Eloisa created a place called Hobby Island on an island off the coast of Texas 15 years ago. It is dedicated to all things crafty and she holds a two month summer retreat type of event with a contest at the end for the best creations in different categories of crafts. After her security guy discovered something fishy going on in her online forum, she invites the victim and suspects to the coming summer event to figure out what is going on. This is a story about family and forgiveness to yourself and others. Also, learning how to change your perspective by rephrasing thoughts in a positive way. This is a quick easy read.

Beautiful generational story told from the pov of Jeanne the grandmother, Luna the daughter, and Artemis the granddaughter. The Summer That Shaped us tells the story of strong women who overcome great obstacles, learning how to forgive themselves and others as well as learning how to love themselves and others. I loved the descriptions of Hobby Island, the descriptions of the arts and crafts that were being made as well as the quilting tidbits that were scattered through the book. I also enjoyed reading the Eloise Hobby quote at the beginning of each chapter. I read through this quite quickly. Great summertime beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lori Wilde and Avon Harper publishing for this arc version in exchange for my opinion.

What a beautiful book cover! Once again, Lori Wilde has given us a wonderful story from start to finish! This was an interesting story line with characters that draw you into the drama of their lives. There are secrets, deception, fears and alot of miscommunication but there is also forgiveness. Hobby Island sounds like the perfect place to worh through what troubles you. This is the perfect women's fiction read with a blend of heart, humor, emotion and romance that makes it so entertaining. This would make a wonderful beach read!

I enjoyed reading The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

It didn’t take long for The Summer That Shaped Us to draw me under its spell. The first story in the Hobby Island series introduces us to three women, a family of grandmother, mother, and daughter who are facing life challenges, each in their own unique way. Each is hurting, each needs the magic of Hobby Island, even though they might fight those changes, they each have to discover what drives them, what is hurting them. Often, changes don’t happen without pain, and Jeannie, Luna, and Artie will each have their own personal heartaches to work through before that elusive peace and happiness find them.

Eloisa, the owner of this magical island and the woman who created the crafter’s paradise and the possibilities presented here on the island, is a unique and mysterious character. Watching the ways that she befriended this family, and seeing the truth about all the visitors to her island, was, at times, a bit of a roller coaster ride. Which I happened to enjoy.

There is mystery in The Summer That Shaped Us, as well as healing for the women of this family. There is also a bit of romance, friendships developed, and peace of mind to be found as well.

I enjoyed my time here and would not hesitate to recommend this book to any reader who enjoys Women’s Fiction, Romance, and a bit of mystical Magic.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley with no promise of a positive review. The opinion about this book in my review is mine alone, good, bad, or indifferent.

It took me a minute to get into this book but once I started it. I couldn’t put it down

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Who doesn’t want to visit an island where you can immerse yourselfinto crafts and escape your everyday life? I know I would love that! The summerthat shaped us follows the POV of three generations. There’s a little bit of mystery,a little bit of magic, and a whole lot of hobby island.
I will say that the book cover comes across as a romance, thefirst chapter makes you think it’s a mystery, and the whole book itself it abit of a cluster of everything. So, it can be a bit confusing to figure outwhere the author is going with it. But overall, I think it was an enjoyableread! I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

A Hallmark vibe retreat on a magic summer island. Thank you to Netgalley, Lori + the awesome publishing team at Avon for the eARC of this book!

What to Expect:
⭐ Three generations of women
⭐ Family Drama and dynamics
⭐ Second Chance Love
⭐ Second chance + new outlooks on life
⭐ Individual growth amongst the characters
⭐ Quirky island residents + hobby retreat owner

TW:
⭐ Discussions of verbal + physical abuse
⭐ Alcoholism + Drunk Driving
⭐ Money scammer involved as sub character


My Thoughts:
A lot of this story felt wayyyy too unreal. The "magic" of Hobby Island felt way over the top. Honestly some of it felt like a cult to me. It was very unbelievable overall as a story. The way the characters talked to each other and worked their way through issues or discussions almost felt like someone took AI and generated a adult, mature, over therapized responses. It just didn't do it for me. This was not one of my favorite books to read. I did enjoy the complexities of the relationships between the three main women characters. I enjoyed seeing their relationships all heal & grow. While it's lovely to see them also individually heal, some of it was just a bit icky feeling for me. Like Hallmarked to the 10th degree with the cheese. Some of the stuff on forgiveness amongst the visitors was weird. Also the security cameras all over just left me feeling uncomfortable. Overall the story line I think really could have been awesome. It just didn't do it for me.

Synopsis:
In the Gulf of Mexico, near South Padre, sits a private island with a bit of a magic about it: the colors are brighter, the food tastes better, and turtles and cranes find sanctuary there. The billionaire heiress who built the thriving resort on Hobby Island exclusively for crafters, Eloisa Hobby, is as much a mystery as she is a mentor. Those with troubles are invited in the aftermath of an emotional turmoil, and with help from the other crafters on the island Eloisa acts as a sounding board while she gently and unobtrusively guides the visitors toward healthy resolutions in their lives. Only a few receive the honor of a golden ticket.

Luna, ever the pragmatist, is reeling in the wake of tragedy: she’s just moved with her fierce, opinionated teenage daughter Artemis to her mother’s house, after they lost their husband and father. But her mother, Jeanie, artistic and sensitive, has faced her own troubles recently, and her home may not be the stable sanctuary the three women so desperately need.

When Jeanie receives one of the coveted tickets, inviting her and her family to Hobby Island, the blessing is one they can’t turn down, though both Luna and Artie remain skeptical of their eccentric host and benefactor. Together, the three of them will have to learn to trust one another again, accept help from those who love them, and embrace life—during a summer they’ll never forget.

This story had a lot of great potential with three generations of women that each provide their POV. There’s a beautiful setting, second chance romance, mystery and healing. There are also some incredible moments in the book that felt like therapy. But there were several bizarre plot points as well, like a turtle that steals people’s left socks….?

Overall I enjoyed the book!

The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde has a grandmother, her daughter and teenage granddaughter invited to Hobby Island for crafters. The somewhat competition between the crafters includes the good characters and the not so good ones. Actually the focus seems to be less on the crafts than on personal growth and developing healthy choices. These three have suffered losses, had conflicts and needed to repair relationships.

There is a mystery introduced near the beginning, but this is not the focus of the story. Overall, it is about forgiveness, giving grace and overcoming difficult times in life. The crafting part was interesting because I find when doing something with your hands or with others, your mind quietens enough to work through issues you have been thinking about. It seems to work for this family of women, giving them time to talk through somethings too.

The story was too much like fantasy Island

Jesse is a real problem as a mom - she put her alcoholic husband above her daughter's heart and the health of the family. Luna has generation hurt (first her father was a drunk, her mother was an enabler, and her own husband gambled away all their property and bank accts). I can understand why she is distrustful of strangers.

Artie was a typical teenager - likeable.

I knew from the start Luna would need to heal / help her mom / be the savior to her family - she is the glue that keeps everyone together. With the POV showing how Artie got her name - i knew Paul would come into the storyline

The Summer That Shaped Us
By Lori Wilde

This is a story of finding yourself. After winning a trip to the mystical island and a chance to win 100,000 dollars anything is possible. We get to see three generations of a family reconnecting after loss and betrayal.

Learning the truth about the past can open your eyes to so much. Pushing beyond your fears can allow you to find your joy.

Absolutely obsessed with this one! The cover and storyline is adorable. I have been recommending this one to all my friends now that it is out.

Sweet story of building friendships and falling in love with a different way of life. I enjoyed the quirky characters and seeing how each of them grew during their summer on Hobby Island.

Take a trip to Fantasy Island…..oops I mean Hobby Island. A place that one has to be invited to, a paradise island for crafters to embrace their talents and find peace. Or in the case of Jeanie a chance to win the quilting contest and save her home. She is allowed 2 guests and brings her daughter and teenage granddaughter with. Artie is not thrilled, what teenager would be no WiFi and only old people to be found. Luna is still trying to rebuild her life, her husband was murdered and left a mountain of gambling debts. So in debt that she sold everything and her and Artie moved in with her mom. Getting away for a couple a months is a chance for her to regroup and then her first love is on the island. Once again her life is upside down.
A story with a bit of fantasy and magic, throw in a cozy mystery and a HEA. With a tease for the next in the series. Thank you #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #TheSummerThatShapedUs

I truly enjoyed this story and getting introduced to Hobby Island and it's guardian/caretaker Eloisa. She has wonderful pearls of wisdom at the start of every chapter. This is a remarkable story about self-awareness, self-help, community, and learning to let go of the things that don't bring you joy. Three woman Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis; a mother, daughter, and grand-daughter are invited to Hobby Island to enter a quilt contest. Each of these woman has something to learn about themselves and somehow make better. They each carry their own burdens that they don't easily or readily share with one another.

There is a delightful cast of characters and a beautiful setting. The writing flows so smoothly and is inspirational. This is a beautifully crafted work.

I wish Hobby Island was a real place so that I could go there and soak up all the wonderfulness of it.

THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US – Lori Wilde
Hobby Island, Book 1
Avon
ISBN: 978-0063352155
April 22, 2025
Contemporary Fiction

Hobby Island, Texas – Present Day

Billionaire heiress Eloisa Hobby loves crafting and built a resort that caters to anyone who also loves crafting. Of course, it’s mostly women, but it is for them to rebuild their lives while doing something they enjoy. For Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis, the three generations of one family, it is a place to heal while competing for the $100,000 grand prize in a crafting contest. Jeanie needs the money to keep her family home after she fell prey to a scammer and lost a lot of money. Unfortunately, she hasn’t told her daughter Luna, who is trying to rebuild her life after her husband died, leaving her with a pile of debt. Luna’s daughter Artemis is a typical fifteen-year-old who is aware of her mother’s need for money, but she would rather be anywhere else than on an island with no teens like her. Then Artemis meets Orion, a girl her age. Oh, cool. Orion’s father Paul is the gardener and security expert for Hobby Island. It turns out that Paul is also Luna’s old high school boyfriend. One look at each other, and Paul and Luna are feeling the attraction again. Meanwhile, Eloisa suspects the person who scammed Jeanie is staying on the island too. Will the scammer be outed, and will Jeanie get her money back? Will Luna and Paul fall in love again? Will Artemis get to enjoy a summer she won’t forget?

THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US opens with Jeanie getting a coveted “golden ticket” to spend the summer on Hobby Island for her and her family for free. She tries to hide from Luna about losing all the money when she got catfished, but Luna finds out. Their reconciliation is mostly off-screen. In fact, there are a few places in this tale when things happen that we don’t see, but it’s referenced afterward. I’m not sure if the author had to cut words from THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US or if it was meant to be. Anyway, there are times when Jeanie and Luna, then Luna and Artemis, are in conflict with each other. They resolve the issues because, at the root of it all, they love each other.

The only romance in THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US is between Luna and Paul. They quickly reconnect and are falling for each other just like they did twenty years ago. Artemis, of course, doesn’t know at first about them being high school sweethearts. How will she react? Meanwhile, the group starts the process of creating their crafting projects. Luna is going to help Jeanie with some quilting ideas. Unfortunately, her sketchbook is stolen by another member, who denies it. Despite the niceness of most people on Hobby Island, there are some people there who aren’t nice and will cheat to win the $100,000 prize.

THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US is told from several viewpoints but mostly from the three main female characters Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis. The romance between Paul and Luna is mostly sweet, with maybe only a couple of steamy love scenes. This tale is written around the emotions of the characters and the journey that changes them. For Jeanie, it’s changing her past where she tries to avoid conflict. For Luna, it’s moving past losing her husband and her trust in him. Readers will be rooting for this family to get past their obstacles and find love…and money.

An uplifting tale you won’t want to miss, be sure to pick up THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

The Summer That Shaped Us was a quirky, fun book. It was a good beach read story! The characters were likable. I did struggle with parts of the story at times but overall it was an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

When I first started this book, I was unsure how I felt about it. It felt "cheesy". But then, as the characters and the island (and dear Lord, I would love to spend a summer at this island even if I didn't do a lick of crafts) started to get fleshed out, I found that the story was more than what was on the surface. Eloise is a character that I would love to sit down with and have tea and just talk and learn. While Luna rubbed me the wrong way throughout most of the story, she did seem to have the most growth than her mother or her daughter. The relationships between Mothers and daughters is the central theme of the story and a whole lot of forgiveness needs to be happening not only for them but for others in the story. A mild mystery which I expected to take center stage seemed to be merely a vehicle to get these women to the island and another avenue of forgiveness. I'm now invested and want to read the next in the series with that ending.

Lori Wilde's The Summer That Shaped Us is the first novel I have read by this author. This novel offers an emotional, heartwarming story that resonates with the reader. This book dives into three generations of women finding healing and hope on the magical Hobby Island. Jeanie, her daughter Luna, and granddaughter Artie, each spinning from recent calamities, are invited to spend the summer on this vibrant island, known for its colorful charm and the perplexing billionaire heiress, Eloisa Hobby.

The story explores the complex dynamic contrasts of a mother-daughter relationship, the challenges of grief, and the importance of self-credence. As each of the three women embarks on a journey of self-discovery, tackling their pasts and learning to grip the future. Jeanie's hidden secrets add another layer of intrigue to the narrative, keeping me invested in their entangled stories.

What immediately captivated me was Wilde's vivid descriptions of Hobby Island. The lush imagery, from the jacaranda trees to the characters' attire, truly brought the island to life and created a sense of place that felt almost magical. It's a backdrop that becomes a character, contributing to the overall atmosphere of healing and transformation.

Wilde's writing style is an atmospheric and immersive format. If you’re looking for the perfect escape, then look no further than this feels satisfying good story with depth. I particularly enjoyed the insightful quotes from Eloisa Hobby at the beginning of each chapter, which added a touch of wisdom and reflection to the narrative.