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Nantucket #2

Summer Dance

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter brings together characters from her acclaimed novel Nantucket in a powerful, heartwarming love story that bridges past and present.

When Liam Tate was seven years old, his uncle Cooper opened his heart and his Nantucket home to him. In the intervening decades, Liam has found both love and loss on the island, and since learning of his son Levi's existence, a new kind of happiness. Yet one piece of his family history remains elusive--the long-ago romance between his uncle and Sally Adams. Now Sally has a revelation that sets the whole town abuzz: She's publishing a book about what happened during the summer when she and Cooper first met, painting a picture so vivid it feels like yesterday . . .

In 1969, Winston Ellis Cooper III lands on Nantucket with only a duffel bag and a bottle of Jack Daniels. He finds a sparsely furnished beach cottage, about as far from Vietnam as he can get. But even here, Cooper can't withdraw from the world entirely. Especially once his eyes meet Sally's in the flickering lights of a summer dance. The effects of that fiery affair can still be felt decades later. And as the story unfolds, there are new lessons for all to learn about life's triumphs and heartaches, and about loving enough to let go.

Praise for the novels of Nan Rossiter

"Nan Rossiter is at the peak of her storytelling abilities with Under a Summer Sky, which is told with the kind of compassion, grace, and wisdom that is nearly unrivaled in contemporary fiction." -Examiner.com

"Eloquent and surprising...I love this story of faith, love, and the lasting bonds of family." -Ann Leary, author of The Good House, on The Gin & Chowder Club

"A gripping story of three sisters, of love lost and found and a family's journey from grief to triumph. A sure winner." -Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on More Than You Know

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2017

124 people are currently reading
881 people want to read

About the author

Nan Rossiter

14 books325 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nan Rossiter loves to weave together stories about the complicated relationships to which all readers can relate -- motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, marriage and romance. She draws from her own life experiences to create authentic situations that mirror the trials and triumphs we all face. Compassionate, real, and funny, her books take readers on emotional journeys that often include heartbreak and joy, but also include threads of faith, a furry friend or two, and uplifting endings. Nan's books have been highly acclaimed by reviewers from Publisher's Weekly to Booklist. Her novel, SUMMER DANCE, was the 2018 winner of the Nancy Pearl Award.

Nan is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and began her writing career in the world of children's books. Along with her many contemporary fiction novels, Nan is also the author/illustrator of several books for children, including RUGBY & ROSIE, winner of Nebraska's Golden Sower Award, and THE FO'C'SLE: Henry Beston's Outermost House. 



Nan lives on a quiet country road in Connecticut with her husband and a solemn black Lab named Finn, who diligently watches their every move and can be roused from a nap in a distant room by the sound of a banana being peeled or a cookie crumb hitting the floor. Nan and her husband are the parents of two handsome sons who have struck out on life journeys of their own and are pursuing careers in aviation.

For more information, visit
nanrossiter.com/
facebook.com/NanRossiter/
instagram.com/nanrossiter/
twitter.com/NanRossiter
bookbub.com/profile/nan-rossiter

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5 stars
191 (32%)
4 stars
233 (40%)
3 stars
126 (21%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
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10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Susan.
1,503 reviews206 followers
January 27, 2022
Liam lost everything when he was just a seven-year-old boy. His uncle Cooper was there for him together with Sally. There is a lot of Sally’s Catholic upbringing and guilt that makes the storyline flow the way it does and at times the reader will find it absolutely heartbreaking! SUMMER DANCE is the perfect way to spend the afternoon! Grab your favorite blanket and get on the couch with this beautiful story!


I will certainly be checking out other books by Nan Rossiter. I love Nantucket and SUMMER DANCE is about family and friends coming together to celebrate the release of Aunt Sally’s book . Love how they celebrate the summer on the Cape and the surprises that await them all around. The book shifts back and forth between Sally’s present day life and the book she is writing. Oh, and be forewarned, Don’t read this book while hungry. There are plenty of detailed references to delicious food in this book!

SUMMER DANCE is not my first time reading Nan Rossiter. I was instantly hooked on this beautiful story and finished it with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. At the end, there is a touching scene where Liam finally realizes what he has right in front of him, which was the perfect ending. Once I started reading this very emotional love story, I could not put it down. Be prepared to ignore everything else until you are done. All I wanted to do when I finished reading was to reach out and give Sally a big hug.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Publishing through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,667 reviews222 followers
November 29, 2017
This is my first book by the author, Nan Rossiter. And I haven't read the previous books in this story.
Going by this story, this book depicts the romance between Cooper and Sally. I liked the way the author has described the two main characters, their unusual relationship and the genuine love between them. Both Sally and Cooper are extremely likeable characters. And I cried and laughed along with them. The credit fir wrenching these emotions out of me goes totally to Nan.
Also, Nan's description of Nantucket is breathtaking and she makes the entire scene come alive with her words.
Beautiful setting+great romance +genuine love = this is the recipe of a great book. I could finish the book at one go. And now I have to go hunting for the previous books by Nan Rossiter.
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,298 followers
May 30, 2017
Sally has written a book about her life that's about to be published. In this book she writes about her relationship with Cooper. When his nephew Liam lost everything when he was just a seven-year-old boy, Cooper was there for him together with Sally. Cooper and Sally never spoke about their relationship to anyone and in her book Sally writes about the man who managed to steal her heart and brought her happiness for many years. Sally had a rough start in life, but moving to Nantucket was the best decision she could have made.

Cooper is a Vietnam veteran. He's lost a lot and on Nantucket he's trying to distance himself from the war that brought him so much heartache. There he meets Sally. She's followed her heart and ended up on Nantucket to have a fresh start as well. While they instantly connect there are less than ideal circumstances that are making it impossible for Sally to be open about their relationship. Is it possible for them to live with Sally's obstacles and restrictions and will their unconventional relationship bring them the love they both deserve?

Summer Dance is a beautiful story about unconditional love, real life, faith and happiness. The main characters are wonderful, they have their flaws, but they are special people and it's easy to like them. I loved Sally's determination and her will to fight for a good life. She's smart and resilient and she's a kind and caring friend. Cooper is traumatized and has lost a lot, but while he's damaged and tries to escape his past there's still plenty of room left in his heart for love. He's a kind man and takes excellent care of his nephew Liam and his unofficial girlfriend Sally. Their lives are interesting and I couldn't put Summer Dance down, I had to keep reading until I knew the entire story and read the book in one sitting.

Nan Rossiter's gorgeous descriptions of Nantucket itself and what life is like on the island are making her story come to life incredibly well. I could easily picture everything she's writing about. The stunning settings combined with the interesting main characters are making Summer Dance a terrific read. I loved this fantastic romantic story. It warmed my heart and it put a smile on my face at the happy moments and tears in my eyes at the sad ones. I highly recommend this amazing book.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
May 23, 2017
A wonderful story that is a look back on a woman's life and how the choices she made when she was young affected her throughout her life. It's a story of friendship, faith, convictions, and a love so strong it lasts through decades. While reading this one I laughed, I cried, I yelled. In the end I was happy I took the time to read it. It's the perfect beach read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Deb.
428 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2018
I loved this book! However, I did not realize there are 2 in the series.. it won't matter, but the 1st one is Nantucket..

It was the first I have read by this author.. Sally is basically the main character & she has written a book that is pretty much a "memoir".. it tells the story of her life, going back & forth past to present. Wonderful characters in Sally, Coop & Lizzy.. Great story on her life as she lived it & her beliefs.. very well written!
65 reviews
July 24, 2025
Awe this was so cute. I thought it was gonna be a cheese summer beach read, but it was so much more! I loved how it alternated between first and second person. Such a strong story about love, loss, and friendship. AH!! So good💛
Profile Image for Janet Friesner.
940 reviews13 followers
May 31, 2017
So very good. Did not want to put it down. Even shed a tear or two. It's a love story between two people, it's a story about an almost lifelong friendship, and it is even more but I do not know how to describe it. It has to be read.
Profile Image for Marti.
3,306 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2017
Nan Rossiter has kicked my butt again. Even though I can barely keep my eyes open - tears running down my cheeks, I have to say - I loved Summer Dance.

Summer Dance by Nan Rossiter is the second book in the series Nantucket. The author brings us back to characters we met in the book Nantucket and has given us a different story with which to fall in love. There are two stories intertwined back and forth in time with Sally sharing the story about Coop and her and what a story! We learn more about Liam’s life now with Nantucket and the seasons of hope and faith. Sally’s story about Lizzy and Coop and now Liam bring us to a new place in understanding with them. The passage of time and the knowledge that the path we follow brings us places we cannot expect and teach us lessons in love and life.

Summer Dance by Nan Rossiter is a great read.
Profile Image for Terri.
703 reviews20 followers
May 28, 2017
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!  It is set to be released on May 30th.

This is the second story in the Nantucket series by Nan Rossiter.  I did not release this and therefore had not read the first story.  This was ok, as it was not necessary in order to follow and enjoy this storyline.  It would have given more context in to the story of Liam however since this was Sally's story it was not required.

High level, this was an easy to read story that focusses on relationships and the obstacles of the constraints that society, in particular the church, imposes on said relationships.  Set in the ideal background of Nantucket, it offers a lot of detail about the charming island.

I will not divulge the plot however I am going to go on a little bit of a rant.  Said rant is why this story would make a good book club submission as I feel that there is a lot to be discussed/debated.  My rant begins with the Church.  The timing is funny as I just had this particular discussion over dinner with my family.  While I try to refrain from expressing views that may not shared or understood by my followers, here I go anyway.

I have a serious issue with the Church dictating unrealistic constraints on peoples lives particularly when it negatively impacts them.  In this story, Sally's entire secret and conflict is due to her stringent belief in the doctrine of her church and that to go against it would be a mortal sin.  As a result, she lived her life with guilt and regret as she could not be free to live the life she wanted.  For this exact reason, I have a serious issue with the institution of the church when it adds a burden to someone's life.  Don't get me wrong, I believe in faith and spirituality, however I do not believe that one must live with something that negatively impacts their life and potentially ruins it for the sake of a religion.  I believe that everyone should be free to make decisions (within reason) that betters their life without the interference of judgement (particularly by the church) so long as these decisions do not negatively influence any other life.  By this I get angry with people using the Church as an excuse for behavior as opposed to using it as a guiding influence on the good they do.  Enough on this, I sugar coated my opinions here however I think I roughly got the message across.

That being said, without this theme there would not have been a story.  Although Sally's secret was not a big one, nor really that secret to those surrounding her however it did make an interesting story.  For those who may have read the first story, I believe it would close the loop on the characters featured in it.  For those who have not such as myself, it made an interesting read.

This is not the first book that I have read by Rossiter and I am sure it will not be the last.  I enjoy her work.
Profile Image for Ti.
884 reviews
June 1, 2017
The Short of It:

Rossiter revisits the much-loved characters of Nantucket and goes a bit deeper into the family’s history, giving us the long-awaited love story between Coop and Sally.

The Rest of It:

Nantucket is the perfect setting for new beginnings so when Sally ends up there, she’s hopeful that a new job and change of scenery is just what she needs to recover from an abusive marriage. One evening at a dance with her friends, she sees Coop across the room and after just one dance, she begins to think that happiness is not far off. Summer Dance is the story of Coop and Sally and how their love for one another challenged them in ways they never thought possible.

I am a huge Nan Rossiter fan. She writes such beautiful stories with great settings (Nantucket, Cape Code, etc.) and all of her stories center around characters who are flawed, but genuine and typically good, family minded individuals. I shy away from the typical “summer” read because usually there isn’t enough for me to sink my teeth into.

In Summer Dance, there is plenty for you to sink your teeth into. Sally was raised in the Catholic Church and this greatly affects her relationship with Coop. Her childhood friend Lizzy, also Catholic becomes Jewish in order to marry and so Sally is left wondering what religion means to her.

Can you be a good person even though you may not be perfect in the eyes of the church?

Sally is torn between doing what is right and doing what feels right and whether religion is a part of your life or not, I think most people can relate to this dilemma which is why this book would be great to discuss with a group.

I really enjoyed Summer Dance. It’s a great book to kickoff these hot summer months. I suggest you grab some wine, grill some scallops, find yourself a shady spot and dig in.

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.
Profile Image for Joanne.
1,115 reviews
May 31, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and felt it was the typical summer read. Easy and fun, but there is some heartache and drama. It’s the story of Sally and Coop that starts in the late 1960s in Nantucket. They try to hide their relationship, but when Sally writes a book, everyone admits they knew their “secret.” There is a lot of Sally’s Catholic upbringing and guilt that makes the storyline flow the way it does. Interspersed within Sally’s book is a current day story of the characters introduced in the author’s previous book Nantucket from what I gathered and would like to read.

Two things that I found odd and out of place in the book:

• Sally goes by the last name of Adams. Her married name is McIntyre. Her parents are listed as Ryan on their headstones.
• Giving the era of Simon’s college education, I don’t think it was popular for men to become nurses at that time. Found that a convenient segway to his problems at work with pain pills, but felt it was a little out of place.
119 reviews10 followers
October 25, 2017
Loved this story, Sally or Sal loses her mother very young and one mother invites her over to play with her daughter, they both end up being great friends and go to the same Catholic school. Sally makes a mistake in high school gets pregnant with the wrong guy but dosen't realize it until after she loses the baby and sees the guys true colors.Sally takes being Catholic seriously so won't divorce the guy but due to circumstances she is afraid of him and so moves away to an Island to live. Sally eventually gets a job on the island and meets coop and fall in love and for the next years has a relationship with him but only after telling him she's married and can't divorce but he doesn't care he loves her. Her life long friend however leaves the church and eventually marries a Jewish boy and starts a family. Basically this is the story of Sally's life both good and bad. To see what happens in the end you must read the story
1,635 reviews2 followers
August 26, 2017
I did not realize this book was a continuation of a story of Sally and Coop until I read other reviews here. I'm a little sad about that.

This book shows us how we are constrained by our beliefs and illustrates the way life changes and grows because and in spite of them.

As a faithful practicing Catholic who grew up in the same era as Sally I feel the author was too harsh about the early influence on Sally and too agreeable to today's ideas of Catholicism. I do not believe for one single moment that a woman of Sally's age (and mine) so steeped in her faith as I was/am would suddenly change.

The story is beautifully written and the characters are very real. You will laugh and cry with them and, hopefully, you will understand enough of their background to understand their choices.
1,623 reviews7 followers
June 15, 2017
Sally lives in Nantucket having fled from an abusive husband and is writing a book about her life. She was brought up by her father after her mother died and although he did his best she missed the mother's influence. A strict catholic she believes that marriage is for life and so when she leaves her husband she doesn't think she can dissolve the marriage even though he was abusive.

When she meets Coop a Vietnam war vet he turns her life upside down here is someone that she could really love but can she overcome the old Catholic guilt and move on?

A lovely story which apparently is part of a series but I found it was fine to read as a standalone book - I visited Nantucket years ago and so felt like I was revisiting!
942 reviews
July 8, 2017
I really enjoyed Nantucket, so I looked forward to this book. However, the slow pace in the opening chapters almost defeated me. I set it aside twice but decided to give it a third try before labeling it DNF. The third try took me far enough into the story so that I was hooked by the story of Sally Ryan. Her friendship with Lizzy, her youthful mistake, her relationship with Coop, and the ways these and other issues affected Sally’s faith combine to makes this an interesting and rewarding read. I hope Rossiter revisits these characters in future books.


I'm playing catchup with reviews I should have posted in April or early May. I've had some health issues and fell behind on my review schedule.
Profile Image for Stacey Lechner.
750 reviews2 followers
October 21, 2018
Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Nan Rossiter writes well layered family dramas set amongst the beautiful backdrop of the beach. This book takes some of the favorite characters from her other book, Nantucket, to tell a heartwarming love story between two people who love each other throughout the years even with obstacles that keep them apart from truly committing to one another. As we weave between the past and present, we follow the love story of Coop and Sally after she moves to Nantucket. She has decided to write a book about their story, revealing long held secrets and showing everyone involved about overcoming tragedy and heartache and loving your chosen family at all costs.
Profile Image for East Gwillimbury.
558 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2021
Sally Adams is a woman has made mistakes in her life, one of them being, getting married out of high school because she was pregnant. She loses the baby but because she is Catholic does not believe in divorce. After visiting Nantucket, she has fallen in love with the costal town, decides to move there. Sally gets a job and a place to stay. While living her life, enter Cooper who is everything she has been looking for and more. They spend their lives together having a secret affair, that is not discovered until after Cooper deaths. Sally publishes a book about their first summer together. It is an instant best seller.
494 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review. I enjoyed this book which gives us the story of two characters who appeared in the author's book Nantucket. It was nice to return to Nantucket and find out where the characters in that book are at now as well as learn more about two characters who weren't featured as much.
This is book is also a Christian fiction book mainly Catholicism. While I enjoy reading this genre, I felt the author was a little too heavy handed in this aspect especially since the book isn't described as being in this genre.
230 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2019
I read Nantucket last year and really liked it. Although it was nice to revisit some of the old characters and the great locale of Nantucket, this story was too steeped in religion for me. Too many scriptures quoted, too much worrying about being excluded from the church- not enough actually talking to someone so that she could move on with her life. It was a major character flaw for me, even though in most other ways she was lovable.
Profile Image for Sherry Grussing.
441 reviews7 followers
July 3, 2020
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
Did not like jumping around in a timeline.
Did not like having no clue who people were until further along in the book.
Did not like having the book get more and more preachy as it went on.
Did not like the main character saying what a good Catholic she was in one sentence and throwing sexual enuendos around like confetti in the next. (I know that was her internal struggle, but, come on!)
Profile Image for Jenn.
220 reviews3 followers
June 12, 2024
I didn't know this was book 2 of a series when I picked it up. It has some plot lines that likely happened in the first book. Everything is explained well though, so you're not confused.

I didn't really enjoy the deep-seated religion in this. However it did drive a fair bit of the story forward. I likely won't read any further of this series though. It was a good story, but not extremely interesting to me personally with all the religious content.
Profile Image for Josie.
120 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2024
An easy beach read. I didn’t realize when I started this novel that it was the 2nd in the series, & I might have enjoyed the dual timelines had I read #1 first. This book is steeped in religion, which wouldn’t bother me but the portrayal of it seemed a little off kilter for the authors intended purpose. This started out as a 4 star read, mid book it was 3 stars and by the end I was feeling 2. I think it’s supposed to be a happy ending but I found it rather depressing.
Profile Image for Lynne Evans.
269 reviews24 followers
June 12, 2017
We met Sally in Nantucket, which was Liam's story. Now she tells her story, including her relationship with Coop. Included in the book is an update on Liam, Levi and Aidan, two years after Nantucket ended. I laughed (Sally's friend Lizzy telling her if you go to confession, you get pennies) and cried.
This was such a good book, that I read it in one day!
Profile Image for Carol.
433 reviews22 followers
July 24, 2017
3.5. Quick read for the summer. I would have given it 4, but I got frustrated with the lead character - Sally. Without putting in "spoilers" it had to do with the extent she took her beliefs in the teachings of the Catholic church. I was surprised, but I am not Catholic. Could make for a good book club discussion - IF you are a group who can comfortably debate religions.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
886 reviews
September 25, 2017
Sometimes a chance encounter is all it takes. Your life takes on a new direction that you never thought possible. Sally thought she would never be able to make up the mistakes she made in high school. Then with the support of her friend, Sally starts a new life on the island. Her presence and spirit is the missing link that others she encounters never knew they needed.
Profile Image for Liz Destefano.
686 reviews
May 12, 2022
I love affair that happened between Cooper and sally and Nantucket
Sally Adams goes and writes a book about what happen during the summer when she and Cooper first met
Cooper took in Liam a seven-year-old who grew up on the island because of his parents dying and raised him
Classic love affairs
As well as friendships


36 reviews
June 12, 2023
Another awesome read from Nan Rossiter. This follows after the novel “n
Nantucket”. I wanted to sit on the island and breath in the salty air while I shared a glass of wine with Sally and Coop. Touching, thought provoking and heartbreaking. A good reminder that we only get one trip around this thing called life.
991 reviews5 followers
August 28, 2017
Another great beach house story based here in Massachusetts. It is about a women who got married for she was pregnant lost the baby, but because her faith was very important did not divorce her husband. The story follows her journey.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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