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Eliot's Corner, Maine #2
A Summer Love Affair
Summer in Maine means breezy, sun-kissed beach days, golden evenings, and, in bestselling author Holly Chamberlin’s irresistible novels, a time for self-discovery and surprising connections . . .
Sometimes you sense something, deep inside, long before it’s proven true. Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child . . .
Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Hugh, who Petra believed to be her dad, was a good-natured but self-centered, blustering man. He and Chris seemed to have little in common, though their friendship was genuine. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
Over the course of two summers, decades apart, romance will be kindled and rekindled, life-altering decisions made, and secrets of the heart will come to light at last.
Sometimes you sense something, deep inside, long before it’s proven true. Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child . . .
Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Hugh, who Petra believed to be her dad, was a good-natured but self-centered, blustering man. He and Chris seemed to have little in common, though their friendship was genuine. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
Over the course of two summers, decades apart, romance will be kindled and rekindled, life-altering decisions made, and secrets of the heart will come to light at last.
- GenresRomanceFamily Drama
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2022
46 people are currently reading
282 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 14, 2022
EXCERPT: Elizabeth stepped through the back door and into the kitchen. She was fond of the house, but it was far too big for one person, and she was growing tired of living there. For many years - all the years of her marriage and the ones after Hugh's passing - it had been her home. The house had witnessed familial happiness as well as domestic strife; it had listened to the wailing of babies, the babbling of toddlers, the whining of adolescents; it had seen tears of sorrow and of joy; it had enjoyed the laughter of a family who genuinely cared about one another. Still, it might be good to start fresh all around now that she was being forced to give up her career.
To retire. Definition: to withdraw. To fall back. To take out of circulation. To go to bed.
But Elizabeth didn't want to fall back. She wasn't ready to withdraw from an active role in the world, or,at least, her small part of the world. This forced retirement from her teaching career was almost as big a change in her life as Hugh's death had been. Suddenly, at the age of sixty-two, she found herself poised at the threshold of a new phase of her life, and she was scared, not so much of what challenges the future might bring as her ability to successfully meet those challenges.
ABOUT 'A SUMMER LOVE AFFAIR': Sometimes you sense something, deep inside, long before it’s proven true. Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child . . .
Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Hugh, who Petra believed to be her dad, was a good-natured but self-centered, blustering man. He and Chris seemed to have little in common, though their friendship was genuine. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
Over the course of two summers, decades apart, romance will be kindled and rekindled, life-altering decisions made, and secrets of the heart will come to light at last.
MY THOUGHTS: I loved the opening chapter of A Summer Love Affair and prepared to settle down and fall in love with the characters and their story. I loved the setting. I was excited! I liked Elizabeth's character.
But then Petra comes home . . . and secrets are revealed. Which is fine. But I really had problems with Petra's character. She, in her mother's eyes, is generally forgiving and understanding, empathetic and sympathetic. But honestly? I just didn't like her. She thinks that she is happy doing what she is doing, running an on-line vintage clothing store, but she lets everyone else's opinions colour her thinking. She doesn't have a business head. She lives from week to week, and has come home to her mother for the summer to save on living costs. There is A LOT of introspection and general whining on her part. I found it tedious and wearing. And then Elizabeth starts second guessing herself. And there's a lot more introspection. How many times do we have to read the same thing over and over again?
All the introspection and dithering and whining spoiled the read for me and I struggled to finish.
⭐⭐
#ASummerLoveAffair #NetGalley
I: #hollychamberlin @kensingtonbooks
T: @HollyChamberlin @KensingtonBooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance
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 A Summer Love Affair by Holly Chamberlin 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 is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
To retire. Definition: to withdraw. To fall back. To take out of circulation. To go to bed.
But Elizabeth didn't want to fall back. She wasn't ready to withdraw from an active role in the world, or,at least, her small part of the world. This forced retirement from her teaching career was almost as big a change in her life as Hugh's death had been. Suddenly, at the age of sixty-two, she found herself poised at the threshold of a new phase of her life, and she was scared, not so much of what challenges the future might bring as her ability to successfully meet those challenges.
ABOUT 'A SUMMER LOVE AFFAIR': Sometimes you sense something, deep inside, long before it’s proven true. Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child . . .
Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Hugh, who Petra believed to be her dad, was a good-natured but self-centered, blustering man. He and Chris seemed to have little in common, though their friendship was genuine. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
Over the course of two summers, decades apart, romance will be kindled and rekindled, life-altering decisions made, and secrets of the heart will come to light at last.
MY THOUGHTS: I loved the opening chapter of A Summer Love Affair and prepared to settle down and fall in love with the characters and their story. I loved the setting. I was excited! I liked Elizabeth's character.
But then Petra comes home . . . and secrets are revealed. Which is fine. But I really had problems with Petra's character. She, in her mother's eyes, is generally forgiving and understanding, empathetic and sympathetic. But honestly? I just didn't like her. She thinks that she is happy doing what she is doing, running an on-line vintage clothing store, but she lets everyone else's opinions colour her thinking. She doesn't have a business head. She lives from week to week, and has come home to her mother for the summer to save on living costs. There is A LOT of introspection and general whining on her part. I found it tedious and wearing. And then Elizabeth starts second guessing herself. And there's a lot more introspection. How many times do we have to read the same thing over and over again?
All the introspection and dithering and whining spoiled the read for me and I struggled to finish.
⭐⭐
#ASummerLoveAffair #NetGalley
I: #hollychamberlin @kensingtonbooks
T: @HollyChamberlin @KensingtonBooks
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance
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 A Summer Love Affair by Holly Chamberlin 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 is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 23, 2025
Elizabeth has lived with a secret about Petra, the youngest of her three daughters. Then when Petra finds an old diary written by her mother and Elizabeth’s wedding dress from her marriage to Hugh, it all starts to unravel. Elizabeth feels compelled to disclose the truth to her three adult daughters that Petra is not her late husband’s child but the result of an affair with Chris, Hugh’s best friend. This happened in 1991. Will Petra forgive her for her wrongdoing and her years of silence? And will Petra want to connect with her father who, to date, doesn’t know she exists. A tale of lies and more lies.
Some of this story’s themes echoed that of the previous book I read. Themes of deception and betrayal . But the biggest difference is, this book is not as dark and I cared more about these characters. Although prickly, judgemental Jess was hard to like.
The novel explored the deception, the guilt, the relationships between family members well, though it did become repetitive at times and go on too long.. So not a perfect read, but it did mostly keep me interested.
Elizabeth has lived with a secret about Petra, the youngest of her three daughters. Then when Petra finds an old diary written by her mother and Elizabeth’s wedding dress from her marriage to Hugh, it all starts to unravel. Elizabeth feels compelled to disclose the truth to her three adult daughters that Petra is not her late husband’s child but the result of an affair with Chris, Hugh’s best friend. This happened in 1991. Will Petra forgive her for her wrongdoing and her years of silence? And will Petra want to connect with her father who, to date, doesn’t know she exists. A tale of lies and more lies.
Some of this story’s themes echoed that of the previous book I read. Themes of deception and betrayal . But the biggest difference is, this book is not as dark and I cared more about these characters. Although prickly, judgemental Jess was hard to like.
The novel explored the deception, the guilt, the relationships between family members well, though it did become repetitive at times and go on too long.. So not a perfect read, but it did mostly keep me interested.
April 30, 2022
Petra Quirk always had a feeling as if something was missing from her life. When she returns to her childhood home and finds her mother’s diary, everything falls into place. Decades ago Petra’s mother, Elizabeth, had an affair with her husband’s best friend, Chris. So Petra learns that Chris is actually her biological father. Her mother kept this a secret. Now Petra is determined to learn the full story.
This was an interesting story from expert author, Holly Chamberlin. The writing in this book was superb and I will likely look into this author’s back catalogue in the future. This is book 2 of the “Eliot’s Corner, Maine” series which I read as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was an interesting story from expert author, Holly Chamberlin. The writing in this book was superb and I will likely look into this author’s back catalogue in the future. This is book 2 of the “Eliot’s Corner, Maine” series which I read as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
May 9, 2022
This is my first book by Holly Chamberlin and I enjoyed it. Set in beautiful Maine, Elizabeth who was married to Hugh but now is a widow. She had a “fling” with his best friend Chris many years ago and no one knows. Elizabeth has 3 grown daughters and one of them, Petra comes to stay with her for a summer. While Petra is visiting, she finds her mom’s old diary. What secrets lie within the diary? Does Petra read her moms old diary or does she even tell her mom she found it? What do they find out if anything? I enjoyed all the characters in this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
Read
May 6, 2022With Netgalley I try to pick books I am certain I will really like so I can always provide good ratings. Holly Chamberlin has always been an author whose books I enjoy so I chose to request A Summer Love Affair. This book however, wasn’t up to Chamberlin’s usual pleasure reading that I have come to expect.
What I did really enjoy was how the author made the reader understand the side of person’s story when they have done something that society or themselves have deemed wrong. The honest perspective of a woman who had done the wrong deed. Chamberlain also allowed the reader to see the importance of having choices in life versus just being put into a situation or pressured into a situation.
However, the book to me was very predictable and repetitive.
Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to provide an honest review on an author who I really do enjoy reading.
What I did really enjoy was how the author made the reader understand the side of person’s story when they have done something that society or themselves have deemed wrong. The honest perspective of a woman who had done the wrong deed. Chamberlain also allowed the reader to see the importance of having choices in life versus just being put into a situation or pressured into a situation.
However, the book to me was very predictable and repetitive.
Thank you @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the opportunity to provide an honest review on an author who I really do enjoy reading.
May 30, 2022
A Summer Love Affair goes back and forth between present and past for Elizabeth, a widowed mother of 3. While I loved the charming descriptions of Eliot's Corner, I felt the story overall was a miss. Elizabeth's relationships with her daughters felt weird and the interactions just seemed a bit off to me. I wanted to love this book, but it was not the summer romance I was hoping for.
March 8, 2022
Diving into the first chapter, readers are 'shore' to discover a beach read with substance. While the love affair might seem commonplace today, when Elizabeth and Hugh wed it was considered scandalous especially in their circles. Looking longingly at Chris for a last goodbye, Elizabeth pledged her love to Hugh while knowing that she carried a torch for his best friend.
A summer romance, reawakened their feelings and the affair resulted in Elizabeth's youngest child, Petra. Due to guilt and her husband's cancer, the lovers distanced themselves and life continued. Years after Hugh 's death, Petra finds a diary that threatens to spill Elizabeth's secrets.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #ASummerLoveAffair in exchange for an honest review. The novel can be read as a standalone or as part of the Summer Love series. The relationship between Elizabeth and her children I felt was a greater love affair than with Chris. While I knew she loved him, Elizabeth loved her children more.
When the waves threaten to topple her life, Elizabeth is feeling adrift. Is it time to reveal the truth or will her revelation leave Petra and her siblings casting Elizabeth as the villain wrecking their world? Will seeing Chris again provide a second chance for romance?
A summer romance, reawakened their feelings and the affair resulted in Elizabeth's youngest child, Petra. Due to guilt and her husband's cancer, the lovers distanced themselves and life continued. Years after Hugh 's death, Petra finds a diary that threatens to spill Elizabeth's secrets.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #ASummerLoveAffair in exchange for an honest review. The novel can be read as a standalone or as part of the Summer Love series. The relationship between Elizabeth and her children I felt was a greater love affair than with Chris. While I knew she loved him, Elizabeth loved her children more.
When the waves threaten to topple her life, Elizabeth is feeling adrift. Is it time to reveal the truth or will her revelation leave Petra and her siblings casting Elizabeth as the villain wrecking their world? Will seeing Chris again provide a second chance for romance?
September 26, 2022
Ehh this book was okay. While there was a “plot twist”, you kind of knew what it was before it was said and then it felt the book just dragged on. It didn’t really keep me super interested and I felt I was reading it to just read. I’m not sure that I like how this author writes.
June 28, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of a Summary Love Affair. This review reflects my own thoughts and opinions.
Elizabeth has three grown daughters and was recently forced into retirement as a schoolteacher. Plus, she is dealing with the recent death of her husband, Hugh. Overall, her world is a little unsettled.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Petra, decides to come home for the summer. As we get to know Petra, you get the sense that she has always felt like a lost soul and that maybe she didn’t fit in anywhere. One day, while searching through the attic, she stumbles across her mother’s wedding dress and a diary which she presents to her mother. These found items seem to create angst in Elizabeth’s as her past comes crashing back. What we learn is that Petra is not Hugh’s biological daughter but rather the result of an affair with Hugh’s best friend, Chris – a secret that she has kept her entire married life.
Elizabeth decides she needs to come clean with the secret and shares it with her children. Although her children are upset by this information, Petra decides to take her future in her own hands and meets and begins to build a relationship with her biological father.
The remainder of the story deals with how Elizabeth, Petra and the two daughters deal with the situation and their various emotions. What I really like about this book is that it dealt with messy situations, as dynamics are in most families. However, the drama was limited, and it explored family relationships in an open, honest, and reasonable manner. Overall, the characters treated each other with dignity and respect and took ownership for their actions. It was a very refreshing summer read.
Elizabeth has three grown daughters and was recently forced into retirement as a schoolteacher. Plus, she is dealing with the recent death of her husband, Hugh. Overall, her world is a little unsettled.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Petra, decides to come home for the summer. As we get to know Petra, you get the sense that she has always felt like a lost soul and that maybe she didn’t fit in anywhere. One day, while searching through the attic, she stumbles across her mother’s wedding dress and a diary which she presents to her mother. These found items seem to create angst in Elizabeth’s as her past comes crashing back. What we learn is that Petra is not Hugh’s biological daughter but rather the result of an affair with Hugh’s best friend, Chris – a secret that she has kept her entire married life.
Elizabeth decides she needs to come clean with the secret and shares it with her children. Although her children are upset by this information, Petra decides to take her future in her own hands and meets and begins to build a relationship with her biological father.
The remainder of the story deals with how Elizabeth, Petra and the two daughters deal with the situation and their various emotions. What I really like about this book is that it dealt with messy situations, as dynamics are in most families. However, the drama was limited, and it explored family relationships in an open, honest, and reasonable manner. Overall, the characters treated each other with dignity and respect and took ownership for their actions. It was a very refreshing summer read.
June 25, 2022
This book, at 78...yes SEVENTY EIGHT chapters, was a bit daunting to start. Did I really want to commit my limited reading time to this book? I'd never read this author before,. Would the book be fabulous, or would I stumble to the end just glad it was done? For me, it was a bit of both.
Elizabeth is the widowed mother of 3 daughters, who has been 'retired' by the school district she's taught at for years. Cam, the oldest, is doubting her husbands loyalty to her with a family friend, who also happens to be an old girlfriend. Jess, the middle child, is always angry or fed up with her boyfriend or pissed at her erstwhile business partner who flakes when Jess needs her the most. Petra the youngest, is in transition, working her online vintage clothing store but not really feeling the love for the job any longer.
All these women, as you can tell, have issues at the beginning of the book. Adding to their problems, is the secret that Elizabeth feels the need to share with her children. While the secret Elizabeth has been hiding effects only one of her children in a very direct way, the knowledge that their parent has kept this secret from them for decades, touches each of them differently. Learning that parents you thought were rock solid can be fallible, launches each daughter into looking deeper into their own lives.
There is resolution for each daughter and for Elizabeth. The book can be read as a standalone.
Seventy eight chapters? It probably could have been shorter. Sometimes the book was wordy and the descriptions were drawn out, but on the whole, it worked. I'm glad I read it.
Elizabeth is the widowed mother of 3 daughters, who has been 'retired' by the school district she's taught at for years. Cam, the oldest, is doubting her husbands loyalty to her with a family friend, who also happens to be an old girlfriend. Jess, the middle child, is always angry or fed up with her boyfriend or pissed at her erstwhile business partner who flakes when Jess needs her the most. Petra the youngest, is in transition, working her online vintage clothing store but not really feeling the love for the job any longer.
All these women, as you can tell, have issues at the beginning of the book. Adding to their problems, is the secret that Elizabeth feels the need to share with her children. While the secret Elizabeth has been hiding effects only one of her children in a very direct way, the knowledge that their parent has kept this secret from them for decades, touches each of them differently. Learning that parents you thought were rock solid can be fallible, launches each daughter into looking deeper into their own lives.
There is resolution for each daughter and for Elizabeth. The book can be read as a standalone.
Seventy eight chapters? It probably could have been shorter. Sometimes the book was wordy and the descriptions were drawn out, but on the whole, it worked. I'm glad I read it.
July 3, 2022
Petra is at a crossroads in her life. She decides to spend some time with her mother in the quaint town she grew up in. Petra's mom shares a secret with Petra and ger sisters that changes her life. This book was well written and I cant wait to read her next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
A novel about a woman who tells her three grown daughters a secret that forever changes their lives especially the youngest. The book was an easy read.
July 23, 2024
4.5 stars. This is such a good book. I had hours to fill on the ride home from vacation and I’m so glad, because I couldn’t put it down. I love the family dynamic, and of course it’s set in Maine. The title almost pushed me away, and I’m glad I didn’t judge you quickly. A perfect summer read.
June 8, 2022
A Summer Love Affair is an engaging story of how four women learn to cope with a long buried secret that changes everything they thought they knew.
Elizabeth has finally come to relate the biological father of her youngest daughter, Petra. There was never a doubt that her father, Hugh, was not her true father. Elizabeth had had a short lived affair with Chris, her husband’s best friend who she always loved even though she married Hugh. The relating of the affair affects her daughters in ways relative to their personalities. Petra is searching for her purpose and finding and getting to know her father is what she needs. Cam has marriage struggles of her own and is more grounded in the secret and in her advice. Jess is a no gray area woman and feels betrayed by her mother’s affair. Elizabeth is hopeful the revelation will not permanently change her relationships with her daughters. The story is an examination of the interactions between mothers and daughters when life is not all it seems to be.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Elizabeth has finally come to relate the biological father of her youngest daughter, Petra. There was never a doubt that her father, Hugh, was not her true father. Elizabeth had had a short lived affair with Chris, her husband’s best friend who she always loved even though she married Hugh. The relating of the affair affects her daughters in ways relative to their personalities. Petra is searching for her purpose and finding and getting to know her father is what she needs. Cam has marriage struggles of her own and is more grounded in the secret and in her advice. Jess is a no gray area woman and feels betrayed by her mother’s affair. Elizabeth is hopeful the revelation will not permanently change her relationships with her daughters. The story is an examination of the interactions between mothers and daughters when life is not all it seems to be.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2022
The quaint seaside town of Eliot’s Corner, Maine is the setting for an emotional story of one woman’s search for who she really was which led her to uncover a secret diary and a long-forgotten wedding dress. Petra Quirk returned home for the summer to see her family, relax and reevaluate her life. I admired her love of vintage collectibles and her online store where she sells her treasures. It wasn't as exciting as it used to be, and Petra hoped time at the beach would help her decide which path to take next. Petra was tempted to read her mother’s diary, but she decided it wasn’t any of her business, but she would soon find out it had everything to do with her.
While Petra was dwelling on her role in life, her mom Elizabeth was saddened by the loss of her job which only made her wistful for her younger self. She had a secret that had been hidden for years and she felt now was the time to come clean about her summer love affair. Elizabeth’s wistfulness was triggered by memories of her past; her wedding gown, her diary and a song that she shared with someone special. Her mind was filled with questions she didn’t have answers for. Can you ever really leave the past behind? What if it comes back and gives you a second chance at love? Should you throw caution to the wind and wrap your heart around the man you never forgot? Elizabeth loves her daughters fiercely, but she also has room in her heart to love Chris (not that she ever stopped loving him). There were many things that reminded her of Chris and the summer of 1991, and she remembered them as if it was yesterday. The melody of a song, late nights sharing hopes and dreams and the gentle touch of a truly remarkable man. Divulging her secret would change all of their lives, but especially Petra’s.
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved! The beautiful coast of Maine, the drama between Petra and her sisters and Elizabeth’s second chance at love. The author definitely invites the reader into the story, and I felt that I too, was lounging at the beach, having lunch with Petra and sitting on the couch with the sisters as Elizabeth found the strength to share her story of that special summer. Even though her news upset them, in the end, it brought them closer together and everyone got their happy ending.
While Petra was dwelling on her role in life, her mom Elizabeth was saddened by the loss of her job which only made her wistful for her younger self. She had a secret that had been hidden for years and she felt now was the time to come clean about her summer love affair. Elizabeth’s wistfulness was triggered by memories of her past; her wedding gown, her diary and a song that she shared with someone special. Her mind was filled with questions she didn’t have answers for. Can you ever really leave the past behind? What if it comes back and gives you a second chance at love? Should you throw caution to the wind and wrap your heart around the man you never forgot? Elizabeth loves her daughters fiercely, but she also has room in her heart to love Chris (not that she ever stopped loving him). There were many things that reminded her of Chris and the summer of 1991, and she remembered them as if it was yesterday. The melody of a song, late nights sharing hopes and dreams and the gentle touch of a truly remarkable man. Divulging her secret would change all of their lives, but especially Petra’s.
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved! The beautiful coast of Maine, the drama between Petra and her sisters and Elizabeth’s second chance at love. The author definitely invites the reader into the story, and I felt that I too, was lounging at the beach, having lunch with Petra and sitting on the couch with the sisters as Elizabeth found the strength to share her story of that special summer. Even though her news upset them, in the end, it brought them closer together and everyone got their happy ending.
July 11, 2022
I love reading Holly Chamberlin’s books during the summer. It makes me feel like I am in Maine on the coast and enjoying a sun drenched day at the beach. This novel offered that warm feel of the summer sun, the constant changing of the water and tides, and the sureness that the ocean was still moving. For me the book, although not full of action and suspense, held my attention and made me want to know how it all ended. I have to admit, I could have figured out the end on my own, but I wanted to see how the author brought it to a conclusion.
Elizabeth and her three daughters are all questioning themselves and their futures this summer. Each is having a crisis of what’s next while managing to connect with each other. The book is one of long talks and reflections, feelings and questions. Elizabeth has lost her teaching position after many years and is uncertain what is next for her. She also has a secret that needs to be revealed to her daughters. Jess, while being prickly and negative, is at a juncture in her life where she needs to make some decisions about her boyfriend and her job. Petra feels like she is just floating through life with no course of action. Cam is doubting her husband’s love and commitment to their marriage. While all this is going on in the present, the book also visits the summer of Elizabeth’s secret and we meet another character Chris.
The book is like a slow reveal of what is going to happen.The story does meander at times, as each character reflects upon their current crisis. I enjoyed the characters, despite my dislike of the caustic nature of Jess. A Summer Love Affair by Holly Chamberlin was an interesting read.
Elizabeth and her three daughters are all questioning themselves and their futures this summer. Each is having a crisis of what’s next while managing to connect with each other. The book is one of long talks and reflections, feelings and questions. Elizabeth has lost her teaching position after many years and is uncertain what is next for her. She also has a secret that needs to be revealed to her daughters. Jess, while being prickly and negative, is at a juncture in her life where she needs to make some decisions about her boyfriend and her job. Petra feels like she is just floating through life with no course of action. Cam is doubting her husband’s love and commitment to their marriage. While all this is going on in the present, the book also visits the summer of Elizabeth’s secret and we meet another character Chris.
The book is like a slow reveal of what is going to happen.The story does meander at times, as each character reflects upon their current crisis. I enjoyed the characters, despite my dislike of the caustic nature of Jess. A Summer Love Affair by Holly Chamberlin was an interesting read.
June 24, 2022
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child...Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
I have to admit, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have some of the other books this author has written. It moved very slowly, and there just didn't seem to be much of a plot at all, once Petra discovered Chris was her biological father. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Elizabeth & Chris, and I couldn't stand Jess (one of Petra's sisters). Her constant put-downs of Petra and Elizabeth got on my last nerve. Overall is was an ok story, just not great.
Thirty-year-old Petra Quirk has always felt as if a vital element of her life is missing. It’s not until she moves back to the small town of Eliot’s Corner for the summer that she learns why. Rummaging in the attic, Petra comes across a diary. The discovery prompts her mother, Elizabeth, to make a confession to her three daughters. Decades ago, she fell in love with her husband’s best friend, Chris—and Petra is Chris’s child...Elizabeth ended the affair before she learned she was pregnant, and Chris has no idea he’s a father. Elizabeth loved Chris deeply yet refused to tear her family apart. Even since Hugh’s death, she’s resisted contacting Chris. But Petra, floundering and unsure of her path, is compelled to search out her biological father, though she knows it will complicate her relationship with her family.
I have to admit, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have some of the other books this author has written. It moved very slowly, and there just didn't seem to be much of a plot at all, once Petra discovered Chris was her biological father. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Elizabeth & Chris, and I couldn't stand Jess (one of Petra's sisters). Her constant put-downs of Petra and Elizabeth got on my last nerve. Overall is was an ok story, just not great.
June 24, 2022
I have mixed feelings about this book, I loved the authors style of writing and the idea of the story she was trying to weave but for me it was too long and too in-depth . I found myself skimming over certain parts near the end. The story started off well telling the stories of 4 women, mom and her 3 daughters who are all struggling with secrets or situations in their lives that are causing them to reevaluate or confront so they can all move on or accept what life has thrown at them. It’s a story of love lost, love found, coming of age, finding oneself, reevaluating what one has and lost. I do love the authors style of writing her words on paper are beautifully written.
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own . I would still encourage others to read this book and I think my book club would find a lot to discuss after reading it .
I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own . I would still encourage others to read this book and I think my book club would find a lot to discuss after reading it .
August 17, 2022
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
In this book we come across a mother with 3 daughters, she brings them all together to reveal a huge secret from her past, one that will rock all of their lives.
I thought the storyline sounded really good, and I was really looking forward to it but unfortunately I just found the whole thing too slow, and I just couldn’t get into it.
There was one sister in particular who drove me insane! Not sure she had anything nice to say about anyone.
I really wish I could of loved this but Overall this book just didn’t hit the spot for me.
In this book we come across a mother with 3 daughters, she brings them all together to reveal a huge secret from her past, one that will rock all of their lives.
I thought the storyline sounded really good, and I was really looking forward to it but unfortunately I just found the whole thing too slow, and I just couldn’t get into it.
There was one sister in particular who drove me insane! Not sure she had anything nice to say about anyone.
I really wish I could of loved this but Overall this book just didn’t hit the spot for me.
October 5, 2022
Finally, I’m finished with this book. I was not a fan of it at all. I feel like this story was not accurate as to how a family would handle the situation presented at all! No one was angry, no one seemed genuinely hurt, no emotion seemed to be shared at all. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
February 17, 2023
I started out really liking this book, almost to the point of not being able to put it down. However, little more than halfway through, I started to feel differently. I gave a 4 because you can't do a 3.5 star. The last Holly Chamberlin book I read I gave 3 stars and, I think this one was better than that one.
The overall story is of an affair being admitted, and a child finding out who her real father is. In the beginning, I really enjoyed Holly Chamberlain's stories of how Elizabeth and Christopher met, and how their affair began. Even bits of their affair here and there, until their eventually split up. I did not mind the back and forth between present and past either because I felt it was important for the story to understand what Elizabeth and Christopher had felt for each other, and how they did not think it could continue more than it did then.
The thing I found though was, like I said, little more than halfway through, I started to grow bored with the story. I felt like it was drug out too much. 400 pages but I thought it could have been cut down to 300 or less. The whole idea of whether Petra would ever meet her real father seemed to drag. Then it was dragging through their limited time getting to know each other, and the Christopher coming back into Elizabeth's life. I was also disappointed that, after years and years apart, Christopher and Elizabeth just picked back up. I guess I was looking for more romance in it, some over the top declaration of feelings. In my own opinion, Elizabeth and Christopher coming back together was more like they were saying, "we should be together because we have a child together". I found it unromantic for two people who apparently were soulmates. One part I was really missing was exactly why Hugh, Elizabeth's husband was not such a great guy. It was suggested a few times why Elizabeth had an affair, spoiler, she was unhappy in her marriage but, why was she so unhappy? What kind of person was Hugh? What kind of husband and father was he? That part of the story was severely lacking for me.
In the end, I did enjoy the book, even if I started to skip parts in the end to get through the unnecessary parts to get to the real ending of the story.
The overall story is of an affair being admitted, and a child finding out who her real father is. In the beginning, I really enjoyed Holly Chamberlain's stories of how Elizabeth and Christopher met, and how their affair began. Even bits of their affair here and there, until their eventually split up. I did not mind the back and forth between present and past either because I felt it was important for the story to understand what Elizabeth and Christopher had felt for each other, and how they did not think it could continue more than it did then.
The thing I found though was, like I said, little more than halfway through, I started to grow bored with the story. I felt like it was drug out too much. 400 pages but I thought it could have been cut down to 300 or less. The whole idea of whether Petra would ever meet her real father seemed to drag. Then it was dragging through their limited time getting to know each other, and the Christopher coming back into Elizabeth's life. I was also disappointed that, after years and years apart, Christopher and Elizabeth just picked back up. I guess I was looking for more romance in it, some over the top declaration of feelings. In my own opinion, Elizabeth and Christopher coming back together was more like they were saying, "we should be together because we have a child together". I found it unromantic for two people who apparently were soulmates. One part I was really missing was exactly why Hugh, Elizabeth's husband was not such a great guy. It was suggested a few times why Elizabeth had an affair, spoiler, she was unhappy in her marriage but, why was she so unhappy? What kind of person was Hugh? What kind of husband and father was he? That part of the story was severely lacking for me.
In the end, I did enjoy the book, even if I started to skip parts in the end to get through the unnecessary parts to get to the real ending of the story.
July 11, 2022
In A Summer Love Affair author Holly Chamberlin takes her readers back to the small coastal Maine town, Eliot’s Corner. Although characters do overlap from prior visits to this delightful town, this is definitely a stand alone story.
Widowed nine years ago and recently put out to pasture when the school where she had taught relocates and doesn’t need as many teachers, Elizabeth Quirk is having a bit of an identity crisis. Her bohemian youngest daughter, Petra returns home for the summer, also at loose ends. Her middle daughter, Jessica, though not talkative is clearly dealing with turmoil of her own, as is eldest daughter Camilla. In the disquiet of her mind, the finding of a special diary from 30 years ago, and the stress of a secret too long withheld, Elizabeth reveals her affair from that summer, and the alternate parentage of her youngest daughter, to her three girls.
This story is so well plotted and told with such heart it has taken a few days to let the story settle before I could write about it. Each character is so well drawn. The settings are depicted such you are certain you’ve been there. This disquieting summer may just be the catalyst the characters all need to move forward.
I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
July 4, 2022
Petra is spending the summer with her mother in Maine. Her online vintage boutique doesn't tie her to a place, and she's barely scraping by, so subletting her room in shared space makes sense. Plus, her widowed mother, Elizabeth, has just been downsized out of a job she loves, so might need the extra support.
What both women don't realize is that they're at a crossroads, as are Elizabeth's two other daughters, Jess and Cam. And when Elizabeth shares the bombshell she's been keeping secret for over 30 years, the downfall precipitates major changes for all four women.
This novel offers so many elements I love: Maine setting, vintage business, character over the age of 50. The pacing is occasionally ponderous, but the story makes up for it. This is a delightful women's fiction/family saga blend with a perfect setting. #ASummerLoveAffair #NetGalley
What both women don't realize is that they're at a crossroads, as are Elizabeth's two other daughters, Jess and Cam. And when Elizabeth shares the bombshell she's been keeping secret for over 30 years, the downfall precipitates major changes for all four women.
This novel offers so many elements I love: Maine setting, vintage business, character over the age of 50. The pacing is occasionally ponderous, but the story makes up for it. This is a delightful women's fiction/family saga blend with a perfect setting. #ASummerLoveAffair #NetGalley
March 21, 2022
This is a story about a mother and her three adult girls. Each one seems to be at a crossroad in their life. Their mother, Elizabeth, lives in Maine and the girls reconnect there for the summer. It is a summer of discovering who they are, why they are the way they are, and figuring out what and where do they want to go from here. They also learn about secrets, as they learn one, and also about keeping secrets. The four of them are living their journey and becoming who they are meant to become at this stage in their life. It is a wonderful story.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley.
May 23, 2022
Petra Quirk has always felt that something in her life is missing. When she returns to Eliot’s corner for the summer she discovers her mothers diary which will change her life forever. Her mother Elizabeth confesses that she had an affair and got pregnant. Her dad is Chris who was her dads best friend. Elizabeth tells her that they were in love but ended the relationship. Petra searched for him and contacts him. They meet and decide that they want to build a relationship. Will Elizabeth and Chris rekindle the romance they once had?
Thanks Holly Chamberland and Kensington Publishing for the book
Thanks Holly Chamberland and Kensington Publishing for the book
October 7, 2022
Interesting story about a mom, her daughters., and secrets. This wasn't my favorite book, but then with so many different personalities, I'm not sure if I was meant to really like these people. Families are layered. This book definitely proves that. Secrets are secrets for a reason. Do I really need to know everything about my family history? Will I understand my parents better if I know something they would rather I didn't know? I'm not sure, but if that works for some people, then I'm so glad it works. Perhaps this book was a bit too real for me, or maybe not realistic enough. Anyway, I'm glad I was allowed to read this ARC. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books.
June 11, 2022
How would you feel if you found out at the age of 31 that the man you always believed was your father was not your bio dad? That's the reality facing Petra and her mother Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Hugh but she carried a torch for Chris, his best friend,. There were two daughters and then there is Petra. This moves back and forth between the past and the present to tell both women's stories. Petra wants to know Chris and Elizabeth must reconcile with herself. Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. No surprises but a good read for fans of family drama.
August 17, 2022
The storyline had the potential to be really interesting and it started off interesting but along the way, it became a little predictable and by the end, I didn’t care what happened to the character. It they should have gotten around to the rekindling of the mom and Chris’ relationship much sooner in the storyline. I felt it was rushed and lacked feeling by the time this was introduced in the book. Overall an ok read but I didn’t finish the last chapters because the storyline seemed already played out. Hopefully I didn’t miss some big twist!
June 26, 2022
I like Holly Chamberlain’s books. I did struggle with this one, however. It was very slow paced and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters nor like Any of them. Why the sudden urgency to divulge a secret that has been under wraps for thirty years? Petra’s lack Of ambition and lack of direction drove me crazy. Jess drove me bonkers with her constant nitpicking and Cam seemed very passive.
I just wasn’t crazy about this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance read.
I just wasn’t crazy about this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance read.
July 24, 2022
Love that the book was set in Maine. A beautiful location for a Summer spent with family. 3 adult daughters and their Mother. All at cross roads in their lives, with decisions to be made. Lots of time spent in this book with their inner conversations. A bit slow moving for me. I was looking for more action and more conversations. Just not cup of tea.. I generally like the books by Holly Chamberlin and will continue to read her books though.
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