That Nantucket Summer

by Doreen Burliss

While cleaning out her father's home, Nic uncovers a box of old secrets revealing that her happily-ever-after parents had actually separated after high school, and that her mother had a secret bohemian life on Nantucket one summer. Serendipitously, Nic is invited to Nantucket Island with new boyfriend, Cade Swain, for a big family wedding at Galley Beach.
Divorced mom of two college kids, Nic is both excited and anxious about staying with the Swains who are descendants of original settlers of Nantucket. The island's fabled history in juxtaposition with her mother's shocking truths turns Nic's life inside out.
As her worlds collide, Nic finds herself juggling sorrow over losing her dad, the realization that her parents were once teenagers themselves, and more tequila and rosé than she bargained for. Following an obscure trail of paintings and unexpected friendships, Nic risks the biggest love she's ever known to unravel the mystery of her mother's choices that long ago Nantucket summer.

Genres: Summer

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Doreen Burliss, author of We'll Always Have Nantucket and That Nantucket Summer is a former lifestyle columnist and news correspondent with an irrepressible eye for photography even with the cheapest lens in the room. She believes in giving more than you get, in the enormous vitality of all living things, and that there's music for every mood, like Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze" cranked in the station wagon on the way to your grandparents' and then the serenade of red-wing blackbirds in the trees when you get there. She loves kids, their singular brilliance, curiosity and trust, and can hardly bear that her own three have quite suddenly grown up and away. She lives with her husband in a small town north of Boston with two fat cats and a dog.



Fogged In is her second novel.

Reviews

[Kristen Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to meet the author, Doreen Burliss (who was the sweetest!) and attend her first book signing for That Nantucket Summer to obtain my first advanced signed copy of a book! I loved this book! It was relatable. I loved the characters. I honestly didn’t see which direction the story was going in, but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. Do yourself a favor and add this to your to be read pile!

[Charlene Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Doreen Buriss is so articulate and has a really successful way of describing and depicting the locations in her stories.
This novel is a true ode to Nantucket.
So, If you’ve ever been interested in going to Nantucket, you must read this book.
And yet, while incorporating lots of descriptions of the island’s charming places, she never distracts from the direction of the story.
Her descriptions are like a guide map to the island!

Now about the story.
One thing that I have noticed in reading both of Doreen‘s books so far, is that she gives a lot of time for you to get to know the characters, be teased with the fact that you know there’s more story coming and you’re just not sure when it’s going to get there, but in the meantime you enjoy the slow burn…Almost to the point where you wonder if it is going to go anywhere.
And then all of a sudden it does and it all makes sense.
And then she has a real knack for playing out the plot of the story very well, and with lots of tangents that get tied up at the end.
Loved it!
Read it!

Thank you to author Doreen Burris for sending me a signed gorgeous copy of her second novel!
Thank you to Mitchell’s Book Corner on Nantucket as well, for shipping me another beautiful signed copy!

Charlene @lastnownext 📚🤗🌸

[Mary Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy, familiar read! Most scenes accurate!

[Laura Whiton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer reading is one of my favorite activities. Especially when the book lets your mind wonder, ponder and escape to places you’ve never been. “That Nantucket Summer” by Doreen Burliss does just that! I immediately related to the character of Nic. She’s a contemporary woman, navigating real life issues, from the loss of her parents to finding meaningful love and happiness in her world. What makes this story unique is the backdrop. Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. Once known for its whaling industry and now a summer haven for anyone looking to connect with the sun and sea. It’s that connection that author Burliss weaves so beautifully into her story. Sounds, smells and sights of the island ground the characters, giving them purpose, letting them become vulnerable and open to their past, all while seeking a future of endless possibilities! Enjoy this wonderful read and happy summer!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen Burliss really knows how to build a character. You really get the feeling that you know the characters, personally. I also enjoyed learning about the history of Nantucket and presently existing restaurants that I hope to check out in person.

[Lisa Lontai · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!

Twists and turns in this romantic story on Nantucket! The magic of the island really comes through in this page turner!

[Best Friend 🧡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books manage to capture the exact essence of a sun-drenched season while completely tearing at your heartstrings, and That Nantucket Summer is exactly that kind of magic. Having been published back in June 2023, this gorgeous novel remains the ultimate coastal escape for anyone who loves deep family mysteries mixed with beautiful, atmospheric storytelling.

Doreen Burliss has written an absolutely stunning story centered around Nic, a divorced mom navigating the heavy, raw grief of losing her father, only to stumble upon a box of old secrets that completely redefines everything she thought she knew about her parents. The contrast between Nic’s current reality filled with the anxiety of meeting her new boyfriend’s high-society family on Nantucket and the unfolding mystery of her mother’s secret bohemian life on the very same island years ago is handled with incredible grace and emotional honesty.

Burliss captures the island of Nantucket so vividly that you can practically feel the ocean breeze, taste the rosé and tequila at Galley Beach, and see the obscure trail of paintings guiding Nic forward. What starts as a classic summer wedding getaway beautifully evolves into a poignant, bittersweet journey of discovery, reminding us that our parents had entirely different lives and identities before we ever existed. It is a warm, deeply resonant, and brilliant book that balances sorrow and joy in a way that feels incredibly human. I am completely in love with this story, and it is a book that stays with you long after the summer ends.

[Renann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any book with Nantucket as the setting is an instant add to my TBR pile. I loved this book! It gave me some history on Nantucket as well as a love story $ a mystery. I highly recommend this book!

[Susan Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Burliss is back with another enchanting and engaging novel set in her beloved Nantucket. This time, we see the island through the eyes of a "newbie," Nic, who is involved a new relationship which takes her to his family's elaborate home on the island. We get to experience the wonders of Nantucket through a slightly different lens than in her previous novel, and all the angst and excitement of meeting your significant other's family. The back story this time revolves around a treasure trove of love letters from Nic's father while he was in the service, to her mother, before they were married, which she discovers while cleaning out her father's belongings. The letters are sweet and heartfelt, but also mysterious, and Nic feels compelled to learn more, even while realizing she may open Pandora's box. With a lot of detective work she discovers more than one secret about her mother, including that she was a highly talented and respected artist who used another name to avoid revealing her identity. Ms. Burliss clearly did her research once again, as she shares facts about the art world that demonstrate this.

Ms. Burliss is definitely making a name for herself! I have no doubt we can expect more from this talented author!

[Lisa Heinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for an amazing new indie writer...here she is! What an amazing story or loss, love, and finding ones self. Doreen really captivates her readers with the heart felt writing that draws the reader in with such relatable story line. So glad to have found her writing such a breath of fresh air to read a story line that is one that touches home! Look forward to her future books!

[Allison Soucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That Nantucket Summer pulled me in from the start…with strong characters who felt like friends and a story that kept me turning the pages wanting more. The author brought me so visibly to the fabled island of Nantucket! I never wanted the book to end!

[Cathy Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nantucket, filled with strange weather and unknown loves

Well written story. Proofreaders must have been on strike. The typographical errors were more than necessary. The setting gives a lot of Nantucket life style to a tangled web of happenings. Enjoyable summer read.