Sunset Island

Sunset Island #1

by Cherie Bennett

In an effort to shake off the constraints of her parents' rich, self-satisfied lifestyle, Emma lands a summer job as an au pair girl on a resort island off the coast of Maine.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Summer, Childrens, Teen

1 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

A popular novelist, playwright, and newspaper columnist, Cherie moves effortlessly from genre to genre, writing powerful and entertaining work, whether in literary hardcover teen fiction, mass market paperback fiction, for the stage, film and television, and for her nationally-syndicated teen advice column.

Reviews

[Madeleine]

God, does this series ever remind me of summers as a kid and maxing out my library card and using books to avoid interacting with my family on another endless vacation to somewhere exceedingly dull for a child. Looking back, these really were the perfect beach read for a young reader who'd glutted herself on the Sweet Valley series and its infinite incarnations.

I can't believe it's taken me four years to catalog my childhood conquest of these books but I'm enjoying the opportunity to revisit them on an early summer morning.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the juiciest YA series! When I was a kid I remember waiting for each new book to come out. Does anyone remember the Sunset Magic perfume sample? I still wish I had a bottle of it because it smelled so good. Sigh. I will always have a soft spot for this series!

[Lauren Hummingbird]

Does this book have any redeeming quality whatsoever? No. Did I read and enjoy it anyway? Yes.

[Brenda Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eleven years old when this book was released, and already craving something more mature than The Babysitter’s Club. This series triggered my transition from children’s books to adult books, and before my parents knew it I had discovered Harlequin. I LOVED these books. Number one on my “Nostalgia” list.

[Renata · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe I read these when I was like 8, dang

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers...

[Pastel Paperback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunset Island is a fun little series—an escapism fantasy, set in the world of the rich and famous who summer off the coast of Maine (and those who nanny for them.)

So. Perfectly. 90s.

We meet our 3 main girls in this first book: Emma, the ice princess trying to find her own identity outside of her wealthy upbringing; Carrie, a good girl with an eye for photography and the hots for local band lead singer Billy; and Sam, a wild redheaded midwestern dancer with a flair for outrageous outfits and speaking her mind.

And the outfits, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OUTFITS:

Sam: stone-washed denim miniskirt, red leotard, skintight faded jeans, red cowboy boots (her signature,) white shirt covered in black hearts, ripped up tights, black and white polka-dotted skirt

Carrie: oversize blue blazer and matching stirrup pants, black baggy pants, black and white paisley printed vest, off-the-shoulder pink sweater with a lacy leotard, flowery chiffon skirt.

Emma: grey flannel trousers, cream-colored blazer, (then after her shopping spree to become more "local") cropped red leather jacket and matching miniskirt, lycra blue minidress with matching belt, black raw silk suit with a short skirt.

I can't wait to dive into these again.

[January · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these books when I was a young teenager and I loved all of them!!!! This is such a wonderful series for young teenage girls. It is about a Au Pair who gets a job on Sunset Island. She goes to live with the family and meets new friends and new guys! What a wonderfull series this is!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

First series I ever read...I was about 12 yrs old! This series turned mo into the reading nut that I am today!!!!!!

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this series as a kid! Just rediscovered these books and bought some of the series on EBay for nostalgia's sake. Re-read it and it's still such a fun read! The descriptions of the girl's outfits are the best!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude I totally loved this series as a youngun. Guilty pleasure! Emma and Kurt!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series as a preteen in the early 90s and am sad it's out of print... I enjoyed being back in the world of Sam, Emma, and Carrie for a bit while reading this! Cheesy teenage drama at its finest.

[Eva Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent the entire summer I was ten at the library, reading these books. The characters actually had sex and it was okay and no one got pregnant. I thought it was all mind-blowing.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series when I was younger and loved it.

[Chasny Dove Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series growing up. It brings back so many memories.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this gem for a quarter at a used bookstore last summer and I remembered this series- it was my best friend's favorite YA series because she'd moved to Mt. Desert Island (which must be the book's setting inspiration (in 8th grade and we both wound up reading the bulk of the series one summer I spent staying at her house in Seal Harbor (she was a townie). The story is pure soap opera catnip for tween/teen girls- 3 18 yr old friends all get cushy au pair jobs in a resort town filled with hot boys. There is nothing remotely realistic about what dating and coming of age was actually like in the 90s, but its what we all had HOPED it would be like, with guys who actually took girls out on real dates and feelings being clearly communicated and fun parties and effortlessly pretty girls with fashion sense and instant friendships. These books were Sweet Valley High with better writing and less ridiculousness. I may have to find more of this series. It was a fun read for nostalgia and something quick- like a book equivalent of a bag of M&Ms for a snack. 3 stars.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. So much fun nostalgia for me. I got this from ThriftBooks while I was searching for my missing SVH series because they suggested it as something I might like and I really enjoyed it. I believe I’ve read another series from this author. She was big in the time of these paperback series. YA books just aren’t like this anymore and because I read sooo many books like this in my formative years it’s really fun for me to revisit that format and style of writing.

I liked the setting and the characters - reminded me of the Summer Love series by Diane Schwemm that I obsessed over. The 80s/90s outfits described were fun to imagine as well as the dated sayings and having to call your friends at their houses or wherever they were to get in touch. Def some creepy aspects regarding men that don’t hold up in 2022 but I’m curious if those guy characters go anywhere later in the series. I hope I can find these in ebook or something because I want to read more!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the entire Sunset Island series when in high school! This was a high school girl's dream series - friendship, love and drama all wrapped up in one series. Emma, Carrie and Samantha are off on a great adventure as au pairs on Sunset Island. They spend their summer caring for children and heading out on their own adventures, learning how to handle themselves without their parents.

[Bobby Stringini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book. The characters are fun, the story is breezy, and as far as 90's teen soap operas go, it is highly enjoyable. There is plenty of drama, but it is resolved in a way that feels natural and not drawn out, which I appreciated, and the central romance was sweet without feeling rushed. Kind of want to track down Sunset Kiss now.

[Patricia Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with these books in High School. I would absolutely read them over and over. Being out of Print makes it hard as life was lived and books are gone.
I wish they would reprint them into digital. I would be all over that!
Definitely an Awesome series, that I would Absolutely read again!

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not gonna lie, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Sometimes I forgot it was set in 1991, and I wondered why they didn't just use their cell phones to take pictures of some of the things happening *face palm* I think I'll continue this series if I can find more of them.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma, Carrie and Sam are three very different girls from very different walks of life who end up au-pairing on the wealthy Sunset Island. This book focuses on Emma, and her struggle to appear a normal person to her new friends while she is really and incredibly wealthy upper class heiress

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 rating purely for nostalgia. I read this series as a “young adult” and haven’t seen it since. I would anxiously wait for the next one in the series to come out. Such a blast from the past. A fun way to slip back into my younger self.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Cherie Bennett's books when I was a teenager. I had most of her Wild Hearts series but didn't have the Sunset Island books. I'm glad I found the PDF on Scribd. Lots of fond memories of her writing. Well rounded characters and plot.

4 stars

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ridiculously bonkers and I loved it.

[Becki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nostalgia re-read. Nothing like a rich girl whose only problem is people finding out she’s rich.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I am short on time until t he end of the year and I wanted to finish another book by then, so I picked this up off my shelf - something my sister had left around and I figured would be an easy read. At 230 pages, THAT IT WAS.

I probably would've liked this book if i were thirteen, but holy hell it is crap. It was written for idiots and the situations and conversations felt so contrived.

AND THERE ARE SEQUELS!

[Noora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirja oli teini-iän suosikkini ja olisin kovasti tahtonut olla kuin Emma. Uusintalukeminen näin vanhempana herätti nostalgisen olon ja paljasti tosiasian, että kirja on samaa amerikkalaista nuorisohömppää kuin Sweet valley highit. Mutta niin kovin viihdyttävää :). Vasta vähän aikaa sitten tajusin, että kirjaan on englanniksi myös jatko-osia ja harkitsen kovasti niiden hankkimista jostakin...

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series as a young teen! Even got to talk to the author once on the phone.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read ALMOST the entire series when i was growing up. Fun times!

[Tamara]

Pure escapism read for an awkward & shy 11 year old.