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The Islanders
J. Courtney Sullivan’s Maine meets the works of Elin Hilderbrand in this delicious summer read involving three strangers, one island, and a season packed with unexpected romance, well-meaning lies, and damaging secrets.
Anthony Puckett was a rising literary star. The son of an uber-famous thriller writer, Anthony’s debut novel spent two years on the bestseller list and won the adoration of critics. But something went very wrong with his second work. Now Anthony’s borrowing an old college’s friend’s crumbling beach house on Block Island in the hopes that solitude will help him get back to the person he used to be.
Joy Sousa owns and runs Block Island’s beloved whoopie pie café. She came to this quiet space eleven years ago, newly divorced and with a young daughter, and built a life for them here. To her customers and friends, Joy is a model of independence, hard-working and happy. And mostly she is. But this summer she’s thrown off balance. A food truck from a famous New York City brand is roving around the island, selling goodies—and threatening her business.
Lu Trusdale is spending the summer on her in-laws’ dime, living on Block Island with her two young sons while her surgeon husband commutes to the mainland hospital. When Lu’s second son was born, she and her husband made a deal: he’d work and she’d quit her corporate law job to stay home with the boys. But a few years ago, Lu quietly began working on a private project that has becoming increasingly demanding on her time. Torn between her work and home, she’s beginning to question that deal she made.
Over the twelve short weeks of summer, these three strangers will meet and grow close, will share secrets and bury lies. And as the promise of June turns into the chilly nights of August, the truth will come out, forcing each of them to decide what they value most, and what they are willing to give up to keep it.
Anthony Puckett was a rising literary star. The son of an uber-famous thriller writer, Anthony’s debut novel spent two years on the bestseller list and won the adoration of critics. But something went very wrong with his second work. Now Anthony’s borrowing an old college’s friend’s crumbling beach house on Block Island in the hopes that solitude will help him get back to the person he used to be.
Joy Sousa owns and runs Block Island’s beloved whoopie pie café. She came to this quiet space eleven years ago, newly divorced and with a young daughter, and built a life for them here. To her customers and friends, Joy is a model of independence, hard-working and happy. And mostly she is. But this summer she’s thrown off balance. A food truck from a famous New York City brand is roving around the island, selling goodies—and threatening her business.
Lu Trusdale is spending the summer on her in-laws’ dime, living on Block Island with her two young sons while her surgeon husband commutes to the mainland hospital. When Lu’s second son was born, she and her husband made a deal: he’d work and she’d quit her corporate law job to stay home with the boys. But a few years ago, Lu quietly began working on a private project that has becoming increasingly demanding on her time. Torn between her work and home, she’s beginning to question that deal she made.
Over the twelve short weeks of summer, these three strangers will meet and grow close, will share secrets and bury lies. And as the promise of June turns into the chilly nights of August, the truth will come out, forcing each of them to decide what they value most, and what they are willing to give up to keep it.
416 pages, ebook
First published June 11, 2019
1754 people are currently reading
19087 people want to read
About the author
Meg Mitchell Moore
12 books1,900 followersMeg Mitchell Moore is the author of eight novels. Her ninth, MANSION BEACH, will be published in May 2025. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and whichever of her three high school- and college-aged daughters is home, as well two golden retrievers who shed a lot and don't read at all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,036 reviews
September 6, 2019
Another great summer story in The Islanders, which features year-round bakery owner Joy, who’s struggling to keep her bakery business afloat with new rent demands and competition; Lu, an exhausted stay-at-home mom whose doctor husband Jeremy is always at the hospital; and mystery man Anthony, who made a terrible mistake and came to Block Island to hide out while he determines his next move. Over the summer their lives become intertwined in different ways and this is where the story lies.
The Islanders was a fun, captivating story, perfect for summer with a vividly described setting. I didn’t like all of the characters all the time - They were flawed yet relatable, and by the end, I was rooting for each of them. An ultimately enjoyable beach read!
The Islanders was a fun, captivating story, perfect for summer with a vividly described setting. I didn’t like all of the characters all the time - They were flawed yet relatable, and by the end, I was rooting for each of them. An ultimately enjoyable beach read!
June 28, 2021
The book opens in August with a death before going back to June and events leading up to that event. There the reader is introduced to Anthony Puckett, a writer on his way to Block Island,. His first novel had been a resounding success winning him acclaim but now he is off to Block Island pretty much to hide out until the storm that has surrounded his latest literary fiasco has subsided a little. He hope to get back to the person he was. Joy Sousa, mother of thirteen year old Maggie, is one of the other voices in this story. Joy is a resident of the island and owns the Whoopie Pie Cafe. I admit this Aussie had to google what a whoopie pie was. Everyone sees Joy as hard work and independent but a food truck and increased rent threaten to derail her business. Lu Trusdale is the third person the reader meets. She is spending the summer with her two young boys on the island while her surgeon husband works long hours at the mainland hospital. However Lu has secretly been working for quite a while on a project that no-one, not even her husband knows about. Each one of these three have secrets in their lives that over the course of the story will be uncovered. What difference will it make to each life as the three get to know each other and as the secrets come out?
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the way it changed from chapter to chapter and one character to another. I liked finding out more about each of them,. All of the characters were complex and didn’t always make the wisest decisions. Even when I didn’t agree with the choices made, as I didn’t at times, I felt like I was there with them experiencing the highs and lows. This is definitely a character driven novel as the setting is not overly described. I didn’t get that much sense of it. But the characters and their issues got me in. This was one where I felt involved rather than standing back watching on as has been the case with some other recent books. To me that is a sign of good writing and characterisation when they feel real. As a result it maintained my interest from start to finish.
A story of friendship, love family and secrets this is an entertaining read with a little bit of a mystery involved. My first book by this author I would be very keen to read another by her as I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it as worth reading..
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the way it changed from chapter to chapter and one character to another. I liked finding out more about each of them,. All of the characters were complex and didn’t always make the wisest decisions. Even when I didn’t agree with the choices made, as I didn’t at times, I felt like I was there with them experiencing the highs and lows. This is definitely a character driven novel as the setting is not overly described. I didn’t get that much sense of it. But the characters and their issues got me in. This was one where I felt involved rather than standing back watching on as has been the case with some other recent books. To me that is a sign of good writing and characterisation when they feel real. As a result it maintained my interest from start to finish.
A story of friendship, love family and secrets this is an entertaining read with a little bit of a mystery involved. My first book by this author I would be very keen to read another by her as I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it as worth reading..
August 17, 2019
The moment that I realized The Islanders was set on Block Island, I knew that I wanted to read it. Block Island is a magical place so different from other New England islands because of its history and its remoteness to the mainland. After reading The Islanders, I know I made the right choice. The book is brilliant.
Three strangers come together over a summer spent on Block Island: Anthony, a writer whose first book was a huge success but who is struggling with his second attempt; Joy, who runs the popular cafe on the island who has had a long run of success but now is feeling pressure from a new arrival on the island and Lu, a former attorney now SAHM who is on the island while her surgeon husband flies back and forth to the mainland. As each of these three develop a friendship over the course of the summer, they begin to reveal the small secrets that they each are hiding from their families and, at times, from themselves. As the summer draws to a close, the three must decide how they will confront the secrets and changes in their lives that have transpired over the summer.
A riveting summer tale, Meg Mitchell Moore, has given us more than an ordinary "beach read," she has delivered a story that touches on our own fears, joys and anxieties while also showing us the joy and closeness of friendship and, sometimes, intense romantic relationships. The characters are real, very human and their feelings are those that each of us has experienced so that the story itself is one that draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page. Regardless of whether you read it under the sparkling summer sun or by a winter's fire, you will treasure Moore's writing in The Islanders.
Three strangers come together over a summer spent on Block Island: Anthony, a writer whose first book was a huge success but who is struggling with his second attempt; Joy, who runs the popular cafe on the island who has had a long run of success but now is feeling pressure from a new arrival on the island and Lu, a former attorney now SAHM who is on the island while her surgeon husband flies back and forth to the mainland. As each of these three develop a friendship over the course of the summer, they begin to reveal the small secrets that they each are hiding from their families and, at times, from themselves. As the summer draws to a close, the three must decide how they will confront the secrets and changes in their lives that have transpired over the summer.
A riveting summer tale, Meg Mitchell Moore, has given us more than an ordinary "beach read," she has delivered a story that touches on our own fears, joys and anxieties while also showing us the joy and closeness of friendship and, sometimes, intense romantic relationships. The characters are real, very human and their feelings are those that each of us has experienced so that the story itself is one that draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page. Regardless of whether you read it under the sparkling summer sun or by a winter's fire, you will treasure Moore's writing in The Islanders.
January 28, 2020
“The Islanders” by Meg Mitchell Moore is perfect summer chick-lit entertainment. Not much brain power needed to read this one. It’s an escape with some interesting ideas and plots.
The story begins with a prologue with a death that brought unbidden raw tears from a man. This is in August and the reader knows a person is dead and a man is forlorn.
The story begins in June and is character driven. Anthony begins the story and we learn that he is a disgraced author, kicked out of his home by his wife, and living in a dilapidated house rent free.
Joy is a single mom with a business making whoopy pies. She has a twelve-year-old daughter, Maggie who is resourceful and sweet, yet on the cusp of teenage angst.
Lu is a stay-at-home mother of two little boys. Her husband is a surgical resident who is rarely home. Lu has started a secret food blog casting herself as a stay-at-home dad. Lu’s mother-in-law rented a summer home for Lu and her family so everyone could be close in the summer. This poses a problem, as both Lu’s husband and mother-in-law feel Lu should be ONLY a mother and spend 24/7 with her children. Lu is the character I had most difficulty with.
Anthony lives on the same street as Lu, so they become acquaintances. Their friendship grows by sharing confidences. It’s a great friendship, if you can believe it.
Anthony meets Joy and they have a rocky start but end up “more than friends”. Anthony, though, hasn’t been true to Joy and posed himself as a single man with a different last name. He wanted to hide his shame from Joy. Well, you can guess where that leads.
The biggest mystery is about Anthony. His father is a famous author and he has the dad complex of never receiving his father’s love. The mystery of who turned him in for plagiarism was not a difficult mystery to solve. Plus, I guessed (being a big fan of Meg Wolitzer) the reason for his father’s writing success. Author Moore did write a good mystery as to who was the dead person. The reader doesn’t know until the end.
This is a solid chick-lit story. It’s fair to good.
The story begins with a prologue with a death that brought unbidden raw tears from a man. This is in August and the reader knows a person is dead and a man is forlorn.
The story begins in June and is character driven. Anthony begins the story and we learn that he is a disgraced author, kicked out of his home by his wife, and living in a dilapidated house rent free.
Joy is a single mom with a business making whoopy pies. She has a twelve-year-old daughter, Maggie who is resourceful and sweet, yet on the cusp of teenage angst.
Lu is a stay-at-home mother of two little boys. Her husband is a surgical resident who is rarely home. Lu has started a secret food blog casting herself as a stay-at-home dad. Lu’s mother-in-law rented a summer home for Lu and her family so everyone could be close in the summer. This poses a problem, as both Lu’s husband and mother-in-law feel Lu should be ONLY a mother and spend 24/7 with her children. Lu is the character I had most difficulty with.
Anthony lives on the same street as Lu, so they become acquaintances. Their friendship grows by sharing confidences. It’s a great friendship, if you can believe it.
Anthony meets Joy and they have a rocky start but end up “more than friends”. Anthony, though, hasn’t been true to Joy and posed himself as a single man with a different last name. He wanted to hide his shame from Joy. Well, you can guess where that leads.
The biggest mystery is about Anthony. His father is a famous author and he has the dad complex of never receiving his father’s love. The mystery of who turned him in for plagiarism was not a difficult mystery to solve. Plus, I guessed (being a big fan of Meg Wolitzer) the reason for his father’s writing success. Author Moore did write a good mystery as to who was the dead person. The reader doesn’t know until the end.
This is a solid chick-lit story. It’s fair to good.
July 12, 2019
3.5 stars! A great summer beach read! It just misses that other .5 star due to dragging in some places.
"It was funny how you could think you were leaving your past behind when part of it always traveled right along with you. A stowaway."
"Finally he understood what all the fuss was about regarding dogs. They asked for almost nothing, and when you gave them even the little that they asked for, they looked at you with such adoring eyes that you felt loved as you'd never felt love before. You got so you always had a sense of where the dog was: under the table, sitting by the door, sleeping on the deck, chewing a bone." Completely feel in love with Pickles!
"Enjoy them while they're young! They won't be young forever, life goes so fast. All of it goes by too fast, life goes by too fast."
"It was funny how you could think you were leaving your past behind when part of it always traveled right along with you. A stowaway."
"Finally he understood what all the fuss was about regarding dogs. They asked for almost nothing, and when you gave them even the little that they asked for, they looked at you with such adoring eyes that you felt loved as you'd never felt love before. You got so you always had a sense of where the dog was: under the table, sitting by the door, sleeping on the deck, chewing a bone." Completely feel in love with Pickles!
"Enjoy them while they're young! They won't be young forever, life goes so fast. All of it goes by too fast, life goes by too fast."
August 14, 2019
The setting sounds beautiful. I have not been to Block Island, but now I want to go there. I also liked the food in this story. I have not had a Whoopie Pie, but I want to have one. The story is slow, and it is character driven, but I did not like the characters. None of the main characters were likeable. They all made too many poor decisions.
April 7, 2019
If you enjoy Elin Hilderbrand and her novels set on Nantucket, you'll enjoy this light "beach read" with well-developed characters from Meg Mitchell Moore. It's set on Block Island during the summer season. The three main characters are:
1. Anthony, a summer renter, whose first novel was a blockbuster but he has been disgraced by plagiarizing in his second novel. His father is a famous author and is angry with his son for what he did.
2. Lu, a summer renter, is an unhappy stay-at-home mom who feels a loss of her identity and has started a secret blog.
3. Joy, a year-round resident who owns a bakery, has financial problems, and is raising a daughter who is now a teenager.
These characters interact and each chapter has one of their points-of-view. There are secrets aplenty and some twists that help to keep the story interesting. I liked that the author gave closure to all of the main characters and didn't leave readers wondering.
I thought the story was well-plotted with good pacing. Most of the characters were likable. This is my first novel by Ms. Moore and since I enjoyed it, I may try to read some of her other novels.
Thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, via LibraryThing, for sending me this ARC to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.
1. Anthony, a summer renter, whose first novel was a blockbuster but he has been disgraced by plagiarizing in his second novel. His father is a famous author and is angry with his son for what he did.
2. Lu, a summer renter, is an unhappy stay-at-home mom who feels a loss of her identity and has started a secret blog.
3. Joy, a year-round resident who owns a bakery, has financial problems, and is raising a daughter who is now a teenager.
These characters interact and each chapter has one of their points-of-view. There are secrets aplenty and some twists that help to keep the story interesting. I liked that the author gave closure to all of the main characters and didn't leave readers wondering.
I thought the story was well-plotted with good pacing. Most of the characters were likable. This is my first novel by Ms. Moore and since I enjoyed it, I may try to read some of her other novels.
Thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, via LibraryThing, for sending me this ARC to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 10, 2020
After reading an advance copy of Meg Mitchell Moore’s new book Two Truths and a Lie (which comes out on June 16, 2020) I went back and finally read The Islanders albeit a year late. Well, better late than never.
This enjoyable book is set on Block Island, Rhode Island, a lovely and peaceful oasis everyone should visit. Three people’s lives intersect over the course of a summer. Disgraced writer Anthony is trying to escape; Joy, the local bakery owner, is a single mother trying to cope with a daughter growing up too fast and Lu, the seemingly perfect stay-at-home wife and mother, is secretly building a successful food blog. I enjoyed how these three characters came together and offered the support each needed.
The Islanders is a perfect beach read.
Rated 3.75 rounded up.
This enjoyable book is set on Block Island, Rhode Island, a lovely and peaceful oasis everyone should visit. Three people’s lives intersect over the course of a summer. Disgraced writer Anthony is trying to escape; Joy, the local bakery owner, is a single mother trying to cope with a daughter growing up too fast and Lu, the seemingly perfect stay-at-home wife and mother, is secretly building a successful food blog. I enjoyed how these three characters came together and offered the support each needed.
The Islanders is a perfect beach read.
Rated 3.75 rounded up.
August 31, 2019
Here's your Labor Day weekend last days of summer beach read. It is told in rotating POVs from three people on Block Island, RI. I didn't feel like the author needed to keep us readers in suspense about one character's secret as it really isn't a thriller or anything, but I liked the peek into life on this isolated island, even more interesting since I've only been there in the off season. I do love my cold weather islands!
I had a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss. It came out June 11, 2019, and I'm behind.
I had a copy from the publisher through Edelweiss. It came out June 11, 2019, and I'm behind.
July 30, 2020
First: thank you to Goodreads giveaways for this book.
Three strangers meet on Block Island one summer and have profound effects on each other’s lives. Joy is a single mom to 13 year old Maggie and owns a Whoopie Pie bakery; Lu and her two young boys are spending the summer on the island while her husband is completing his medical residency, and longs for a more fulfilling life; Anthony is a talented writer trying to escape the ignominy of a disastrous second book and a failing marriage. Circumstances bring them together at just the right time in their lives.
This is a very light read. There is nothing complex about the plot and some of the twists you can see coming. The characters are fairly well portrayed and at times complex, my favorite being Maggie who is SO thirteen going on thirty at times. The book is well written for the genre.
Although it is not anything special, the book pulls you in and you want to know how situations are resolved, even though you can figure a lot of them out.
A fine summer read.
Three strangers meet on Block Island one summer and have profound effects on each other’s lives. Joy is a single mom to 13 year old Maggie and owns a Whoopie Pie bakery; Lu and her two young boys are spending the summer on the island while her husband is completing his medical residency, and longs for a more fulfilling life; Anthony is a talented writer trying to escape the ignominy of a disastrous second book and a failing marriage. Circumstances bring them together at just the right time in their lives.
This is a very light read. There is nothing complex about the plot and some of the twists you can see coming. The characters are fairly well portrayed and at times complex, my favorite being Maggie who is SO thirteen going on thirty at times. The book is well written for the genre.
Although it is not anything special, the book pulls you in and you want to know how situations are resolved, even though you can figure a lot of them out.
A fine summer read.
July 5, 2019
If you enjoy stories about friendship that take place on islands or resort type communities, then you will enjoy this one. I really enjoyed this book, especially reading it out in the sun by the pool. Block Island is a wonderful setting for a book that explores friendships and relationships. Anthony, Joy, and Lu are well-developed characters who will work their way into the hearts of readers and each other.
We meet the 3 main characters, Lu, Joy and Anthony on Block Island. They each have a secret or a problem that requires them to turn to one another for comfort and sometimes advice. The story is told from all three POVs in alternating chapters. Meg Mitchell Moore did a great job of developing the characters and sharing their innermost thoughts, so that they seemed like real people who I wanted to meet and help. There were times that I wanted to shake on or the other of them and tell them to make a decisions and stop dithering and at other times was surprised by the decisions they did make. With a disgraced author, a single mom who owns her own business and a mother of two who gave up her job as a lawyer to raise her children, the author has shown us that in the right circumstances, in the right setting, and with the right characters, anyone can solve their problems and live the life they dream. This was the first book I have read by Meg Mitchell Moore and it definitely won't be the last.
I listened to the audiobook of this book and really enjoyed the narration. Courtney Patterson is able to give a voice to all the main characters as well as give personality to the numerous secondary characters. She was able to show the emotion of the various characters and added to my enjoyment of the story. I will be looking for more books narrated by Courtney Patterson. I received a copy of this audiobook from HarperAudio upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
We meet the 3 main characters, Lu, Joy and Anthony on Block Island. They each have a secret or a problem that requires them to turn to one another for comfort and sometimes advice. The story is told from all three POVs in alternating chapters. Meg Mitchell Moore did a great job of developing the characters and sharing their innermost thoughts, so that they seemed like real people who I wanted to meet and help. There were times that I wanted to shake on or the other of them and tell them to make a decisions and stop dithering and at other times was surprised by the decisions they did make. With a disgraced author, a single mom who owns her own business and a mother of two who gave up her job as a lawyer to raise her children, the author has shown us that in the right circumstances, in the right setting, and with the right characters, anyone can solve their problems and live the life they dream. This was the first book I have read by Meg Mitchell Moore and it definitely won't be the last.
I listened to the audiobook of this book and really enjoyed the narration. Courtney Patterson is able to give a voice to all the main characters as well as give personality to the numerous secondary characters. She was able to show the emotion of the various characters and added to my enjoyment of the story. I will be looking for more books narrated by Courtney Patterson. I received a copy of this audiobook from HarperAudio upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 15, 2019
If this were summer, I would tell you to pack this in your beach bag. This is a somewhat predictable light-hearted tale of three people in their thirties dealing with various life crises. Each of the three key figures narrates his or her story within a chapter, which typically incorporates interaction with one of the other narrators as well. Each has a secret that is deeply troubling them. Of course, there is a romance as well as a marriage at the cross roads impacted by their secret.
We've seen this trope before and surely will again. There are references to a famous movie as the romance starts, sputters and progresses. Unfortunately, that movie mentioned was much better story than this one.
Ms. Moore is a more than capable writer. I liked the story though I wasn't impressed by it. It was quite easy to see where the author was taking us and thus no surprises during the "big reveals" for me. Moore can make you smile. This definitely works for delivering a pleasant read, though it didn't need to be as lengthy (over 400 pages when under 300 would have been adequate). I typically tend to read stories that are "meatier", thus 3 stars awarded for tendency to be a bit "fluffy". That said, others will probably really enjoy what is in essence a romantic-comedy.
We've seen this trope before and surely will again. There are references to a famous movie as the romance starts, sputters and progresses. Unfortunately, that movie mentioned was much better story than this one.
Ms. Moore is a more than capable writer. I liked the story though I wasn't impressed by it. It was quite easy to see where the author was taking us and thus no surprises during the "big reveals" for me. Moore can make you smile. This definitely works for delivering a pleasant read, though it didn't need to be as lengthy (over 400 pages when under 300 would have been adequate). I typically tend to read stories that are "meatier", thus 3 stars awarded for tendency to be a bit "fluffy". That said, others will probably really enjoy what is in essence a romantic-comedy.
August 5, 2019
This was a really good book! There are times in some books with multiple characters I lose track of the characters that are not as vital to the plot. The author did a great job of making every character have a stand alone story line. I also enjoyed that not every male female relationship had to be romantic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2019
3.5 ☆ rated up.
August 15, 2019
This was such a nice easy breezy summer read !! If you are a fan of Elin Hildebrand’s novels, I can pretty much guarantee you would enjoy this book as well !! I immediately became invested in all three characters and how their lives intertwined with each other, making this a terrific story !!
4.5 Stars !!!
4.5 Stars !!!
January 2, 2020
Lu is a former attorney who now writes a good blog (pretending to be a man). Her husband is a bit of a domineering doctor who doesn’t want her to work, so she has to hide the blog from him. (This was hard to get my head around...but, that’s just me). Joy is a single mother who runs a café; she loves to read Lu’s Dad Dinner blog and recreate the recipes. She soon meets and falls for Anthony Jones. Anthony (who’s last name isn’t Jones; he’s a fibber) is a writer who escapes to the beach to hide from his shame.
These three characters find each other over the span of a summer and the secrets they keep complicate their relationships with each other and others.
Each character is flawed in a way that their redemption is possible by the end of the book (tied up neatly in a bow). Nothing too extreme or “sticky” (something that made the book a quick, easy read with not a lot of thinking required).
I don’t read “beach reads” so I can’t say for certain is this book fits that genre or not (I did snag a Hilderbrand from BookOutlet recently and I think she would fit the beach read genre, right?). Anyway, it’s a simple, entertaining book that isn’t all that complicated (plot wise) with basically likable characters (albeit not seeming too “deep”). It’s beach adjacent setting and summer timetable may be all that is needed to lock it to the genre. 🤷♀️
If you’re looking for a brain-escape/ non-thinky type read, this is a fun, quick book to consider.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
These three characters find each other over the span of a summer and the secrets they keep complicate their relationships with each other and others.
Each character is flawed in a way that their redemption is possible by the end of the book (tied up neatly in a bow). Nothing too extreme or “sticky” (something that made the book a quick, easy read with not a lot of thinking required).
I don’t read “beach reads” so I can’t say for certain is this book fits that genre or not (I did snag a Hilderbrand from BookOutlet recently and I think she would fit the beach read genre, right?). Anyway, it’s a simple, entertaining book that isn’t all that complicated (plot wise) with basically likable characters (albeit not seeming too “deep”). It’s beach adjacent setting and summer timetable may be all that is needed to lock it to the genre. 🤷♀️
If you’re looking for a brain-escape/ non-thinky type read, this is a fun, quick book to consider.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2019
(free review copy) THE ISLANDERS is set over the course of one summer on Block Island, RI and has three main eventuallly-intersecting characters/story arcs. As I have come to depend on this author for, it has depth and gorgeous language - add in the literary-world intrigue, the BAKERY, the blogging world and all of the parenting and marriage gems, and I couldn’t put it down.
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Highly recommended for anyone who loves their beach reads a little heftier in both size and language - I loved this one!
.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves their beach reads a little heftier in both size and language - I loved this one!
June 21, 2019
How do you describe the perfect beach read? Does it involve romance or a love story? Are their secrets and lies? A gorgeous beach setting of cool ocean breezes and hot drama? How about all of the above?!
The Islanders follows three total strangers on Block Island, a tiny sleepy beach haven off the east coast, and in the three short months of the summer season, we find their lives intertwined in the most dramatic and delicious of ways - just as a perfect beach read should be.
Anthony has come to the island to escape a literary scandal that has potentially ended his career while his superstar author father still casts a giant shadow over him, even though he's miles and miles away.
Joy is the whoopie pie queen, baking up delectable desserts for the locals. Divorced with a teenage daughter and fiercely independent - this summer she fears a foreign food truck invading her island will threaten everything she's worked so hard for.
Lu feels stuck on this island for the summer spending her day caring for her young sons as her surgeon husband saves lives in a fulfilling career on the mainland. She craves stimulation and adult conversation while harboring a HUGE secret that could tear her marriage apart.
Their stories are meticulously entwined with substantial secrets threatening to tear their families apart, relationships that prompt plenty of lies for fear of exposure, and difficult choices that must be made by everyone involved. The way these three lives tangle and weave together is a gorgeous display of storytelling and combined with the fact they every single main and secondary character is so likeable and relatable, I found myself tearing through this wanting to see how close this trio will become and how everything would turn out.
A really fun story for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Liane Moriarty, and now for me, a fan of Meg Mitchell Moore!
The Islanders follows three total strangers on Block Island, a tiny sleepy beach haven off the east coast, and in the three short months of the summer season, we find their lives intertwined in the most dramatic and delicious of ways - just as a perfect beach read should be.
Anthony has come to the island to escape a literary scandal that has potentially ended his career while his superstar author father still casts a giant shadow over him, even though he's miles and miles away.
Joy is the whoopie pie queen, baking up delectable desserts for the locals. Divorced with a teenage daughter and fiercely independent - this summer she fears a foreign food truck invading her island will threaten everything she's worked so hard for.
Lu feels stuck on this island for the summer spending her day caring for her young sons as her surgeon husband saves lives in a fulfilling career on the mainland. She craves stimulation and adult conversation while harboring a HUGE secret that could tear her marriage apart.
Their stories are meticulously entwined with substantial secrets threatening to tear their families apart, relationships that prompt plenty of lies for fear of exposure, and difficult choices that must be made by everyone involved. The way these three lives tangle and weave together is a gorgeous display of storytelling and combined with the fact they every single main and secondary character is so likeable and relatable, I found myself tearing through this wanting to see how close this trio will become and how everything would turn out.
A really fun story for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Liane Moriarty, and now for me, a fan of Meg Mitchell Moore!
August 16, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book, but SPOILER ALERT:
I'm not sure whether it was tricky, clever, an homage to another writer, or just not OK that the author chose to use the same plot twist in this book as Meg Wolitzer used in her novel "The Wife" (2003). In that novel (and the movie based on it), a famous writer's books were all partially or mostly written by his wife. The wife receives no acknowledgment for her part in their collaboration. I think Moore should have included a sentence in her "Acknowledgments" section of her novel. Something as simple as "and thanks to Meg Wolitzer for her plot twist I borrowed to make Dorothy the co-author of Leonard's novels" would have been sufficient. It just seems strange to me that the author would use this obvious, unoriginal plot twist when the whole book is about characters lying or omitting the truth.
I'm not sure whether it was tricky, clever, an homage to another writer, or just not OK that the author chose to use the same plot twist in this book as Meg Wolitzer used in her novel "The Wife" (2003). In that novel (and the movie based on it), a famous writer's books were all partially or mostly written by his wife. The wife receives no acknowledgment for her part in their collaboration. I think Moore should have included a sentence in her "Acknowledgments" section of her novel. Something as simple as "and thanks to Meg Wolitzer for her plot twist I borrowed to make Dorothy the co-author of Leonard's novels" would have been sufficient. It just seems strange to me that the author would use this obvious, unoriginal plot twist when the whole book is about characters lying or omitting the truth.
September 2, 2019
I flew through this one quickly. Great story to close out the last weekend of summer.
June 26, 2019
The Islanders
By
Meg Mitchell Moore
What it's all about...
Life on Block Island! How wondrous can that be? However most of the characters in this book are either miserable, hiding or semi miserable! This makes for a yummy summer beach book.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Anthony is hiding from a scandal...not even revealing his real name to people. Lu is hiding something else...from her husband and the entire blogging world. Joy...well...she is trying to keep her business, maintain a relationship and understand her 13 year old daughter and her secrets. And with all of these issues...literally...a Storm is about to rage on Block Island.
What I loved best...
I loved best all of the characters and their stories which are much more involved than I have described to you. I can’t spoil this wonderful book, it’s great writing and the way it grew on me with each chapter was terrific. I hope that you will have that same experience!
What potential readers might want to know...
Readers who yearn for a deep summery beach book should throughly enjoy this one. It’s filled with whoopsie pies and macaroons...good for you whoopie pies!
I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my choice to read and review it.
By
Meg Mitchell Moore
What it's all about...
Life on Block Island! How wondrous can that be? However most of the characters in this book are either miserable, hiding or semi miserable! This makes for a yummy summer beach book.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Anthony is hiding from a scandal...not even revealing his real name to people. Lu is hiding something else...from her husband and the entire blogging world. Joy...well...she is trying to keep her business, maintain a relationship and understand her 13 year old daughter and her secrets. And with all of these issues...literally...a Storm is about to rage on Block Island.
What I loved best...
I loved best all of the characters and their stories which are much more involved than I have described to you. I can’t spoil this wonderful book, it’s great writing and the way it grew on me with each chapter was terrific. I hope that you will have that same experience!
What potential readers might want to know...
Readers who yearn for a deep summery beach book should throughly enjoy this one. It’s filled with whoopsie pies and macaroons...good for you whoopie pies!
I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my choice to read and review it.
August 23, 2020
After this post I’m officially all caught up with book reviews! Phew 😅. I hate when I get that far behind.
The Islanders is written by Meg Mitchell Moore. This is my first book by this author. The Islanders is very reminiscent of Elin Hilderbrand’s work and takes place on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. We follow the lives of three families during one summer. Each family has their own secrets and struggles that will eventually connect.
❤️Review❤️
So this is a book that had my feelings all over the place and left me uncertain about how I overall felt about it. The beginning starts off with a prologue that instantly had me hooked. I enjoyed starting to get to know the characters. By the middle the book started to really drag by slowly with lots of unimportant details. Then the ending started picking up as secrets were starting to come together, but then the ending just felt lackluster. Overall I really enjoyed the writing style and characters. I just felt like the pacing and the ultimate outcome could have been better. If you like Elin Hilderbrand’s novels, I think you’ll like this one!
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreviews #summerreading #summerbooks #books #contemporarybooks #womensfiction #bigbooks
The Islanders is written by Meg Mitchell Moore. This is my first book by this author. The Islanders is very reminiscent of Elin Hilderbrand’s work and takes place on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. We follow the lives of three families during one summer. Each family has their own secrets and struggles that will eventually connect.
❤️Review❤️
So this is a book that had my feelings all over the place and left me uncertain about how I overall felt about it. The beginning starts off with a prologue that instantly had me hooked. I enjoyed starting to get to know the characters. By the middle the book started to really drag by slowly with lots of unimportant details. Then the ending started picking up as secrets were starting to come together, but then the ending just felt lackluster. Overall I really enjoyed the writing style and characters. I just felt like the pacing and the ultimate outcome could have been better. If you like Elin Hilderbrand’s novels, I think you’ll like this one!
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreviews #summerreading #summerbooks #books #contemporarybooks #womensfiction #bigbooks
October 19, 2019
4.5/5
I’m joining the chorus of others that are saying: The Islanders is a great beach read, a great pool read, a great summer read, a great everything read. I enjoyed each of these characters right away when I met them and only grew to love them more as the story progressed. I could totally see some of myself in each of them, even when they were doing stupid things. This ended up being one of my favorite kind of stories: where there are several different, quirky, unrelated characters that eventually have intersecting storylines.
Anthony is hiding away on the island because he made a Very Stupid Mistake and the entire world knows about it. Who doesn’t want to hide away when they’re deeply embarrassed and feeling shame and regret? We all do. He begins the story broken and feeling unworthy, and it is sad. It is nice to watch him redeem himself and it is hard to watch him have to own up to the mistakes he makes along the way. But, we all have to do that sometimes and I love his growth and the way things work out for him in the end.
Single mother Joy is raising a young teenage daughter while running her own business: Block Island’s only bakery, specializing in whoopie pies. As the summer begins, Joy’s routine is thrown off balance when a new food truck appears on the island. The islanders and tourists love it, but Joy is shocked at how much it threatens everything she has worked to build for the past several years. I love Joy; she is feisty and independent and a hard worker. I love how fiercely she protects what is hers. I also love how truthful she is with herself about how hard things are, have been all along, and how afraid she is to lose everything if she takes risks.
Lu has come to the island for the summer with her two young boys. Her husband is a very busy surgeon who spends most days working at a hospital off-island, then he catches a ferry over for a night with his family here and there. Lu’s in-laws are also on the island, and they are happy to be able to spend more time with the kids-although Lu is certain they really want to spy on her and check up on how she really manages her home. This is a huge problem. Because Lu has a HUGE secret.
Of course, these three people will intersect throughout the course of the story-Block Island is far too small for their lives not to become mixed up a little bit. But it’s in the HOW that is so good. What I love most about this story isn’t that the bad things are prevented and someone comes in to save the day. No, that doesn’t happen. These three people that already have secrets and are experiencing difficulties will go through some even tougher times, have to make some big decisions, and have some major heartaches before the story is all said and done. I love that the author went there with the characters and gave us a chance to see how things turn out for them before she ended the story.
The Islanders is completely engaging. The characters and the setting are great. I found that I wanted good things for everyone. I never wanted to put the book down, even though I had to so I could be an adult and do things like cook and sleep and drive my kids to their various places. This is the first Meg Mitchell Moore book that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, but I enjoyed it so much that I’m now really curious about her others!! I agree with the synopsis when it says this is a “delicious summer read” and with the positive comparison to Elin Hilderbrand’s stories.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
I’m joining the chorus of others that are saying: The Islanders is a great beach read, a great pool read, a great summer read, a great everything read. I enjoyed each of these characters right away when I met them and only grew to love them more as the story progressed. I could totally see some of myself in each of them, even when they were doing stupid things. This ended up being one of my favorite kind of stories: where there are several different, quirky, unrelated characters that eventually have intersecting storylines.
Anthony is hiding away on the island because he made a Very Stupid Mistake and the entire world knows about it. Who doesn’t want to hide away when they’re deeply embarrassed and feeling shame and regret? We all do. He begins the story broken and feeling unworthy, and it is sad. It is nice to watch him redeem himself and it is hard to watch him have to own up to the mistakes he makes along the way. But, we all have to do that sometimes and I love his growth and the way things work out for him in the end.
Single mother Joy is raising a young teenage daughter while running her own business: Block Island’s only bakery, specializing in whoopie pies. As the summer begins, Joy’s routine is thrown off balance when a new food truck appears on the island. The islanders and tourists love it, but Joy is shocked at how much it threatens everything she has worked to build for the past several years. I love Joy; she is feisty and independent and a hard worker. I love how fiercely she protects what is hers. I also love how truthful she is with herself about how hard things are, have been all along, and how afraid she is to lose everything if she takes risks.
Lu has come to the island for the summer with her two young boys. Her husband is a very busy surgeon who spends most days working at a hospital off-island, then he catches a ferry over for a night with his family here and there. Lu’s in-laws are also on the island, and they are happy to be able to spend more time with the kids-although Lu is certain they really want to spy on her and check up on how she really manages her home. This is a huge problem. Because Lu has a HUGE secret.
Of course, these three people will intersect throughout the course of the story-Block Island is far too small for their lives not to become mixed up a little bit. But it’s in the HOW that is so good. What I love most about this story isn’t that the bad things are prevented and someone comes in to save the day. No, that doesn’t happen. These three people that already have secrets and are experiencing difficulties will go through some even tougher times, have to make some big decisions, and have some major heartaches before the story is all said and done. I love that the author went there with the characters and gave us a chance to see how things turn out for them before she ended the story.
The Islanders is completely engaging. The characters and the setting are great. I found that I wanted good things for everyone. I never wanted to put the book down, even though I had to so I could be an adult and do things like cook and sleep and drive my kids to their various places. This is the first Meg Mitchell Moore book that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, but I enjoyed it so much that I’m now really curious about her others!! I agree with the synopsis when it says this is a “delicious summer read” and with the positive comparison to Elin Hilderbrand’s stories.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
August 6, 2019
Anthony Puckett had it all. A wife, a son, and a successful writing career despite the fact that his father, an even more successful writer, never really supported or encouraged him. Anthony was trying to write his second novel, but buckled under the pressure. What if it isn't as good as his first? Can he meet the rigorous deadlines? He ended making a very poor decision and one that ultimately ended his career. Then his wife separates from him and takes his son. Anthony needs some time to get his act together, so he borrows a friend's house on Block Island. Anthony's next door neighbor is a young mother, Lu, who is an attorney turned stay-at-home mother to two young sons. She is spending the summer on Block Island, thanks to her in-laws. Meanwhile her husband, a successful doctor, spends weekends there. Although this schedule is hard for Lu, she has learned to deal with it as her husband is never around. It gives her a lot of time to work on her successful blog Dinner by Dad where she pretends to be a stay-at-home dad and shares antidotes, recipes, etc. Much to her surprise, the blog has taken off and she is making a decent income, but it's hard to balance that with watching the kids all day. Plus, there's the huge problem of what will happen when her controlling husband finds out about her blog. Then there's Joy, a Block Island fill-time resident, who owns a whoopie-pie bakery and is also a fan of Lu's blog. Joy is a single mom raising a teenager and trying to do it all. She unexpectedly hits it off with Anthony, but there's so much baggage they are both bringing to the relationship. Can it actually work out? Joy doesn't even know about Anthony's past, his child, or his real last name. Slowly Anthony, Lu, and Joy's stories intertwine and make for a delightful beach read; fans of Elin Hilderbrand will enjoy The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore.
Read my full review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read my full review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 26, 2019
Three main characters with their pov rotating seamlessly. I enjoyed this story of the ashamed writer with no money escaping to Block Island, eventually meeting up with Joy from a local bake shop and Lu a next door neighbour with a bent for cooking too. There are some secrets and characters make discoveries about themselves and others. The island setting is perfect, its a slow gentle book but it kept me engaged and then sorry to say good-bye.
December 20, 2019
This was...okay.
There were too many moments throughout that seemed like the author was trying to be too hip/too cool/too relevant. Several of the characters seemed too pompous.
Also, I didn't really like the characters. Is honesty too much to ask for? I nearly DNF'd multiple times but pushed through because I'd already listened for so long. I did NEED to know what happened eventually, but I don't know. I hoped for something a little different.
There were too many moments throughout that seemed like the author was trying to be too hip/too cool/too relevant. Several of the characters seemed too pompous.
Also, I didn't really like the characters. Is honesty too much to ask for? I nearly DNF'd multiple times but pushed through because I'd already listened for so long. I did NEED to know what happened eventually, but I don't know. I hoped for something a little different.
July 9, 2020
Mixed feelings about this one. But I definitely want/need a whoopie pie now.😜
August 6, 2019
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Review was originally posted here via Booked J. As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for participating in the blog tour/my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Another summer day, another engrossing summery read. The Islanders delivers in every way and Meg Mitchell Moore is officially on my radar. This is more than just an airy, light, perfect for summer read. Meg Mitchell Moore devotes time to developing her characters and makes sure they're compelling, complex and full of life.
Meg Mitchell Moore's writing is just gorgeous and I loved the rotating point of view almost as much as the setting. The real shining star of the story is not merely the summery setting or airy prose, it's the flawed characteristics in each of the characters. As they navigate their day to day lives, we see the differences between each other and the growth that has yet to come. And what brings their lives together.
Further, I found the entire plotline, from start to conclusion, to be perfectly paced and well thought out. Meg Mitchell Moore doesn't leave the readers feeling unsatisfied by the final chapters and ties things up quite beautifully. The story never struggles with a bleak, ordinary tone despite the story and its characters being remarkably normal--the prose of The Islanders makes it smooth and the character's make it extraordinary.
Which goes without saying--what captivated me most were the characters and their development.
What drove the plotlines home were these three--Lu, Anthony and Joy--and I found myself loving each of them in different ways. I really did feel like we were a part of their lives and as if they were people I'd known for years. When you can't connect with a story via the characters, it makes reading complicated--Meg Mitchell Moore never suffers this fate.
If you're looking for something relatable, but still complex, The Islanders is a definite must-read for you this summer. Or year round, really.
Review was originally posted here via Booked J. As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for participating in the blog tour/my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Another summer day, another engrossing summery read. The Islanders delivers in every way and Meg Mitchell Moore is officially on my radar. This is more than just an airy, light, perfect for summer read. Meg Mitchell Moore devotes time to developing her characters and makes sure they're compelling, complex and full of life.
Meg Mitchell Moore's writing is just gorgeous and I loved the rotating point of view almost as much as the setting. The real shining star of the story is not merely the summery setting or airy prose, it's the flawed characteristics in each of the characters. As they navigate their day to day lives, we see the differences between each other and the growth that has yet to come. And what brings their lives together.
Further, I found the entire plotline, from start to conclusion, to be perfectly paced and well thought out. Meg Mitchell Moore doesn't leave the readers feeling unsatisfied by the final chapters and ties things up quite beautifully. The story never struggles with a bleak, ordinary tone despite the story and its characters being remarkably normal--the prose of The Islanders makes it smooth and the character's make it extraordinary.
Which goes without saying--what captivated me most were the characters and their development.
What drove the plotlines home were these three--Lu, Anthony and Joy--and I found myself loving each of them in different ways. I really did feel like we were a part of their lives and as if they were people I'd known for years. When you can't connect with a story via the characters, it makes reading complicated--Meg Mitchell Moore never suffers this fate.
If you're looking for something relatable, but still complex, The Islanders is a definite must-read for you this summer. Or year round, really.
August 7, 2019
I think one of the most important aspects of a story is transporting the readers to where it takes place. Meg Mitchell Moore does a wonderful job doing this in The Islanders. What she does for Block Island is what Elin Hilderbrand has done with Nantucket for years now. It’s because of this, along with the seemless way that the author intertwines the lives of the three main characters, that the summer and the story flies by. Block Island sounds like a great place to visit, much like Nantucket and you’ll definitely want to add it to your bucket list after finishing this great beach read. Reading it on the beach or by a pool is recommended, but not required.
May 3, 2019
3.5 Stars!
Meg Mitchell Moore's The Captain's Daughter made my top 10 of 2017 list, so needless to say, I had been anticipating The Islanders since I finished that one! While I enjoyed this one, the characters in The Islanders did not resonate with me as much as I had hoped. We meet Anthony, a writer who has been exposed and exiled for plagiarism, Joy, a local business owner who is threatened by a new competitor in town and the return of her ex husband and his new wife, and Lu, the woman who appears to have it all but really just wants something of her own.
The way these characters intertwine is interesting and I enjoyed reading about their connections and how their relationships developed with one another. The thing I did not enjoy as much was the characters themselves (with the exception of Lu, who was my favorite).
Moore's choice to set this novel on Block Island was a great choice, given that it is such a small island, it made the frequent interactions believable. For fans of Elin Hildebrand, Dorothea Benton Frank & Nancy Thayer, this one will definitely be up your alley.
Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Meg Mitchell Moore's The Captain's Daughter made my top 10 of 2017 list, so needless to say, I had been anticipating The Islanders since I finished that one! While I enjoyed this one, the characters in The Islanders did not resonate with me as much as I had hoped. We meet Anthony, a writer who has been exposed and exiled for plagiarism, Joy, a local business owner who is threatened by a new competitor in town and the return of her ex husband and his new wife, and Lu, the woman who appears to have it all but really just wants something of her own.
The way these characters intertwine is interesting and I enjoyed reading about their connections and how their relationships developed with one another. The thing I did not enjoy as much was the characters themselves (with the exception of Lu, who was my favorite).
Moore's choice to set this novel on Block Island was a great choice, given that it is such a small island, it made the frequent interactions believable. For fans of Elin Hildebrand, Dorothea Benton Frank & Nancy Thayer, this one will definitely be up your alley.
Thank you to William Morrow for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
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