I love Nancy Thayer books and appreciated having the opportunity to read an early copy of her new book. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down, stayed up way too late because I didn’t want to stop reading! Very engaging and enjoyed the multiple perspectives. The family dynamics were great and seeing them develop even more and find their way was fantastic. The sister relationship was perfect! Highly recommend!

In this latest novel by Nancy Thayer, we meet two sisters Eddie and Barrett who are trying to start over after a series of tragic events. Eddie, the older sister comes home to Nantucket for the summer; taking a break from working in NYC for Dinah Lavender, a demanding, spoiled romance novelist. Barrett, the young sister has been holding down the fort at home; finally realizing her dream of owning her own shop and living with her dad William, a retired professor who has become a book hoarder and a loner. The novel explores love, loss and new beginnings and is a nice read without a heavy plot. The main characters are likeable and not overbearing. Thank you to Random House Publishing- Ballentine Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was so refreshing! I loved following the story of this family and how they all faced adversity but stuck together, fought their fears and made the best out of life. You couldn’t help but love the two sisters. I really enjoyed this book.

I generally like Nancy Thayer's books, largely because of the setting. But I will say that she doesn't have a lot of imagination when it comes to endings -- as though young marriage and having children is the only acceptable happy ending for a woman. That said, this book was fun if a bit melodramatic at times. I enjoyed the character of Dinah Lavender and I tried to ignore all of the unrealistic situations. Put this one in your beach bag!!

The Summer We Started Over comes out next week on April 23, 2024 and you can purchase HERE.

Eddie Grant was surprised at how well her life had turned out, especially given what an eccentric family she'd come from.

Here she was, twenty-nine years old, living in Manhattan and making a six-figure salary as a personal assistant to the famous and beloved romance writer Dinah Lavender. Eddie got to travel with Dinah, eat at posh restaurants with Dinah, wear fabulous clothes, and meet fascinating people.

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
Two sisters reconnect and pursue their dreams on the beautiful island of Nantucket, overcoming life’s challenges and finding new love, in this heartwarming and hopeful novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.
Eddie Grant is happy with her life and her work as a personal assistant to Dinah Lavender, one of the most famous and renowned romance authors in the business. But being a spectator to notoriety and glamour isn’t as fulfilling as she once thought. Thankfully, Eddie has the perfect excuse for a vacation: Her hardworking younger sister, Barrett, is opening her gift shop on Memorial Day weekend, and could use all the help she can get.
But going home to the beautiful island of Nantucket means facing the family’s difficult past. Shortly after the death of Eddie and Barrett’s brother, their mother left them and their father made the spontaneous decision to buy a small farm. Eddie stayed there for only a year before her family’s grief threatened to consume her as well, and had been living in Manhattan ever since. Now that she is back, Eddie must face all she left behind: her father’s increased eccentricities, which has led to a house bursting at the seams with books; her sister’s resentment over Eddie’s escape; and a past love connection, one that is still undeniable and complicated, all these years later. But the Grant sisters are nothing if not resilient and capable, opening a used bookstore in their father’s abandoned barn to manage his hoarding, and navigating the discovery of a long-buried family secret that will change all of them forever.
This is Eddie and Barrett Grant's story.
This is William Grant's story.
Eddie Grant was surprised at how well her life had turned out, especially given what an eccentric family she’d come from.
Here she was, twenty-eight years old, living in Manhattan and making a six-figure salary as a personal assistant to the famous and beloved romance writer Dinah Lavender. Eddie got to travel with Dinah, eat at posh restaurants with Dinah, wear fabulous clothes, and meet fascinating people.
First of all, Barrett was finally going to launch her shop, Nantucket Blues, on Memorial Day. It was a huge, exciting undertaking for Barrett. The summer residents would be flocking to the island, and so would the tourists. It would be an enormous help to Barrett if Eddie was around to assist by simply being there. Moral support, Eddie supposed it was called. They’d always been there for each other. Eddie could also help with their father, a handsome, intellectual man who had been so weakened by sorrow that he’d escaped to a farmhouse on Nantucket, brought his daughters with him, and hid himself away writing a book Eddie wasn’t sure he would ever finish.change all of them forever.
The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer is a 3 star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Eddie is living her dream life. She is living in New York City and is an assistant to a well-known romance writer. She attends glamours events, meets important people, but her boss is so dependent on her and she rarely gets a vacation. Her father was a professor at Williams College. Her mother left the family while the children were still living at home. Her father was heartbroken and moved the family to Nantucket. Eddie falls in love with Jeff, a local builder. However, she breaks up with him and moves to NYC. What scares her? Her mother was such a poor mother that Eddie does not want to repeat that experience with another child. Jeff wants to marry her and have children.
Two years later, her sister Barrett, is fulfilling her dream and opening a boutique on Nantucket. Eddie wants to go home to Nantucket for an extended period of time. to spend time with family and help Barrett. Her boss flips out and can't do without her. She agrees to work remotely part-time. Her boss shows up to spend the summer with the family. How will that work out, especially with her introvert father who hoards books while he's writing his own books.
I just love Nancy Thayer's Nantucket books! She develops such meaningful relationships between the characters. I almost felt in this book that I was one of the sisters! I did not want this book to end. Don't miss this one, it's great.

Wonderful book!

This book has all the emotions...nerves, happiness, love and grief. One summer in Nantucket when Eddie, her sister Barrett and their Dad, William, along with Eddie's boss Dinah and others come together in one house and at the end of that summer, all their lives are changed. I was immediately vested in the story, the main characters were all very likeable, and the Nantucket setting was perfect.

I didn't want this story to end, and I hope there is a sequel to follow in the future. This book will be loved by anyone who has read Ms. Thayer's books, or who loves Nantucket, or family stories...this is all that rolled into one. Well-written and fast moving, clean. High recommend.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is a great if somewhat predictable story. If you're a fan of Nancy Thayer, this one is for you. Eddie & Barrett are sisters on very different paths after their mother leaves and divorces their father and then their brother dies. Their father decides to move them to a farmhouse in Nantucket. After living there briefly (and falling in love), Eddie decides to become an assistant to a romance writer in New York City. Barrett stays in Nantucket and saves money to open up her own store there. Once Barrett is ready for her grand opening, Eddie decides she needs to come help her with the store and their dad. This leads to a great story about family, love, friendship, and life choices. Great story!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Almost classic Nancy Thayer. Set on Nantucket (of course), it's the story of sisters Eddie and Barrett and later their sister in law Dove. There are some basic implausibilities here- namely that their father's somewhat impulsive move to the island (it's not inexpensive to live there and he's basically unemployed) and similarly that Barrett would be able to start her gift shop for the same reasons-but if you go with it, it's a generally sunny tale of family and romance. With a bit of darkness. Thayer's legions of fans will ignore the sometimes awkward writing and swallow this whole. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for the end of the day.

The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer is a wonderful story. I was hooked in the first chapter and enjoyed the Nantucket feel. I could imagine myself in their world, hanging out in the bookstore barn! There were a few parts that were sad, but overall it was a feel good beach read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballentine for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy for my honest review.

The Summer We Started Over is a great story set in beautiful Nantucket. It is a well written story about love, friendship, loss and perseverance. The plot is somewhat predictable, but it’s exactly what you need in a beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't say it enough nut Nancy Thayer can do no wrong. This was such a beautiful book. There is a lot of past pain for this family but wow to watch them over come it was beautiful. Nancy writes her characters so well that you feel like you know them and are there in Nantucket with them. This book make reminds you of the importance of family, friends and what true happiness can be. This book had me hooked from beginning until the end. I felt ike this book was a fast read and the pacing was perfect. This would be a perfect beach read for the summer. I HIGHLY recommend this book and her other books. Please grab a cup of coffee and ENJOY!!


Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Eddie Grant loves her life as a personal assistant to famous author Dinah Lavender. She loves the hustle and bustle of New York City and as someone who eventually wants to write her own novel, Eddie finds working for Dinah affords her great opportunities. There are times, however, she misses the sweet air of home, her ex-boyfriend, and her family. When Nantucket and her family call her home for the summer, she decides to go. This choice will forever change her life.

The sweet simplicity of this book is what I truly loved about this book. It reminds us all about the importance of friendship, family, and finding happiness. The Summer We Started Over is the perfect summer beach read. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of Nancy Thayer's newest novel

This book made me feel like I had been dropped right in the middle of Nantucket. A great summer escape, this book touches upon topics of family, friendship, love, and believing in oneself. I found myself vested in the story and rooting for the characters.

Two sisters reconnect in Nantucket, and their lives intertwine in ways you wouldn’t expect. Multiple story lines, some old flames rekindled, and new flames lit. Overall a nice book about things working out for a family that had experienced tragedy.

I’ve read several of this author’s books and all have been really good.
This one is about family, relationships and love. I really liked all the characters. I loved the description of Nantucket and it made me want to visit. The story is drawn out like a long lazy summer that you never want to end.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This was a fun beach book. Nantucket is always a great book location. The story was a bit predictable, but it was easy to escape in the story.

First time reading Nancy Thayer and definitely will not be my last. Edie, Barrett and William Grant moved to Nantucket after Barrett and Edie's mother left and their brother died in a freak accident. Edie left to Manhattan to get away from the grief and her younger sister Barrett was left to contend with their father and their house which was exploding in the number of books her father was hoarding. Edie is living a great life. She is the assistant to blockbuster romance novelist Dinah Lavendar, living in NYC and traveling the world with her. Her sister, Barrett, still lives with their ex-professor father William in Nantucket and is opening her dream boutique just in time for the high season on Memorial Day. She wants Edie to come up for a time and help out at home where William spends his days shut off from the world writing his book on English poets. The story continues with old loves, new loves and sharing the difference between the rich summer folks and the people who live and grew up there. I really enjoyed how Nancy Thayer manages to weave an intricate plot and yet make each of the storylines compelling. Definitely enjoyed this and will be coming back for more. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for this eARC!

While I was very excited to read this book, it was a bit of a let down for me unfortunately. I did love the setting, and the author makes me want to be on Nantucket! The cover is beautiful. However, the conversations between the characters seem to lack flow and depth at times. The plot/ story was interesting and I continued reading because I did want to find out what happened with the characters.

To me, the author is synonymous with summer. This newest book was no exception! The setting descriptions are vivid and transport you to Nantucket. The family dynamics are interesting and kept me engaged. While a bit over the top and predictable, this book just made me feel GOOD.