Our Extraordinary Summer

Hobby Island #2

by Lori Wilde

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Womens Fiction, Summer, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.

Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️ The story feels like summer--sunny, shiny, colorful and sweet. It felt like I was on an extended Greek summer vacation, on a remote island far away from civilization. Oh just look at this gorgeous cover! But Hobby Island isn't your typical beach-y escape, it's a place where everyone comes to seek out connection and hope. It's whimsical, quaint and very floral. It's a place that feels like an escape but in reality it helps one be confronted with the truth.

The novel follows the story of two estranged sisters, Calista and Athena, who reunite on Hobby Island after the passing of their mother. Despite being separated and isolated from their mother at eleven years old, they decide to honor their mothers wish: to make peace after their fathers ambition and manipulation drove them apart. The book mainly centers on reconciliation, past betrayals, secrets and sisterhood in the aftermath of the separation. The book mainly emphasizes the relationship between sisters and the resolution of the conflict while also exploring a former romance that led to a past heartbreak.

The sisters used to be very close, but their father is a vile, conniving man. To put it flatly, Benjamin Dempsey is an asshole. He's a special type of an asshole that always had an ulterior motive. For years, he's pinned the sisters against each other while emotionally abusing them. He's nothing short of a narcissist and it took a while for one of the daughters to come to that realization. For years, Calista and Athena wondered what happened to their mother and why she never made any effort to reconcile. As the family drama is explored, we begin to see gradual softening between the sisters and acknowledgment of past mistakes. Readers should be prepared for significant focus on grief and healing and moments that felt genuinely emotional and heartfelt.

While the emotional hold is strong and steadily explored, the novel didn't come full circle for me as I've felt the tension fell flat at certain/important moments and conflicts were resolved too quickly for me to be able to say 'its poignant'. The pacing of the novel took away from the sense of realism--the revelations felt stocked on top of each other in the second half of the novel while the first moved very slowly. At times, it felt that the reconciliation part of the story was more tell vs show, causing a reduction in connection and understanding of the characters.

This is the second part in the series and from my understanding can be read as a standalone. I own the first book & plan to read it in the near future. While romance was a subplot, I felt this added a little tingly feel to the entire summer/beach like escape..and honestly? It could have worked better if it was left out completely.


Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publisher and the author, Lori Wilde for an early ARC.

Publication date: April 21, 2026

[Julissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are back for a second story set in the whimsical Hobby Island setting, featuring some of the same quirky characters from book one, along with a couple of new characters (two sisters, who are at the center of the story). Similar to the last book, this story has themes of family trauma/secrets. The sisters get a chance to reconnect with each other and uncover truths that challenge what they grew up believing. There is a small element of romance, but it’s not the main theme.

I liked the level of descriptiveness, which made it so easy to visualize the scenery as if I were watching a movie. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters and their experiences. Part of that is that the dad’s evilness felt so outlandish and unrealistic. I also wanted to feel an emotional pull as the sisters learned about and processed their mother’s life and grieved all the time they missed, but it felt like that wasn't explored as much as it could have been despite being the main premise? I have to say the ending did intrigue me though, so I’ll still continue reading this series if there are more!

Thanks to the publisher (Avon / HarperCollins) & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy - all opinions are my own!
Pub date: 4/21/26

[marelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was drawn in by the story of two sisters reconnecting on a scenic island, after a tumultuous childhood with their narcissistic father. i wasn’t expecting the emphasis on golf or the romance, which did not land for me. i’m not a fan of golf, and i didn’t care for the romantic interest—i was more invested in the sisters and their history. however, the sisterly relationship, and unpacking of their shared trauma, didn’t resonate with me either. the plot was underdeveloped with illogical reasoning, conflicts were resolved remarkably quickly, and the dialogue was cliché. i noticed repetitive and corny language that deserved further editing. as for what i liked—the descriptions of beautiful scenery, fun quirks of the island, and sentimental moments between sisters. i sympathized with the idea of “lost time” with family. i also enjoyed the discourse about healing and the insights regarding self-identity. although there was a lot to like, this book was unfortunately not for me. it has potential for someone looking for a cozy summer read with some tearjerker moments.

thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing this arc!

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read for me. I enjoyed the outlandish descriptions of Hobby Island and am happy to say that I was blissfully unaware that this was a book two of a series. It worked as a stand alone about sisters who grew up with an angry, exacting father, who won sole custody of them, and severed all communication with their mother. Younger sister Calista, finally has enough of her father's emotional abuse, and breaks from the family, disappointed that older sister Athena seems unable to see father Benjamin's true colors.

The book opens with the sisters seeing each other for the first time in several years, on their way to Hobby Island, for their mother's funeral. This is a book about grief, and healing, and family secrets, set in the most whimsical setting, complete with a racing ostrich, a grove of windchimes, and a lavender colored hotel with rooms decorated like underwater mermaid homes. There is also a secondary love story.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series. This is book #2 in this series but you could read it as a stand-alone book. Sisters Athena and Calista come together after their mother has passed away and they haven’t spoken to each other in years. They go to magical Hobby Island and they discover secrets throughout the years and new loves come about. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Out in publication today.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley for the arc of our extraordinary summer. it was one of those books that caught my attention because of its unique setting and family dynamics, and from the very first pages you understand that the real focus of the story is the two sisters and their broken relationship.

tropes
sisterhood
found family
secrets revealed
small island setting
family drama
healing journey

the story follows calista and athena, two sisters raised by a father who always used them to feed his idea of perfection. he pushed them into the world of professional golf, put them against each other, and controlled every part of their lives. the mother was kept away for years, and they were left with a man who couldn’t love in a healthy way. at some point, calista couldn’t take it anymore and left, disappearing for five years. athena stayed instead, convinced that the only way to be seen was to keep pleasing a father who wasn’t ready to give her anything in return.
when their mother dies and asks them to go to hobby island, the sisters have to face everything they avoided for half of their lives. the island is weird, strange and welcoming at the same time, full of people who want to help them more than they are ready to accept. between secrets finally coming out and new details about their mother’s past, the two of them start to see their childhood from a completely different angle. the more the story goes on, the more you realize there is a truth that changes everything and makes their confrontation impossible to avoid. the ending doesn’t leave open questions, but it pushes you to keep reading because every piece falls into place only in the last part of the book.

calista is the younger sister, the one who broke the cycle. she is impulsive, direct, and determined not to be manipulated again. she had the courage to cut ties with her family when she was still very young and came back only because she was forced by what happened. she carries a lot of anger that she tries to hide, and her journey on the island is really well built, because it forces her to face responsibilities, trauma, and choices she avoided for years. her character growth is one of the best parts of the book.

athena is the sister who never left. she lived under her father’s expectations and spent years convincing herself that his approval was the only thing that mattered. she is more controlled, more “perfect”, but also more fragile than she wants to admit. her journey is less immediate but very important, because it shows how hard it is to free yourself from a toxic bond when you built your whole identity on it. the only limit is that her ending feels a bit rushed, and i would have liked a couple more scenes about her change.

the best part of the book is their relationship. it’s not a simple or quick reconnection, actually, there is a lot of tension, silence, and things left unsaid. but their evolution feels real, full of blocks, steps forward and steps back. you can feel how much their father hurt them and how hard it is to trust each other again. the whole story revolves around this and it works really well, because it’s not rushed and not treated like something obvious.

lori wilde has a smooth writing style, easy to follow and very focused on emotions. the island setting is described very well, with those strange but not exaggerated details that give personality to the story without making it heavy. the family dynamics are the strongest part of the novel: they are believable, engaging, and written in a way that makes you pay attention to every dialogue. even the theme of healing is handled well and gives a satisfying sense of closure.

there are also things that work less: the beginning is slow and takes time to get going, and some emotional resolutions, especially at the end, arrive too fast compared to their weight in the story. in a couple of moments some situations felt a bit too much, especially the more dramatic parts about calista, which deserved a different balance.

overall, our extraordinary summer is a perfect novel if you want a story focused on family relationships, reconciliation, and two protagonists who go through an intense and realistic journey. it’s not flawless, but i enjoyed reading it, and the sisters are definitely the best part.

[Elizabeth Foss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a story of grief, family fracture, and the long, uneven work of reconciliation. The love story is present, but it is not the heart of the book. That place belongs, unmistakably, to the relationship between two sisters who have spent years estranged--the victim of the same man, shaped by the same wounds, but marked by them in very different ways.

Calista and Athena are drawn back together after their mother’s death, summoned to a secluded island where she spent her final days. It’s a premise that promises both confrontation and healing, and the setting delivers something almost dreamlike—a contained world where the past cannot be avoided and where, perhaps, it might finally be understood. The island itself is one of the novel’s strongest elements, carrying a mystical sense of possibility, as though it were a place set apart for reckoning.

The emotional core of the story lies in the sisters’ shared history: a childhood overshadowed by a narcissistic father, a separation that cut them off first from their mother, and then from each other. Grief runs steadily beneath everything, not only for the mother they have lost, but for the years already taken from them.

There are moments here that are genuinely moving. The gradual softening between Calista and Athena feels, at times, earned. Their attempts to understand each other—halting, imperfect, often defensive—give way to something more mature, more generous. It is in these exchanges that the novel is most compelling. They both work for each other.
Fair warning: the book leans heavily into what might be called a therapeutic mode of storytelling. Much of the narrative is occupied with processing—naming wounds, revisiting past hurts, working through emotional patterns. For readers who appreciate that kind of interior work, this will likely resonate. For others, it may feel repetitive, overly self-conscious, or too much like storified therapy sessions.

The pacing also suffers under the weight of its revelations. As the novel moves into its latter half, it begins to stack one dramatic disclosure on top of another. Each, taken on its own, might have carried real impact. Together, they begin to feel excessive, straining the sense of realism.

There is also a certain unevenness in the writing itself. Scenes can feel choppy, as though moving too quickly from one emotional beat to the next without fully settling into either. The result is a reading experience that, while often engaging, lacks the cohesion that would allow its themes to land with greater force.

It’s worth noting that this is the second book in a series, though it stands largely on its own. I didn’t feel lost coming into the story without having read the first, suggesting readers can approach it independently.

There is a romantic plot (subplot?), but the central question the novel keeps returning to: what does it take to repair a relationship shaped by years of misunderstanding, silence, and hurt? The answer offered here is not simple, but it is hopeful. Healing, the book suggests, is possible—but it is slow, deliberate, and requires both people to step toward each other, again and again.

Content-wise, readers should expect themes of emotional abuse within a family context, significant focus on grief and psychological healing, and a largely closed-door approach to romance.

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Our Extraordinary Summer is the second title in the Hobby Island series, where we’ll begin a new, slightly mystical adventure under the watchful eyes of Eloisa, the owner of this magical island and the woman who created the crafter’s paradise and the possibilities it offers. We met Demetra, briefly, at the end of the previous book, The Summer That Shaped Us. Now, Demetra’s daughters, Calista and Athena, are invited to the island for a month to celebrate their mother’s memory, as she has recently passed away. They come together once more to honor their mother’s final request, to make peace between them. Unfortunately, with their father’s history of narcissism, betrayal, and lies, peace has always been an elusive thing. As young children, they were torn away from their mother, completely dominated by their father, who controlled their futures. One sister became the golden child, the one who always followed daddy’s instructions; the other became almost an afterthought and never reached the level of fatherly love her sister did… both betrayed by a man who didn’t deserve one ounce of their affections, their father.

As professional women golfers, both sisters found a level of achievement… but not close to what their dominating father demanded of them. This particular day, Calista made a shocking discovery of a betrayal so harsh that she walked off the greens and into oblivion, as far as her father was concerned. She reunited with her mother and changed her focus, but could never face her father again. Yet another wedge was built between the sisters thanks to dear ol Dad.

Our Extraordinary Summer is a story of survival, of finding a way to forgive someone for things they themselves were unaware of. A time for reflection, to find peace between sisters, to acknowledge how badly their mother had been treated, and how utterly awful their controlling father really is. It’s not an easy journey; there’s anger to be dealt with, misconceptions to be untangled, and lies to be revealed for what they were: betrayals. Calista will also come in contact with Reid, a man from her past who holds secrets that may shape her future.

Their story is well-written, emotional on so many levels, and full of possibilities. If you enjoy a story full of tears and regrets, joy and acceptance, and sisters reunited before it’s too late, then you’d love this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Our Extraordinary Summer
✍🏻Lori Wilde
Blurb:
New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?
My Thoughts:
The book opens with the sisters seeing each other for the first time in several years, on their way to Hobby Island, for their mother's funeral. This is a book about grief, and healing, and family secrets, set in the most whimsical setting, complete with a racing ostrich, a grove of windchimes, and a lavender colored hotel with rooms decorated like underwater mermaid homes. I felt all of the feels with this book! I was angry at times, I cried several times, and I laughed out loud.
love the whimsy of Hobby Island and Lori Wilde brings the magic of Hobby Island back in full force, offering a story about complicated family, healing, and a long lost romance.
Thanks NetGalley, Avon Publishing and Author Lori Wilde for the advanced copy of "Our Extraordinary Summer" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley,
#AvonPublioshing
#LoriWilde
#OurExtraordinarySummer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many different elements to this story!

Two sisters torn apart by secrets, misunderstandings and a narcissistic father. Two daughters, uncertain if their mother loved them or not, pitted against each other by their father. Two Pro-Golfers, forced to be the best, to be perfect for their father, but is this really the life they want for themselves?

This is a story of coming together at a time of mourning, on a small island filled with kind people who are there to help them learn about the mother they barely knew, and to help them reconnect with each other. Along the way, young love is rekindled, secrets are exposed/truths revealed, understanding dawns and finding oneself happens along with blocking out the narcissistic influence that’s dictated every aspect of their lives for far too long.

This story was heartbreakingly beautiful! Definitely an emotional read with plenty of depth, real life issues, cozy island town vibes, a bit of humor and a hint of magic.

(The epilogue ends in a manner that makes me think there’s more to the story!)

What to expect 👇

- Golfing
- Sisterhood/ finding yourself
- Broken family/Toxic environment
- Mention of Domestic abuse
- Manipulation/Trauma/Depression
- Father pitting child against child
- Narcissistic personality
- Loss of a loved one/Cancer
- Small island town
- Second chance love
- Found Family
- Multi-POV

Fave Quotes 👇

“Family are the people who stand by you when the rest of the world turns its back.”

“The hardest person to forgive is often yourself.”

“When we lose our sense of self, we have the chance to rebuild. To choose who we want to be, rather than accepting who we’ve been told we are.”

“Healing means learning when to hold on and when to let go.”

“True freedom comes not just from breaking chains, but from discovering the strength within never to let them bind you again.”

“She had spent so long trying to be perfect, to meet her father’s impossibly high standards, that she had lost sight of who she truly was.”

“Some truths are only revealed when we’re capable of facing them.”

“Love isn’t about hiding the hard truths. It’s about facing them together, even when they suck.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for this ARC in return for my honest review!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde
A Novel

A Heartfelt Tale of Sisterhood, Secrets, and Second Chances on a Magical Island (Hobby Island Book

Book 2 of 2: Hobby Island

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer— perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final request: come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?
My favorite quote is
"Bring my daughters to your magical island." Demetra Sarris said, faded gray eyes beseeching. I've failed them. Please help them heal, Ellie. You're their only hope."
Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde is a 3-star book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

Two sisters going to mourn their estranged mother's death. But when long buried secrets finally get revealed, and truths are unearthed, how will the sisters finally deal with the facts when they believed nothing but lies for years?

Calista and Athena Dempsey grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive home. Their father, Benjamin, divorced their mom, Demetra, making her an unfit parent and winning sole custody of the girls when Calista was only 9 years old. Benjamin used money, threats, and his connections to make sure he'd get what he wanted. The young girls didn't know that that would be last time they would have ever see or hear from their mother ever again...and it would forever haunt them.

Fast forward to the present.

Calista gave up her golf career after her Father finally crossed the line. At a big tournament five years ago, Calista heard that Benjamin bet $1 million dollars on Athena losing. So Calista purposely lost, but when she saw her estranged mom in the audience, she finally saw her chance to walk away from golf for good. So, she did without looking back once. Now she has a job she loves without the stress she used to have.

Athena would do anything for her father's praise. She was never on his bad side. That was Calista's domain, even when she didn't do anything wrong. Athena was the golden child. Her father was a bit cruel to Calista, but wasn't it for her own good? When Calista left the tour 5 years ago, Athena swiftly rose to the number one spot and she hasn't left. But this weekend with her sister is for Athena to hopefully make amends. She wants her sister back. But Benjamin also wants Calista back, he needs her back, more than he needs Athena. But Athena knows that if she brings the subject up, she'll lose her sister forever.

But Demetra has the answers her girls are looking for. And they are all on Hobby Island in the hands of the residents where Demetra herself went to heal after her divorce.

A good read!

*Was given an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.75 rounded up)
A grief-centered story set on a whimsical island where two estranged sisters are brought together after their mother’s passing, forced to confront their past, their family, and each other.

I really wanted this to work—and in some ways, it does. The emotional core is strong. The book does a beautiful job capturing the fragility of the sisters’ relationship and their complicated feelings toward both their mother and their father. That part felt real and layered.

What didn’t work for me is how the story handles that emotional journey. It leans heavily on platitudes and “deep” one-liners, and after a while, it starts to feel like a string of clichés trying to sound profound. When everything is trying to be meaningful, it kind of loses its meaning.

The whimsical, almost magical feel of the island also didn’t fully land for me. It creates this space where characters can process grief and grow—but it feels too removed from reality, like therapy in a bubble. Conflicts resolve too quickly, tension doesn’t sit long enough, and big moments that should have weight are wrapped up almost instantly. The emotional growth just doesn’t feel earned.

There’s also a bit of a mismatch in pacing—some scenes drag (like a long focus on a golf tournament), while more important emotional beats feel rushed. The romance fits in a little too neatly as well, adding to that sense that everything comes together a bit too easily.

This is part of an interconnected series, but it works fine as a standalone. And if you enjoy softer, low-stakes, healing-focused stories, this might hit for you.

For me, though, it fell into the same trap I sometimes find in cozy fantasy—too neat, too easy, and not enough grit to make the emotional journey fully land.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sisters Calista and Athena Dempsey were once close, but they became rivals - very much by their father’s design. Now, in the wake of their mother’s death - a mother they were ripped away from as children - they find themselves reunited on Hobby Island, the last place she lived. Both women are desperate for answers: who their mother became, why she never came back for them, and what truly tore their family apart. It’s a heartbreaking foundation for a story that asks whether old wounds can ever heal. Can they set aside years of resentment while grieving such a profound loss? And will they finally find the strength to stand up to their formidable father?

This character-driven novel digs even deeper. Calista must also confront Reid Thornton, the man who once broke her heart - as he is also on Hobby Island. The emotional tension runs high, with lingering pain, unresolved feelings, and the possibility of forgiveness weaving through every interaction. It’s this blend of hurt and healing that makes the story so compelling.

Although Lori Wilde is a prolific author, it has been decades since I last picked up one of her books. Our Extraordinary Summer, the second installment in the Hobby Island series, was a delightful read. I started with The Summer That Shaped Us, and both books captivated me. While each book can be enjoyed independently, there’s a special satisfaction in experiencing the continuity of this series.

In the end, this is a story about fractured family bonds, buried truths, and the fragile, powerful hope of reconciliation - one that lingers long after the final page.

Many thanks to Avon and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @avonbooks for the free copy 💖.

🗓️Out 4/21/26

This was a story with secrets and twists I didn’t see coming. It’s book two in the Hobby Island series, but it can be read as a standalone. The cover is stunning, isn’t it?

Two sisters used to be really close, but a major betrayal driven by their father’s ambition tore them apart. After their mom passes away, they are brought back together on a secluded island and have no choice but to face everything they have been avoiding.

Old wounds resurface, especially when one sister encounters the man who broke her heart. As secrets emerge, they must choose: forgive and move forward, or remain trapped in the past.

It’s a story about grief, complicated family dynamics, and a lost love. There is a lot going on, with multiple points of view, but at its core it focuses on secrets that reshape relationships and help the sisters reconnect while breaking free from the influence that tore them apart. It has emotional moments, vivid descriptions that really bring the setting to life, some unlikeable characters (I hated the father), a bit of golf, found family, and a touch of romance.

I liked it, but found some parts a little slow and thought a few plot points that needed more depth wrapped up too quickly. I also would have preferred the story to focus solely on the sisters without the romantic subplot.

Overall, it was entertaining and would make a good beach read this summer ☀️. It ends on a cliffhanger, so a third book is likely to follow.

Read if you like:
☀️Multiple POVs
☀️Sister relationships
☀️Female athletes
☀️Family drama
☀️Second chance
☀️Small town/island setting
☀️Found family

⚠️CW: Emotional abuse, death of a parent, grief.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde is another visit to Hobby Island. Calista and Athena are there because their mother, Demetra, has died. They had not seen her for twenty years; the last time was on the steps of the courthouse after their father had won full custody of them, no visitation. The girls resented their mother for not fighting for them, Calista especially. Both of them and their father were golfers. Athena was the reigning champion of the LPGA. Calista had been once; she walked away after discovering how big a jerk her father really was. Benjamin, their father, was retired and living off Athena’s fame, now. The girls were estranged from one another as well.

Demi had planned this entire month to bring them together again. Eloise Hobby, the owner of the island and all on it and wasn’t sure if Demi’s plan was going to work, but she was going to do her best to honor her friend’s wishes. Lots of characters in this story and even the ones that don’t live on Hobby Island were involved with Demi. Everyone but her daughters. She had a drawer full of returned letters and gifts. Benjamin had cut her off completely, but she followed them as best she could. This was an emotional story for these women, getting to know their mother. Well-written, complicated, with amazing relationships, some waiting to be discovered. Wilde writes good female characters, with difficult and emotional problems. Some of them are solved throughout the book. It was a good read.

I was invited to read OurExtraordinary Summer by Harper Collins. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollins #LoriWilde #OurExtraordinarySummer

[Jennifer ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book centers around two sisters who are arriving on an eccentric island after finding out their estranged mother died. The goal of the island matriarch is to help the sisters reconnect with each other after a falling out; as well as to show the sisters that what they once believed about their mother is far from the truth.

I think I liked the island setting the most about this book. I found the sisters a little hard to connect to, and I found that the behavior of the father was so extreme that it just wasn’t possible for him to have made it this far into his daughters’ adulthood without the truth being obvious to everyone (especially Athena). She really just thought it was normal for him to be controlling all of her money and life? I don’t know.

There was a lot of outlandish things going on, the ostrich, the secrets, the weird weather. It was overwhelming.

I was a bit put off by the type of writing that sounds like this: “the journal smelled of old paper and unrealized dreams.” That’s not a direct quote, but it’s close enough. It was a bit irritating to me as it seems a bit fantastical. Nothing really smells like “unrealized dreams.”

Overall, an easy read. Maybe it just wasn’t my style and that’s fine. I didn’t hate it. I just didn’t love it and connect with it like other readers. It ended on a cliffhanger which opens to probably another book- I think I’ve already guessed what the secret is there. But I’d potentially be swayed to read the next book. Anyway, thank you to #netgalley and #harpercollins | avon for the ARC.

[Lauren Smithee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was less of a romance novel than woman’s fiction. There is a sub-story with a main character and an old boyfriend, but the real story revolves around two sisters and their relationship with each other and their parents. The book was good, but I felt it start to drag on and reveal too many bombshells, making it a little less realistic to me.

Two estranged sisters mourn the death of their mother who they were torn away from in childhood due to their narcissistic father. Never being able to see their mother again, Athena and Calista are brought to Hobby Island, the island their mother spent the end of her life at. Their mother’s quiet love for them brought them to the island after her death in hopes that they’d make amends with each other after a fallout years ago, but the story also reveals some secrets from their past.

Grief was a strong theme in this book, as well as domestic emotional abuse by a narcissistic character. While assumed, there were no actual spicy scenes in the book with regard to the romantic relationship followed in the book.

I really enjoyed reading some parts of this book. The island felt like a dreamland, with healing properties. However, I got really hung up on how many jaw dropping moments there were in the latter part of the book. It seemed overkill after the first couple revealed secrets. I thought the book dragged on a little and some scenes were unnecessary.

I did, however, like reading about the sister’s relationship, and how the fallout started and how things were wrapped up in the end. It took some time and effort on both their parts, but Athena and Calista showed maturity in the end.

I was unaware that this was the second novel in a series, which I do not think the first novel needed to be read to understand this one, but Our Extraordinary Summer does end in a cliffhanger, making you wonder what is going to happen next. I’m not sure I liked the book enough to want to read the next in the series, but I may if it’s on audio.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the advanced reader ebook copy.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Lori Wilde’s first book last year in her Hobby Island series and enjoyed it. Therefore, I was thrilled to be approved to read an early copy this year of the second book in the series. Entitled “Our Extraordinary Summer” the book takes place entirely on Hobby Island.

Calista and Athena Dempsey are estranged sisters. Growing up, they both took up golf. They also had to navigate their father winning sole custody of them from their mother when they were not yet teenagers. He also ensured their mother could never see them again, for several selfish and narcissistic reasons.

Five years ago, a betrayal occurred during a golf tournament. Calista walked away from golf, as well as her father and sister. She has built a new life for herself, but the scars from her childhood remain. Athena won the tournament in question and has been at the top of the LPGA standings since then.

The sisters are reunited after their mother passes away. She had a plan for them to reconnect and it involves Eloisa getting them to come to Hobby Island and stay for awhile. As the sisters work at healing their childhood wounds and honoring their mother’s last wish, they are still dealing with their father’s influence and interference.

The chapters tended to go between different narrators, which worked for this book. Most of the chapters were from Calista or Athena’s viewpoint, but a few were from Eloisa herself. There were parts of the book where I found the dialogue to be a bit uneven and unrealistic, but overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Erin Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde was such an emotional and deeply resonant read for me.

This story follows estranged sisters Calista and Athena Dempsey, who are brought back together after the death of their mother and asked to fulfill her final wish. As they return to Hobby Island, old wounds, family secrets, and long-held beliefs begin to surface, forcing both sisters to confront what they thought they knew about their past and each other.

What made this book especially powerful for me was its portrayal of complicated family dynamics. Having dealt with narcissistic family dynamics myself, I found the exploration of the “golden child” and “scapegoat” roles incredibly moving and thoughtfully done. As an only child, I felt like both roles were placed on me at different times, so I could deeply empathize with both Calista and Athena as they tried to untangle perception from reality.

Lori Wilde handled the emotional complexity of this story with so much care. The sisters’ relationship felt layered, painful, and real, and their journey toward healing never felt overly simple or rushed. I appreciated the way the story explored grief, loyalty, estrangement, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to question the version of your family story you were taught to believe.

This is a beautiful, character-driven novel for readers who enjoy emotional family stories, complicated sibling relationships, and books about healing from the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/HarperCollins for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just… in a word, weird.
Why I decided to ask for a Summer book as Winter is beginning, I’ll never understand, even though I wasn’t really getting a good Summer/beach aesthetic from this novel. There were so many different places on this island, and all of them had a different aesthetic that it was just a cacophony of settings that I couldn’t fully grasp. We went from a beach to a forest, to different shops with various different aesthetics, to a golf course.
The golf aspect of this novel surprised me. Coming from a family obsessed with the sport, I am not impressed, both with the book, and the sport in general.
I did like how they handled a narcissistic character, and how the different characters were affected by the narcissistic father.
The plot twist of Callista not being Narcissist Dad’s actual daughter was just stupid. There was no build up, just a painful surprise to cause strain between Callista and Reid. I didn’t even really like their relationship that much. It was a second chance, and for me, after the second betrayal, I would have just given up on him. Maybe that’s just the cynical part of me talking.
Overall, this was just a weird book. As a sequel, I get the feeling there were more explanations and worldbuilding in the first installment, but I won’t hold my breath, or bother reading the first book. This second one was enough.
One positive: there were some good quotes.
“Sometimes, the greatest act of love is letting go of the story you thought you knew.”
“Forgiveness is a journey, not a destination.”
“Words are just words, Reid. Even pretty ones.”
“To my lost stars: If you ever find your way here, know that the night sky doesn’t rule forever. Look for the light. It’s always been there, even when you can’t see it.” Okay, that one’s kind of cringy.
“As long as your heart is beating, there’s hope.”
“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
All thoughts are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and HarperCollins for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you #HarperAudio Adult and #Avon for the unabridged audio of #OurExtraordinarySummer

I made it through the audio. But I will be honest. This is not book for me. I already see many positive views and I honestly think it's a me problem.

Positives- Cover art, narrator wasn't bad, and the last 10% is great if you like watching golf.

The not so positive:
I requested this story because of the cover and I thought it had a good premise. It was not executed well in my opinion. The quirky, awe and wander of the island fell flat for me. Had it ended around chapter 20 I would have declared its nice sisterly story with some quirks thrown in. Instead, it continued on with the sisters lives and emotions thrown into the ring and bashed over and over again. Lied to about everything. Manipulated by EVERYONE. 84% through I thought this had become a psychotic horror story and these poor girls are trapped on the island with a woman acting like a fairy with a magical wand and that their dead mother planned this all from the grave. .At one point Athena declares it like the Truman Show. And it's true. Their lives are controlled right up till the end. Manipulated and beaten down. Now look. That is not what the author intended and I absolutely know that. It was meant to be redemption and a family coming together and overcoming abuse. Not in my mind. So I'm sorry. I am not the reader for this story.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read other books by Lori Wilde but this is a one of a kind series in which she describes a truly magical island. One that you wish you could visit and stay just as the sisters did. The characters Calista and Athena Dempsey were invited to the Hobby Island to celebrate the life of their mother who had spent her last days there. Being raised by a rich narcissistic father who pitted the girls against each other, who divorced their mother when they were young and denied her any contact with her daughters. She wanted them to come to the island so that they could be united again as loving sisters. Calista had left home five years earlier and not spoken to Athena since that time. You can sense the tension between the main characters as they both struggle to become close again. Athena who had stayed in the home had to become aware of how the father had continue to manipulate her. Calista had to learn to trust again especially with Reid Thornton the man who broke her heart. This is truly a wonderful story and can be read as a standalone. Lori Wilde has a special style that brings you into the story and brings the characters to life. Readers if you love a story with a family connection and a little romance this is a must for you.

I received an ARC from NetGallery and am leaving an honest review.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a bit together into this book..the storyline and characters were okay at the start. It did build up a bit as it went along. I will definitely checkout more from LoriWilde.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?

[stephanie mirly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Extraordinary Summer is the second of a series set on the mystical Hobby Island that is only accessible by ferry with a special golden ticket. Demetra is one of the few who live on the island full time after divorcing her husband and losing custody of her daughters. When she discovers she has cancer she develops a plan in hopes of bringing her daughters back together after five years of no contact with each other. This book follows her daughters, Athena and Calista, as they come together to remember their mother on her home island and see if they can truly put their past behind them. Athena is at the height of her career as a LPGA superstar after Calista walked away from golf just five years earlier after discovering a dark secret while playing against her sister during the Chevron championship. The longer they spend on the island the more secrets that are revealed and they discover whether they can both truly move past the damage caused by their narcissistic father. The story itself was fine, but I just never really felt any sort of connection to the characters. They felt flat even with all they were going through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Book 2 in the series which I did not realize but was able to follow the story. The story follows two sisters raised by a father who always used them to feed his idea of perfection. he pushed them into the world of professional golf, pit them against each other, and controlled every part of their lives. The mother was not allowed to see the girls for years, and they were left with a man who couldn’t love in a healthy way.. Calista couldn’t take it anymore and left, disappearing for five years.. Athena stayed instead, convinced that the only way to be seen was to keep pleasing a father who wasn’t ready to give her anything in return. They discover their mother passed away and has requested they visit Hobby Island, at the island the learn about their mother, the circumstances and more about each other. This novel is a story of grief, family fracture, and the long, uneven work of reconciliation. The love story is present, but it is not the heart of the book. That place belongs, unmistakably, to the relationship between two sisters who have spent years estranged--the victim of the same man, shaped by the same wounds, but marked by them in very different ways. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Extraordinary Summer is the second novel in Lori Wilde’s Hobby Island series. Demetra Sarris, first introduced in the Epilogue of the first book, The Summer That Shaped Us, thus setting up the storyline for this book. Ill and dying, Demetra has come to seek help from her old friend Eloisa Hobby. Demetra has come with a plan to reunite her daughters Athena and Calista and free them from her narcissistic ex-husband.

With a month of activities to honor Demetra’s memory, Athena and Calista have ample time to work through the distance that formed between them when Calista simply stopped and walked off the green at the LPGA Championship round, leaving Athena to become the champion. But Calista achieved something even more important to her, her freedom from Benjamin Dempsey.

Calista is also reunited with her teenage love, sports VLOGger Reid Thornton. Reid has great remorse for how they parted and is also seeking to overcome the misunderstandings of the past, even while carrying a secret that could change everything for Calista.

In a twisted tale of relationships, untruths, and discovery, Ms. Wilde has woven another mystical story on the magical Hobby Island. I very much enjoyed this novel and do recommend it!

[Rhonda Hengesbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estranged sisters, Athena and Calista Dempsey, both arrive on whimsical Hobby Island to attend the memorial for their mother, whom they haven’t seen since their parents divorce 20 years ago, when their controlling pro-golfer father took them away from their mother.

While they were growing up, Benjamin Dempsey, made both his daughters into golf prodigies, but pitted them against one another. He treated Athena warmly with constant encouragement, while while he daily abused Calista both verbally and emotionally. Calista finally walked away from his control one day on the last hole of the Chevron Open after finding out that her father had been embezzling money from her and was now gambling on her play. She cut both her father and her sister out of her life that day and hadn’t seen or talked to either since.

Five years later, the invite-only memorial and golf tournament for their mother is an opportunity for the sisters to remember their past without their narcissistic father involved and discover what their relationship could have been without his narcissistic meddling.

This book held my interest and I’d be interesting more books from this author.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first visit to Hobby Island and I cannot wait to go back. Every character was quirky and unique, whether they lived on the island or were just visiting. Those that lived on the island had a little more quirkiness and they were the ones that I look forward to meeting again.

Calista and her sister Athena come to the island to say the final goodbyes to their mother. Their mother’s last request was for them to mend their relationship. It will not be easy but if it can happen Hobby Island is the place it will happen. I enjoyed that mending fences and relationships was not an easy thing. It took time, misunderstandings and patience. They took steps forward and backwards. While mending their relationship, they managed to learn a lot about themselves, each other, and their family.

Our Extraordinary Summer is a fun book. The romance is sexy and sweet. The characters are relatable. The storyline moves at an even pace, sometimes it was a little slow, but it is worth reading every word.

Thank you Avon for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calista and Athena Dempsey have always been pitted against each other because of their father. Now estranged for five years, both get called to Hobby Island after their mother’s passing…. a mother who lost custody of them when they were children and hasn’t been in contact since. Both sisters are trying to figure out who they are and how to rebuild a relationship that has always been in disrepair. Plus, trying to understand why their mother never wanted to get to know them. Hobby Island might be the place where all their family secrets will be revealed, yet will it bring Calista and Athena together or will it truly break them?

Our Extraordinary Summer is a fast read that has a lot of twists! I was rooting for Calista and Athena because they have gone through so much hurt throughout their lives. The setting Hobby Island is magical and a character in itself. I wish there was more tension because some moments the drama was resolved quickly. This novel has so many tropes: family drama, found family and second chances. It’s a heartfelt read taking place on an island full of interesting characters with big hearts.

4✨


Thank you Avon for this gifted ARC💕.