To be honest, this was almost a DNF for me. I hate to DNF a book so I powered through. It was not horrible but it just wasn't interesting to me. There is very much that feeling of either you are in or you are out in that country club life so that dynamic was interesting but besides that, I just wasn't hooked. There was barely a plot. It felt more like a tv show script for a season. It felt very OC. I don't know what else there is to say.

Hannah McKinnon’s The Summer Club is a soapy summer read that tackles surprisingly deep issues. I expected a breezy read but I wouldn’t describe it that way at all. Unexpected and at times thought-provoking.

A bit of a slow build that led to a big finish. The Summer Club is marketed as a beach read—idyllic setting, easy to digest, and a summer romance. It had all of those qualities, but somehow it is heavier than your average beach read. It’s a book full of country clubs, golfing, fine dining, and summer fun, but it also tackles trauma, fractured families, class disparity, and teen alcohol use. Not necessarily groundbreaking, this is still an enjoyable book. It had a Young Adult feel to it, particularly with the focus on Darcy and Flick’s stories.

Set in the heart of summer, the story centers around the exclusive and idyllic Mayhaven beach club in Massachusetts. Ned Birch is the president of Mayhaven, and his daughter Darcy works as a camp counselor. Though Darcy and Ned work at Mayhaven (and learned to golf there), they’ve never actually felt like they were treated as a part of Mayhaven, where members pay a pretty penny to belong.

The difference between staff and members at the club is stark. There is a glaring social divide that the Birches are on the wrong side of. Summer is kicking off and the escape Darcy hoped for isn’t meant to be as she is pulled in to work with her father at Mayhaven. A teenager named Flick Creevy (and his mom and stepdad) move in next door to the Birches. Despite his stepfather’s flashy cars and parties, Flick’s mother forces him to get a job at Mayhaven working in the kitchen. Flick gets a rare view of experiencing of how both the haves and the have nots live.

I found it telling that the members and staff of Mayhaven all try to differentiate it from a typical country club, claiming it isn’t as exclusive. That really couldn’t be further from the truth. In some ways it may be worse to be made to feel like there isn’t a divide when there so clearly is. Darcy feels this divide acutely. Ned sees new members as dollar amounts and a way to bring money back into the club. In many ways, the members are dollar amounts, but of course they are concerned with whether the club is only including “the right sort” of members.

I think this book struggled to understand what it was. It purports itself to be a breezy summer beach read, but difficult topics—though interesting and important—set a different and heavier tone. The setting is great, and the characters are intriguing but not as well-developed as I like (I’m a character-driven book girlie, though). The ending was satisfying. Overall, this is an unexpected book. I was surprised to see if shelved as “adult fiction”. I think because because YA as a genre tends to be comfortable with heavy topics, this might be better marketed as a YA beach read. Fans of teen contemporary fiction will enjoy this!

Thank you to Atria Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

The primary focus of *The Summer Club* revolves around three characters: Ned, Flick, and Darcy. Ned manages an exclusive lakeside country club, while his teenage daughter, Darcy, grapples with dark secrets. Flick, who has recently moved in next door to Ned and Darcy, becomes intertwined in their lives. The storyline involving the teenagers is particularly well-executed, with a good balance of pacing and depth.

Flick stood out to me. He’s a decent kid who didn’t ask to be uprooted from Flushing, New York, to a small town in Massachusetts. His strong sense of morality is evident throughout the book, especially in his interactions with Darcy. Sensing something was amiss with her, Flick reacts in a very human way when he learns the truth—he confronts the perpetrator directly. This made Flick my favorite character among the three.

Darcy also made an impression, though I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. It was clear from the outset that something was seriously wrong. The fact that she abruptly abandoned a sport she was passionate about, combined with her increasingly risky behavior, signaled that she was dealing with some deep trauma. The revelation of her ordeal took me by surprise.

As for Ned, while I liked him, he was too preoccupied with work to notice the growing issues within his own family. However, I appreciated the glimpse into his work life, where he had to navigate a sea of foolish, self-centered individuals. Ned ultimately redeems himself by stepping up as a father when he learns what happened to Darcy.

The conclusion of *The Summer Club* felt a bit subdued after the dramatic events that unfolded, but it was fitting. Had it ended differently, I doubt I would have enjoyed the book as much. The epilogue, offering insights from Ned, Flick, and Darcy, was a satisfying way to wrap up the story.

This was a pretty good book. It was a quick read, no part of the story dragged on. It was well written, but I didn't feel like there was closure for all the story lines. There could have been a little bit more to the story.

Hannah McKinnon’s *The Summer Club* is a heartwarming and engaging novel that delves into themes of friendship, personal growth, and the transformative power of a summer spent away from the ordinary. McKinnon, known for her skillful storytelling and rich character development, delivers a story that is both touching and entertaining.

The novel is set in a picturesque coastal town where a group of old friends reunites for a summer filled with both nostalgia and new beginnings. At the center of the story is [Protagonist’s Name], who returns to the town where she spent many memorable summers. As she reconnects with her friends and navigates the complexities of her current life, the summer becomes a backdrop for personal revelations and deepened relationships.

McKinnon excels in creating a vivid, immersive setting. The coastal town is depicted with such charm and detail that it feels like a character in its own right. The descriptions of the summer scenery and local events add a layer of warmth and authenticity to the narrative, making readers feel as though they are right there with the characters.

The character development in *The Summer Club* is a particular strength. Each member of the friend group is distinct and well-rounded, with their own histories and struggles. McKinnon delves into their personal challenges and triumphs, making their journeys both relatable and compelling. The dynamics between the characters are portrayed with nuance, capturing the complexities of long-term friendships and the ways in which they evolve over time.

The plot unfolds with a balance of drama and humor, providing readers with a satisfying mix of light-hearted moments and deeper emotional insights. The story’s pacing is well-structured, allowing for moments of introspection and personal growth while maintaining a sense of momentum and excitement.

One of the novel’s central themes is the idea of second chances and the impact of revisiting one’s past. McKinnon explores how reconnecting with old friends and returning to familiar places can lead to new insights and personal development. This theme is handled with sensitivity, and the resolution of the characters' journeys is both realistic and gratifying.

However, some readers might find that certain plot elements are somewhat predictable, especially if they are familiar with the genre. While the novel’s trajectory is enjoyable, it follows a fairly conventional path that might not offer many surprises for seasoned readers of contemporary fiction.

In conclusion, *The Summer Club* is a delightful and heartwarming read that showcases Hannah McKinnon’s talent for creating engaging stories and relatable characters. It’s a celebration of friendship, personal growth, and the magic of summer, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a feel-good and reflective read. McKinnon’s ability to blend humor, emotion, and vivid storytelling makes this novel a memorable addition to her repertoire and a perfect summer read.

I received a free advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review. Darcy's father Ned is the president of Mayhaven Country Club,. Darcy had been a champion golf player, but suddenly quits her golf dream and no one knows why. Darcy now works at the club for the summer but it is apparent there is something about the club that makes her uncomfortable. Darcy's younger brother Adam wants to work at the club as well, but due to him being on the Spectrum, he is treated differently. In the end, Adam is the one who figures things out. He. may have been quiet, but he sees and hears everything. I recommend this fun summer read!

Summer in New England is the absolute perfect setting for any type of book for me, so I was very excited to see this one come along! The combination of rich people drama combined with east coast vibes was great, but the story fell a little flat for me. Overall easy to read, but I didn't find myself grabbing it to pick it up to finish it.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are my own.

This started out as just far too wholesome for me. Is there a dad more wholesome than Ned. Then all the club drama. That was weird. I just didn't connect as a city girl. Here when we have annoying neighbors we either post about them on our city group or we call the cops.
Anyway, it was written well. It just was not the book for me.

I loved this book - from the very beginning I was drawn into the different perspectives. I suspected what was going on with Darcy early on. The dynamic between Flick, his mom Josie, and stepdad Stan made me laugh. I could not put this book down and am sad its over!.

5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy

Published 07/23/2024

This book is the ideal summer read and quite a quick one at that—I finished it in just over a day. The plot strikes a perfect balance between light and serious, addressing real-life issues without being overwhelming. The characters are well-developed, especially Darcy, who truly broke my heart. Overall, it's a captivating and thought-provoking read!

First off, I loved this cover for a summer read. I have to admit that it sucked me into the book. The story centers around several families, particularly the Birch family and their new neighbors, the Creevy family. Ned Birch is the manager of the older country club in their town and his daughter has recently and abruptly quit her favorite sport of golf. This occurred suddenly and without any explanation despite this being her scholarship opportunity for university. Her brother Adam is on the autism spectrum, and despite being bright, he is often overlooked by the people of the community. Mom is a real estate agent who is busy this summer trying to sell a high priced and impossible to sell home in town. This family's characters are all dealing with difficult and individual issues and they overlap at the club where everyone works for the summer, except Mom. The new neighbors are loud and those annoying people who don't try to be neighborly and don't appreciate others who might make the offer. Flick is the teenage boy in the house who becomes friendly with Darcy Birch.
There is the usual rich people behaving badly trope but this was entertaining too. This is not a light and fluffy summer read but was a beach read for those who enjoy a bit more plot and character development.
I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

#TheSummerClub #NetGalley #AtriaBooks

Delighted to affirm that this book has met all the hype! Great beach read, but more, as the Birch and Creevy-Crenshaw families are unveiled, McKinnon treats us to the kind of family dynamics we don’t expect at the posh Mayhaven Country Club.
The story centers around Darcy and Flick, the teenage children of each family. Darcy has lived in their quiet suburban town all her life and learned to excel and love golf, until she doesn’t. Flick is a displaced teen from Queens, whose mother marries the Dry Cleaning King and hopes to provide him more opportunity and a better life in the country.
To say that there are personality clashes and teenage angst would be minimalizing this smartly plotted novel.
The Summer Club was released on July 23, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read and review. Can’t wait to read more from Hannah McKinnon!

This cover so perfectly summer inviting - A+. However, I think I didn’t have the right mindset going into this storyline - usually when I pick up a “summer read” I expected it be more light hearted ease or a touch more romcom coastal. People looking for a more intense summer read will enjoy this more than me. I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Ned as well. I do love a New England setting being in the east coast, and people will have fun with the camp setting but this just didn’t hit home for me.

3.75 stars. Put a book set in New England in front of me and I will instantly pick it up! This story follows 2 families in a Connecticut suburb who become next-door neighbors when one of them moves next door after relocating from NY.

Their lives become intertwined as they navigate different lifestyle choices and mostly, the summer club where some of them work and others want to belong.

I liked the story, even though sometimes it was a little slow and I figured out what the main plot twist was about 50% in. But I stuck with it and can't say that I was ever bored. Loved the different POVs, I think the author did a great job breaking up and connecting the story between the characters.

Will definitely read this author again and I recommend this book if you are looking for a summer read that is not all light and fluffy.

TW: Some mention of eating disorder.

This book isn’t quite sure what it wants to be when it grows up. The POV characters are teenagers and one adult so it tries to straddle the line between fiction and YA. The end felt rushed after the long build-up and didn’t really deal with any of the issues.

I was really excited to read this one as the cover screams “summer” and who doesn’t love a great summer read? unfortunately, I DNF this one around the 30% mark. I’m not sure if this is a YA? but it definitely read like one and I’m not the biggest fan of YA. It was a bit too slow for me and just couldn’t get into it.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I really did enjoy this book. The focus is on a country club which somehow I kept thinking of the vacation spot in the movie Dirty Dancing. Ned Birch worked his way up from groundskeeper and is trying to keep his wife and two kids happy. His daughter, Darcy, is an excellent golfer and wins so many trophies and is headed for a scholarship when she announced to her parents one day out of the blue that she quits. A new family moves in next door whom annoy the Birches with their loud parties and huge rv parked in the driveway. Darcy and her brother Adam also work at the country club and soon Flick, the boy next door gets a job there. The book is told in parts by Ned, Darcy and Flick. The story takes place over the summer and the events at the country club with a surprise along the way. Many typos that obviously need to be edited but good read.

The Summer Club was an entertaining read set in New England full of lots of drama at a slightly out of touch traditional country club.

There are the members and the staff and their families, especially the club president Ned, a non-member dependent on his paycheck and his daughter Darcy, a camp counselor at the club. Since the club members everything must stay as it’s always been isn’t attracting new members, Ned must try and overlook the problems he sees with his boisterous and nouveau-riche new neighbors when they apply to the club but from silver disappearing to overreaching board members, his troubles don’t end here leading him to stay oblivious to his daughter’s troubles.
This story is told in multiple POVs, and we get to see how the story unfolds from different angles. It is a fast-paced read, and while it is targeted as an adult novel, with quite a number of upper teenage actors I definitely think a mature YA reader could read this one, too, and probably find it quite relatable.
An entertaining book with miscommunication, teenage woes, and rich people drama. It’s definitely a great beach read!

The Summer Club was a great, suspenseful summer read. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.


Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This was a bit of a dark horse for me. I expected a beach read, and it's close, but felt a bit more like a family drama set against the background of a country club that's struggling to stay afloat in the face of competition and changing times. The story is told from the points of view of two families - one with a long history with the club, the other family is newly arrived to the area. As the former manager and now president of the country club, Ned Birch has known the club since his father took him golfing there as a boy. He loves the club, it's histories and traditions. But he knows his job as president is precarious and he's feeling pressure to increase membership and revenue. He loves his club, his wife and his teen children, Darcy and Adam. Then Ned finds himself with new neighbors. There's a teen boy, Flick, around Darcy's age. He loves his mother who's recently married and they've moved from NYC. They don't quite fit in - the stepfather (whom Flick definitely hasn't learned to love) isn't quite Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack - but he isn't far off. Things don't go well when they first move in next door to the Birch family. Much of the book is spent on Darcy and Flick and the upheavals in both their lives, so there was a bit more teen angst than I expected going in (maybe if I'd read the synopsis more closely it wouldn't have surprised me!). They're surrounded by some interesting characters, both those who work at the club and the members. I enjoyed this story of two families going through significant changes and how they try to resolve things.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.