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The Beach at Summerly
"Grand and gripping...shot through with suspense, romance, and glorious, beach-laden locales. I could not put it down."--Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Affair
A ravishing summer read from New York Times bestseller Beatriz Williams, sweeping readers back to a mid-century New England rich with secrets and Cold War intrigue.
June 1946. As the residents of Winthrop Island prepare for the first summer season after the sacrifice of war, a glamorous new figure moves into the guest cottage at Summerly, the idyllic seaside estate of the wealthy Peabody family. To Emilia Winthrop, daughter of Summerly's year-round caretaker and a descendant of the island's settlers, Olive Rainsford opens a window into a world of shining possibility. While Emilia spent the war years caring for her incapacitated mother, Olive traveled the world, married fascinating men, and involved herself in political causes. She's also the beloved aunt of the two surviving Peabody sons, Amory and Shep, with whom Emilia has a tangled romantic history.
As the summer wears on, Emilia develops a deep rapport with Olive, who urges her to leave the island for a life of adventure, while romance blossoms with the sturdy and honorable Shep. But the heady promise of Peabody patronage is blown apart by the arrival of Sumner Fox, an FBI agent who demands Emilia's help to capture a Soviet agent who's transmitting vital intelligence on the West's atomic weapon program from somewhere inside the Summerly estate.
April 1954. Eight years later, Summerly is boarded up and Emilia has rebuilt her shattered life as a professor at Wellesley College, when shocking news arrives from Washington--the traitor she helped convict is about to be swapped for an American spy imprisoned in the Soviet Union, but with a mysterious condition only Emilia can fulfill. A reluctant Emilia is summoned to CIA headquarters, where she's forced to confront the harrowing consequences of her actions that fateful summer, and a choice that could destroy the Peabody family--and Emilia's chance for redemption--all over again.
A ravishing summer read from New York Times bestseller Beatriz Williams, sweeping readers back to a mid-century New England rich with secrets and Cold War intrigue.
June 1946. As the residents of Winthrop Island prepare for the first summer season after the sacrifice of war, a glamorous new figure moves into the guest cottage at Summerly, the idyllic seaside estate of the wealthy Peabody family. To Emilia Winthrop, daughter of Summerly's year-round caretaker and a descendant of the island's settlers, Olive Rainsford opens a window into a world of shining possibility. While Emilia spent the war years caring for her incapacitated mother, Olive traveled the world, married fascinating men, and involved herself in political causes. She's also the beloved aunt of the two surviving Peabody sons, Amory and Shep, with whom Emilia has a tangled romantic history.
As the summer wears on, Emilia develops a deep rapport with Olive, who urges her to leave the island for a life of adventure, while romance blossoms with the sturdy and honorable Shep. But the heady promise of Peabody patronage is blown apart by the arrival of Sumner Fox, an FBI agent who demands Emilia's help to capture a Soviet agent who's transmitting vital intelligence on the West's atomic weapon program from somewhere inside the Summerly estate.
April 1954. Eight years later, Summerly is boarded up and Emilia has rebuilt her shattered life as a professor at Wellesley College, when shocking news arrives from Washington--the traitor she helped convict is about to be swapped for an American spy imprisoned in the Soviet Union, but with a mysterious condition only Emilia can fulfill. A reluctant Emilia is summoned to CIA headquarters, where she's forced to confront the harrowing consequences of her actions that fateful summer, and a choice that could destroy the Peabody family--and Emilia's chance for redemption--all over again.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,258 reviews
July 19, 2023
THE BEACH AT SUMMERLY is Beatriz Williams latest offering to the reading public. It is a historical fiction story that begins “April, 1954: Wellesley, Massachusetts”. Our main character, Emilia Winthrop is a professor of history at Wellesley going about her daily life with housemates sister Susana Winthrop and 7 year-old Lizbit. One day, Emilia gets a phone call out of the blue with a request that shakes Emilia’s calm reserve and sends her reflecting back to “May, 1946: Winthrop Island”.
Emilia’s story is driven forward by alternating chapters between the current 1954 and the past 1946. Normally, I’m not fond of going back and forth in timelines, but Williams has done it so masterfully it’s like peeling the layers of an onion-- slowly revealing only what’s necessary to urge the reader to find out what is to be discovered in the next chapter and so on.
Those soldiers that survived World War II are returning home in 1946. Friendships are renewed and new friends are made. Soldiers not returning home from the war are mourned but life continues. This is also a time of the “Red Scare”…the fear of spies developing networks in the United States.
Life on Winthrop Island is a study in the have and have-nots. Mainlanders come to Winthrop Island to spend the summer in residence. Those that live on the island year-round provide services for the annual visitors. There is love and loss, hope and regret, and hero and reprobate.
While I enjoyed this book, thus the 4-star rating, I felt it could have been much better with more “meat on the bones”. I’ve previously read a few of Ms Williams’ books and was delighted to have had the opportunity to read and review this via Goodreads Giveaways and publisher William Morrow. This book could have been polished to outshine its offering as “a ravishing summer read”.
I recommend this book for reading by those that enjoy a good summer read.
Emilia’s story is driven forward by alternating chapters between the current 1954 and the past 1946. Normally, I’m not fond of going back and forth in timelines, but Williams has done it so masterfully it’s like peeling the layers of an onion-- slowly revealing only what’s necessary to urge the reader to find out what is to be discovered in the next chapter and so on.
Those soldiers that survived World War II are returning home in 1946. Friendships are renewed and new friends are made. Soldiers not returning home from the war are mourned but life continues. This is also a time of the “Red Scare”…the fear of spies developing networks in the United States.
Life on Winthrop Island is a study in the have and have-nots. Mainlanders come to Winthrop Island to spend the summer in residence. Those that live on the island year-round provide services for the annual visitors. There is love and loss, hope and regret, and hero and reprobate.
While I enjoyed this book, thus the 4-star rating, I felt it could have been much better with more “meat on the bones”. I’ve previously read a few of Ms Williams’ books and was delighted to have had the opportunity to read and review this via Goodreads Giveaways and publisher William Morrow. This book could have been polished to outshine its offering as “a ravishing summer read”.
I recommend this book for reading by those that enjoy a good summer read.
July 9, 2023
I have read other books by this author (some she co-authored) – some I liked some not so much.
Perhaps I should have read “The Summer Wives” first which may have been a prequel to this novel.
Strange writing style. Hard to follow. Couldn’t keep track of who was who.
Split between 1946 & 1954 both written in first person. Confusing.
At the half-way mark I gave up due to utter frustration.
That’s not to say I won’t read this author again, because I will.
Perhaps I should have read “The Summer Wives” first which may have been a prequel to this novel.
Strange writing style. Hard to follow. Couldn’t keep track of who was who.
Split between 1946 & 1954 both written in first person. Confusing.
At the half-way mark I gave up due to utter frustration.
That’s not to say I won’t read this author again, because I will.
February 2, 2023
It felt like I had started this book in the middle. As if I had fallen asleep at the beginning of the movie and woke up able to keep up with the storyline but aware there was back story that I had missed.
The Cricket that we first meet is spiky, hard and possibly an alcoholic and very different to the Cricket of the past. All good so far but I never felt that the author addresses either personality fully. The storylines are there but I couldn’t engage with it. There was too many undercurrents in both timelines that weren’t explored or explained and it left me feeling a little removed. The book ambled along for so many pages and then raced the event that had caused all the troubles for the present Cricket. Maybe if there had been a few more past timelines to solidify the main characters relationships instead of using dialogue to reminisce, it may have worked better for me.
The island was written so well, it was the real star of the book for me.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. This would be 3.5 stars if I could give half a point!
The Cricket that we first meet is spiky, hard and possibly an alcoholic and very different to the Cricket of the past. All good so far but I never felt that the author addresses either personality fully. The storylines are there but I couldn’t engage with it. There was too many undercurrents in both timelines that weren’t explored or explained and it left me feeling a little removed. The book ambled along for so many pages and then raced the event that had caused all the troubles for the present Cricket. Maybe if there had been a few more past timelines to solidify the main characters relationships instead of using dialogue to reminisce, it may have worked better for me.
The island was written so well, it was the real star of the book for me.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC. This would be 3.5 stars if I could give half a point!
July 3, 2023
Good book but I’m getting tired of the switching time zones. I’m almost believing I should read every other chapter of her books, except the last, then read the chapters I skipped and, finally, read the last chapter. That way I get the whole story(ies) without the artificial suspense.
June 18, 2025
First up, let me say a thing about Beatriz Williams. Rather by accident, she is my author of the year. Often I like to pick an author I like and finish their canon for anything I have not yet read. She has been one I have considered very closely for the close decade I have taken on this personal challenge. However, I didn't choose her for the year... Somehow fate did. For whatever the reason, challenges, monthly tag, I find myself squarely in her corner and worlds. I am on like the 6th or 7th book of hers I have read since January, and for the second time since then, I am listening to a Beatriz Williams in audio, precisely at the same time as I am reading her in print. Although I have just finished up the print book. And the Audio, the Wicked Redhead, is the second of a Trilogy.
Let me digress... I am a little annoyed about the title of the triquel in the trilogy. Its called the Wicked Widow. The Wicked City stars a particular redhead during the Jazz Age, Gin Kelly, who is the obvious heroine of the series, despite the present day counterpart in a dual timeline story. Clearly the Wicked Redhead refers to her. And now for the second book, we are wrapped up in her love story. So for those of us reading it from the start of the series, I do not like hearing that she will be a widow, when I am still wrapped up in her current love affair. You have revealed where this is going, and I do not care for it one bit. Why would the third title ruin hearts for the dear readers?
But back to Beatriz, Summerly did something I just hadn't pulled together. It made me see that the majority of Beatriz's books, they are all connected. Something I never would have picked up if I hadn't read seven of these in a row. It made me wish somehow that I had read these in order. I remember about 10 to 15 to 20 years ago, I had started to read Philippa Gregory's books, and I started with the Queen's Fool. I then read the Other Boleyn Sister which preceded that one, but I read second. I soon realized I should start at the beginning of the series, which I did - all the way from the Plantagenet beginnings, all the way through her Canon. She was my very first Canon author and it really took me years to do it. As I was reading through the Tudors, she was writing and she filled in my gaps as I went. The timing was spectacular. And as I finished that era of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Starz followed my path. The Red Queen and White Princess and the White Queen, and then the Spanish Queen. Every time just after I would finish and era, Starz came through for me. By the way, Starz has also followed my reading path with Outlander, or rather I am following theirs....
Back to the connectedness of Beatriz's books, I noticed that in Our Woman of Moscow, that she (our heroine) had an Aunt Violet. Since I have so often listed her Canon, I see that there is a two parter perhaps, Secrets of Violet Grant. I even checked the title, this must be the niece of the Violet in that book. The synopsis of that not yet read book confirmed that for me. In Husbands and Lovers, which I listened to at the same time as I was reading Our Woman in Moscow, our lead hero and heroine is Ben Monk and Mallory. Recently, Lyn (from my main goodreads group) read her most recent book, Under the Stars, and there are Ben and Mallory again, she tells us.
So, Summerly. It takes place on Winthrop Island, which I later realize is the home of Ben Monk and his family, and the setting of Husband's and Lovers. In fact 50 years later, he lives next door to the Peabody's which is the surname of our current hero, and their home is the setting of the book. In fact the Peabody's throw a dinner party and invite the grandparents Ben and Isabella Monk to join. But wait... Sumner Fox shows up. Who is he? Why he is the hero in Our woman in Moscow, and this book takes place two or so years after that one concludes. What is he doing here on Winthrop Island? Trying to catch a spy. One who is connected in plot to a prisoner in Russia, one Sasha Digby, who is also featured prominently in Our Woman in Moscow. It kind of makes your head hurt. But to add to this, Cocoa Beach is mentioned, and since I read that one a super long time ago, I didn't catch the reference. But I do know for sure.... That whatever was happening with the FBI ad CIA at that time, that it was connected to this exact time in history...
I can't say for sure if Wicked City (and the rest of the series) is connected to A Certain Age, which is the first of hers I have read.... But it sure feels like it. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the bar Christophers is featured in that novel as well, as well as the housing for women above and next door. For all I know some of the characters are the same as well...
But, back to Summerly. I liked it, but really got into it more in the second half and it really picked up in the end. It went from a three to a four by the end, as it was Three-Ing in the first half... It was a fun ride and the perfect summer read... But it was the connections that really got me going. Once I realized this book tied all the others together, I was somehow into it more. But that I am aware is a quite unique experience.
I would be curious to hear other's thoughts on this book, as compared to some of the others. I still think she is a phenomenal writer and I continue to love her and her work.
Let me digress... I am a little annoyed about the title of the triquel in the trilogy. Its called the Wicked Widow. The Wicked City stars a particular redhead during the Jazz Age, Gin Kelly, who is the obvious heroine of the series, despite the present day counterpart in a dual timeline story. Clearly the Wicked Redhead refers to her. And now for the second book, we are wrapped up in her love story. So for those of us reading it from the start of the series, I do not like hearing that she will be a widow, when I am still wrapped up in her current love affair. You have revealed where this is going, and I do not care for it one bit. Why would the third title ruin hearts for the dear readers?
But back to Beatriz, Summerly did something I just hadn't pulled together. It made me see that the majority of Beatriz's books, they are all connected. Something I never would have picked up if I hadn't read seven of these in a row. It made me wish somehow that I had read these in order. I remember about 10 to 15 to 20 years ago, I had started to read Philippa Gregory's books, and I started with the Queen's Fool. I then read the Other Boleyn Sister which preceded that one, but I read second. I soon realized I should start at the beginning of the series, which I did - all the way from the Plantagenet beginnings, all the way through her Canon. She was my very first Canon author and it really took me years to do it. As I was reading through the Tudors, she was writing and she filled in my gaps as I went. The timing was spectacular. And as I finished that era of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Starz followed my path. The Red Queen and White Princess and the White Queen, and then the Spanish Queen. Every time just after I would finish and era, Starz came through for me. By the way, Starz has also followed my reading path with Outlander, or rather I am following theirs....
Back to the connectedness of Beatriz's books, I noticed that in Our Woman of Moscow, that she (our heroine) had an Aunt Violet. Since I have so often listed her Canon, I see that there is a two parter perhaps, Secrets of Violet Grant. I even checked the title, this must be the niece of the Violet in that book. The synopsis of that not yet read book confirmed that for me. In Husbands and Lovers, which I listened to at the same time as I was reading Our Woman in Moscow, our lead hero and heroine is Ben Monk and Mallory. Recently, Lyn (from my main goodreads group) read her most recent book, Under the Stars, and there are Ben and Mallory again, she tells us.
So, Summerly. It takes place on Winthrop Island, which I later realize is the home of Ben Monk and his family, and the setting of Husband's and Lovers. In fact 50 years later, he lives next door to the Peabody's which is the surname of our current hero, and their home is the setting of the book. In fact the Peabody's throw a dinner party and invite the grandparents Ben and Isabella Monk to join. But wait... Sumner Fox shows up. Who is he? Why he is the hero in Our woman in Moscow, and this book takes place two or so years after that one concludes. What is he doing here on Winthrop Island? Trying to catch a spy. One who is connected in plot to a prisoner in Russia, one Sasha Digby, who is also featured prominently in Our Woman in Moscow. It kind of makes your head hurt. But to add to this, Cocoa Beach is mentioned, and since I read that one a super long time ago, I didn't catch the reference. But I do know for sure.... That whatever was happening with the FBI ad CIA at that time, that it was connected to this exact time in history...
I can't say for sure if Wicked City (and the rest of the series) is connected to A Certain Age, which is the first of hers I have read.... But it sure feels like it. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the bar Christophers is featured in that novel as well, as well as the housing for women above and next door. For all I know some of the characters are the same as well...
But, back to Summerly. I liked it, but really got into it more in the second half and it really picked up in the end. It went from a three to a four by the end, as it was Three-Ing in the first half... It was a fun ride and the perfect summer read... But it was the connections that really got me going. Once I realized this book tied all the others together, I was somehow into it more. But that I am aware is a quite unique experience.
I would be curious to hear other's thoughts on this book, as compared to some of the others. I still think she is a phenomenal writer and I continue to love her and her work.
June 1, 2023
This Beatriz Williams historical fiction novel encompasses the years after WWII and slides right into the Cold War years where espionage is a key career. Time periods switch between 1946 and 1954.
Those years of the 1950-60’s where, as children, we cowered under desks during air raid drills, and brought home pamphlets against Communism.
Little did the average person think about spies among us, stealing secrets to give to the Russians. Most of us thought we were done with war. Except the nuclear age kept us worried about the atom bomb, and who would develop their own weapons.
Over on Winthrop Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, and near Block Island, citizens went on with daily lives. The Peabody family, who owned Summerly, mourned the loss of one of their three sons. Nearby, Emilia Winthrop and her family mourned the loss of her brother Eli.
The children of these two families grew up together, spending every waking moment on the beach or in the water. Almost an ideal childhood. Now, as young adults, their world has changed. In the midst of growing up some relationships will change or be challenged.
Especially after their Aunt Olive (Peabody)moves into the guest cottage with her three children. She’s always been the different aunt, traveling around the world having intriguing relationships. Someone from the FBI thinks she’s now a spy, transmitting classified info to Russia, from her cottage attic!
Get ready to immerse yourself in this time period and with the people of Winthrop Island.
Outstanding!
Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Collins.
Those years of the 1950-60’s where, as children, we cowered under desks during air raid drills, and brought home pamphlets against Communism.
Little did the average person think about spies among us, stealing secrets to give to the Russians. Most of us thought we were done with war. Except the nuclear age kept us worried about the atom bomb, and who would develop their own weapons.
Over on Winthrop Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, and near Block Island, citizens went on with daily lives. The Peabody family, who owned Summerly, mourned the loss of one of their three sons. Nearby, Emilia Winthrop and her family mourned the loss of her brother Eli.
The children of these two families grew up together, spending every waking moment on the beach or in the water. Almost an ideal childhood. Now, as young adults, their world has changed. In the midst of growing up some relationships will change or be challenged.
Especially after their Aunt Olive (Peabody)moves into the guest cottage with her three children. She’s always been the different aunt, traveling around the world having intriguing relationships. Someone from the FBI thinks she’s now a spy, transmitting classified info to Russia, from her cottage attic!
Get ready to immerse yourself in this time period and with the people of Winthrop Island.
Outstanding!
Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Collins.
August 3, 2023
4-4.5 stars!
I have been loving all of my recent reads, including 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮, which I had been savoring because I just love author Beatriz Williams, and I really enjoy reading about strong women in books.
This was a fascinating story of espionage, with a dash of romance, and I loved the New England island setting.
📖 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮
✍🏻Beatriz Williams
🗓️6.27.23
🕰️Historical Fiction
★★★★½
*many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for review
I have been loving all of my recent reads, including 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮, which I had been savoring because I just love author Beatriz Williams, and I really enjoy reading about strong women in books.
This was a fascinating story of espionage, with a dash of romance, and I loved the New England island setting.
📖 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮
✍🏻Beatriz Williams
🗓️6.27.23
🕰️Historical Fiction
★★★★½
*many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for review
May 7, 2023
Didn't love, tbh. I had trouble keeping straight the past and present chapters, and Cricket reminded me of a snarky Jo March. The last 20% finally got really interesting but it wasn't enough to save the whole story. (I will always read another Beatriz Williams book though.) Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.
July 8, 2025
Ah another wonderful summer read by Beatrix Williams. We are back on Winthrop Island, off of the coast of
Long Island. It is June 1946, the war has ended and people are starting to flock back to the island
We meet Emilia Winthrop who’s father was founder of Winthrop Island, but now he is caretaker for the Peabody’s.
Emilia has grown up on the island and is known as Cricket. The Peabody’s aunt is spending the summer in their cottage, with her three children. Olive Rainsford has been all over Europe during the war. She offers Cricket a position to care for her three children while she works. People on the island are very suspicious of Olive.
Summer Fox arrives on the island to write a book. He seeks Cricket’s help to capture a Soviet spy supposedly living on the island
Fast forward 1954, Emilia is now a professor at Wesley College and is advised that the traitor she helped convict is about to be swapped for an American spy. Lots of drama going on.
Once more Beatrix Williams doesn’t disappoint. As per usual there hints of characters from previous books. I now have to read Our Woman in Moscow as I haven’t read it yet.
Highly recommended
Also don’t miss her new book coming out in the end of July Under the Stars. Another book set on Winthrop Island.
Long Island. It is June 1946, the war has ended and people are starting to flock back to the island
We meet Emilia Winthrop who’s father was founder of Winthrop Island, but now he is caretaker for the Peabody’s.
Emilia has grown up on the island and is known as Cricket. The Peabody’s aunt is spending the summer in their cottage, with her three children. Olive Rainsford has been all over Europe during the war. She offers Cricket a position to care for her three children while she works. People on the island are very suspicious of Olive.
Summer Fox arrives on the island to write a book. He seeks Cricket’s help to capture a Soviet spy supposedly living on the island
Fast forward 1954, Emilia is now a professor at Wesley College and is advised that the traitor she helped convict is about to be swapped for an American spy. Lots of drama going on.
Once more Beatrix Williams doesn’t disappoint. As per usual there hints of characters from previous books. I now have to read Our Woman in Moscow as I haven’t read it yet.
Highly recommended
Also don’t miss her new book coming out in the end of July Under the Stars. Another book set on Winthrop Island.
July 28, 2023
Disgruntled 3 stars. This was a weird combo-sequel to The Summer Wives and Our Woman in Moscow. I read it eagerly, but also found it confusing and contrived. I feel like some aspects of this story didn’t make sense — like why Olive’s kids were still such young kids after 7 years had passed (but it also said that one was 17?!) Olive’s kids’ ages didn’t make any sense to me. I was also very annoyed by the ending comment that Shep didn’t know what his happy married life was based on, right as Emilia receives a translated Russian speech in the mail?! And then the story ends. That really annoyed me and it felt like a cliffhanger for god-knows-what. I also didn’t understand why Shep and Emilia took years to get back together. I found the book’s portrayal of that delay unbelievable. So I’m generally annoyed by the end of this book. Yet I also kinda enjoyed reading it and will probably read her next book. (Eye roll at myself.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2023
My first book of 2023, written by one of my favorite authors.
As usual, Beatriz Williams does not disappoint, she does historical fiction like no other author I've read. Her characters are so vivid, and the time in which she's writing, in this case right after WW2, well researched. The Cold War era and the belief by many that communism was the answer after the second world war, shape events and atrocities to this day.
In true Beatriz fashion, you will be furiously turning pages in the last chapters to find out how it all ends.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
As usual, Beatriz Williams does not disappoint, she does historical fiction like no other author I've read. Her characters are so vivid, and the time in which she's writing, in this case right after WW2, well researched. The Cold War era and the belief by many that communism was the answer after the second world war, shape events and atrocities to this day.
In true Beatriz fashion, you will be furiously turning pages in the last chapters to find out how it all ends.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
May 31, 2023
3.5⭐️The Beach at Summerly transports you to Winthrop Island in 1946 when Americans were returning home after WWII and the fear of Soviet spies in the US was on the rise. Our protagonist Emilia, aka Cricket, works for the wealthy Peabody family and for this particular summer, is hired to babysit the kids of a new guest and Mrs. Peadbody’s sister, Olive Rainsford. However, when an FBI agent confronts Emilia telling her there is a spy on the island, she has no choice to help them out, even when it involves those closet to her.
This historical fiction read has a little something for everyone as it mixes spies, war, love, family drama and mystery. I will say the beginning is a bit confusing with characters introduced quickly and not a lot of time spent building the setting/plot. However, definitely stick with the story as with time, the connection between the dual timelines become clearer along with the diverse cast of side characters. The last 20% was my absolute favorite part as I loved how the story played out, particularly in the “present” timeline.
Read if you like:
-Cold War time period
-Coastal New England setting
-Dual timelines: 1945/1956
-Surprises and twists
Thank you William Morrow for the ARC! Pub Date 6/27
This historical fiction read has a little something for everyone as it mixes spies, war, love, family drama and mystery. I will say the beginning is a bit confusing with characters introduced quickly and not a lot of time spent building the setting/plot. However, definitely stick with the story as with time, the connection between the dual timelines become clearer along with the diverse cast of side characters. The last 20% was my absolute favorite part as I loved how the story played out, particularly in the “present” timeline.
Read if you like:
-Cold War time period
-Coastal New England setting
-Dual timelines: 1945/1956
-Surprises and twists
Thank you William Morrow for the ARC! Pub Date 6/27
January 31, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down.
Historical fiction told in two timelines: 1946 and 1954. The story follows two families of Winthrop Island: the Peabodys are a wealthy family, who own the Summerly Estate, and the Winthrops, who work from for them, and are in many ways dependent upon the Peabodys.
Most of the book takes place around 1946, after the war, and explores the interactions between the two families, both of whom lost sons in the war. The latter timeline involves Emilia “Cricket” Winthrop after she is approached by the US government regarding the release of a spy who she was instrumental in convicting.
It takes a while for the storylines to make sense. There is so much emphasis on the 1946 story, with a lot of minutia about the two families. You have to get over halfway through the story before things start making sense and it’s really only in the last third of the book that the crux of the plot comes together. It all ends fairly satisfactorily, although to be honest, I absolutely do not understand the last couple of paragraphs and what they mean to the story.
It is a good story, but not a great story.
Historical fiction told in two timelines: 1946 and 1954. The story follows two families of Winthrop Island: the Peabodys are a wealthy family, who own the Summerly Estate, and the Winthrops, who work from for them, and are in many ways dependent upon the Peabodys.
Most of the book takes place around 1946, after the war, and explores the interactions between the two families, both of whom lost sons in the war. The latter timeline involves Emilia “Cricket” Winthrop after she is approached by the US government regarding the release of a spy who she was instrumental in convicting.
It takes a while for the storylines to make sense. There is so much emphasis on the 1946 story, with a lot of minutia about the two families. You have to get over halfway through the story before things start making sense and it’s really only in the last third of the book that the crux of the plot comes together. It all ends fairly satisfactorily, although to be honest, I absolutely do not understand the last couple of paragraphs and what they mean to the story.
It is a good story, but not a great story.
July 13, 2023
Emilia Winthrop lives on a New England island named Winthrop Island, after her ancestors; however, instead of being a wealthy islander, her family has sold all their land and now helps the seasonal beach-going families that return to their beautiful homes every summer. Emilia, commonly known as Cricket, lives on the Peabody's land as her father is the caretaker of their house. She has grown up with the Peabody sons, Amory and Shep. Shep has always been her best friend, adventure buddy, and more. As they got older, the war began, and both boys returned home with new perspectives. On the other hand, Cricket never left the island to go to college, because her mother had a stroke and due to this, she has to hang around to help her family. The summer of '46 starts like any summer, but it's post-war and everyone is ready to celebrate. Shep came home a hero and Amory is ready to settle down. Then there's the return of Aunt Olive, Shep and Amory's aunt, who is worldly, fabulous, and has spent a ton of time in Europe. She returns to the island with her three children, but there are so many rumors swirling around about her return. She has taken a liking to Cricket though and has encouraged her to leave the island, go to college, and start her life. To complicate matters further, there's the entrance of Sumner Fox on the island and the information he digs up will change their lives forever. The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams is a fantastic historical beach read filled with summer romance, a gorgeous coastal setting, lots of beach town politics, and even espionage.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
November 9, 2023
Bailed at 41%. So tired of the "women are oppressed" blather. Do you think the men really want to go to work at a drudgery job every day to keep a roof over the family's head?
Plus, our leading lady, and another main female character are pretty slutty.
Next 🪂
Plus, our leading lady, and another main female character are pretty slutty.
Next 🪂
August 4, 2023
This is a ten-star book in a five-star world! Magnificently written by Beatriz Williams, this is the perfect book for summer. It's smart historical fiction ingeniously plotted as a Cold War spy novel with a touch of romance and suspense, taking place during the summer of 1946 on Winthrop Island, a fictional island in Long Island Sound just south of Connecticut.
Emilia Winthrop, nicknamed Cricket by her childhood friends, is the daughter of the caretaker of Winthrop Island. In better times many years ago, her family owned the island, but they sold their land to the illustrious and wealthy Peabody family of Boston, who now summer on the island in their beach mansion, a 12-bedroom estate they named Summerly. Emilia and her siblings, Elijah, and Susana, who live on the island year-round, grew up with the Peabody boys, Arthur, Amory, and Nathaniel, nicknamed Shep. The six were inseparable as kids, playing every game their imagination could conjure. When the U.S.A. entered World War II, the four boys went into battle, but only Amory and Shep returned. The summer of 1946 is the first summer after the war when everyone tries to pretend all is normal, even though the hearts of mothers and lovers are breaking. Although most people don't realize it yet, this is the start of the Cold War, and whispers of it are affecting the peace of the island.
New to the island this summer is Olive Grossmeyer Rainsford, Shep's aunt, a widow who is living in a Peabody cottage with her three small children. Other summer newcomers include the former Yale football star Sumner Fox, who is writing a book, and June Lindstrom, a young woman from Minnesota with a summer job waitressing at the club. Olive hires Emilia to care for her three children in the evenings while she works in her attic translating documents.
It doesn't take long until Emilia discovers a shocking secret about Olive, one that has dire repercussions for the Peabody family, Emilia herself, and others on Winthrop Island. Williams masterfully switches between what happened that fateful summer of 1946 with the ramifications of those events ricocheting into the spring of 1954.
A well-told story combined with exciting historical events, a deep-felt summer romance, a bit of suspense, and cliffhanger chapter endings all make this book one of those unputdownable riveting reads—ideal for the beach if you're so fortunate but your favorite reading chair will do quite nicely. Dinner will be late tonight!
Emilia Winthrop, nicknamed Cricket by her childhood friends, is the daughter of the caretaker of Winthrop Island. In better times many years ago, her family owned the island, but they sold their land to the illustrious and wealthy Peabody family of Boston, who now summer on the island in their beach mansion, a 12-bedroom estate they named Summerly. Emilia and her siblings, Elijah, and Susana, who live on the island year-round, grew up with the Peabody boys, Arthur, Amory, and Nathaniel, nicknamed Shep. The six were inseparable as kids, playing every game their imagination could conjure. When the U.S.A. entered World War II, the four boys went into battle, but only Amory and Shep returned. The summer of 1946 is the first summer after the war when everyone tries to pretend all is normal, even though the hearts of mothers and lovers are breaking. Although most people don't realize it yet, this is the start of the Cold War, and whispers of it are affecting the peace of the island.
New to the island this summer is Olive Grossmeyer Rainsford, Shep's aunt, a widow who is living in a Peabody cottage with her three small children. Other summer newcomers include the former Yale football star Sumner Fox, who is writing a book, and June Lindstrom, a young woman from Minnesota with a summer job waitressing at the club. Olive hires Emilia to care for her three children in the evenings while she works in her attic translating documents.
It doesn't take long until Emilia discovers a shocking secret about Olive, one that has dire repercussions for the Peabody family, Emilia herself, and others on Winthrop Island. Williams masterfully switches between what happened that fateful summer of 1946 with the ramifications of those events ricocheting into the spring of 1954.
A well-told story combined with exciting historical events, a deep-felt summer romance, a bit of suspense, and cliffhanger chapter endings all make this book one of those unputdownable riveting reads—ideal for the beach if you're so fortunate but your favorite reading chair will do quite nicely. Dinner will be late tonight!
October 29, 2023
Someone please explain the ending. It’s late and Im too tired to think through it. Also, the age jump of the kids is way more than seven years, right? I think her math is off.
July 22, 2023
This book started slow and ended in a surprise twist. The plot is about espionage that was occurring in a wealthy family on Winthrop Island. It took a while to get to the plot. The author was intense on developing the characters and the reletionships. The Peabody's were the wealthy family with a visiting aunt who had travled the world and lead a free spirtied life. The Winthrop's were the caretakers of Summerly estate. The year is 1946 after WWII and the boys came home. Keep reading to find out the details you will not be disappointed. Everyone that the war was over until the Russian spies showed up.
Quotes:
I do like cognac. It's like brandy, only....more.
They're getting married in two weeks because she's already preagnant and he can't have any trouble with the department. He's up for tenure next year.
"Love, you silly thing." She clinked her glass agains mine, "Love comes first of all. Grief is only possible if you love."
Quotes:
I do like cognac. It's like brandy, only....more.
They're getting married in two weeks because she's already preagnant and he can't have any trouble with the department. He's up for tenure next year.
"Love, you silly thing." She clinked her glass agains mine, "Love comes first of all. Grief is only possible if you love."
July 21, 2023
I’m a little disappointed in this book. I’ve been so excited to read Beatriz Williams’ latest story, but the back and forth chapters of 1946 and 1954 were often muddled with information and memories of the other year. Cricket/Emilia is a well written character, but I didn’t really like her. The plots turned out to be a bit of a mystery, but the resolutions were convoluted. I wanted to like it because BW is one of my favorite authors, but her editor must have taken the summer off.
October 8, 2023
This is another entertaining Betriz Wiliams novel. It is set on an island off the Massachsetts coast in two time periods - one is 1946 (immediately following WWII) and the other is 1954. In the typical style of this author, the island is a haven for the wealthy, and some of the characters are part of this wealthy "summer family". The other family, of which the main character is a part, has lived on the island for generations and some of their family members work for the wealthy family. The story revolves around the relationship of the main character with several different members of the wealthy family. These relationships include lust and love but also include the main character's relationship with a member of the wealthy family who is believed to be spying for the Soviet Union. This relationship is very well drawn and, of course, the ultimate unmasking of the purported spy has devastating effects on the main character. This novel had just the right amount of mystery and romance. It was a fun, entertaining read. It may not be (in my opinion) the very best of Ms. Williams work, but I certainly enjoyed it.
July 2, 2023
It's no secret that Beatriz Williams is one of my absolute favorite authors. This is her latest and having just had a knee surgery, it came out the day after when I was in need of entertainment. The story is awesome! So atmospheric. Just pulls you in and keeps you turning pages. The ending is perfect and made me so happy. I can't wait to see what is next!
December 29, 2024
I LOVE this cover! I also love the wealthy family vacationing on an island vibe, and The Beach at Summerly being historical fiction is just icing on the cake.
I was intrigued by Olive's lifestyle. I adored Shep and Emilia. I was surprised by the turn the story took.
I am now a Beatriz Williams fan and can hardly wait to read more of her work!
I was intrigued by Olive's lifestyle. I adored Shep and Emilia. I was surprised by the turn the story took.
I am now a Beatriz Williams fan and can hardly wait to read more of her work!
July 14, 2023
Sort of a sequel to The Summer Wives. I liked that ine a lot better. I don't know what it is, but her last two novels were just not quite as good as I remember her writing to be. This one was drawn out and a little boring, truthfully.
December 13, 2023
Beach at the Summerly, brings to light a lesser-known historical event in this post-WWII home front.
July 7, 2023
Beatriz Williams’ latest novel is set primarily in the summer of 1946 on fictional Winthrop Island. Main character Emilia (known as Cricket to most) is 21 and grew up on the island in the caretaker’s cottage of the Peabody mansion as her parents both worked for the Peabodys, and she grew up close with the Peabody children, never really thinking about the class distinction between them. The first summer after the war makes her rethink how she feels about the two brothers, and also brings the arrival of their glamorous aunt, and some secret Cold War intrigue going on as well. Intermittently there are also chapters set in 1954, where we see that Emilia is living a very different life - and is being approached by the CIA - and that clearly some crazy stuff went down that summer, though it takes a while to figure out what.
I’m a huge fan of Beatriz Williams - I’ve read all 14 of her previous individual books (though I’m still working on her collaborations). I know I can count on her for historical fiction that’s a little more on the fun and soapy side while still being serious, which makes it perfect for summer reading - especially one like this one that’s set on an island in the summer. I will say that the start of this one (especially the 1954 parts) was very confusing, but once I got into it, I realized it was probably by design. Not my most favorite of her books - that’s still The Secret Life of Violet Grant - but I still loved it, though I’d probably put it somewhere in the middle of the pack of her books.
For those who have read a lot of Beatriz Williams’ books, you may be surprised to hear that there does not appear to be a single Schuyler family member in this one! But there are still little crossovers with The Summer Wives and Our Woman in Moscow, though you can certainly read this as a stand-alone.
I’m a huge fan of Beatriz Williams - I’ve read all 14 of her previous individual books (though I’m still working on her collaborations). I know I can count on her for historical fiction that’s a little more on the fun and soapy side while still being serious, which makes it perfect for summer reading - especially one like this one that’s set on an island in the summer. I will say that the start of this one (especially the 1954 parts) was very confusing, but once I got into it, I realized it was probably by design. Not my most favorite of her books - that’s still The Secret Life of Violet Grant - but I still loved it, though I’d probably put it somewhere in the middle of the pack of her books.
For those who have read a lot of Beatriz Williams’ books, you may be surprised to hear that there does not appear to be a single Schuyler family member in this one! But there are still little crossovers with The Summer Wives and Our Woman in Moscow, though you can certainly read this as a stand-alone.
August 30, 2023
Apparently what I really wanted for the extended Schuyler universe was for it to become a communist era spy series. I liked this a lot! Not my favorite romance she's ever written, but I really liked the characters and found it propulsively readable.
July 15, 2025
Always a delight to read. Beatriz is one of my longtime favorites.
March 18, 2023
I will pass this one on to friends, it was quite good. A slow and a bit confusing beginning where I wonder “is it just me that can’t figure out what is going on?”, eventually simmers up into focus and eventually the characters are relatable and sympathetic and we go on an increasingly swift ride that is not too light at all! Fun and fresh and filled with surprises.
July 16, 2023
The plot was well conceived and the people were well developed enough. But I absolutely hated the way it was presented with time changes constantly. I know that is in fashion but this book was very difficult to follow because of the puzzle-piece way it unfolds.
August 29, 2023
I always like a good hostorical fiction and this book did not disappoint. With the rich familys going to winthrop island and developing relationships with the people that live there year round just makes you realize that the most important people in your life are not always the ones that are there all the time
Through in a war and casualities to both familys and then a russian spy really makes you wish you were there
The ending was the best as well and tied the two most important people together in a good way
Cheers to Shep and Cricket
Through in a war and casualities to both familys and then a russian spy really makes you wish you were there
The ending was the best as well and tied the two most important people together in a good way
Cheers to Shep and Cricket
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