What do you think?
Rate this book
The Summer Cottage
Adie Lou Kruger’s ex never understood her affection for what her parents called their Creaky Cottage, the charming, ramshackle summer home—complete with its own set of rules for relaxing—that she’s inherited on Lake Michigan. But despite the fact she’s facing a broken marriage and empty nest, and middle age is looming in the distance, memories of happy childhoods on the beach give her reason for hope. She’s determined not to let her husband’s affair with a grad student reduce her to a cliché, or to waste one more minute in a career she doesn’t love, so it becomes clear what Adie Lou must do: rebuild her life and restore her cottage shingle by shingle, on her terms.
But converting the beloved, weather-beaten structure into a bed-and-breakfast isn’t quite the efficient home-reno experience she’s seen on TV. Pushback from Saugatuck’s contentious preservation society, costly surprises and demanding guests were not part of the plan. But as the cottage comes back to life, Adie Lou does, too, finding support in unexpected places and a new love story on the horizon. One cottage rule at a time, Adie Lou reclaims her own strength, history and joy by rediscovering the magic in every sunset and sandcastle.
But converting the beloved, weather-beaten structure into a bed-and-breakfast isn’t quite the efficient home-reno experience she’s seen on TV. Pushback from Saugatuck’s contentious preservation society, costly surprises and demanding guests were not part of the plan. But as the cottage comes back to life, Adie Lou does, too, finding support in unexpected places and a new love story on the horizon. One cottage rule at a time, Adie Lou reclaims her own strength, history and joy by rediscovering the magic in every sunset and sandcastle.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
1085 people are currently reading
12530 people want to read
About the author
Viola Shipman
21 books3,506 followersDear Reader:
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,216 reviews
April 27, 2019
Rule#1: Leave Your Troubles at the Door. Rule#3 Nap Often. Rule#13 Everyone Must Be Present for Sunset.
A charming story bursting with sunsets and love. Viola Shipman Rights such delightful books filled with engaging characters and good vibes. Stories about The importance of family tradition and friendship. Tales that make you realize we are all forever tied to our loved ones that came before us.
Adie Lou has returned to her families summer cottage after divorcing her philandering husband, quitting her demanding job, and grieving the loss of her parents. Her plan is to turn the beloved summer cottage into a bed and breakfast, however this is not quite as easy as she thought it would be.(Where are the property brothers when you need them?) The cottage needs a lot of renovation, not to mention part of the property has been declared a historical monument. BUT Adie Lou not deterred! Even after her first weekend of demanding rude guess. Adie Lou decides to focus on the positive and what transpires is a lovely story full of hope and love.
Adie Lou was a compelling, likable, and relatable character. I admired her strength and tenacity. I loved watching her navigate her way through the cottage renovations and then navigate her way through love. Very sweet, a little sappy, The romance in this book is sure to make you smile. BUT this book is much more than a romance. It is about figuring out what really makes you happy and the magic of family traditions.
🎧🎧🎧 this book is narrated by Tanya Eby who did a stellar job as always! Something I want to give Miss EBy major props for is that she does a remarkable job with male voices. Seriously you forget that it is a female narrating. Another story I felt was enhanced by the listening experience!
Rule #14: Shake the Sand from Your Feet, But Never Shake the Memories of Our Summer Cottage. It Is Family!
*** huge thank you to Harper audio and Harlequin for my copies of this book ***
A charming story bursting with sunsets and love. Viola Shipman Rights such delightful books filled with engaging characters and good vibes. Stories about The importance of family tradition and friendship. Tales that make you realize we are all forever tied to our loved ones that came before us.
Adie Lou has returned to her families summer cottage after divorcing her philandering husband, quitting her demanding job, and grieving the loss of her parents. Her plan is to turn the beloved summer cottage into a bed and breakfast, however this is not quite as easy as she thought it would be.(Where are the property brothers when you need them?) The cottage needs a lot of renovation, not to mention part of the property has been declared a historical monument. BUT Adie Lou not deterred! Even after her first weekend of demanding rude guess. Adie Lou decides to focus on the positive and what transpires is a lovely story full of hope and love.
Adie Lou was a compelling, likable, and relatable character. I admired her strength and tenacity. I loved watching her navigate her way through the cottage renovations and then navigate her way through love. Very sweet, a little sappy, The romance in this book is sure to make you smile. BUT this book is much more than a romance. It is about figuring out what really makes you happy and the magic of family traditions.
🎧🎧🎧 this book is narrated by Tanya Eby who did a stellar job as always! Something I want to give Miss EBy major props for is that she does a remarkable job with male voices. Seriously you forget that it is a female narrating. Another story I felt was enhanced by the listening experience!
Rule #14: Shake the Sand from Your Feet, But Never Shake the Memories of Our Summer Cottage. It Is Family!
*** huge thank you to Harper audio and Harlequin for my copies of this book ***
May 24, 2019
I enjoyed reading this story and the setting was just the perfect get-away. It is women's fiction/ chick-lit and the author's flowing writing style had me wanting more.
There is a Creaky Cottage summer home (in need of some renovations) that Adie Lou inherits from her parents. The characters all feel authentic and are well developed. Its about starting fresh, re-connecting with the past, making choices and following your heart. There is plenty of light-hearted humor that made me smile.
I am already searching for my next read from this author.
Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2019
Her family's cottage about to be sold?
Adie Lou couldn’t do it...The Summer Cottage had too many memories.
Instead of selling the cottage, Adie Lou decided to turn it into a bed and breakfast and a retreat for women.
We follow Adie Lou as she moves through getting a divorce, struggling with her decision to keep the cottage, having the cottage updated and made into what she wanted, and hoping she can make ends meet.
THE SUMMER COTTAGE had me in tears at times because of the sad but mostly the happy things.
Each section of the book was titled as one of the positive rules of the cottage.
They were rules that we all should incorporate into our daily lives especially #1 Leave Your Troubles at The Door.
Viola Shipman has created another beautiful story about family, friendships, and what is important in life. I fell in love with Adie Lou, the cottage, Michigan, and the story line, and I think anyone who reads this book will too.
Viola Shipman writes so beautifully, with such warmth, and in such detail that you'll clearly see the cottage, the cottage's history, the characters, and even feel the frigid Michigan temperatures.
The writing and story line made me want to jump into the pages and to be at the cottage so I could be part of the love and warmth the characters had for each other, the cozy feel of the small town, and the love Adie Lou had for THE SUMMER COTTAGE.
If you need a positive, uplifting read, THE SUMMER COTTAGE should be your next read.
It is a huge, emotional hug....LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Adie Lou couldn’t do it...The Summer Cottage had too many memories.
Instead of selling the cottage, Adie Lou decided to turn it into a bed and breakfast and a retreat for women.
We follow Adie Lou as she moves through getting a divorce, struggling with her decision to keep the cottage, having the cottage updated and made into what she wanted, and hoping she can make ends meet.
THE SUMMER COTTAGE had me in tears at times because of the sad but mostly the happy things.
Each section of the book was titled as one of the positive rules of the cottage.
They were rules that we all should incorporate into our daily lives especially #1 Leave Your Troubles at The Door.
Viola Shipman has created another beautiful story about family, friendships, and what is important in life. I fell in love with Adie Lou, the cottage, Michigan, and the story line, and I think anyone who reads this book will too.
Viola Shipman writes so beautifully, with such warmth, and in such detail that you'll clearly see the cottage, the cottage's history, the characters, and even feel the frigid Michigan temperatures.
The writing and story line made me want to jump into the pages and to be at the cottage so I could be part of the love and warmth the characters had for each other, the cozy feel of the small town, and the love Adie Lou had for THE SUMMER COTTAGE.
If you need a positive, uplifting read, THE SUMMER COTTAGE should be your next read.
It is a huge, emotional hug....LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2019
This was my first book by Viola Shipman and was super fun to read over Valentine's week!!
The Summer Cottage is a touching and moving story about Ade-Lou finding herself after a painful divorce and the death of her parents.
Ade-Lou decides to literally quit her job and leave her old life behind traveling to the place she loves the most to her parents summer cottage. The summer cottage is literally falling apart and Ade-Lou is trying to re-build it into a Bed and Breakfast. Along the way, nothing is easy and Ade-Lou struggles to put her life back together and the summer cottage.
Viola Shipman definitely has many touching moments in this novel and it makes you smile page by page. The only issues I had with this one... was it was a tad overly cheesy for me. I just was rolling my eyes a bit and felt it was a tad bit too cookie/cutter perfect for me.
Overall, this is a fun one to cozy up to at the beach and warm your heart!
3.5 stars for Summer Cottage.
Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 4/23/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/15/19
The Summer Cottage is a touching and moving story about Ade-Lou finding herself after a painful divorce and the death of her parents.
Ade-Lou decides to literally quit her job and leave her old life behind traveling to the place she loves the most to her parents summer cottage. The summer cottage is literally falling apart and Ade-Lou is trying to re-build it into a Bed and Breakfast. Along the way, nothing is easy and Ade-Lou struggles to put her life back together and the summer cottage.
Viola Shipman definitely has many touching moments in this novel and it makes you smile page by page. The only issues I had with this one... was it was a tad overly cheesy for me. I just was rolling my eyes a bit and felt it was a tad bit too cookie/cutter perfect for me.
Overall, this is a fun one to cozy up to at the beach and warm your heart!
3.5 stars for Summer Cottage.
Thank you to Harlequin/Graydon and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 4/23/19
Published to Goodreads: 2/15/19
April 30, 2019
3.5 stars
Viola Shipman is actually the pen name for male author Wade Rouse, who writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor not just her, but also all of the elders in his family. In addition to the pen name, all his novels are inspired by both of his grandmothers’ heirlooms as well as the lessons they taught him and the lives they led. At its core, his books are all “feel-good” stories that pay homage to family. In his latest novel The Summer Cottage , Shipman finds inspiration in his grandparents’ log cabin in Missouri where he spent countless summers, a place where there was “nothing but an outhouse, fishing poles, inner tubes, books and each other.” Despite the cabin’s simplicity, it was a “magical” place where the only rule his grandparents had was “to be happy.” Though the log cabin was eventually sold after his grandparents’ deaths, Shipman later came across a cottage in Michigan that reminded him of that cabin and immediately fell in love with it, which prompted his decision to quit his job and move to Michigan, eventually settling there and becoming a writer.
In the book, Shipman expands upon this through the character of Adie Lou Kruger, a 40-something divorced mother whose affection for her parents’ summer cottage – dubbed the Creaky Cottage – draws her back to the happy place of her childhood where she eventually decides to start over and rebuild her life. Armed with plans to convert the dilapidated old cottage into a bed-and-breakfast, Adie Lou encounters one obstacle after another, but through it all, she rediscovers the joy and strength that the freedom of pursuing her dreams brings.
This is the third of Shipman’s books that I’ve read and while I found the story heartfelt and charming, I will admit that I didn’t love this one as much as I did his previous novel The Recipe Box . Perhaps it was because that book had checked all the right boxes for me, from its endearing characters and heartwarming story to its engaging narrative revolving around food and the bonds of family, I had felt a connection to the story almost right off the bat. With this book, I never really connected much with the characters and to be honest, the story felt like it moved a tad bit too slowly at times. I also felt there wasn’t as much emotional depth to the story that his previous novel had and that I’ve come to expect from his works. With that said though, I did love the descriptions of the cottage and its surrounding scenery, which Shipman did a great job of bringing alive for me, almost as though the cottage itself was a character in the story. This is one of the things I actually enjoy most about Shipman’s novels – his way of storytelling that is able to bring the inanimate object at the center of the story to life.
Overall, I would say that I liked this book, but didn’t love it. Out of Shipman’s 3 books that I’ve read, The Recipe Box is so far still my favorite. I have yet to read his first novel, The Charm Bracelet , but hope to do so at some point, preferably before his next novel comes out. This is an author I will definitely continue to read, as I appreciate the fact that with his books, I always know what to expect -- a light-hearted, feel-good story that is at times a bit too saccharine and maybe even too simplistic, but a comforting read that celebrates family, love, hope, friendship, and, most important of all, happy memories! With the world we live in currently, sometimes we need books like this to escape into and to remind us (even if only for a brief moment), the important things in life and that it’s possible to find joy even in the small moments.
Received ARC from Harlequin / Graydon House Books via NetGalley
Viola Shipman is actually the pen name for male author Wade Rouse, who writes under his grandmother’s name as a way to honor not just her, but also all of the elders in his family. In addition to the pen name, all his novels are inspired by both of his grandmothers’ heirlooms as well as the lessons they taught him and the lives they led. At its core, his books are all “feel-good” stories that pay homage to family. In his latest novel The Summer Cottage , Shipman finds inspiration in his grandparents’ log cabin in Missouri where he spent countless summers, a place where there was “nothing but an outhouse, fishing poles, inner tubes, books and each other.” Despite the cabin’s simplicity, it was a “magical” place where the only rule his grandparents had was “to be happy.” Though the log cabin was eventually sold after his grandparents’ deaths, Shipman later came across a cottage in Michigan that reminded him of that cabin and immediately fell in love with it, which prompted his decision to quit his job and move to Michigan, eventually settling there and becoming a writer.
In the book, Shipman expands upon this through the character of Adie Lou Kruger, a 40-something divorced mother whose affection for her parents’ summer cottage – dubbed the Creaky Cottage – draws her back to the happy place of her childhood where she eventually decides to start over and rebuild her life. Armed with plans to convert the dilapidated old cottage into a bed-and-breakfast, Adie Lou encounters one obstacle after another, but through it all, she rediscovers the joy and strength that the freedom of pursuing her dreams brings.
This is the third of Shipman’s books that I’ve read and while I found the story heartfelt and charming, I will admit that I didn’t love this one as much as I did his previous novel The Recipe Box . Perhaps it was because that book had checked all the right boxes for me, from its endearing characters and heartwarming story to its engaging narrative revolving around food and the bonds of family, I had felt a connection to the story almost right off the bat. With this book, I never really connected much with the characters and to be honest, the story felt like it moved a tad bit too slowly at times. I also felt there wasn’t as much emotional depth to the story that his previous novel had and that I’ve come to expect from his works. With that said though, I did love the descriptions of the cottage and its surrounding scenery, which Shipman did a great job of bringing alive for me, almost as though the cottage itself was a character in the story. This is one of the things I actually enjoy most about Shipman’s novels – his way of storytelling that is able to bring the inanimate object at the center of the story to life.
Overall, I would say that I liked this book, but didn’t love it. Out of Shipman’s 3 books that I’ve read, The Recipe Box is so far still my favorite. I have yet to read his first novel, The Charm Bracelet , but hope to do so at some point, preferably before his next novel comes out. This is an author I will definitely continue to read, as I appreciate the fact that with his books, I always know what to expect -- a light-hearted, feel-good story that is at times a bit too saccharine and maybe even too simplistic, but a comforting read that celebrates family, love, hope, friendship, and, most important of all, happy memories! With the world we live in currently, sometimes we need books like this to escape into and to remind us (even if only for a brief moment), the important things in life and that it’s possible to find joy even in the small moments.
Received ARC from Harlequin / Graydon House Books via NetGalley
April 29, 2019
Sometimes a book comes out to a time when the reader is able to appreciate it and what it says. This is one of those books for me. I would have never appreciated and loved reading this story in my 20´s, 30´s or even parts of my 40´s. At those times I needed exciting--something totally different to the life I was living (which was good, just not exciting). A sort of mind vacation.
The Summer Cottage took this reader in a slower paced (this is NOT meant negative) showing of letting one dream and act out in those dreams. While Adie Lou´s dream could never be mine (I´m much too intoverted to want what she wanted), the story held suble hints ( and direct shouts) of letting oneself look back at the things that was so important to the reader´s childhood, the things that we were passionate about, and letting them come to back to our lives-- even when people in our lives do not understand those passions or call them ridiculous.
Let´s face it, life is tough--for everyone. This is the whole picture. But who says we have to live the whole picture? Have you ever seen a house that was mostly unremarkable except for maybe one thing? You know, a brightly painted door, or even one window with stained glass in it. The one thing that stands out. That is what I think our passions are. Where we can go to find our calm and our happiness. It stands out. Not everyone will like the colour of the door. Some will find that stained glass old fashioned. But that isn´t important--those features are what stands out.
I loved this story. Oh, the very practicable me says the story went down too pat, life doesn´t work that way. The dreamer me says who cares... This time the dreamer me wins!
The Summer Cottage took this reader in a slower paced (this is NOT meant negative) showing of letting one dream and act out in those dreams. While Adie Lou´s dream could never be mine (I´m much too intoverted to want what she wanted), the story held suble hints ( and direct shouts) of letting oneself look back at the things that was so important to the reader´s childhood, the things that we were passionate about, and letting them come to back to our lives-- even when people in our lives do not understand those passions or call them ridiculous.
Let´s face it, life is tough--for everyone. This is the whole picture. But who says we have to live the whole picture? Have you ever seen a house that was mostly unremarkable except for maybe one thing? You know, a brightly painted door, or even one window with stained glass in it. The one thing that stands out. That is what I think our passions are. Where we can go to find our calm and our happiness. It stands out. Not everyone will like the colour of the door. Some will find that stained glass old fashioned. But that isn´t important--those features are what stands out.
I loved this story. Oh, the very practicable me says the story went down too pat, life doesn´t work that way. The dreamer me says who cares... This time the dreamer me wins!
May 8, 2019
This was an on time book. I unexpectedly lost my daughter a year ago and this took me on the getaway that I needed this week. I would love to really have a B&B like the Summer Cottage to go to and spend the year. So many lessons to learn. I felt like I was living in the cottage and the book ended way to fast for me. I wanted it to go on forever.
I am forever a fan of Shipman (Rouse). This is a must read book for all my bookworms. Don't let this summer pass by you without diving into this book.
I am forever a fan of Shipman (Rouse). This is a must read book for all my bookworms. Don't let this summer pass by you without diving into this book.
June 14, 2019
The premise of this book was good. I usually enjoy the going-through-troubles-and reconnecting to my past storylines. Where this fell short was the continual boosting of the lead character’s ego/confidence by all the other characters. It felt like a redundant self help book for “women’s empowerment “. Perhaps the fact that the author is a male writing under a female pen name bothered me. It sounded as if he were writing what he thought women want to hear. Not likely to read more of his books. Disappointed.
January 10, 2020
OOOOOOOhhhhhh boy!
I am awarding myself a medal for finishing this one. A BIG medal! 🥇
What could have been a feel-good comfort read...was dripping with schmaltz! I blame the editor, who should have known better.
Read Viola Shipman’s “The Recipe Box” instead.
I am awarding myself a medal for finishing this one. A BIG medal! 🥇
What could have been a feel-good comfort read...was dripping with schmaltz! I blame the editor, who should have known better.
Read Viola Shipman’s “The Recipe Box” instead.
June 16, 2025
The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman was a sweet, easy read with a charming setting and feel-good themes. I liked the idea of starting over and finding peace in unexpected places. That said, it was a bit predictable at times, and some parts felt a little slow. Still, it was a nice escape and had heart. I felt the end was rushed.
April 29, 2019
Viola Shipman’s latest release is out! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of his books!! First, let’s just say how awesome the cover is! It screams ... summer, relaxation, beauty!!! This is a quick read and I enjoyed it very much. I would love to stay a week or a weekend at The Summer Cottage. Another 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ book by this fabulous author!!
April 16, 2019
The Hope Chest was my first introduction into the wonderful world of author Viola Shipman. The Summer Cottage, the latest is even more lovely and inspiring.
Adie Lou Kruger spent her summers as a child at her grandparent's summer home called Creaky Cottage, and then as a married adult with a child and husband at the same cottage when her parents took it over. There were very simple rules which had to be followed while at the cottage such as "Leave your troubles at the door" and my personal favorite "Nap often". It was perhaps the best times of her life.
But when her parents both die and Adie Lou's marriage fails she believes she should sell the cottage and begin to rebuild her life. Unable to let go of the memories of what the cottage has meant to her throughout her life, she makes a decision which will change her trajectory.
She decides to turn the much loved and much run down cottage into a bed-and-breakfast although many people doubt it will be able to succeed. Adie Lou watches as the progress of renovating the cottage. which comes with its own share of problems. begins to inspire her to feel hopeful about her decision as well as feeling empowered despite the harsh realities she encounters along the way.
The Summer Cottage is about finding out who you really are, finding love in many different forms, the importance of family of all types and especially the goodwill and tenderness of others.
Thank you #NetGalley #Graydon House #The Summer Cottage #Viola Shipman. The book will be out April 22.
Adie Lou Kruger spent her summers as a child at her grandparent's summer home called Creaky Cottage, and then as a married adult with a child and husband at the same cottage when her parents took it over. There were very simple rules which had to be followed while at the cottage such as "Leave your troubles at the door" and my personal favorite "Nap often". It was perhaps the best times of her life.
But when her parents both die and Adie Lou's marriage fails she believes she should sell the cottage and begin to rebuild her life. Unable to let go of the memories of what the cottage has meant to her throughout her life, she makes a decision which will change her trajectory.
She decides to turn the much loved and much run down cottage into a bed-and-breakfast although many people doubt it will be able to succeed. Adie Lou watches as the progress of renovating the cottage. which comes with its own share of problems. begins to inspire her to feel hopeful about her decision as well as feeling empowered despite the harsh realities she encounters along the way.
The Summer Cottage is about finding out who you really are, finding love in many different forms, the importance of family of all types and especially the goodwill and tenderness of others.
Thank you #NetGalley #Graydon House #The Summer Cottage #Viola Shipman. The book will be out April 22.
March 6, 2020
Two point five stars. I love stories about restoring old houses, but in this respect the novel fell flat. The "cottage" on Lake Michigan was more like a three-storey mansion, complete with turret. The divorced woman who inherited it from her parents shows up and decides to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. The house then undergoes a massive restoration which would have been very expensive and would have taken months of disruption and stress, yet it all seemed to happen as if by magic. In the meantime, she supposedly finds herself by picking rocks on the beach, although in reality she would have been knee-deep in drywall dust. There was some good writing, but overall I found the story too sappy and sentimental. Apparently that's what readers want, however, since this author (who is really a man, by the way, using his grandmother's maiden name as his pen name) is very popular. I finished the book, but the last few chapters were a slog.
May 3, 2019
This book just was not for me. It was very uninteresting and very predictable. Adie Lou decides instead of selling the family's beach house that she will turn it into a bed and breakfast. She gets enough money from her divorce to do renovations and turns the cottage into a beautiful place. There are some interesting characters in the book, some historical references, and a lovely dog, Sonny. Not much else to add about this book.
April 24, 2020
Wade successfully wrote about a female main character who is strong, insecure yet resilient. Wade is a man. Not many men can get into a woman’s skin, heart and mind successfully. He did and did it convincingly. Proud of you Wade!
December 31, 2019
Too self-indulgent.
Too many ridiculous pop culture references.
Shallow vapid characters.
Should have ended 150 pages earlier.
SKIP it!!!!
Too many ridiculous pop culture references.
Shallow vapid characters.
Should have ended 150 pages earlier.
SKIP it!!!!
August 19, 2022
A sweet, easy, beach read. I loved the cottage rules and wish the B and B actually existed.
March 26, 2021
I was surprised to see a man, using his grandmother’s name as a pseudonym, write such a charming piece of contemporary fiction. Kudos to Wade Rouse for an enduring look at taking the bull by the horns when a marriage failed.
This was a story I was in no rush to finish.
Adie Lou Clarke nee Kruger’s (she takes her maiden name back after her divorce) character grew on me with each additional chapter.
She was in her early forties and at a crossroad in life. Newly divorced and leaving a job she no longer enjoyed, Adie Lou took the plunge to revamp her family’s vacation home into a B & B. With limited funds and no experience, she became an unconventional woman. If you read the story, you will know what I mean.
Revealed in the first person tense, I missed hearing the various male characters’ thoughts. I enjoyed learning more about the main protagonist, but sometimes I wanted to know what all the men thought in reaction to Adie Lou’s many strengths and limitations.
A few times I felt like the narrative was a pitch for Saugatuck, Michigan’s chamber of commerce. At the same time, I would love to visit the area! The descriptions of the beaches, boat rides, search for treasured stones and gentle evenings were soothing.
The Summer Cottage was a story of failure, friendships and learning to depend on others. Some situations bordered on cutesy, but they were offset by more serious moments. There were just enough realistic connotations to make Adie Lou’s life interesting.
After the ups and downs of building and running a new business centered in hospitality, a light romance cemented the heroine’s future. All in all, it was a pleasant way of vacationing in Michigan without actually traveling there.
This was a story I was in no rush to finish.
Adie Lou Clarke nee Kruger’s (she takes her maiden name back after her divorce) character grew on me with each additional chapter.
She was in her early forties and at a crossroad in life. Newly divorced and leaving a job she no longer enjoyed, Adie Lou took the plunge to revamp her family’s vacation home into a B & B. With limited funds and no experience, she became an unconventional woman. If you read the story, you will know what I mean.
Revealed in the first person tense, I missed hearing the various male characters’ thoughts. I enjoyed learning more about the main protagonist, but sometimes I wanted to know what all the men thought in reaction to Adie Lou’s many strengths and limitations.
A few times I felt like the narrative was a pitch for Saugatuck, Michigan’s chamber of commerce. At the same time, I would love to visit the area! The descriptions of the beaches, boat rides, search for treasured stones and gentle evenings were soothing.
The Summer Cottage was a story of failure, friendships and learning to depend on others. Some situations bordered on cutesy, but they were offset by more serious moments. There were just enough realistic connotations to make Adie Lou’s life interesting.
After the ups and downs of building and running a new business centered in hospitality, a light romance cemented the heroine’s future. All in all, it was a pleasant way of vacationing in Michigan without actually traveling there.
October 31, 2018
At first, this seemed like just another chick lit novel- romantic, light and frothy, with easy characters and a simple story line. I'm happy to say that it turned out to be MUCH more than that! The main character, Adie Lou, is renovating her family's very old summer cottage on Lake Michigan, and it turns out to be a bigger project than anyone anticipated. Adie Lou is at a real transition point in her life and as the cottage is renovated and renewed, so is Adie Lou. There is much in this beautiful story about the choices we make, and about letting go of what no longer serves us in order to become more fully who we really are. There is romance, yes, but it is as much about Adie Lou's relationship with herself as it is with a friend from long ago.
Want to read
April 16, 2019The Hope Chest was my first introduction into the wonderful world of author Viola Shipman. The Summer Cottage, the latest is even more lovely and inspiring.
Adie Lou Kruger spent her summers as a child at her grandparent's summer home called Creaky Cottage, and then as a married adult with a child and husband at the same cottage when her parents took it over. There were very simple rules which had to be followed while at the cottage such as "Leave your troubles at the door" and my personal favorite "Nap often". It was perhaps the best times of her life.
But when her parents both die and Adie Lou's marriage fails she believes she should sell the cottage and begin to rebuild her life. Unable to let go of the memories of what the cottage has meant to her throughout her life, she makes a decision which will change her trajectory.
She decides to turn the much loved and much run down cottage into a bed-and-breakfast although many people doubt it will be able to succeed. Adie Lou watches as the progress of renovating the cottage. which comes with its own share of problems. begins to inspire her to feel hopeful about her decision as well as feeling empowered despite the harsh realities she encounters along the way.
The Summer Cottage is about finding out who you really are, finding love in many different forms, the importance of family of all types and especially the goodwill and tenderness of others.
Thank you #NetGalley #Graydon House #The Summer Cottage #Viola Shipman. The book will be out April 22.
Adie Lou Kruger spent her summers as a child at her grandparent's summer home called Creaky Cottage, and then as a married adult with a child and husband at the same cottage when her parents took it over. There were very simple rules which had to be followed while at the cottage such as "Leave your troubles at the door" and my personal favorite "Nap often". It was perhaps the best times of her life.
But when her parents both die and Adie Lou's marriage fails she believes she should sell the cottage and begin to rebuild her life. Unable to let go of the memories of what the cottage has meant to her throughout her life, she makes a decision which will change her trajectory.
She decides to turn the much loved and much run down cottage into a bed-and-breakfast although many people doubt it will be able to succeed. Adie Lou watches as the progress of renovating the cottage. which comes with its own share of problems. begins to inspire her to feel hopeful about her decision as well as feeling empowered despite the harsh realities she encounters along the way.
The Summer Cottage is about finding out who you really are, finding love in many different forms, the importance of family of all types and especially the goodwill and tenderness of others.
Thank you #NetGalley #Graydon House #The Summer Cottage #Viola Shipman. The book will be out April 22.
May 5, 2019
I won this book on a Goodreads first reads giveaway.
While I thought this was a cute book, I'm sorry to say I don't really think it was my cup of tea.
I realize this was supposed to be a feel good story and it is...but at the same time every is just way too perfect.
While I thought a lot of the characters were interesting...the problem was everyone is practically perfect in every way. What few flaws people have are quickly explained away with a sob story or excuse. Everyone is always cheerful and supportive of one another, they never fight or disagree or (it feels) even bother facing reality.
Now I don't expect the M/C (Adie Lou) to just wallow away in grief over her failed marriage to her jackwipe husband...it's always refreshing to see books where older women don't just succumb to an empty nest or realizing their marriage is a lie. However, going back to the perfect thing, she was sort of a hollow character. Without fail as soon as she got frustrated it felt like she would turn on the water works. She never raged at her POS ex-husband. Never wavered that maybe this whole thing was a bad idea for more than a sentence before "pshaw-ing" it away...
And of course the money, the money she thought didn't have just seems to magically and perfectly resolve itself. I had expected a few more hurtles than what was given in the story, given all the obstacles set against her at the beginning.
All in all it was a cute story but nothing life changing or deep.
While I thought this was a cute book, I'm sorry to say I don't really think it was my cup of tea.
I realize this was supposed to be a feel good story and it is...but at the same time every is just way too perfect.
While I thought a lot of the characters were interesting...the problem was everyone is practically perfect in every way. What few flaws people have are quickly explained away with a sob story or excuse. Everyone is always cheerful and supportive of one another, they never fight or disagree or (it feels) even bother facing reality.
Now I don't expect the M/C (Adie Lou) to just wallow away in grief over her failed marriage to her jackwipe husband...it's always refreshing to see books where older women don't just succumb to an empty nest or realizing their marriage is a lie. However, going back to the perfect thing, she was sort of a hollow character. Without fail as soon as she got frustrated it felt like she would turn on the water works. She never raged at her POS ex-husband. Never wavered that maybe this whole thing was a bad idea for more than a sentence before "pshaw-ing" it away...
And of course the money, the money she thought didn't have just seems to magically and perfectly resolve itself. I had expected a few more hurtles than what was given in the story, given all the obstacles set against her at the beginning.
All in all it was a cute story but nothing life changing or deep.
December 30, 2022
BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME.
Why would a man write under pseudonym of a woman..........????
The dialogue was so stilted.
Even the fact that this took place in my home state of Michigan could not save the book.
Why would a man write under pseudonym of a woman..........????
The dialogue was so stilted.
Even the fact that this took place in my home state of Michigan could not save the book.
September 2, 2020
In" Ein Cottage für deinen Sommer " steht Adie Lou vor den Trümmern ihrer Ehe und erinnert sich daran, wie glücklich sie immer im Sommer Cottage ihrer Familie in Michigan war.
Um neu Anzufangen beschließt Adie Lou, dieses Cottage zu neuem Leben erwachen zu lassen und ein B&B daraus zu machen.
Während dessen trifft sie alte Bekannte und Freunde wieder und erinnert sich an frühere und glückliche Zeiten. Denoch ist die Zukunft zunächst ungewiss und es muss sich erst zeigen, ob der von ihr gewählter Weg der richtige für Adie Lou war.
Die Story ließt sich teil leicht und flüssig, teils etwas langatmig. Dabei bleibt sie abwechslungs- und spannungsreich. Man darf mit Adie Lou mitfiebern und die verschiedesten Emotionen erleben. Es gibt einiges zum schmunzeln bis herzhaft zu lachen, so manche mitfühlende Momente und das ein oder andere Tränchen zu vergießen.
Da ich wissen wollte, ob Adie Lou den für ihren Neuanfang richtigen Weg eingeschlagen hatte und zum Ende hin ihr Glück fand, konnte ich das Buch kaum noch aus der Hand legen.
Das Buch bekommt von mir eine Lese / Kaufempfehlung und 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sterne.
Um neu Anzufangen beschließt Adie Lou, dieses Cottage zu neuem Leben erwachen zu lassen und ein B&B daraus zu machen.
Während dessen trifft sie alte Bekannte und Freunde wieder und erinnert sich an frühere und glückliche Zeiten. Denoch ist die Zukunft zunächst ungewiss und es muss sich erst zeigen, ob der von ihr gewählter Weg der richtige für Adie Lou war.
Die Story ließt sich teil leicht und flüssig, teils etwas langatmig. Dabei bleibt sie abwechslungs- und spannungsreich. Man darf mit Adie Lou mitfiebern und die verschiedesten Emotionen erleben. Es gibt einiges zum schmunzeln bis herzhaft zu lachen, so manche mitfühlende Momente und das ein oder andere Tränchen zu vergießen.
Da ich wissen wollte, ob Adie Lou den für ihren Neuanfang richtigen Weg eingeschlagen hatte und zum Ende hin ihr Glück fand, konnte ich das Buch kaum noch aus der Hand legen.
Das Buch bekommt von mir eine Lese / Kaufempfehlung und 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sterne.
November 3, 2022
I have fallen for the writing style of Viola Shipman. The wonderful descriptions of the setting, the emotions of the characters and a great storyline draw you right in and have you longing to stay even when the story is over.
Addie's husband wants a divorce and is currently dating one of the students at the college where he is a professor. All of their marital properties are to be sold until Addie puts the brakes on the sale of her family's lakeside cottage. With little money to spare, Addie wonders how she can support her dream of living year round at the cottage. When she decides she might be able to make it work if she turns the cottage into a B and B she realizes she has a long road ahead of her in order to make her dream a reality.
Addie's husband wants a divorce and is currently dating one of the students at the college where he is a professor. All of their marital properties are to be sold until Addie puts the brakes on the sale of her family's lakeside cottage. With little money to spare, Addie wonders how she can support her dream of living year round at the cottage. When she decides she might be able to make it work if she turns the cottage into a B and B she realizes she has a long road ahead of her in order to make her dream a reality.
July 5, 2019
Any time I pick up or listen to a book by Viola Shipman, I know I'm in for a treat of a comfort read. This time around, I was transported to Saugatuck, Michigan, which had a cozy, small-town feel.
In each of Viola's novels, the story is carried along by some element (i.e. in The Charm Bracelet, each part of the story centered around a charm). This time, the rules of the cottage were used for each part. And these rules were good ones, like "take a nap," "jump in the lake," "leave your baggage at the door," etc. The story started out with the rules being read, with a sparkler being used as a timing device for how quickly they had to recite them.
The Summer Cottage was a sweet story throughout. I even got teary-eyed at the end, as I usually do from Viola's novels. I enjoyed the entrepreneurial aspect of Adie putting together the B&B and all the elements that had to go into it. The summer feel of the story was great, even though it started out in the winter. There was a dog featured in this novel, which I loved. She took on a life of her own and became an integral part of the story.
This is the third of Viola's novels that I listened to (I read The Recipe Box in print). The first two were narrated by Andi Arndt, and I enjoyed hearing her narrate them. This time around, the narrator was Tanya Eby, whom I had previously heard narrating The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande. While Tanya had a pleasant voice and did good characterizations, I am not sure she was the right fit for Viola's novels. I also felt like she emphasized words in a strange way. This wouldn't keep me from listening to future novels by Viola if she were to narrate them. I feel like her novels are even more enjoyable in audio format.
The Summer Cottage is great at capturing the feel of those carefree and lazy summer days of our childhood. Definitely pick it up if you're looking for an enjoyable escape!
Movie casting suggestions:
Adie Lou: Linda Cardellini
Trish: Courtney Henggeler
Scooter: Johnny Whitworth
Evan: Dylan Minnette
Iris Dragoon: Susan Sullivan
In each of Viola's novels, the story is carried along by some element (i.e. in The Charm Bracelet, each part of the story centered around a charm). This time, the rules of the cottage were used for each part. And these rules were good ones, like "take a nap," "jump in the lake," "leave your baggage at the door," etc. The story started out with the rules being read, with a sparkler being used as a timing device for how quickly they had to recite them.
The Summer Cottage was a sweet story throughout. I even got teary-eyed at the end, as I usually do from Viola's novels. I enjoyed the entrepreneurial aspect of Adie putting together the B&B and all the elements that had to go into it. The summer feel of the story was great, even though it started out in the winter. There was a dog featured in this novel, which I loved. She took on a life of her own and became an integral part of the story.
This is the third of Viola's novels that I listened to (I read The Recipe Box in print). The first two were narrated by Andi Arndt, and I enjoyed hearing her narrate them. This time around, the narrator was Tanya Eby, whom I had previously heard narrating The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande. While Tanya had a pleasant voice and did good characterizations, I am not sure she was the right fit for Viola's novels. I also felt like she emphasized words in a strange way. This wouldn't keep me from listening to future novels by Viola if she were to narrate them. I feel like her novels are even more enjoyable in audio format.
The Summer Cottage is great at capturing the feel of those carefree and lazy summer days of our childhood. Definitely pick it up if you're looking for an enjoyable escape!
Movie casting suggestions:
Adie Lou: Linda Cardellini
Trish: Courtney Henggeler
Scooter: Johnny Whitworth
Evan: Dylan Minnette
Iris Dragoon: Susan Sullivan
May 24, 2019
I remember seeing something about 50+ people finding love, and no, this is not a romance, but maybe she finds love (she totally does!). And it felt nice to see someone mature find love too.
Adie Lou has been through a divorce (her hubbie left her for a college student, that asshat!). And even though she has a well paid job, she wants more. She wants something new. She is tired of her jo, tired of seeing men pass her for promotions. She needs to find herself again.
So she decides to make her grandparents summer cottage into a b&b. Of course I at once thought of a Finnish one and was all how?!? But it seems this one has over 8 bedrooms, so that is bloody palace. But it will not be easy. She knows nothing about that kind of life. There is so much work to be done. She has doubts. She finds friends, and yes she does get a chance of some romance too.
I do confess that it is really cheesy sweet. Everything works out and there are quotes everywhere. I would brand it Hallmark feel good book. Make this a Hallmark movie and it would fit right in. And I liked that, the sweet, the hopeful tone of the book.
I have listened to Tanya Eby before, and I do like her voice. She also fitted very well for this role and this sort of story. It was enjoyable listening to her and I find her different voices well done,
Adie Lou has been through a divorce (her hubbie left her for a college student, that asshat!). And even though she has a well paid job, she wants more. She wants something new. She is tired of her jo, tired of seeing men pass her for promotions. She needs to find herself again.
So she decides to make her grandparents summer cottage into a b&b. Of course I at once thought of a Finnish one and was all how?!? But it seems this one has over 8 bedrooms, so that is bloody palace. But it will not be easy. She knows nothing about that kind of life. There is so much work to be done. She has doubts. She finds friends, and yes she does get a chance of some romance too.
I do confess that it is really cheesy sweet. Everything works out and there are quotes everywhere. I would brand it Hallmark feel good book. Make this a Hallmark movie and it would fit right in. And I liked that, the sweet, the hopeful tone of the book.
I have listened to Tanya Eby before, and I do like her voice. She also fitted very well for this role and this sort of story. It was enjoyable listening to her and I find her different voices well done,
April 23, 2019
The Summer Cottage by Viola Shipman
Love the idea of this book and was very close to doing something similiar when my mother passed away and left her estate to the children. I was 1 of the 5 but others wanted to sell the houses and land.
Adie Lou always wanted it to become a quilt retreat where others would go and spend time on the quiet island and learn how to quilt and be taught how to do so-you could live in the houses and be fed. Just sold last house a week ago.
Starts out with a woman who's going through a divorce, her son is going to her ex's school, tuitiion paid for and she's at lost ends with her job. Cashes in and heads back to the house on the lake where she grew up. She wants to turn int into a B&B but others in town have other ideas.
She needs to meet their standard of approval. She then seeks out help from the locals who can do the work she needs done to improve the house/rooms and the boat so she can take guests out on sundown cruises on the lake.
Love how she struggles and gets the jobs done! This would make an awesome movie as all the scenes are described in great details.
Love the rules of the cabin-priceless! Love hearing what her name means, history of fish cottage.
Love how her girlfriend and her son both help with the project-they are so resourceful.
Love hearing the story of the author's childhood, very similair to mine during the summer months. Brothers used to work on the ferry-not chain driven-you had to just throw a heavy rope over the piling, LOL
Like instructions on how to make a sand castle=so cool! Like this romantic love story intwined with the beach story. Notes from the author at the end.
Reader's guide is also enclosed.
Received this review copy from HARLEQUIN - Graydon House Books (U.S. & Canada) Graydon House Romance, Women's Fiction via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#TheSummerCottage #NetGalley
Love the idea of this book and was very close to doing something similiar when my mother passed away and left her estate to the children. I was 1 of the 5 but others wanted to sell the houses and land.
Adie Lou always wanted it to become a quilt retreat where others would go and spend time on the quiet island and learn how to quilt and be taught how to do so-you could live in the houses and be fed. Just sold last house a week ago.
Starts out with a woman who's going through a divorce, her son is going to her ex's school, tuitiion paid for and she's at lost ends with her job. Cashes in and heads back to the house on the lake where she grew up. She wants to turn int into a B&B but others in town have other ideas.
She needs to meet their standard of approval. She then seeks out help from the locals who can do the work she needs done to improve the house/rooms and the boat so she can take guests out on sundown cruises on the lake.
Love how she struggles and gets the jobs done! This would make an awesome movie as all the scenes are described in great details.
Love the rules of the cabin-priceless! Love hearing what her name means, history of fish cottage.
Love how her girlfriend and her son both help with the project-they are so resourceful.
Love hearing the story of the author's childhood, very similair to mine during the summer months. Brothers used to work on the ferry-not chain driven-you had to just throw a heavy rope over the piling, LOL
Like instructions on how to make a sand castle=so cool! Like this romantic love story intwined with the beach story. Notes from the author at the end.
Reader's guide is also enclosed.
Received this review copy from HARLEQUIN - Graydon House Books (U.S. & Canada) Graydon House Romance, Women's Fiction via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#TheSummerCottage #NetGalley
May 14, 2019
The very best books are those into which you can completely disappear as the world around you fades away and your existence is entirely within the pages of the book! And when something finally pulls you out of the magical rabbit hole into which you have fallen down, its like a rude awakening to find yourself back in your own reality and not in the lovely place you've been visiting. And you can't wait to go back. (This is why people read books in one sitting!)
Viola Shipmans The Summer Cottage is one of those magical books! I have thoroughly enjoyed each of VS's previous books but this one is the grand slam winner. Reading about a town with which I am very familiar is always a wonderful treat but this book would have been a 5⭐ book for me even without that. The beauty of the writing, the intimacy of the story, the wisdom in the life lessons! (And the sheer genius of including the Barbie in one "scene" !!! 😂👍👋)
I LOVED this book so much (I want to go back and re-read it already!)!!!
Viola Shipmans The Summer Cottage is one of those magical books! I have thoroughly enjoyed each of VS's previous books but this one is the grand slam winner. Reading about a town with which I am very familiar is always a wonderful treat but this book would have been a 5⭐ book for me even without that. The beauty of the writing, the intimacy of the story, the wisdom in the life lessons! (And the sheer genius of including the Barbie in one "scene" !!! 😂👍👋)
I LOVED this book so much (I want to go back and re-read it already!)!!!
March 15, 2024
This is... such an old-lady-book that it was physically painful to read. No one behaves in a realistic manner at all, the dialogue and such is so overly preachy and optimistic in a way that had me literally gagging. It was so painfully cheesy, and I couldn't take any of it seriously. The endless amounts of speeches, both internal and external, were just so over-the-top and excruciating to read.
And the amount of times people use the main character's name erroneously was so irritating! "You got this, Adie Lou!" "Come on, Adie Lou!" "Oh, Adie Lou..." like... it was grating. No one drops someone's name that often, whether they're talking to themselves or to someone else.
And by the end of the story, it all was just... so pointless. It felt like nothing— like there was no reason to be reading it.
And the amount of times people use the main character's name erroneously was so irritating! "You got this, Adie Lou!" "Come on, Adie Lou!" "Oh, Adie Lou..." like... it was grating. No one drops someone's name that often, whether they're talking to themselves or to someone else.
And by the end of the story, it all was just... so pointless. It felt like nothing— like there was no reason to be reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2019
I have a deep love for Lake Michigan and really enjoy gentle character stories, but this book was not one I would recommend to anyone. It was as if the author wrote 100 sappy endings and connected them all together. So filled with trite “old sayings” and cornball wisdom, my eyes hurt from too much eye rolling. Ugg. I hate to quit a book in the middle, but getting to the end (finally) of this was painful.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,216 reviews