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Country Club Summer
Behind every perfect summer, there's a story no one's telling.
At the Draydon Country Club, the summers are flawless. The tennis whites are crisp. The martinis are cold. The to-do lists are endless.
Holly Kilgour has reclaimed her life. After years trapped in a gilded, quietly brutal marriage, the fifty-one-year-old divorcée is exactly where she wants to be — tan, free, and finally on her own terms. But when a secret from her past resurfaces, everything she's rebuilt begins to tremble.
Lisa Doyle is the woman who makes everything look effortless, mostly because no one is watching closely enough to see how hard she's working. Between ferrying teenagers, managing aging parents, and trying to remember the last time she and her husband had a real conversation, she's starting to wonder if "fine" is the saddest word in the English language.
Savannah Moore came to Connecticut for one summer and somehow ended up with a fiancé, a monogram, and a future mother-in-law with very strong opinions. But the closer her wedding gets, the more she wonders if the version of herself she's becoming is the one she wants to be.
Over one sun-drenched summer, three women in very different chapters of life find themselves on the same tennis court — and discover that friendship, once found, has a way of changing everything.
Country Club Summer is warm, funny, and deeply satisfying — a novel about the burdens women carry, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and the unexpected grace of being truly known.
At the Draydon Country Club, the summers are flawless. The tennis whites are crisp. The martinis are cold. The to-do lists are endless.
Holly Kilgour has reclaimed her life. After years trapped in a gilded, quietly brutal marriage, the fifty-one-year-old divorcée is exactly where she wants to be — tan, free, and finally on her own terms. But when a secret from her past resurfaces, everything she's rebuilt begins to tremble.
Lisa Doyle is the woman who makes everything look effortless, mostly because no one is watching closely enough to see how hard she's working. Between ferrying teenagers, managing aging parents, and trying to remember the last time she and her husband had a real conversation, she's starting to wonder if "fine" is the saddest word in the English language.
Savannah Moore came to Connecticut for one summer and somehow ended up with a fiancé, a monogram, and a future mother-in-law with very strong opinions. But the closer her wedding gets, the more she wonders if the version of herself she's becoming is the one she wants to be.
Over one sun-drenched summer, three women in very different chapters of life find themselves on the same tennis court — and discover that friendship, once found, has a way of changing everything.
Country Club Summer is warm, funny, and deeply satisfying — a novel about the burdens women carry, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and the unexpected grace of being truly known.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 22, 2026
Thank you to Kate Rock Literary for allowing me to be on tour and to the author, Rachel Cullen, for the gifted copy of this book!
3 very different women in different stages of life during one summer together... Tennis brings them together, and I love the friendship that formed between the three. This story is very character driven! Each chapter alternates between the women (which sometimes led me to want to skip ahead to keep up with just one of the women in the moment). All of them were so different and going through very different things, but were all relatable.
•Holly, 51 years old (but looks younger) divorcee/mother to Austin, who’s in med school.
•Lisa, taking care of her two teens and aging parents and is in a marriage that feels less and less like a loving relationship.
•Savannah, private school teacher from the south, engaged (to a rich guy from CT) and trying to stay on her future MIL’s good side.
This is a great read for the summer and for anyone who loves women’s fiction. It’s an easy and enjoyable book. I particularly enjoyed that the characters were older and the overall theme of loving yourself and being true to who you are. I loved the epilogue; everything was wrapped up so nicely! (I also appreciated the tennis vibes throughout the story!)
3 very different women in different stages of life during one summer together... Tennis brings them together, and I love the friendship that formed between the three. This story is very character driven! Each chapter alternates between the women (which sometimes led me to want to skip ahead to keep up with just one of the women in the moment). All of them were so different and going through very different things, but were all relatable.
•Holly, 51 years old (but looks younger) divorcee/mother to Austin, who’s in med school.
•Lisa, taking care of her two teens and aging parents and is in a marriage that feels less and less like a loving relationship.
•Savannah, private school teacher from the south, engaged (to a rich guy from CT) and trying to stay on her future MIL’s good side.
This is a great read for the summer and for anyone who loves women’s fiction. It’s an easy and enjoyable book. I particularly enjoyed that the characters were older and the overall theme of loving yourself and being true to who you are. I loved the epilogue; everything was wrapped up so nicely! (I also appreciated the tennis vibes throughout the story!)
June 26, 2026
Such a perfect coming of age summer book. We have 3 women in all different stages of their lives - Holly a 51yo divorce’, Lisa a married woman with kids, and Savannah a 20 something teacher engaged to a rich guy from CT. They become friends and help each other thru some difficult times. I really loved the true friendships that grew out of meeting for tennis. And the confidence they each had to face the pretty big challenges. I think I identified most with lisa - but agree with the ideas in the book that a good relationship changes over time as people grow. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.
June 16, 2026
4.25⭐️
This one was a great summer read. It follows Holly, Jill and Savannah. Three women in different stages of life that form an unlikely friendship over tennis 🎾 at the country club. I loved all three of the women and their stories. Each was unique, but relatable. Sometimes when stories hop between characters I find myself wanting to just read about one characters, but all three of these women had me anxious to know what would come next for them.
There was friendships, family dynamics and drama all wrapped up in their stories. If you are a fan of character driven novels and want a great book for your beach bag, I suggest you check this one out!
This one was a great summer read. It follows Holly, Jill and Savannah. Three women in different stages of life that form an unlikely friendship over tennis 🎾 at the country club. I loved all three of the women and their stories. Each was unique, but relatable. Sometimes when stories hop between characters I find myself wanting to just read about one characters, but all three of these women had me anxious to know what would come next for them.
There was friendships, family dynamics and drama all wrapped up in their stories. If you are a fan of character driven novels and want a great book for your beach bag, I suggest you check this one out!
August 13, 2026
This was a fun, light read about the power of having the right girlfriends in your life. I loved Savannah, Lisa, and Holly and I really enjoyed how their friendship grew and how they each overcame their obstacles and came into their own at the end of the story. The perfect fun summer read!
July 3, 2026
This was exactly the kind of summer read I was hoping for. It's warm, heartfelt, and full of relatable characters whose lives feel wonderfully authentic. While the setting is a beautiful country club, the story goes far beyond tennis matches and poolside afternoons, exploring friendship, family, identity, and finding the courage to make difficult changes.
I loved that each of the three women was at a completely different stage in life, yet their stories complemented one another so well. Holly's journey of rebuilding her life after a difficult marriage was inspiring, Lisa's struggle to balance family responsibilities while feeling overlooked was incredibly relatable, and Savannah's doubts about the future she was planning added another emotional layer. I genuinely looked forward to every chapter, no matter whose perspective it followed.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the friendships that developed between these women. Their support for one another felt natural and heartfelt, reminding me how meaningful unexpected connections can become. The tennis court served as the perfect backdrop for conversations, laughter, and the moments that slowly changed each of their lives.
The family dynamics and personal challenges added just the right amount of drama without ever feeling overdone. Every character felt like someone you could meet in real life, making it easy to become invested in their journeys and celebrate their victories alongside them.
If you enjoy character-driven women's fiction with strong female friendships, family drama, emotional growth, and a setting that practically begs to be read by the pool or on the beach, this is definitely one to add to your summer reading list. It was an engaging, thoughtful read that left me smiling long after I turned the final page.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved that each of the three women was at a completely different stage in life, yet their stories complemented one another so well. Holly's journey of rebuilding her life after a difficult marriage was inspiring, Lisa's struggle to balance family responsibilities while feeling overlooked was incredibly relatable, and Savannah's doubts about the future she was planning added another emotional layer. I genuinely looked forward to every chapter, no matter whose perspective it followed.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the friendships that developed between these women. Their support for one another felt natural and heartfelt, reminding me how meaningful unexpected connections can become. The tennis court served as the perfect backdrop for conversations, laughter, and the moments that slowly changed each of their lives.
The family dynamics and personal challenges added just the right amount of drama without ever feeling overdone. Every character felt like someone you could meet in real life, making it easy to become invested in their journeys and celebrate their victories alongside them.
If you enjoy character-driven women's fiction with strong female friendships, family drama, emotional growth, and a setting that practically begs to be read by the pool or on the beach, this is definitely one to add to your summer reading list. It was an engaging, thoughtful read that left me smiling long after I turned the final page.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 17, 2026
The Country Club Summer women are kind, grounded, and guided by a strong moral compass. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, they forge a heartwarming friendship while navigating struggles that feel genuinely relatable. This book is a masterclass in building meaningful connections, accepting people as they are, and celebrating friendships rooted simply in being present for one another.
Lisa, Holly, and Savannah each face life‑altering choices and tough, realistic decisions. What begins as three women searching for tennis partners, each for their own reasons, blossoms into a deep and unexpected bond. The chapters rotate between their first‑person perspectives, allowing us to experience their challenges intimately. While their financial situations may be a bit elevated, the emotional realities they face: marriage, children, family dynamics, future in‑laws, are familiar to many of us. Their choices reveal confident women who still carry insecurities, working through them in ways that feel human.
The friendships are what truly hold the story together. Watching each woman arrive at her own resolution, choosing herself with care and compassion, and supporting one another wholeheartedly made this an amazing read. Every character felt relatable to me. I’m the age of the two older women, yet I also connected deeply with Savannah’s dilemma. I found myself rooting for all three.
I loved these main characters for exactly who they were, women I would genuinely enjoy meeting in real life. This is a fun, lighter, uplifting read that leaves you with a warm feeling. It’s perfect for a vacation, a trip, or any moment when you want a low‑stress book. It would also make a fantastic book club pick for women, offering plenty to discuss around interpersonal relationships. I’d absolutely recommend this if you’re looking for a feel‑good, women‑centered story.
Thank you to LibraryThing and the author for the ARC to read and review
Lisa, Holly, and Savannah each face life‑altering choices and tough, realistic decisions. What begins as three women searching for tennis partners, each for their own reasons, blossoms into a deep and unexpected bond. The chapters rotate between their first‑person perspectives, allowing us to experience their challenges intimately. While their financial situations may be a bit elevated, the emotional realities they face: marriage, children, family dynamics, future in‑laws, are familiar to many of us. Their choices reveal confident women who still carry insecurities, working through them in ways that feel human.
The friendships are what truly hold the story together. Watching each woman arrive at her own resolution, choosing herself with care and compassion, and supporting one another wholeheartedly made this an amazing read. Every character felt relatable to me. I’m the age of the two older women, yet I also connected deeply with Savannah’s dilemma. I found myself rooting for all three.
I loved these main characters for exactly who they were, women I would genuinely enjoy meeting in real life. This is a fun, lighter, uplifting read that leaves you with a warm feeling. It’s perfect for a vacation, a trip, or any moment when you want a low‑stress book. It would also make a fantastic book club pick for women, offering plenty to discuss around interpersonal relationships. I’d absolutely recommend this if you’re looking for a feel‑good, women‑centered story.
Thank you to LibraryThing and the author for the ARC to read and review
June 21, 2026
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a warm and funny novel about the burdens women carry, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and the unexpected grace of being truly known.
This book is an easy read that I glided through in two days. It intertwines three women’s lives as they go through their own life changing issues one summer. Holly is a 51 year old divorcee who is struggling with empty nest syndrome and a sense of aimlessness. Through their love of playing tennis at a fancy country club she befriends Lisa, an overworked and underappreciated stay at home mother and Savannah, the fiancé of a man from an uber rich, and controlling, family.
The book alternates between each woman’s POV as they live through grief, anger, anxiousness, and helplessness. Each one has lost their sense of self and lean on each other in their pursuit to take it back. I loved their camaraderie and support of each other when they need it most. It’s a perfect example of found family and finding your people.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Literary Services. All opinions are my own.
This is a warm and funny novel about the burdens women carry, the courage it takes to tell the truth, and the unexpected grace of being truly known.
This book is an easy read that I glided through in two days. It intertwines three women’s lives as they go through their own life changing issues one summer. Holly is a 51 year old divorcee who is struggling with empty nest syndrome and a sense of aimlessness. Through their love of playing tennis at a fancy country club she befriends Lisa, an overworked and underappreciated stay at home mother and Savannah, the fiancé of a man from an uber rich, and controlling, family.
The book alternates between each woman’s POV as they live through grief, anger, anxiousness, and helplessness. Each one has lost their sense of self and lean on each other in their pursuit to take it back. I loved their camaraderie and support of each other when they need it most. It’s a perfect example of found family and finding your people.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Literary Services. All opinions are my own.
July 4, 2026
Behind every perfect summer, there's a story no one's telling. Thank you @rachelcullenauthor and @katerockliteraryservices for the #gifted book.
This is the perfect summer beach read. Holly, Lisa and Savannah are at different stages in life and spend the summer getting together at the Draydon Country Club to play tennis. All three are strong women with different struggles in their lives. Holly is divorced and enjoying life until a secret from her past comes back to upset her new life. Lisa is dealing with aging parents, a teenage daughter and a husband who would rather be at work than home. Savannah is newly engaged and questioning if the woman she is becoming is who she wants to be. They form a friendship and support one another.
The story is told in alternating POV of the three women. I usually like one POV over the others but I loved each of their stories. Their stores were relatable and I was invested in each of the characters. There are two characters I loved to hate. I just wanted to strangle Holly's ex-husband and Savannah's future mother in law. I enjoyed this book that I read in an afternoon and the epilogue nicely wrapped up each of their stories.
This is the perfect summer beach read. Holly, Lisa and Savannah are at different stages in life and spend the summer getting together at the Draydon Country Club to play tennis. All three are strong women with different struggles in their lives. Holly is divorced and enjoying life until a secret from her past comes back to upset her new life. Lisa is dealing with aging parents, a teenage daughter and a husband who would rather be at work than home. Savannah is newly engaged and questioning if the woman she is becoming is who she wants to be. They form a friendship and support one another.
The story is told in alternating POV of the three women. I usually like one POV over the others but I loved each of their stories. Their stores were relatable and I was invested in each of the characters. There are two characters I loved to hate. I just wanted to strangle Holly's ex-husband and Savannah's future mother in law. I enjoyed this book that I read in an afternoon and the epilogue nicely wrapped up each of their stories.
June 15, 2026
Country Club Summer by Rachel Cullen is a book about the Draydon Country Club where everything is perfect. This story takes place surrounding the lives of three very different women. If you like women's fiction you will love this one, folks. The women become friends in this book and they share so many things with each other. I found the stories of the women interesting. Holly is a 50 year old divorcee after a bad marriage who is reclaiming herself and life. Lisa is very busy with doing multiple things with family members and missing her relationship with her husband. Savannah is saddled with a fiancee and a wedding when she is unsure she even wants that in her life. All these women interact and have secrets and problems, very realistic for real women who can relate. I liked the realism in this one with the characters, and they bond over tennis on a court at the country club during this particular summer. The writing is entertaining for the readers especially if you like to hear about women and their relationship and life struggles.
June 26, 2026
I’ve never played tennis but this book kind of made me want to 🤣 and have a group of women to play with.
This was a good summer read - easy to read and the message of being true to you and loving you was an amazing take home.
3 women bond over playing tennis for the summer they have together. All are different stages of life -
- Savannah is a private school teacher from the south set to marry a rich man from CT - trying to stay in her future MIL’s good graces
- Holly is a cougar from Austin 🤣 51 years young, divorced, a mother in med school
- Lisa is a married mother to teens - taking care of them and her aging parent. Her relationship is stagnant and she’s unsure how loving her relationship is anymore
The three develop such a friendship and I loved seeing it develop. The book is written in a way that alternates between each woman so you’re flipping back and forth between them - I enjoyed reading it this way! Thank you Kate Rock Literary Tours for having me on the tour and to Rachel for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
This was a good summer read - easy to read and the message of being true to you and loving you was an amazing take home.
3 women bond over playing tennis for the summer they have together. All are different stages of life -
- Savannah is a private school teacher from the south set to marry a rich man from CT - trying to stay in her future MIL’s good graces
- Holly is a cougar from Austin 🤣 51 years young, divorced, a mother in med school
- Lisa is a married mother to teens - taking care of them and her aging parent. Her relationship is stagnant and she’s unsure how loving her relationship is anymore
The three develop such a friendship and I loved seeing it develop. The book is written in a way that alternates between each woman so you’re flipping back and forth between them - I enjoyed reading it this way! Thank you Kate Rock Literary Tours for having me on the tour and to Rachel for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2026
A perfect summer read as it is about three women in different stages of life and how the spend this one summer on the tennis court of the Draydon Country club. You have Lisa, Holly, and Savannah. Lisa makes everything she goes look effortlessly easy but is really just living on the edge of the life she once had. Holly is newly divorced and living her life for her, until some past secret comes along to upset her new life. Savanah somehow got engaged and is not sure that the woman she is becoming is who she wants to be.
These three women find each other and form a friendship that gives them the chance to find themselves and be the women they really are underneath. Thank you to Kate Rock Literary and the author for the arc copy!!!
These three women find each other and form a friendship that gives them the chance to find themselves and be the women they really are underneath. Thank you to Kate Rock Literary and the author for the arc copy!!!
July 28, 2026
Country Club Summer is a fun novel about the value and support of female friendship. It is the perfect pool-side companion for a summer read. I absolutely loved how these women formed such close, personal friendships through a tennis lesson. It is a great example of women are in real life. Different ages, careers, backgrounds, women can typically see past that and form a bond with one another. I love how they supported and uplifted each other as they each faced their own "Tower moment."
Review of advance copy received from Author
A perfect summer read. Rachel Cullen combines friendship, family drama, and country club intrigue with characters that feel completely real. I was hooked from the first chapter and didn’t want it to end. Fans of beach reads and character-driven women’s fiction will love this book. Highly recommend for your summer reading list.
July 14, 2026
Holly, Lisa, Savannah are meeting and creating quite a friendship. I loved their stories and how each of them were there to help the other. I loved this book.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2026
This was so fun. Great read over the summer. I want to have their country club summer, too (minus some of the life drama, but it wasn’t tennis related drama). I was surprised it was a tennis book about 3 women (instead of 2 or 4). But I loved the whole thing.
June 6, 2026
This book was so incredible and impossible to put down! The characters all have complex stories that are so much fun to read. This is the perfect summer read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This might be my favorite Cullen novel yet!! Absolutely the perfect beach read for this summer!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have read all of Ms. Cullen's books and this is the best by far. I was so tied up with the plot that I read the last 100 pages in a single afternoon.
June 20, 2026
A boringish story about three rich women and their “problems”. They’re likable enough, just not very interesting.
June 28, 2026
Behind every perfect summer, there's a story no one's telling.
I really enjoyed this book - from the characters to the friendships to the setting, I finished this book in a day! Holly, Lisa and Savannah all seem to be very different and in completely different places in their lives. Maybe a summer on the tennis courts is exactly what they need.
This would make a great beach read / summer read. I especially loved the sense of found family and female friendships all with just the right amount of drama. Sometimes the right friend comes into your life at just the right time!
I really enjoyed this book - from the characters to the friendships to the setting, I finished this book in a day! Holly, Lisa and Savannah all seem to be very different and in completely different places in their lives. Maybe a summer on the tennis courts is exactly what they need.
This would make a great beach read / summer read. I especially loved the sense of found family and female friendships all with just the right amount of drama. Sometimes the right friend comes into your life at just the right time!
June 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. 3 women all in different stages of their lives coming together to find common ground, and also to lean on each other when they really have no one else.
While they all have different backgrounds, I did see similarities between the 3 women that I think helped them to get along so well.
While they all have different backgrounds, I did see similarities between the 3 women that I think helped them to get along so well.
June 30, 2026
Sometimes I get so caught up in romance books that I forgot how amazing and refreshing women's fiction can be.
Country Club Summer by Rachel Cullen was the perfect reminder of why I love women's fiction so much. Stories built around finding yourself or redefining yourself, growing friendships, and occasionally finding love again. But the story, the growth, is the motivator.
I love the reminder a story like this can provide that love isn't the end all of life, but that being happy with who you are and the life you are living matters.
Country Club Summer by Rachel Cullen was the perfect reminder of why I love women's fiction so much. Stories built around finding yourself or redefining yourself, growing friendships, and occasionally finding love again. But the story, the growth, is the motivator.
I love the reminder a story like this can provide that love isn't the end all of life, but that being happy with who you are and the life you are living matters.
July 22, 2026
This was such a fun book to read I loved the friendships form d even though they were in different stages of life it was so heartwarming to watch it’s one of those books that reminds you that no matter how old you are there’s always froth you never not growing and discovering who you really are!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews