On Mystic Lake/Summer Island

by Kristin Hannah

On Mystic Lake Summer Island

Genres: Fiction, Romance

816 pages, Paperback

Published May 6, 2005

About the author

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018,

The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.

Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.

Her new novel, The Women, about a young woman coming of age during the turbulent 1960's in America, who joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam will be published February 6th, 2024.

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kristin Hannah's stories always intrigue me because she often goes places I don't think she's going to. It's fluffy and light but there's sometimes an undercurrent of substance that I enjoy. That said, her writing in this book leaves something to be desired--it's one of her earlier ones and I can definitely see that she's grown in terms of the disgustingly corny prose that makes me cringe, that is to say, she's gotten better at avoiding it. I enjoyed the parts of the book in Mystic with Izzy and Nick but then when she went back to California and was dealing with the one dimensional jerk face husband and just could not extract herself from the situation I got a little impatient.

[Dayna Krannawitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the reviews of those who thought this book was too “hallmark” and maybe a little cheesy in the language. But I loved the story and especially the stories of working through the trauma of loss. Once you get past the some of the romance novel language there is a great story of finding yourself.

[Sonia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Prose melodramatic. Plot predictable. Cheesey, sentimental nonsense really.

[Katie Harland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love Kristin Hannah’s books, this is the fourth one I’ve read, but this one was not my favorite. The dialogue was too cheesy and hallmark for me. I stuck it out and finished it because her writing is easy to read but this one was not the most enjoyable.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t finish this book. In fact, I probably didn’t give it a fair try - I only read 5 chapters. I just couldn’t get into it. Couldn’t get past her self pity.

[Norman Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2⭐️. A good summer read..a bit predictable but I enjoyed it nonetheless as I do all her books!

[Heather MacCuaig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read electronic version - this review is for my own reference
An earlier work of Kristin Hannah’s. I am very partial to her earlier novels, more romance themed and less heavier themes.
Annie and Blake (daughter Natalie) live in California. Blake tells Annie that he is in love with another woman. Sets her world on its axis. She travels back to Washington state to be with her Dad. There she reconnects with her high school friend/crush Nick. His wife has recently died and he is struggling with the grief. His daughter Izzy is struggling on her own, not speaking and withdrawing from everyone.
There are poignant moments, a big surprise and a fairly predictable ending. I do wish the ending was covered and not left to the imagination.
Reviews I read said they felt the dialogue was not realistic, too cheesy. It could have been but that made it a lighter read and I did enjoy it.

[Leeanne Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annalise is married to Blake and they have a daughter Natalie. After dropping Natalie (Nana) at the airport to travel to London for school, Blake tells Annie he is in love with someone else. She begs and pleads with him not to leave, but he does.
After some time she goes back “home” to stay with her dad. She is also reunited with her first love, Nick, a widower with a young daughter. The three of them make a family as it were.
Just when Annie thinks she has found her happiness again, her world is shattered and she is forced to make a decision that could change everything.

[Terrilin Hutterer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was easy reading and the storyline was relatable. However, the main character was likable but lacked depth and believability in some of her choices. At one point, the story became about two secondary characters, and that part was much more interesting and intriguing. That being said- this book is a decent, quick read for when you have a short period of time that you want to get lost in someone else’s life for a bit.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book, while somewhat predictably, was an amazing read! as someone who lost her mother young and had it handled very similarly to the way annie’s father handled her mothers dead, i felt incredibly seen. my favorite parts were of annie and izzy because she gave that little girl the healing and love she needed, it seriously heal a piece of my child self. i cried so many times during this book and loved every second of it!

[Catriona Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the airport . I didn’t realise it was an early novel she had written. It was very cliche - marriage 20 years & husband leaves for younger woman - wife goes back to stay with her father where she grew up & meets her first love who is recently widowed. The writing was very mushy. Not her best work.

[Joy Stumpo · Rating 1 out of 5]

it brought back too many bad memories of my divorce. out of the blue to be told your mate, who you thought was forever, wants out and is in love with someone else. The pain is not to be brought back. i stopped reading quickly. sorry

[Erica Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a bit lifetime movie-ish at points and was predictable in the way those movies are. I wished there was a bit more depth and character development. But over all a quick enjoyable read.

[Kimberly Marsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually couldn’t finish this one - the dialogue and writing was so lame and by the end of the second chapter i actually hated the leading lady because she was so weak. Hallmark movie fans would love it. Not for me.

[Val Zimmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Kristin Hannah's other book, " The Great Alone" better.

[Julie Houseal]

Easy read by Kristin Hannah but has a few unexpected twists.

[Jennie Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A predictable but enjoyable easy read.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

So bad I have no words.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great female main character and her story line.

[Christy Blackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristen Hannah is such a good story teller that even though the story was predictable, I couldn’t put the book down.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just wondering if it is the norm among authors to re-publish a book that you wrote in 1999? It seems like a bit of a cheat to me. I only noticed after I had bought it that it wasn't a new publication and this is not the first time I have been caught by Ms Hannah

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Kara Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently this was a reread for me. Had read it in 2013 and has zero recollection of the story. 🤪 Enjoyable enough, I read it in a few hours.

[Maile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of Kristin Hannah's books I adore. Firefly Lane was remarkable and Winter Garden was lovely. Others I enjoy, but the overall story falls flat. On Mystic Lake not only fell flat to me, but also lacked the ability to suck me in. Perhaps it was the reading conditions; this was primarily a plane book. Perhaps it was the characters, there wasn't anyone for me to identify with, a first in her books.

This book touched on interesting issues, and as always, Hannah delivers more than the cover implies. But I think for a 29 year old idealist who loves California, reading about a repressed 40 year old who constantly insults my home town, the book wasn't as strong as it could have been.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Kristin Hannah book that I have ever read and wow, I was left in awe! I absolutely loved it. From the beginning to the end it kept me addicted and wondering what would happen next. Next to Nicholas Sparks, Kristin Hannah is a new favorite of mine! I have True Colors and Firefly Lane sitting here ready to be read and I don't know which one to start, he he!

This particular book was a love story that had your everyday life issues wrapped into it! I highly recommend it and I absolutely adored it!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - Kristin Hannah is my new "Nicholas Sparks". I fell in love with the "Izzy" character. I did think the plot was somewhat predicatable and would have liked to see the baby NOT be Blake's and that she was reunited with her "true love" instead of just driving the car in that direction. Overall, I did enjoy it but "Firefly Lane" was soooooo much better!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars, but went with 4 because I'm starting to love Kristin Hannah. I was really excited to read this book, but didn't love it as much as I expected I would. The main character, Annie, reminded me of the main character from "Distant Shores" -- another Kristin Hannah book I just read.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Kristin Hannah book that I've read and it was as amazing as the first one. What a wonderful story. Being in my mid 40s, I could totally relate to the main character and the struggles that she is going through. I loved it!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. I liked the love story in it and all the other things they had going on. It was a good read :)

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

this would have been five stars...but i didn't like how the book ended. i wish there had been a little more detail...other than that the book was great!