Summer on Dune Road

by Rachel Cullen

It should have been the best summer of their lives - unfortunately, life doesn’t always go according to plan.

Summer in the Hamptons should be filled with cocktails by the pool, bonfires on the beach, and sunset clam bakes. Instead, Nora, Megan, and Courtney are battling dreadful blind dates, duplicitous roommates, and blackmailing ex-boyfriends.

• Nora recently moved into her newly constructed dream home on Dune Road. She sold her company in a legendary eight-figure deal and now has unlimited time and money to spend however she chooses. But sadly, she’s alienated friends and family on her rise to the top and now finds herself all alone when things may be at their worst.
• Megan has let a dangerous situation spiral out of control and needs a chance to clear her head and regroup. Her plans for a post-graduation trip have fallen apart, and the closest thing she has to a family is inconveniently using the summer to relocate. So, when Megan gets a last-minute offer for a guest house in Westhampton Beach, she jumps at the chance, even though her hostess is a stranger, and it’s only a temporary solution to a persistent problem.
• Courtney just graduated from college and simultaneously lost the two things that defined her – collegiate basketball and her best friend turned boyfriend. She desperately needs a change of scenery to recover and mend her broken heart, which is why Courtney takes the leap when the opportunity to spend two months in the Hamptons falls in her lap, even though the classmate who invited her is barely more than an acquaintance.

When a series of disastrous events transpire, Nora, Megan, and Courtney band together and find solace in their unlikely friendship. While it’s a far cry from the respite they each imagined, this improbable trio may not be too late to enjoy an unforgettable summer on Dune Road.

Genres: Summer, Fiction, Summer Reads, Book Club, Romance, Contemporary

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2022

Reviews

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 2 out of 5]

FINALLYYY finished this one after starting it at the end of May. Just not that good, writing was all over the place and oddly over descriptive at times and also very innocent, but then would randomly try to be more adult-facing? I don’t know how to explain it haha

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Summer On Dune Road
Author: Rachel Cullen
Release Date:  June 16, 2022 Now Available
Also Available on Kindle Unlimited

I love friendship fiction, and Summer On Dune Road set in the Hamptons, is just the perfect beach read we all should be reading right now.

I enjoyed reading about these three women - Nora, Megan, and Courtney, as they overcame life’s unexpected challenges and showed the world their resilience no matter what life threw at them. Cullen wrote characters I resonated with and I was truly invested in their lives, struggles, and betrayals. This was such a heartwarming and poignant read I enjoyed.

[Fiona Tynion · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was almost laughable it was so bad lol. She basically took one character and wrote three boring points of view about her

[Katie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this summer themed novel!! It was so cute and I loved how all of the characters had their own stories. This kinda reminded me of The Bold Type, which I think is why I loved it so much. Three different women all coming together to help one another, it’s a great trope! I also really loved Penny, she was my favorite character. Such a fun novel!

[Taylor Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute wholesome summer read!! Plot wasn’t spectacular but loved reading about summer in the Hamptons.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't the book I was expecting when I downloaded the sample.

It is the story of three women one in her late 30s having just sold her brilliant fitness apparel business for big bucks but lost her hubby in the process who is licking her wounds at her West Hampton beach house

Another is a Stamford grad who is idling between college and grad school in her guest house and the third is a Northwestern Grad who is licking her wounds after a bad breakup with her NFL contender boyfriend and is crashing at a sorority sisters Manse in East Hampton

All three women are out of their elements to some degree

Nora the entrepreneur is dreading dating and is being helped by a deranged match maker
Her house guest, Megan, is struggling to escape a scary stalker ex and Courtney is finding out that her 'friend' has more personalities than days of the week

Megan gets a job as an SAT prep tutor, Courtney gets a job as a hostess. And Nora goes on endless bad dates.

Its really not that interesting

[MeMe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a slow start, the book picked up significantly at the end. I enjoyed getting to know the characters as I learned about their backstories and what brought them to the Hamptons. The summer brings together a group of women from diverse backgrounds. I like how I am able to visualize how the characters interact with each other and how they come to know each other. After a challenging experience, three women try to reset their lives in this book. They might need this brief respite from reality to get their heads back on straight. In my opinion, this is a suitable book for a quick read.

[Kaley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish this book. I got to the 50% mark and still basically nothing had happened at all. I love to binge read a good book in a day or two. I read this book for 5 days and fell asleep or got bored every time. I was forcing myself to pick it back up just for nothing significant to happen, yet again. At half way through a book, there was nothing interesting happening or anything to hook me in to WANT to keep reading.

[Jumping Jax · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m just going to say this just wasn’t my type of book. It really just felt like a sweet valley high story. Are beach reads supposed to be this boring? Literally nothing interesting or significant happens. Almost Dnf’d. Never felt any real connection between any of the characters. Everything was so painfully predictable. Gave an extra star for the dog.

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this. There was barely any plot and it felt like shit I wrote when I was 10. One thing I did like was a character named joel who reminded me a lot of somebody I know and love. I love that name for no particular reason.

[Jane Dennish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Rachel Cullen and I loved it as much as the first book. This is an excellent summer read by an Indie author. I love supporting indie authors, especially this one. If you enjoy books that take place on/near a beach setting, this book is for you. However, the plot does not revolve around the book. It just provides the backdrop for the story of three different women as they navigate their lives one summer in the Hamptons.

Each woman faces different conflicts with love and finding themselves and use their relationships with each other to help them navigate their ways. This is a fast and delightful read!

Thanks so much to Kate Rock Book Tours for including me on this tour!

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect summer read! The Hamptons setting was perfect. The main characters, Nora, Megan and Courtney were all so different and each interesting. I loved how they came together as each was trying to get their lives back on track. I really enjoyed this wonderful, entertaining book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora recently moved into her newly constructed dream home on Dune Road she sold her company in a legendary eight figure deal and now has unlimited time and money to spend however she chooses but sadly she’s alienated friends and family on her rise to the top and now finds herself all alone when things may be at their worst Megan has let a dangerous situation spiral out of control and needs a chance to clear her head and regroup her plans for a post graduation trip have fallen apart and the closest thing she has to a family is inconveniently using the summer to relocate so when Megan gets a last minute offer for a guest house in westhampton beach she jumps at the chance even though her hostess is a stranger and it’s only a temporary solution to a persistent problem Courtney just graduated from college and simultaneously lost the two things that defined her collegiate basketball and her best friend turned boyfriend she desperately needs a change of scenery to recover and mend her broken heart which is why Courtney takes the leap when the opportunity to spend two months in the Hampton falls in her lap even though the classmate who invited her is barely more than an acquaintance
A really enjoyable read loved the characters totally recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun summer read that brings you into the lives of 3 very different women who spend a summer in the Hamptons. I liked all 3 when and were cheering them all on in different ways.

Nora just sold her company but also got divorced. Her big house is finished in the Hamptons with no one to share it with.

Megan came to live in the guesthouse of Nora's house when her summer plans have fallen through. She reluctantly gets a job as an SAT tutor and did not get along with her boss Joel until she comes to understand him better.

Courtney came to the Hamptons to live with a college acquaintance who she hardly knows and she sees a different side of this person that isn't someone she can ever be friends with.

I thought I saw some directions this book might have taken but am actually glad that things turned out the way they did.

[Addie Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light, easy summer read, but it just wasn’t very good to me. There was barely any plot, the ending wrapped up way too abruptly, and the writing style felt like it was for 5th graders. I did enjoy reading about the Hamptons and noticing familiar roads/beaches/restaurants they mentioned!

[Elizabeth Zech · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora finds her house and her heart filled in very unexpected ways.

A summer of sisterhood, bonding, betrayals and changes.

Puppy love is an even sweeter connection than romance.

Love the insights, poignant moments and a bit of drama.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Taylor Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, quick (kinda cheesy) beach. Especially if you have a connection to The Hamptons

[Emily Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sharing a Summer . . .

Three women of various backgrounds are moving ahead in what should have been an exciting adventure preparing for their futures. But each has met with certain setbacks that shake them up. When an opportunity to spend the summer in the Hamptons comes up, the three of them -- Nora, Megan, and Courtney – will deal with their problems and make the best of everything as well as they can. Will this small summer break send them into a more positive scenario when summer is over? It may not be the summer they hoped for, but it could turn out to be a better summer than they expected when they started out.

[Joanna Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! After reading Rachel Cullen's The Last Summer Sister I loved the strong female characters and knew this book would have a strong group of friends. Nora, Megan and Courtney were all very different women at varying stages of their lives but they create such a great bond with each other during that summer. I loved the Hamptons setting too. It's such a fun, summer getaway and each woman used her time there differently. There were lots of different themes in this novel and I appreciated how each theme was thoughtfully interwoven into the story. Bravo!

[Heidi Hennessey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off really good but I found the ending was very rushed. I wish there was more about the 3 women living together

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. I did like it and found it to be a fairly quick read. All three women come from different walks of life. Out of the three women, Nora was the one that took me the longest to form some sort of connection with. Regarding the other two, Megan and Courtney, I would say that Courtney is who I liked the best.

Each woman had her unique charm about her that I did like. The alternating chapters was a smooth transition. I was able to get clear storylines and voices of each woman. This book is a feel-good read. It is one that you will want to pack in your summer bag to read. After reading this book, I do want to check out this author's other books.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect poolside read! I really loved the three MCs and found them all to be super relatable. I loved how they had their individual storylines but they all came together in the end. This was light, breezy and a great book to kick off summer.

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small group of women with diverse life entanglements, come together for the summer. This is a great read about three different women trying to do a hard reset on their lives. Each hoping that this small escape is just what they needed. This was a fast and fun read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ana-Lidia Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read, it was a bit hard at first to keep up with 3 perspectives but some details seemed a little much.

[WeLoveBigBooksAndWeCannotLie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you read any good summer books yet?☀️
I just finished Summer on Dune Road by Rachel Cullen and adored it!💕
Nora, Megan, and Courtney are all spending their summer in the Hamptons. It’s not going as any of them had originally planned. Three very different women who don’t even know each other but end up coming together and finding each other for support.
I always love stories about friendship and this book just made my heart happy!
These women are all in different stages of their lives, but that doesn’t stop them from finding common interests. This was a quick read, I enjoyed every minute of it, and I’m looking forward to reading more of Rachel Cullen’s books!
Thank you @katerockbooktours for this gifted copy!
Summer on Dune Road published on 6/16/22 and you find can it on our Amazon storefront, it’s also available on Kindle Unlimited!🧜🏼‍♀️🌺

[Sherrie Howey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, set in the Hamptons, focuses on 3 women, Nora, Courtney and Megan. Nora is recently divorced and has just sold her successful company and plans to enjoy her beach house for the summer. Megan has recently graduated and through a connection from her ex-stepmother, is staying in Nora's guest house. Courtney is spending the summer at a mansion owned by a college friend's parents.
Courtney and Megan bond as they really don't know people in the Hamptons and Courtney is quite unhappy with the constant party scene that takes place at her friend's house. Nora has been distanced from her friends during her career and is now on the road to reestablish her past friendships as well as to enjoy new relationships.
This was a very light, quick read and perfect for a day at the pool or the beach.

[Melanie Sligh · Rating 5 out of 5]

#SummerOnDuneRoad:

“It seemed like a good idea at the time, But at four in the morning, there are a lot of things that seem like good ideas.”

I really enjoyed The Last Summer Sister when I read it last year. I was pumped to see another tour from @katerockbooktours for @rachelcullenauthor . TLSS is about 3 sisters, and I really liked them all equally. I was hoping there would be some overlapping (y’all know my series heart loves a little connection) and SODD is about 3 unlikely friends, one is Courtney.. the youngest Summer sister!

I liked that all three women had vastly different lives and personalities. They were all in different stages of their life, but they all needed to be there in each other’s life at the right time. I feel like everyone can relate to at least one of the women and have her story resonate with her. There were times where I resonated with Nora and her type-A personality, times when I wanted Courtney to slap Alyssa (I’ll step in for you girl), and times when I wanted to hug Megan. They are all likable and people you WANT to win.

Overall, another solid Rachel Cullen read. I just love how her books just pack a bigger punch than what the cute cover has you believe. There’s really great discussion in regard to divorce, sexuality, wealth, generational issues, I loved it all. If you’re feeling kind of discouraged today like I am, pick up Summer on Dune Road. Get some wind back in your sails to rally on and fight this fight. Dune Road is out now, but also pick up Summer Sisters. Thank you again @katerocklitchick for introducing me to Rachel Cullen!

No question of the day today, just sending love and light. ❤️

[Booked on Lattes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this author as well as it was kind of a different read for me since I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a romance. It’s told from the POV of three different women who don’t know each other before the summer, who end up helping one another in different ways. Although there is some romance, it’s more about the power of female friendship as they each work through different struggles. I did feel that there was a lot going on and not all of it made sense or seemed explained well, but otherwise I enjoyed this fun beach read and it definitely kept me interested from beginning to end!

[Bailey Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer On Dune Road is an engaging, fast paced, fun, triple pov, and authentic story! This book falls under the genre women's fiction and has a heavy emphasis on friendship. I love that this book features three women going through a hard time who somehow manage to find solace in each other. They are complete strangers, but the way these women eventually come to support each other is heartwarming. However this story is not without its mishaps, humor, and drama! It is a fantastic book all read around, but undoubtedly would make a great beach read! Each character is likeable, relatable, and complex. The story of these strangers' summer in the Hamptons is beautiful!