What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lost Summers of Driftwood
'Like the slow-moving river that flows through the story, this compelling mystery will creep up on you and pull you in.' Josephine Moon
An absorbing drama about broken dreams, first love and the mystery of a lost sister, for all fans of Hannah Richell and Kate Morton.
'A cracking read' Maggie Alderson
Is it more dangerous to forget ... or to remember?
Phoebe's life has fallen apart and there's only one place left to go. Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, she flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage.
On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water?
Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community.
As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is a story of lost loves, rekindled passions, tragedy and betrayal set against the backdrop of an idyllic south coast town.
Praise for The Lost Summers of
'This tender and evocative story of the power of love, grief and memories will resonate with so many readers thanks to the power of Vanessa McCausland's storytelling and her understanding of human nature.' Sophie Green, author of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
'McCausland is a natural storyteller who weaves love, loss, mystery and secrets into a satisfying tale' Herald Sun
'You'll be on the edge of your seat as surprising secrets unfold on every page' Woman's Day
'Full of mystery and romance, this is the perfect atmospheric summer read' Who Weekly
'Pure reading pleasure! Evocatively written and with beautifully realised characters whose loves and losses play out against a lush and mysterious backdrop, I kept turning the pages, desperate to know what would happen, but also wishing it would never end.' Cassie Hamer, author of After the Party
An absorbing drama about broken dreams, first love and the mystery of a lost sister, for all fans of Hannah Richell and Kate Morton.
'A cracking read' Maggie Alderson
Is it more dangerous to forget ... or to remember?
Phoebe's life has fallen apart and there's only one place left to go. Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, she flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage.
On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water?
Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community.
As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is a story of lost loves, rekindled passions, tragedy and betrayal set against the backdrop of an idyllic south coast town.
Praise for The Lost Summers of
'This tender and evocative story of the power of love, grief and memories will resonate with so many readers thanks to the power of Vanessa McCausland's storytelling and her understanding of human nature.' Sophie Green, author of The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
'McCausland is a natural storyteller who weaves love, loss, mystery and secrets into a satisfying tale' Herald Sun
'You'll be on the edge of your seat as surprising secrets unfold on every page' Woman's Day
'Full of mystery and romance, this is the perfect atmospheric summer read' Who Weekly
'Pure reading pleasure! Evocatively written and with beautifully realised characters whose loves and losses play out against a lush and mysterious backdrop, I kept turning the pages, desperate to know what would happen, but also wishing it would never end.' Cassie Hamer, author of After the Party
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2019
36 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
May 28, 2020
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McCausland. (2020).
Phoebe's life has fallen apart and there's only one place left to go. Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, she flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage. On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water? Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community. As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
I seriously enjoyed this moving story. From the very beginning I quite liked Phoebe and was really hoping that she'd have a happy ending with some answers about her beloved sister. Something that stood out in this story for me was that it clearly demonstrated how most situations are not black and white; there are many shades of grey and you may find yourself doing something you've always thought wrong but when you are in the scenario you realise that's it's not as clear cut as simply wrong versus right. At it's core this book is about love: family love, friendship love, love of oneself and romantic love. It also covers several important relevant social topics - being 'perfect' on social media, infertility, adultery, tragedy, grief, death, complex family relationships, secrets, mysteries, betrayals and so on.
I'd highly recommend this well-written and engaging novel that kept me totally absorbed while reading it.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McCausland. (2020).
Phoebe's life has fallen apart and there's only one place left to go. Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, she flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage. On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water? Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community. As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
I seriously enjoyed this moving story. From the very beginning I quite liked Phoebe and was really hoping that she'd have a happy ending with some answers about her beloved sister. Something that stood out in this story for me was that it clearly demonstrated how most situations are not black and white; there are many shades of grey and you may find yourself doing something you've always thought wrong but when you are in the scenario you realise that's it's not as clear cut as simply wrong versus right. At it's core this book is about love: family love, friendship love, love of oneself and romantic love. It also covers several important relevant social topics - being 'perfect' on social media, infertility, adultery, tragedy, grief, death, complex family relationships, secrets, mysteries, betrayals and so on.
I'd highly recommend this well-written and engaging novel that kept me totally absorbed while reading it.
May 29, 2020
When the expected marriage proposal doesn’t eventuate from Nate, Phoebe leave the city behind and flees to her family’s abandoned holiday cottage down on the south coast. The cottage has good memories from childhood but it is also the place where her older sister Karin took her life. Leaving behind a note written in flowers the view is Karin walked into the water and drowned herself. Phoebe has always had trouble reconciling this view with the sister she thought she knew so well. Could there be more to the story? And was it really suicide? Phoebe’s childhood friend and teenage love, Jez, is also living down there in his old family home called Driftwood. He live there with his wife Asha, and an assortment of friends. Some comments from Ginny, Phoebe’s blind neighbour causes Phoebe to wonder if she her older sister Karin as well as she thought. Despite those like her mother and younger sister Camilla who just want Phoebe to leave the past alone and come back to her life in the city, Phoebe is determined to uncover the truth of Karin’s death. But is she prepared to seek the truth, no matter what the cost?
From the stunning cover this book is beautifully written. The setting down by the river and near The Bay is beautifully realised. I could picture it all. The danger too of a bushfire was so well depicted it brought back memories and anxiety from last summer. I could practically feel the heat and smell the smoke and will never forget those strange coloured skies. I liked Phoebe as a character, even when I didn’t always agree with her choices. The pull between her and Jez was portrayed well. I also liked the way incidents from the shared childhood of Phoebe and her sisters and Jez and his brother, were revealed and how they added to the overall feel of the place.
This book got me in and kept me reading and I loved it, even though a couple of aspects towards the end just sat a little uncomfortably for this reader. Overall though, I thought this was a captivating story, of love, friendship, family, secrets, expectations, loss and grief. Like Phoebe I definitely wanted to know exactly what had happened with her sister.
The setting is conveyed beautifully. The descriptions are highly visual. So glad I bought this book. It was definitely worth it. This is a debut novel. I will be very interested to see what this author writes next and will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book. Anyone who enjoys a well told story with believable characters and atmospheric setting should love this as I did. A recommended read.
From the stunning cover this book is beautifully written. The setting down by the river and near The Bay is beautifully realised. I could picture it all. The danger too of a bushfire was so well depicted it brought back memories and anxiety from last summer. I could practically feel the heat and smell the smoke and will never forget those strange coloured skies. I liked Phoebe as a character, even when I didn’t always agree with her choices. The pull between her and Jez was portrayed well. I also liked the way incidents from the shared childhood of Phoebe and her sisters and Jez and his brother, were revealed and how they added to the overall feel of the place.
This book got me in and kept me reading and I loved it, even though a couple of aspects towards the end just sat a little uncomfortably for this reader. Overall though, I thought this was a captivating story, of love, friendship, family, secrets, expectations, loss and grief. Like Phoebe I definitely wanted to know exactly what had happened with her sister.
The setting is conveyed beautifully. The descriptions are highly visual. So glad I bought this book. It was definitely worth it. This is a debut novel. I will be very interested to see what this author writes next and will definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book. Anyone who enjoys a well told story with believable characters and atmospheric setting should love this as I did. A recommended read.
December 15, 2021
Phoebe is left heartbroken after a failed marriage proposal, so she decides to take off to her parents abandoned holiday cottage in Sydney. The cottage holds childhood memories, but not all of them were good memories as this was where her sister Karin ended her life the year before. Phoebe is still left with the question as to why her sister left a note written in flowers, then walked into the water and drowned herself.
A story of secrets, love, loss and betrayal all beautifully woven together with a stunning cover, this book is a true delight to read and one which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
A story of secrets, love, loss and betrayal all beautifully woven together with a stunning cover, this book is a true delight to read and one which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
April 10, 2020
Atmospheric and very moving.
My View:
Vanessa McCausland has used this book as a vehicle to examine so many feelings and issues and she has done this with a feather light touch that draws attention to the world we live in today – a world of Instagram moments, a world of pressure to be perfect; to have the perfect life, to conform to the demands of social medias constant thirst for your energy.
But there is more to this narrative than a discussion about social media and the perfect IG snap shot. Friendships, grief, fertility issues, life in a country town, memories, fire and mystery. This mesmerising book packs a big punch and I highly recommend this read.
My View:
Vanessa McCausland has used this book as a vehicle to examine so many feelings and issues and she has done this with a feather light touch that draws attention to the world we live in today – a world of Instagram moments, a world of pressure to be perfect; to have the perfect life, to conform to the demands of social medias constant thirst for your energy.
But there is more to this narrative than a discussion about social media and the perfect IG snap shot. Friendships, grief, fertility issues, life in a country town, memories, fire and mystery. This mesmerising book packs a big punch and I highly recommend this read.
December 27, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The enticing tagline on the exquisite front cover of Vanessa McCausland’s The Lost Summers of Driftwood asks, is it more dangerous to forget… or to remember? I find this a hard pressed question, throwing all sorts of moral dilemmas. As soon as I took in the front cover of The Lost Summers of Driftwood, I had an inkling that I would be faced with a novel that explores secrets, the past, memories and decisions, within the context of a model Australian setting. The Lost Summers of Driftwood proved to be a consuming read, that I knocked off in just two nights.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood begins with Phoebe, a young woman who sees her carefully ordered life crashing down when her partner dumps her. This also occurs at a crisis point in Phoebe’s career and she is also dealing with the grief over the shock loss of her sister. All these emotionally trying events send Phoebe away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, to her family’s country based holiday cottage. In this river based locale, Phoebe is haunted by the memories of her sister Karin. She has a strong feeling that Karin didn’t commit suicide, rather, something else happened that Phoebe must resolve. Back at this beloved old family cottage, Phoebe is also confronted with her first love, Jez. Jez and his wife Asha have made Driftwood their home, which is only metres from Phoebe’s family cottage. Phoebe’s return sparks a flood of memories from her childhood, the past and long held secrets begin to surface. As Phoebe wrestles with these complicated emotions, she must also work to unravel the mystery surrounding her sister’s death. The Lost Summers of Driftwood is a story of suppressed emotions, renewed love, shock secrets and deception, reminding us of the precarious nature of life.
What a lovely gift this book proved to be. I wasn’t expecting The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McCausland, it came as a surprise book mail package. This book has been on my wish list since I first set eyes on the beautiful cover. The rose petals and vivid teal background certainly seduced me to skip the order of my review pile and issue priority to Vanessa McCausland’s first book. What I discovered amongst the pages of The Lost Summers of Driftwood was a story of family politics, a lost childhood, complicated relationships and agonising secrets to uncover. I was hooked!
The Lost Summers of Driftwood begins and ends with Phoebe, the lead of this tale. When we first are acquainted with Phoebe, we learn that she has a successful career and she is almost engaged. However, a possible marriage proposal goes terribly wrong and Phoebe ends up with a broken heart. Phoebe is also dealing with the loss of her sister Karin, just a year ago. It all seems to come crashing down at the same moment and Phoebe deals with her mounting problems by escaping to her family’s old holiday cottage. It seemed like a good plan to me!
Initially I felt very sorry for Phoebe and the fact that so many pieces of her life all seemed to splinter simultaneously, it made me want to reach out to her. I liked the fact that Phoebe was able to acknowledge her need to take stock and revitalise her life through a soulful stint at a place that provided comfort to her. It is important to take time out of life when things are not going well. I did admire how Phoebe took charge of her own mental health. However, my relationship with Phoebe grew a little rockier as the book progressed. When Jez, her old boyfriend comes into the picture, I didn’t quite agree with the decisions Phoebe made. Phoebe really drew a line in the sand morally. I can’t say too much, as this would venture into spoiler territory.
Phoebe’s life is also marred by complicated family relations and politics. McCausland explores this well within the pages of her first novel. Running alongside this is the central mystery surrounding Phoebe’s sister’s death. McCausland withholds as much as she can about this mystery until the final hour of the novel, and it kept me intrigued. I enjoyed building a set of theories around Karin’s final fate. I wasn’t quite on the money with this one, but it indicates that McCausland has crafted an intricate mystery.
If you have an appreciation for strong settings, then this one will well and truly hit the spot. McCausland brings the reader a beautifully rendered locale. The setting of The Lost Summers of Driftwood is incredibly vivid, oozing in mystery, secrets and nostalgia from years gone by. It pervades the whole novel, emitting a scent of tragedy, emotion, complicated relationships, unresolved issues and deception. This is one of the starring features of The Lost Summers of Driftwood .
When The Lost Summers of Driftwood meets its end, we are faced with a slightly open end to this complex family mystery. I felt one or two questions were not completely resolved, but I think we cannot always demand a neatly tied up, or happily ever after in our stories.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is an intricate and involved tale of personal love, pursuits and the past, which is all set to a sublime and richly atmospheric Australian based stage. After reading this impressionable novel I have added Vanessa McCausland to my list of valued authors.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is book #156 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
The enticing tagline on the exquisite front cover of Vanessa McCausland’s The Lost Summers of Driftwood asks, is it more dangerous to forget… or to remember? I find this a hard pressed question, throwing all sorts of moral dilemmas. As soon as I took in the front cover of The Lost Summers of Driftwood, I had an inkling that I would be faced with a novel that explores secrets, the past, memories and decisions, within the context of a model Australian setting. The Lost Summers of Driftwood proved to be a consuming read, that I knocked off in just two nights.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood begins with Phoebe, a young woman who sees her carefully ordered life crashing down when her partner dumps her. This also occurs at a crisis point in Phoebe’s career and she is also dealing with the grief over the shock loss of her sister. All these emotionally trying events send Phoebe away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, to her family’s country based holiday cottage. In this river based locale, Phoebe is haunted by the memories of her sister Karin. She has a strong feeling that Karin didn’t commit suicide, rather, something else happened that Phoebe must resolve. Back at this beloved old family cottage, Phoebe is also confronted with her first love, Jez. Jez and his wife Asha have made Driftwood their home, which is only metres from Phoebe’s family cottage. Phoebe’s return sparks a flood of memories from her childhood, the past and long held secrets begin to surface. As Phoebe wrestles with these complicated emotions, she must also work to unravel the mystery surrounding her sister’s death. The Lost Summers of Driftwood is a story of suppressed emotions, renewed love, shock secrets and deception, reminding us of the precarious nature of life.
What a lovely gift this book proved to be. I wasn’t expecting The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McCausland, it came as a surprise book mail package. This book has been on my wish list since I first set eyes on the beautiful cover. The rose petals and vivid teal background certainly seduced me to skip the order of my review pile and issue priority to Vanessa McCausland’s first book. What I discovered amongst the pages of The Lost Summers of Driftwood was a story of family politics, a lost childhood, complicated relationships and agonising secrets to uncover. I was hooked!
The Lost Summers of Driftwood begins and ends with Phoebe, the lead of this tale. When we first are acquainted with Phoebe, we learn that she has a successful career and she is almost engaged. However, a possible marriage proposal goes terribly wrong and Phoebe ends up with a broken heart. Phoebe is also dealing with the loss of her sister Karin, just a year ago. It all seems to come crashing down at the same moment and Phoebe deals with her mounting problems by escaping to her family’s old holiday cottage. It seemed like a good plan to me!
Initially I felt very sorry for Phoebe and the fact that so many pieces of her life all seemed to splinter simultaneously, it made me want to reach out to her. I liked the fact that Phoebe was able to acknowledge her need to take stock and revitalise her life through a soulful stint at a place that provided comfort to her. It is important to take time out of life when things are not going well. I did admire how Phoebe took charge of her own mental health. However, my relationship with Phoebe grew a little rockier as the book progressed. When Jez, her old boyfriend comes into the picture, I didn’t quite agree with the decisions Phoebe made. Phoebe really drew a line in the sand morally. I can’t say too much, as this would venture into spoiler territory.
Phoebe’s life is also marred by complicated family relations and politics. McCausland explores this well within the pages of her first novel. Running alongside this is the central mystery surrounding Phoebe’s sister’s death. McCausland withholds as much as she can about this mystery until the final hour of the novel, and it kept me intrigued. I enjoyed building a set of theories around Karin’s final fate. I wasn’t quite on the money with this one, but it indicates that McCausland has crafted an intricate mystery.
If you have an appreciation for strong settings, then this one will well and truly hit the spot. McCausland brings the reader a beautifully rendered locale. The setting of The Lost Summers of Driftwood is incredibly vivid, oozing in mystery, secrets and nostalgia from years gone by. It pervades the whole novel, emitting a scent of tragedy, emotion, complicated relationships, unresolved issues and deception. This is one of the starring features of The Lost Summers of Driftwood .
When The Lost Summers of Driftwood meets its end, we are faced with a slightly open end to this complex family mystery. I felt one or two questions were not completely resolved, but I think we cannot always demand a neatly tied up, or happily ever after in our stories.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is an intricate and involved tale of personal love, pursuits and the past, which is all set to a sublime and richly atmospheric Australian based stage. After reading this impressionable novel I have added Vanessa McCausland to my list of valued authors.
*I wish to thank Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood is book #156 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
November 8, 2019
I’m always a total sucker for an atmospheric setting, which initially attracted me to THE LOST SUMMERS OF DRIFTWOOD. If the title and the book cover alone evoke a dreamy, melancholy feel, then you will be pleased to hear that the author’s words build on this theme with her beautiful story of family secrets, grief, reinventing yourself and ultimately healing and hope. It brings to life an Australia many of you may remember from your own childhood – holidays in a little cabin by the water, barbeques on hot summer nights, smoky skies with the threat of bushfires in the distance, birdsong, the hum of flies against the window pane. Vanessa McCausland has such a beautiful way with words that the setting sprang to life in front of my eyes, almost a character in itself. Add Phoebe, a young woman whose whole world has come crashing down after the apparent suicide of her older sister almost a year ago, followed by a recent relationship breakdown. Having hit rock-bottom, she flees back to the place where happy memories live – the family’s holiday cottage on the bank of a tranquil river, the very same place where her sister walked into the water to die.
Since the story relies on secrets kept and changing dynamics between characters, I will try to give as little away as possible here. It is safe to say though that Phoebe really touched my heart, and I felt a kinship with her that comes from having lived through loss and grief and the journey back to healing. I particularly appreciated that the author was not afraid to touch on some dark topics and explore her characters’ deepest secrets instead of going down the “happily ever after” route that would have robbed the book of the deep impact it left on me long after reading it. As Phoebe seeks solace in a place that has happy memories for her, she must also confront some truths about herself, her family and her past that are painful. After a journey through every possible emotion, its lingering message was that of love, and hope, and personal growth that left a warm glow in my heart (and I am not the warm and fuzzy reader type, so this takes some doing!).
All in all, THE LOST SUMMERS OF DRIFTWOOD is a beautiful, evocative and quintessentially Australian story that touches on topics of childhood, family, grief, first love and a sense of connection to places from our past. It touched my heart in all the right places and brought out a lot of emotions from my own life. McCausland has a beautiful way with words that brings to life the magical landscape of a small coastal Australian town as well as a rich cast of characters that became as real to me as people I had known all my life. A perfect summer read that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
Since the story relies on secrets kept and changing dynamics between characters, I will try to give as little away as possible here. It is safe to say though that Phoebe really touched my heart, and I felt a kinship with her that comes from having lived through loss and grief and the journey back to healing. I particularly appreciated that the author was not afraid to touch on some dark topics and explore her characters’ deepest secrets instead of going down the “happily ever after” route that would have robbed the book of the deep impact it left on me long after reading it. As Phoebe seeks solace in a place that has happy memories for her, she must also confront some truths about herself, her family and her past that are painful. After a journey through every possible emotion, its lingering message was that of love, and hope, and personal growth that left a warm glow in my heart (and I am not the warm and fuzzy reader type, so this takes some doing!).
All in all, THE LOST SUMMERS OF DRIFTWOOD is a beautiful, evocative and quintessentially Australian story that touches on topics of childhood, family, grief, first love and a sense of connection to places from our past. It touched my heart in all the right places and brought out a lot of emotions from my own life. McCausland has a beautiful way with words that brings to life the magical landscape of a small coastal Australian town as well as a rich cast of characters that became as real to me as people I had known all my life. A perfect summer read that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
January 17, 2020
I was afraid the cover was so beautiful the story wouldn’t be able to live up to it. I so needn’t have worried. A lovely contemporary novel full of today just so lovingly done. It is all about healing, nostalgia, family and friendships, loyalty and betrayal. I so enjoyed this novel. It may be because of the bushfires here in Sydney but for me it is a love letter to the south coast just as much as it is about Phoebe.
April 10, 2020
Beautiful, sad, unputdownable!! Loved it! Will definitely be checking out other books by this author.
February 2, 2020
What an amazing debut!... I really felt like I knew these people, and places. Soooo many parallels to my own life, especially towards the end, there were many triggers , and several times I felt very teary. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I suppose fairly satisfying, on one level. So VERY impressed.
May 4, 2020
From the back cover: “Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, Phoebe flees Sydney to her family’s abandoned holiday cottage.
On the slow-moving river, she is confronted with the legacy of her older sister’s suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water?”
This is the perfect holiday read. Vanessa McCausland definitely knows how to bring an Australian childhood to life. For me as an only child it was caravanning holidays on the Gold Coast, an unrecognisable Gold Coast. For Phoebe one of three girls it is and was a safe haven:
“She looked up to see that the sun had just hit the river, making the deep green water sparkle. She found an old pair of thongs by the door and slipped them on. They felt good, rough and cracked, like dry earth beneath her feet. She picked up her mug and the long grass ticked her legs as she made her way towards the jetty. She’d been dreading going there. It was where Karin had died, but it was also tied to such happy times-fishing off the end, swimming in the cool water, picking pippis and oysters off the rocks. It was the first place they’d run to as children on arrival and the last place they’d go to say goodbye.”
McCausland is particularly good at family dynamics and also depicting the aftermath of Karin’s suicide which left Phoebe reeling and completely numb. It is not until she returns to the family holiday cottage that Phoebe has time to really wonder about her sister’s suicide. For me this was the strength of the novel, reading how Phoebe gradually begins to question the circumstances of Karin’s death. It was also the linchpin to why I kept reading - to have this mystery resolved.
Of course there is an attractive man in the mix, Jez Phoebe’s childhood friend who is living in the family home with his rather difficult wife, Asha. The family home is Driftwood and is where Jez and his older brother Tommy used to visit as children and play with the three sisters, Karin, Phoebe and Camilla. Jez lives there now with Asha and three other people who seem to help with the rent - making it a sort of halfway house. There’s a jovial Texan who does a lot of the cooking, his girlfriend Wendy and Flick.
The author deftly handles the switch between childhood and present time and I found the details of the flowers left in Karin’s house intriguing. The romance and the tension the romance causes, is portrayed with feeling, I just found one specific detail in the denouement jarring. Otherwise a captivating read.
On the slow-moving river, she is confronted with the legacy of her older sister’s suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water?”
This is the perfect holiday read. Vanessa McCausland definitely knows how to bring an Australian childhood to life. For me as an only child it was caravanning holidays on the Gold Coast, an unrecognisable Gold Coast. For Phoebe one of three girls it is and was a safe haven:
“She looked up to see that the sun had just hit the river, making the deep green water sparkle. She found an old pair of thongs by the door and slipped them on. They felt good, rough and cracked, like dry earth beneath her feet. She picked up her mug and the long grass ticked her legs as she made her way towards the jetty. She’d been dreading going there. It was where Karin had died, but it was also tied to such happy times-fishing off the end, swimming in the cool water, picking pippis and oysters off the rocks. It was the first place they’d run to as children on arrival and the last place they’d go to say goodbye.”
McCausland is particularly good at family dynamics and also depicting the aftermath of Karin’s suicide which left Phoebe reeling and completely numb. It is not until she returns to the family holiday cottage that Phoebe has time to really wonder about her sister’s suicide. For me this was the strength of the novel, reading how Phoebe gradually begins to question the circumstances of Karin’s death. It was also the linchpin to why I kept reading - to have this mystery resolved.
Of course there is an attractive man in the mix, Jez Phoebe’s childhood friend who is living in the family home with his rather difficult wife, Asha. The family home is Driftwood and is where Jez and his older brother Tommy used to visit as children and play with the three sisters, Karin, Phoebe and Camilla. Jez lives there now with Asha and three other people who seem to help with the rent - making it a sort of halfway house. There’s a jovial Texan who does a lot of the cooking, his girlfriend Wendy and Flick.
The author deftly handles the switch between childhood and present time and I found the details of the flowers left in Karin’s house intriguing. The romance and the tension the romance causes, is portrayed with feeling, I just found one specific detail in the denouement jarring. Otherwise a captivating read.
February 18, 2020
I loved so many things about this book. Firstly it’s by an Aussie author so there were snags, mozzies and vegemite which delights me to no end.
The descriptive imagery in this book was amazing, I had the perfect vision of the cottage on the river in my head and I could see it every time I opened the book.
I loved the exploration of relationships between family, friends and lovers with the idea that love is not black and white.
I definitely recommend adding this one to your list!
The descriptive imagery in this book was amazing, I had the perfect vision of the cottage on the river in my head and I could see it every time I opened the book.
I loved the exploration of relationships between family, friends and lovers with the idea that love is not black and white.
I definitely recommend adding this one to your list!
February 8, 2020
3.5 stars I enjoyed this book, I was surprised how easily I was drawn into finding out how everything turned out and what the mystery was involving the sister's death.
October 18, 2019
It's rare for a writer to successfully make landscape a character, but Hesse does it, Heather Rose does it, Tim Winton does, and it now seems Vanessa McCausland joins that list too. The opening scene hooked me in from the very start - I felt a physical recognition of place, of water, of the sun on our skin - this is certainly a scene that for many Australians will ring authentic.
The plot took me by surprise - I am not going to say much because I do not want to give anything away, but I was hooked from my first early read and I find my mind pondering the characters as if I know them. I will just say that whatever you think this book will be, hold your horses - it will surprise you. The plot is unpredictable, the characters are rich, and the language is beautiful - all up this is a mighty elegant novel. I had no idea if the author would ultimately be kind to the characters I loved - it was tense in the most wonderful of ways.
I love a novel that gives me a whole world - do you know what I mean? I like to feel as though I lived within the pages, that the people are known to me, that I can navigate the physical landscape... a great novel is pretty close to a great holiday for the restorative effects upon my psyche and this novel totally delivered. Because I got my hands on an early release copy I might leave off here - but I can't wait for more people to get hold of this amazing book because I want some serious chatting about the story - ahhh I best go before I spoil it. This book would be a great one for a book club or a family holiday - there is so much to talk about and it is a wonderful story to get lost in. The language and the story line deliver in equal measure. Thank you Vanessa, you are absolutely an author I will keep looking out for.
The plot took me by surprise - I am not going to say much because I do not want to give anything away, but I was hooked from my first early read and I find my mind pondering the characters as if I know them. I will just say that whatever you think this book will be, hold your horses - it will surprise you. The plot is unpredictable, the characters are rich, and the language is beautiful - all up this is a mighty elegant novel. I had no idea if the author would ultimately be kind to the characters I loved - it was tense in the most wonderful of ways.
I love a novel that gives me a whole world - do you know what I mean? I like to feel as though I lived within the pages, that the people are known to me, that I can navigate the physical landscape... a great novel is pretty close to a great holiday for the restorative effects upon my psyche and this novel totally delivered. Because I got my hands on an early release copy I might leave off here - but I can't wait for more people to get hold of this amazing book because I want some serious chatting about the story - ahhh I best go before I spoil it. This book would be a great one for a book club or a family holiday - there is so much to talk about and it is a wonderful story to get lost in. The language and the story line deliver in equal measure. Thank you Vanessa, you are absolutely an author I will keep looking out for.
January 16, 2020
I read this while holidaying in a log cabin in the bush, deep in Western Australia's Southern Forests region. At one point, the characters prepare to defend their homes from approaching bushfire - as I read these chapters, the south coast of NSW (the setting of this book) was engulfed in flames. I have to say, the real-life setting and events made this reading experience all the more enriching. Like reading in surround sound!
The Lost Summers of Driftwood was all I want in a good read. Secrets, lost loves, rekindled passions, and betrayal all brought together to create a truly satisfying read. It's evocative, it's heartfelt, it's tender at times. It's exactly what a good read, for me, is made of.
The Lost Summers of Driftwood was all I want in a good read. Secrets, lost loves, rekindled passions, and betrayal all brought together to create a truly satisfying read. It's evocative, it's heartfelt, it's tender at times. It's exactly what a good read, for me, is made of.
December 18, 2019
I absolutely loved The Lost Summers Of Driftwood.
Phoebe returns to her childhood holiday home on the river to grieve the death of her sister and the breakup of her relationship.
This is a beautiful book about memories, friendship, first love and family. I felt so close to all the characters and their emotions which is always what I want in a book and it had such a great sense of time and place, that I could feel myself part of the story.
Five stars from me and such an eye catching cover too. Just wish I could have devoured this book in a sitting or two instead of life getting in the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
Phoebe returns to her childhood holiday home on the river to grieve the death of her sister and the breakup of her relationship.
This is a beautiful book about memories, friendship, first love and family. I felt so close to all the characters and their emotions which is always what I want in a book and it had such a great sense of time and place, that I could feel myself part of the story.
Five stars from me and such an eye catching cover too. Just wish I could have devoured this book in a sitting or two instead of life getting in the way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
August 12, 2020
Achingly beautiful. Loved every bit of it.
Take a listen to my chat with the lovely Vanessa and then. . .go and read the book!
Click on the link below:
https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?...
Take a listen to my chat with the lovely Vanessa and then. . .go and read the book!
Click on the link below:
https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?...
June 23, 2020
The Lost Summers of Driftwood not only has a beautiful cover but a fabulous story to go with it. Whilst recalling a family tragedy, this is also a story about friendships and first loves. This is a tale that will slowly draw you in and keep you coming back until the last page is turned. Told against the backdrop of an idyllic setting, a mystery is on offer here that needs to be resolved.
One of the highlights for me was the beautiful setting with Vanessa seeming to make the landscape a character within itself. Her writing makes the sun warm our skin and the water cool our souls. Set in a picturesque Australian bush setting, Vanessa brings to life the bay and its river. Living in Australia, I found her passages surrounding the bushfire to be so authentic that it was as if the reader could smell smoke and ash in the air.
‘Feeling those fires so close, you start to think about what matters. What you’d leave behind, what you would save, no matter what. And it brings everything into focus. Why live life being so fucking unhappy? Trying and failing so hard. Maybe this thing ... this meeting of minds, or hearts, whatever it is we have, maybe it’s that simple.’
I had no preconceptions regarding the plot and found myself fully engaged on a number of levels. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys - either individually or in some cases as a family. The tragedy is haunting and well written with just enough flashbacks to hook you in and think ‘what would I do?’ The relationships are real and relatable. The mystery is not predictable until the very end but by then the fallout is more impactful as this is not a one dimensional story. For a debut novel, this is really quite extraordinary.
I look forward to seeing what Vanessa will come up with next. If you enjoy a well told story with the perfect combination of mystery, reflection, location and atmosphere then I highly recommend this read. There is much to love here and I enjoyed all the aspects on offer.
‘Phoebe cringed at the thought of her last status update - a pair of cocktails sweating lazily against the setting sun. A post that was meant to convey the dreamy perfection of their lives in a single image. The sound of Nathaniel’s exasperation came back to her as she arranged the glasses just so for the picture. Of course, she hadn’t read it as contempt. She hadn’t read it for what it was: her arranging their lives, as though happiness would be inferred by the tilt of a straw.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
One of the highlights for me was the beautiful setting with Vanessa seeming to make the landscape a character within itself. Her writing makes the sun warm our skin and the water cool our souls. Set in a picturesque Australian bush setting, Vanessa brings to life the bay and its river. Living in Australia, I found her passages surrounding the bushfire to be so authentic that it was as if the reader could smell smoke and ash in the air.
‘Feeling those fires so close, you start to think about what matters. What you’d leave behind, what you would save, no matter what. And it brings everything into focus. Why live life being so fucking unhappy? Trying and failing so hard. Maybe this thing ... this meeting of minds, or hearts, whatever it is we have, maybe it’s that simple.’
I had no preconceptions regarding the plot and found myself fully engaged on a number of levels. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys - either individually or in some cases as a family. The tragedy is haunting and well written with just enough flashbacks to hook you in and think ‘what would I do?’ The relationships are real and relatable. The mystery is not predictable until the very end but by then the fallout is more impactful as this is not a one dimensional story. For a debut novel, this is really quite extraordinary.
I look forward to seeing what Vanessa will come up with next. If you enjoy a well told story with the perfect combination of mystery, reflection, location and atmosphere then I highly recommend this read. There is much to love here and I enjoyed all the aspects on offer.
‘Phoebe cringed at the thought of her last status update - a pair of cocktails sweating lazily against the setting sun. A post that was meant to convey the dreamy perfection of their lives in a single image. The sound of Nathaniel’s exasperation came back to her as she arranged the glasses just so for the picture. Of course, she hadn’t read it as contempt. She hadn’t read it for what it was: her arranging their lives, as though happiness would be inferred by the tilt of a straw.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
May 25, 2020
I liked this in the beginning and I like the idea of the storyline and setting, but so much of this book was 'telling' rather than 'showing' and for the last third, I was just trying to get through it so that I could move on to something else. It seemed shallow and not very realistic.
September 13, 2020
I enjoyed tthis story of Phoebe and the mystery surrounding her eldest sister Karin's death. I thought the story came together quite well
May 18, 2024
Such a good read. Couldn't put it down
May 6, 2020
4.5 *
The beautiful cover attracted me initially but the writing pulled me in and comforted me on cold Autumn days. This was the book you think about and can’t wait to get back to when real life hinders your reading.
Lots of themes and realistic characters that had me flinching at the nasty comments, glowing in the warmth of connection and of course wrapped up with the beauty and love.
I’m so glad I chose this as my “local author” book for this years reading challenge. If you need to get swept away for a couple days and become part of a small Australian community, complete with the orphan family drop everything and pick up this book.
The beautiful cover attracted me initially but the writing pulled me in and comforted me on cold Autumn days. This was the book you think about and can’t wait to get back to when real life hinders your reading.
Lots of themes and realistic characters that had me flinching at the nasty comments, glowing in the warmth of connection and of course wrapped up with the beauty and love.
I’m so glad I chose this as my “local author” book for this years reading challenge. If you need to get swept away for a couple days and become part of a small Australian community, complete with the orphan family drop everything and pick up this book.
January 27, 2020
Phoebe’s life has just fallen apart - a cancelled engagement makes her leave her current life and runaway to the family’s holiday home to get away from everything.
That was her plan ..... until she arrives there and memories of her sisters suicide from the previous year come flooding back.
Phoebe also meets back up with her childhood love Jez, now happily married and living in his family’s shack “Driftwood”.
Phoebe starts questioning everything she believes, did her sister really commit suicide or was it something worse?
A story of lost loves, rekindling relationships, gut feelings & betrayal.
I loved this book! A fast moving storyline, written in a way that made me put life on hold to finish it!
That was her plan ..... until she arrives there and memories of her sisters suicide from the previous year come flooding back.
Phoebe also meets back up with her childhood love Jez, now happily married and living in his family’s shack “Driftwood”.
Phoebe starts questioning everything she believes, did her sister really commit suicide or was it something worse?
A story of lost loves, rekindling relationships, gut feelings & betrayal.
I loved this book! A fast moving storyline, written in a way that made me put life on hold to finish it!
February 23, 2020
I loved this book! The story had me hooked from start to finish. I felt like I was there at Driftwood. I can’t wait to read her next book
June 13, 2020
I just could not get into this book. Just couldn’t finish it.
I persevered; I hate leaving books unfinished. It didn’t really improve.
So it wasn’t as bad as a few I have read (insert in here The Rosie Effect and Those Other Women). Nonetheless, it didn’t improve at the end. The twist was pretty predictable and the conclusion was just a bit too neat. I just found it ordinary. No challenges, no surprises, just ordinary
I persevered; I hate leaving books unfinished. It didn’t really improve.
So it wasn’t as bad as a few I have read (insert in here The Rosie Effect and Those Other Women). Nonetheless, it didn’t improve at the end. The twist was pretty predictable and the conclusion was just a bit too neat. I just found it ordinary. No challenges, no surprises, just ordinary
December 3, 2019
Wow , what an absolute fantastic first novel . Storyline , character development and prose all fantastic . I will be recommending this book to everyone and following this author in the future . Massive thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest reviews !
April 11, 2020
I loved being transported back to the NSW South Coast and enjoyed many aspects of the book. But the portrayal of living with autism was poorly handled.
May 5, 2022
The lost summers of driftwood | V Mccausland
Ok it’s storytime!.. prepared to be swept away. Phoebe is lost. Losing her sister felt like a part of her did to and she has never quite felt right since. Then the ‘non but planned proposal’ has her questioning everything. Life is not how she knows it and she feels completely and utterly alone. Escaping her current to retreat to her past is almost too confronting. Not only has she returned to where it all began.. but where it also ended for her sister almost a year ago, and she can’t seem to shake this nagging feeling that suicide is not the real reason she is gone. She hated the water. This would not have been her plan. In her heart of hearts she knows there is more to this story. As she digs deeper into her sisters life and rekindles a childhood love, the slow moving river all but starts to give up its secrets. There is always much more hidden beneath the surface! And.. the answers are often closer to home than we would like. Karin was her best friend, they spoke weekly. How is it she is learning so much she didn’t know after she has gone? She owes it to her to find out! This was giving off sliding doors meets crawdads vibes with flashbacks to the past, interconnections and the power of being grounded by nature. It was written in 3 parts; ripples, kindling and under currents. All starting with a then and now chapter. This gave the book much needed context to connect the dots. It also was very character building. I LOVED the suspense throughout! It made you want to keep reading. It covered family dynamics perfectly and made it feel relatable. The reference to starting and ending at ‘driftwood’ was very fitting as it was a place they all called home. The ending was where it lost its 5 star shine for me as although it was nice.. it felt somewhat rushed. A whole book of build up to be wrapped up in a matter of pages. 😪 The final send off for her sister was beautiful in that it was via petals in the water. A fitting and reflective nod to her memory and her love as a florist. This was all things tender love, sweet memories and gut instincts. A lot can be said for the power these all drive. Because when something is wrong.. you know it deep in your core. And all that matters in putting it right. And somehow doing this brings them altogether. Heartbreak meets hope in this tale of grief. Just Beautiful!
Ok it’s storytime!.. prepared to be swept away. Phoebe is lost. Losing her sister felt like a part of her did to and she has never quite felt right since. Then the ‘non but planned proposal’ has her questioning everything. Life is not how she knows it and she feels completely and utterly alone. Escaping her current to retreat to her past is almost too confronting. Not only has she returned to where it all began.. but where it also ended for her sister almost a year ago, and she can’t seem to shake this nagging feeling that suicide is not the real reason she is gone. She hated the water. This would not have been her plan. In her heart of hearts she knows there is more to this story. As she digs deeper into her sisters life and rekindles a childhood love, the slow moving river all but starts to give up its secrets. There is always much more hidden beneath the surface! And.. the answers are often closer to home than we would like. Karin was her best friend, they spoke weekly. How is it she is learning so much she didn’t know after she has gone? She owes it to her to find out! This was giving off sliding doors meets crawdads vibes with flashbacks to the past, interconnections and the power of being grounded by nature. It was written in 3 parts; ripples, kindling and under currents. All starting with a then and now chapter. This gave the book much needed context to connect the dots. It also was very character building. I LOVED the suspense throughout! It made you want to keep reading. It covered family dynamics perfectly and made it feel relatable. The reference to starting and ending at ‘driftwood’ was very fitting as it was a place they all called home. The ending was where it lost its 5 star shine for me as although it was nice.. it felt somewhat rushed. A whole book of build up to be wrapped up in a matter of pages. 😪 The final send off for her sister was beautiful in that it was via petals in the water. A fitting and reflective nod to her memory and her love as a florist. This was all things tender love, sweet memories and gut instincts. A lot can be said for the power these all drive. Because when something is wrong.. you know it deep in your core. And all that matters in putting it right. And somehow doing this brings them altogether. Heartbreak meets hope in this tale of grief. Just Beautiful!
June 7, 2020
The Lost Summers of Driftwood by Vanessa McClausland is a story of lost loves, rekindled passions, tragedy and betrayal set against the backdrop of an idyllic coastal town.
They were friends as kids, Phoebe and Jez, then lovers as teens. First loves, then she moved on, leaving him behind.
Years later when her world began to crumble, an engagement that didn’t happen, a job that she came to realise wasn’t all that and her picture perfect life was not so glamorous as her instagram would lead you to believe, she decided to returned to the childhood cottage they’d visited as kids.
It was the last place her sister, Karin, lived before leaving a note written in flowers and walking into the water. But was her sisters death really a suicide? Phoebe begins to question what she thought she knew about her sister when the blind neighbour gave her some insight into Karin’s life, a part of which she wasn’t aware of.
Jez, was back living in the town, in the beautiful old house he’d grown up in, Driftwood, it was one jetty down from Phoebe. He was married now and Driftwood has become a refuge for an unlikely little community.
Driftwood’s little community has some interesting characters and I enjoyed the way they and Phoebe interacted, and the friendships that was beginning to form.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, the descriptiveness was beautifully done and wasn’t too over the top, it was just right and I would find myself thinking throughout the book “how wonderfully put!”
The book was mostly set in the present scattered with flash backs to the past that helped fill in the gaps of Jez and Phoebe’s past. Parts of the ending I am not sure if I like or not. I am still deciding on that. But all in all it was a good read and I totally recommend it!
They were friends as kids, Phoebe and Jez, then lovers as teens. First loves, then she moved on, leaving him behind.
Years later when her world began to crumble, an engagement that didn’t happen, a job that she came to realise wasn’t all that and her picture perfect life was not so glamorous as her instagram would lead you to believe, she decided to returned to the childhood cottage they’d visited as kids.
It was the last place her sister, Karin, lived before leaving a note written in flowers and walking into the water. But was her sisters death really a suicide? Phoebe begins to question what she thought she knew about her sister when the blind neighbour gave her some insight into Karin’s life, a part of which she wasn’t aware of.
Jez, was back living in the town, in the beautiful old house he’d grown up in, Driftwood, it was one jetty down from Phoebe. He was married now and Driftwood has become a refuge for an unlikely little community.
Driftwood’s little community has some interesting characters and I enjoyed the way they and Phoebe interacted, and the friendships that was beginning to form.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, the descriptiveness was beautifully done and wasn’t too over the top, it was just right and I would find myself thinking throughout the book “how wonderfully put!”
The book was mostly set in the present scattered with flash backs to the past that helped fill in the gaps of Jez and Phoebe’s past. Parts of the ending I am not sure if I like or not. I am still deciding on that. But all in all it was a good read and I totally recommend it!
March 20, 2021
To be honest, I went into this not expecting too much. The prose is okay, the characters better but the place helps to elevate it slightly. I love the setting of a small rural Australian setting that isn't the outback. The riverside community is quaint and what I'd expect while the description of the landscape sets a lovely mood.
Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, Phoebe flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage. On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water? Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community. As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
Phoebe is very relatable as a woman nearing her forties who not only has all her marriage plans scuttled but also feels her work is completely meaningless. When she drops everything to "find herself", as cliche as it sounds, I applauded her. It does take guts to give up everything you know and start anew. I loved how she integrated into the little community and found her priorities.
What I didn't like was how she painted Karin as practically angelic when at the end, she wasn't at all, but Phoebe still thought she was! I also didn't like the ending. It just seemed unbelievable in terms of the human behaviour and psychology aspect. There were absolutely no signs of it through the book, which is also unbelievable because you would think the guilt would have manifested somehow.
But that might just be me. It's the sort of book that would go very well by a pool with a few cocktails 🍹🍸 though. 😎
Alone and adrift after a failed marriage proposal, Phoebe flees Sydney to her family's abandoned holiday cottage. On the slow-moving river Phoebe is confronted with the legacy of her older sister's suicide, a year before. Why did Karin leave a note written in flowers and walk into the water? Phoebe's childhood love, Jez, has moved back to the beautiful old house, Driftwood, one jetty down. He's married now and the home has become a refuge for an unlikely little community. As the river begins to give up its secrets, Phoebe finds herself caught up in old feelings and new mysteries.
Phoebe is very relatable as a woman nearing her forties who not only has all her marriage plans scuttled but also feels her work is completely meaningless. When she drops everything to "find herself", as cliche as it sounds, I applauded her. It does take guts to give up everything you know and start anew. I loved how she integrated into the little community and found her priorities.
What I didn't like was how she painted Karin as practically angelic when at the end, she wasn't at all, but Phoebe still thought she was! I also didn't like the ending. It just seemed unbelievable in terms of the human behaviour and psychology aspect. There were absolutely no signs of it through the book, which is also unbelievable because you would think the guilt would have manifested somehow.
But that might just be me. It's the sort of book that would go very well by a pool with a few cocktails 🍹🍸 though. 😎
Read
February 4, 2020This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
From the outside, it seems as though Phoebe has it all. A successful job at luxury champagne company Joet et Halo, a relationship heading for marriage, and the perfect urban lifestyle. That is until a vacation that was set to end in an engagement took a sharp turn and left her feeling lost and alone. When an opportunity arises to visit Driftwood, a small community in which her now-deceased sister once resided, Phoebe takes it.
As a child, Phoebe would spend summers at Driftwood with her two sisters, Camilla and Karin. The sisters befriended Tommy and Jez, brothers who resided there full-time. We soon realise that Jez and Phoebe have history together, and her arrival brings forth a flood of nostalgia and unresolved feelings towards Jez.
The main thread of plot that runs through The Lost Summers of Driftwood is the mystery behind Karin’s suicide, the first anniversary of which is approaching. Phoebe doesn’t believe it was a suicide, and that someone within Driftwood may be responsible for her death. While still coming to terms with Karin’s death, she attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the way in which the author not only constructed the setting, but also developed characters that were all complementary to each other. The group dynamic of the residents in Driftwood was outstanding and believable. The tension between Phoebe and Jez built at a steady pace, and the conflict between them was realistic. The author did a great job making the reader feel as though they were living at Driftwood too.
I also really enjoyed the way in which the story was wrapped up, as some books in this genre rush to a conclusion and don’t maintain the tension that has been built throughout the story. There was a sense of urgency at the end, that left me feverishly turning the pages in order to know what really happened to Karin and who was responsible. I don’t usually feel caught off guard by plot twists, but this one surprised me!
If you’re a fan of Liane Moriarty, definitely pick this one up. The mystery element combined with the personal issues and character interactions were reminiscent of Moriarty’s writing style. This is the perfect book to curl up with by the pool, or at the beach under the refuge of an umbrella.
From the outside, it seems as though Phoebe has it all. A successful job at luxury champagne company Joet et Halo, a relationship heading for marriage, and the perfect urban lifestyle. That is until a vacation that was set to end in an engagement took a sharp turn and left her feeling lost and alone. When an opportunity arises to visit Driftwood, a small community in which her now-deceased sister once resided, Phoebe takes it.
As a child, Phoebe would spend summers at Driftwood with her two sisters, Camilla and Karin. The sisters befriended Tommy and Jez, brothers who resided there full-time. We soon realise that Jez and Phoebe have history together, and her arrival brings forth a flood of nostalgia and unresolved feelings towards Jez.
The main thread of plot that runs through The Lost Summers of Driftwood is the mystery behind Karin’s suicide, the first anniversary of which is approaching. Phoebe doesn’t believe it was a suicide, and that someone within Driftwood may be responsible for her death. While still coming to terms with Karin’s death, she attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the way in which the author not only constructed the setting, but also developed characters that were all complementary to each other. The group dynamic of the residents in Driftwood was outstanding and believable. The tension between Phoebe and Jez built at a steady pace, and the conflict between them was realistic. The author did a great job making the reader feel as though they were living at Driftwood too.
I also really enjoyed the way in which the story was wrapped up, as some books in this genre rush to a conclusion and don’t maintain the tension that has been built throughout the story. There was a sense of urgency at the end, that left me feverishly turning the pages in order to know what really happened to Karin and who was responsible. I don’t usually feel caught off guard by plot twists, but this one surprised me!
If you’re a fan of Liane Moriarty, definitely pick this one up. The mystery element combined with the personal issues and character interactions were reminiscent of Moriarty’s writing style. This is the perfect book to curl up with by the pool, or at the beach under the refuge of an umbrella.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews