I'll start right off by saying, this is not a light read. While the title and the cover might portray that, "The Girls of Summer" is laced heavily with themes of consent, power, sexual abuse, and, rape. The main plot of the story is that of Rachel, who travels to an exotic Greek Island as a teenager with her friend and falls for the much older Alistair. She decides to stay and work there and is brought into a world where powerful men get what they want.

We first meet Rachel while on holiday in the present day, while on holiday with her husband Tom. He surprises her by bringing her back to the island where he thought she had wonderful memories. Upon arriving at the bar where she used to work and having a face from her past remember her, her life is upended as she returns home and learns Alistair is now living in London.

Yes, this is a powerful #MeToo story. It's not an easy read. However, I had a really hard time getting into the story. I stuck it out because I wanted to know the outcome, but I would say it took me until around the 50% mark to start to enjoy reading it. Typically when that happens, I DNF, but wanted to give this one a shot because I had been reading good things about it.

In the end, I'm glad I finished. It is certainly an eye-opening book that will make you think.

{Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC!}

The Girls of Summer is a book set on a beautiful island in Greece. Rachel was seventeen years old when she came to the island. She recalls an atmosphere of parties, freedom, drinks and drugs of the time. Alistair hires her at his boss’s bar that he manages. He tells her she is special but wants to keep their relationship secret. She doesn’t mind, soaking up the exhilaration from the attentions of an older man. This is the first time she has ever been in love.

In an alternate perspective, Rachel is a married woman. She never imagined settling down after her love affair on the island but she did. Her husband feels like it is time for them to start a new chapter in their lives with a baby but something is stopping Rachel. She has always thought fondly of her summer on the island and when a vacation there so many years later reconnects her with Helena, a girl who worked alongside her then, and Alistair, the man from her unfinished romance, Rachel cannot stop herself from re-experiencing the passion of those days.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 by Katie Bishop is a strong debut about the stories we tell ourselves in order to protect ourselves from traumatic experiences. Through Rachel's journey, I witnessed the allure and dark underbelly of the bartending business, drugs, and a forbidden love affair. The novel artfully explores the consequences of unprocessed past experiences and the profound impact of shared narratives among women.

When Rachel was 17, she and her friend, Caroline, traveled to a remote Greek island. There, they met Alistair, a handsome older man. They began working at the bar where he was, and going to parties his boss threw, despite warnings from others on the island to be careful. Rachel falls in love with Alistair and stays on the island. But, things begin to get strange with the parties and her relationship.
Now, 16 years later, and married, Rachel still pines for Alistair. She tracks him down and rekindles their relationship. Helena, from her past, reaches out to her and gives Rachel some devastating news.
This book reminded me a lot of the Jeffrey Epstein grooming of young women and taking advantage of them. It is a quick read and kept my interest all along. I was curious to find out how Rachel would come to terms with everything.

The Girls of Summer

Original pub date was 6/6/23

This was a gifted arc from @stmartinspress @katiebishopwrites

I had such a busy June I didn’t get a chance to read this one until this week and wow..

First of all, I did not know how dark this book would be. This book depicts some extremely important and sensitive topics that could be very triggering for some readers. So definitely check those trigger warnings before diving in to this one.

This is a book centered around power, sex , money and consent. Rachel’s summer as a teen is not what she remembered it. Now that she is an adult and is looking back at that summer, and talking with those affected she finally realizes the extreme manipulation she went through.. this book is a multiple time line story about that summer.

Like I stated this book will make you very uncomfortable but also makes you keep turning those pages. It is incredibly important because so many people go through these exact same things. And there voices need to be heard just as Rachel and the others try to find their justice years later.

If you’re looking for a multiple timeline, dark psych thriller with a me too movement.

This is the one for you.

An atmospheric novel about one woman's haunting journey to find herself through the realization of a past trauma. Katie Bishop tells a story of a beautiful island full of dark secrets between young girls and an older benefactor. Unfortunately, there was a bit of disconnect with characterization and expectations going into the novel. This is more of a women's fiction than suspense/thriller. That coupled with the slower pacing, left a bit of disconnect.


Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheGirlsofSummer

I went into reading this novel with little knowledge about it; it isn't a light and fluffy read as the title and cover might lead you to believe. It is an intense and original story that works well as a summer read if you want a bit of a change from the typical light summer story. The plot and characters definitely kept my interest despite it being a slow burn type of novel. Overall I enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to what comes next from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley!

The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop is a captivating novel that transports readers to a remote Greek island, where a summer love affair between Rachel and Alistair has left an indelible mark on her life. This book weaves a compelling tale of love, secrets, and the quest for self-discovery as Rachel becomes increasingly obsessed with reliving the events of that transformative summer.

From the outset, Bishop's descriptive prose creates an immersive experience, vividly capturing the sun-soaked atmosphere and the allure of the Greek island. The nights are long, the alcohol flows freely, and inhibitions fade away as Rachel and the other girls are drawn into a world where they can act in ways they never would at home. The author skillfully portrays the captivating atmosphere of freedom and escapism that envelopes the island, transporting readers into a realm of heightened emotions.

As Rachel reconnects with the other girls who shared in the island's allure and her former lover Alistair, dark secrets from her past begin to resurface. Bishop expertly peels back the layers of Rachel's first love affair, exposing suppressed memories and revealing the truth about her time working for a mysterious and controlling man. The intertwined narratives of love, secrets, and self-discovery unravel at a steady pace, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the hidden depths of Rachel's past.

The characters in The Girls of Summer are well-developed and relatable, each carrying their own burdens and secrets. Rachel's journey is the focal point of the narrative, and her increasing obsession with reliving her past creates an intense psychological exploration. The author delves into the complexities of memory, trauma, and the longing for lost love, allowing readers to empathize with Rachel's emotional journey.

While the premise and exploration of Rachel's past are compelling, there are moments when the pacing feels uneven, and certain revelations may not have the intended impact due to their predictability. Additionally, some readers may find the depiction of certain mature themes and potentially triggering subjects challenging.

The Girls of Summer is a captivating novel that immerses readers in a world of love, secrets, and self-discovery. Katie Bishop's evocative prose and well-drawn characters breathe life into the sun-drenched Greek island and its inhabitants. Although the pacing may falter at times, the book's exploration of memory, longing, and the quest for personal truth offers a compelling reading experience.

Imagine going on the trip of a lifetime as a teenager, falling for an older man who ghosts you, romanticizing said relationship, and then finding out that he is not the person you thought he was. This is the plot of this #Metoo read. It's dark, and at times frustrating because as the reader you have an idea of what has happened and yet it takes almost the entire book for Rachel, the main character in this story, to realize it too. Rachel's character arc is believable though, and watching her finally realize and acknowledge what happened to her and the justice she achieves is satisfying.

I had such high hopes for The Girls of Summer - and while the setting and cover of this book are stunning, the book was a bit of a flop for me!

The main character Rachel is highly unlikeable (and not in a love to hate kind of way that I enjoy in some thriller books) and the story drags.

It flips back and forth between a dual timeline. I was expecting more thriller aspects, and there is nothing thrilling abo it this book. (There are two events that they don’t come out and directly say what happened until near the end of the book but it’s brought up an annoying amount of times, and it is far from a twist).

While I appreciated the author exploring difficult themes of consent and trauma, it felt like it was acknowledged and rushed at the ending.

This book may have worked better for me if it was about 100 pages shorter.

Thank you to @stmartinspress for the gifted copy! (All thoughts are my own)

This one is hard for me to review. I had different expectations of this book based on the cover/title and unfortunately I didn't read the synopsis as closely as I should have prior to reading to adjust those expectations. This is not a beachy thriller for the record.

While the story itself was compelling (although very slow burn), I had a hard time with the characters especially the MC. There is little growth from 17 to her adult years with her just as oblivious to everything that occured "that" summer. With the whole story focusing on her in both the then and now sections, it's as if little has changed for her other than her scenery.

Overall, if you're looking for a slow burn, atmospheric book that is #metoo inspired, check this one out. Unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

This was a fantastic summer read! Dark and suspenseful - reminded me of a cross between My Dark Vanessa and Taken.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, St Martin Press and MacMillan Audio for this gifted e-arc & audiobook of The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop in exchange for my honest review. This book came out on June 6th, 2023 and it’s the PERFECT Beach Read. It’s not a light fluffy read. But it will have you truly captivated with this intense storyline. I loved how original this one was. Heavy, Intense but ORIGINAL. I was shocked to learn that this was the author’s debut novel. WOW!! I will definitely be picking up future books by this author

The narrator, Annabel Scholey, made this such an incredible reading experience. I HIGHLY recommend this audiobook. She truly captured the dark mesmerizing vibe this book was giving. .

Well, with a name like Alistair you can only imagine the trouble he gets you in.

This was an easy read for me and I enjoyed the timeline jumps between chapters. It was easy to follow and the chapters set in the past really showed you why Rachel is the way she is in the present. While this book deals with heavy topics, I didn't think it was too overdone.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

THE GIRLS OF SUMMER by Katie Bishop
⭐️⭐️⭐️

For fans of My Dark Vanessa and The Ballerinas. I’ve seen this book categorized in the mystery thriller genre but it is not that. It’s a women’s fiction and coming-of-age story showing sexual abuse and assault of young women and how differently they all perceive what happened during one summer in their young adulthood.

The backdrop is atmospheric and left me craving the beach. Overall it was well written and had a great narrator. Just go in not expecting a ton of suspense. It’s a slow burn. The author writes in a sensitive way and tackles the hard topics showing how abuse affects the women and their future relationships.

Swipe for the full synopsis.

Thanks @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my copy! This book is available now!

Overall, I enjoyed this debut novel from Katie Bishop. The story kept my interest and the writing flowed nicely. It was a perfect summer read. But if you are expecting a thriller here, it is not that. It's more of a suspense/mystery type novel. I've heard it compared to My Dark Vanessa, and while I found that one much darker, I can see some similarities.

I enjoyed the dual timelines for the main character, told in the present and in the past on a trip to Greece in which some sinister things happened. As an adult, the main character needed to finally come to terms with those things and understand them for what they were.

I did find it mildly predictable. Very early on, I understood where the author was going with the story, so it left little to the imagination. It wasn't exactly fast paced but it did move along well and I finished it pretty quickly. Overall, it was a good read for me but probably won't be a stand out of the year. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for my review copy.

Rachel Evans and her best friend Caroline take a dream vacation to Greece the summer before their A-levels. When seventeen-year-old Rachel meets the much older Alastair Wright, Rachel decides to stay on the idyllic island, working at a bar Alastair manages. They begin a secret love affair, with Rachel growing away from Caroline and planning a future with her older lover. After a tragedy on the island, though, a devastated Rachel returns to her life in England.

Fifteen years later, Rachel has a fulfilling career and loving marriage, but can’t deny her continued feelings for Alistair. A chance meeting with one of the other young women working at the bar propels Rachel into the past, reliving her alcohol-filled, carefree days. But as she encounters more of the women from that time, she’s forced to reassess her memories and decide how to move forward.

With the DNA of BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT + THE LAST HOUSEWIFE, this dual-timeline coming of age thriller offers a psychological portrait of a woman whose fundamental assumptions are stripped away as she questions her relationship with Alistair and how power and sex were intertwined. The compelling narrative was powerful and revealing, opening a window on the tragic process through which girls are preyed upon for nefarious purposes. At the same time, it shows how confronting the past can lead to healing.

CW: drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, death by suicide

A bit dark and disturbing. A story of strong feelings of love developed in her youth that haunt her for years after and actually hurt her current marriage. Frustrating to read and not be upset with Rachel as she doesn't see what is actually happening to her. A bit of a Me too story. .

It’s fifteen years after the summer that changed Rachel’s life, what was supposed to be merely weeks, extended into seasons-long bliss of alcohol, partying, and falling deeper in love with a man twice her age. As part of a trip with her now-husband back to the island that irrevocably changed who she is, Rachel now has to deal with her feelings and experiences of that time resurface.

My hesitation with this book, is that there is a disconnect between Rachel in the place where the “before” timeline drops off and the “now” timeline starts. The book is told in alternating timelines, so this ends up being the beginning and end of the book. There are some moments I really despise Rachel and the choices she makes, where the author chalks it up to her youth and naïveté, that I don’t feel sit well with me. This, to me, doesn’t feel excusable by being “young and dumb” but just being a shitty person, so if I’m supposed to eventually come around to liking Rachel after that, the writing didn’t get me there. There was also a lack of depth to any of the other characters, which really kept me from being pulled into the storyline.

In all, an interesting story and addition to the #metoo movement though lacking some elements that would have really connected me to the characters. It’s being compared to My Dark Vanessa, but I think that one did a better job of relating and understanding the MC.

This was an interesting read. There was an issue and a message, but it didn’t appear to the end of the book. As you read you know something is up and you want to scream at Rachel to open her eyes, but alas there wouldn't be a book if she did. I really liked the setting of a Greek Island and can imagine the draw of being independent and in love for the first time.

The story moves along at its own pace, which is slow, as it flips back and forth between the present day and Rachel’s time in Greece. You get to know Rachel well, but you only know the other characters through Rachel’s eyes. I’m not sure I would categorize this as a thriller, but maybe a women’s fiction book. While there might be some danger to the characters but there is never an intensity that they feel in any danger.

Rachel’s realization where her life is and what she wants along with the atmospheric location were my favorite parts of the read. I would be interested in the author’s next book.

When we are young, we want to experience as much as we can and often make mistakes along the way. Sometimes our choices don't reveal themselves as mistakes until we are older and realize how wrong and naiive we were. Rachel fell in love as a teenager and didn't realize the consequences of her relationship to an older man until many years later. Unfortunatley for Rachel, this caused her emotional harm that followed her into her adult life. When she reflects back to a time she thought she was happy, the past will have an unsettling way of creeping into her marriage. This storyline goes into some dark places and gave me vibes of recent stories in the news but was well developed leaving very few loose ends.