Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eBook in return for an honest review.

The story was a relatively good and interesting story, but it could have been so much shorter. The dialog dragged on, and it seemed as if the characters kept having the same long, drawn out conversations over and over again.

Alice is banished from the family by her very wealthy father after boldly calling her father out on his despicable behavior. The family comes back together on the family island when their father, Franklin passes away. But Franklin, who is a mean, manipulative man, has left them with with a sadistic inheritance game as a final farewell.

This was one of my most anticipated summer reads—and it absolutely delivered! When the powerful and ultra-wealthy patriarch of the Storm family dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind one final challenge: a set of letters for each of his four children, inviting them to play one last game to win their inheritance. What follows is a whirlwind of family drama, long-held secrets, and sibling rivalries. While the story centers on Alice Storm—who has tried to distance herself from the Storm legacy and questions her father’s true intentions—I was equally captivated by the arcs of the other siblings and the interactions between them. The novel had everything I look for in a perfect summer read: a lavish private island setting off the Rhode Island coast, a steamy beachside romance, dysfunctional family drama, and plenty of secrets and scandals. An addictive and entertaining story I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t decide whether I loved this book or hated it. Alice returns on the occasion of her father’s death to the family compound on an island off the Rhode Island coast. Not just any island, her families island. Her father was the head of Storm, think Apple. He was a billionaire who left his children billions IF they all adhere to the terms of his will. If one member dies not, the inheritance is forfeited. Alice, the black sheep of the family whom her father exiled from the family 5 years ago, is the wild card. Family dysfunction at its finest. A compelling read. Recommended for all public libraries.

Alice didn’t plan to ever go back to Storm Island. After being exiled from her family by her father it is his death that calls her back. When she returns she finds that her father isn’t finished with his games. The multi billionaire who changed technology all over the world has left letters for most of his family. Letters that are strange and controlling, but will ultimately decide if they all get their inheritance.

I actually love this book. Family drama, some romance, and deciding what means more….money or family. Definitely will recommend!

Reading this book felt like being caught in a summer storm—wild, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. From the first pages, I was swept onto the train beside Alice, sharing the heavy silence of grief and the surprising comfort of a stranger’s presence❤️‍🩹

The story pulls you deeper into a world of sharp family conflicts, where every word between siblings cuts like a blade and a mother’s cold remarks sting more than silence. At the same time, it’s a story about unexpected tenderness—about passion found in the unlikeliest of places, and a woman discovering her strength in the middle of chaos.

Alice isn’t just a billionaire’s daughter; she’s a woman learning to reclaim her voice, her vulnerability, and her right to happiness. Her journey from exile to self-acceptance struck me to the core.

This book is full of contradictions—pain and laughter, anger and longing, storms outside and storms within. And yet, when the last page turns, what remains is light, warmth, and the quiet certainty that even the fiercest storm can lead you home💘

This book is a look inside a family that everyone thinks has it all because they are wealthy but in reality they are a train wreck of emotional baggage that is lost without their patriarch.

A truly complex family drama with an array of characters. There are some characters you'll instantly like, some that you'll warm up to by the end and others that you will dislike throughout the book. But I did enjoy getting to know this family and all their dynamics.

There is a romance mixed in that makes the book a bit more interesting but overall it's about a wealthy family that was torn apart years ago by what they thought their parents wanted them to be and in the process they lost their identities. In the week that this book takes place they start to learn who they really are and how they want to go about their lives now that their father has passed away.

I was a bit disappointed in the storyline because I thought it was building up to an epic conclusion but the ending was a bit melodramatic. I'm still glad I read it because I enjoyed most of the characters and how they grew throughout the book.

This is the perfect book to read when you need a good dose of a dysfunctional family that helps your family seem more "normal"! I am grateful to the publishers for the opportunity to read an ARC of this fabulous book through Netgalley. All of the opinions throughout this review are my own.

I thought this was such an interesting book. It deals with the death of a patriarch and shows how he pitted his children against each other and made them compete or their inheritance. Well written and entertaining.

This was a family drama for the ages. The story follows Alice, the disowned child of a wealthy family. When her father dies, and the family gathers for his celebration of life, they find out he left an inheritance game for them. They all must compete in order for them all to inherit. It is twisted and juicy. The sibling rivalry, a side romance, and family secrets that are barely hidden made this a novel I could not put down.

When you top all of that off with Julia Whelan narrating, you absolutely can not go wrong. Whelan's narration was rich and made the characters come to life.

A story about “poor little rich children” coming back to the island their family owns after their world famous tech tycoon father passes. Full of dysfunctional family dynamics and an uninteresting romance between the main character, Alice and her father’s right hand man, Jack. Alice being the one child that left the family’s wealth when she was cut off by her father for publicly outing a sexual harassment allegation in her dad’s company. Alice spends the majority of the book, whining about being kicked out and her siblings/mother for not standing up for her or reaching out to her although when the youngest sibling would invite her, Alice chose not to go so….

I did enjoy the witty dialogue between Alice and her love interest Jack and there was some entertaining banter among the siblings. Overall the characters didn’t peak my interest and I wasn’t invested in the storyline or the secret revealed towards the end

Really really enjoyed this book.
It has so many ups and downs and so much craziness.
The characters are great. I love Alice. And Jack. Oh my!
The story itself is crazy.
The plot twists - oh my goodness.

The class A stock was the greatest surprise. Loved it. Definitely put a smile on my face while reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

3.5 stars! I absolutely loved the first half of this book and was totally hooked on the storyline. Somewhere along the way in the second half, it dragged a bit and just didn't fully pick up steam again. Overall, an entertaining read filled with family drama. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - it's out now!

A dysfunctional family drama with twists and toxicity. Who wouldn’t want that? A bit of a slow start, but once it picks up, you can’t put it down. This book makes you think about your own family drama, story, and chaos.

Perfect summer read while on a summer beach vacation.

The cover is perfect.

My first Sarah MacLean, but definitely won’t be the last.

Thank you, NetGalley! Thank You, Random House!

#TheseSummerStorms #NetGalley

This books takes all the best of Succession and drops them into the gorgeous New England summer. It’s a roller coaster of wealth, secrets, betrayals, and just the right amount of romance. I really enjoyed the family dynamics, descriptions of the New England landscape, and the push and pull of the romance. I recommend this books as a fun ride in wealth and mystery. I look forward to more work by Sarah MacLean.

I really enjoyed this sexy, twisty family story. The setting was fantastic and the characters well-crafted and appealing!

What starts off as a story about a "sad little rich girl", turns into something deep and complex. When we are introduced to the Storm family, the patriarch has died. All of the children are summoned to the Storm Island to vie for their inheritance, by playing "games" and completing tasks that their father set up before he passed. Everyone first turns on each other, but soon they realize that their bond goes deeper than they know. Throw in a few mini romances, and you got yourself a great read!

I've read some of Sarah MacLean's historical romance novels but this is my absolute favorite of hers! I loved the setting of an island off of Rhode Island, the four siblings and how they come together after their father's death, how they have to do those crazy challenges if they want their inheritance and how their father is still controlling them from the grave! I loved Alice who is estranged from her family and Jack who was her dad's right hand man. I felt so much for Greta and Emily too. I really think this is my favorite book of the summer and I'm hoping Ms. MacLean writes more contemporary novels because this was so much fun and I just couldn't put it down!

I read/listened to the audio (Julia Whelan's narration is perfect as usual!) and now I'm telling all my library patrons about These Summer Storms. I think it'll be next summer's beach read for our library book club as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book! All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 8 July 2025

A solid family drama with lots of twists and toxicity. I didn't really like the romantic subplot. I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read from the author again. Definitely deserves the hype.

This was an excellent end-of-summer read. The setting was immersive (the island served as its own character in the novel), and I appreciated the time we got to spend with each of the Storm siblings as they worked through their complicated feelings about their father and their family. While some of the siblings are certainly more sympathetic than The romance in the novel served to give more insight into Alice's character, but the secrets and deceptions that also made up a good part of the story and their relationship left me wanting a different partner for Alice at the end. However, the book's tone overall was hopeful, and the focus of the book was ultimately on the Storm siblings, and their evolving relationship is the strongest and most lasting impression I'm left with of this book.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous and immediately drew me in! These summer storms was a beautifully written family drama about very rich adult kids joining together after the death of their billionaire father. I enjoyed it and will definitely read more from Sarah Maclean.

Great family drama. I enjoyed the writing of this author and the drama that unfolded. Sweet story that had rememerably characters and plot.