Summer perfection! Sweet (but fast) romance, mega wealthy family drama, inheritance games, and an amazing setting. I devoured this in two sittings. Definite beach read!

Historical romance queen Sarah MacLean hits her contemporary fiction debut out the park with this family drama about four estranged adult siblings reunited after their billionaire father's death and forced to spend a week together on the family's private island off the coast of Rhode Island. This book was full of romance, secrets and TONS of rich people problems. It was also excellent on audio narrated by Julia Whelan and perfect for fans of books like The nest. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! These summer Storms makes a perfect beach read pick for the summer and I can't wait to see what the author writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars.

I didn’t hate this, but I didn’t love it either.

I love books about family drama, especially when it comes to rich people. And this had a LOT of drama let me tell you! But this one just didn’t hit for me like it should have.

I really wanted to like Alice and Jack. They had a ton of chemistry and the dynamic between them was great! I couldn’t fully support it though because Jack did some really crappy things for not a good enough reason in my opinion.

If it was just one thing I would be upset he did that, but I could get past it. But it was consistent and multiple things and I just couldn’t forgive it! How do you expect me to root for a relationship when the person Alice is supposed to love did what he did. The first thing he did was bad enough! I don’t think I could have gotten over that. I thought she forgave him way too quickly. I did think they were very cute together other than that so I wish I liked them more. They had a lot of potential.

I was curious how this book would end and the drama was interesting, but I didn’t really care about anyone. There were a lot of reveals, but none of them to me were overly shocking.

I know you’re not supposed to like most of the characters, but I just had a hard time picking the book up. It was written well, but there was just something about it I couldn’t fully get into. I think maybe it was a little too long and had many one too many sibling. Especially Elizabeth, at the end there was really no closure to her part of the story.

I can see what the message of the book was trying to be, but I thought it wrapped up a little too cleanly for everything that happened throughout. Like Greta, the solution to her problem was so simple, and it ended up happening, so there was no point for there to be all that worry about it. It was just written to make the book more dramatic, which I don’t think is a good enough reason to put it in there especially if the solution is so obvious.

Honestly Sam started to grow on me and became my favorite in the end! He was still kind of a jerk, but he definitely changed for the better, and became less of a bad person and more so just a funny guy.

I wouldn’t say it’s not worth the read, but it wasn’t the best thing I ever read either. And I think that’s just more personal taste. If the book sounds interesting to you, I’d give it a shot because you may love it!

I will be posting my review on Goodreads on July 7th!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7640930533

I have long been a Sarah MacLean fan and once again she did not disappoint. These Summer Storms steps away from her usual historical romance genre. This has a little bit of romance but that is definitely not the main plot.

We follow the Storm family as they return home to their family mansion on Storm Island for their father's funeral. They are to play one last game as a family to receive their inheritance. What will they each do for a piece of billionaire Franklin Storms fortune? This story has emotion, drama and is full of valuable lessons about life and family. Every family member has their own secrets. But in the end is it all about the money or will they each realize the importance of family and having each other?

A must read for summer 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine Books for the advanced copy of this book.

The perfect family drama for your summer tbr! While a little slow-going at the start, it picked up and had me hooked until the end. When Franklin, the patriarch of the Storm family dies in an accident, his four children descend upon the family compound on the Rhode Island coast for the services. People are comparing it to Succession, in that all the children are curious how their father's estate will be divided, and then what they will have to do to get it. Alice could care less, having left behind the luxury lifestyle for teaching years ago now. But, in order for her siblings to inherit, she needs to complete Franklin's task for her. The Storm siblings are all super flawed and pretty unlikeable, with their own issues and drama that make the entire family a big chaotic mess. I think if you also enjoyed We Were Liars (I just finished the show!) you'll enjoy this, as it gives some similar vibes. Definitely recommend this one!

These Summer Storms has a great family drama with summer vibes. I loved the atmosphere of the isolated island and all the secrets that were unraveled there. I enjoyed seeing the romantic relationship and the sibling relationships in this story!

I think most people will love this book but it was just not the book for me. I normally love Sarah MacLean but I struggled with maintaining interest in this one. I found it to be slow and did not typically want to pick it up again. I think I would have liked it more on audio.

Rich people behaving badly is always good fodder, but maybe not all of them but their dad really was a piece of work and their mother too. It is a well thought out novel that slowly reveals all the secrets of the family. Some of them were stunning and some of them were just like everyone else’s. It also allows them to reveal some truths to themselves and each other.

Sarah MacLean is one of my all-time favorite authors, I absolutely adore her historical romance. She is just as great in contemporary, bringing all of the action, hijinks, and interpersonal dynamics (and drama). Personally I think I just don't like contemporary as much which is why this is getting 4 stars from me. I also felt that some of the chapters were quite long which slowed the pace a bit for me.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter until the end. Giving succession vibes, my favorite part of the book was all the interesting personalities of the siblings and the family dynamics. That said, I clearly didn't read the synopsis before diving in and it wasn't what I expected from the cover (haha oops!) By the end of the book, I found myself unexpectedly cheering for all of the Storms - even the ones I thought I would never like. For me, this was a solid 3.5 Stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc.

These Summer Storms is truly a birds-eye view into a dysfunctional family and the surprises they encounter after the patriarch suddenly dies. Sarah McLean gives a very detailed look into the uber-rich and how 4 siblings and their mother must cope after losing the formidable Franklin Storm in a hang-gliding accident. Each family member has to look deep within themselves as they are forced to endure a week together on their family island off the coast of Rhode Island, still at the whim of their controlling late father and husband. The terms of his will involve tasks that must be completed under the control of his former right-hand man, Jack Dean, which only sets off everyone involved even more. But McLean manages to turn these somewhat spoiled, selfish and untethered siblings into ones who still care even when they might be furious with each other. And soon come to realize they can live the lives they want without their father's influence.

McLean peels back the layers of each character quite well with Alice, as child number 3, overall the main focus of the book. Her 5-year separation from the rest of the Storms has brought her the kind of clarity she needed to live life without her father's billions. Upon her return, she not only finds the closure she has craved (after much soul searching I might add) but also finds herself strangely drawn to Jack despite his role in this whole charade. I really liked Alice as she tries her best to convince her siblings to get far, far away from their island and set off on a new course for themselves. She has plenty to say and is tempted more than once to leave everyone in the lurch and disappear forever.

But I was glad at how truths finally came to light for Alice, Greta, Sam and Emily and that perhaps dear old dad's wishes and ridiculous constraints on his will were simply a roundabout way to encourage his children to be closer than they ever thought possible. There is a world of hurt for everyone involved and the constant push and pull between Alice and Jack only add to the nonstop drama. Not to mention Elizabeth Storm as the seemingly cold matriarch. I felt for her as she continued to view herself as the forever wronged spouse who had to bend to Franklin's will, whether or not he was still present. She did in fact hold the family together even if her methods and lack of comfort and empathy were the only tools she had. I do wonder as the book ended, how her life will go on as her kids begin to find a new way to live outside of being a Storm.

I enjoyed getting to know each character and the quirks and crazy they all brought to the table in one form or another. And there are still plenty of heartwarming moments as well as lighter ones as they remember the good times they had as kids, even when the bad ones threatened to overtake their thoughts. These Summer Storms is a bittersweet kind of journey that had to happen in one way or another and I'm hopeful each member of this complicated Storm family will finally find the peace they seek.

4 stars.

Family drama - we’ve all got it right? 😂 This book chronicles the Storm family - all gathering together after the death of patriarch Franklin Storm.

Alice, who was ousted from the family, returns home for the first time in five years to face the aftermath of her father’s death. She, along with her siblings and mother must play the game Franklin left in order to claim their inheritance.

I thought this was an adult coming of age story for most of the characters. I enjoyed seeing how the ending came together and it was heart warming to see change taking place. This was a great story and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for the advanced eARC of this book!

These Summer Storms was such a great story about a complicated family that is brought back together when the patriarch dies suddenly. Alice, the estranged daughter, goes back home to reunite with her siblings and her mother to complete one last game set in motion by her father to win their inheritance. Alice and her siblings are forced to deal with past hurts and try to move forward and become the people they want to be.

This book had such rich character development that even Sam, the most unlikable in my opinion Storm sibling, actually grew on me by the end. It was a great story of forgiveness and finding love.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

In her first contemporary novel, MacLean serves up the same tenderness and romance, plus a focus on a family in turmoil. I loved this new book, and the Storms were a wild bunch to meet and come to learn about. This book wove a more women's fiction timeline and focus than I had expected, but I adored the development of all of the characters. Didn't love some of the POV switches, but easily forgiven with MacLean's fantastic writing, humor, excellent banter, and a family that I wanted to get to know in all of their messiness.

I was so excited to receive this copy of These Summer Storms. I am a big fan of Sarah MacLean, so I knew this book would not disappoint. I found this novel difficult to put down, as I was so invested in the characters and story line. The pacing was great, and the relationship believable. It was a fantastic summer read! Thanks NetGalley!

This was my first book by Sarah Maclean and I can not wait to read more by her. She writes so beautifully even when the topic isn't so beautiful. This was a perfect family drama with a side of romance read for summer. The main character was Alice, and boy, did I feel all the feels for her. I was mad for how she had been treated by her own family, and proud of her for sticking to her beliefs. I want to be more like Alice. This family was messy, due to a manipulative father and the messiness of wealth, and it all comes out once the father dies. From the start of the book, you are caught up with this rich family and their rich people problems. Ugh...at times I would get so mad at their behaviors and especially at their attitude toward Alice. But as the book progressed, you can see the reasons why these characters were the way that they were. I loved the second story line of the budding romance between Alice and Jack...and I was rooting for them the whole entire time. The inheritence game also was a fun aspect to this book. I also appreciated the ending. This book was highly addicting and I finished it in one day. I rated this a 4 star book on my Goodreads and am recommending on my other socials as well.

☀️💰 Imagine Succession meets We Were Liars meets The Inheritance Games, but with a swoony romance baked in- that’s exactly what this book delivered.
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Sarah MacLean stepped away from historical romance into contemporary fiction and nailed it.
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We follow Alice Storm, the exiled black sheep of her ultra-wealthy family, who’s forced back to their private Rhode Island island estate after her father’s death. Instead of a normal will reading, he’s arranged for something much more exciting. Talk about family tension!
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I was obsessed with the messy Storm siblings. Greta, desperate for approval; Sam, the annoying golden boy; Emily, witchy and whimsical; and Alice, our fierce protagonist who’s torn between anger, grief, and long-buried loyalty. The family dynamics were SO juicy- toxic, hilarious, and painfully real.
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And then there’s Jack Dean, her dad’s brooding right-hand man. Their chemistry? Off. The. Charts. Every scene between them had me internally screaming.
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This book had it all: inheritance drama, private island luxury, secret reveals (some more shocking than others), complex grief, and a romance that felt earned and sizzling. I loved the comedic relief woven into the emotional beats.
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A couple twists felt underdeveloped- but honestly, I didn’t care. I was so invested in this dysfunctional, filthy-rich family and their messes. It felt like reading a summer soap opera in the best way.
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🌊 Read if you love: rich people behaving badly, inheritance games, swoony fixer heroes, New England coastal vibes, and family dramas that leave you feeling deeply.
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❔ What’s your perfect coastal reading location?
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up to 5⭐️! // Out July 8th. Highly recommend adding this to your summer TBR before the storms roll out. Thank you @netgalley @ballantinebooks @randomhouse for the advance copy!

Family drama, romance, inheritance game - this is THE summer read for me this year. I especially loved that the romance wasn’t the whole of the novel, but when romance elements did hit, they were spectacularly done - you can tell MacLean is a pro! The sibling relationships were so well done, and I loved that there was just enough mystery/intrigue to keep the pages turning. Aside from a few issues with the pacing, I really loved it. This was my first of this author’s, and definitely won’t be my last - hoping there’s more contemporary fiction to come from Sarah MacLean!

I loved this book! I REALLY loved this book. I had never read anything by Sarah MacLean and apparently this is her first foray away from romance to contemporary fiction. I hope this is her first of many because it was that good!

Meet the Storm Family…..Patriarch Franklin Storm, who with his trailblazing genius built a multi billionaire tech enterprise; Elisabeth, the stoic matriarch with a clipped tongue and who is emotionally empty; Greta, the oldest daughter made in her mothers image;
Sam, the unhappily married son who saw himself as heir apparent to the company; Alice, the only sibling who left the family chaos to pursue her artistic dreams and Emily, the youngest and a free spirit of heart and mind. When tragedy hits, the family gathers at their exclusive Rhode Island manor for a week where secrets, anger, grief and love abound.

With so many nuggets of wisdom, this story will provide reasons to calm the storms that may be raging in your heart, family or life situation. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is likely the book of the summer. The quintessential beach read. Sarah MacLean’s These Summer Storms is a fast-paced family drama which owes a lot to those dysfunctional Succession siblings. Alice Storm broke away from the family, but is back with her four siblings on the family island after the death of their father. He still controls things even from the grave. MacLean is a skilled writer and builds up interesting and developed characters. It all came to a satisfying end.

Grade: A-