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Surfside Sisters
A Nantucket woman returns home to find that reunions aren’t always simple, in this heartwarming novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Nantucket Wedding and Secrets in Summer.
Keely Green always dreamed of leaving the beautiful shores of Nantucket to become a writer. Now she’s a bestselling novelist living in New York City, attending glamorous cocktail parties and mingling with the literary elite. Keely is also dating a charming, perfectly fine pediatric surgeon who looks good on paper but isn’t “the one.” She just can’t bear to break it off—until he declares his desire to settle down. Then Keely’s editor rejects her latest novel. With her personal and professional lives suddenly in shambles, Keely longs for the soothing island way of life.
Growing up, Keely and her best friend, Isabelle, were inseparable. Nothing could come between them—except, as it turned out, Keely’s high school boyfriend, Tommy. Returning home would mean facing Isabelle’s bitter betrayal and seeing for herself the family Tommy and Isabelle have created, the life that might have been Keely’s.
But when Keely’s mother falls into a deep depression, Keely knows what she must do, even though she is reluctant to face her estranged friend. And encountering Isabelle’s older brother, Sebastian—Keely’s longtime crush—only complicates things.
In one incredible summer, Keely must confront the mistakes of the past if she has any chance of finding true happiness in the place she will always call home. Nancy Thayer shines yet again in this uplifting tale of forgiveness and self-discovery.
Keely Green always dreamed of leaving the beautiful shores of Nantucket to become a writer. Now she’s a bestselling novelist living in New York City, attending glamorous cocktail parties and mingling with the literary elite. Keely is also dating a charming, perfectly fine pediatric surgeon who looks good on paper but isn’t “the one.” She just can’t bear to break it off—until he declares his desire to settle down. Then Keely’s editor rejects her latest novel. With her personal and professional lives suddenly in shambles, Keely longs for the soothing island way of life.
Growing up, Keely and her best friend, Isabelle, were inseparable. Nothing could come between them—except, as it turned out, Keely’s high school boyfriend, Tommy. Returning home would mean facing Isabelle’s bitter betrayal and seeing for herself the family Tommy and Isabelle have created, the life that might have been Keely’s.
But when Keely’s mother falls into a deep depression, Keely knows what she must do, even though she is reluctant to face her estranged friend. And encountering Isabelle’s older brother, Sebastian—Keely’s longtime crush—only complicates things.
In one incredible summer, Keely must confront the mistakes of the past if she has any chance of finding true happiness in the place she will always call home. Nancy Thayer shines yet again in this uplifting tale of forgiveness and self-discovery.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2019
2662 people are currently reading
8697 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Thayer
53 books4,052 followersNancy Thayer has published 35 novels, including Family Reunion and Secrets in Summer. She has lived on Nantucket Island year-round for 38 years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and five grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 940 reviews
June 29, 2019
3.5 stars
I've been wanting to read a book by this author for awhile and this one looked like it would be a good summertime read. This one definitely held my interest but I do think some of the relationships the main character had with other people could have been better developed. It was hard to understand why Keely wanted to surround herself with so many self-involved people.
Ever since they were kids, best friends Keely and Isabelle have wanted to become writers. They were practically inseparable growing up on the island of Nantucket but their friendship really starts getting put to the test once they go off to college. And while their high school classmate, Tommy, might not be the sole cause for strain in their friendship, he certainly doesn't help things. Keely is faced with the possibility her relationship with her best friend might be beyond repair.
I think most of us can agree when you pick up this type of book, you have a pretty good idea of the endgame. And while this story was certainly the easy, breezy type read I was looking for, a part of me wishes it could have been more. I would have loved it if the author explored more why Keely for the most part was pretty accepting of people treating her like a doormat. Even though she was the main character, there was a part of her I never felt like I fully understood. But I guess we all know a Keely in real life and we just have to bite our tongues when we constantly watch the person settling for less than they deserve.
Overall though this is an enjoyable read and I look forward to checking out the author's other books.
I was sent a free arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I've been wanting to read a book by this author for awhile and this one looked like it would be a good summertime read. This one definitely held my interest but I do think some of the relationships the main character had with other people could have been better developed. It was hard to understand why Keely wanted to surround herself with so many self-involved people.
Ever since they were kids, best friends Keely and Isabelle have wanted to become writers. They were practically inseparable growing up on the island of Nantucket but their friendship really starts getting put to the test once they go off to college. And while their high school classmate, Tommy, might not be the sole cause for strain in their friendship, he certainly doesn't help things. Keely is faced with the possibility her relationship with her best friend might be beyond repair.
I think most of us can agree when you pick up this type of book, you have a pretty good idea of the endgame. And while this story was certainly the easy, breezy type read I was looking for, a part of me wishes it could have been more. I would have loved it if the author explored more why Keely for the most part was pretty accepting of people treating her like a doormat. Even though she was the main character, there was a part of her I never felt like I fully understood. But I guess we all know a Keely in real life and we just have to bite our tongues when we constantly watch the person settling for less than they deserve.
Overall though this is an enjoyable read and I look forward to checking out the author's other books.
I was sent a free arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2019
Yes, I did receive this book as an ARC and with that said I am going to be brutally honest about what I thought of this book. I also find (looking over the other reviews) that I may be alone in my opinions. The low rating maybe because of my age or maybe my taste in books. But this is how I genuinely feel about this book.
I must say that I was very disappointed. I expected an adult novel and what I got was a young adult (at best) novel. I might even go as far as saying that this was a novel for teenagers.
This was a novel that deals with jealousy, envy, crushes that lasted forever, among other trivial things. They were just the most childish people I have ever met. The most honestly written parts dealt with death and illness. I could not connect (as an adult) with any of the characters. Some were annoying others pretentious and, others unrealistically portrayed. The author took more time describing the surroundings and everyone's love for the island than she did in having the characters grow. I also saw a lot of problems with the storyline/timeline, and that kept taking me out of the zone.
Had the characters grown in any manner, I would have been thrilled, but they did not. I might have loved this book as a teenager, but as a mature adult, I did not.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
I must say that I was very disappointed. I expected an adult novel and what I got was a young adult (at best) novel. I might even go as far as saying that this was a novel for teenagers.
This was a novel that deals with jealousy, envy, crushes that lasted forever, among other trivial things. They were just the most childish people I have ever met. The most honestly written parts dealt with death and illness. I could not connect (as an adult) with any of the characters. Some were annoying others pretentious and, others unrealistically portrayed. The author took more time describing the surroundings and everyone's love for the island than she did in having the characters grow. I also saw a lot of problems with the storyline/timeline, and that kept taking me out of the zone.
Had the characters grown in any manner, I would have been thrilled, but they did not. I might have loved this book as a teenager, but as a mature adult, I did not.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
July 8, 2019
I really wanted to like "Surfside Sisters" by Nancy Thayer, but most of the characters not only weren't likeable, in a lot of cases I found them to be incredibly annoying and juvenile. I also found myself rolling my eyes at the book's ending. (That in and of itself made me reduce my rating from 3 stars to 2.) However, I did find myself wanting to keep turning the pages, hoping that something would happen to make Keely, the main character, wake up and choose a better path for herself. Unfortunately, that never happened.
There were so many things that frustrated me about this book. First, we only got Keely's side of the story, and frankly she came across as kind of whiny and pathetic a lot of the time. She was so desperate to be accepted by the Maxwell family that she put up with - even encouraged! - what seemed like very poor treatment from both Isabelle and Sebastian. That said, my perception of events might have been different if we had heard Isabelle's side of the story too.
From Keely's perspective, Isabelle came across as an incredibly selfish, entitled person who was never truly a friend to Keely, and yet, no matter what, Keely still wanted to be her friend to the end. There were a few times I wanted to reach into the book and slap Keely for not recognizing that their "friendship" had become toxic and it was time to move on. It's not like Keely didn't have any friends besides Isabelle! Why she kept clinging to Isabelle and the rest of the Maxwells was puzzling to me because they really didn't seem that great. Keely didn't seem to appreciate how great her own parents were, either. So what if the Greens didn't have as big of a house as the Maxwells, or if they never had any pets because her parents were allergic? Those were such stupidly petty things to complain about that, again, I wanted to slap Keely for complaining about them.
As for Sebastian, he seemed to keep Keely dangling on a string for years and she just kept coming back for more. Except for one time when he was a freshman in college, he never went out of his way to contact her. Basically, unless she was standing right in front of him, it didn't seem like he even thought about her, despite his protestations to the contrary. Sebastian only decided to pursue a romantic relationship with Keely when it was finally convenient for him, after he broke up with his Swedish girlfriend and moved back to the island full-time. That was fine with Keely, apparently, since she was still so desperate to be a part of the "wonderful" Maxwell family.
Then there was the Keely-Tommy-Isabelle love triangle. What a ridiculous saga that was! I couldn't figure out why Keely even wanted Tommy in the first place - maybe just because Isabelle wanted him and had him first? How much could Keely really have wanted to be friends with Isabelle by that point anyway if her idea of "friendship" allowed her to start dating her supposed BFF's ex the day after they broke up? I'm not saying that what Isabelle and Tommy did was right, but Keely's behavior wasn't exactly perfect either.
There were plenty of other things that annoyed me about this book, but this review is already way too long. Bottom line: I was really disappointed with "Surfside Sisters," though the writing itself was decent and I was interested enough in what would happen next to keep reading to the end. I would give another one of Nancy Thayer's books a shot in the future. Hopefully the characters and storyline will be less frustrating!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were so many things that frustrated me about this book. First, we only got Keely's side of the story, and frankly she came across as kind of whiny and pathetic a lot of the time. She was so desperate to be accepted by the Maxwell family that she put up with - even encouraged! - what seemed like very poor treatment from both Isabelle and Sebastian. That said, my perception of events might have been different if we had heard Isabelle's side of the story too.
From Keely's perspective, Isabelle came across as an incredibly selfish, entitled person who was never truly a friend to Keely, and yet, no matter what, Keely still wanted to be her friend to the end. There were a few times I wanted to reach into the book and slap Keely for not recognizing that their "friendship" had become toxic and it was time to move on. It's not like Keely didn't have any friends besides Isabelle! Why she kept clinging to Isabelle and the rest of the Maxwells was puzzling to me because they really didn't seem that great. Keely didn't seem to appreciate how great her own parents were, either. So what if the Greens didn't have as big of a house as the Maxwells, or if they never had any pets because her parents were allergic? Those were such stupidly petty things to complain about that, again, I wanted to slap Keely for complaining about them.
As for Sebastian, he seemed to keep Keely dangling on a string for years and she just kept coming back for more. Except for one time when he was a freshman in college, he never went out of his way to contact her. Basically, unless she was standing right in front of him, it didn't seem like he even thought about her, despite his protestations to the contrary. Sebastian only decided to pursue a romantic relationship with Keely when it was finally convenient for him, after he broke up with his Swedish girlfriend and moved back to the island full-time. That was fine with Keely, apparently, since she was still so desperate to be a part of the "wonderful" Maxwell family.
Then there was the Keely-Tommy-Isabelle love triangle. What a ridiculous saga that was! I couldn't figure out why Keely even wanted Tommy in the first place - maybe just because Isabelle wanted him and had him first? How much could Keely really have wanted to be friends with Isabelle by that point anyway if her idea of "friendship" allowed her to start dating her supposed BFF's ex the day after they broke up? I'm not saying that what Isabelle and Tommy did was right, but Keely's behavior wasn't exactly perfect either.
There were plenty of other things that annoyed me about this book, but this review is already way too long. Bottom line: I was really disappointed with "Surfside Sisters," though the writing itself was decent and I was interested enough in what would happen next to keep reading to the end. I would give another one of Nancy Thayer's books a shot in the future. Hopefully the characters and storyline will be less frustrating!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
In pre-school, Keely meets Isabelle and from the onset they are inseparable. Isabelle’s family is wealthy, and Keely loves going to their home by the ocean. As an only child with both parents who always work, Keely enjoys the bustling activity at Isabelle’s home. It doesn’t hurt that she has a crush on Isabelle’s older brother, Sebastian.
As they grow up and things change the friendship breaks down. Keely becomes a published author. And does quite well for herself. When her mother becomes ill, she needs to return home, and she and Isabelle reunite.
When I was a teenager, I watched a soap opera show, once. I didn’t like it. I think I just walked into one with this book.
Spoiled. Vindictive. Childish. Pass.
As they grow up and things change the friendship breaks down. Keely becomes a published author. And does quite well for herself. When her mother becomes ill, she needs to return home, and she and Isabelle reunite.
When I was a teenager, I watched a soap opera show, once. I didn’t like it. I think I just walked into one with this book.
Spoiled. Vindictive. Childish. Pass.
May 14, 2020
I generally enjoy Nancy Thayer’s books for what they are: light chic-lit set on Nantucket. This book didn’t really live up to her normal standards. That’s not to say that it isn’t an enjoyable read, but this book had a lot of holes in it.
First of all, the synopsis says that Tommy was Keely’s HS boyfriend. He wasn’t. He asked her to a dance and she turned him down because her BFF Isabelle had a crush on him and later dated him. In college, Keely and Tommy had a two year relationship, but he dumped her for Isabelle. The synopsis makes it sound like Keely was crushed by this, but she was more upset over how Isabelle treated her than she was about losing Tommy.
I didn’t get the relationship between Isabelle and Keely. Isabelle was so entitled, so self absorbed, so clueless about anyone’s needs but her own. I get that they were BFFs as kids, but it seemed that Keely outgrew Isabelle, but held on to the fantasy of their close relationship. I didn’t see what Keely got out of it. She was enamored with Isabelle and her family, but they seemed to just tolerate her presence, as a favor to Isabelle. Keely also admitted that she was jealous of the Maxwells and all they had, yet she was drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Keely was also attracted to Isabelle’s older brother, and swooned over the crumbs of attention he gave her over the years. She needed a lot of work in the self esteem and self respect departments.
The idea that Keely’s mom, a retired nurse, would become a decrepit recluse after Keely moved to NYC was disappointing at best and offensive at worst. Eloise was an intelligent, capable, professional and highly respected woman who deserved better treatment. I’m sure that the author could have come up with a better reason to have Keely return to Nantucket.
There are no real surprises in this story, especially in how it all wraps up. But I don’t read these books for surprises; I read them for the escape to Nantucket. In that sense, the book succeeds. And although it has flaws, it still took me away from real life for a while, and for that I am grateful.
First of all, the synopsis says that Tommy was Keely’s HS boyfriend. He wasn’t. He asked her to a dance and she turned him down because her BFF Isabelle had a crush on him and later dated him. In college, Keely and Tommy had a two year relationship, but he dumped her for Isabelle. The synopsis makes it sound like Keely was crushed by this, but she was more upset over how Isabelle treated her than she was about losing Tommy.
I didn’t get the relationship between Isabelle and Keely. Isabelle was so entitled, so self absorbed, so clueless about anyone’s needs but her own. I get that they were BFFs as kids, but it seemed that Keely outgrew Isabelle, but held on to the fantasy of their close relationship. I didn’t see what Keely got out of it. She was enamored with Isabelle and her family, but they seemed to just tolerate her presence, as a favor to Isabelle. Keely also admitted that she was jealous of the Maxwells and all they had, yet she was drawn to them like a moth to a flame. Keely was also attracted to Isabelle’s older brother, and swooned over the crumbs of attention he gave her over the years. She needed a lot of work in the self esteem and self respect departments.
The idea that Keely’s mom, a retired nurse, would become a decrepit recluse after Keely moved to NYC was disappointing at best and offensive at worst. Eloise was an intelligent, capable, professional and highly respected woman who deserved better treatment. I’m sure that the author could have come up with a better reason to have Keely return to Nantucket.
There are no real surprises in this story, especially in how it all wraps up. But I don’t read these books for surprises; I read them for the escape to Nantucket. In that sense, the book succeeds. And although it has flaws, it still took me away from real life for a while, and for that I am grateful.
December 13, 2019
I’ve read books by Nancy Thayer before, and have enjoyed them. However, “ Surfside Sisters “ is extremely disappointing. When I read the synopsis of the book, it sounded good, but the story doesn’t remotely read like the synopsis. There is no development of the characters and it was like reading a book for very young adolescents. ( and poorly written at that )
Save your time and money on this book, and move on to something else, because this is not a novel.... it’s a poorly written waste of time.
Save your time and money on this book, and move on to something else, because this is not a novel.... it’s a poorly written waste of time.
July 3, 2019
Surfside Sisters is a light read set in beautiful Nantucket. This is the perfect book to cosy up with on the beach for a day ;).
I enjoyed the perspective of Keely from childhood to present day. I was bummed out that we didn't get to see Isabel's perspective and think that this would have added an additional star to my rating. I think overall I was wishing that the characters were more in depth and better developed. I didn't particularly connect with anyone in the book and was wishing I would have!
It just fell flat for me unfortunately without the depth of the characterization. It was a decent read but not sure I would read something else by this author.
3 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/2/19
Published to GR: 7/3/19
I enjoyed the perspective of Keely from childhood to present day. I was bummed out that we didn't get to see Isabel's perspective and think that this would have added an additional star to my rating. I think overall I was wishing that the characters were more in depth and better developed. I didn't particularly connect with anyone in the book and was wishing I would have!
It just fell flat for me unfortunately without the depth of the characterization. It was a decent read but not sure I would read something else by this author.
3 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/2/19
Published to GR: 7/3/19
July 8, 2019
Find more at Carlene Inspired.
When I'm laying out, enjoying the sound of the waves or sipping a sweet drink poolside, I love a good frivolous read. I like books that make me zone out, that let me be a lazy reader, that don't require a lot of involvement from my brain and emotions. Surfside Sisters is exactly that sort of novel, it meanders on at an easy pace with simple drama and a rather meaningless story line. We don't get too deep into Keely's brain, rather we see her go out about her day to day and fret over boys and friends. It's a one side read about a woman and her future, the one she's dreamed about and the one she's successfully created.
I'll admit that when you pick up a true beach read you know you aren't going to get a lot from it, but this was even more mindless than I was prepared for. Keely, our main character, has a very selfish mindset and she latches onto people with very little thought. She often reads as though she's never actually grown up from the young girl we first meet. She worries about boys, she holds onto a long crush, and she has the strangest arguments with her best friend. Yes, she's massively successful, but we have very little understanding as to how she's successful. You see, she comes across as very socially awkward and our interactions with those outside her circle are so limited we don't quite know her as an individual. It's almost like Keely can't exhist without being in Nantucket and that took away from the story from me. I suppose you could say I wanted a bit more, I think this story had more potential than the beach read it became.
I'll always be an easy, breezy beach read kind of gal and I'll always reach for Nancy Thayer's books, but Surfside Sisters is one I'll have to call a one-time read.
ARC provided.
When I'm laying out, enjoying the sound of the waves or sipping a sweet drink poolside, I love a good frivolous read. I like books that make me zone out, that let me be a lazy reader, that don't require a lot of involvement from my brain and emotions. Surfside Sisters is exactly that sort of novel, it meanders on at an easy pace with simple drama and a rather meaningless story line. We don't get too deep into Keely's brain, rather we see her go out about her day to day and fret over boys and friends. It's a one side read about a woman and her future, the one she's dreamed about and the one she's successfully created.
I'll admit that when you pick up a true beach read you know you aren't going to get a lot from it, but this was even more mindless than I was prepared for. Keely, our main character, has a very selfish mindset and she latches onto people with very little thought. She often reads as though she's never actually grown up from the young girl we first meet. She worries about boys, she holds onto a long crush, and she has the strangest arguments with her best friend. Yes, she's massively successful, but we have very little understanding as to how she's successful. You see, she comes across as very socially awkward and our interactions with those outside her circle are so limited we don't quite know her as an individual. It's almost like Keely can't exhist without being in Nantucket and that took away from the story from me. I suppose you could say I wanted a bit more, I think this story had more potential than the beach read it became.
I'll always be an easy, breezy beach read kind of gal and I'll always reach for Nancy Thayer's books, but Surfside Sisters is one I'll have to call a one-time read.
ARC provided.
July 20, 2019
I have wanted to read a Nancy Thayer book for a long time because all of them sound like entertaining beach reads. I had expected to like this book a lot. But, honestly, I felt like I was reading a YA novel. The main character, her relationship with her best friend, the dialogue, the conflicts....everything felt like something written for a younger audience. I was disappointed I felt no connection to the main character and her struggles. And I felt the same about all the other characters.
However, having spent some time in the Nantucket area, I do feel that she paints an accurate picture of life in the area. I plan to choose another of her novels at random to see if I just happened upon the one Nancy Thayer novel that didn't speak to me as a reader.
However, having spent some time in the Nantucket area, I do feel that she paints an accurate picture of life in the area. I plan to choose another of her novels at random to see if I just happened upon the one Nancy Thayer novel that didn't speak to me as a reader.
June 24, 2019
This book surprised me. We meet Keely and Isabelle when they are young and both want to write novels. They are BFFs all through school, but then things get complicated. Sometimes it seems as if they are competing against each other and in the background is the crush Keely has on Isabelle's elusive older brother Sebastion. We get to know Keely especially well and it is a treat to spend time both in Nantucket and NYC through the course of the story. Will make a great beach/vacation read!
Thank you to Ballantine and Edelweiss for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Ballantine and Edelweiss for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2019
Surfside Sisters
By
Nancy Thayer
What it's all about...
This book can only be described as the most perfect summer book. Isabelle and Keely are the best of friends. Both want to be authors. Isabelle comes from a wealthy family...she travels and seems to have everything. Keely is from a more normal working class family. The friendship seems to show a few cracks almost from the beginning...little flaws that Keely ignores because she loves Isabelle so much. Keely also seems to be more serious about writing and in fact does get a book published first.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Keely was in love with Isabelle’s brother...Sebastian...through most of this book but he seemed to fail to notice her. Keely suffers heartbreak and loss while Isabelle seems to have a much smoother time. They have gaps of time when they don’t even talk to each other.
What I loved best...
I love the interaction between Keely and Isabelle. I loved Keely’s life in NYC but I loved also that her heart was always in Nantucket.
What potential readers might want to know...
This breezy summer book has lots of angst and lots of turmoil. It’s the kind of book that will make you stay at the beach all day long until you finish it. I read most of mine in a day!
By
Nancy Thayer
What it's all about...
This book can only be described as the most perfect summer book. Isabelle and Keely are the best of friends. Both want to be authors. Isabelle comes from a wealthy family...she travels and seems to have everything. Keely is from a more normal working class family. The friendship seems to show a few cracks almost from the beginning...little flaws that Keely ignores because she loves Isabelle so much. Keely also seems to be more serious about writing and in fact does get a book published first.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Keely was in love with Isabelle’s brother...Sebastian...through most of this book but he seemed to fail to notice her. Keely suffers heartbreak and loss while Isabelle seems to have a much smoother time. They have gaps of time when they don’t even talk to each other.
What I loved best...
I love the interaction between Keely and Isabelle. I loved Keely’s life in NYC but I loved also that her heart was always in Nantucket.
What potential readers might want to know...
This breezy summer book has lots of angst and lots of turmoil. It’s the kind of book that will make you stay at the beach all day long until you finish it. I read most of mine in a day!
July 2, 2019
There is just something so appealing to me about books set in Nantucket, every summer I look forward to reading books set there and though this is only my third book by Thayer, it’s my favorite one so far! It had everything I look for in a beach read. It’s light and fun yet has plenty going on in the characters lives too, throw in a perfect summer location and some romantic drama and it’s the best possible combination for me for a summer read.
This is told solely from Keely’s perspective and begins when she’s a young girl and meets her future best friend, Isabelle. It follows both girls over the years until they’re almost thirty and you get to see them experience highs and lows, both in their separate lives and also in their friendship with each other. I’m really glad that Keely was the narrator as I liked her a lot more than I did Isabelle, she was just a genuinely good person trying to follow her dreams and maintain her relationship with her friend. Although Isabelle wasn’t my favorite kind of character both women were incredibly well developed and interesting.
Highly recommended to pack in your beach bag, this was charming, fun and featured plenty of drama and angst from the characters to keep you engaged.
The Surfside Sisters in three words: Breezy, Carefree and Charming
This is told solely from Keely’s perspective and begins when she’s a young girl and meets her future best friend, Isabelle. It follows both girls over the years until they’re almost thirty and you get to see them experience highs and lows, both in their separate lives and also in their friendship with each other. I’m really glad that Keely was the narrator as I liked her a lot more than I did Isabelle, she was just a genuinely good person trying to follow her dreams and maintain her relationship with her friend. Although Isabelle wasn’t my favorite kind of character both women were incredibly well developed and interesting.
Highly recommended to pack in your beach bag, this was charming, fun and featured plenty of drama and angst from the characters to keep you engaged.
The Surfside Sisters in three words: Breezy, Carefree and Charming
June 25, 2019
A light read, set in beautiful Nantucket, and just enough spice to give it some flavor. This is a perfect beach read!
Keely grew up on Nantucket with best friend Isabelle. They were inseparable, as close as sisters, and Keely was a tag along member to Isabelle’s family. Until a betrayal forced these friends apart. Now Keely lives in New York and is a sought after author. Suddenly her mother needs her and Keely must return home- to the island she escaped and the bitter remnants of a destroyed friendship.
I enjoyed the perspective of Keely and the back story, from childhood to present day. I wish I had the perspective of Isabelle, as I believe it would have added a nice layer to the story. Isabelle just comes across as a very unlikable, spoiled girl because we only get one side. Overall this was a fun, light read and perfect for summer! For me, Surfside Sisters was ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5. Thank you @randomhouse for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
Keely grew up on Nantucket with best friend Isabelle. They were inseparable, as close as sisters, and Keely was a tag along member to Isabelle’s family. Until a betrayal forced these friends apart. Now Keely lives in New York and is a sought after author. Suddenly her mother needs her and Keely must return home- to the island she escaped and the bitter remnants of a destroyed friendship.
I enjoyed the perspective of Keely and the back story, from childhood to present day. I wish I had the perspective of Isabelle, as I believe it would have added a nice layer to the story. Isabelle just comes across as a very unlikable, spoiled girl because we only get one side. Overall this was a fun, light read and perfect for summer! For me, Surfside Sisters was ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5. Thank you @randomhouse for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2019
Keely Green has grown up as an only child living in Nantucket. Her life has been rather quiet, except when she is hanging out with her best friend, Isabelle. Isabelle's life is the polar opposite of Keely's. She has grown up in a privileged household on Nantucket. Her brother, Sebastian, is one of the most popular and charismatic boys in school. Although Keely and Isabelle have the love of books in common, their similarities end right about there. As Keely and Isabelle get older, Keely finds herself drawn to Sebastian, but doesn't want Isabelle to think that she is just like every other girl in school, so she keeps her attraction to him hidden. As they become teenagers and then adults growing up in a small town, there are problems between the two girls, especially when it comes to boys and competing as aspiring writers. Fast forward many years and Keely is living in New York as a published author and she has to return home to Nantucket to help her mother and reignite her latest novel she is working on. This all seems well and good until she has to face Isabelle, Sebastian, and her ex-boyfriend, Tommy. Nancy Thayer's Surfside Sisters is the kind of beach read I love. It's light, there's family drama, a gorgeous location, and a story of forgiveness between life long friends.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 5, 2019
I won this book on a Goodreads first reads giveaway.
First off, I have to start with saying I liked this story well enough...but I think the characters could do with some polishing.
This came across as more of a YA novel than something for adults.
I really liked the insight and background of what it's like to be an author. A lot of people seem to take the entire process of transforming an image in your head into an entire story and the brutal work you have to go through to publish it for granted. It definitely gives the reader a prospective on how difficult it is to be an author, it was slightly humbling to think about a person who wrote a novel in a year getting published while a person who poured their soul into a book for 10+ years gets rejected.
On that same note, I wasn't really thrilled with the characters in this particular novel. Keely, the main character, and her mother were okay but the rest of them were...eehhh....
Most of the characters seemed extremely childish to me. Isabelle, Sebastian (her brother), and her parents in particular were very unlikable and the ending left me slightly bitter.
The parents were extremely petty and self-absorbed. Keely basically grew up in their house, they treated her like a second daughter...and then when she needed help they suddenly started pretending they didn't know her or lift a single finger to help in anyway. Not even an "I'm sorry" or "Let me talk to someone about a scholarship/loan". Nope, they just dumped her and then started whispering behind her back and giggling about her misfortune like school girls.
I also wasn't really feeling the whole Keely x Sebastian thing. The fact that he had no issues toying with her emotions (on more than one occasion) by basically leading her on and then taking off with the next buxom blonde that strutted by was actually very annoying. It was made worse by Keely acting like very immature and almost obsessed about it. She never got angry at him, held anything against him, and ruined entire relationships because they couldn't compare to her emotionally manipulative childhood crush.
Isabelle comes across as a completely spoiled and totally unlikable brat. Because we're limited to the POV of Keely we never really get to know Isabelle or how she really feels, we're left with one sided conversations that push the view point that Isabelle is an extremely toxic person. Whatever Keely has that she doesn't, she steals for herself. Be it a man or a goal.
I wasn't a fan of their friendship or the love interest from the beginning and wasn't really overjoyed about the ending. It felt like nobody really grew and they fact that Keely just accepted all these toxic people as they were (none of them changing in the slightest) sent the wrong message to me.
This would serve well as a beach read. The descriptions of the island really transport you there and the process of Keely becoming a writer was very fascinating. I honestly could have read about that the entire way through and pretended the Maxwell family didn't exist...
I'd give this one 3.5 stars.
First off, I have to start with saying I liked this story well enough...but I think the characters could do with some polishing.
This came across as more of a YA novel than something for adults.
I really liked the insight and background of what it's like to be an author. A lot of people seem to take the entire process of transforming an image in your head into an entire story and the brutal work you have to go through to publish it for granted. It definitely gives the reader a prospective on how difficult it is to be an author, it was slightly humbling to think about a person who wrote a novel in a year getting published while a person who poured their soul into a book for 10+ years gets rejected.
On that same note, I wasn't really thrilled with the characters in this particular novel. Keely, the main character, and her mother were okay but the rest of them were...eehhh....
Most of the characters seemed extremely childish to me. Isabelle, Sebastian (her brother), and her parents in particular were very unlikable and the ending left me slightly bitter.
The parents were extremely petty and self-absorbed. Keely basically grew up in their house, they treated her like a second daughter...and then when she needed help they suddenly started pretending they didn't know her or lift a single finger to help in anyway. Not even an "I'm sorry" or "Let me talk to someone about a scholarship/loan". Nope, they just dumped her and then started whispering behind her back and giggling about her misfortune like school girls.
I also wasn't really feeling the whole Keely x Sebastian thing. The fact that he had no issues toying with her emotions (on more than one occasion) by basically leading her on and then taking off with the next buxom blonde that strutted by was actually very annoying. It was made worse by Keely acting like very immature and almost obsessed about it. She never got angry at him, held anything against him, and ruined entire relationships because they couldn't compare to her emotionally manipulative childhood crush.
Isabelle comes across as a completely spoiled and totally unlikable brat. Because we're limited to the POV of Keely we never really get to know Isabelle or how she really feels, we're left with one sided conversations that push the view point that Isabelle is an extremely toxic person. Whatever Keely has that she doesn't, she steals for herself. Be it a man or a goal.
I wasn't a fan of their friendship or the love interest from the beginning and wasn't really overjoyed about the ending. It felt like nobody really grew and they fact that Keely just accepted all these toxic people as they were (none of them changing in the slightest) sent the wrong message to me.
This would serve well as a beach read. The descriptions of the island really transport you there and the process of Keely becoming a writer was very fascinating. I honestly could have read about that the entire way through and pretended the Maxwell family didn't exist...
I'd give this one 3.5 stars.
March 28, 2022
I hated 99% of the main characters in this book so a bit hard to enjoy it. Keely is the main character and she has so many issues including a majorly freakish obsession with the Maxwell family and their house. Keely needs a therapist to get over her pining for Sebastian & Isabelle; no matter how badly they treat her she always wants back in their lives even when it's not what's best for her. Sebastian isn't so horrible but the rest of the Maxwell clan are self-absorbed snobs who feel entitled to do whatever they want. Isabelle is a spoiled snot who steals Keely's boyfriend then acts smug & has no remorse in treating her best friend like garbage. (Although I don't believe Keely had any business dating Tommy at all even though they were both single; bad best friend action.)
Keely's parents are ridiculous; take out a large mortgage then get life insurance! The character of Eloise was intolerable - what a selfish witch. She & the husband screwed up their finances so what does she do? Encourages her daughter to give up her college scholarship to take 2 dead end jobs to keep her in the house she wants to stay in. Eloise should have sold the house & moved as she could have been a nurse anywhere. Then even once Keely pays off her mortgage, Eloise does it again. Keely is working hard & living in NYC but Eloise is bored & sad after retiring so Keely has to return home & run her pathetic mother's life again. Seriously!?! The woman is beyond selfish.
Keely was actually on the healthiest path possible living in NYC, away from the Maxwells and making new friends and getting involved with a really good man. I don't get how moving back to an island, getting involved w a toxic family again, babysitting a 65 yr old woman who should manage her own life, and dumping Gray for Sebastian was good in any way for Keely ......or the reader. I was so disappointed in the ending as I was hoping she'd break free from all of them! Final eye roll was the very end - telling Isabelle you're pregnant before she told Sebastian the news is weird. Keely needs some self esteem and to get help for her co-dependent personality. Awful!! This will definitely be the last I listen to from this author; her characters are just too messed up & unlikable.
Keely's parents are ridiculous; take out a large mortgage then get life insurance! The character of Eloise was intolerable - what a selfish witch. She & the husband screwed up their finances so what does she do? Encourages her daughter to give up her college scholarship to take 2 dead end jobs to keep her in the house she wants to stay in. Eloise should have sold the house & moved as she could have been a nurse anywhere. Then even once Keely pays off her mortgage, Eloise does it again. Keely is working hard & living in NYC but Eloise is bored & sad after retiring so Keely has to return home & run her pathetic mother's life again. Seriously!?! The woman is beyond selfish.
Keely was actually on the healthiest path possible living in NYC, away from the Maxwells and making new friends and getting involved with a really good man. I don't get how moving back to an island, getting involved w a toxic family again, babysitting a 65 yr old woman who should manage her own life, and dumping Gray for Sebastian was good in any way for Keely ......or the reader. I was so disappointed in the ending as I was hoping she'd break free from all of them! Final eye roll was the very end - telling Isabelle you're pregnant before she told Sebastian the news is weird. Keely needs some self esteem and to get help for her co-dependent personality. Awful!! This will definitely be the last I listen to from this author; her characters are just too messed up & unlikable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2019
An easy going story about two girls who grow up on Nantucket and want to be writers. We follow then through school and first loves to parental care and childbirth. A poignant chapter about the retired mother needing help elevated the book.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
June 28, 2019
Nancy Thayer's beach reads are some of my anticipated books every summer and Surfside Sisters is her best yet (in my humble opinion)! Set on Nantucket (who doesn't love reading about Nantucket!!!!), we meet best friends Isabelle and Keely, who are really more like sisters. Over the years, their friendship has changed significantly and the story takes us back through why. With Thayer's signature charm and heart, we explore friendship, family, love and strength. The worst part about finishing her books is waiting a whole year for the next one!
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2019
Rated 3.25
A light, easy read set in a lovely island setting. Keely and Isabelle had the type of friendship that appeared rock solid but envy reared it’s ugly head. This was a good story but a little too simplistic at times. A good beach read.
A light, easy read set in a lovely island setting. Keely and Isabelle had the type of friendship that appeared rock solid but envy reared it’s ugly head. This was a good story but a little too simplistic at times. A good beach read.
August 15, 2019
1.5..........I enjoy Nancy Thayer's books, but she missed the mark with this one. The inside jacket states...."Keely's high school boyfriend Tommy" Tommy was never her boyfriend in high school......there were a lot of inconsistencies like that and the storyline just went in circles.
May 30, 2019
This is my first Nancy Thayer novel, and I now get to go back and read all the others! This novel is set mostly on Nantucket, one of my favorite locations for a beach read. The story takes you through the relationship of two best friends, Isabelle and Keely, from childhood through motherhood. I loved Keely’s character and found myself annoyed with Isabelle much of the story.
Both girls dream of being a published author one day and finding long-lasting love. Like most best friends, they competed for success in both of these areas. The ups and downs of their relationship was the main story, yet dealing with aging parents and death also impacted the story in a very touching way. As my parents are aging and I find myself thinking more about their health, I really enjoyed this part of the book.
When I read these types of emotionally charged books I start to worry about the ending as it approaches. Yet Thayer left me very satisfied!
I highly recommend this one for summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy!
Both girls dream of being a published author one day and finding long-lasting love. Like most best friends, they competed for success in both of these areas. The ups and downs of their relationship was the main story, yet dealing with aging parents and death also impacted the story in a very touching way. As my parents are aging and I find myself thinking more about their health, I really enjoyed this part of the book.
When I read these types of emotionally charged books I start to worry about the ending as it approaches. Yet Thayer left me very satisfied!
I highly recommend this one for summer!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this advanced copy!
February 29, 2020
I am rounding up from a 3.5 rating. I found the first half of this book pleasant but it drug on forever, it seemed. The story is of two girls, best friends for years, growing up on the island from very different families. They dream of being professional writers and their lives begin to take different paths after success comes to one and not another, along with complicated love stories which come between them. It wreaked of high school drama in the first half which was predictable and petty. The second half was much better but still very predictable.
July 6, 2024
2.5⭐️ I was not a fan of this book. I found the main characters annoying and hard to love (looking at you Isabelle). The amount of affairs that were just shrugged off was quite frustrating. I also didn’t find the summary of the book accurately descriptive and considered DNFing several times!
August 13, 2019
In Nantucket, Keely and Isabelle met in preschool and, as they grew older, both wanted to be writers. They were best friends until they had a falling out over, of course, a guy. Keely has gone on to become a successful novelist in New York City. Back in Nantucket, Keely's mother retires and goes into a deep depression. Keely heads back home.
Every summer, I read a Thayer novel for one of my beach reads. I usually don't rate them over a 3 because they're not complex or memorable, but the books are fun and easy to read.
Every summer, I read a Thayer novel for one of my beach reads. I usually don't rate them over a 3 because they're not complex or memorable, but the books are fun and easy to read.
August 23, 2019
I think I’m about to give up on this author. I really enjoyed her earlier books but I haven’t read anything of Nancy Thayer’s that I’ve rated above 2 stars in years. The book starts out with Keely and Isabelle as children and ends with them around age 30 though I never felt that they matured much past ten years old. There was no character development whatsoever and the whole book was just flat. It’s ironic that Keely is told by her editor that her third book has lost its heart when I’ve felt Nancy Thayer’s books lost theirs quite a while ago.
May 1, 2023
2-3 ⭐️
Classic beach read but definitely needed a bit more depth. I’ve already forgotten what it’s about. 😆
Classic beach read but definitely needed a bit more depth. I’ve already forgotten what it’s about. 😆
September 26, 2019
The beginning of Surfside Sisters takes you through the lives of Keely and Isabelle from elementary school to high school and eventually college focusing on their friendship and dreams. They were as close as two best friends could be. And it makes you think about your own childhood friends and growing up. I had a few issues with the love interest of Tommy, simply because I always thought the number one rule in friendship is that you NEVER date someone your best friend has dated or is interested in. Maybe that was just mine and my best friend's rule? But all is well that ends well and this book ends well for me. I enjoyed this book and it was a great read before I go to the beach on vacation. This is the first book I have read by author Nancy Thayer and from what I am getting from other's reviews it seems that this isn't like what she normally writes. Maybe because of the YA feel in the beginning of the novel? But I thought it was good and I would definitely want to read more from this author.
I won this book from the giveaways and Goodreads.com.
I won this book from the giveaways and Goodreads.com.
July 2, 2019
This is a wonderfully done book that will make the perfect beach read. Love them or hate them, the characters will make an impression on you and your emotions will be all over the place. This is the story of two girls from childhood through to adulthood and the journey their lives take. As kids they shared a passion for writing and words as well as a dream to become published authors. Some dreams are realized, hopes and desires change, relationships are strained but through all life throws their way the hope is that their friendship will remain. This is definitely a recommended read for all chick lit fans!
June 15, 2019
This is the perfect Summer beach read. It takes place in Nantucket (SWOON!) and it involves two childhood best friends named Isabelle and Keely. They have these dreams to become writers and life takes them on different paths (don’t want to give any spoilers). The story follows them from tween to teen to adults. I didn’t love Isabelle as a person but we needed her for the story. I was also rooting for Sebastian and Keely the whole time! This will definitely not be my last Nancy Thayer’s book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 19, 2019
This was a typical Nancy Thayer Nantucket story. Isabelle and Keely grew up together and as some friends often do, they got mad over a boy and didn't speak for many years. Keely is now a famous author, and Isabelle is jealous because she too wants to publish a book. The story is a little unrealistic but fantastic beach read for the end of the summer.
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