Summer Stage

by Meg Mitchell Moore

A spirited summer page-turner following a family of actors grappling with fame, scandal, and ambition.

Amy Trevino, a former aspiring playwright, has stayed close to her Rhode Island hometown while her famous brother, Timothy Fleming, pursued and achieved his Hollywood dreams. Now a high school English teacher and occasional drama director, Amy takes on the production manager role for her brother’s play in an effort to mend rifting family relationships.  Sam, Amy’s daughter, was a Disney child star who continued her pursuit for fame in a Manhattan TikTok house. Now she’s returned home unexpectedly. Her sudden arrival is shrouded in secrets, and Sam refuses to open up to her mother, deciding instead to join her uncle on Block Island for the summer.   Timothy, a successful and well-loved actor, is directing a summer production at a storied Block Island theater—and his famous ex-wife has the lead role. As they work together to ensure the production is a success, Amy, Sam, and Timothy are forced to grapple with their desires for recognition and fortune, stand up for what they believe art and fame actually mean, and discover what they really want out of life. A bighearted and delicious novel about family, ambition, and opportunity,  Summer Stage  is the must-read book of the summer. 

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Summer, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Beach Reads, Audiobook

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Meg Mitchell Moore is the author of eight novels. Her ninth, MANSION BEACH, will be published in May 2025. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and whichever of her three high school- and college-aged daughters is home, as well two golden retrievers who shed a lot and don't read at all.

Reviews

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Stage is set in Block Island, where actor Timothy Fleming returns home for the summer. Even though he hasn’t had a movie role in months, he needs a break from LA. He agrees to direct a summer Shakespeare production at a local theatre, starring his ex-wife and fellow actress, Gertie Singer.

As preparations for the play begin, Timothy’s niece Sam reaches out to see if she can stay with him for the summer too. Sam recently left a TikTok house after things took a turn but she doesn’t want to go home either. Sam isn’t interested in college, something her parents just aren’t grasping. Timothy and Gertie realize they need a capable stage manager too, and enlist Amy, Timothy’s sister and Sam’s mom. Amy is now a teacher and in a previous life, she was an aspiring playwright. Sam is icing her mom out and there’s still some lingering tension between Amy and Timothy because of past decisions, but nothing time together and life on an island can’t fix, right?

Summer Stage is the 4th beach read I have read and enjoyed by Meg Mitchell Moore — The New England summer setting is great and with alternating POVs, has the right amount of drama. Though it includes current topics like content creation and social media, I felt the story still leans to the lighter, beach read genre. A good book to read at the beach, poolside, inside on a rainy summer day, or en route to a coastal vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg Mitchell Moore’s new novel is the epitome of the summer read. Set in Rhode Island, we learn about Timothy, his sister Amy and her daughter Sam as they put on a local play over the course of one summer. Riddled with baggage and inner demons, each and every character was intriguing in their own right. As much a character study as anything else, the shifting family dynamics as they come together and are forced to overcome old issues, was what kept me most intrigued.

The audiobook was fantastic, with Courtney Patterson doing a masterful job at making each character’s voice uniquely their own. This is one for the beach bag.

Read if you like:
•New England settings
•family dramas
•character driven stories
•ensemble cast

Thank you Booksparks, William Morrow Books and Harper Audio for my gifted copies.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slog to get through. All the characters in this book are assholes. Amy is an asshole to her brother, Timothy is an asshole to life, Sam is an asshole to everyone. There were a few good lines which I already forgot and the writing was passable but overall I will forget this one by the end of the week.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A multigenerational family beach read revolving around a summer production of Much ado about nothing. There were some fun cameos from characters in previous novels but overall this was just an okay read for me. Islanders is still my favorite by this author. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Elin Hilderbrand or Jennifer Weiner.

[Courtney Cahoon White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring af.

[Courtney Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐ rounded up
& ☀️📚 2023: #10

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a great example of the special genre known as a “Beach Read.” Honestly, readers will be delighted to read this book anywhere, anytime. This is set on Block Island when Sam, a TikTok influencer, returns home to recalibrate her future. It is the same time as her famous film star uncle and his superstar ex-wife go to nearby Block Island to put on a show.

It all comes together beautifully and includes so much that is timely that this is a special and charming read. I loved learning about both TikTok and the Shakespeare production which is the catalyst of the novel.

Well written and totally engaging, great for the beach or any comfy place. Mitchell has once again created a great read.

Thank you NETGALLEY for this delightful book to read and review.

[Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timothy Fleming, a famous actor, returns home to help his ex-wife, Gertie, who is also an actress with her summer production of Much Ado About Nothing. Gertie needed a location for her show and Timothy pulled some strings and got a location at his hometown of Block Island. He even recruits his sister, Amy, as production manager as not only was she once an aspiring playwright, but maybe they will make amends this summer. Then there's Amy's daughter, Sam, a child actress. She returns home unexpectedly this summer. She was once very successful but has suffered a bit as of late due to a social media scandal that she doesn't want her family to know about. As they all work together this summer on the show, both family and backstage drama ensue in Summer Stage by Meg Mitchell Moore.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...

[Phoebe (readandwright) Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly loved this, as an actor and a New Englander 🥰

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Beth Sich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It was hard to put down! The author's writing style reminded me of Elin Hildebrand.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway through Goodreads.
First I need to confess that I am drawn to books many times by the cover and this one hit my favorite beach theme.
One of the most enjoyable themes of this book for me was the age range of the characters in these pages. I figure I'm several years older than Amy, who is still teaching and I am the proud owner of a Medicare card, and the youngest characters are high school age.
The family dynamics that ae presented in the book are very enjoyable and the over all tone of the book makes for a very enjoyable read.
I am hoping that maybe next year we could wonder back to Block Island and visit and catch up with everyone again.

[Mia˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Michelle Fallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, summer reading.

[Elisa Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read a summery book during the holiday! Also fun to know what the main coffee shop is based off of and then have someone mention your hometown in the book lol yay local authors!!! Overall enjoyable quick read, love the theater aspect (the tik tok culture of it kinda scared me but still enjoyed)

[Gina Baldyga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elin Hilderbrand is ‘retiring’ from the summer book game in 2024. I nominate Moore as her successor. This is a fun book, featuring character cameos from other Moore summer reads, with a whole new main cast set against the backdrop and timetable of a summer theater. Love the rotating points of view, love the Block Island setting. It’s not quite 5 ⭐️ for me, but getting there.

[Moira · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was about a third of the way through this book when the thought occurred to me, I wonder when I am going to start caring about any of these characters? Life is too short and there are a bunch of other books I want to read, DNF.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Timothy, Amy's famous actor brother, returns to their hometown to produce a Shakespeare play (Much Ado About Nothing), he hires her as production manager. Also pulled into the drama is Amy's 19 year old daughter, Sam, who is a bit famous in own right after living in a TikTok "collab" house and Timothy's famous ex-wife, Gertie, who is starring in the play.

That description makes it sounds like this book will be chock full of drama, but instead, I found it quite uninteresting (aka there was literally much ado about nothing haha) since it mostly focused on Sam as she dealt with the fallout and negative aspects of being a social media influencer. Speaking of influencers, have I mentioned how tired I am of hearing about them both in real life and fiction? Yes, yes I have, so I won't say anything else about it in this review, but can we please just move on from this topic?

This read more like a Young Adult novel, so unless you're a fan of that genre, I would recommend skipping this one. Speaking of genres, this one is listed under Romance, but in my opinion, the romance was very low key, and Young Adult Fiction is the better label.

Lastly, Two Truths and a Lie (4 stars) remains my favorite by this author.

Location: Block Island, Rhode Island

Audiobook

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

You had me at beach read and TikTok influencer. I read this one on a couple of days and was so happy I read it. I had to keep turning the pages until the end.
Grab this one and put it in your beach bag.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Kim Fraser · Rating 1 out of 5]

Found the main characters to be unlikable. I mostly stuck with it hoping to see character growth and maturity, especially in Sam. Didn’t happen.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant summer "read by the pool" book. A charming take on the "privileged white people" family drama. I enjoyed the theater references. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was paced well. Pleasant in a nutshell!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Famous movie star Timothy is heading home for the summer to stage a production of a play in his hometown. Will he let the fact that there’s no actual theater in town stop him? He will not.
He soon brings his niece Sam and his sister Amy into the mix. Sam has had her own experiences with fame, first as a child actor, then as an influencer in a somewhat reality tv style setting. Something happened in the influencer house that caused Sam to go back home but she’s not ready to talk about it. I’m just going to say it was a type of betrayal, so it doesn’t sound like it was some type of physical assault.

As they try to stage the production, they’re met with many challenges both big and small. And with Timothy, Sam, Amy, and even Timothy’s ex-wife all working in close quarters, the family issues boil up to the surface. The good thing is that it also forces them to address their issues with each other and gives them a chance to get closer again.

I enjoyed the setting and storyline, I like most of the characters. I found Sam’s attitude towards her mom Amy to be pretty rude.

It was fun seeing characters pop up from previous books too.

[Susan • BryantParkBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited for a new Meg Mitchell Moore book! I’ve enjoyed many of her previous books. Summer Stage takes place at a Shakespeare summer production in Block Island, RI.

Timothy is a big Hollywood actor who misses his RI hometown. After his ex wife and still friend convinces him to fund and help produce a Shakespeare play in just a few weeks at a dilapidated theater. He knows he needs help from his little sister, Amy. She lives locally and knows many people. Her daughter is home for summer after rushing home from NYC. Sam and Amy have grown apart after Sam decided to go into acting like her uncle.

The countdown to the show is on! Only a few weeks to prepare the theater, hire the cast, build sets, and market the show all over the East Coast. It’s fun to see the three family members try to work together after so many years apartment. They are all trying not to hurt feelings and step on toes, but they really just need to open up to each other.

This book made me want to check our Block Island! I’ve been to Rhode Island many times, but I’ve never made it to Block yet. Next Summer!

Thank you so much to @megmitchellmoore and @williammorrowbooks for my gifted copy. Summer Stage is on sale now!

[T. Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

My first book by Meg Mitchell Moore was The Islanders and I loved it. I went on to read her next release, Vacationland, and now, I'm at Summer Stage which has character overlap with The Islanders. A really nice bonus

I've enjoyed these beach reads and Summer Stage almost reached the height of love I felt for The Islanders. Like the previous two, this is a gently flowing multi-narrative novel. There wasn't really a robust romantic thread like some books of this ilk, but there was some light romance mixed with family and relationship drama. It didn't matter to me, because I really loved all of the characters and their connections. I especially loved the small but meaningful scenes of Amy's marriage.

This was a light beach read and fairly low angst, but I'm a fan of thoughtfully tender stories with low drama. I hope Moore continues to write books in this vein.

[Michelle San Antonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good beach read, this is it! An absolutely perfect summer book, with just the right amount of relationship and family drama, a hearty dose of sentimentality and melancholy, and humor and light moments sprinkled throughout. I was completely absorbed in the story from the very first page, adored all the characters, and as a Mom myself, I especially loved the story line involving Sam and her mother. What makes it even better is that the setting is Block Island, where I spent four summers of my life during college, and where I met my husband and made lifelong friends. Anyone who's been to BI knows it's a special place, and Moore does a wonderful job of conveying that - the island almost becomes another character, and whether you've been there or not, you're sure to fall in love with it, as well as with this book.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, a beach read, but with a bit more personality and depth. Particularly fun for people who love theater. I appreciated that the relationships were both realistic and largely healthy (every book does not require dysfunction to be interesting!) and that the author resisted the temptation to just tie up all the endings happily and easily. That said, the idea that even a marginally-involved mom, much less the kind of mom Amy was, would not have been at least intermittently watching her daughter's social media superstardom - to be supportive, if nothing else! - was utterly implausible.

[Rebecca M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
This was a fun summer escape to Block Island, RI and the author does the island justice.
The characters are likable and come from their various places in life to put on Shakespeare’s Much ado about Nothing at a summer theater on Block Island. The play culminates nicely at the end of the book.
Stand out moments for me were the convo between Amy and Sam about sticking to an old script vs modernization, and older Uncle Timothy of Hollywood acting fame talking about that fame/talent vs. his 20-something niece’s online fame.
Overall, an enjoyable summer beach read. ☀️

[Sherrie Howey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a family drama primarily set on Block Island. The main characters include Timothy; a successful actor, his sister Amy; a former playwright and now a teacher, and Amy’s daughter, Sam; a former child actor turned Tik Tok star.
They are all working on a summer production of a Shakespeare play and I loved the theater theme and the depictions of the headaches involved in producing a show. Plenty of family secrets are revealed and I enjoyed everything about this book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved everything about this book! So summery, but still had depth. Loved the setting so much; don’t think I’ve ever wanted to go visit a place from a book as much as I now want to go visit Block Island in Rhode Island! Love how the author included characters from her previous books too! Love this author so much! This might be my favorite of hers so far!

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had all I wanted in a beachy read! An island in RI, a theater production of Much Ado with a Hollywood star or two, a family figuring out their next stage, mother's and daughters, being an uncle/aunt and insights into the Tiktok economy. Bonus, a coffee shop from a backlist title that I now can't wait to read.
MMD SRG 2023