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Lowcountry Summer #1
The Summer Girls
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe, the heartwarming first installment in the Lowcountry Summer trilogy, a poignant series following three half-sisters and their grandmother.
Three granddaughters. Three months. One summer house.
In this enchanting trilogy set on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe captures the complex relationships between Dora, Carson, and Harper, three half-sisters scattered across the country—and a grandmother determined to help them rediscover their family bonds.
For years, Carson Muir has drifted, never really settling, certain only that a life without the ocean is a life half lived. Adrift and penniless in California, Carson is the first to return to Sea Breeze, wondering where things went wrong…until the sea she loves brings her a minor miracle. Her astonishing bond with a dolphin helps Carson renew her relationships with her sisters and face the haunting memories of her ill-fated father. As the rhythms of the island open her heart, Carson begins to imagine the next steps toward her future.
In this heartwarming novel, three sisters discover the true treasures Sea Breeze offers as surprising truths are revealed, mistakes forgiven, and precious connections made that will endure long beyond one summer.
Three granddaughters. Three months. One summer house.
In this enchanting trilogy set on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe captures the complex relationships between Dora, Carson, and Harper, three half-sisters scattered across the country—and a grandmother determined to help them rediscover their family bonds.
For years, Carson Muir has drifted, never really settling, certain only that a life without the ocean is a life half lived. Adrift and penniless in California, Carson is the first to return to Sea Breeze, wondering where things went wrong…until the sea she loves brings her a minor miracle. Her astonishing bond with a dolphin helps Carson renew her relationships with her sisters and face the haunting memories of her ill-fated father. As the rhythms of the island open her heart, Carson begins to imagine the next steps toward her future.
In this heartwarming novel, three sisters discover the true treasures Sea Breeze offers as surprising truths are revealed, mistakes forgiven, and precious connections made that will endure long beyond one summer.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 25, 2013
2333 people are currently reading
13210 people want to read
About the author
Mary Alice Monroe
71 books5,690 followersMary Alice Monroe is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 30 books, including her new novel, Where the Rivers Merge, the first book in a duology and her historical debut. The second book is titled The Rivers End. Release date has not been set yet.
Monroe has also published children’s books, which complement the environmental themes she is known for in her adult novels. Monroe’s middle grade series, written with Angela May, The Islanders, debuted #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2021. The second book in the series, Search for Treasure, debuted #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. And the third book in the series, Shipwrecked, is available everywhere books are sold.
Nearly eight million copies of her books have been published worldwide.
Mary Alice has earned numerous accolades and awards including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Award for Children’s Fiction; and her novel A Lowcountry Christmas won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction.
Mary Alice is also the co-founder of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie McDowell. Several of her novels are optioned for film.
Mary Alice has championed the fragility of the earth’s wild habitat. The coastal southern landscape in particular is a strong and important focus of many of her novels. For her writing, Monroe immerses herself in academic research, works with wildlife experts, and does hands-on volunteering with animals. She then uses the knowledge and experiences to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds are among the species she has worked with and woven into her novels.
Mary Alice is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards including the South Carolina Aquarium board emeritus, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and the Leatherback Trust, which she received the Leatherback Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. She is especially proud to be a state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team for more than twenty years.
Mary Alice splits her time between her home on the South Carolina coast and her home in the North Carolina mountains. When she’s not writing a novel, she is with her family or busy working with wildlife somewhere in the world.
Monroe has also published children’s books, which complement the environmental themes she is known for in her adult novels. Monroe’s middle grade series, written with Angela May, The Islanders, debuted #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2021. The second book in the series, Search for Treasure, debuted #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. And the third book in the series, Shipwrecked, is available everywhere books are sold.
Nearly eight million copies of her books have been published worldwide.
Mary Alice has earned numerous accolades and awards including induction into the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame; South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Award for Children’s Fiction; and her novel A Lowcountry Christmas won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction.
Mary Alice is also the co-founder of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.
The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie McDowell. Several of her novels are optioned for film.
Mary Alice has championed the fragility of the earth’s wild habitat. The coastal southern landscape in particular is a strong and important focus of many of her novels. For her writing, Monroe immerses herself in academic research, works with wildlife experts, and does hands-on volunteering with animals. She then uses the knowledge and experiences to craft captivating stories that identify important parallels between nature and human nature. Sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, shorebirds are among the species she has worked with and woven into her novels.
Mary Alice is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards including the South Carolina Aquarium board emeritus, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and the Leatherback Trust, which she received the Leatherback Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. She is especially proud to be a state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team for more than twenty years.
Mary Alice splits her time between her home on the South Carolina coast and her home in the North Carolina mountains. When she’s not writing a novel, she is with her family or busy working with wildlife somewhere in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,479 reviews
February 9, 2017
I read The Summer Girls this week and at the end of the book, I wanted to know more! I had been looking forward to reading the most recent book by Mary Alice Monroe and this one did not disappoint. As I read I could almost sense the sun on my shoulders, the sea spray upon my face, the smell of the sea grass, and the feel of the sand on my feet....the Carolina beach!
The author has written with a depth of understanding about the emotions of love and longing for family acceptance in a dysfunctional setting. The family members are not presented as being perfect, they each have problems they must come to terms with and make serious decisions. The family dynamic is compounded by the troubles regarding growing up with an alcoholic father, either dependent upon or absent from the lives of Dora, Carson, and Harper. Over the course of years Mamaw’s ‘Summer Girls’ deal with fragile feelings, misunderstood actions, and the possibility of a genetic factor which will affect each of them personally.
The grandmother wants to see the girls weave a bond of sisterhood within their lives before the girls grow older. She also has some secrets which must be revealed and confronted. The girls experience a wary acceptance of each other as they remember childhood laughter, emotional hurt and resentments of feeling rejected during their past years. As the story unfolds for the girls and Mamaw, I found myself drawn to the emerging strengths of Dora, Carson, and Harper.
The storyline also addresses the possible consequences of our actions due to our love for the mammals of the sea, especially the dolphins. Now when I vacation in the lowcountry and the beach towns, I will be more aware of the results of trying to become too close to the dolphins. There are some heartrending scenes in the book which will give insight to crossing boundaries with wild nature even when we think we are helping. The relationship between little Nate and Delphine is a prime example of how our very best of intentions can go extremely awry.
There are layers to the book which make this story more than a ‘chic lit’ beach read for this summer. The different levels of family interaction and responses during tragedy and in times of joy are heartfelt. I enjoyed the book and anxiously wait to read more about this family.
The author has written with a depth of understanding about the emotions of love and longing for family acceptance in a dysfunctional setting. The family members are not presented as being perfect, they each have problems they must come to terms with and make serious decisions. The family dynamic is compounded by the troubles regarding growing up with an alcoholic father, either dependent upon or absent from the lives of Dora, Carson, and Harper. Over the course of years Mamaw’s ‘Summer Girls’ deal with fragile feelings, misunderstood actions, and the possibility of a genetic factor which will affect each of them personally.
The grandmother wants to see the girls weave a bond of sisterhood within their lives before the girls grow older. She also has some secrets which must be revealed and confronted. The girls experience a wary acceptance of each other as they remember childhood laughter, emotional hurt and resentments of feeling rejected during their past years. As the story unfolds for the girls and Mamaw, I found myself drawn to the emerging strengths of Dora, Carson, and Harper.
The storyline also addresses the possible consequences of our actions due to our love for the mammals of the sea, especially the dolphins. Now when I vacation in the lowcountry and the beach towns, I will be more aware of the results of trying to become too close to the dolphins. There are some heartrending scenes in the book which will give insight to crossing boundaries with wild nature even when we think we are helping. The relationship between little Nate and Delphine is a prime example of how our very best of intentions can go extremely awry.
There are layers to the book which make this story more than a ‘chic lit’ beach read for this summer. The different levels of family interaction and responses during tragedy and in times of joy are heartfelt. I enjoyed the book and anxiously wait to read more about this family.
April 26, 2025
I just didn’t jive with this one. 😬 I found it boringly slow. 😴
August 13, 2020
Breezy summer vacation read
Marietta Muir--known to her granddaughters as Mamaw--is turning eighty. Her one wish is that those granddaughters, Dora, Carson, and Harper, return to her home, Sea Breeze, in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina for (unbeknownst to the girls) one last summer.
"Three granddaughters, three necklaces, three months... she thought to herself. This was the plan."
Each granddaughter is struggling in their own way, and no one is really prepared to spend the summer with Mamaw, besides Carson. Carson is broke, her career in shambles. Dora's marriage is falling apart. And Harper is struggling to distance herself from her controlling mother. Three sisters--each with the same father--find themselves together once again.
I had intended to read this book on a Florida beach vacation, which was canceled due to the pandemic. It made me miss the beach, with its lush descriptions of the South Carolina Low Country. Harper finds solace in the beach and a dolphin friend (yes, you read that right). The book is silly and cheesy, and exactly what I would have wanted to read while on my trip. I especially liked Carson and will eventually pick up the next in the series (each book is told from the perspective of a different sister). 3+ stars.
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Marietta Muir--known to her granddaughters as Mamaw--is turning eighty. Her one wish is that those granddaughters, Dora, Carson, and Harper, return to her home, Sea Breeze, in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina for (unbeknownst to the girls) one last summer.
"Three granddaughters, three necklaces, three months... she thought to herself. This was the plan."
Each granddaughter is struggling in their own way, and no one is really prepared to spend the summer with Mamaw, besides Carson. Carson is broke, her career in shambles. Dora's marriage is falling apart. And Harper is struggling to distance herself from her controlling mother. Three sisters--each with the same father--find themselves together once again.
I had intended to read this book on a Florida beach vacation, which was canceled due to the pandemic. It made me miss the beach, with its lush descriptions of the South Carolina Low Country. Harper finds solace in the beach and a dolphin friend (yes, you read that right). The book is silly and cheesy, and exactly what I would have wanted to read while on my trip. I especially liked Carson and will eventually pick up the next in the series (each book is told from the perspective of a different sister). 3+ stars.
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September 4, 2015
Three young ladies, Dora, Carson, and Harper, are invited to stay with their grandmother for three months in her old mansions on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. There are secrets to deal with, serious issues to address, and forgiveness to happen. One father, three mothers, and three immensely different daughters growing up separately. One eighty-year-old grandmother to make it all right and pay for her own sins. One lost little boy. And then there is the bonding as a possibility before Mamaw passes away. She has to try.
Although this is the first book in a series, with a cliffhanger ending, I have read it as a stand-alone and won't pursue the others. Not that it was badly written at all, au contraire! I simply loved the ending as is stands. It makes it more real.
The chic-lit element in the book: Boy-meets-girl, boy is hero, girl is foolish in her conduct, the sparks fly...and...whoops...the ending is not what you would have expected at all, and that's what I liked about it. The book is also much much more than that. It is about family, values, and bonding. And dolphin research, and nature conservation. Without the chic-lit thrill, it could have been a powerful novel.
Nevertheless, it is still a good potpourri of life and family. Skillfully narrated, gripping, inspiring, authentic and hopeful. In fact, it is one of those books that kept me proverbially reading under the blanket with a flash light!
By not reading the rest of the story in the series, I lessen the predictability in the formula for yours truly, and make this experience a good one in itself.
Although this is the first book in a series, with a cliffhanger ending, I have read it as a stand-alone and won't pursue the others. Not that it was badly written at all, au contraire! I simply loved the ending as is stands. It makes it more real.
The chic-lit element in the book: Boy-meets-girl, boy is hero, girl is foolish in her conduct, the sparks fly...and...whoops...the ending is not what you would have expected at all, and that's what I liked about it. The book is also much much more than that. It is about family, values, and bonding. And dolphin research, and nature conservation. Without the chic-lit thrill, it could have been a powerful novel.
Nevertheless, it is still a good potpourri of life and family. Skillfully narrated, gripping, inspiring, authentic and hopeful. In fact, it is one of those books that kept me proverbially reading under the blanket with a flash light!
By not reading the rest of the story in the series, I lessen the predictability in the formula for yours truly, and make this experience a good one in itself.
July 8, 2024
This is where a 1/2 star would come in handy. The Summer Girls is a thoroughly entertaining story set on one of my favorite places in all the world, Sullivan's Island, SC. It is the island of my childhood vacations as it was for the three sisters in the novel. My father and his 11 siblings were born on the Island, thus we went there in the summers to see my grandmother.
Monroe does a lovely and loving job of capturing several aspects of the island; the pace, the scents, the feel of the place. The sisters' stories are neatly and believably developed. All of the characters have the ring of truth to them. There is a love story as well. Thankfully it doesn't take over the book and isn't tawdry or mawkish.
Why not three stars. There are some writing issues that bugged me. One is with repeated information. I just can't abide with repeated information. For instance, you only need to tell once that the Beast is Carson's name for her car. Afterwards, just call it by its nickname or another descriptor. This happened with other tidbits of information as well. Then there were sentences that plain out didn't make sense. If I had a red pen, I would have done some editing. That and a lack of weight holds it at three stars or three and a half. Fluff, but quite enjoyable. I will read others by the author.
Monroe does a lovely and loving job of capturing several aspects of the island; the pace, the scents, the feel of the place. The sisters' stories are neatly and believably developed. All of the characters have the ring of truth to them. There is a love story as well. Thankfully it doesn't take over the book and isn't tawdry or mawkish.
Why not three stars. There are some writing issues that bugged me. One is with repeated information. I just can't abide with repeated information. For instance, you only need to tell once that the Beast is Carson's name for her car. Afterwards, just call it by its nickname or another descriptor. This happened with other tidbits of information as well. Then there were sentences that plain out didn't make sense. If I had a red pen, I would have done some editing. That and a lack of weight holds it at three stars or three and a half. Fluff, but quite enjoyable. I will read others by the author.
August 12, 2013
I was really looking forward to this book and I really wanted to like it but I really just didn't.
I love books about women and summer and some secrets thrown in. But I Gotta admit, I was really bored. I did wake up a little with the scene with Delphine and the fishing wire and that was such an upsetting part of the book but for the rest of it, I just couldn't get into it.
I love books about women and summer and some secrets thrown in. But I Gotta admit, I was really bored. I did wake up a little with the scene with Delphine and the fishing wire and that was such an upsetting part of the book but for the rest of it, I just couldn't get into it.
May 30, 2015
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe is a 2013 Gallery Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book as an XOXOpert, the official street team of XOXO After Dark.
It's almost officially summer and many of us are ready for vacations, trips to the beach, and soaking up some rays by the pool. I admit there are books I go for in the summer months because I'm just more in the mood for them. The Summer Girls with it's apt title is a perfect summertime/ beach read.
I can envision the South Carolina summer beach home Mamaw named “Sea Breeze” and imagine sitting outside with a big glass of iced tea or lemonade listening to the waves, enjoying the refreshing breeze, and smelling the salty sea air. Sounds like perfection.
But, as we will see, life is not always as picturesque as the scenery, when Mamaw writes each of her three granddaughters explaining she is thinking of selling “Sea Breeze” and inviting them to come spend one last summer with her there.
Well, it takes some wrangling, but all three girls, all grown up now, with real adult issues, do manage to grant their grandmother her wish. So, say hello to Dora, Carson, and Harper- the Muir sisters.
This first book in the series focuses on Carson, an out of work actress who is flat broke and may have a little trouble with alcohol. She is actually relieved by the invitation to visit her grandmother since she is at loose ends. She immediately takes to the waves and is nearly attacked by a shark, but a dolphin saves her life.
From this point on Carson begins to feel a bond for this particular dolphin she named “Delphine”. But, it's really against the rules to get too involved with the dolphins because it's dangerous for them. But, the bond between them in unmistakable and this distraction is quite cathartic for Carson, who has a little work to do on herself, and in the process she meets a nice guy named Blake. But, is there a future for them or will Carson embark on a whole new adventure without him?
We also meet Carson's sisters, Dora and Harper, with Dora taking the second chair in the book which will lead into her own story in the next installment. But, briefly- Dora is going through a divorce, has a special needs child with autism that she practically smothers by breathing down his neck 24/7 and is having issues with her weight.
Harper is the youngest of the girls and has been left with a sizable inheritance, which sounds great, except she never knows if a man likes her or her money the best.
The sisters didn't grow up together since they share a father but have different mothers, however the three often spent summers with their Mamaw. They were never all that close as adults and do not stay in touch. Mamaw is out to change all that, hoping this summer they will get to know one another again and forge a lifetime bond.
Well, things got off to a rocky start as the sisters got catty with each other and behaved like children. But, by the end of the book we see some progress and while there is still a lot of work yet to do, the sisters may be on their way to fulfilling Mamaw's greatest wish.
OK, full disclosure... again. I read the second book in this series first and once I had finished it, I made myself a promise that I would find the first book and read it ASAP. Well, it took me a while, but with a little help from the XOXpert team, I finally settled in to read this first installment in the “Lowcountry Summer Trilogy.
I enjoyed reading Carson's story and the dolphin angle is really interesting. There is a lot of drama, some laughter, some emotional moments in the story making it a well rounded tale and the perfect lead in for the series. Next up we will get to know Dora and her son Nate a little better. I think readers of Women's fiction, Chick lit, and Contemporary Fiction will like the book a lot. I highly recommend it and can't wait to find out how things work out with Harper. 4 stars
It's almost officially summer and many of us are ready for vacations, trips to the beach, and soaking up some rays by the pool. I admit there are books I go for in the summer months because I'm just more in the mood for them. The Summer Girls with it's apt title is a perfect summertime/ beach read.
I can envision the South Carolina summer beach home Mamaw named “Sea Breeze” and imagine sitting outside with a big glass of iced tea or lemonade listening to the waves, enjoying the refreshing breeze, and smelling the salty sea air. Sounds like perfection.
But, as we will see, life is not always as picturesque as the scenery, when Mamaw writes each of her three granddaughters explaining she is thinking of selling “Sea Breeze” and inviting them to come spend one last summer with her there.
Well, it takes some wrangling, but all three girls, all grown up now, with real adult issues, do manage to grant their grandmother her wish. So, say hello to Dora, Carson, and Harper- the Muir sisters.
This first book in the series focuses on Carson, an out of work actress who is flat broke and may have a little trouble with alcohol. She is actually relieved by the invitation to visit her grandmother since she is at loose ends. She immediately takes to the waves and is nearly attacked by a shark, but a dolphin saves her life.
From this point on Carson begins to feel a bond for this particular dolphin she named “Delphine”. But, it's really against the rules to get too involved with the dolphins because it's dangerous for them. But, the bond between them in unmistakable and this distraction is quite cathartic for Carson, who has a little work to do on herself, and in the process she meets a nice guy named Blake. But, is there a future for them or will Carson embark on a whole new adventure without him?
We also meet Carson's sisters, Dora and Harper, with Dora taking the second chair in the book which will lead into her own story in the next installment. But, briefly- Dora is going through a divorce, has a special needs child with autism that she practically smothers by breathing down his neck 24/7 and is having issues with her weight.
Harper is the youngest of the girls and has been left with a sizable inheritance, which sounds great, except she never knows if a man likes her or her money the best.
The sisters didn't grow up together since they share a father but have different mothers, however the three often spent summers with their Mamaw. They were never all that close as adults and do not stay in touch. Mamaw is out to change all that, hoping this summer they will get to know one another again and forge a lifetime bond.
Well, things got off to a rocky start as the sisters got catty with each other and behaved like children. But, by the end of the book we see some progress and while there is still a lot of work yet to do, the sisters may be on their way to fulfilling Mamaw's greatest wish.
OK, full disclosure... again. I read the second book in this series first and once I had finished it, I made myself a promise that I would find the first book and read it ASAP. Well, it took me a while, but with a little help from the XOXpert team, I finally settled in to read this first installment in the “Lowcountry Summer Trilogy.
I enjoyed reading Carson's story and the dolphin angle is really interesting. There is a lot of drama, some laughter, some emotional moments in the story making it a well rounded tale and the perfect lead in for the series. Next up we will get to know Dora and her son Nate a little better. I think readers of Women's fiction, Chick lit, and Contemporary Fiction will like the book a lot. I highly recommend it and can't wait to find out how things work out with Harper. 4 stars
August 11, 2013
Monroe captures the feel of family ties so well in this story. The setting of course is beautiful, and I was transported to Sullivan Island. I loved the character Marietta "Mamaw" and her wish to bring her Summer Girls together again, and make them realize how important family is....that they are always there, love them or not, you can't get rid of them. They often know all your secrets and failures....and can usually see what you try to hide from others. As different as you may be, there is always a tie that binds.
I loved that Monroe writes about strong women, though I would have liked to feel that I came to know Dora and Harper as well as Carson...I felt this was Carson's story, not "their story". This is my first Monroe book, and it won't be my last. The perfect summer read.
I loved that Monroe writes about strong women, though I would have liked to feel that I came to know Dora and Harper as well as Carson...I felt this was Carson's story, not "their story". This is my first Monroe book, and it won't be my last. The perfect summer read.
June 3, 2014
Good beach read, but a bit disappointing. Based on the synopsis, I was expecting this to be one of those books where several women go to the beach together and end up having a lot of interesting interactions where you really get to see their different personalities. Instead, this book focuses mainly on one of the three sisters: Carson. The others are secondary characters. If I had realized this was part of a trilogy at the outset, I might have had different expectations. Presumably the other sisters get to be the focus of the other books. Still, I'd rather have all three of them be interesting and important.
Honestly, I wasn't particularly fond of most of the characters in the book. They all start out as giant babies, each wanting her own way. Tiresome. There is some personal development/growth during the book, but still a lot of self-absorption. I guess it's not surprising that the characters are all fairly messed up, given that the girls' father was an alcoholic, but everyone seemed annoyingly irrational and overreactive.
Also, wtf the
The ending just soured everything for me. I'll probably read the rest of the trilogy to see if my predictions are correct, but I'm no longer excited about what I think will happen.
Honestly, I wasn't particularly fond of most of the characters in the book. They all start out as giant babies, each wanting her own way. Tiresome. There is some personal development/growth during the book, but still a lot of self-absorption. I guess it's not surprising that the characters are all fairly messed up, given that the girls' father was an alcoholic, but everyone seemed annoyingly irrational and overreactive.
Also, wtf the
The ending just soured everything for me. I'll probably read the rest of the trilogy to see if my predictions are correct, but I'm no longer excited about what I think will happen.
May 23, 2015
The Summer Girls are Dora,Carson and Harper. Sisters, they share a father,now deceased, all have different mothers. Their individual upbringings as different as night and day. The one person beside their father that they share is their grandmother Marietta Muir known affectionately as "Mamaw".
Mamaw has drawn her summer girls back to her idyllic South Carolina home, Sea Breeze, for what she believes might be her last summer with them. As adults they each have gone their own way, drifting ever farther apart. Despite the fact they all show up, the reunion does not go smoothly. Each young woman carries heavy emotional baggage.Is a reconciliation possible?
The author has done a terrific job in developing her characters and family structure. There were no easy answers, relationships faltered and problems were dealt with realistically. The grandmother while wise and loving had her own share of difficulties, past and present.
This was a perfect opening to my summer reading.
Mamaw has drawn her summer girls back to her idyllic South Carolina home, Sea Breeze, for what she believes might be her last summer with them. As adults they each have gone their own way, drifting ever farther apart. Despite the fact they all show up, the reunion does not go smoothly. Each young woman carries heavy emotional baggage.Is a reconciliation possible?
The author has done a terrific job in developing her characters and family structure. There were no easy answers, relationships faltered and problems were dealt with realistically. The grandmother while wise and loving had her own share of difficulties, past and present.
This was a perfect opening to my summer reading.
September 8, 2013
A somewhat formulaic novel where three half sisters reunite at their Grandmother's home on Sullivan Island, South Carolina. The sister given the most page time is Carson Muir. She has lost her job with a tv series in LA. Her sister Dora is on the brink of divorce and has an autistic son. Third sister Harper hails from NY, where she has been working as an editor for her snooty mother. Growing up, the sisters came to Sullivan Island during various summers, but time has marched on and they are no longer close. Their 80 year-old grandmother wishes the three girls would recognize the importance of family, and come to love and support each other.
Carson comes close to death surfing one day when a shark appears, but a friendly dolphin chases the shark away. Then the dolphin starts to appear at the family dock. Dora's son, Nate comes out of his shell around the dolphin and begins to feed him. Carson learns this is a big no-no when her marine biologist boyfriend takes her out on a dolphin count. I have read about the healing powers of dolphins, especially for special kids. I felt the author neglected to flesh out this aspect of the story. When something Nate does ultimately harms the dolphin, I had an unfinished feeling about Nate's subsequent response. He was only brought on intermittently and there were times his absence went unexplained, especially at the end of the book.
Because their father was an alcoholic, the sisters decide to give up drinking, so that is another aspect of the book. All in all, this novel read like a soap opera and was not that satisfying.
Carson comes close to death surfing one day when a shark appears, but a friendly dolphin chases the shark away. Then the dolphin starts to appear at the family dock. Dora's son, Nate comes out of his shell around the dolphin and begins to feed him. Carson learns this is a big no-no when her marine biologist boyfriend takes her out on a dolphin count. I have read about the healing powers of dolphins, especially for special kids. I felt the author neglected to flesh out this aspect of the story. When something Nate does ultimately harms the dolphin, I had an unfinished feeling about Nate's subsequent response. He was only brought on intermittently and there were times his absence went unexplained, especially at the end of the book.
Because their father was an alcoholic, the sisters decide to give up drinking, so that is another aspect of the book. All in all, this novel read like a soap opera and was not that satisfying.
August 29, 2017
This book was a solid 5 star for me until the ending.
In the beginning I didn't care for the excessive drinking when there's a family history of alcoholism but fortunately, that was discussed and part of the story so I was cool with that. The part I didn't care for was the crazy, extreme overreaction about the dolphin. My God. Each adult and then the way Carson acted towards Nate was ridiculous and she still always kept it about her. Frankly, I cheered Dora for standing up to her! And then Blake's response 🙄 not enough eye rolls in the world lol. That aside, I did enjoy this book enough to eagerly look forward to book 2 and I did enjoy the not 100% HEA because Carson is not ready for a relationship so it ended perfectly for me!
Here's hoping no dramatic animal scenes in the other books.
In the beginning I didn't care for the excessive drinking when there's a family history of alcoholism but fortunately, that was discussed and part of the story so I was cool with that. The part I didn't care for was the crazy, extreme overreaction about the dolphin. My God. Each adult and then the way Carson acted towards Nate was ridiculous and she still always kept it about her. Frankly, I cheered Dora for standing up to her! And then Blake's response 🙄 not enough eye rolls in the world lol. That aside, I did enjoy this book enough to eagerly look forward to book 2 and I did enjoy the not 100% HEA because Carson is not ready for a relationship so it ended perfectly for me!
Here's hoping no dramatic animal scenes in the other books.
June 24, 2013
full disclose: i read an advance copy of this book when the author, whose work i've enjoyed in the past, asked me for an endorsement, so my review might appear to be influenced by that. however, i only endorse books i really like, and this was no exception. it's such an intriguing concept, three sisters who don't know each other--same father, three different mothers, and raised in different parts of the country--that i would've been hooked even if it hadn't been about dolphins, a special interest of mine. my biggest disappointment with this book was the ending. i'd forgotten it was the first of a trilogy until i got to the end! now i'm anxiously awaiting the next installment.
August 29, 2017
Marietta "Mamaw" has invited her three grown granddaughters back to their summer home - Sea Breeze - on Sullivan's Island. She's fixing to celebrate her eightieth birthday and wants Dora, Carson, and Harper to be there. She's also hoping that the half-sisters will stay the summer before Sea Breeze is sold and reunite as sisters, rather than the strangers they've become to each other.
Carson Muir, the middle sister, arrives first. She's unemployed, broke, and homeless. Mamaw's invitation is a godsend to her.
Dora, the eldest sister, arrives next with Nate. Her nine year old son has Autism and she is reading her own home to sell. She's about to divorce, and she's kept these tidbits from her sisters.
Harper, the baby, arrives last despite her mother's protests. Her high powered and wealthy James family have never liked her Southern relations and have discouraged contact with them.
The Summer Girls focuses mostly on Carson. She loves the ocean and never feels comfortable too far from it. But one day something happens while she's surfing, and a magical dolphin appears. The dolphin will bring understanding, compassion, and love back to the Summer Girls in ways they aren't aware of.
Will have to read the next novel in the series. :)
Carson Muir, the middle sister, arrives first. She's unemployed, broke, and homeless. Mamaw's invitation is a godsend to her.
Dora, the eldest sister, arrives next with Nate. Her nine year old son has Autism and she is reading her own home to sell. She's about to divorce, and she's kept these tidbits from her sisters.
Harper, the baby, arrives last despite her mother's protests. Her high powered and wealthy James family have never liked her Southern relations and have discouraged contact with them.
The Summer Girls focuses mostly on Carson. She loves the ocean and never feels comfortable too far from it. But one day something happens while she's surfing, and a magical dolphin appears. The dolphin will bring understanding, compassion, and love back to the Summer Girls in ways they aren't aware of.
Will have to read the next novel in the series. :)
April 29, 2013
A must for your summer reading list this year! Absolutely wonderful. I loved it. Read in two sittings. Takes place on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. What a fab sense of place. I found the characters totally engaging and smart. You've hit a home run with THE SUMMER GIRLS.
July 29, 2014
This is just not my kind of book. I read it because a friend gave it to me to read and I wanted to honor the gift, so I pulled myself through it kicking and screaming.
I don't think I fully understand what constitutes a "beach read." I guess it's supposed to be one that doesn't make you think too hard while you're squinting at a white page reflecting sunlight and constantly losing your place because the wind won't shut up (and between dodging beach balls and keeping an eye out for the rising tide, what brain power do you really have left to process words? And while we're at it, why the hell are you even reading a book at that moment? If you're going to go to the beach, then go enjoy the actual beach.) But I think this book took the genre way too literally. Or maybe it's written for people who couldn't make it to the beach this year and wanted to pretend they did. In any event, the book slams "summer" and "beach" down your throat so hard, you're going to be pooping out sand.
Subtly is not this author's strong suit, is what I'm trying to say. At one point she literally calls her attempt at foreshadowing "an omen" just in case your brain power was severely diminished by dehydration.
The plot probably would have been more interesting if I had cared about any of the characters, but I didn't and that's probably due to my own taste (there's only so much dolphin I can handle before I feel like I'm reading a fanfic of Flipper). I skimmed through a lot of it, such as the entire chapter about two old ladies standing around a bed and discussing pearl necklaces. There is no part of that that is interesting to me. I don't care who gets which necklace, why, or how it reflects their personality. And sadly, there were many other parts of the book that were just as easy to skip without getting lost on what was happening later on. I was constantly asking if this scene, this character, this object, or this event was really important to include.
All in all, I did not enjoy the book and I will not be reading the others in this beach series. I don't care for the genre nor the author's writing. I'd much rather get sand in my bathing suit.
I don't think I fully understand what constitutes a "beach read." I guess it's supposed to be one that doesn't make you think too hard while you're squinting at a white page reflecting sunlight and constantly losing your place because the wind won't shut up (and between dodging beach balls and keeping an eye out for the rising tide, what brain power do you really have left to process words? And while we're at it, why the hell are you even reading a book at that moment? If you're going to go to the beach, then go enjoy the actual beach.) But I think this book took the genre way too literally. Or maybe it's written for people who couldn't make it to the beach this year and wanted to pretend they did. In any event, the book slams "summer" and "beach" down your throat so hard, you're going to be pooping out sand.
Subtly is not this author's strong suit, is what I'm trying to say. At one point she literally calls her attempt at foreshadowing "an omen" just in case your brain power was severely diminished by dehydration.
The plot probably would have been more interesting if I had cared about any of the characters, but I didn't and that's probably due to my own taste (there's only so much dolphin I can handle before I feel like I'm reading a fanfic of Flipper). I skimmed through a lot of it, such as the entire chapter about two old ladies standing around a bed and discussing pearl necklaces. There is no part of that that is interesting to me. I don't care who gets which necklace, why, or how it reflects their personality. And sadly, there were many other parts of the book that were just as easy to skip without getting lost on what was happening later on. I was constantly asking if this scene, this character, this object, or this event was really important to include.
All in all, I did not enjoy the book and I will not be reading the others in this beach series. I don't care for the genre nor the author's writing. I'd much rather get sand in my bathing suit.
August 27, 2015
Just what I needed, a good fiction book :) I have been on a bit of DNF spree lately and deliberately picking those books to make my pile smaller. But now I am back and this book did the trick.
Grandma Muir is turning 80 and invites her 3 grandchildren to spend the summer. 3 halfsisters who have lost contact. Carson the one who freelances and never settles down. Dora, the stay at home mum with a child who needs special care, and a husband who left her. And Harper, the youngest who is ruled by her mother.
But this was more Carson's book. I did not think about that until I finished the book and saw that it is in fact a trilogy. It could have ended like this, but I am glad there is more. Hopefully everyone will find what they are looking for. Now it was more, oh they will be ok I know it.
I liked the story. It had that southern charm. I would have loved to visit that beach house. It also had a environmental message, one that at one time made me sad when something happened...leave it like that.
I enjoyed the characters. They all had their faults and good sides and had some stuff to work through.
So yes, I'd read more.
Grandma Muir is turning 80 and invites her 3 grandchildren to spend the summer. 3 halfsisters who have lost contact. Carson the one who freelances and never settles down. Dora, the stay at home mum with a child who needs special care, and a husband who left her. And Harper, the youngest who is ruled by her mother.
But this was more Carson's book. I did not think about that until I finished the book and saw that it is in fact a trilogy. It could have ended like this, but I am glad there is more. Hopefully everyone will find what they are looking for. Now it was more, oh they will be ok I know it.
I liked the story. It had that southern charm. I would have loved to visit that beach house. It also had a environmental message, one that at one time made me sad when something happened...leave it like that.
I enjoyed the characters. They all had their faults and good sides and had some stuff to work through.
So yes, I'd read more.
September 9, 2013
Really have liked this authors previous books but am 1/3 of the way through this book and have to keep putting it down. I find that the author's overuse of adjectives and adverbs is truly distracting to the flow of the story. I have not been able to connect to the characters since the characters are not developed but I know that the grandmother went fishing with a Farragamo (?) coral colored silk scarf. Who cares unless the author is trying to tell us that the grandmother is a superficial sort of person. Not sure I'll be able to even finish this book.
March 30, 2015
THE SUMMER GIRLS (Lowcountry Summer #1) by Mary Alice Monroe, is a story of Forgiveness---after years of Secrets, Silence, Enabling
A beautifully written novel set in the Low Country of SC of three half-sisters (Carson, Harper, and Dora) finding their way back to one another for the summer at coastal Sea Breeze on Sullivan’s Island, with the help of their loving and aging grandmother, Mamaw. (love her)!. The one link is the deceased son/father, Parker, an alcoholic whose actions still affect the lives of all today.
I enjoyed the characterization of the three different girls (Southern-Belle, LA, NY)--the paths their career and lives have taken, due to their past and father’s mistakes. (I relate most to Carson). She was the strongest---one with most of the problems, challenges, and learned to face them head-on, with the most growth.
Brilliantly intertwined were real subjects of autism (Nate), alcoholism, enabling, abandonment, environmental issues, and the lovable and intriguing dolphins. The book included insightful research and education within this ecological setting. A warming story of nature and the human heart.
A huge long time fan of Mary Alice Monroe, she has a way of digging into the complexity of human relationships. I look forward to the trilogy and hearing more about Blake/Carson, Nate/Dora, Harper/mother, and the warm and funny women relationship between Mamaw/Lucille (those two are quite the pair)--enjoy their banter.
A beautifully written novel set in the Low Country of SC of three half-sisters (Carson, Harper, and Dora) finding their way back to one another for the summer at coastal Sea Breeze on Sullivan’s Island, with the help of their loving and aging grandmother, Mamaw. (love her)!. The one link is the deceased son/father, Parker, an alcoholic whose actions still affect the lives of all today.
I enjoyed the characterization of the three different girls (Southern-Belle, LA, NY)--the paths their career and lives have taken, due to their past and father’s mistakes. (I relate most to Carson). She was the strongest---one with most of the problems, challenges, and learned to face them head-on, with the most growth.
Brilliantly intertwined were real subjects of autism (Nate), alcoholism, enabling, abandonment, environmental issues, and the lovable and intriguing dolphins. The book included insightful research and education within this ecological setting. A warming story of nature and the human heart.
A huge long time fan of Mary Alice Monroe, she has a way of digging into the complexity of human relationships. I look forward to the trilogy and hearing more about Blake/Carson, Nate/Dora, Harper/mother, and the warm and funny women relationship between Mamaw/Lucille (those two are quite the pair)--enjoy their banter.
November 7, 2016
I was told this book was about a dolphin.
As a life-long Lowcountry girl, I've always been curious about the whole genre of books written by authors from the area. They always have pretty covers that look like a glimpse into my world - sun-kissed covers with beaches, marshes and flipflops. Despite the appeal to my aesthetic as a resident of this beautiful corner of the world, I never picked one up before because I knew they were likely romances, despite the lack of white people almost kissing on the covers. So, when I read a number of positive reviews about how this one was about a woman bonding with an injured dolphin and her estranged sisters, I picked it up right away.
Ugh, alas, it's not about that at all. The dolphin is there, but she is nothing more than a metaphor for a "lost" 3o-something woman who is clearly the way she is because she doesn't have a strong, possessive man telling her what to do and mansplaining for her.
Can we please all agree to retire the word "possessive" as a positive attribute in "romance" novels?
My favorite part is when he "validated" her feelings in such a condescending way that he might as well have patted her on the head. Ugh.
I have been known to look past insipid romance plots if the rest of the book has a lot of great things about it, but this has poorly developed characters and no real narrative other than family angst. It lost one whole star for the Nate character alone - autistic or not, you are doing the adult they will become no favors by indulging their every whim. Honestly, I only bumped it up to two stars because of the lovely descriptions of the Lowcountry. Everything else was pretty dreadful, hence why it took me so long to get through it.
Not recommended except as perhaps a throwaway book you take with you on Holiday and even then, have a backup plan in case you, like me, find the characters too annoying to spend more than five minutes at a time with.
As a life-long Lowcountry girl, I've always been curious about the whole genre of books written by authors from the area. They always have pretty covers that look like a glimpse into my world - sun-kissed covers with beaches, marshes and flipflops. Despite the appeal to my aesthetic as a resident of this beautiful corner of the world, I never picked one up before because I knew they were likely romances, despite the lack of white people almost kissing on the covers. So, when I read a number of positive reviews about how this one was about a woman bonding with an injured dolphin and her estranged sisters, I picked it up right away.
Ugh, alas, it's not about that at all. The dolphin is there, but she is nothing more than a metaphor for a "lost" 3o-something woman who is clearly the way she is because she doesn't have a strong, possessive man telling her what to do and mansplaining for her.
Can we please all agree to retire the word "possessive" as a positive attribute in "romance" novels?
My favorite part is when he "validated" her feelings in such a condescending way that he might as well have patted her on the head. Ugh.
I have been known to look past insipid romance plots if the rest of the book has a lot of great things about it, but this has poorly developed characters and no real narrative other than family angst. It lost one whole star for the Nate character alone - autistic or not, you are doing the adult they will become no favors by indulging their every whim. Honestly, I only bumped it up to two stars because of the lovely descriptions of the Lowcountry. Everything else was pretty dreadful, hence why it took me so long to get through it.
Not recommended except as perhaps a throwaway book you take with you on Holiday and even then, have a backup plan in case you, like me, find the characters too annoying to spend more than five minutes at a time with.
May 23, 2015
4.5 stars.
The Summer Girls written and narrated by Mary Alice Monroe was well worth the listen and I will be eagerly listening to the next two in this trilogy. It is about three girls - half sisters, and their grandmother - Mamaw. They have all been invited to her house for the summer, and with a somewhat tentative approach they all end up responding to the invitation.
Eudora (Dora) is the oldest and has a young son who is autistic. She is in the process of seeking a divorce from her husband. Carson has turned up from California where she has just lost her job. Harper is the youngest, and works as an editor in her mother's firm. While the girls did meet up for summers when they were young, they are not particularly close. Perhaps this summer that will all change.
This story is mostly about Carson, she is a keen surfer and enjoys being out on the sea, until a chance encounter changes things up a bit for her. She also befriends Nate and helps him to learn to swim. Together they befriend a dolphin, that will have far reaching consequences. Carson also forms a relationship with Blake, a keen kite surfer and who also works on tracking the local marine life in this area. A bond forms between Carson and Blake, although it is not really centre stage. The story is more about how Carson is faced with her past and present and must decide how she is going to move into the future.
I liked all the characters, Mamaw was a wonderful southern character, the girls were all different and each had their flaws and strengths. I look forward to reading the next two books to find out the developments.
There is an environmental message to this book, it is not tacked on, but rather becomes very integral to the plot. I liked the way it was done and it is an important message. I also liked Mary Alice Monroe narrating the book, sometimes I shy away from an author reading their own book, but it works well on the whole.
The Summer Girls written and narrated by Mary Alice Monroe was well worth the listen and I will be eagerly listening to the next two in this trilogy. It is about three girls - half sisters, and their grandmother - Mamaw. They have all been invited to her house for the summer, and with a somewhat tentative approach they all end up responding to the invitation.
Eudora (Dora) is the oldest and has a young son who is autistic. She is in the process of seeking a divorce from her husband. Carson has turned up from California where she has just lost her job. Harper is the youngest, and works as an editor in her mother's firm. While the girls did meet up for summers when they were young, they are not particularly close. Perhaps this summer that will all change.
This story is mostly about Carson, she is a keen surfer and enjoys being out on the sea, until a chance encounter changes things up a bit for her. She also befriends Nate and helps him to learn to swim. Together they befriend a dolphin, that will have far reaching consequences. Carson also forms a relationship with Blake, a keen kite surfer and who also works on tracking the local marine life in this area. A bond forms between Carson and Blake, although it is not really centre stage. The story is more about how Carson is faced with her past and present and must decide how she is going to move into the future.
I liked all the characters, Mamaw was a wonderful southern character, the girls were all different and each had their flaws and strengths. I look forward to reading the next two books to find out the developments.
There is an environmental message to this book, it is not tacked on, but rather becomes very integral to the plot. I liked the way it was done and it is an important message. I also liked Mary Alice Monroe narrating the book, sometimes I shy away from an author reading their own book, but it works well on the whole.
March 3, 2014
What is most precious to you? This question is the one that Mary Alice Monroe answers through her novel Summer Girls. She discusses the traits of the bottle nose dolphin and how it affects both human and animal.
Synopsis:
This summer will be different! The summer girls will be back this summer if Mamaw has her way. Carson the middle daughter is the first one to return home and has no problem coming back out of work and looking for a fresh start. The best part of going to her Mamaw is that Sea Breeze her residence is on the ocean. She lives for the water and can’t wait each morning to hit the beach. One morning while on surfing she meets a dolphin who protects her from a shark attack. Little does she know how special this dolphin will become. Mamaw also invites her two other half-sisters Dora and Harper. There is one catch they must stay for the summer. Will the sisters follow through? What will happen to the dolphin?
My Thoughts:
Well this is the next novel you should read this summer! Summer Girls tells mainly Carson’s story and gives you the back story on the rest of the family. The pages were easy to turn. I couldn’t wait to find out more!
When I saw Mary Alice Monroe during her tour for this novel she discussed the relevant topics. One of the topics is how the emotions of the dolphin caring for their young. This is illustrated by mamaw’s ultimatum and advice throughout. I was a little surprised that the dolphin itself was included in order to tell the story. Many facts are listed in the back of the novel about how to support the care of dolphins. She also described therapy with the dolphins and how it helped veterans and others.
The setting at the beach is always a plus. The conflict was a little predictable but still a great read!
I can’t wait for the next novel and I don’t think you should either!
Synopsis:
This summer will be different! The summer girls will be back this summer if Mamaw has her way. Carson the middle daughter is the first one to return home and has no problem coming back out of work and looking for a fresh start. The best part of going to her Mamaw is that Sea Breeze her residence is on the ocean. She lives for the water and can’t wait each morning to hit the beach. One morning while on surfing she meets a dolphin who protects her from a shark attack. Little does she know how special this dolphin will become. Mamaw also invites her two other half-sisters Dora and Harper. There is one catch they must stay for the summer. Will the sisters follow through? What will happen to the dolphin?
My Thoughts:
Well this is the next novel you should read this summer! Summer Girls tells mainly Carson’s story and gives you the back story on the rest of the family. The pages were easy to turn. I couldn’t wait to find out more!
When I saw Mary Alice Monroe during her tour for this novel she discussed the relevant topics. One of the topics is how the emotions of the dolphin caring for their young. This is illustrated by mamaw’s ultimatum and advice throughout. I was a little surprised that the dolphin itself was included in order to tell the story. Many facts are listed in the back of the novel about how to support the care of dolphins. She also described therapy with the dolphins and how it helped veterans and others.
The setting at the beach is always a plus. The conflict was a little predictable but still a great read!
I can’t wait for the next novel and I don’t think you should either!
May 10, 2013
The Summer Girls by Mary Alice Monroe
I wanted to read this book because of the cover-the beach scene.
The grandmother of the 3 girls has invited them to the island so they can be together for the last time before she heads to a retirement center.
No spouses or children. Carson on the west coast=her TV show job had ended and she was out of money.
Dora in SC, divorced with an autism child, Harper in NY, personal asst to her mother.
This book hit home real quick as I plan to give one strand of my pearls to my daughter in June. This summer, 3 months she hoped to reunite 3 women with 3 necklaces. She would also tell them of their father-they each had a different mother.
Love hearing all about the ocean and nature along the shore. Such fascinating facts about dolphins. With the history of the area I feel as if I am there.
A stipulation for the girls and can the women live up to what is expected? Their life's secret could really become a problem if the others knew...
Interesting to watch each of them pick out one true gift they want..Love hearing about kiteboarding, such good instructions..
At the end of book 1, this means there will be other books in this series, facts about dolphins are given. Now I can't wait for the other girls to get their own books and to keep up with the others.
I loved this book for the travel/locale detailed descriptions as if I was there, friendship and sometimes painful moments they share and that is to come.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.
I wanted to read this book because of the cover-the beach scene.
The grandmother of the 3 girls has invited them to the island so they can be together for the last time before she heads to a retirement center.
No spouses or children. Carson on the west coast=her TV show job had ended and she was out of money.
Dora in SC, divorced with an autism child, Harper in NY, personal asst to her mother.
This book hit home real quick as I plan to give one strand of my pearls to my daughter in June. This summer, 3 months she hoped to reunite 3 women with 3 necklaces. She would also tell them of their father-they each had a different mother.
Love hearing all about the ocean and nature along the shore. Such fascinating facts about dolphins. With the history of the area I feel as if I am there.
A stipulation for the girls and can the women live up to what is expected? Their life's secret could really become a problem if the others knew...
Interesting to watch each of them pick out one true gift they want..Love hearing about kiteboarding, such good instructions..
At the end of book 1, this means there will be other books in this series, facts about dolphins are given. Now I can't wait for the other girls to get their own books and to keep up with the others.
I loved this book for the travel/locale detailed descriptions as if I was there, friendship and sometimes painful moments they share and that is to come.
I received this book from Edelweiss by Random House in exchange for my honest review.
August 20, 2015
With engaging prose that captured me from the opening lines, The Summer Girls (Lowcountry Summer Book 1) takes the reader on a voyage of discovery. A special wish and invitation from an aging grandmother brings three half-sisters to the lowcountry in South Carolina, and to a beach house that was a wonderful part of their childhoods.
Dora (Eudora), Carson, and Harper, all named after Southern authors by their wannabe-author-father, Parker, have been separated from one another by their life circumstances, and only brought together occasionally at Sea Breeze, their grandmother's summer home.
Marietta Muir is an intriguing, eighty-year-old character who is used to getting what she wants. And what she especially wants is for her granddaughters, her only living heirs (her son died years before) to cement the bonds they once had together.
She lures them in with promises...and then divulges some secrets.
Carson's life is in a shambles, her TV series canceled and her money gone. Dora's husband Calhoun left her when he could no longer handle their autistic son. And Harper has been under her controlling mother's thumb for too long.
Will the reunion summer on Sullivan's Island be the answer for each of them? Will they find that special something that will turn their lives around? And how does the presence of a unique dolphin in the cove help Carson find the ability to connect?
A delightful beginning to a trilogy that I am looking forward to, this novel earned 5 stars.
Dora (Eudora), Carson, and Harper, all named after Southern authors by their wannabe-author-father, Parker, have been separated from one another by their life circumstances, and only brought together occasionally at Sea Breeze, their grandmother's summer home.
Marietta Muir is an intriguing, eighty-year-old character who is used to getting what she wants. And what she especially wants is for her granddaughters, her only living heirs (her son died years before) to cement the bonds they once had together.
She lures them in with promises...and then divulges some secrets.
Carson's life is in a shambles, her TV series canceled and her money gone. Dora's husband Calhoun left her when he could no longer handle their autistic son. And Harper has been under her controlling mother's thumb for too long.
Will the reunion summer on Sullivan's Island be the answer for each of them? Will they find that special something that will turn their lives around? And how does the presence of a unique dolphin in the cove help Carson find the ability to connect?
A delightful beginning to a trilogy that I am looking forward to, this novel earned 5 stars.
September 27, 2015
I've read some "hard to get through" books lately. So this was a nice respite from that. It was just what I needed and I gladly sank into this.
I liked the Grandma. She was the anchoring force behind the other characters. She is turning 80 and invites her 3 granddaughters (all half siblings) to come and celebrate with her. Since they are all from different walks of life, this story seemed a little disjointed, but it had a good message of forgiveness and moving on and a side helping of unloading family baggage. So that made this worth the read
I thought the dolphin story line was misplaced in this story. "One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong." Name that tune.
I liked the Grandma. She was the anchoring force behind the other characters. She is turning 80 and invites her 3 granddaughters (all half siblings) to come and celebrate with her. Since they are all from different walks of life, this story seemed a little disjointed, but it had a good message of forgiveness and moving on and a side helping of unloading family baggage. So that made this worth the read
I thought the dolphin story line was misplaced in this story. "One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong." Name that tune.
January 23, 2022
Mary Alice Monroe’s books are just what I need as summer approaches. This is the first book of her Low Country series. What I love most about her beach series are the characters and they stay with me!! I am still thinking about the characters from last summer when I read her Beach House series....they are people that will stay with me for a very long time. In this series I am being educated on dolphins. I advise you to take a break from all the historical, suspense, classic, and heavy topic reading....and pick this up!! You will be happy you did!!
January 4, 2014
Wow. What one will pick up at an airport when you are desperate (and at a tiny kiosk with no options.) And then what you will read on a long flight with no internet access. A new low for me - I can appreciate cheesey summer chick books but one involving dolphins, autism and other levels of ridiculous. Did I just write DOLPHINS - one named DELPHINE? omg.
Read
October 15, 2014Loved it. Loved it. HOWEVER!! It ended entirely too soon. Seemed like the author just got tired of writing! Sequel would be a GREAT idea!!
February 27, 2022
Beautiful story!❤
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