined and drawn out in terms of characterization. Those in 1854 could have been a bit more so, although I was quite taken with Emily and Dr. Braithwaite. And the 1854 had quite a dark undertone, that put me in mind of "Rebecca", at times. All in all this was a great Summer read, once I got into it, I couldn't put it down, yet I didn't want it to end.

The Summer Country by Lauren Willig is a multi-generational saga that drew me into the minds and hearts of the main characters so vividly that I was unaware at times that I was reading words from a page. The images of the characters and plot were as clear in my mind as if I were watching a film. Set in Barbados, this novel explores the history of the people and families of this country between 1816 and 1854, their struggles, passions and shared secrets.
Without giving away too much of the plot, (I am not a fan of reviews that give great details. I would much rather read and discover these on my own), I enjoyed this book because of its fresh perspective and setting. And I loved the feeling that I was walking beside these characters. Highly recommend!

A new area and country to learn about this story weaves through generations and uncovers the secrets that were necessary to hide for survival sake.

Sweeping story of a family with secrets set on the beautiful island of Barbados. The story begins in 1854 when Emily Dawson arrives in Barbados to claim an abandoned sugar plantation that her late grandfather left to her in his will. Why did Emily's grandfather want her to have this plantation that now lies in ruins? What mysteries does this property hold about Emily and her family? The story follows two timelines of a multi-generational family and was astutely woven into the island's unique history. Before reading this novel, I was unaware the island's intriguing historical past. The author brought this history to life in this epic saga reminiscent of THE THORN BIRDS.

I found The Summer Country by Lauren Willig to be an interesting historical fiction novel about a time and place I knew little about. Set primarily in Barbados, it is the story of a British woman in 1854, Emily Dawson, who unexpectedly inherits a sugar plantation from her grandfather, a property that no one knew he owned. She travels to the island with her cousin and his wife (also her best friend) and begins to unravel the secrets of her grandparents lives nearly 40 years earlier. Sugar was king, and wealthy landowners became even more so on the backs of the slaves who grew it for them. The culture depended upon this society, although it was quickly falling apart. A revolt in 1816 would set a new course for many lives at Peverills, and Emily must piece together the clues left behind. I found this to be an engrossing read, both in the story and the history. The novel was very well researched, and I felt I had learned about the island of Barbados and it’s roots in the slave trade. It was also a beautiful setting, and Ms. Willing wrote such beautiful descriptions that I could easily visualize a location I’ve never visited. The family saga was full of drama, scandal and intrigue, and the author did an excellent job revealing just enough information to keep me guessing as to the final outcome. An excellent read.

A young woman from Bristol England, Emily, finds herself piecing together her heritage while she is in Barbados to discover the bequest left to her by her grandfather, a native of the country. Emily finds surprises at every turn, but she doesn’t allow them to distract or impede her. As she learns more about her ancestors, she comes to a new understanding of herself and her family.

Emily is a headstrong, smart, determined young woman, uncaring about gossip, doing the right things, even if society might not condone her actions. She’s also stubborn and unwilling to allow her seniors to guide her to do their will.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s well-written, immaculately researched, and the characters and story development are realistic and involving. The book touches on many different subjects: slavery, spousal abuse, drunkenness, interracial relations, epidemics, uprisings, extramarital relations, deception, and so much more. It’s beautifully rich in detail, and I learned so much about Barbados in those time periods that I had no idea about. The ending held a huge surprise.

The characters were what kept me reading. I wish there was a second book, just tot see what happens with Emily, Nathanial, Laura, George, and Mary Anne. Not to mention Charles, Jeanne, and Edward.

While it was a bit slow at times, it was definitely worth the time I invested in reading it. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

In the mid-1850s, Emily sails from England to Barbados, to discover the ruined plantation her grandfather has willed to her. Upon arrival, she discovers a number of secrets being kept, from how her grandfather somehow acquired the plantation to why the neighboring plantation wants to acquire it. The secrets behind this take the reader to the early 50+ years earlier, to the beginning of the 1800s, when all the secrets were born. It is up to Emily to decide if she wants to keep the plantation and discover the mysteries it holds.

One of the best books I've read so far this year. The dual timeline is done well, and a nice change from the typical present day, past century one that is so prevalent in most historical fiction currently. With both timelines in the past, the details regarding life in the Barbados in the 1800s is richly drawn, The story is compelling and draws the reader, making it difficult to put down the book.

The Summer Country is a real gem! Lauren Willig is a favorite of mine and if she isn't one of yours yet, you need to give this one a try! This is such an epic story of the Peverills and Beckles plantations that alternates between 1812 and 1854 Barbados. It did take me a little bit to figure out who everyone was, but between listening to the audio version and reading it, I absolutely fell in love with Emily, Dr. Braithwaite, Charles and Jenny. Both stories will finally come together and it is truly a love story that you won't want to end!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

The Summer Country, set in Barbados, is written in a dual timeline, 1854 (after emancipation) and the years leading up to the 1816 uprising of the slaves.

Emily Dawson travels to Barbados in 1854 with her cousin Adam and his wife after the death of their grandfather. Emily is surprised to inherit Peverills, a sugar plantation that has been a burnt out shell since the uprising. While investigating the history of Peverills and its previous owner Charles Davenant, Emily learns of the sad death of Mr. Davenent's ward, a little orphaned Portuguese girl named Carlotta.

Jenny is Mary Ann Beckles' maid, companion, and half sister. She is also a slave. We follow her story as she falls in love with Charles Davenant and she becomes a leader in the uprising of 1816.

This story is full of deception, betrayal, rebellion, love, passion, and death.

Thank you William Morrow and Book Club Girl for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.