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All Summer Long
Filled with her trademark wit, poignant themes, and rich characters, the perennial New York Times bestselling author returns with a sensational novel that follows the travels of one couple though a tumultuous summer. Dorothea Benton Frank s magical stories take us deep into the heart of her beloved Carolina Lowcountry. In her novels, this lush landscape comes alive in all its vibrancy and color. She ignites all of our senses with her vivid descriptions of landscape and atmosphere. In her novels you hear the ocean washing the shore on different islands so profoundly that you can nearly hear the sea gulls squawking, too. This is a story of people whose lives are changing a southern gentleman returning home to lead a more peaceful life and his talented New York wife who is not quite sure she is ready to make the transition. They are moving north to south, fast pace versus slow pace, downsizing. And while they are doing this, they are getting glimpses into other people s lives over the course of a summer, holidays that will amuse, shock and transform them. This irresistible story is home to captivating characters as funny, complicated, and real as our best friends husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, friends and family who wrestle with the complexities, pain, and joys familiar to us all. Finally, we ll come to recognize the face of love, the kind that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. That leap changes them all.
369 pages, Hardcover
Published May 31, 2016
1175 people are currently reading
8529 people want to read
About the author
Dorothea Benton Frank
64 books5,209 followersDorothea Benton Frank was a New York Times best-selling American novelist of Southern fiction. She worked in the apparel industry from 1972 until 1985 and then organized fundraisers as a volunteer, before becoming a novelist.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
She is best known as the author of twenty novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,247 reviews
June 2, 2016
Ms Frank is my favorite author. However, I gave up reading this book in chapter 3. This has none of her usually heartwarming cast of southern charm. None of the characters are likeable. So disappointed in this book
August 10, 2016
OK, get ready... I'm going there....what the Hell has happened to DBF? I used to enjoy her books. These last 2 were AWFUL. This book was full of the worst characters, from Olivia and Nick who talked to one another like the dialog from an old black and white movie, to her mega rich friends Bob and Maritza, who lavished them with gifts, money and super fabulous trips...and all the while Olivia is hiding a secret that she's broke. Really. But still, they "manage" with an assistant, a "pied a terre" in NYC AND a beach house in the lowcountry. It's kind of hard to sympathise with people who are "managing" while eating virtually every meal out, popping corks on champagne and really good bottles of wine, shopping at Whole Foods, jet setting all over the world, and eating rib eyes the size of my head. Maybe I'd feel some sypmathy for her if she was scraping up some change to buy a Hamburger Helper and a box of Franzia at the Sav-A-Lot. Maritza's "disappearance" was ridiculous, the outcome was so predictable, and I finished the book only so I could leave an honest review. I think I'm done with DBF. As Nick might say "Parting is such sweet sorrow". Ugh.
June 15, 2016
Nothing was happening. Half way through and I was BORED. I'm getting better at abandoning books that aren't worth my time...
August 10, 2016
Such a disappointment. I loved Ms. Frank's early work, so this is really sad for me.
Technically, this is poorly written, with run-on sentences, too-often repeated phrases, and continuity issues. (They were standing, and then stood up?).
The author has the wrong characters in scenes, and abruptly switches characters too often.
The characters are shallow, hateful and self-absorbed, and not likeable. I especially disliked all the woman-on-woman sniping.
I read lots of books, many with people who are unappealing, but this was just a waste of time, I felt. If I can't learn anything, or find a reason to engage with the character, why bother?
There was entirely too much emphasis on what designer label people were wearing, how much dinner cost, what name brand luggage they carried, etc.
I am glad I got this from the libary, and didn't purchase it.
Technically, this is poorly written, with run-on sentences, too-often repeated phrases, and continuity issues. (They were standing, and then stood up?).
The author has the wrong characters in scenes, and abruptly switches characters too often.
The characters are shallow, hateful and self-absorbed, and not likeable. I especially disliked all the woman-on-woman sniping.
I read lots of books, many with people who are unappealing, but this was just a waste of time, I felt. If I can't learn anything, or find a reason to engage with the character, why bother?
There was entirely too much emphasis on what designer label people were wearing, how much dinner cost, what name brand luggage they carried, etc.
I am glad I got this from the libary, and didn't purchase it.
June 14, 2016
Very disappointing. Not much of story, unlikeable characters, too much about the terrible wealthy characters and way too many exclamation points.
February 28, 2024
How awesome is it to have friends who are billionaires? That is the burning question explored in All Summer Long.
Olivia and HUSBAND, (he was so boring I can't remember his name) are our heroes. She is an interior decorator, he’s a professor, and they have pursued these occupations successfully in Manhattan for many years. Now HUSBAND thinks they are ready to retire to the Outer Banks of South Carolina, where he grew up. Olivia is not so keen on this plan because, besides not wanting to leave the city, she has always managed their finances and REALLY sucks at it. Forget retirement, they are on the verge of financial ruin, unbeknownst to HUSBAND. (They probably shouldn't have eaten at La Bernardin so often. The author must mention La Benardin ten times in the novel, I wonder if she eats there for free?)
Anyway, the impending collision with the ugly truth is postponed when they are invited by Bob and Maritza, Olivia’s most loyal clients and the aforementioned billionaires, to join their party for a Memorial Day weekend extravaganza on Necker Island. Upon boarding Bob’s luxurious private plane with the other guests - who are uniformly horrible people, and indistinguishable from each other - we begin to realize that Maritza is very unhappy. Other than Olivia, these people are not her friends. Her young daughter is a spoiled little monster. The nanny is disrespectful and obviously sleeping with Bob. And every other woman would cheerfully shove Maritza off the plane without a parachute if they thought they had a chance at becoming the next Mrs. Bob.
After the Necker Island vacation, the focus shifts back to Olivia and HUSBAND for awhile. Even though they are broke they commence to move into, and completely renovate, a huge beachfront house in South Carolina and eat almost every.single.meal at a restaurant. Food is described in excruciating detail throughout the book. There was, for example, a lengthy section in which Olivia and HUSBAND prepare competing versions of tomato sandwiches, involving white bread and mayonnaise. Riveting stuff. To be fair, there was also some mystical interaction with dolphins, and possibly Jesus, during this portion of the story.
I was saved from further exposure to Olivia and HUSBAND and their fiscal irresponsibility and annoying pet names for each other, because they were soon off on another vacation with Bob and Maritza, this time to Spain on a huge private yacht. The same awful guests from the first trip were back, plus Bob's ex-wife Colette who was even MORE horrible than any of them. Bob and Colette's son was getting married aboard the yacht which set the stage for some dramatic, Real Housewives style action between the current and former wives.
Overall this book was just silly and all over the place, with too many underdeveloped characters. I didn't hate it but I can't recommend it. On the other hand, I notice many other reviewers who had a similar reaction to it but rave about the author's earlier works, and I would definitely give her another try.
Olivia and HUSBAND, (he was so boring I can't remember his name) are our heroes. She is an interior decorator, he’s a professor, and they have pursued these occupations successfully in Manhattan for many years. Now HUSBAND thinks they are ready to retire to the Outer Banks of South Carolina, where he grew up. Olivia is not so keen on this plan because, besides not wanting to leave the city, she has always managed their finances and REALLY sucks at it. Forget retirement, they are on the verge of financial ruin, unbeknownst to HUSBAND. (They probably shouldn't have eaten at La Bernardin so often. The author must mention La Benardin ten times in the novel, I wonder if she eats there for free?)
Anyway, the impending collision with the ugly truth is postponed when they are invited by Bob and Maritza, Olivia’s most loyal clients and the aforementioned billionaires, to join their party for a Memorial Day weekend extravaganza on Necker Island. Upon boarding Bob’s luxurious private plane with the other guests - who are uniformly horrible people, and indistinguishable from each other - we begin to realize that Maritza is very unhappy. Other than Olivia, these people are not her friends. Her young daughter is a spoiled little monster. The nanny is disrespectful and obviously sleeping with Bob. And every other woman would cheerfully shove Maritza off the plane without a parachute if they thought they had a chance at becoming the next Mrs. Bob.
After the Necker Island vacation, the focus shifts back to Olivia and HUSBAND for awhile. Even though they are broke they commence to move into, and completely renovate, a huge beachfront house in South Carolina and eat almost every.single.meal at a restaurant. Food is described in excruciating detail throughout the book. There was, for example, a lengthy section in which Olivia and HUSBAND prepare competing versions of tomato sandwiches, involving white bread and mayonnaise. Riveting stuff. To be fair, there was also some mystical interaction with dolphins, and possibly Jesus, during this portion of the story.
I was saved from further exposure to Olivia and HUSBAND and their fiscal irresponsibility and annoying pet names for each other, because they were soon off on another vacation with Bob and Maritza, this time to Spain on a huge private yacht. The same awful guests from the first trip were back, plus Bob's ex-wife Colette who was even MORE horrible than any of them. Bob and Colette's son was getting married aboard the yacht which set the stage for some dramatic, Real Housewives style action between the current and former wives.
Overall this book was just silly and all over the place, with too many underdeveloped characters. I didn't hate it but I can't recommend it. On the other hand, I notice many other reviewers who had a similar reaction to it but rave about the author's earlier works, and I would definitely give her another try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2016
Review originally posted at
All Books Considered: 2.5 STARS
I suppose I had high expectations since this was my first from this author and I'd heard nothing but amazing things about her. But this book . . . really didn't work for me. Ostensibly, it's about Olivia, an interior designer for Manhattan's elite who is getting ready to retire to her husband's hometown of Charleston except she hasn't told him that she's blown their retirement fund on a few projects that didn't pan out. So she's forced to pander to her wealthiest client who essentially jets them around the world on several rich people vacations -- private jets, private islands, insane yachts, $26 million dollar homes on Nantucket -- and, really, nothing else happens in this book. I kept waiting for something to happen -- some sort of progress -- but, nope. Of course, everything magically works out and I liked Olivia (except for the fact that she calls her 67 year old husband "baby boy" ?!?) and some of the other characters but there was little to no story to this book.
If you're already a fan of this author, maybe you will love this -- I'm not sure if it is like her other books or not. I would choose something else for a beach read but if you just want to read about rich people and their crazy vacations and "problems," this might just be for you. All Summer Long came out earlier this week on May 31, 2016.
I suppose I had high expectations since this was my first from this author and I'd heard nothing but amazing things about her. But this book . . . really didn't work for me. Ostensibly, it's about Olivia, an interior designer for Manhattan's elite who is getting ready to retire to her husband's hometown of Charleston except she hasn't told him that she's blown their retirement fund on a few projects that didn't pan out. So she's forced to pander to her wealthiest client who essentially jets them around the world on several rich people vacations -- private jets, private islands, insane yachts, $26 million dollar homes on Nantucket -- and, really, nothing else happens in this book. I kept waiting for something to happen -- some sort of progress -- but, nope. Of course, everything magically works out and I liked Olivia (except for the fact that she calls her 67 year old husband "baby boy" ?!?) and some of the other characters but there was little to no story to this book.
If you're already a fan of this author, maybe you will love this -- I'm not sure if it is like her other books or not. I would choose something else for a beach read but if you just want to read about rich people and their crazy vacations and "problems," this might just be for you. All Summer Long came out earlier this week on May 31, 2016.
I'm a shallow man, he thought. All I've ever cared about was making money, having a beautiful woman on my arm, and living large on my terms. Somewhere along the line I forgot about things that were supposed to matter because, because because . . . why?
Because he refused to be vulnerable.
Love made you vulnerable.
June 7, 2016
This was perhaps the worst book I've ever finished. I kept thinking it would get better. Frank's early books set in the Low Country were delightful beach reads. This didn't even deserve one star. Really awful. How can a writer deteriorate so?
June 26, 2016
Could very well be me, but I gave up about 1/4 of the way through this book.
The characters, the dialogue, all of it just annoyed the hell out of me.
Not my style of book at all, and there are too many good ones out there to keep on going.
The characters, the dialogue, all of it just annoyed the hell out of me.
Not my style of book at all, and there are too many good ones out there to keep on going.
June 23, 2016
I like reading. I like Charleston. I like reading books set in Charleston. So, Dotty Frank's All Summer Long should have been a walk in walk in Waterfront Park, Slam dunk at the Joe (and maybe TD Arena at CofC for the dunk), day at the beach (Folly, Sullivans, Isle of Palms, and heck, even Kiawah, Seabrook, or Edisto) for me. Right?
Except it wasn't. The only things that engaged me in this book was the dedication to Pat at the beginning (assuming that Pat was Pat Conroy) and the memory of flying into Charleston from New York City, and reading Frank's description of the same flight path. But even then, I shuddered. "Scarlett's ringlets"? Even as a joke? Nevah. The characters felt dead to me, and even my beloved lowcountry failed to breathe a spark of life (or interest ) into the story.
Dorthea Benton Frank's books tend to either be a hit or a miss for me, rarely lukewarm. But I keep reading them, because when the combo hits a homer into the marsh from The Joe, I wanna be there in my kayak to catch it. I am currently rethinking that plan. My apologies to the author and to her fans.
Except it wasn't. The only things that engaged me in this book was the dedication to Pat at the beginning (assuming that Pat was Pat Conroy) and the memory of flying into Charleston from New York City, and reading Frank's description of the same flight path. But even then, I shuddered. "Scarlett's ringlets"? Even as a joke? Nevah. The characters felt dead to me, and even my beloved lowcountry failed to breathe a spark of life (or interest ) into the story.
Dorthea Benton Frank's books tend to either be a hit or a miss for me, rarely lukewarm. But I keep reading them, because when the combo hits a homer into the marsh from The Joe, I wanna be there in my kayak to catch it. I am currently rethinking that plan. My apologies to the author and to her fans.
June 21, 2016
What a disappointment! I've always looked forward to Frank's annual book that features the Lowcountry of South Carolina and often a cast of quirky characters. In fact, I've read all of them from Sullivan's Island on through, a guilty summer pleasure of mine. But it looks like I will have to cultivate a different guilty pleasure this year since the Lowcountry was on the periphery and there was only one character, Nick, who in my estimation had some redeeming qualities and he was the one who grew up in Charleston. Maybe Frank has spent too much time away from her roots to be able to channel the special beauty and charm of the place. The focus on the 1% didn't do it for me as the characters were shallow, whiny, and just plain uninteresting. Many of her characters in previous books were approachable, welcoming and even though they could be eccentric, I still would want to spend time with them rocking on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea while enjoying a cooling breeze off the water.
July 13, 2016
I just adore anything by Dorthea Benton Frank! I really found myself completely "sucked in" with All Summer Long...the story, the characters, all of it. Hopelessly addicted in seconds! ☺️
August 26, 2020
I'm a native Charlestonian, so I thought this would be an ideal read for the summer. After I reached Chapter 2 however, I thought this was simply too much of a snobbish, opulent, and privileged narrative for me. Throughout many paragraphs, it felt too deliberate in the life and drama of the rich. The descriptions emphasized on their expensive possessions, their fakey and flakey conversations, the catfights, the testosterone challenges and their embolden privilege like the spoiled brats they were, was a bit of a turnoff. It seems like the rich give themselves permission to misbehave and act crudely.
Through the eyes of interior designer Olivia Ritchie and her husband Nicholas Seymour, we saw the flaws of their rich friends, but we also saw their flaws within their marriage and lifestyle. Around Chapter 11, Bob's wife Maritza has gone missing. No one knew what happened and there was a massive search to find her or to find out what happened to her. When Bob suddenly realized he hadn't called Maritza's mother to tell her about Maritza's disappearance, he panicked. He asked Olivia to join him on the call to help ease the blow. Come to find out much to their surprise her mother revealed that Maritza had retreated to her house.
After Bob arrived at her mother's house, Maritza was not too quick to see him. The entourage that arrived with him (his daughter Gladdie, his driver, and Olivia) were able to see Maritza before him. But while Olivia was on her way home from her trip with Bob, she arrived home to discover that her husband Nick passed away sitting in a chair with his fishing hat on. How dreadfully tragic. However, it was a terrifying nightmare thank goodness. Interesting and ok.
Through the eyes of interior designer Olivia Ritchie and her husband Nicholas Seymour, we saw the flaws of their rich friends, but we also saw their flaws within their marriage and lifestyle. Around Chapter 11, Bob's wife Maritza has gone missing. No one knew what happened and there was a massive search to find her or to find out what happened to her. When Bob suddenly realized he hadn't called Maritza's mother to tell her about Maritza's disappearance, he panicked. He asked Olivia to join him on the call to help ease the blow. Come to find out much to their surprise her mother revealed that Maritza had retreated to her house.
After Bob arrived at her mother's house, Maritza was not too quick to see him. The entourage that arrived with him (his daughter Gladdie, his driver, and Olivia) were able to see Maritza before him. But while Olivia was on her way home from her trip with Bob, she arrived home to discover that her husband Nick passed away sitting in a chair with his fishing hat on. How dreadfully tragic. However, it was a terrifying nightmare thank goodness. Interesting and ok.
January 8, 2022
When this book came out years ago, I fell in love with the cover. I don't know what it is, it just gave me such a nice feeling...I didn't read it at the time but I did add it to my goodreads list and just now got around to it...I can't tell you how disappointing this book was to me. :( I did not love anything about it, other than the fact that I could picture the setting so easily and I would love to have billionaire friends...the main characters drove me out of my mind...what kind of adult woman calls her retired husband "baby boy?" That was just one of the things that drove me nuts but the way they all talked to each other was just ridiculous...good grief? And what the HELL was up with those last ten pages???
July 27, 2016
This book could have benefited from a more astute editor. For example, how could Roni, Olivia's thirty year-old assistant, have an eighty-five year old mother? There were also several grammatical errors I found upsetting. Wake up, people!
Like John Grisham, Ms. Frank seems to have fallen into the trap of template fiction. I am tired of the ridiculous and worn-out Southern stereotypes. Go to England and write about that.
Like John Grisham, Ms. Frank seems to have fallen into the trap of template fiction. I am tired of the ridiculous and worn-out Southern stereotypes. Go to England and write about that.
April 23, 2016
A book spending too much time on the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Many of the characters were spoiled and unlikable. Olivia, the main character, is an interior designer on a happy marriage. Moving from what seems to be described here as horrible Manhattan to the idyllic city of Charleston, Olivia finds herself in financial trouble. A light fast read but not essential.
June 3, 2016
I always enjoyed her writing and stories. This book was not worth my time.
May 31, 2016
A special thank you to HarperCollins and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Stunning Hardcover!
Dorothea Benton Frank, the "Queen" of Southern Fiction, returns following All the Single Ladies (2015) with her kickoff annual summer beach read—ALL SUMMER LONG. It just wouldn't be complete without our DBF fix!
From glamorous Manhattan, Nantucket, Spain to Sullivan’s Island, SC- a couple from different walks of life. A crazy tumultuous summer; coming to find happiness through life’s storms in unexpected ways: Belonging. A powerful story of renewal and magic in the LowCountry.
Meet Olivia, a New York highly successful top interior designer. Over the years she has had the privilege of observing the private and personal habits of the rich and famous. She has worked hard to rebuild her life after her first philandering financially irresponsible medical student husband, had taken everything and left.
She was determined this would never happen again. She buried herself in her work and built her business, one gnarly client at a time. Single life was lovely; however, she was fortunate to meet another man—a Southern gentleman from the Lowcountry. They remarried and have had a happy life. She still managed her independence at the same time.
Nick was like Olivia in that he also collected things. He loved leather bound books for his study. They loved to travel. He was a professor and the bulk of their money came from her and her business. She handled their finances.
However now, it was time to downsize—(necessary) the economy and her business was slowly shrinking. She has not told her husband their dire situation. She keeps thinking she would attain more clients, but she fears in the minds of her clients- she would be washed up. Moving away from New York would be horrific. Why in the world would a client in Manhattan hire an interior designer from anywhere else?
She had promised Nick, a confirmed bachelor, when they married fourteen years ago, when he moved in with her, they would retire to Sullivan’s Island, SC-- the land of his ancestors and boyhood. He was so excited . . and looked forward to their simpler life. He wanted to share every part of the South with her.
Olivia was not so sure. She has purchased a big old house to keep up her image, which needed a lot of work; however, how would they be able to afford the renovation and lifestyle without the money coming in? She knew the house would be far too grand for Nick’s taste. She hoped to build her business once back in SC, and as usual she was in a panic.
In the meantime, they are globetrotting, cruises and jetting around the world with the rich and famous, hoping for more work from these clients. She liked being younger than Nick, and the only other person she could depend on besides her husband, was her assistant Roni.
With her Manhattan lifestyle behind, can Olivia survive in the LowCountry, with no housekeeper, clients or contacts in Charleston,--places to shop, or get her hair done? She was stripped of her possessions. She had been playing the denial game for far too long. It was either Nick or Charleston---he had always had a desire for beautiful things—the big city. Whereas Nick’s parents lived a modest island life, but they gave him a world of things to feel passionate about and to love—encouragement. Olivia’s parents gave her none of those values.
Now Nick, age sixty-seven, an historian, had come back to the Lowcountry and slipped right back into his boyhood life without missing a beat. Olivia on the other hand was adapting slowly and her heart carried some gloom—she loved him and was determined to rise above the feeling that she was the proverbial fish out of water.
From their billionaire friends, Bob and his wife Maritza. and their differences, a cast of other eccentric characters—the ups and downs, dramas, Nantucket, and Roni---possibly Olivia might get used to the South. From friends, and lots of life’s curve balls—the enchanted waters of Sullivan’s Island might wash the urban demons out to sea.
An opening of heart and mind Believing, Faith, Love. Relationships, bonds, and marriage—trusting and loving. Money does not always buy happiness.
Dorothea Benton Frank once again brings her love and passion of the LowCountry to the pages making her characters come alive. From wit, charm, drama, and local flavor-from fresh fish, dogs, dolphins, music, seagulls, seaside, laughter—and dreams, a powerful place, happiness-home at last.
Not as extreme opposites as Green Acres, the American TV sitcom, starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, couple who move from New York City to a country farm. 1965-1971. However, quite entertaining!
JDCMustReadBooks
Dorothea Benton Frank, the "Queen" of Southern Fiction, returns following All the Single Ladies (2015) with her kickoff annual summer beach read—ALL SUMMER LONG. It just wouldn't be complete without our DBF fix!
From glamorous Manhattan, Nantucket, Spain to Sullivan’s Island, SC- a couple from different walks of life. A crazy tumultuous summer; coming to find happiness through life’s storms in unexpected ways: Belonging. A powerful story of renewal and magic in the LowCountry.
Meet Olivia, a New York highly successful top interior designer. Over the years she has had the privilege of observing the private and personal habits of the rich and famous. She has worked hard to rebuild her life after her first philandering financially irresponsible medical student husband, had taken everything and left.
She was determined this would never happen again. She buried herself in her work and built her business, one gnarly client at a time. Single life was lovely; however, she was fortunate to meet another man—a Southern gentleman from the Lowcountry. They remarried and have had a happy life. She still managed her independence at the same time.
Nick was like Olivia in that he also collected things. He loved leather bound books for his study. They loved to travel. He was a professor and the bulk of their money came from her and her business. She handled their finances.
However now, it was time to downsize—(necessary) the economy and her business was slowly shrinking. She has not told her husband their dire situation. She keeps thinking she would attain more clients, but she fears in the minds of her clients- she would be washed up. Moving away from New York would be horrific. Why in the world would a client in Manhattan hire an interior designer from anywhere else?
She had promised Nick, a confirmed bachelor, when they married fourteen years ago, when he moved in with her, they would retire to Sullivan’s Island, SC-- the land of his ancestors and boyhood. He was so excited . . and looked forward to their simpler life. He wanted to share every part of the South with her.
Olivia was not so sure. She has purchased a big old house to keep up her image, which needed a lot of work; however, how would they be able to afford the renovation and lifestyle without the money coming in? She knew the house would be far too grand for Nick’s taste. She hoped to build her business once back in SC, and as usual she was in a panic.
In the meantime, they are globetrotting, cruises and jetting around the world with the rich and famous, hoping for more work from these clients. She liked being younger than Nick, and the only other person she could depend on besides her husband, was her assistant Roni.
With her Manhattan lifestyle behind, can Olivia survive in the LowCountry, with no housekeeper, clients or contacts in Charleston,--places to shop, or get her hair done? She was stripped of her possessions. She had been playing the denial game for far too long. It was either Nick or Charleston---he had always had a desire for beautiful things—the big city. Whereas Nick’s parents lived a modest island life, but they gave him a world of things to feel passionate about and to love—encouragement. Olivia’s parents gave her none of those values.
Now Nick, age sixty-seven, an historian, had come back to the Lowcountry and slipped right back into his boyhood life without missing a beat. Olivia on the other hand was adapting slowly and her heart carried some gloom—she loved him and was determined to rise above the feeling that she was the proverbial fish out of water.
From their billionaire friends, Bob and his wife Maritza. and their differences, a cast of other eccentric characters—the ups and downs, dramas, Nantucket, and Roni---possibly Olivia might get used to the South. From friends, and lots of life’s curve balls—the enchanted waters of Sullivan’s Island might wash the urban demons out to sea.
An opening of heart and mind Believing, Faith, Love. Relationships, bonds, and marriage—trusting and loving. Money does not always buy happiness.
Dorothea Benton Frank once again brings her love and passion of the LowCountry to the pages making her characters come alive. From wit, charm, drama, and local flavor-from fresh fish, dogs, dolphins, music, seagulls, seaside, laughter—and dreams, a powerful place, happiness-home at last.
Not as extreme opposites as Green Acres, the American TV sitcom, starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, couple who move from New York City to a country farm. 1965-1971. However, quite entertaining!
JDCMustReadBooks
June 18, 2016
This book was disappointing. It had Dorothea Benton Frank's easy style and readability. However, I found myself saying, "Really? I should care about these characters because?" repeatedly during the book. I couldn't find any sympathy for any of them...The main character, Olivia, is an interior designer who comes across as a leech and free loader under the guise of professionalism and friendship. i couldn't find any sympathy for her money problems. Maritza and Bob Visile were super rich people who were plain obnoxious, Bob cheats on Maritza with the nanny, and god knows who else..yet she stays...When she finally has enough and leaves he gives it 24 hours and then wants to set sail. When he finally starts professing his love I was like oh really?I don't know why I finished reading the book, and that is why I gave the book 2 stars...Next novel, find some better characters.
July 17, 2016
Long time DBF fangirl here. I was extremely surprised to see the terrible reviews this book was getting and luckily I didn't pre-order this year's DBF release as I usually do. I paid attention to the reviews and instead of purchasing, waited to download this from our local library. Thank goodness! Thank you very much to everyone that posted an honest review. You saved me money.
All that said, I think I see what DBF was trying to do in All Summer Long. She was trying to provide a stark contrast between life before Bob's conversion to a loving, caring husband to Maritza and after his conversion. Sadly I think everyone was just a caricature of how people think very wealthy people live and behave. Honestly, in my opinion, not even the richest person would put up with shrews like Dorothy or Michelle, even for business. But of course, this is fiction and DBF went way, way overboard in trying to show what nasty, rude "friends" Bob had so that Olivia seemed that much better in contrast.
Olivia was a spoiled rotten woman that couldn't figure out how she was going to cope without a housekeeper for heaven's sake! She was no better than the other hangers-on that Bob acquired except she wasn't rude to people's faces, usually. Nick and Maritza were about the only "real" people that I felt had compassion for others, were friendly, polite and down to earth, not spoiled and grasping. The fact that Olivia felt it was okay to hide their real financial state from Nick and then continued to blithely spend money eating out every night and jetting around the world was just so unbelievable. Even if someone is flying you on their jet there are still expenses and the last thing anyone in a situation like Olivia's should have done was travel all over instead of trying to revive her business.
The entire book was filled with mean, spoiled entitled feeling people that give anyone with money a bad name. I don't know when DBF got so off track, but she really missed the boat on this one. As I said, except for Nick and Maritza, there was no one I could identify with, nor did I care what happened to any of them. Why DBF and her publishers felt people would pay what they are charging to read page after page filled with people sniping at each other I have no idea. I really hope this author can find her way back to writing about average people and characters that her readers loved.
All that said, I think I see what DBF was trying to do in All Summer Long. She was trying to provide a stark contrast between life before Bob's conversion to a loving, caring husband to Maritza and after his conversion. Sadly I think everyone was just a caricature of how people think very wealthy people live and behave. Honestly, in my opinion, not even the richest person would put up with shrews like Dorothy or Michelle, even for business. But of course, this is fiction and DBF went way, way overboard in trying to show what nasty, rude "friends" Bob had so that Olivia seemed that much better in contrast.
Olivia was a spoiled rotten woman that couldn't figure out how she was going to cope without a housekeeper for heaven's sake! She was no better than the other hangers-on that Bob acquired except she wasn't rude to people's faces, usually. Nick and Maritza were about the only "real" people that I felt had compassion for others, were friendly, polite and down to earth, not spoiled and grasping. The fact that Olivia felt it was okay to hide their real financial state from Nick and then continued to blithely spend money eating out every night and jetting around the world was just so unbelievable. Even if someone is flying you on their jet there are still expenses and the last thing anyone in a situation like Olivia's should have done was travel all over instead of trying to revive her business.
The entire book was filled with mean, spoiled entitled feeling people that give anyone with money a bad name. I don't know when DBF got so off track, but she really missed the boat on this one. As I said, except for Nick and Maritza, there was no one I could identify with, nor did I care what happened to any of them. Why DBF and her publishers felt people would pay what they are charging to read page after page filled with people sniping at each other I have no idea. I really hope this author can find her way back to writing about average people and characters that her readers loved.
June 5, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
She could be described as bitchy on occasion. Okay, somewhat often. Actually, she was a worrier, and sometimes she may have appeared to be aloof or maybe ill humored when she was just worried... But when she needed to, she could channel Grace Kelly.
My sweet husband is the cook in the family... It's critical for him to love the kitchen. Otherwise we eat my cooking and die.
Actually, seeing Dorothy was enough to give you nightmares. Her complexion was geisha pale, and she wore dark vampire-red lipstick. She was so thin it was disturbing to see her in a swimsuit, and when she was dressed, she swaddled herself in fashions so bizarre that she look like Jane Jetson met Lady Gaga in a dark place.
Roni's face was blood red. Olivia and Nick were beyond the age of sensing pheromones in the air, but had they been able to, they would've noticed that the room was swarming with them. Perhaps the entire house was suddenly flooded with them. It was as though they all were trapped in a snow globe full of raging, sexy, twerking pheromones. Even the normally super composed, all-business Jason Fowler was way off kilter and grinning like an idiotic schoolboy.
Colette's earrings had to have been a guilt gift from Bob; at least they looked like something he might have brought home after he did something completely unforgivable. Olivia had the funny thought that great sex doesn't last, but diamonds are forever.
My Review:
All Summer Long was a delightful treat from beginning to end. I adored this sweet couple and their feisty and witty banter. Dorothea Benton Frank is a master wordsmith and I remain in awe of her skills. As with all her books, All Summer Long was smartly written, laced with crisp humor, vibrant and complex characters, clever dialogue, and keen observations and insights. I don't think I could ever tire of reading her work.
She could be described as bitchy on occasion. Okay, somewhat often. Actually, she was a worrier, and sometimes she may have appeared to be aloof or maybe ill humored when she was just worried... But when she needed to, she could channel Grace Kelly.
My sweet husband is the cook in the family... It's critical for him to love the kitchen. Otherwise we eat my cooking and die.
Actually, seeing Dorothy was enough to give you nightmares. Her complexion was geisha pale, and she wore dark vampire-red lipstick. She was so thin it was disturbing to see her in a swimsuit, and when she was dressed, she swaddled herself in fashions so bizarre that she look like Jane Jetson met Lady Gaga in a dark place.
Roni's face was blood red. Olivia and Nick were beyond the age of sensing pheromones in the air, but had they been able to, they would've noticed that the room was swarming with them. Perhaps the entire house was suddenly flooded with them. It was as though they all were trapped in a snow globe full of raging, sexy, twerking pheromones. Even the normally super composed, all-business Jason Fowler was way off kilter and grinning like an idiotic schoolboy.
Colette's earrings had to have been a guilt gift from Bob; at least they looked like something he might have brought home after he did something completely unforgivable. Olivia had the funny thought that great sex doesn't last, but diamonds are forever.
My Review:
All Summer Long was a delightful treat from beginning to end. I adored this sweet couple and their feisty and witty banter. Dorothea Benton Frank is a master wordsmith and I remain in awe of her skills. As with all her books, All Summer Long was smartly written, laced with crisp humor, vibrant and complex characters, clever dialogue, and keen observations and insights. I don't think I could ever tire of reading her work.
June 20, 2016
I'm a big fan of this author. As I read this I wanted to shake her! Where's her low country folk? Apparently not stuck on some yacht that can't dock at a US port bc the owner didn't want to pay taxes! I really 'felt' nothing for these spoiled ostentatious ridiculous characters. Oh boohoo they couldn't buy a 26 million dollar house. Seriously? I kept waiting for Robin Leach and sure enough he did show up! I'd rather a book about Betty and Ernest!! Really left me with a sour taste
June 1, 2016
I say this every year, but it isn't summer until I've read the latest by Dorothea Benton Frank, and it's true for this year. Her books are the start of my summer and I always enjoy them.
I absolutely adore this author because every time I read her books I wonder to myself why am I not living in the Carolina Lowcountry? Probably because I'm poor and have responsibilities like the loser adult that I am. But someday, the Lowcountry is on my travel list because it is the epitome of the south, summer, lemonade and sweet tea.
Anyways.
So this book gives you the same feel as all of her others, and it's full of fun characters (some of which are hard to like), an amazing setting, humor, and the kind of story you can see yourself telling your best friend about this one time you went on vacation in the Lowcountry. Olivia is so hard to like, mostly because we meet her first and it's clear she's keeping some pretty big secrets from her husband, mainly their lack of income. Her husband, Nick, is blissfully oblivious and probably more so because he is going back to his roots as he and Olivia downsize and move back to the south as far away from their fast paced, overfull lives in New York City. He knows that the move is a lot for Olivia, it means she's making big sacrifices for him, but he's confident that once she's there she'll see the positive of the move.
But the move doesn't take place until an over the top, lavish vacation with clients of Olivia's, where we meet a whole slew of nut job characters. We have the rich undercover playboy married to a former southern waitress, that waitress is now the mom of a very demanding child but also oblivious that her husband is cheating on her with the nanny. The nanny, who can't stand the mother who is sure if only she'd get out of the picture, playboy who be faithful to her, and so many others who have their own agendas, are rude, but give you the absolute best stories to take back to your friends about your vacation. This leads to all kinds of absurd and obscene behavior, as if the guests have to one up each other in outrageous behavior, all the while Nick and Olivia maintain their normal relationship (despite Olivia not being totally truthful about their actual financial situation). It's funny, it's touching, and I would bet some of you could personally relate to Nick and Olivia's relationship, if not for the financial situation, but for the need to downsize and transition into a new stage of life with your partner.
It's a fun read, I got through this in a weekend and I adored it, just like I've adored all of Dorothea's books. It's a solid summer read and I suggest it because Dorothea will never leave you disappointed!
I absolutely adore this author because every time I read her books I wonder to myself why am I not living in the Carolina Lowcountry? Probably because I'm poor and have responsibilities like the loser adult that I am. But someday, the Lowcountry is on my travel list because it is the epitome of the south, summer, lemonade and sweet tea.
Anyways.
So this book gives you the same feel as all of her others, and it's full of fun characters (some of which are hard to like), an amazing setting, humor, and the kind of story you can see yourself telling your best friend about this one time you went on vacation in the Lowcountry. Olivia is so hard to like, mostly because we meet her first and it's clear she's keeping some pretty big secrets from her husband, mainly their lack of income. Her husband, Nick, is blissfully oblivious and probably more so because he is going back to his roots as he and Olivia downsize and move back to the south as far away from their fast paced, overfull lives in New York City. He knows that the move is a lot for Olivia, it means she's making big sacrifices for him, but he's confident that once she's there she'll see the positive of the move.
But the move doesn't take place until an over the top, lavish vacation with clients of Olivia's, where we meet a whole slew of nut job characters. We have the rich undercover playboy married to a former southern waitress, that waitress is now the mom of a very demanding child but also oblivious that her husband is cheating on her with the nanny. The nanny, who can't stand the mother who is sure if only she'd get out of the picture, playboy who be faithful to her, and so many others who have their own agendas, are rude, but give you the absolute best stories to take back to your friends about your vacation. This leads to all kinds of absurd and obscene behavior, as if the guests have to one up each other in outrageous behavior, all the while Nick and Olivia maintain their normal relationship (despite Olivia not being totally truthful about their actual financial situation). It's funny, it's touching, and I would bet some of you could personally relate to Nick and Olivia's relationship, if not for the financial situation, but for the need to downsize and transition into a new stage of life with your partner.
It's a fun read, I got through this in a weekend and I adored it, just like I've adored all of Dorothea's books. It's a solid summer read and I suggest it because Dorothea will never leave you disappointed!
May 18, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads first reads.
This book was just...okay. Like many other reviewers have mentioned this would be a good book for a quick read on the beach.
The issues I had with it were the characters themselves and the setting of the plot.
Olivia in particular was difficult to "connect" too and I didn't feel like I ever got over my initial dislike towards her entitled, "Champagne taste on a beer budget" attitude.
Which is were the second issue comes into play, the entire book focused on (as other reviewers have already pointed out) a very luxurious and entitled lifestyle that not many of us are going to understand very well, myself included.
Since I don't understand, a lot of the characters came across as petty, selfish, and spoiled. In other words...not likable at all.
However, I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I did enjoy the relationship between Olivia and Nick. It was nice to see a story where cheating and divorce weren't the main theme.
It's a quick read, that's nice for a vacation or downtime.
This book was just...okay. Like many other reviewers have mentioned this would be a good book for a quick read on the beach.
The issues I had with it were the characters themselves and the setting of the plot.
Olivia in particular was difficult to "connect" too and I didn't feel like I ever got over my initial dislike towards her entitled, "Champagne taste on a beer budget" attitude.
Which is were the second issue comes into play, the entire book focused on (as other reviewers have already pointed out) a very luxurious and entitled lifestyle that not many of us are going to understand very well, myself included.
Since I don't understand, a lot of the characters came across as petty, selfish, and spoiled. In other words...not likable at all.
However, I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I did enjoy the relationship between Olivia and Nick. It was nice to see a story where cheating and divorce weren't the main theme.
It's a quick read, that's nice for a vacation or downtime.
Read
July 31, 2016I was not able to get into this one. I didn't like the characters, they were shallow and concerned about personal possessions. This book focused on the wealthy, and I couldn't connect with the greed and the lifestyles. It was not a good fit for me.
April 5, 2017
I’m very excited to be today’s stop on the blog tour for All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank! Before I begin, I’d like to thank TLC Book Tours for allowing me to participate, and William Morrow Paperbacks for sending me my review copy.
All Summer Long tells the story of Olivia, a New York interior designer, who is married to Nick, a just-retired history professor. Years ago, Olivia promised to move to Sullivan’s Island when Nick retired, and the time to make good on her promise has arrived. Unbeknownst to Nick, recent setbacks in Olivia’s business have compromised their financial security. She needs work—and plenty of it—to get their money situation sorted out. With that in mind, Olivia is especially looking forward to vacationing with long-time client Bob and his (latest) wife, Maritza. She feels confident that the cruise to a private island with the billionaire couple (and a few of their friends) will result in more than enough work to keep her busy and give a much needed boost to her bank account.
Instead, she finds herself being the unwilling confidant Maritza chooses to talk about her marital woes, as well as an embarrassed witness to the nanny brazenly flaunting her affair with Bob while another woman tries in vain to capture Bob’s affections while making a drunken spectacle of herself repeatedly. Then there’s Bob’s adult son from his previous marriage, who shares the rest of the group’s openly hostile opinion that Maritza is a gold-digger who broke up his parent’s marriage. The vacation proves to be anything but relaxing, particularly after a frightful episode involving Bob and Maritza’s little girl. But that feels like heaven in retrospect when the group gathers again for the wedding of Bob’s son… and one of the guests is Bob’s ex-wife.
It had been a long time since I last traveled to the Carolina Lowcountry within the pages of one of Dorothea’s books, so I was looking forward to letting my imagination take flight for a leisurely visit once more. I’ll be honest and say that I was expecting a story set primarily in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. That didn’t happen, but while I was the tiniest bit disappointed, I still found myself enthralled with the wildly unpredictable cast of characters that made up Bob’s group of friends. They are ridiculously rich, often unlikable, and I couldn’t relate to any of them at all… but I had such fun reading about them! (And, more often than not, rolling my eyes at many of the self-important things they would say.)
Without a doubt, my favorite character was Maritza. I could vividly picture everything she did in my mind’s eye. I adored her no nonsense attitude and the way she handled a sticky situation near the end of the book. She was such a hoot! Nick was a close second. How could I not love a character with such a love for history, and who took such joy in introducing his big city wife to one of the South’s most simple, yet incredibly delicious, culinary delights? If you’re curious about what it was? It was a tomato sandwich. (Trust me… they are heavenly!) This may have been my favorite scene in the entire book, actually, because the way it played out felt so authentic.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and would definitely recommend it to others.
All Summer Long tells the story of Olivia, a New York interior designer, who is married to Nick, a just-retired history professor. Years ago, Olivia promised to move to Sullivan’s Island when Nick retired, and the time to make good on her promise has arrived. Unbeknownst to Nick, recent setbacks in Olivia’s business have compromised their financial security. She needs work—and plenty of it—to get their money situation sorted out. With that in mind, Olivia is especially looking forward to vacationing with long-time client Bob and his (latest) wife, Maritza. She feels confident that the cruise to a private island with the billionaire couple (and a few of their friends) will result in more than enough work to keep her busy and give a much needed boost to her bank account.
Instead, she finds herself being the unwilling confidant Maritza chooses to talk about her marital woes, as well as an embarrassed witness to the nanny brazenly flaunting her affair with Bob while another woman tries in vain to capture Bob’s affections while making a drunken spectacle of herself repeatedly. Then there’s Bob’s adult son from his previous marriage, who shares the rest of the group’s openly hostile opinion that Maritza is a gold-digger who broke up his parent’s marriage. The vacation proves to be anything but relaxing, particularly after a frightful episode involving Bob and Maritza’s little girl. But that feels like heaven in retrospect when the group gathers again for the wedding of Bob’s son… and one of the guests is Bob’s ex-wife.
It had been a long time since I last traveled to the Carolina Lowcountry within the pages of one of Dorothea’s books, so I was looking forward to letting my imagination take flight for a leisurely visit once more. I’ll be honest and say that I was expecting a story set primarily in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. That didn’t happen, but while I was the tiniest bit disappointed, I still found myself enthralled with the wildly unpredictable cast of characters that made up Bob’s group of friends. They are ridiculously rich, often unlikable, and I couldn’t relate to any of them at all… but I had such fun reading about them! (And, more often than not, rolling my eyes at many of the self-important things they would say.)
Without a doubt, my favorite character was Maritza. I could vividly picture everything she did in my mind’s eye. I adored her no nonsense attitude and the way she handled a sticky situation near the end of the book. She was such a hoot! Nick was a close second. How could I not love a character with such a love for history, and who took such joy in introducing his big city wife to one of the South’s most simple, yet incredibly delicious, culinary delights? If you’re curious about what it was? It was a tomato sandwich. (Trust me… they are heavenly!) This may have been my favorite scene in the entire book, actually, because the way it played out felt so authentic.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, and would definitely recommend it to others.
July 26, 2016
It breaks my heart to rate one of Dottie Frank's books so low, but I have to be honest. She is one of my favorite contemporary authors and yet, sadly, this books falls short of her previous works. It is like a Southern version of a Danielle Steel novel. I have nothing against Danielle Steel novels but that is not what I expect when I read Ms. Frank. One of the main problems, in my opinion, is that she veers too far away from her backyard of the Low Country. The sense of humor I have come to expect from her books is lacking as well. So, all in all, by far not my favorite of her novels, but I will be back for more when her next work is published!
June 13, 2016
I usually love her books. This one feels forced, and repetitive, to say the least. The plot is implausible and as one character indicates, filled with first world problems. Money, or the lack of, when you can afford to buy a house on Sullivan's Island, provides the plot line but I felt absolutely no connection to this story or the characters. Not the author's best effort, and seriously thinking of not even finishing the book though I'm halfway done.
June 22, 2016
I was really disappointed in this book. Dialogue was forced. Not really a plot. Ms. Frank needs a new editor. On page 210 there was a HUGE error! I am being generous with 2 stars.
September 20, 2021
Loved the author and her writing!! Will def read more by her, but this one was probably not the best one to start with. Boring at times, but I enjoyed the story and how she developed all the characters over time. Wouldn’t read again.
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