What do you think?
Rate this book
Yorktide, Maine #8
All Our Summers
Against the picturesque coastal Maine setting that she evokes so well, bestselling author Holly Chamberlin creates a heartfelt story of family bonds and new beginnings . . .
It came as no surprise to anyone in Yorktide when glamorous Carol Ascher fled the little Maine town for New York City. While Carol found success as an interior designer, her younger sister, Bonnie, stayed behind, embracing marriage and motherhood. She even agreed to take in Carol’s teenage daughter during a tumultuous patch. Now both their girls are grown and Bonnie, recently widowed, is anticipating the day she’ll retire to Ferndean House, the nineteenth-century family home on the rocky Maine coast.
But forty-five years after leaving Yorktide, Carol suddenly announces that she’s moving back—into Ferndean. Bonnie is indignant. She’s the one who kept the homestead in order and tended to their dying mother. Now Carol expects to simply buy her out? As far as Bonnie is concerned, Ferndean is part of their heritage—not just another of Carol’s improvement projects, to be torn apart and remade according to her whim.
The entire Ascher family is in flux, uncovering secrets that upend their relationships. Carol’s longing to be welcomed home is fueled by a painful truth she’s carried for years. It will take an extraordinary summer—in a remarkable place—to lead these women back to each other, buoyed by the tides of friendship and forgiveness.
It came as no surprise to anyone in Yorktide when glamorous Carol Ascher fled the little Maine town for New York City. While Carol found success as an interior designer, her younger sister, Bonnie, stayed behind, embracing marriage and motherhood. She even agreed to take in Carol’s teenage daughter during a tumultuous patch. Now both their girls are grown and Bonnie, recently widowed, is anticipating the day she’ll retire to Ferndean House, the nineteenth-century family home on the rocky Maine coast.
But forty-five years after leaving Yorktide, Carol suddenly announces that she’s moving back—into Ferndean. Bonnie is indignant. She’s the one who kept the homestead in order and tended to their dying mother. Now Carol expects to simply buy her out? As far as Bonnie is concerned, Ferndean is part of their heritage—not just another of Carol’s improvement projects, to be torn apart and remade according to her whim.
The entire Ascher family is in flux, uncovering secrets that upend their relationships. Carol’s longing to be welcomed home is fueled by a painful truth she’s carried for years. It will take an extraordinary summer—in a remarkable place—to lead these women back to each other, buoyed by the tides of friendship and forgiveness.
480 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2020
200 people are currently reading
2398 people want to read
About the author
Holly Chamberlin
38 books565 followersHolly Chamberlin is a native New Yorker, but she now lives in Portland, Maine - the aftermath of stumbling across Mr. Right at the one moment she wasn't watching the terrain. She's been writing and editing - poetry, children's fantasies, a romance novel or two, among many other genres and projects - her entire life. She has two cats, Betty and Cyrus, and when she's not writing her hobbies include reading, shopping, and cocktails at six.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
June 30, 2020
***AVAILABLE TODAY***
I feel badly about the not-so-great rating, but this was, unfortunately, a not-so-great novel.
Y'all...this book has 141 chapters. Short, choppy chapters full of whiny, annoying, self-indulged characters who really liked to meet for tea. But when their family conversations became too serious (and they do every time they meet)...they would dramatically walk out of the house/cafe/room in a huff, stating, "I need to leave," or, "I really must go."
...and the chapter would fade to black...
Then the next two-paragraph-long chapter would start and would repeat the same process.
It was never, "Let's communicate like the adults we are." Instead, it was infantile behavior from characters old enough to know better.
At the end of the day, this book ended exactly as you'd expect it to end....the characters doing exactly what you'd expect them to do.
I'm certain All Our Summers has an audience somewhere, but it simply wasn't for me. And for the life of me, I can't figure out what that book cover has to to with the story. There wasn't a pool to be found anywhere, and I think the beach was only briefly mentioned once or twice. It's very misleading. The setting really wasn't a factor in this novel at all.
Available June 30th.
**Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.
I feel badly about the not-so-great rating, but this was, unfortunately, a not-so-great novel.
Y'all...this book has 141 chapters. Short, choppy chapters full of whiny, annoying, self-indulged characters who really liked to meet for tea. But when their family conversations became too serious (and they do every time they meet)...they would dramatically walk out of the house/cafe/room in a huff, stating, "I need to leave," or, "I really must go."
...and the chapter would fade to black...
Then the next two-paragraph-long chapter would start and would repeat the same process.
It was never, "Let's communicate like the adults we are." Instead, it was infantile behavior from characters old enough to know better.
At the end of the day, this book ended exactly as you'd expect it to end....the characters doing exactly what you'd expect them to do.
I'm certain All Our Summers has an audience somewhere, but it simply wasn't for me. And for the life of me, I can't figure out what that book cover has to to with the story. There wasn't a pool to be found anywhere, and I think the beach was only briefly mentioned once or twice. It's very misleading. The setting really wasn't a factor in this novel at all.
Available June 30th.
**Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.
July 7, 2020
All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin is a contemporary family saga read that is told from multiple points of view as it follows the ladies of the Ascher family. Each of the members of the family is dealing with their own situations leading to a multi layered story.
Bonnie and her sister Carol grew up together in Yorktide, Maine in their family home known as Ferndean House. Carol, the older of the sisters, couldn’t wait to escape the small town and once she took off to New York she rarely looked back. Meanwhile, Bonnie stayed in Yorktide where she married and had a daughter all the while taking care of her own parents.
Over the years Carol established a hugely successful business and had a daughter of her own in New York. However, during her daughter’s teenage years she asked Bonnie to take her in not revealing the secret as to why. Now that their parents are gone and their daughters grown Carol returns to Ferndean just as Bonnie was going to move into the old family home.
All Our Summers was an easy to follow along story as you learn of all the secrets and problems of all of the ladies in the family. Being a fan of a good family drama I was immediately engaged but I did find myself questioning some behaviors of the ladies along the way finding them a bit childish. Other than that I did find this one entertaining and in the end would give it 3 1/2 stars overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Bonnie and her sister Carol grew up together in Yorktide, Maine in their family home known as Ferndean House. Carol, the older of the sisters, couldn’t wait to escape the small town and once she took off to New York she rarely looked back. Meanwhile, Bonnie stayed in Yorktide where she married and had a daughter all the while taking care of her own parents.
Over the years Carol established a hugely successful business and had a daughter of her own in New York. However, during her daughter’s teenage years she asked Bonnie to take her in not revealing the secret as to why. Now that their parents are gone and their daughters grown Carol returns to Ferndean just as Bonnie was going to move into the old family home.
All Our Summers was an easy to follow along story as you learn of all the secrets and problems of all of the ladies in the family. Being a fan of a good family drama I was immediately engaged but I did find myself questioning some behaviors of the ladies along the way finding them a bit childish. Other than that I did find this one entertaining and in the end would give it 3 1/2 stars overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 8, 2020
EXCERPT: The distinct sound of a key in the front door caused Bonnie to turn from the table of photographs. It was probably Nicola, Bonnie thought, though her niece usually knocked before entering when she saw her aunt's car in the drive.
'Hello!' Bonnie called out as she made her way to the door. She felt a smile come to her face. She always felt like smiling when Nicola was around.
The door creaked loudly as it opened inward and a woman's figure stepped inside. The dustcloth Bonnie had been holding fell to the floor. She felt her stomach drop along with it. Her right hand went to her heart.
'What are you doing here?' she gasped.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It came as no surprise to anyone in Yorktide when glamorous Carol Ascher fled the little Maine town for New York City. While Carol found success as an interior designer, her younger sister, Bonnie, stayed behind, embracing marriage and motherhood. She even agreed to take in Carol’s teenage daughter during a tumultuous patch. Now both their girls are grown and Bonnie, recently widowed, is anticipating the day she’ll retire to Ferndean House, the nineteenth-century family home on the rocky Maine coast.
But forty-five years after leaving Yorktide, Carol suddenly announces that she’s moving back—into Ferndean. Bonnie is indignant. She’s the one who kept the homestead in order and tended to their dying mother. Now Carol expects to simply buy her out? As far as Bonnie is concerned, Ferndean is part of their heritage—not just another of Carol’s improvement projects, to be torn apart and remade according to her whim.
The entire Ascher family is in flux, uncovering secrets that upend their relationships. Carol’s longing to be welcomed home is fueled by a painful truth she’s carried for years. It will take an extraordinary
summer—in a remarkable place—to lead these women back to each other, buoyed by the tides of friendship and forgiveness.
MY THOUGHTS: If you are looking for an uplifting read, it isn't All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlain, despite the beautiful cover. I usually love this author's books, but All Our Summers is full of bitterness, envy and despair. I could feel my insides curdling in places as I read. It is a downright depressing read. Even the ending wasn't enough to redeem this in my eyes. Had it not been such a quick read, I may well have abandoned it.
There is not one likeable nor interesting character amongst them, except for Judith whose role it seems is to restore some semblance of family ties to this resentful bunch. Bonnie and Carol are sisters in their sixties, Bonnie a widow, Carol retired, who are squabbling over the family home. Personally, I couldn't understand Bonnie's desire to leave her lovely cottage, full of memories of her happy times with husband Ken, to live in a rambling, old homestead, hard to heat (this is Maine!), and requiring a lot of maintenance. Now, before I am shot down in flames, I love old homes and have owned and lived in a number of them and, unless you have unlimited funds, they are not the sort of place you want to spend your final years in, particularly when on your own. Now, there are some obvious solutions to this problem, but none that either sister is prepared to consider.
No one in this family is speaking to everyone else, or if they are, it ain't nice. Bonnie and Carol don't have a nice word to say to one another; Bonnie's daughter Julie isn't speaking to her husband; their teenage daughter Sophie is fed up with the antics of both her parents; Carol's daughter Nicole wants nothing to do with her mother. Really? This was like watching the Jeremy Kyle show 🤷♀️ Exit stage left in high dudgeon to the sound of a slamming door.
And that enticingly beautiful cover had nothing to do with anything.
🤦♀️🤦♀️
#AllOurSummers #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Holly Chamberlin is a native New Yorker, but she now lives in Portland, Maine - the aftermath of stumbling across Mr. Right at the one moment she wasn't watching the terrain. She's been writing and editing - poetry, children's fantasies, a romance novel or two, among many other genres and projects - her entire life. She has two cats, Betty and Cyrus, and when she's not writing her hobbies include reading, shopping, and cocktails at six.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Hello!' Bonnie called out as she made her way to the door. She felt a smile come to her face. She always felt like smiling when Nicola was around.
The door creaked loudly as it opened inward and a woman's figure stepped inside. The dustcloth Bonnie had been holding fell to the floor. She felt her stomach drop along with it. Her right hand went to her heart.
'What are you doing here?' she gasped.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: It came as no surprise to anyone in Yorktide when glamorous Carol Ascher fled the little Maine town for New York City. While Carol found success as an interior designer, her younger sister, Bonnie, stayed behind, embracing marriage and motherhood. She even agreed to take in Carol’s teenage daughter during a tumultuous patch. Now both their girls are grown and Bonnie, recently widowed, is anticipating the day she’ll retire to Ferndean House, the nineteenth-century family home on the rocky Maine coast.
But forty-five years after leaving Yorktide, Carol suddenly announces that she’s moving back—into Ferndean. Bonnie is indignant. She’s the one who kept the homestead in order and tended to their dying mother. Now Carol expects to simply buy her out? As far as Bonnie is concerned, Ferndean is part of their heritage—not just another of Carol’s improvement projects, to be torn apart and remade according to her whim.
The entire Ascher family is in flux, uncovering secrets that upend their relationships. Carol’s longing to be welcomed home is fueled by a painful truth she’s carried for years. It will take an extraordinary
summer—in a remarkable place—to lead these women back to each other, buoyed by the tides of friendship and forgiveness.
MY THOUGHTS: If you are looking for an uplifting read, it isn't All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlain, despite the beautiful cover. I usually love this author's books, but All Our Summers is full of bitterness, envy and despair. I could feel my insides curdling in places as I read. It is a downright depressing read. Even the ending wasn't enough to redeem this in my eyes. Had it not been such a quick read, I may well have abandoned it.
There is not one likeable nor interesting character amongst them, except for Judith whose role it seems is to restore some semblance of family ties to this resentful bunch. Bonnie and Carol are sisters in their sixties, Bonnie a widow, Carol retired, who are squabbling over the family home. Personally, I couldn't understand Bonnie's desire to leave her lovely cottage, full of memories of her happy times with husband Ken, to live in a rambling, old homestead, hard to heat (this is Maine!), and requiring a lot of maintenance. Now, before I am shot down in flames, I love old homes and have owned and lived in a number of them and, unless you have unlimited funds, they are not the sort of place you want to spend your final years in, particularly when on your own. Now, there are some obvious solutions to this problem, but none that either sister is prepared to consider.
No one in this family is speaking to everyone else, or if they are, it ain't nice. Bonnie and Carol don't have a nice word to say to one another; Bonnie's daughter Julie isn't speaking to her husband; their teenage daughter Sophie is fed up with the antics of both her parents; Carol's daughter Nicole wants nothing to do with her mother. Really? This was like watching the Jeremy Kyle show 🤷♀️ Exit stage left in high dudgeon to the sound of a slamming door.
And that enticingly beautiful cover had nothing to do with anything.
🤦♀️🤦♀️
#AllOurSummers #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Holly Chamberlin is a native New Yorker, but she now lives in Portland, Maine - the aftermath of stumbling across Mr. Right at the one moment she wasn't watching the terrain. She's been writing and editing - poetry, children's fantasies, a romance novel or two, among many other genres and projects - her entire life. She has two cats, Betty and Cyrus, and when she's not writing her hobbies include reading, shopping, and cocktails at six.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlain for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 6, 2020
All Our Summers
By Holly Chamberlin
All Our Summers is a family saga about the Ascher family centered on sisters Carol who left for New York and Bonnie who stayed behind. Carol lived the life of luxury while Bonnie took care of the home and family. Chamberlin wrote the characters well who are going through a lot of pain, hardships, regret and anger. A real saga of a book that I enjoyed reading about - domestic drama at its best.
I enjoyed the easy writing and a nice summer read.
By Holly Chamberlin
All Our Summers is a family saga about the Ascher family centered on sisters Carol who left for New York and Bonnie who stayed behind. Carol lived the life of luxury while Bonnie took care of the home and family. Chamberlin wrote the characters well who are going through a lot of pain, hardships, regret and anger. A real saga of a book that I enjoyed reading about - domestic drama at its best.
I enjoyed the easy writing and a nice summer read.
July 3, 2020
3.5 Stars! Nostalgic, tender, and optimistic!
All Our Summers is a compelling, heartfelt tale that sweeps you away to Yorktide, Maine and immerses you into the lives of the Ascher family complete with all the heartbreak, secrets, smiles, tears, strength, loyalty, resentments, and compassion that surround them.
The writing is smooth and light. The characters are complex, hurt, and vulnerable. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel into an uplifting tale about life, love, loss, family, friendship, parenthood, infidelity, and the complex relationship that exists between sisters.
All Our Summers is a sentimental, warm, touching, family saga by Chamberlin that drags slightly in parts but overall does a lovely job of reminding us of what’s truly important in life.
Thank you to Kensington Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All Our Summers is a compelling, heartfelt tale that sweeps you away to Yorktide, Maine and immerses you into the lives of the Ascher family complete with all the heartbreak, secrets, smiles, tears, strength, loyalty, resentments, and compassion that surround them.
The writing is smooth and light. The characters are complex, hurt, and vulnerable. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel into an uplifting tale about life, love, loss, family, friendship, parenthood, infidelity, and the complex relationship that exists between sisters.
All Our Summers is a sentimental, warm, touching, family saga by Chamberlin that drags slightly in parts but overall does a lovely job of reminding us of what’s truly important in life.
Thank you to Kensington Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2020
I gave this book an extra star because I wanted to finish it just to see if it got any better. It did not. None of the characters were especially interesting. The story involved two sisters Bonnie and Carol and their respective daughters Julie and Nicola; Julie's daughter a teenager, Sophie, and a cousin of the sisters Judith (who was the only interesting character) rounded out the group.
For some reason Carol was constantly referred to by her full name Carol
Ascher, she was the only Carol in the book and this began to irritate me as did the constant cliches that ere used, i.e., "water under the bridge" "in for a penny..."
It's true that sibling rivalry exists, many families are not good with communication but...this was just too much. Too many times people stormed out of a room.
Each (of the many) chapters were short and about a different character. this seriously interrupted the flow of the story.
Full disclosure I was sent a free kindle edition of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and although the premise was interesting - older successful sister returns to small home town to reclaim the family's large home, it did not live up to its promise.
For some reason Carol was constantly referred to by her full name Carol
Ascher, she was the only Carol in the book and this began to irritate me as did the constant cliches that ere used, i.e., "water under the bridge" "in for a penny..."
It's true that sibling rivalry exists, many families are not good with communication but...this was just too much. Too many times people stormed out of a room.
Each (of the many) chapters were short and about a different character. this seriously interrupted the flow of the story.
Full disclosure I was sent a free kindle edition of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and although the premise was interesting - older successful sister returns to small home town to reclaim the family's large home, it did not live up to its promise.
May 5, 2020
This books is about two sisters and their grown daughters. The sisters are estranged and their daughters are also having problems. Chamberlin takes us through the struggles as they try and work things out. In the end all is resolved.
July 17, 2022
Forty-five years ago, Carol Ascher left her small Maine town for the bright lights of New York. She made a name for herself as an interior designer. When her daughter was a teenager, she sent her to Yorktide to live with her Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Ken. No one knows the real reason for her doing that. Now her parents are gone, Bonnie's husband has passed and her daughter is thinking of signing up for the Peace Corps. Carol has returned with the wish to buy her sister out of the family home, known as Ferndean House. Bonnie has plans to sell her house and retire to Ferndean House. With all the issues from the past, the secrets and hurt feelings with this family be able to reconcile and become a real family once again?
So, I was looking for an uplifting story about family, summer and reconciliation. Yes, all those things were here, but it was full of whiny, self-centered characters who were unlikable for most of the book. Bonnie and Carol were sisters who could not have been more different. They each saw the past and their relationship differently and if it hadn't been for cousin Judith, they might never have reached their reconciliation at the end. Bonnie's daughter, Julie has a lot of her own issues. She has recently found out her husband has been cheating on her, and is depressed but trying to hide her feelings from her daughter. I feel bad for Julie, but she doesn't do much to help herself until the end of the book. Carol's daughter, Nicole, is angry at her mother for "dumping" her and won't speak to her. Just a big dysfunctional family that didn't do much for me. As I said earlier, Judith is the only one I really liked. She was a plain, tell it like it is woman who really doesn't care what anyone things. Yes, they have their epiphanies, yes they reconcile and yes, the family begins to mend, but it was an uncomfortable, journey and I didn't really care by the time I reached the end.
So, I was looking for an uplifting story about family, summer and reconciliation. Yes, all those things were here, but it was full of whiny, self-centered characters who were unlikable for most of the book. Bonnie and Carol were sisters who could not have been more different. They each saw the past and their relationship differently and if it hadn't been for cousin Judith, they might never have reached their reconciliation at the end. Bonnie's daughter, Julie has a lot of her own issues. She has recently found out her husband has been cheating on her, and is depressed but trying to hide her feelings from her daughter. I feel bad for Julie, but she doesn't do much to help herself until the end of the book. Carol's daughter, Nicole, is angry at her mother for "dumping" her and won't speak to her. Just a big dysfunctional family that didn't do much for me. As I said earlier, Judith is the only one I really liked. She was a plain, tell it like it is woman who really doesn't care what anyone things. Yes, they have their epiphanies, yes they reconcile and yes, the family begins to mend, but it was an uncomfortable, journey and I didn't really care by the time I reached the end.
July 1, 2020
Right book for my beach vacation.
June 14, 2020
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington for this arc.
A story about forgiveness and friendship: rekindling old memories and friendship and moving on: this story is promising and entertaining. The characters are well written, and the plot is excellent. It is also a quick read despite having many chapters. Because the chapters are just short, so that makes up with the number of sections it has. The story was told on a few people's perspectives, and narration was alright. It’s an easy read.
A story about forgiveness and friendship: rekindling old memories and friendship and moving on: this story is promising and entertaining. The characters are well written, and the plot is excellent. It is also a quick read despite having many chapters. Because the chapters are just short, so that makes up with the number of sections it has. The story was told on a few people's perspectives, and narration was alright. It’s an easy read.
June 30, 2020
I would actually give this book a 2.5 stars, but I'm bumping it up to 3 for the sake of Goodreads.
I really, really wanted to like this book. I loved the cover but was confused after finishing the book because the cover really has nothing to do with the story. I don't even remember a pool being mentioned and I think they discussed the beach maybe once?
I found this read to be very choppy. None of the characters really appealed to me. I found them to be whiny and annoying. It seems like they couldn't have serious conversations. Every time a serious conversation would start, someone would end up leaving the house or room, etc. I'm sure this is book is going to appeal to many people, I just personally couldn't get into it.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I really, really wanted to like this book. I loved the cover but was confused after finishing the book because the cover really has nothing to do with the story. I don't even remember a pool being mentioned and I think they discussed the beach maybe once?
I found this read to be very choppy. None of the characters really appealed to me. I found them to be whiny and annoying. It seems like they couldn't have serious conversations. Every time a serious conversation would start, someone would end up leaving the house or room, etc. I'm sure this is book is going to appeal to many people, I just personally couldn't get into it.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 2, 2020
All Our Summers features women from adolescence to mid sixties. Two sisters, two cousins, and a granddaughter spend a never to be forgotten summer. Many lessons are learned about self value, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion. At first, the book was very slow moving and I wasn't connecting with many of the characters. Finally, almost 2/3 through, breakthroughs were made and the characters became much more interesting. The ending was satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the early read in exchange for my honest review.
July 1, 2020
All Our Summers is a novel about family and forgiveness. Author Holly Chamberlin gives universal problems to realistic, sympathetic characters in a small town setting. The drama that follows is both satisfying and entertaining. This is a 5 star read!
Carol Ascher left Yorktide, Maine and her sister Bonnie behind when she moved to New York City at nineteen to become a successful interior designer. Now, nearing retirement, she returns to Yorktide seeking a simpler, slower paced life. She plans to live in Ferndean, the family home, left jointly to the sisters in their mother’s will. However, Bonnie has other ideas. Recently widowed, she has thought about moving into Ferndean herself. After all, she has maintained the house, a summer rental for years, taken care of her late parents and husband, raised her own daughter Julie and Carol’s daughter Nicola, who moved to Yorktide when she was a troubled teenager. To Bonnie, Carol chose to lead a fairytale life in New York, surrounded by glamorous, sophisticated friends, and now wants to move that lifestyle to Ferndean and Yorktide. It doesn’t help that people in town are fascinated by Carol’s career and tend to ignore Bonnie. Cousins Nicola and Julie also have problems. Nicola is estranged from her mother who banished her to Maine after some bad behavior. She also resents the fact that she has no father because Carol used a donor to have a child. Julie was happily married to Scott until he had an affair. Although he desperately wants to reconcile, Julie can’t forgive him.
Before problems can be solved and relationships mended, many secrets are revealed and truths are told. This is a slow paced read with an emphasis on character development. I want to visit Yorktide!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Holly Chamberlin for this ARC.
Carol Ascher left Yorktide, Maine and her sister Bonnie behind when she moved to New York City at nineteen to become a successful interior designer. Now, nearing retirement, she returns to Yorktide seeking a simpler, slower paced life. She plans to live in Ferndean, the family home, left jointly to the sisters in their mother’s will. However, Bonnie has other ideas. Recently widowed, she has thought about moving into Ferndean herself. After all, she has maintained the house, a summer rental for years, taken care of her late parents and husband, raised her own daughter Julie and Carol’s daughter Nicola, who moved to Yorktide when she was a troubled teenager. To Bonnie, Carol chose to lead a fairytale life in New York, surrounded by glamorous, sophisticated friends, and now wants to move that lifestyle to Ferndean and Yorktide. It doesn’t help that people in town are fascinated by Carol’s career and tend to ignore Bonnie. Cousins Nicola and Julie also have problems. Nicola is estranged from her mother who banished her to Maine after some bad behavior. She also resents the fact that she has no father because Carol used a donor to have a child. Julie was happily married to Scott until he had an affair. Although he desperately wants to reconcile, Julie can’t forgive him.
Before problems can be solved and relationships mended, many secrets are revealed and truths are told. This is a slow paced read with an emphasis on character development. I want to visit Yorktide!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Holly Chamberlin for this ARC.
July 5, 2020
I love books about sisters, and this one fit the bill. The two main characters are in their sixties, Carol and Bonnie; Carol left their small Maine town and became a successful interior designer in NYC, while Bonnie stayed home, married, and had a family. Why did Carol send her daughter Nicola to live with Bonnie and Ken? Now that Carol is returning to claim her half of the family home, what are her intentions? Julie, Bonnie’s daughter, is distraught after learning her husband has an affair. How does her relationship with her mother, aunt and mother’s cousin help in her finding herself? These answers and more will be evident as you read his enjoyable novel. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
June 30, 2020
To me this is a great story about family. As I was reading, I would think, yep, I know someone that had those feelings or went through whatever the situation was. There is a lot of growing between the characters in this story and in themselves. Bonnie and Carol, even though sisters, are two very different people. Will they ever get to the point they really understand each other again? What about Julie and Scott? Haven’t all of us dealt with the forgiveness factor in our lives? I totally enjoyed this story and meeting these folks. I think you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
June 21, 2020
All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin is the latest book about Yorktide, Maine. It is a small town on the coast near Ogunquit. The Ascher Family has lived there for generations in a house named Ferndean. Holly Chamberlin’s previous books have focused on various family members, while this novel focuses on Carol and Bonnie. They are sisters who were left Ferndean from their parents. Carol left home at 18 and moved to NYC. She ended up starting her own company and became wealthy. Bonnie stayed in Yorktide and married young.
Forty-five years later, Carol has returned to Yorktide and has decided she is going to live in Ferndean and reconnect with her family, including her daughter who she sent away when she was 15. Bonnie had just decided that she wants to live in Ferndean, where she should be able to live as she has taken care of it for years. Carol and Bonnie had no idea what the other was thinking, because of how estranged they are. Neither is really able to listen to the other and both believe they are right. The slow erosion of their relationship does not stop people from learning to grow it back.
Holly Chamberlin’s book introduces us to the idea of kin keepers. The person who keeps the family together is the kin keeper. It is an interesting idea that I admit has taken over my thought process. All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin is a wonderful family drama/beach read.
Forty-five years later, Carol has returned to Yorktide and has decided she is going to live in Ferndean and reconnect with her family, including her daughter who she sent away when she was 15. Bonnie had just decided that she wants to live in Ferndean, where she should be able to live as she has taken care of it for years. Carol and Bonnie had no idea what the other was thinking, because of how estranged they are. Neither is really able to listen to the other and both believe they are right. The slow erosion of their relationship does not stop people from learning to grow it back.
Holly Chamberlin’s book introduces us to the idea of kin keepers. The person who keeps the family together is the kin keeper. It is an interesting idea that I admit has taken over my thought process. All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin is a wonderful family drama/beach read.
June 21, 2020
Lots of drama in this novel about two sisters- Bonnie and Carol- and their daughters Julie and Nicola. Bonnie is furious when Carol announces that she's moving back to their ancestral home after 45 years in New York City. It hits hard because Bonnie is a recent widow and , to be honest, because she's resented her sister over the years. Bonnie's daughter Julie is dealing with a cheating husband and Carol's Nicola is unable to decide what to do with her life. Readers of this genre know there's going to be secrets, conflict, and ultimately, everyone will find a way forward. It might not be neat- and in this case it's not- but family always wins. This has short chapters, which will make you think you should keep reading just one more. There's a lot of privilege and the women are often annoying but I read the whole thing, at times shaking my head. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
June 18, 2020
Two sisters Carol and Bonnie are joined in a battle over a stately provincial homestead left to them in equal measure. This book examines each sisters reason to claim Ferndean as their own. Bonnie feels unappreciated after all her time caring for a mother and father in their last days. Carol left without a backward glance and now appears with plans that do not include her sister. Family dynamics are rarely smooth and these two are no different. A distant daughter who was sent to Bonnie by Carol also comes to grips with her own life decisions. Over the course of the summer misunderstandings are discussed and a medical emergency offers a chance to put old hurts into perspective . Old girls learn new tricks and a family is renewed.
June 7, 2020
***I received an advanced e-copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
It causes quite a stir when Carol Ascher arrives in her hometown of Yorktide, announcing she has left New York and big city life behind and is moving back to reclaim the family homestead. There is one major problem.... her sister Bonnie has the same plan. Bonnie's husband recently died and since she has always loved her family home so much, she has decided to move back there. Bonnie's daughter Julie is having problems of her own. Her marriage is in jeopardy, ever since she discovered her husband cheated on her. Carol's daughter Nicola is at a crossroads as well. She thought she wanted to join the Peace Corp, but now she isn't so sure that is the right move. But if not, then what is? And then to top it off, her mother, who she hasn't seen since Carol sent her away when Nicola was a teen, is back in town. Well, this is shaping up to be a great summer....
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half felt weighed-down by Julie's inability to move past her husband's cheating, and Bonnie's petty & almost immature attitude towards Carol. Once Julie seemed to start coming out of her depression and Bonnie and Carol were able to have normal conversations without someone storming off mad or crying or both, then I really started to enjoy the story. It is definitely not the light beach read that I expected, but taking all things into consideration it was a good story overall.
It causes quite a stir when Carol Ascher arrives in her hometown of Yorktide, announcing she has left New York and big city life behind and is moving back to reclaim the family homestead. There is one major problem.... her sister Bonnie has the same plan. Bonnie's husband recently died and since she has always loved her family home so much, she has decided to move back there. Bonnie's daughter Julie is having problems of her own. Her marriage is in jeopardy, ever since she discovered her husband cheated on her. Carol's daughter Nicola is at a crossroads as well. She thought she wanted to join the Peace Corp, but now she isn't so sure that is the right move. But if not, then what is? And then to top it off, her mother, who she hasn't seen since Carol sent her away when Nicola was a teen, is back in town. Well, this is shaping up to be a great summer....
I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half felt weighed-down by Julie's inability to move past her husband's cheating, and Bonnie's petty & almost immature attitude towards Carol. Once Julie seemed to start coming out of her depression and Bonnie and Carol were able to have normal conversations without someone storming off mad or crying or both, then I really started to enjoy the story. It is definitely not the light beach read that I expected, but taking all things into consideration it was a good story overall.
June 14, 2020
All Out Summers is a story of two sisters who don't know how to communicate. I enjoyed the secrets they had to uncover and the struggles they endured. I did find the consistent inability of the two of them to talk with each other. There were a lot of started and stopped meetings because someone couldn't handle the topic. I liked that the two women were flawed, and I thought that it made them relatable. I think I would have liked it to move on at a bit of a faster rate.
Overall though, this was a good story with an interesting plot, and I found it to be an emotional read.
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Overall though, this was a good story with an interesting plot, and I found it to be an emotional read.
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
June 7, 2020
When I requested to read an arc of All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlain from NetGalley and Kensington Books, it was based primarily on the fact that I had read so many of this authors books and had really enjoyed them. This one, not so much! It’s not that the storyline was bad, it just seemed to drag on and on in my opinion. It felt like it was the longest book and that it would never end. Hopefully others won’t feel this way and maybe I’m just in some sort of readers slump! One thing that I did like about it was that the two main characters, who were sisters, were seniors like myself. You don’t find a lot of books with the characters being this age. It was a story based on 2 sisters, one who stayed in their hometown while the other moved to New York City looking for more to life than just what her small town had to offer. Through the years there was jealousy and a little animosity between them and secrets were kept. Overall, it was a story of family, forgiveness and acceptance. I feel really bad only giving this a 3 star rating and hope that others find more enjoyment in reading it than I did.
June 9, 2020
This book felt really fragmented to me - the chapters were REALLY short, and there were a lot of them. As in 141, which seems excessive. They are told from about 5 alternating viewpoints, and I wasn't sure if that was deliberate by the author, to show how fragmented the characters' relationships are, or if it just happened that way. I like summer books set in Maine and on the coast, but this one did not pull me in. I was intrigued by the dynamics of Bonnie and Carol's relationship, but didn't feel like this format allowed enough development of it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2020
I enjoyed All Our Summers by Holly Chamberlin. It is a real, raw story of a family that has a very long history in the small Maine town of Yorktide, where everyone knows everyone else's business including how sister Carol left town many years ago when she was 19. Now in her mid 60's Carol shows back up wanting to claim the Ferndean house as her own, despite her sister Bonnie being half owner. Little did Carol know that Bonnie had her own plans for the Ferndean home.
This is a story of past hurts and how a families love is strong enough to overcome those hurts. It's never to late to start over and sometimes the courage to starting over can reward you with a life even better than you imagined.
The Ascher family includes Bonnie, Carol, Judith, Julie, Scott, Sophie and Nicola. They all are dealing with their own issues and they all find a way to lean on one another, sometimes having to endure tense gatherings, to get to the bottom of what is most important - being there for each other.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for an advanced copy of #AllOurSummers in exchange for my honest review.
This is a story of past hurts and how a families love is strong enough to overcome those hurts. It's never to late to start over and sometimes the courage to starting over can reward you with a life even better than you imagined.
The Ascher family includes Bonnie, Carol, Judith, Julie, Scott, Sophie and Nicola. They all are dealing with their own issues and they all find a way to lean on one another, sometimes having to endure tense gatherings, to get to the bottom of what is most important - being there for each other.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for an advanced copy of #AllOurSummers in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2020
Holly Chamberlin chronicles the love-hate relationship between sisters. As an only child, I never experienced the tumultuous dynamic as Carol and Bonnie's simmered in expectations and concealed circumstances. Carol relinquished care of her 15-year-old daughter to her sister to ensure Nicola's well being.
What was meant to safeguard her daughter's future built-up walls around Nicola's heart. Returning to her childhood to right past wrongs, Carol's rocky reception sets to topple her plans. Will she mend strained relationships to carve out a new future for her family?
I identified with Carol as I moved to New York City after college. Determined to succeed. I didn't confess my initial challenges until I was established. When taking a bite of the Big Apple, transplants require perseverance to overcome obstacles.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #AllOurSummer. Chamberlin crafted complex yet intentionally flawed female characters. A poignant quote resonated with me regarding Nicola's depiction of a meaningful life. 'A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.' Overcoming obstacles and the importance of family remained at the forefront throughout the novel. When we're ready to overcome our past and forgive ourselves, we can move forward towards building a brighter future.
What was meant to safeguard her daughter's future built-up walls around Nicola's heart. Returning to her childhood to right past wrongs, Carol's rocky reception sets to topple her plans. Will she mend strained relationships to carve out a new future for her family?
I identified with Carol as I moved to New York City after college. Determined to succeed. I didn't confess my initial challenges until I was established. When taking a bite of the Big Apple, transplants require perseverance to overcome obstacles.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #AllOurSummer. Chamberlin crafted complex yet intentionally flawed female characters. A poignant quote resonated with me regarding Nicola's depiction of a meaningful life. 'A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.' Overcoming obstacles and the importance of family remained at the forefront throughout the novel. When we're ready to overcome our past and forgive ourselves, we can move forward towards building a brighter future.
April 13, 2020
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review. This is a family that has thought a certain way so long and with a lack of communication, things have just been getting worse. One summer the older sister, Carol decides to finally move back to Yorktown Maine where she grew up. She and her younger sister, Bonnie weren't very nice when they met at the beginning of the summer. Carol's daughter had moved to Maine when she was a teenager and they didn't have a good relationship.
It would take a lot of communication and courage to do what is needed in order to repair the damage that has been done. Every family has problems and reading this book gives you insight on the journey of this family for one summer. I hope you read the book to find out if they will have the courage to open up and be honest with one another. There will be secrets that will come out, issues they will have to deal with, and they will have to choose to listen. It is a book worth reading to find out the answers. I enjoyed reading this story, I got a lot out of it, and I could understand the way they were feeling. There comes a time when you just know you have to try to make things right, even if you know it could fail. For me, that was what the book was about. Being from Maine made me love the location.
It would take a lot of communication and courage to do what is needed in order to repair the damage that has been done. Every family has problems and reading this book gives you insight on the journey of this family for one summer. I hope you read the book to find out if they will have the courage to open up and be honest with one another. There will be secrets that will come out, issues they will have to deal with, and they will have to choose to listen. It is a book worth reading to find out the answers. I enjoyed reading this story, I got a lot out of it, and I could understand the way they were feeling. There comes a time when you just know you have to try to make things right, even if you know it could fail. For me, that was what the book was about. Being from Maine made me love the location.
April 24, 2020
#AllOurSummers#NetaGalley
This book was excellent as all of Holly Chamberlin's book are.
The Story opens in Yorktide Maine where two sisters have joint ownership of the family home called Ferndean House.Bonnie has remained In Yorktide taking care of her parents till they passed away and then taking care of the family home.
Her older sister Carol left as a young girl to go to New York city and follow her. dream of becoming a designer.. Carol rarely comes home but reached out to Bonnie to let her daughter as a teenager to live with them. Many years later Carol decides to come to Yorktide. to buy out Bonnie's half of the family home.
As the Sisters both want the family home many relatives are drawn into the fray..most of the women in the book are related to each other.. They go through many twist and turns. Find out secrets from the past and present that make it hard to move forward. Great story of a generational family who learn how to live again. Book was very hard to put down.
This book was excellent as all of Holly Chamberlin's book are.
The Story opens in Yorktide Maine where two sisters have joint ownership of the family home called Ferndean House.Bonnie has remained In Yorktide taking care of her parents till they passed away and then taking care of the family home.
Her older sister Carol left as a young girl to go to New York city and follow her. dream of becoming a designer.. Carol rarely comes home but reached out to Bonnie to let her daughter as a teenager to live with them. Many years later Carol decides to come to Yorktide. to buy out Bonnie's half of the family home.
As the Sisters both want the family home many relatives are drawn into the fray..most of the women in the book are related to each other.. They go through many twist and turns. Find out secrets from the past and present that make it hard to move forward. Great story of a generational family who learn how to live again. Book was very hard to put down.
May 7, 2020
I received this book from Net Galley for a review.
What would we do without family? They make us laugh. They frustrate us. They make us want to kill them sometimes. The Ascher family is no different.
Elder sister Carol decided to move back to the family homestead, Ferndean, after a lifetime in NYC. Her sister Bonnie and daughter Nicola are less than thrilled with this. Niece Julie is having a hard time in her marriage and with her teenaged daughter.
This is a long book. The chapters are short, and there are a lot of them. I did enjoy reading it, but it seemed to drag a bit in places. There was a lot of introspection by all the female characters. The perspective changed also, from chapter to chapter. Sometimes I would forget whose voice I was supposed to be hearing.
Overall good, but long.
What would we do without family? They make us laugh. They frustrate us. They make us want to kill them sometimes. The Ascher family is no different.
Elder sister Carol decided to move back to the family homestead, Ferndean, after a lifetime in NYC. Her sister Bonnie and daughter Nicola are less than thrilled with this. Niece Julie is having a hard time in her marriage and with her teenaged daughter.
This is a long book. The chapters are short, and there are a lot of them. I did enjoy reading it, but it seemed to drag a bit in places. There was a lot of introspection by all the female characters. The perspective changed also, from chapter to chapter. Sometimes I would forget whose voice I was supposed to be hearing.
Overall good, but long.
April 9, 2020
****All Our Summers is a complex family drama populated by complex characters. Bonnie and sister Carol are at odds over the family homestead; Bonnie’s daughter, Julie, is depressed and at odds with her cheating husband; Julie’s daughter is angry at her mother for not kicking dad out of the house, Carol’s daughter, sent to live with Aunt Bonnie as a teen doesn’t even want to see her mother, etc., etc., etc. Will any of these conflicts ever be resolved? Being hopeful, this reader kept reading. The rewards for continuing outweighed all the depressing chapters and characters’ self doubt. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.
April 19, 2020
What a very complex story, with lots of family drama going on. The family dynamics is so full of conflict! This really made it hard for me to keep track of everyone/everything when I first started reading the book. The cast of characters are very well defined but, there is a lot of them to remember!
In the end, the family members resolved many major conflicts within the family circle and rediscovered the importance of family, forgiveness and most of all, love for each other.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In the end, the family members resolved many major conflicts within the family circle and rediscovered the importance of family, forgiveness and most of all, love for each other.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 16, 2020
This one was a bit hard to get through for me, it took much longer than it should have to read. I'm not sure if that was because the book was different from my expectation - as mostly a cover reader when picking titles, I thought sure this title would have a plotline that revolved more around traditional summers in Maine once Carol came home from New York. Instead, the cover seemingly had nothing to do with the story, which was more rooted in family drama and miscommunication than anything else.
Carol Ascher left Yorktide forty-five years ago, leaving behind her younger sister and family to live in New York. Now, she’s decided to come back to try to fix those relationships, especially the one with her daughter Nicola, who she sent to live with her aunt and uncle in her teens.
Will she be welcomed home? Or is it too late to repair the wrongdoings and missed opportunities?
I had not read any books by this author, but received this title thanks to Netgalley & Kensington Books, in exchange for my personal review, and I just found the book to be okay.
What I did like about the story was how each of the characters were woven together by their family ties, but I just wish it didn't seem so drawn out, and that the positivity of the last few chapters happened earlier on in the book to keep me interested.
Carol Ascher left Yorktide forty-five years ago, leaving behind her younger sister and family to live in New York. Now, she’s decided to come back to try to fix those relationships, especially the one with her daughter Nicola, who she sent to live with her aunt and uncle in her teens.
Will she be welcomed home? Or is it too late to repair the wrongdoings and missed opportunities?
I had not read any books by this author, but received this title thanks to Netgalley & Kensington Books, in exchange for my personal review, and I just found the book to be okay.
What I did like about the story was how each of the characters were woven together by their family ties, but I just wish it didn't seem so drawn out, and that the positivity of the last few chapters happened earlier on in the book to keep me interested.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews