These Summer Storms follows Alice Storm, who hasn’t been home to her family’s private island in years. After her father dies, she comes back only for the funeral, planning to leave right after. But her dad had other plans—he left a final challenge for all his kids. If they want their inheritance, they have to complete tasks he set for them during one stormy week on the island. Alice’s only task is to stay for the whole week, which sounds easy until old family drama, secrets, and grudges start bubbling up. On top of that, she ends up spending time with Jack, her father’s former right‑hand man, which sparks some unexpected feelings. It’s a mix of family tension, romance, and a story about figuring out who you are. Highly recommend!

Five stars hands down! The main character Alice is easy to love, the family drama is juicy and Jack is dreamy. Perfect summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book in under 24 hours! I was instantly hooked by Alice’s story — her character pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop reading. And let’s be real… who doesn’t love a little juicy family drama? If you’re looking for a binge-worthy, this one’s it.

Thank you for this ARC! It was an original and delightful read. It was Elin Hildebrand meets Succession. I fully enjoyed the humor and the story. The characters became people that I rooted for. I recommend this one for anyone that wants a light read that isn't cheesy.

medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Succession meets Squid Game . . . well, not quite. But when billionaire patriarch Franklin Storm dies, the Storm family gathers on their private island for what his widow insists is a celebration (not a funeral).
Soon, they learn that to receive their inheritance, Franklin has left each of them specific, and very personal, tasks to complete.

Resentments rise to the surface as this toxic family is forced to confront long-buried secrets and their own dysfunctions. Enter Jack Dean, Dad’s super good-looking “fixer,” who keeps reluctant heir Alice on her toes (though his “delicious growls” were maybe a bit much).

This is perfect summer reading: smart, funny, sexy, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Sink your toes in the sand (or ride out a summer storm) for pure escapism.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
#TheseSummerStorms #NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

These Summer Storms is one of those books that creeps up on you, gets under your skin, and stays with you for a while. If you have ever grown up in a dysfunctional family, if you’ve ever felt like you just couldn’t get the approval you kept reaching for, if you ever wanted to be brave, this book will do that to you.

The Storm family….they are something else. Think the Gallagher’s but with money. We never meet Franklin, the patriarch, on the page, but he is the crux of everything in the book. And in the family. Elisabeth is so Miranda Preesley coded, but worse, it’s insane. I found myself wanting to reach into the page and shake her so many times. And the kids are the way they are bc of her. She is, in short, the worst. Worst mother ever is usually reserved in fiction for Kevin McAllister’s mom, but now? It’s Elisabeth Storm.

Jack and Alice’s chemistry literally crackles off the page. Their tension is so palpable and delicious and I LOVED IT. He might be one of my top contemporary MMC’s now. He is broody, and grumpy, and all business. Unless it comes to Alice. It was addicting to read. The love scenes were hot without being overly smutty (in my opinion).

Because this book deals with the loss of a father, there are some trigger warnings I feel would be appropriate, especially if you are like me and still raw from the loss of your father. I do wish we had more of Jack’s backstory with Franklin. I feel like a lot is left unexplained there that could have been revealed in character dialogue. Otherwise, this was a 5 star for me.

DNF @ 40%

These Summer Storms is out in the world now, and it has been met with glowing reviews. However, after slugging through 40% of it, I have come to the realization that it is simply not for me. I’ve found the story incredibly slow and boring, the different character POVs all sound the same, and I truly just have no interest in learning more about this family. I picked this one up because I really wanted to support Sarah MacLean, but unfortunately will not be finishing.

I love Sarah MacLean so much and was really excited that she was getting into contemporary! And was notionally very here for the Succession vibes of this story. However: I didn’t end up loving this book. I liked the relationship between Jack and Alice, and the beyond-the-grave meddling that gave this book tension and structure. I also liked the island setting, the sailing details, and the final reveal. But the rest of it felt forgettable. And having read it a few weeks back, I confess most of it hasn’t really stuck with me. It didn’t feel like it was making a sharp enough point about billionaires to fully land, or, alternatively, that the romance was quite enough to carry it.

Also, this is a nitpick that probably only I will care about, but the grammar of page 1 has been driving me nuts. “If she marked the minutes of her life, Alice Storm would not be surprised to discover that she’s spent nearly a third of them in transit” followed by a list of nouns (shiny crimson bicycle, white rowboat, skateboard) just cannot be right. They should be prepositional phrases, no? “On a shiny crimson bicycle,” etc? A nitpick, to be sure! But it did take me out of the story right at the top.

Entertaining with a sizzling romance subplot (or plot? It honestly felt more like the plot.) I loved the summer vibes and rich people problems, but I do think the story had the potential for more drama. The family tension really shone at times, but overall fell short of what could have been. 4⭐️

Sarah MacLean has absolutely nailed her move into the contemporary genre with With These Summer Storms, cementing my status as a rabid fangirl of hers. I'm a huge lover of romance, family drama, and a touch of mystery, and the Storm family delivers on all fronts. Alice Storm, the relatable black sheep and primary narrator, quickly won me over, but I also found myself completely enamored with her siblings - Emily, Greta, and yes, even Sam (though only during odd-numbered hours IYKYK. Jack brings a wonderfully calming presence to this constant tempest of a family, and his grounding influence on Alice ignites subtle, yet impactful, changes throughout the entire clan. I love a good growth story, but four? I'm sold.

Alice Storm hasn't spoken to or seen her family since a huge issue with her genius billionaire father; he sent her away and she's been isolated from them ever since. Once he dies, she is thrown back with her siblings, mother, and others to celebrate her father's life. During the "celebration" times, there is drama and secrets coming from every angle. What happens? Will she get back together with her family? Will her family members be happy with thier inheritance?

I enjoyed this family drama/mystery and thank NetGalley and Ballatine Books for the ARC!

Enjoyed the writing style and siblings’ perspectives. For such a luxurious setting, would’ve liked more descriptions of the settings (home decorand outfitting) to really bring me into the world. Ending was a little abrupt and not as tidy as I would have liked. Could have used an epilogue.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/91037456-abby-liebenthal

This book was fantastic! It had everything, deep complicated family dynamics, romance, second chances, mystery and intrigue. I hope this author continues to write more modern book as this was a 10/10 for me!

These Summer Storms is full of all the drama and tension! It starts with a rich family coming together on their private island after the passing of their billionaire father. They are stuck on the island for a week playing their father’s inheritance games where ALL the family secrets come out! Will these games and secrets break the family apart for good or bring them closer together?

The plot and characters were so well thought out and developed. I really enjoyed all the different family dynamics and how they changed throughout the book. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

These Summer Storms is a beautifully written, emotionally rich historical romance that captures both the turbulence of the Montana frontier and the resilience of the human spirit. Renée Ryan weaves a story of second chances, hidden wounds, and unexpected love with a tender touch and strong characters.

Kate and Elijah are both carrying scars from their pasts — hers emotional, his physical and their journey toward healing is as stormy as the title suggests. The chemistry between them builds slowly and naturally, and the emotional payoff is incredibly satisfying. Ryan doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of life, yet she always manages to infuse hope into every chapter.

⭐️⭐️ Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean.

These Summer Storms kicks off with a wealthy father passing away and his family gathering for his celebration of life. Our main character, Alice, was exiled from the family years ago but still makes the trip to Rhode Island to see her estranged family. Upon arriving the family is informed they all were left tasks to be completed in order to receive their inheritance, and some of them are rather strange. During their week together secrets come out and Alice begins to fall for the man her father assigned to make sure the tasks are completed.

I didn’t enjoy this book. I found it a struggle to relate to or care for many of the characters. Alice definitely saved the story by being the strong one who could make it on her own. The relationship that develops, while sweet, moves too fast. The author could have cut out 100 pages at least. There was a lot of unnecessary detail and dialogue.

I can’t say I recommend this, but I can definitely see it being a popular show next summer. ☀️ #netgalley #thesesummerstorms

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
I’ve been thinking about how best to describe These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean. I’m a fairly new fan of hers, but after devouring the Hell’s Belles series, I quickly dove into her entire backlist. So I went into this one with high expectations.
I’d seen reviews mentioning that the story starts off slow, and I’m glad I was prepared for that. Unlike MacLean’s usual bold, kickass heroines, the female lead in this book—Alice—is more reserved, and the family dynamics take center stage. In fact, this felt more like a layered family drama than a traditional romance. That said, MacLean’s talent for writing emotional, character-driven stories still shines through.
Jack, the male lead, really stood out—charming, layered, and sharp-witted. While I didn’t immediately connect with Alice, her quiet resilience grew on me as the story progressed, and I came to admire her strength in a more understated way.
The real surprise? I couldn’t put the book down once I hit the halfway point. Each chapter revealed something new, and the emotional tension kept me turning the pages.
The ending leaned more toward a "happy for now" than a full resolution, and I would’ve loved an epilogue to show how everything worked out long-term. Still, the journey was worth it.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with family drama, emotional twists, and slow-burn romance, These Summer Storms is a unique addition to MacLean’s repertoire.

Let’s just say… if you throw a complicated New England family onto a stormy island after a funeral, secrets will come out — and so will the chemistry. 😏

While the grief and old grudges make for some stormy family drama, it was the romantic love story that totally stole my heart. Jack and Alice had me from the jump — their banter? Chef’s kiss. Their chemistry? Off the charts. I found myself grinning through their scenes, fully invested and rooting for them like my beach read life depended on it.

But this isn’t just about two people falling in love — it’s also about the kind of love that forms (and sometimes fractures) within families. Messy, raw, real — and yes, sometimes beautiful.

Big thanks to NetGalley & Ballantine Books for the eARC — this one hit all the right notes. 🌊💔💕

This felt like a Jessa Hastings book and every single part of it was so good. The dysfunctional family made me get sucked in and I fell in love with how all the characters were looked at.

If you love Magnolia Parks, and The Conditions of Will, you’ll love this one!! It keeps you intrigued and wanting to know more! A lot of rich people probs going on but honestlyyy loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this ARC ❤️