I don’t know why I waited so long to read a novel by Brenda Novak! This book took me back to sunny Florida where I got to read about island and coastal living with a huge dose of family drama. After Marlow’s father passed away, she travels from California to Florida to help her mom deal with the aftermath of her dad’s death. Marlow needs a break from her chaotic life in LA and hopes to find some reprieve on the island she spent time on when she was younger. While there, she finds herself caught up in some unresolved feelings but also learns of a deep family secret that she was never meant to hear about.

If you're not ready to lie on the beach, you will be after spending some time with these characters. Summer on the Island makes for an excellent beach read. It's full of drama, of course, we have a secret, and we even get a bit of romance. The characters are interesting, to say the least. I can't say that I always liked them or agreed with some of their choices, but that made them all the more real to me. Flaws are human, and this group certainly has its share of flaws. Like them or not, I was still invested, and I wanted to know how it would all play out. And that's what makes a story worth the read to me. I've enjoyed a handful of Brenda Novak's books, but I have to say that I think this is my favorite so far.

SUMMER ON THE ISLAND by Brenda Novak is women’s fiction and romance combined in a family drama quick read set on an island off the Florida Coast. This is a standalone story.

The characters are realistic and while I did not always agree with their decisions, they are believable because of the diversity of people. The plot had some surprises, that should have surprised, but did not. It was easy to anticipate. Several plot points were overly repeated while at other times, I felt some could have used more time. I did enjoy the setting of this story and the descriptions of the island.

This was an O.K. read for me. Usually, I enjoy this author’s books, but this one emotionally missed the mark for me.

Marlow is back on Teach, an island off the coast of Miami, after her father’s death to help her mother pack up his stuff. She’s also there for a much-needed break with her two friends Aida and Claire. After closing down her law practice, Marlow is mulling over what she’d like to do next, so she’s there indefinitely. Seclusion has always been her favorite of the family’s houses and now her mother is condensing and planning on living on Teach full-time. But part of the past is regret over how she treated Walker, the housekeeper’s son. He had a wild crush on her and being young, immature, and selfish she wasn’t very nice about it, something she deeply regrets.

Walker, now the Chief of Police for Teach, plans on keeping his distance from Marlow. He has no plans of repeating the past by fawning over her now. However, it seems life has other plans.

Walker and Marlow’s romance was a long time coming with him pining over her while they were teenagers. Unrequited love is one of my favorite tropes, so it was a pleasure to see Marlow, while trying to make amends, fall hard for Walker. They started off with a little bit angry, passionate encounters that lit up the pages! Of course, they couldn’t stay angry with each other for long.

There’s also the fallout after Marlow finds out her father wasn’t the saint she thought, a blow to her mother as well. And then there’s Aida and Claire, her two friends that joined her for the Summer. Aida met Claire when Claire found out she was seeing a married man, Aida’s husband. I had to scratch my head over that storyline. Not sure I could be friends with my husband’s ex-mistress, even if she didn’t know she was seeing a married man! There’s some kerfuffle with that situation as things are not as resolved as they think.

Summer on the Island was part women’s fiction, part romance (my favorite part, of course!) with a little bit of danger mixed in the end, and I enjoyed every bit of it!

Thanks to HTP Books for a copy of Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak!

Marlow's father has recently passed and she's spending the summer on the island where her family used to summer. She's looking forward to reconnecting with her mom and she wants to re-start her life. She brings along two friends but the peaceful summer she envisioned might not be when a secret comes out in her dad's will.

This book is classic Brenda Novak and her mix of contemporary romance with women's fiction. I love reading her books and this has the perfect mix of family drama, friendship, learning about yourself and romance that I love in her books!

I loved the Florida island setting and this would be a great beach read this summer!

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak

Three women head to a small Florida island for the summer. Friends that came together through a divorce with one the lawyer, one the cheated upon wife and the third the woman that the husband was cheating with. The summer will have them all dealing with emotions, healing, and growing as they fact their unknown futures.

What I liked:
* Marlow: divorce lawyer, only child, mother has MS, father recently deceased, wealthy, intelligent, debating what she wants for her future
* Walker: police chief, brother, son, all around nice guy, had a crush on Marlow most of his life, housekeeper’s son
* Reese: Walker’s brother, tennis pro, has a bit surprise coming toward the end of the book
* Aida: beautiful, ex-Hollywood wannabe, divorced and trying to figure out what she wants to do with the rest of her life
* Claire: yoga instructor, the other woman in Aida’s marriage, trying to figure out what to do with her future
* Rosemary: housekeeper, mother of Walker and Reese, has a big secrets she hope will never come out, considering getting back with her ex-husband
* Eileen: Marlow’s mother, wealthy, has MS, a bit of a snobist (maybe?), has a big shock toward the end of the book, deals with it well…eventually
* Teach Island: gorgeous small and wonderful place to set the story
* The relationship that develops between Marlow and Walker

What I didn’t like:
* Dutton: ex-husband, philanderer, liar, troublemaker,
* The secret that came out and hurt so many

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more books by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 STARS

Ok y’all add this to your beach bags because it is an ideal summer read! For me a perfect beach read is a book that is multifaceted with some depth and a lot going on and that’s this one to a tee. You have family drama, female friendships, sexy romances and an idyllic setting which is basically all I want and more. There was a great balance between light and dark with moments of humor and also heavier and more emotional drama. There is also plenty of secrets and betrayals which just really added to my overall engagement and enjoyment making this such a well rounded read for me. Per usual I think this could appeal to a variety of readers since there is a little something for everyone, so grab this if you like mysteries, romance, women’s fiction or beach reads, it was really good!

I genuinely read and love Brenda Novak books. They are women’s fiction with just the right amount of romance. This book, for me, was a great family story, very complicated and messy, and yet a wonderful read. This kind of book is right in my wheel house, and Ms. Novak’s writing is always so strong and rings true. An island in Florida, 2 families enjoined as only they could be, a couple of girlfriends who have drama all on their own, mix these together and if this is your kind of story, run don’t walk. It is soooo good.

*Thank you to Uplit Reads, Brenda Novak, Harlequin Trade Publishing - Mira Books for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review contains my own thoughts and opinions.*

Summer on the Island was my first book by Brenda Novak, and it certainly won’t be my last!

After her father’s death, Marlow decides to spend the summer with her mother at the large estate they own on a small island of Teach in Florida. She brings with her two friends who are also in need of some time away - Aida, who is reeling from divorce, and Claire, who lost both her business, home, and new love over the past year. However, there are secrets behind the scenes that threaten their friendships, and new and existing relationships.

The book has many POV, but they were all so easy to differentiate. I adored the building relationship and struggle between Marlow and Walker, who has loved her since they were children. Brenda Novak did an excellent job developing the various characters to make them all distinct, relatable, and likable (well, except for one person - you’ll understand when you read it!)

I was drawn in to this incredible beach read, that had just enough conflict, drama, and heat. Perfect for fans of Susan Mallery or Jill Shalvis, Summer on the Island will sweep you away on vacation right along with Marlow and her friends.

I definitely recommend this one! I miss summer and warm weather, and Summer on the Island was the perfect escape while temperatures continue to be chilly in the Midwest.

Fabulous book! I was rooting for Marlow and Walker. A very strange friendship between Aida and Claire. A book worth reading as all this Author’s books are. Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I have posted my Review on Barnes and Noble. Amazon will not let me post reviews.

""Love isn't words, man. Love is... love is doing the hard stuff."

After the death of her father and tough year, Marlow and her two friends Claire and Aida go to stay with Marlowe's mother on a small island off the coast of Florida. Hoping for some relaxation and rejuvenation, the women end up getting a little more than they bargained for.

This beachy story was full of forgiveness, second chances, family drama, great friends, romance and a bit of suspense too... And I really enjoyed it! Once I started it wasn't easy to put down because the characters were so enthralling. Though I wouldn't call the story unique, it was interesting and kept me wanting to read more! I really liked each of the characters, and thought they all had interesting and well developed personalities and stories.

Read if you enjoy: beach vibes, second chance romance, family drama, sweet friendships, strong female leads and men in uniform.

"I've loved you since I can remember." 💕

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now and I do recommend it.

To me, any book written by Brenda Novak is guaranteed to be a good one. I always know that I will be completely vested and will be sucked in from start to finish. Summer on the Island is no exception. Aside from the beautiful cover and knowing ahead that this is considered to be a bestselling beach read, I was swept away by the scenes. This is not to be mistaken for a light, easy, and simple beach read - there is so much going on, and there are so many twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes. We read about steamy romances, juicy drama, and clandestine secrets, and are introduced to some pretty unique characters leading not so ordinary lives. I was surprised repeatedly and loved the unexpected plot twists. It was not what I expected only because of the image I have when I hear “beach read”. But don’t get me wrong, I LOVED it!

A summer of healing, friendship, love… and a secret that could change everything. Another fabulous book by Novak!

This is the perfect summer book to read, the cover sets the scene for beachy, relaxing, fresh air by the water! Having lost her father, Marlow Madden heads home to help her mom settle the family estate. Home is on a small island and she invites two of her GF who needs some TLC and basically girl time! Secrets are revealed and Marlow is grateful to have the support from her girlfriends! Thank you to the publisher and the author for a gifted copy.

2.5 stars

For the most part, I really enjoy this author. When there have been stories that didn’t hit right with me, the flow and actual writing weren’t the problem. There have been storylines I haven’t enjoyed and that has more to do with individual tastes. That’s why it was very confusing to me that I struggled with this story in multiple ways.

To speak of the positive, I like the concept of this story. Overall, I liked the characters. Although I found both the main characters to have flaws that weren’t endearing and weren’t resolved. It was a core part of who they were. Walker is amazing in so many ways, but some things about his past actions and things he says in the present come across as obsessive. And while Marlow is a lovely person now, it’s hard to wrap my brain around some of her past actions and that she never realized how entitled and rude she was.

I think this may be the first book I’ve read that mentions the pandemic without being about the pandemic. It didn’t work for me. It seemed to me that the pandemic wasn’t needed to flesh out this story so by mentioning it here and there it just took me out of the story and made me feel it was being treated lightly instead of something that still is a reality.

Like I’ve mentioned, Brenda Novak is an author I generally like a lot so I don’t want to pile on here. I’d just like to suggest, if you’re new to this author, that you start with a different book. This one didn’t flow very well. There were a lot of things that very obvious were going to happen so the delay in those stories just annoyed me instead of intrigued me.

That all being said, I really loved the setting of this story. The island really piqued my interest and I wouldn’t mind seeing more stories play out in this setting.

I could not seem to engage with the characters in this book: these were not people I would ever want to meet!
Some were just not very likeable, some were rich and entitled, and there were just too many secrets and lots of bad behavior. The book was not all that interesting until about 70% of the way through. No recommendation for this book!

Heartfelt, uplifting, and undeniably romantic!

Summer on the Island is an evocative, captivating tale that immerses you into the lives of the Madsen family as they navigate the shock, heartache, sorrow, tears, regret, and shattering secrets that come to life after the sudden death of Tiller, the perfect husband, father, and senator.

The prose is smooth and polished. The characters are lonely, conflicted, and sorrowful. And the story is an exceptionally absorbing tale about life, loss, love, grief, adultery, acceptance, forgiveness, familial drama, friendship, marital discord, erratic behaviour, loneliness, communication, contentment and moving on.

Overall, Summer on the Island is a beautiful mix of heart, hope, and happiness. It’s no secret that Brenda Novak is one of my favourite authors and this novel has, without a doubt, just become one of my all-time favourites.

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak is an amazing and heartwarming tale of three women, Marlow, Aida, and Claire, in need of time to heal, reflect, forgive, and start anew while they spend a refreshing beachfront summer at Marlow’s family home, Seaclusion. Marlow is tired of being a divorce attorney; the endless broken marriages and unhappy families have nearly jaded her to the idea of marriage and family as a whole. She closes her LA practice for the summer and heads to the island of Teach, wanting to spend time with her ailing mother since the recent death of her father, a US Senator, has left her floundering. She also brings her friends Aida and Claire along. Aida has recently endured an unpleasant divorced; Claire has unfortunately lost her home and studio to wildfires. The best friends find the peace, but within it are troubles, doubts and romance. In addition, while helping to settle her father’s estate, Marlow learns a shocking and devastating secret involving him; one that could tarnish his character and reputation. With so many questions and a mystery to solve, Marlow finds time for an exciting yet unexpected relationship with her old frenemy Walker; making for a beautiful love story. The lesson and focus of forgiveness being necessary before love can grow is crucial to this story, for all the characters.

Ms. Novak did an amazing job with the family drama, secrets, mystery, romance and the beautiful summer setting making the story come to life. She wrote a story that reaches the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. This wonderful and amazing story was emotional, moving, filled with wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters that is must read. I highly recommend Summer on the Island to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

A sweet (but not overly) romance that is perfect for summer reading. Well written, likable characters that develop well over the course of the story. Another win for this popular author!

Three friends are in desperate need of healing so they head to a small island off the coast of Florida to stay at a family home. An odd group of for sure includes a divorce lawyer, a divorcee and the mistress. But somehow, it works as they support each other in their healing. Everything they thought they knew is tested.

Thanks to Ms. Novak, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I found this novel to be a bit tedious with too many characters with too many issues. Three friends go to a Florida island for the summer to sort out their problems, to a house owned by the family of one of the women. That character's father has just died and her mother has MS, The housekeeper has two sons and a very big secret that effects all of them, There is also a scheming ex-husband who happens to be the current boyfriend of one of the women. Confused yet? There is the predictable big storm and a satisfactory ending tying up all the loose ends.. It takes a little too long to get there but if you need a good book for the beach, this one will be just fine.

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak has Marlow Madsen along with two of her friends spending the summer on Teach Island at her family summer home, Seaclusion. Aria is recently divorced and is looking for a fresh start. She found out her husband had been cheating on her. Claire lost her home to California forest fires and her yoga studio to the pandemic. She has also broken up with her boyfriend who happened to be Aria’s ex-husband. Marlow lost her father a month ago. She has been feeling overwhelmed by the negativity of her family law practice due to the number of contentious divorces. Marlow has yet to tell her mother, but she has sold her condo in Los Angeles and closed her law practice. Eileen, Marlow’s mother, has multiple sclerosis which has taken a sharp decline since the death of her husband. She has been relying on her housekeeper, Rosemary for extra assistance. While on the island, Marlow learns a devastating secret about her father. Marlow will need the support of her friends as well as that of her new love interest to get through this challenging time. Summer on the Island takes us to the tropical Teach Island off the coast of Florida. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of this tropical locale. I thought the book contained good writing with steady pacing. The characters were realistic and relatable. Summer on the Island is an emotional story. It contains some scary and heart wrenching situations. There is family drama, romance, a touch of mystery, and secrets. Families and friendships will be tested. I want to let you know that the story does contain foul language and intimate situations. You need to tuck Summer on the Island in your beach bag as it is a great book to read at the beach or while lounging by the pool. Summer on the Island is an emotional story about female friendships, surprising secrets, a second chance romance, a family calamity, a scary storm, fresh start at the sea, helpful healing, and offering forgiveness.