This refreshing beach read is written well but felt way too predictable to me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my review.

An Island Sunmer was a quick and entertaining beach read. At times it felt predictable and I wish she would have delved more into the characters but overall it was a good read.

Meghan and Tess go back to the island where Meghan was raised in order to reset their lives and get some perspective. They go back to Meghan’s Pappy’s cottage which has become run down over the years. They happen to run into Toby and his grandfather Rupert whose lives are directly connected to Meghan’s. After some detective work, Meghan and Toby find the connection and as in any good romance book, live happily ever after.

Jenny Hale writes the nicest stories.
Meghan and her friend Tess head to her Pappy’s beach house. She meets Toby and Rupert who thinks Meghan is really an old movie star Hester he used to know.
It’s a nice feel good book with a touch of mystery. Perfect for a lazy afternoon.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I requested this book based on the promotional synopsis, but found reading it was a disappointment. The author’s writing style was just not a match for me.

Meghan Gray returns to her grandfather’s home on Hatteras Island after failing to achieve her dream of becoming a chef in New York City. Accompanied by her best friend, Tess, Meghan confronts her unresolved grief over her grandfather’s death ten years ago as well as her lack of direction in life.

Once on the island, she meets Toby and his grandfather, Rupert, who is suffering from delusions and dementia. When Rupert mistakes Meghan for his lost love, she is drawn to spend time with him because it seems to have a calming effect on him.

The story unfolds with two mysterious aspects. First, there seems to be growing evidence that Rupert’s descriptions of his relationship with his lost love may indeed have been factual. Secondly, Toby’s motives in expanding his business and caring for his grandfather may be less than honorable. Since Meghan is attracted to him and has become protective of Rupert, she feels conflicted and committed to finding the truth.
The storyline was mildly interesting; however, the pacing was so agonizingly slow that I gave up half way through the book. I am reluctant to ever label a book DNF, but I could only read a few pages, or a short chapter at the most, before I lost interest. My investment in these characters and their dilemmas was so lacking that each time I resumed reading I had to go back a page or two to refresh my memory on what was happening. The only character I found engaging was Rupert. Meghan’s repeated lamenting about her missing her grandfather and her indecision on a career became tedious since she seemed to lack any real commitment to change her circumstances.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Thanks to Bookouture, I was provided an ARC of An Island Summer by Jenny Hale via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking for a soft book to read as the good weather starts and this was perfect for it. Jenny's perfect descriptions of the Atlantic made me miss home.

Meghan and her best friend Tess leave New York for a small island where our protagonist inherited a small house. During this book we accompany Meghan during her grieving time at the same time she creates a connection with an old man with Alzheimer that will lead her to discover secrets from her past.

Meghan has to find out who she is and what she wants in life, what makes instantly connects with her feelings. Tess, her best friend, is a great carefree character and Charlie the dog is such a good boy.

A quick, easy and cute read that I devoured in one very short sitting. Loved the writing, loved the plot and I loved the characters. A perfect light, summer/ spring read.

You won't go wrong with this mystery, romance, light, beach read that takes place in Hatteras Island as Meghan returns to her Pappy's old cottage here.
She needs to figure out her life.
However- Not sure she ever had a clue of what was to come!
I liked the feel of the warm days, ocean waves and beautiful scenes on the island.
It is definitely a quick book that had me hooked quickly!
Try it!

Thank you to NetGalley and to #Bookouture for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

Small island town on the coast. Old family secrets. Grumpy male lead. Supportive af best friend.

Meghan hasn't returned to her Pappy's cottage on Hatteras Island since he passed away ten years ago. Her dream of becoming a chef has yet to happen and her life in New York is falling apart.

She packs up her belongings & makes the nine hour drive to the island with her dog and her best friend.

Her very first night in town, she. meets Toby. After an interesting interaction with Toby & his grandfather, Meghan is intrigued and wants to know more.

When Meghan opens the envelope her Pappy left her, she discovers an old photograph and a key. If she can discover what the key belongs to, she'll discover a family secret that can change everything. One that could make or break things with Toby.

I wanted so badly to love this book. But it just missed the mark for me.

I loved Meghan's best-friendship with Tessa, and the way she talks about her Pappy who was the one who taught her to cook.

I also loved the way she was beginning to take back her life - figuring out what she actually wanted and starting to make that happen.

Reading the synopsis made it seem like it would be a small town romance. But in reality: it read more like a slow kind-of-mystery as Meghan pieced together the past & then the author remembered it was supposed to have romance and crammed it in with the last chapter and epilogue.

Not at all a terrible book, just missed the mark with what I thought the book would be based on the synopsis & what happened just didn't quite align.

Thank you to Bookouture & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great beach read! It has a romance, an old mystery, and a nice flow.

Meghan hasn't been back to Hatteras Island since her Pappy died ten years ago. After quitting a dead end restaurant job, she leaves New York City with her best friend Tess. Once back in Pappy's cottage, she has to figure out how to move forward, and if she really has what it takes to become the chef she has always wanted to be.

Really enjoyed this, I could almost smell the ocean and see the beauty of the Outer Banks. Thank you for the ARC Netgalley!

I chose An Island Summer because I love to read books set in the Outer Banks. This book was fine, but felt like it followed a basic formula and could have been set anywhere.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Meghan Gray has left her transplant job in NYC when she is not given a chance to cook at the restaurant she has worked at for some time. Her disappointment in a career has her going back to Hatteras Island, North Carolina to figure out some decisions and do something with the small house she has inherited from her grandpa. Her bestie, Tess goes down south with her. Meghan and Tess are eating out shortly after arriving, when an elderly man, Rupert, there with his grandson Toby, mistakes her for an old friend of his and the women invite them to join them. Rupert is suffering from dementia and warm-hearted Meghan finds herself visiting him at his nursing home. It seems Rupert also knew her grandpa and her grandma, who died when Meghan was quite young. Meghan's grandpa had raised her since her folks died when she was 15 and there are interesting mysteries in the past that that she and Tess explore. She also starts a tentative relationship with Toby. Most of the characters are coping with grief, and the story is a bit overly sentimental, and Meghan was so indecisive that I found myself caring more about Tess and Rupert than Meghan and Toby. It is a sweet story of friendship. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another one I could not put down and devoured in one sitting. I absolutely recommend this book. Be ready for an afternoon or evening of completely neglecting any chores as An Island Summer will have you hooked within the first chapter.

This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were charming and witty. I highly recommend this fun and quick read! Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

I absolutely love this authors book an an island summer was no exception. This author gets to the real heart of human emotion writing about real people and real lives and topics which are relatable to others.

This was a lovely story of love and strength and determination and of not giving up hope. I loved the sentences in the book about how to deal with lives challenges particularly calm is within you you just have to find it and this will stay with me. I read this book in practically one sitting as once I started reading I was hooked and couldn’t put it down the story unravelling with each page and making me hungry for more.

This was not just a romantic read but a tale of finding love and happiness and how the events and secrets of the past hold the key to the future and how if you believe in yourself then anything is possible.

The island summer would also make
A lovely film and would love to see some lf the scenes from
The book come to life and to see the beautiful sounding beaches and setting come to life.

I am already eagerly anticipating Jenny hales next book.

The novel An Island Summer by Jenny Hale is a warm book that will capture your heart. It's about showing love and kindness to people around you, something the world needs more of right now. Readers looking for a wholesome romance free from graphic sex scenes won't want to miss An Island Summer!

Synopsis:
Meghan Gray's loving grandfather "Pappy" raised her in a fishing cottage on picturesque Hatteras Island. It's been ten years since Pappy passed away, and Meghan returns to the island searching for a new start. Meghan opens the envelope Pappy left for her and finds an old picture and an odd key. The key leads to a family secret hidden for many years. Can this family secret change the course of Meghan's life?

An Island Summer is a book that, once you begin reading, you will not want to put down. Jenny Hale's descriptive writing makes you feel like you are in the story with them. There is a charm to the main characters that mesmerizes the reader. Every page is delightful and a joy to read.
(5 Huge ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

An Island Summer is available on June 9th.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the pleasure of reviewing An Island Summer. Kudos to Jenny Hale for writing this fabulous novel!

Loved it. Charming and delightful characters. Several misty moments. I am eager to read more by this author. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

I’m so happy and honoured to be able to read Jenny Hale’s An Island Summer on Netgalley. It is my first book that I have read and reviewed there.
An Island Summer had me hooked from the first page. It is a heartwarming romance perfect for the summer. It made me happy and smile, and look forward to hot and sunny summer days.
The way the author describes the glorious setting for the story and the lovely seafood dishes and muffins, I felt that I was on the beach and could almost hear the sound of waves. Seaside is my calm space, and it has been too long since I’ve been able to visit seaside. After coronavirus lockdowns and the last few years, it has been nice to visit the seaside, even if I’ve traveled there via this book.
This book captured my heart, and I can only recommend it to everybody. It gets 5 stars from me, and I’m so privileged to have read it. I’m adding this author to my reading list, and hope to read many more of Jenny’s books in the future.

The story
When Meghan inherits her beloved grandfather’s house on Hatteras Island, she and her best friend Tess pack up their NYC lives and move there for the summer. When an elderly man Rupert mistakes her for his childhood love, actress Hester, Meghan plays along and pretends to be her. His grandson Toby is reluctant, but ultimately helpful in helping Meghan find new meaning in her life.

My thoughts
This is one of those stories that requires some suspension of rational thought 😉 Houses that have stood empty for ten years, timelines that don’t seem to make sense as well as unknown adoptions and secret wills. Maybe the “beach read” genre excuses the flimsy storyline.

I got this as a advance copy I voluntarily am giving a review it was an okay book, part time small town romance but also a mystery. You find out towards the end she had a inheritance from her parents and find out who her grandma was because she was raised by her grandpa and her parents had died. It was a cozy read. Book isn’t available till preorder on 09/June 2022.

It has taken Meghan ten years to return to the home willed to her by her grandfather, Pappy. Her arrival on Hatteras Island renews her sense of grief and loss of the grandfather who raised her. As she and her best friend Tess embark on their "Island Summer," Meghan finds herself playing the part of a 50's Hollywood moviestar, for whom she is mistaken by a man with dementia.. As she develops a soft spot for the man who reminds her of her own grandfather, Meghan grows to love the time she spends indulging him with his memories-- and his handsome grandson Toby reminds her to live her own life, as well.

Meghan arrives on the island hoping to find new direction for her life, but she had no idea to expect to unearth family secrets along the way. Full of intrigue, mystery, and romance, this is a must-read summer novel!

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.