Have you ever watched a movie trailer and then thought okay, now I feel like I’ve already seen the movie? That’s kinda how I felt with this one… I was wishing for more twists and turns. I felt like the book followed the synopsis. It was mostly quite sad. But, I have never been to Greece, and I have always wanted to, so I love that this book took me there. And I’ve been feeling like I am ready for more summer-y reads, and this one fit the bill for that as well!

At the age of 17, Rachel spent a summer on a Greek Island that was full of alcohol, parties and questionable decisions. That summer she fell in love with a much older man named Alistair. She has harbored this secret love for him for over 15 years. Now, she is reconnecting with others who were part of that summer, other girls who lived and worked on the island. Their stories are of sex, money and power, and ultimately manipulation. She is forced to confront the fact that her past was not what it seemed. She was taken advantage of, etc.

This was an interesting book. I wanted there to be a big twist, but there wasn't. They alluded throughout the book that the girls were possibly doing sex work, whether or not they realized it. Interesting premise. Just didn't knock it out of the park for me

This is a debut novel from this author and I was interested from the get go. Rachel goes backpacking with her best friend, Caroline. They end up on a Greek island. They’re 17, naive, and in a foreign place. Rachel meets Alastair. He’s an older man that seems interested in her. It’s alluring and new. Fast forward 16 years and Rachel starts to think that maybe her memories are romanticized more than she realizes.

Despite the title of this book, it’s actually a pretty dark and hard read. The topics discussed in it aren’t summery, lovey dovey, or light. However, it is written extremely well. Even though it was hard to digest at times, the author does it in a graceful way.

It was actually a pretty heartbreaking story.

TW: Sex trafficking, rape, suicide, drug use, abortion

3.5 stars. This novel was very similar to THE ISLAND OF LOST GIRLS by Alex Marwood, with their sunny Greek locales full of teenagers on holiday or a gap year. But there is a darkness lurking behind the whitewashed buildings and sparkling blue ocean. In THE GIRLS OF SUMMER, barely age 18 Rachel begins an affair with an older man while on vacation that is not exactly what it seems to be. Fast forward 16 years and the memories of that teenaged summer come flooding back when Rachel returns to the island with her husband. This novel was a little slow, with lots of internal dialogue, but it would definitely make for a great summer read.

ᴛʜᴇ ɢɪʀʟs ᴏꜰ sᴜᴍᴍᴇʀ
ᴋᴀᴛɪᴇ ʙɪsʜᴏᴘ
sᴛ. ᴍᴀʀᴛɪɴs ᴘʀᴇss
ᴘᴜʙ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: ᴊᴜɴᴇ 𝟼 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
✩✩✩✩✩

Happy weekend! Oh my gosh, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑟 by debut author @katiebishopwrites was an incredible, heartbreaking, addicting story.

I still can not believe that this is a debut novel because of how perfectly executed this story was. Beautifully written, well flowing plot, heavily character driven, dual timelines and narration changes - this was just brilliant. Also, this was such an atmospheric read- the setting is on a Greek island and the beachy vibes were on point.

This is one of those books where the characters hold you hostage and you feel completely invested and immersed in their story. Main character Rachel will probably live in my brain forever- I loved her and found her relatable and I felt literally every emotion she was going through. Let me just say, I can understand people being frustrated with Rachel and her denials- BUT honestly the minipulation she was subjected too at her age was just bad and she was just totally blinded by her love for Alistair.

I really loved this book! Definitely wouldn’t call it a thriller, more like an emotional, fictional drama. This is not a story for those faint of the heart, the plot is ROUGH and there are a lot of TW- sexual abuse, rape, manipulation, emotional abuse, trafficking, etc.

So many thanks to @netgalley @stmartinspress for the early copy. I can not wait to see what else author @katiebishopwrites has in store for us!

I didn’t enjoy this one, sadly. I was looking forward to it based on the cover (stunning) and description. A story set in a beautiful location, two timelines, lost “love.” But Rachel was not a likeable character, and the man she was pining over and reminiscing about was awful. This was definitely a #metoo themed story. It was a slow burn mystery—not a propulsive thriller, and the ending was lackluster.

Short synopsis: Then: Rachel decides to do a gap year and spend some time on the Greek isles. Now: she’s trying to piece together her past on the Islands, and her relationship with Tom her husband and Alistair her teenage lover.

My thoughts: This was not a blow me away thriller, but I did feel it was more contemporary fiction with mystery elements.

I enjoyed the “then” and “now” time frames as we unravel along with Rachel what exactly happened during her 18th year in Greece. We could see the red flags from a mile away, but I can see how she was manipulated into circumstances she didn’t see coming.

I did a mix of audio and physical of this one and the narrator did a fabulous job.

Read if you love:
- books about the #MeToo movement
- Justice
- Then/now timeframes
- Coming of age
- Finding your truth

There are definitely triggers with this one: rape, abortion, prostitution, coercion, manipulation of power, and suicide so beware of those.

I went into this book blind and I honestly had no idea what to expect. I was expecting a cute summer holiday fiction or romance based on the cover and it was not 100% what I got.

I really enjoyed this on audio. The narration was fabulous. It was easy to follow the then and now timelines and even keeping track of the many characters wasn't hard.

I strongly disliked the now version of the MC due to poor decisions. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and how things played out and that it had such an impactful message throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & St Martin's Press for advance copies in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel is still obsessed with Alistair. She has been since they were a teen. She is married and still wonders.
They had a summer romance when she was seventeen on a remote Greek island. He was much older than her and she was seventeen. She really had no idea how controlling he was. On this island there were situations that were hard to read, and the other girls on the island did not seem to have a care in the world. Something happens which changes Rachel's life.
As an adult she goes back to the island with her husband, and old memories resurface.
The timelines go between then and now, and you will see how Rachel's life is shaped and how young and naïve she was.
Triggers: Abuse, Suicide, Drugs,

I’ve read quite a few “destination thrillers” over the years, and it’s what I was expecting from this book. So the first thing I would say is… this is NOT that kind of book.

The Girls of Summer is told in flashbacks to the summer Rachel spent living and working on a Greek island and fell in love with a much older man. But is she remembering it accurately? Or has she romanticized the events of that summer and the relationships that formed?

This is a darker and heavier book than I was anticipating, and I had to put it down a few times simply because I needed to re-set before continuing to read.

The author does a great job of making you believe the main character… she is difficult to like, but you do believe that SHE truly believes her version of the past. And that makes for a compelling read.

I wasn’t quite sure going into this one if it would be for me or not, but after the first couple of chapters, I couldn’t put it down and read the entire book in a day!
17 year old Rachel and her best friend Caroline are spending the summer before senior year island hopping when they arrive to a new Greek island that Rachel feels drawn to. She meets an older man named Alistair and immediately falls hard for him. He works for a mysterious millionaire and they have to hide the relationship. Before long Rachel gets into some terrible situations that culminate with a death. Spending the next 15 years trying to move on with her life but unable to forget Alistair Rachel finally meets up with another friend from the island and learns things that will destroy everything she’d been clinging to.

This book made me want to keep reading, but I also as an adult and the reader wanted to stop Rachel and prevent many of her choices! I understand why she made some of them, but it was a bit of a train wreck that I could't stop reading.....in a good way! I LOVED the Greek Island setting and the friends she made in that town.

Thank you St Martin's Press for The Girls of Summer. This is a book I liked more in theory and for content/topic than I did in execution; this is just me as a reader as I found this was not a thriller as much as a thoughtful, and intense, examination of themes on consent, sexual predators, and related themes about how young women are often mistreated (and the enduring effects of such hurtful relationships). I went in looking for a summer thriller and ended up with an at times dense read. While I value the topics examined and respect the writing and content, the execution and set up for the story did not ever engage me as I wanted it to.

"Girls of Summer" by Kate Bishop is a coming-of-age novel that follows the adventures of Rachel and her best friend Caroline during a summer vacation in Greece. Despite being underage, the girls embark on a journey to explore the Greek archipelago, staying in hostels and immersing themselves in the vibrant party scene.

The novel paints a vivid picture of the carefree atmosphere and the allure of newfound freedom as Rachel and Caroline indulge in late-night parties and alcohol. However, the story takes a turn when Rachel encounters Alistair, an older businessman who captivates her with his charm and sophistication. Alistair's ability to make all the girls feel special becomes a tool he uses to his advantage, ultimately leading to life-changing consequences for Rachel.

The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, with Rachel serving as the main character. The use of this storytelling technique is effective in this particular novel, allowing readers to gain insight into Rachel's growth and the events that shape her life. However, it should be noted that some parts of the story may require reading between the lines to fully grasp the underlying themes and messages.

Overall, "Girls of Summer" offers a unique perspective on the coming-of-age experience, blending themes of youthful exploration, the consequences of making questionable choices, and the impact of encounters with older, influential individuals. Readers who appreciate atmospheric storytelling and character-driven narratives will find this book intriguing, while those seeking fast-paced excitement may find it less engaging.

A beautiful package, stunning cover, and gorgeous setting.


The story, on the other hand… was not for me. Bummer!


I was pretty excited for this book, and read 70 pages in one sitting. Then it got really unreal, infuriating, and eye-rolling.


The main character, Rachel, really pissed me off. I had to keep reminding myself that she was seventeen and people make stupid decisions when they’re seventeen. But the red flags are burning from the beginning, even for someone that age.


Also, it’s one thing to be stupid at seventeen. But at 34, she was not doing much better LOL
Talk about a person who needs professional help.


And, how real is it that a girl is seventeen, goes to Greece to spend a couple weeks with another seventeen year old friend, and then she calls home and says “well mom, actually, I’ll just stay here”. Would your mom let you? Or would your mom be like mine, fly to Greece, and drag me back home, yelling at me the whole way? LOL


You might enjoy it if you’re into slow paced stories.

The most important thing about this book is you very much need to know what this book is before you start it. It's not a thriller or an easy summer read. It's about consent and older men manipulating young women. It's very Jeffrey Epstein, but told from the perspective of someone who thinks she was in love with one of the summer's abusers.

I did know what I was going into so I appreciated the story. However, I found the main character deeply unlikeable, and I wanted more Greece, selfishly.... but honestly the older timeline could have taken place anywhere.

Okay, while I'm so thankful to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Katie Bishop, and NetGalley, this was just not the one for me. NetGalley had made it out like this was a mystery/thriller to die for, and I just wasn't getting those vibes. There are definitely some triggering subjects such as sexual assault and domestic violence, but I couldn't stay interested in this book.

3.5 rounding up!

The Girls of Summer absolutely feels like a summer read. The Greek island setting is so well done and evocative.

You follow Rachel in two timelines- the past during her life changing summer abroad, and in the present where she is still dealing with things that happened during that summer.

In the past timeline you know as the reader that things are not right, but in Rachel’s perspective it is magical. A romance with an older man, working for the same man he is and being completely dependent on the employer for money, housing, food. Things spin out of control and Rachel is mostly oblivious, which is frustrating to read, but understandable in its own way.

This gripped me from the start, but the hold loosened about halfway through. To be honest this felt a little too wordy and dense at times. But the story and message were great and I really enjoyed the way the story wrapped up.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls of Summer is a haunting tale of youth and naivete, showing that scars inflicted in our teens continue to radiate years later.

Rachel spent a summer on a Greek island at the age of 17/18, and that summer has imprinted itself in her heart and her brain. She was in a romantic affair with an older man named Alistair, who was technically her boss while she worked for an enigmatic man named Henry that no one really knew much about. A group of young women lived together and worked in the bar owned by Henry, and often groups of girls would be called upon to come work 'parties' at Henry's home. In present day, Rachel is unhappy in her marriage and has the opportunity to reconnect with Alistair, forcing that summer to be brought back to mind.

The setting on the island is like another character in this book. The isolation, the freedom, and the wild abandon that comes out for these young girls away from home for the first time all add up to make a powerful setting. We never get to know many of the other girls well, as Rachel is solely focused on Alistair while living on the island.

This is a story of psychological manipulation and of older men taking advantage of the naive young girls. What was actually happening at the house doesn't become clear until late in the book, by which time I was so incredibly frustrated with Rachel that I was ready to scream. Her character is passive, obsessive, and makes plenty of terrible decisions, and I was having trouble liking her. Once the backstory became clearer and the unbelievable manipulation was explained, it became easier to sympathize with her and understand why her mind was so twisted when it came to Alistair and the island.

There was a small twist that I didn't see coming until it was upon me, and it changed the course of the story. I remained intrigued the entire time I was reading, even if I was also frustrated with our main character!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the eARC and gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was somewhat mismarketed. I had requested it under the assumption that this was a thriller. However, another reviewer had warned me that this was actually more of a literary mystery. Going in with that expectation helped me review it a bit more objectively, but I think many readers will think they're getting a suspense and be disappointed. The Girls of Summer is a slow burn type of book with then/now timelines. There are dark themes with ramifications years later. I've discovered that literary mystery is not my personal favorite in terms of genres, but I think this was solid nonetheless.