Mustique island

It’s the time of year where I’m drawn to books that feel like a mini vacation themselves. I want to be swept away to a new location and bonus points if it’s exotic. This one totally fit that for me, I mean just look at that gorgeous cover! Besides a lush and well described setting this explores mother daughter relationships through the eyes of mom Willy May and her daughters, Hilly and Joanne. It’s set in the 70’s and follows all three women as they start a new chapter in their lives and I was wholly invested in all of them. There’s lots of glamour and intrigue, ideal for a summer read and one that I had fun with!

I can't leave partial stars, but I would give Mustique Island 3.75 stars. I was surprised by this book- the content was far deeper and thought provoking than the description would lead you to believe. The novel (to me at least) was really about the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. The island of Mustique plays an interesting role in the setting- I loved picturing an island in the infancy of a design- and also was amazed by how ridiculous wealthy people can be when they don't have enough to do. Making the islanders dress up in silly welcoming costumes was a particularly appalling touch by one of the characters.
I enjoyed reading about Willy May (mother) and her doubts and fears about herself as a mother- realizing later in life that she could be a different kind of mother than she had been. Hilly and Joanne are interesting characters as daughters. I don't understand some of the choices made by Hilly and Willy May later on in the novel, and I felt the end might be a little rushed. But overall, I enjoyed this read.

I was first drawn to this book by the mystery of Mustique Island after realizing it was the island that Princess Margret stayed on when getting away from her life at Buckingham Palace and being in the public eye. There are many historical references to the society that lived on this island and how it came to become the get-away for royalty, rock stars, and celebrities.
This book is more than a brush with celebrity and fame. It tells the story of a mother and her daughters, their love and loss, finding identity and belonging. At the heart this is a women's story about finding home. I enjoyed Willy May, an independent, strong and determined woman who reinvented herself and created a home for herself and her children, called Firefly. I enjoyed every minute and wish to go to Firefly and dream.
For fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Malibu Rising and Karen White's Dreams of Falling.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get into this book. The main character seems to vacillate from being self assured and self conscious and her daughters never come to life. I really wanted to like the book after hearing the author speak (the author was WONDERFUL and so excited and she made the book sound terrific) but it never came to life for me and I stopped about 2/3 of the way through. I just wasn't interested enough to finish the book. It's a shame.

This is a historical fiction set in the 1970’s on Mustique, an island in the Caribbean (and yes it’s an actualy real island!) It’s written in the points of view of Willy May, a wealthy divorcée who’s a former beauty queen and her two daughters Hilly and Joanne. The story starts with Willy May who moved to Mustique Island and is building a home there. The quirky owner of Mustique, Colin Tennant, introduces her to the rich and famous who come to the island to party and do whatever they want without the media constantly being on top of them, which even includes Princess Margaret. When Willy May’s daughters arrive on Mustique, with who she had somewhat of a troubled relationship with, the story shifts and starts centering about their bond as mother and daughters.

This book ended up as such a pleasant surprise for me. It did take me a couple of chapters to warm up to the characters and really get into the story but it wasn’t long until it all had me hooked. I was always very much looking forward to picking up my e-reader again and continuing the story to find out where it would take Willy May, Hilly and Joanne. I felt really invested into their lives and what would happen next, which I hadn’t expected when I first started reading. And those are the best kinda stories I think, the unexpected ones.

I always enjoy a historical novel that has people who actually existed in it and this book definitely didn’t disappoint with that. I already mentioned Princess Margaret and Colin Tennant but there was also even Mick Jagger! It’s safe to say that the author handled the fiction mixed with facts perfectly for me. But what I loved most was the relationship Willy May had with her daughters, Hilly and Joanne. It was what really made this story so beautiful and worth it. It all made me emotional even, especially at the end which I absolutely hadn’t expected but last pages gave me tears in my eyes.

Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy is in one word: splendid. Come for the glamor and stay for the poignant emotions the story invokes.

Mustique Island
Sarah McCoy
Pub Date: May 10, 2022
William Morrow
Thanks to the author, William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC. I feel like you transported me to an island paradise that I never knew existed. Great book and escape!!
From bestselling author Sarah McCoy, a sun-splashed romp with a rich divorcee and her two wayward daughters in 1970s Mustique, the world's most exclusive private island, where Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger were regulars and scandals stayed hidden from the press...
I'm so glad I read this book and will be recommending it to my friends.
5 star

I encourage everyone to read this book, it was tender, real, and nostalgic. The prose was inviting, mysterious, and promising.

MUSTIQUE ISLAND provides a much-needed escape. The first chapter starts off a little slowly because we are being introduced to the main character and need to know and understand her backstory (failed marriage, etc.) However, McCoy keeps things moving and there's a definite sense that the story will be a fun romp in the sand. As the novel progresses, this initial feeling is proven right.

The characters are kind of over the top dramatic, in a fun way, and the tropical setting is rendered with such great details that you feel as if you are there.

I enjoyed this book extremely. Honestly the best element of the book is the story itself which is really interesting and entertaining. You will absolutely fine yourself feeling like you’re actually in the novel experiencing the events.

This book is like the literary form of being transported to another area. The epic story surrounding the main characters really kept me and grosse the entire book. But I really enjoyed the setting as well. I highly recommend reading this book.