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Five Island Cove #2
The Summer Sand Pact
These five best friends made a Summer Sand Pact as teens and have only kept it once or twice—until they reunite decades later and renew their agreement to meet in Five Island Cove every summer.
Alice Kelton's marriage is in shambles, and while she's always thought she'd stay with her husband, after her last visit to the cove, she went back to the Hamptons and filed for divorce. She and her twins are moving to Rocky Ridge in Five Island Cove permanently, but she's not telling anyone.
Robin's husband is in Alaska for the summer, and she's pretending she's okay.
Eloise comes back to the cove every couple of weeks so she can see her new boyfriend, though she's growing tired of the distance between them.
AJ broke up with her non-committal boyfriend, and she's happier, freer, and open to another relationship, even though she lives in Atlanta.
Kelli brings her son to the cove this time, knowing her relationship with her husband is on the rocks and desperate to fix it. She plans to get some help from her sisterhood during the two weeks in the cove.
When she's followed to the beach house where the other women and their children have gathered, Kelli learns a dangerous secret thirty years in the making that could completely undo all the progress she's made...
Get ready for more secrets to come to light in Five Island Cove, and for these five women to show each other what it means to love and support someone through thick and thin.
Alice Kelton's marriage is in shambles, and while she's always thought she'd stay with her husband, after her last visit to the cove, she went back to the Hamptons and filed for divorce. She and her twins are moving to Rocky Ridge in Five Island Cove permanently, but she's not telling anyone.
Robin's husband is in Alaska for the summer, and she's pretending she's okay.
Eloise comes back to the cove every couple of weeks so she can see her new boyfriend, though she's growing tired of the distance between them.
AJ broke up with her non-committal boyfriend, and she's happier, freer, and open to another relationship, even though she lives in Atlanta.
Kelli brings her son to the cove this time, knowing her relationship with her husband is on the rocks and desperate to fix it. She plans to get some help from her sisterhood during the two weeks in the cove.
When she's followed to the beach house where the other women and their children have gathered, Kelli learns a dangerous secret thirty years in the making that could completely undo all the progress she's made...
Get ready for more secrets to come to light in Five Island Cove, and for these five women to show each other what it means to love and support someone through thick and thin.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2020
3115 people are currently reading
1326 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
June 28, 2023
The Summer Sand Pact by Jesse Newton. A chick lit book that reads like a soap opera whose lives of 5 women intertwine just enough to keep the book interesting
June 27, 2020
Women's Story Defined By Men in Their Lives
This is the second book of this series, and I think it needs to be read in order. This is my first book by this author, so I missed the first one before reading this one. Not having read the first, I didn't see or understand the connection between the women at first. It just seemed like random women were arriving on the same island at the same time. Because there are five characters, it seemed like it took a long time to get the story actually going. A good first part of the book is simply the women wrapping up their lives on the mainland and/or just arriving at the island, with a little bit of their backstory given. With this book centering on women, this is clearly women's literature or chick lit, depending how you like to define those terms. For such a book, though, centered on women, I thought there was too much emphasis on the men in their lives. Even the book's description points to this. They are at where they are at mostly because of the men in their lives, not because of themselves. I think women's fiction works better if the story is driven by the women and their needs, not by how they are doing (or not doing) in a relationship. With so many characters to focus on, I didn't feel like this book had much of a plot. Rather, this seems like a cobbled-together collection of character studies than a book with a coherent storyline and plot.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
This is the second book of this series, and I think it needs to be read in order. This is my first book by this author, so I missed the first one before reading this one. Not having read the first, I didn't see or understand the connection between the women at first. It just seemed like random women were arriving on the same island at the same time. Because there are five characters, it seemed like it took a long time to get the story actually going. A good first part of the book is simply the women wrapping up their lives on the mainland and/or just arriving at the island, with a little bit of their backstory given. With this book centering on women, this is clearly women's literature or chick lit, depending how you like to define those terms. For such a book, though, centered on women, I thought there was too much emphasis on the men in their lives. Even the book's description points to this. They are at where they are at mostly because of the men in their lives, not because of themselves. I think women's fiction works better if the story is driven by the women and their needs, not by how they are doing (or not doing) in a relationship. With so many characters to focus on, I didn't feel like this book had much of a plot. Rather, this seems like a cobbled-together collection of character studies than a book with a coherent storyline and plot.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
September 21, 2024
nothing really happens, and like someone else said it's weirdly a chic lit where the women are defined by the men in their lives...
not bad, but I only read it to pass the time
not bad, but I only read it to pass the time
September 26, 2020
Loved the story about 5 friends that meet every summer. Cute stories.
August 26, 2020
Book 2 in this series was good.. I really like the characters, most women can identify with at least one of them! Good writing.. looking forward to the 3rd book to be out in the Fall
July 23, 2020
A beautiful second book on the reunion of five friends that grew up together. Each of the women face difficulties in their lives. The story brings out both the good and bad in each of these women, but they always get things straightened out. I really like the diversity among the women and the way they are there for each other. Also, the author does an amazing job of describing the scenery. I can almost see the landscape!
September 14, 2020
Great writing!
Women are strong and complicated and this book definitely shows just how they master their lives. Awesome writing! Loved the characters!
Women are strong and complicated and this book definitely shows just how they master their lives. Awesome writing! Loved the characters!
July 12, 2020
Really enjoyed this book5 women that. Can't wait for the rest of the series to come out. If you want a book that will make you laugh and cry and feel all sorts of emotions this will do it. The story is about 5 women who have known each other for a long time deal with every day problems.
Waiting impatiently for the next book in the series. I really miss the great characters and feel lost without them.
Waiting impatiently for the next book in the series. I really miss the great characters and feel lost without them.
July 20, 2020
Loved it. Ready for the next one.
July 17, 2020
enjoyed this book. Ready for the next one in the series.
September 29, 2020
Summer Sand Pack
What a wonderful book of 5 friends I could read it again I wish I could visit a place like this especially the cove they went to on one of the last days on the island it’s possible I’d see some mermaids. Well they only exist in my mind. Read the book it’s magical wish I had friends like this
What a wonderful book of 5 friends I could read it again I wish I could visit a place like this especially the cove they went to on one of the last days on the island it’s possible I’d see some mermaids. Well they only exist in my mind. Read the book it’s magical wish I had friends like this
June 2, 2020
All the ladies have had things going on since we last saw them and some of them are big and I mean BIG changes. It's Alice's turn to host this time and she has one of the BIG secrets that no one knows of but that won't help her or the others as anyone can invoke the summer sand pact and there are very clear rules that can be used ie you have to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but you can also use the safety card or the rights-of-first-refusal condition of the pact as well as others that have you laughing, feeling relived s well as the warmth of this amazing group of women. I will admit I gobbled up this book and was sad when I got to the end as now I have to wait for the next one :(
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 2, 2020
I loved it. The continuing story of 5 women who have remained good friends since school. Adult hood has been difficult for some of them, newly discovered old secrets have been painful. They had been separated for years until a funeral drew them back together. With support these woman have started to find the strength to become true person hidden inside each of them. Alice, bless her stood up to her cheating husband and she won. Kelli is finally breaking out of her shell and it's about time. As for the others their stories are still growing I'm sure we will find out what they are going to do in the next book. I can't wait to read it.
June 1, 2020
The second book in the Five Island Cove series and best friends Robin, Alice, Eloise, Kelli, and AJ are still deciding what is best for them. I am so glad they can all be there for each other. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 15, 2020
This was a wonderful book. Five ladies & their pact to each other. Such a fun, entertaining read. Loved it. I received a free arc copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 24, 2023
The first 2 books in this series were fairly good, tiresome reading about some of the constant bemoaning of feelings, but overall ok.
My problem is the lack of reality in a couple plot lines. The blackmail by a brother, requiring one woman to turn over massive number of propties AND monies left to her by her father, blackmail in writing and threatened in front of and partially against the local police chief, is just not believable. The chief of police, in a better and more accurate plot, would have quietly reached out to federal authorities and had the guy investigated, charged, and arrested for said blackmail. The woman would've eventually gotten the ownership of the properties/monies and could even helped her friend in need.
In another sub plot, another woman finds out there was a bank account left open after her father died, some 30 years prior. But nobody in this small island community told her mother the account existed? It just sat there fur over 30 years ? Seriously, that isn't even possible. The blasted bank statements had to go somewhere, and that was well before he internet and paperless banking.
I like to read stories of women supporting women, but at least make the stories believable. I'm not spending any more money on this series.
My problem is the lack of reality in a couple plot lines. The blackmail by a brother, requiring one woman to turn over massive number of propties AND monies left to her by her father, blackmail in writing and threatened in front of and partially against the local police chief, is just not believable. The chief of police, in a better and more accurate plot, would have quietly reached out to federal authorities and had the guy investigated, charged, and arrested for said blackmail. The woman would've eventually gotten the ownership of the properties/monies and could even helped her friend in need.
In another sub plot, another woman finds out there was a bank account left open after her father died, some 30 years prior. But nobody in this small island community told her mother the account existed? It just sat there fur over 30 years ? Seriously, that isn't even possible. The blasted bank statements had to go somewhere, and that was well before he internet and paperless banking.
I like to read stories of women supporting women, but at least make the stories believable. I'm not spending any more money on this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2022
I've been enjoying the Five Island Cove series; it's perfect light reading for summer. It is very important to read the books in order as I found out after I read The Cliffside Inn first, not realizing it was #3 in a series. Also I think readers should know that there is a prequel(or introductory novel) to the series called Memories at Friendship Inn which should be included in the series and I'm not sure why it isn't. I highly recommend reading it first.
My only two criticisms of the books are that a few of the characters can sometimes be a little too dramatic and that the books usually each have a few grammatical errors. Certainly not enough to detract from the story, I'm just persnickety. If the author reads this review, I would happily be an advance reader for you.
My only two criticisms of the books are that a few of the characters can sometimes be a little too dramatic and that the books usually each have a few grammatical errors. Certainly not enough to detract from the story, I'm just persnickety. If the author reads this review, I would happily be an advance reader for you.
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December 9, 2023I read the first in this boxset only a short while ago, but I realized I'd lost track of some of the details regarding these five women.
I was a bit surprised at times by the occasional harshness of tone between Kelli and Alice.. There was some of that sometimes between the other women but it's obviously not all love and roses all the time.
And I am curious to understand better what Kelli's anxiety, especially about her son concerns - did something actually happen to him or is she just hyper anxious? or did something happen to her? Did I miss the explanation or is that coming in a future book? At anyrate she seems the strangest of the bunch to me.
I do find these entertaining and am grateful to bookbub for the freebie.
I was a bit surprised at times by the occasional harshness of tone between Kelli and Alice.. There was some of that sometimes between the other women but it's obviously not all love and roses all the time.
And I am curious to understand better what Kelli's anxiety, especially about her son concerns - did something actually happen to him or is she just hyper anxious? or did something happen to her? Did I miss the explanation or is that coming in a future book? At anyrate she seems the strangest of the bunch to me.
I do find these entertaining and am grateful to bookbub for the freebie.
December 15, 2023
Five ladies, whom all grew up together and shared a bond through being involved in a group in their younger days have shared a summer sand pact to get together each year. Their lives have changed and most have moved away but the bond between them remains, even if they dont talk often.
They reinvigorate their summer sand pact and find that the bonds of friendship are more important than they anticipated and as the story progresses each of the five realises its ok to let the others in again.
This is a wonderful story of friendship, family and the test of bonds during trying times.
I listened to the audio version of this book which was well narrated and had me sucked into the story from the start. I cant wait to read book three.
They reinvigorate their summer sand pact and find that the bonds of friendship are more important than they anticipated and as the story progresses each of the five realises its ok to let the others in again.
This is a wonderful story of friendship, family and the test of bonds during trying times.
I listened to the audio version of this book which was well narrated and had me sucked into the story from the start. I cant wait to read book three.
July 3, 2023
Not a great book. Needed to read the first in the series to make sense of who/what were the SeaFaring Girls and the many terms like First Right of Refusal, Tell All etc. I found it hard to keep track of who was who, who was divorcing, who had a boyfriend, who had a surprise brother etc. Good premise that these friends would meet in the summer to renew their friendships and support one another. Somehow there were so many stories going on, I just found it confusing. Also, the strongest female, Alice, becomes so needy and teary - just didn’t seem to jibe well with this strong character. Not for me. Was glad when it was over.
May 17, 2025
It was just very boring and slow! There was no drama or action or anything that made the story about five women interesting! I think the lack of plot and too many characters are to blame. There is a lack of direction and with so many characters coming into the picture at once its hard to keep up who is who.
I saw this mentioned by two other reviewers and that is the fact that the book is a chick lit or womens fiction but men have the centrehold of the characters and I feel like we get less of their friendship and just have the focus be on the fact that they can just about function due to their failed relationships.
I had to give this one up!!!
I saw this mentioned by two other reviewers and that is the fact that the book is a chick lit or womens fiction but men have the centrehold of the characters and I feel like we get less of their friendship and just have the focus be on the fact that they can just about function due to their failed relationships.
I had to give this one up!!!
February 12, 2021
Continuation of lots of technical errors and slow...
I read the prequel and book 1 for this series, and I had hoped that book 2 would be better; however, it is not. I'm on chapter 6 and the same technical errors continue in this story, only now the author has taken Kelli and made her neurotic so they can all fawn over her because her unknown half-brother showed up to introduce himself. I truly cannot take anymore of this series and will be returning this book for a refund on Amazon.
I cannot recommend this series or this author to anyone.
I read the prequel and book 1 for this series, and I had hoped that book 2 would be better; however, it is not. I'm on chapter 6 and the same technical errors continue in this story, only now the author has taken Kelli and made her neurotic so they can all fawn over her because her unknown half-brother showed up to introduce himself. I truly cannot take anymore of this series and will be returning this book for a refund on Amazon.
I cannot recommend this series or this author to anyone.
July 20, 2021
Love the store lines of these ladies ,and the the support and love they offer one anther .the characters
Are really developed true to life not one single one is perfect ,they each have inner demons and real life issues that they deal with.I love how the friendships are written like real life to they get angry with each other but always work through it. There were some errors that proofreader missed but nothing drastic. Also I love how there is underlying love stories but it's not filled with over sexualized innuendo .
Are really developed true to life not one single one is perfect ,they each have inner demons and real life issues that they deal with.I love how the friendships are written like real life to they get angry with each other but always work through it. There were some errors that proofreader missed but nothing drastic. Also I love how there is underlying love stories but it's not filled with over sexualized innuendo .
April 19, 2022
Alice
Book two follows on 2 months later.still following the five girls,Alice calls them all to her house for a two week holiday break. I feel that parkers mum is silly to not see what Julian is up to and why is she signing herself up to debts she doesn't work for him? She is taken out loans for God knows what? Plus why can't she just get back to work in the shop? Doesn't have to sign it over, she knows her husband is cheating with tiff she needs a income, if she leaves him (when)
Book two follows on 2 months later.still following the five girls,Alice calls them all to her house for a two week holiday break. I feel that parkers mum is silly to not see what Julian is up to and why is she signing herself up to debts she doesn't work for him? She is taken out loans for God knows what? Plus why can't she just get back to work in the shop? Doesn't have to sign it over, she knows her husband is cheating with tiff she needs a income, if she leaves him (when)
April 25, 2025
I had a 10 hour drive and needed something! I didn’t realize this was part of a series.
There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and what’s with an “AJ” dating a “DJ” and then mentioning a “JJ”. With ALL the names in the world can we out more thought into it?
Also wondering what the author had against alcohol? I have never heard the word “mocktail” used SO much in one story. I think one paragraph had 13 mocktail references. Sheesh
Other than that the story just sat there. Just friends sharing a week together.
There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and what’s with an “AJ” dating a “DJ” and then mentioning a “JJ”. With ALL the names in the world can we out more thought into it?
Also wondering what the author had against alcohol? I have never heard the word “mocktail” used SO much in one story. I think one paragraph had 13 mocktail references. Sheesh
Other than that the story just sat there. Just friends sharing a week together.
July 12, 2025
I love the way these five childhood friends continue to support each other throughout life's difficulties. And the fact that these stories are located on various islands makes it all the more enjoyable to me, never having lived near water. In this story, Alice was the principal character and the challenges she faced while starting her life over after 20 years. But we also learned more about Robin, Emily, Kelli and AJ, and even got to spend some time with Kristen at the lighthouse! A great read.
July 20, 2021
Challenges
Every day we face a challenge or two especially if you're married and have children and maybe a job and a home to run. Being able to communicate with the people in your life is very important to your happiness and piece of mind. The summer sand pact was all about this communication and feeling good about yourself and your place in the world. It was a great read that explored all these things.
Every day we face a challenge or two especially if you're married and have children and maybe a job and a home to run. Being able to communicate with the people in your life is very important to your happiness and piece of mind. The summer sand pact was all about this communication and feeling good about yourself and your place in the world. It was a great read that explored all these things.
September 4, 2022
I had a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Alice Kelton has decided to divorce her cheating husband, and move with her children to their summer home in Five Island Cove. She also invites her four best friends to the Cove for a reunion they have promised to attend. Her life and the lives of her friends the central theme of this book. An interesting and touching book.
June 6, 2023
Easy Read
This book is real nice and teaches us what friendship is all about, many think a friend agrees with the other friend, just to make them happy; but a real friend is that person that tells you “how it really is” thus taking a chance of breaking that chain of friendship.
I truly enjoyed the book, and look forwards to the “rest of the story” Paul Harvey still being missed by me.
This book is real nice and teaches us what friendship is all about, many think a friend agrees with the other friend, just to make them happy; but a real friend is that person that tells you “how it really is” thus taking a chance of breaking that chain of friendship.
I truly enjoyed the book, and look forwards to the “rest of the story” Paul Harvey still being missed by me.
September 10, 2023
I did not realize that this was a sequel. The gist of the plot is that when these five girls were in high school in this island town they had made a pact to return every year to renew their friendships. Well apparently that did not happen. So now approaching their mid 40s and all in midlife crisis mode they get together for 2 weeks at Alice's palatial home. A silly chick lit book. Not even a good one. Shallow characters, none apparently independent. Skippable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews