This is the first book I have read from the 3W's (Williams, Willig and White). What rock have I been hiding under?

The Lost Summers took me to Newport's spendid mansions, historical restorations, and into the lives of 3 women in 1899, 1958 and 2019. The 3 timelines are expertly tied together by secrets, family and the Sprague Manor (a magnificient home in Newport). Spanning over a century from the Gilded Age to present day, "The Lost Summers of Newport" is flush with money and secrets of the rich and famous.

I loved the theme of preservation that runs throughout the book with 2019's "Mansion Makeover show," 1958's Tiffany's Ball to aid with restoration of cottages and the 1899 original Sprague Manor.

Who can resist a story of offering multiple mysteries, murders and family lies? (certainly not me) The 3W's weave a twisty tale so expertly its impossible to believe 3 authors penned this tale together. There's plenty of drama, action and surprises in each chapter to keep you reading and turning pages. I absolutely and 100% enjoyed uncovering the secrets buried over the years.

Many thanks to Williams, Willig, White, William Morrow/Harper Collins and NetGalley for this beautifully written and pleasureable historical fiction title.

Fans (like me) of the previous collaborative efforts of Williams, Willig, and White will not be disappointed, and really, I don't understand how everyone can't be a fan of these three. The three chronological narratives, and the respective authors' deft interweaving/not quite overlapping of each time period, is truly one of my favorite things ever. These three are unique even among the plethora of modern-day historical fiction writers, as I have found in each of their books - without exception - a level of humanity/realness/"these feel like real people, not just a collection of words on a page," that leaves me eagerly awaiting each new novel. While, much to my chagrin, I do not handle adult ordering for my library, I can assure you this title is already preordered, and I know many will be eager to snatch it up. Another homerun!

When 3 of my favorite authors write a historical fiction novel, set in one of my favorite places, it is exciting. This novel didn’t disappoint. The setting is a crumbling Newport mansion that holds decades of secrets. Andie is involved in a TV show that is restoring part of the Sprague House. Still living there is Lucky, whose story takes place in the 1950’s. There is the presence of Maybelle, but it is Ellen, the music teacher who is tge key to all the secrets.

The authors connected the 3 stories using the mansion as a nexus. I had fun trying to decide which author wrote about each character, or were they all combined? I was charmed by the story, and I enjoyed the main characters. There was a good sprinkling of romance and mystery which kept me engaged.

I am a “visual” reader, So I especially enjoyed the descriptions. As a frequent visitor to Newport, I felt that the spirit of the area was well-captured. in this novel. I think the interior lives of the women represented their roles during these periods of evolution for women. . I must admit that the story of Ellen really enchanted me.

I certainly recommend this novel and can’t wait to read more books by these authors. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

I cannot say I enjoyed this. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but my big problems with it were that I didn’t really care for any of the characters, the love stories felt shallow and unearned, and the dialogue was awful. The authors frequently shoehorned exposition into the dialogue which is a huge pet peeve of mine. When both the speaker and the listener are well aware of something, it should not be expressed as dialogue. (A paraphrased example: I’m so glad you are taking classes at Salve Regina nearby which is why you were able to join us here in Newport.) I can understand the appeal of this book to other readers but it was not for me.

This book attracted me because it takes place in Newport, Rhode Island, a place I'm hoping to visit one day. Written by three popular authors, the story is broken up into three time periods: current day (2019); 1899, and 1957. It follows the Sprague Family who own a mansion in Newport. In the present time, the mansion is the focus of a television show called Makeover Mansion. One of the people involved in its production, Andie, is a single mother to her sister's son. She takes on the project hoping to show viewers how a run-down old house can be renovated without changing its charm. However, the studio requests that she uncovers family scandals and the legend of the Lady in White, a ghost said to haunt the place. She and her crew have been given strict rules not to approach the owner of the home, Lucky "Lucia" Sprague, with any questions. They are also forbidden to film near the home's boathouse. These rules are given by Lucky's son, Lucas. His sister, Hayden doesn't even approve of the show.

While working on the episode, Andie finds herself attracted to Lucas, although he's the type of guy she's avoided in the past due to a previous broken relationship. As she finds out more about the family, readers are shown events taking place in the past that reveal two secrets that changed the lives of Lucky and her relatives.

In 1899, a music teacher was hired to instruct Maybelle Sprague, the heir to the Sprague fortune, a "penny" heiress as they called her. The object of her music lessons was to enchant an Italian prince her step-brother hoped to marry her off to, so that he and his family could afford to continue to live in the mansion. In 1957, after Maybelle (now known as Nonna) escapes Italy with her granddaughter Lucky and returns to Sprague Hall, Lucky and her husband have marital problems due to his alcoholism and adultery. He also accuses her of having an affair with Teddy, a friend from Italy. While this isn't true, Lucky has always been close to Teddy. As both the 1899 and 1957 events come to dramatic climaxes, the reader and Andi learn of two terrible secrets that have followed the generation of Spragues.

It was difficult to put this story down. While I had some difficulty following the changes in years and characters, it all made sense in the end. There were several twists I didn't see coming. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, historical fiction, tales about mansions and rich people, alternating time periods, and interesting characters.

Newport, Historical Fiction and home remodeling shows - this book checked so many boxes for me, I couldn’t wait to read it. Alternate time periods are used to tell the story of secrets, family and history behind a Newport mansion, Sprague House.

In 2019, Andie is hosting and producing a reality home makeover show. Her newest assignment is the Sprague mansion. A neighbor to the incredible Marble House built by the Vanderbilts, this property is still inhabited by the reclusive owner, Lucky Sprague. Two rules apply to the project, no one must disturb the owner and everyone must stay away from the boathouse. In 1958, Lucky and her grandmother moved from Italy back to the family home in Newport. Lucky married Stuy Sprague and was welcomed into the Newport yachting set. In 1899, music teacher Ellen Daniels was hired to polish Maybelle Sprague’s singing voice for her launch into society. Maybelle’s brother needs her to marry into money so they can impress Newport society with their house and be accepted into their world. These three time periods create a history of secrets that effect multiple generations for years to come.

The writing blended beautifully and the timelines were expertly woven together. The descriptions of the setting and intricate details of Newport society brings the reader back in time. The Lost Summers of Newport was another pleasurable historical fiction by these three authors.

Thank you at the authors, William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this title before it’s publication.

The Lost Summers of Newport
by Beatriz Williams; Lauren Willig; Karen White
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
William Morrow
Thanks to the three authors, publisher, and NetGalley for this great ARC! I am a fan of all three writer's individually so when you put them together I was excited to start reading. From the New York Times bestselling team of Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White--a novel of money and secrets set among the famous summer mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, spanning over a century from the Gilded Age to the present day.
This is a great summer book -- a historical fiction set in Newport in a Gilded Age mansion where we get romance and intrigue from the 3 time periods of 1899, 1958, and 2019.
This was a great read for me! I am recommending it! If you're a fan of multi-narrator/timeline historical fiction you'll love this one!
5 stars

**I received an eGalley copy of this book prior to publication. Thank you to William Morrow/Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with this opportunity.**

Once again Williams, Willig, and White have teamed up to weave a story told through three generations of women. This time they tackle a Gilded Age mystery set among the 'cottages' of Newport Rhode Island in 1899, 1957, and 2019.

I greatly enjoyed this book, especially the 1957 portion of the story. The scene was set beautifully and I really got the enchanting but sometimes perilous aspects of Newport Society. This is standard for these authors as I always ravenously tear through their work. I will say that I did guess the ending of the novel about 1/3 of the way through and I have some plot hole questions, but this didn't detract terribly from my enjoyment of the book.

Novels by these authors are always a delight to read. I was drawn to this because of the setting (disclosure: I was married in Newport many, many years ago but definitely not in a mansion.) I enjoyed the descriptions and the lives of the three women protagonists. The plot lines intertwined beautifully.

I enjoy the collaborations of these three authors and Lost Summers of Newport is another wonderful blending of their talents with writing, plot, timelines and character development.

I am a longtime fan of Beatriz Williams, and I always really enjoy her collaborations with Lauren Willig and Karen White. The Lost Summers of Newport did not disappoint. I think a hallmark of a great collaboration is that the reader can't ever tell that the story is written in three different voices. In each of the books they've written together, their writing gels seamlessly together to create an intergenerational story that captivates with every line.

The Lost Summers of Newport follows the story of Ellen, Lucky, and Andie. Three women separated by over 100 years, but who are more closely tied together than they know. Centered around Sprague Hall, a fictionalized Newport cottage, this book tells us how each of these women make choices to strive for the life they want, and just how complicated that can get.

I truly enjoy how much history this books spans without feeling like you're getting lost in it. The authors do a great job of allowing the setting to tie the timeline and, therefore, our characters together.

I have never once failed to be transported into another age with any of Beatriz Williams' books, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending a few lost summers in Newport.

The story of three women in different times whose stories are connected by a house in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1899 Ellen O'Donnell has been hired to give singing lessons to a young, new money heiress Maybelle whose half-brother is desperate to marry her to an Italian prince. In 1958 Lucia diConti is trapped in a marriage to an unfaithful husband and living in the Newport mansion her grandmother owns. In 2019 Andie Figuero is a producer on Mansion Makeover and is trying to keep the show on the air and restore a crumbling Newport mansion. How are the stories of these women entwined? What secrets is the Newport mansion keeping?

A fascinating story of three women from completely different time periods (1899, 1958 and 2019), all tied together by a beautiful mansion in wealthy Newport, Rhode Island. Each woman's story is interesting on its own, and when they are eventually tied together, it makes for a very satisfying reading experience.

I do love a multiple timeline/perspective story centered around an architectural element :). This book follows beautifully in the footsteps of the other novels penned by the three authors. So far The Forgotten Room is my all time favorite but they are all good reads.

I’ll read anything by Beatriz Williams. Her historical fiction is some of my favorite so I was thrilled to receive an e-galley co-written by her, Lauren Willig and Karen White.

Like most Williams novels, this is a story weaved between three different generations of women - the 1890s, 1950s and the present - all tied together by one at-risk gilded age mansion. Ellen narrates the 1890s. She’s running away from a previous life and poses as a music teacher for polished young ladies. Her main charge is Maybelle, an orphan heiress who is constantly being taken advantage of by her stepbrother for her money. They are residents of the previously mentioned mansion when it was in its prime.

In the 1950s is Lucky, whose life looks perfect from the outside but on the inside is mixed up by a drunken, cheating husband (with an awful father), and the pain of not being with her one true love, Teddy. The mansion is starting to show its age at this point and is exceedingly difficult to keep up.

Then there’s Andie, a host on a show about restoration, and is struggling to keep the show from ruining her integrity. Her show is working on an episode about the mansion and are tasked with renovating several rooms. In searching for an angle that will please the shows audience, Andie uncovers some secrets about the mansions former residents.

This was a page turner and I couldn’t stop myself from finishing it in just a few days. The way the stories connect with one another is quite interesting (albeit a little predictable) but the conversational writing style really kept me hooked. The details brought everything to life and I found myself sympathizing with several of the characters. I had some logistical questions about the plot but any further discussion of it would be a spoiler so I will abstain. All in all, a really enjoyable read.

These three authors have again come up with a wonderful story set in Historic Newport . Spanning different time periods involving three women and their link to one of the historic mansions in Newport,, this was a book that I did not want to end. I particularly like the mention of a character from Karen White's Tradd street series! I will gladly be recommending this book.'

The 3Ws are my FAVORITE! Individually I absolutely love Beatriz Williams, Karen White and Lauren Willig and there co-written books are just as wonderful!

This is the perfect summer book -- a historical fiction set in Newport in a Gilded Age mansions where we get romance and intrigue from the 3 time periods of 1899, 1958 and 2019.

2019: Andie has her dream job on Mansion Makeover, about restoring lavish American homes. When they are working on Sprague Hall in Newport, Andie finds this project a little more challenging than the past ones, especially with the conditions the family has about the work.
1958: Lucky's part of Newport society, though she feels like she doesn't always fit in. She grew up in Italy with her grandmother, but when Mussolini rose to power they moved back to the cottage in Newport that her grandmother left in 1899. She's on the committee for the Tiffany Ball to help with the preservation of the Newport cottages.
1899: Ellen has been hired to give singing lessons to Maybelle Sprague, a heiress whose brother purchased Sprague Hall. An Italian prince is coming and Maybelle's brother wants to see her married off to him, but at what cost?

I loved the preservation aspect of this book (and had to laugh a few times at mentions to the 3Ws other book characters that would randomly pop up). This was a book I couldn't put down. I was drawn into the Newport scene among the 3 time periods and the secrets hiding in each one. I loved how the 3 storylines all came together at the end!

If you're a fan of multi-narrator/timeline historical fiction you'll love this one!

I was so looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint. I love Newport in the gilded age. This book is reminiscent of that Newport set in a current age. Reluctant heiress in a mystery but you’ll enjoy solving. Absolutely recommend!