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The Summer Guest
On an evening in late summer, the great financier Harry Wainwright, nearing the end of his life, arrives at a rustic fishing camp in a remote area of Maine. He comes bearing two things: his wish for a day of fishing in a place that has brought him solace for thirty years, and an astonishing bequest that will forever change the lives of those around him.
From the battlefields of Italy to the turbulence of the Vietnam era, to the private battles of love and family, The Summer Guest reveals the full history of this final pilgrimage and its meaning for four people: Jordan Patterson, the haunted young man who will guide Harry on his last voyage out; the camp’s owner Joe Crosby, a Vietnam draft evader who has spent a lifetime “trying to learn what it means to be brave”; Joe’s wife, Lucy, the woman Harry has loved for three decades; and Joe and Lucy’s daughter Kate—the spirited young woman who holds the key to the last unopened door to the past.
As their stories unfold, secrets are revealed, courage is tested, and the bonds of love are strengthened. And always center stage is the place itself—a magical, forgotten corner of New England where the longings of the human heart are mirrored in the wild beauty of the landscape.
From the battlefields of Italy to the turbulence of the Vietnam era, to the private battles of love and family, The Summer Guest reveals the full history of this final pilgrimage and its meaning for four people: Jordan Patterson, the haunted young man who will guide Harry on his last voyage out; the camp’s owner Joe Crosby, a Vietnam draft evader who has spent a lifetime “trying to learn what it means to be brave”; Joe’s wife, Lucy, the woman Harry has loved for three decades; and Joe and Lucy’s daughter Kate—the spirited young woman who holds the key to the last unopened door to the past.
As their stories unfold, secrets are revealed, courage is tested, and the bonds of love are strengthened. And always center stage is the place itself—a magical, forgotten corner of New England where the longings of the human heart are mirrored in the wild beauty of the landscape.
369 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
574 people are currently reading
7227 people want to read
About the author
Justin Cronin
28 books11.4k followersIn 2010, Justin Cronin’s The Passage was a phenomenon. The unforgettable tale that critics and readers compared to the novels of Cormac McCarthy, Michael Crichton, Stephen King, and Margaret Atwood became a runaway bestseller and enchanted readers around the globe. It spent 3 months on The New York Times bestseller list. It was featured on more than a dozen “Best of the Year” lists, including Time’s “Top 10 Fiction of 2010,” NPR’s “Year’s Most Transporting Books,” and Esquire’s “Best & Brightest of 2010.” It was a #1 Indie Next Selection. It sold in over 40 countries and became a bestseller in many of them. Stephen King called The Passage “enthralling… read this book and the ordinary world disappears.” Now, PEN/Hemingway Award-winner Justin Cronin bring us the conclusion to his epic trilogy with The City of Mirrors. For the last time, Amy—the Girl from Nowhere, who lived a thousand years—will join her friends and face down the demons that threaten the last of humanity. Justin Cronin is also the author of Mary and O’Neil (which won the PEN/Hemingway Award and the Stephen Crane Prize), and The Summer Guest. Other honors for his writing include a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Whiting Writer’s Award. A Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Rice University, he divides his time between Houston, Texas, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 922 reviews
February 26, 2025
This was a re-read for my book group. I love this author's non-vampire stories, and I enjoyed it even the second time around.
I wish that I liked vampire books because I sure love the way this author writes. I recently finished Mary and O’Neil and now The Summer Guest. Both novels were structured in a similar manner. This eloquent, spare and poignant book evokes a strong sense of place as Cronin introduces the reader to an interconnected group of residents and visitors at a summer camp in Maine. All the characters were well developed, likable and their relationships with each other were tender and loving. Even though one theme is the imminent death of one individual, the specter of death doesn’t hang heavy. The novel is told from five points of view to gradually reveal past secrets as the story unfolds. Those revelations expose most of the narrators to be complex, flawed but still endearing. It’s beautifully told and compelling to the end.
I wish that I liked vampire books because I sure love the way this author writes. I recently finished Mary and O’Neil and now The Summer Guest. Both novels were structured in a similar manner. This eloquent, spare and poignant book evokes a strong sense of place as Cronin introduces the reader to an interconnected group of residents and visitors at a summer camp in Maine. All the characters were well developed, likable and their relationships with each other were tender and loving. Even though one theme is the imminent death of one individual, the specter of death doesn’t hang heavy. The novel is told from five points of view to gradually reveal past secrets as the story unfolds. Those revelations expose most of the narrators to be complex, flawed but still endearing. It’s beautifully told and compelling to the end.
February 27, 2011
It is so rare to read a book that has not one boring page in it. This is an elegantly written family saga and suspenseful tale which is visually stunning and emotionally riveting. Polished, immersing, unputdownable. I wanted in. I wanted to leap into the novel--literally! and connect with the characters personally. There are times it brought me to my knees.
This is an author who braids craft with art without sacrificing one for the other. Cronin controls his story and characters with a fierce yet velvet subtlety. It shimmers, like a cold, clean, pure Maine river. The North Woods sparkles in all its four glorious seasons and becomes an important part of the story. I was ready to chuck it all and find that spot in Maine and move there.
The prologue begins just after WW II and continues for about 20 pages. We then are carried to the 1990's, where much of the action takes place, all at this Maine fishing camp for tourists run by a family in its second generation of ownership. It is a reflective story that draws heavily on past events. Cronin masters the back and forth sequences of time without distracting or annoying the reader--in fact, the story blooms with time changes rather than halts.
After reading the last page, I closed the book and just sat there, staring at the cover, drifting back into the story, a shudder through my body, a sigh that wouldn't quit. It was such an exalting experience that I have to gush. I want to share this compelling and unforgettable story with everyone. It is practically flawless. Literature, and a page-turner, a passionate drama. Cronin's powerful and well-chosen narrative style and classy use of the English language prevents it from ever being melodrama.
My heart spills over my words.
This is an author who braids craft with art without sacrificing one for the other. Cronin controls his story and characters with a fierce yet velvet subtlety. It shimmers, like a cold, clean, pure Maine river. The North Woods sparkles in all its four glorious seasons and becomes an important part of the story. I was ready to chuck it all and find that spot in Maine and move there.
The prologue begins just after WW II and continues for about 20 pages. We then are carried to the 1990's, where much of the action takes place, all at this Maine fishing camp for tourists run by a family in its second generation of ownership. It is a reflective story that draws heavily on past events. Cronin masters the back and forth sequences of time without distracting or annoying the reader--in fact, the story blooms with time changes rather than halts.
After reading the last page, I closed the book and just sat there, staring at the cover, drifting back into the story, a shudder through my body, a sigh that wouldn't quit. It was such an exalting experience that I have to gush. I want to share this compelling and unforgettable story with everyone. It is practically flawless. Literature, and a page-turner, a passionate drama. Cronin's powerful and well-chosen narrative style and classy use of the English language prevents it from ever being melodrama.
My heart spills over my words.
September 2, 2008
I had Justin Cronin as a professor and he was pretty great. He gave these quizzes to make sure you did the reading, but they would be really really easy. You would know the answers right away if you read, but wouldn't have a clue if you didn't. I got a 100 on all of them. Once, however, I was staring into space waiting for the next question. I honestly wasn't looking at anything. I caught Justin's eye, and realized I had been staring right at someone else's paper. He immediately made an announcement to the class about how we shouldn't cheat on something so dumb.
Justin, if you're reading this, I swear I wasn't cheating.
On to the book - this isn't nearly as wonderful as Mary and O'Neil, but I didn't expect him to top that one. I love the idea of moving somewhere to get away where no one knows anything about you, not even your name. Moving somewhere to work and not necessarily forget, but to just be. Sound familiar?
-Alex/Sasha
Justin, if you're reading this, I swear I wasn't cheating.
On to the book - this isn't nearly as wonderful as Mary and O'Neil, but I didn't expect him to top that one. I love the idea of moving somewhere to get away where no one knows anything about you, not even your name. Moving somewhere to work and not necessarily forget, but to just be. Sound familiar?
-Alex/Sasha
October 28, 2020
A wonderful, peaceful story of Family. loves and bonds.
I liked all the people in this book and appreciated hearing their voices individually as their stories unfolded and came together.
A look at the past and the present. A lovely setting, too.
I enjoyed Justin Cronin's The Passage trilogy as well. This book proves that he can tell a good story in various genres.
I liked all the people in this book and appreciated hearing their voices individually as their stories unfolded and came together.
A look at the past and the present. A lovely setting, too.
I enjoyed Justin Cronin's The Passage trilogy as well. This book proves that he can tell a good story in various genres.
July 4, 2015
This is my first Justin Cronin novel, and I loved his writing. I will say, though, I started this a couple of weeks ago and I just couldn't do it. It was too wordy. I tabled it for later. I'm glad I did because once I started this again, I gained an appreciation for his descriptive style. He didn't simply describe something, but he added an extra layer of description and then sometimes another layer. Because the descriptions were so rich, the people and the place were vivid.
The characters had a deep and abiding love for the quiet setting of this novel, which was a rustic fishing camp/lodge where they wished to be there forever. I found that very interesting because we live in such mobile time. Our generation always seems to be moving on to bigger and better. The characters were flawed but they were basically good. There was such a tight focus on them and their relationships.
This was enjoyable. It was slow in a few places, but I hardly noticed because during those times, I was paying attention to the writing.
The characters had a deep and abiding love for the quiet setting of this novel, which was a rustic fishing camp/lodge where they wished to be there forever. I found that very interesting because we live in such mobile time. Our generation always seems to be moving on to bigger and better. The characters were flawed but they were basically good. There was such a tight focus on them and their relationships.
This was enjoyable. It was slow in a few places, but I hardly noticed because during those times, I was paying attention to the writing.
February 22, 2010
I am delighted to read the reviews about this book on Good Reads. I agree with almost everything that's been said: the Maine setting; the deep and abiding affection through the generations---both to a place and to people; the decency of all of the characters. It's pretty close to perfect.
October 31, 2010
Didn't believe in the characters, which made me really not care about them at all. Which is a shame, because there was a lot of sad stuff going on here and it would have made me feel less like a heartless bitch if I could respond with some kind of emotion. But all the characters told their individual stories (stories that I couldn't force myself to be interested in) in the first person, but all with the same voice (with the same weird and pretentious similes), which was both unrealistic and a little confusing...I kept mixing up the characters in my head. Of course, that was also partially because I didn't care enough about the story to make any real effort to keep them straight. The characters all related their perspectives as memories, in a way which I found to be inauthentic and distant, which in turn made me feel distant and disconnected from the book and ready for it to END already. It didn't offer any surprises, was slow and boring and just didn't resonate with me.
April 10, 2017
Bang! I want no misunderstandings from the very beginning of this review. I loved the crap out of this novel. It wasn't perfect, hence a 4 1/2 star rating (what the heck is?), but pretty damned close.
A very simple story constructed around six complex and diverse characters, linked with some very human and emotional dialog. Think of reuniting with your closest childhood friend, your first true love, or any very special person you haven't seen in years, but still think of often. Think of the things you could share, ultimately would share, with this person. That's what I felt reading this novel. It's as if I were sharing a close, but distant friend's life experiences.
I am an adult male and freely admit that this novel, on more than one occasion, required me to set down my Kindle and wipe a tear from my eye, stop my lip from quivering, or just think of the people and events that are part of my own past.
To me, Cornin demonstrates an ability to convey strong emotional feelings, using simple, everyday language.
"He had grown into a fine young man, strong and thoughtful, organized in his affairs, perhaps a little melancholy, though that was understandable: his mother was dying, his father seemed only to have just found him, like a book left carelessly on the patio, or a ring of keys he’d mislaid."
"His final pneumonia took him quickly: a fever that rocketed skyward, the tiny, bottlelike lungs filling, coma, death within hours. After all he’d been through, it seemed a mercy, though of course that was an illusion, something to say to fill the silence of his missing life: the bicycle he would not ride, the books he would not read, the friends he would not have and the girl he would not kiss."
If you want a detailed description of the story, read the book jacket, or the publisher's summary. The real question is, will you enjoy this novel? If you're willing to take a break from dystopian worlds, cataclysmic encounters with alien cultures, or the most recent plot to destroy democracy, give it a shot and see how good writing can direct your thoughts, even to places you may not have initially wanted to visit. While I would hesitate to say that this novel had some profound impact upon me, it has caused me to spend time wondering if some of the things I always thought were important, really are. The highest honor that I can bestow on any novel is to say that I was sad to finish it. I was very sad to finish this one.
A very simple story constructed around six complex and diverse characters, linked with some very human and emotional dialog. Think of reuniting with your closest childhood friend, your first true love, or any very special person you haven't seen in years, but still think of often. Think of the things you could share, ultimately would share, with this person. That's what I felt reading this novel. It's as if I were sharing a close, but distant friend's life experiences.
I am an adult male and freely admit that this novel, on more than one occasion, required me to set down my Kindle and wipe a tear from my eye, stop my lip from quivering, or just think of the people and events that are part of my own past.
To me, Cornin demonstrates an ability to convey strong emotional feelings, using simple, everyday language.
"He had grown into a fine young man, strong and thoughtful, organized in his affairs, perhaps a little melancholy, though that was understandable: his mother was dying, his father seemed only to have just found him, like a book left carelessly on the patio, or a ring of keys he’d mislaid."
"His final pneumonia took him quickly: a fever that rocketed skyward, the tiny, bottlelike lungs filling, coma, death within hours. After all he’d been through, it seemed a mercy, though of course that was an illusion, something to say to fill the silence of his missing life: the bicycle he would not ride, the books he would not read, the friends he would not have and the girl he would not kiss."
If you want a detailed description of the story, read the book jacket, or the publisher's summary. The real question is, will you enjoy this novel? If you're willing to take a break from dystopian worlds, cataclysmic encounters with alien cultures, or the most recent plot to destroy democracy, give it a shot and see how good writing can direct your thoughts, even to places you may not have initially wanted to visit. While I would hesitate to say that this novel had some profound impact upon me, it has caused me to spend time wondering if some of the things I always thought were important, really are. The highest honor that I can bestow on any novel is to say that I was sad to finish it. I was very sad to finish this one.
July 14, 2016
A friend of mine gave me this book and said she really liked it. The book was a little wrinkled because she got it wet in the bathrub. I could not put this book down and found myself reading it in the tub also.
This book alternates chapters between characters - which I love. The descriptions of Maine made me want to go there and find a camp just like this one. The story made me laugh and tear up some. I know I have read an excellent book when that happens.
I have not seen this book advertised or recommended anywhere and it was published in 2003. Do not know why because it was wonderful. Great writing and I loved the characters. Bravo!
This book alternates chapters between characters - which I love. The descriptions of Maine made me want to go there and find a camp just like this one. The story made me laugh and tear up some. I know I have read an excellent book when that happens.
I have not seen this book advertised or recommended anywhere and it was published in 2003. Do not know why because it was wonderful. Great writing and I loved the characters. Bravo!
April 12, 2025
5 sterren, omdat elke bladzijde mooi was.
Zinnen die je soms moet herlezen, zodat je ze even op je in kunt laten werken. Het is een boek waarbij aan het eind alles op zijn plaats valt.
Ik denk dat de verhalen van de personages - die je zó goed leert kennen - nog wel een tijdje in mijn hoofd zullen zitten.
Zinnen die je soms moet herlezen, zodat je ze even op je in kunt laten werken. Het is een boek waarbij aan het eind alles op zijn plaats valt.
Ik denk dat de verhalen van de personages - die je zó goed leert kennen - nog wel een tijdje in mijn hoofd zullen zitten.
August 31, 2011
Another good Justin Cronin book. About relationships - this time, father and daughter. His books are such a pleasure to read because he has this way with words that is mesmerizing. Here's an example worth reading:
"I had a dog once - what a dog he was! A retriever with something else mixed in, a breed that liked to work and herd: Australian shepherd, maybe, or collie. I named him Mauritz, though Hal called him Ritzy and it stuck. Ritzy the dog. A steadfast member of the team, as relentless as a metronome: Meredith joked that he would have taken a job bagging groceries at the corner market if only he'd had hands. I loved him, as one can only love such a dog; but I also knew what he was. Behind his eyes, twin chestnuts of the most tender soulfulness, lay encased in its suitcase of bone, a brain that knew nothing at all of time or sorrow or even the true joy that sorrow makes possible - only its own desire to please, an aching, needful love that could achieve its fullest contentment with the most meager offering: a stale biscuit, a walk around the block to do his business, a pat on his golden head. His own existence, its nature and finitude, was a mystery to him; he might have thought he was a person, or else I was a dog. The day I took him to the vet to have him put down - he was thirteen, his hips so bad he could barely walk to his bowl - I could think of only this to say: "You have been a good dog, and a great comfort to me, and I thank you." It was all he wanted to hear. I'd never wished so badly to be the dog he thought I was.
"I had a dog once - what a dog he was! A retriever with something else mixed in, a breed that liked to work and herd: Australian shepherd, maybe, or collie. I named him Mauritz, though Hal called him Ritzy and it stuck. Ritzy the dog. A steadfast member of the team, as relentless as a metronome: Meredith joked that he would have taken a job bagging groceries at the corner market if only he'd had hands. I loved him, as one can only love such a dog; but I also knew what he was. Behind his eyes, twin chestnuts of the most tender soulfulness, lay encased in its suitcase of bone, a brain that knew nothing at all of time or sorrow or even the true joy that sorrow makes possible - only its own desire to please, an aching, needful love that could achieve its fullest contentment with the most meager offering: a stale biscuit, a walk around the block to do his business, a pat on his golden head. His own existence, its nature and finitude, was a mystery to him; he might have thought he was a person, or else I was a dog. The day I took him to the vet to have him put down - he was thirteen, his hips so bad he could barely walk to his bowl - I could think of only this to say: "You have been a good dog, and a great comfort to me, and I thank you." It was all he wanted to hear. I'd never wished so badly to be the dog he thought I was.
June 8, 2014
If I ever write a book, I hope I write half as well as Justin Cronin. I love his style, the way he puts words together. That is what struck me first.
Next, I became intrigued by the story, which was revealed bit by bit. It was like looking at a series of pictures and hearing a story about each one.
But last and best, I fell in love with the people. It's hard to even call them characters. I wanted to know them forever. I want to go and stay in one of the cabins and eat breakfast in the lodge and watch a movie by the lake. This doesn't feel like a book I read. It feels like a place I lived and people I loved.
Next, I became intrigued by the story, which was revealed bit by bit. It was like looking at a series of pictures and hearing a story about each one.
But last and best, I fell in love with the people. It's hard to even call them characters. I wanted to know them forever. I want to go and stay in one of the cabins and eat breakfast in the lodge and watch a movie by the lake. This doesn't feel like a book I read. It feels like a place I lived and people I loved.
July 16, 2022
Going 4 stars because there are a few relatively little things that I’m not quite sure how I feel about, but overall it’s a beautiful book that I would recommend to most people. I’ll try to flesh out my thoughts before writing my full review! Interested to check out Cronin’s Passage trilogy now as well.
November 10, 2021
Be sure to visit my Favorites Shelf for the books I found most entertaining.
If you're looking for action or a fast-paced read, The Summer Guest isn't the answer. This book is about family and relationships.
I found the story hard to follow due to multiple characters with similar names; Joe Sr, Joe Jr (Joey), Jordan, Harry and Hal. And also, the timelines were numerous and moved in several directions. It all comes together towards the end, but I prefer stories that flow easily from one chapter to the next.
My favourite section of the book was the first few chapters telling how Joe and his wife first came to the camp. I connected with Joe right away. He was down-to-earth and honest.
On my to-read list since 2014, I'm glad I finally read it.
If you're looking for action or a fast-paced read, The Summer Guest isn't the answer. This book is about family and relationships.
I found the story hard to follow due to multiple characters with similar names; Joe Sr, Joe Jr (Joey), Jordan, Harry and Hal. And also, the timelines were numerous and moved in several directions. It all comes together towards the end, but I prefer stories that flow easily from one chapter to the next.
My favourite section of the book was the first few chapters telling how Joe and his wife first came to the camp. I connected with Joe right away. He was down-to-earth and honest.
On my to-read list since 2014, I'm glad I finally read it.
July 4, 2017
2.99
I love a nice cover and was immediately drawn to this one. I had read The Passage which was a 4 star read but haven't completed the trilogy. This book is nothing like The Passage. The setting is a fishing camp in Maine, the writing is so beautifully descriptive I felt I was right there. It left me wishing I lived there. The elegant writing sucked me in. A family saga told in six point of views from Harry, Joe Sr. Lucy, Kate, Joe Jr. and Jordan in alternating chapters. I enjoy this style of writing. Strong character driven, beautiful storyline which all ties together nicely in the end. I did not want this one to end, you read the last few sentences and sigh. I'm going to move The Twelve up on my TBR list. Cronin is a gifted writer, if you've not read any of his books you need to!
I love a nice cover and was immediately drawn to this one. I had read The Passage which was a 4 star read but haven't completed the trilogy. This book is nothing like The Passage. The setting is a fishing camp in Maine, the writing is so beautifully descriptive I felt I was right there. It left me wishing I lived there. The elegant writing sucked me in. A family saga told in six point of views from Harry, Joe Sr. Lucy, Kate, Joe Jr. and Jordan in alternating chapters. I enjoy this style of writing. Strong character driven, beautiful storyline which all ties together nicely in the end. I did not want this one to end, you read the last few sentences and sigh. I'm going to move The Twelve up on my TBR list. Cronin is a gifted writer, if you've not read any of his books you need to!
September 22, 2024
The Crosby family is at the center of this sprawling novel. They have operated a fishing camp in rural Maine for two generations. Also featured heavily in the narrative is a wealthy businessman, “The Summer Guest” who has a deep fondness for the camp and becomes deeply entrenched with this family. From World War II through the Vietnam era, we follow this family, through a wide range of joys and difficulties. Secrets kept and secrets revealed. I can not recommend this novel high enough and I also think this could be a contender for one of the Great American Novels.
August 9, 2021
This is a captivating book about the frailty and resilience of the human spirit. And what I mean by "captivating" is that it will grab you in the first few pages and not let go.
Written by Justin Cronin, this is the story of the Crosby family, who own and operate a lakeside lodge and fishing camp in the wild, untamed woods of the most northern part of Maine. Joe Sr. started it all soon after World War II, and it soon became an idyllic summer respite for busy professionals living and working in the city. Joe's son, also named Joe, grows up on the property, but when it comes time for him to report to duty after being drafted to go to Vietnam, his war hero dad has other ideas. Joe's girlfriend (and later his wife), Lucy, works at the lodge and is the glue that holds everything together, along with their daughter, Kate, and the summer hired hand, Jordan. Rounding out this cast of characters is the fabulously wealthy and important Harry Wainwright, a summer guest who returns every year. At the heart of the novel is Harry's dying wish to return to the camp for one last fishing adventure on the lake.
The brilliance of this multilayered story is that it is all character driven. Each chapter is told from the point of view of different characters, which serves to move the plot back and forth in time over three generations. Events that happened to one character are perceived in different ways by others. Long-kept secrets are revealed, and passions are kindled. There is life. There is death. There is a terrifying brush with death. It is the story of the human condition.
While this is an ideal book to read in the summer, don't be fooled by the title. It's not a lighthearted beach romance. This is a serious book with a serious message that is both profound and moving.
Written by Justin Cronin, this is the story of the Crosby family, who own and operate a lakeside lodge and fishing camp in the wild, untamed woods of the most northern part of Maine. Joe Sr. started it all soon after World War II, and it soon became an idyllic summer respite for busy professionals living and working in the city. Joe's son, also named Joe, grows up on the property, but when it comes time for him to report to duty after being drafted to go to Vietnam, his war hero dad has other ideas. Joe's girlfriend (and later his wife), Lucy, works at the lodge and is the glue that holds everything together, along with their daughter, Kate, and the summer hired hand, Jordan. Rounding out this cast of characters is the fabulously wealthy and important Harry Wainwright, a summer guest who returns every year. At the heart of the novel is Harry's dying wish to return to the camp for one last fishing adventure on the lake.
The brilliance of this multilayered story is that it is all character driven. Each chapter is told from the point of view of different characters, which serves to move the plot back and forth in time over three generations. Events that happened to one character are perceived in different ways by others. Long-kept secrets are revealed, and passions are kindled. There is life. There is death. There is a terrifying brush with death. It is the story of the human condition.
While this is an ideal book to read in the summer, don't be fooled by the title. It's not a lighthearted beach romance. This is a serious book with a serious message that is both profound and moving.
April 12, 2011
This is a stunning novel written in 2005. I think it is so breathtaking, everyone should be able to share in its beauty. The story takes place at a rustic fishing camp on the northern tip of Maine, and spans the eras just after World War II and continues through three generations of family and friends. The plot revolves around a wealthy entrepreneur who fell in love with the camp as a young man and revisited it for thirty years. The last trip he makes there is different in that he has come for his final visit - he is dying of terminal cancer. The camp itself serves as the physical and emotional center for the extended circle of family and friends. Each character tells their back story in alternating chapters that depict love, war, disease, loss, betrayal and redemption . These stories are told with such deep and touching sincerity of emotions that it’s hard to look away. The novel has a lovely timeless quality that remains constant even when dealing with the bedrock realities of family and place. Mr. Cronin has a superb ability to create tremendous beauty out of the everyday business of living, loving and dying. This is an extraordinary book peopled by fantastic characters and heartbreaking warmth. Do yourself a favor and become a summer guest in this beautifully created tale.
March 18, 2022
I read this book because I really liked the author’s writing in The Passage. And I don’t really enjoy vampire books. I liked the author’s writing so much, I read the entire vampire trilogy. And all of the books were long. I just looked it up and all three books added together were 1,386 pages. On a subject that’s real iffy for me. But I read them all. Because I liked the author’s writing.
This book….just this one book…seemed longer and more drawn out than the 1,386 pages of the vampire trilogy. And I generally like books like this that are basically just stories.
I liked the women characters. But the male characters would have been better jumping into that Maine lake in February. And the ending. I flipped the page back because I thought I had surely missed some pages. And that is hard to do on a kindle! But what a dumb ending to a long book. In fact, I was going to give the book 3 stars, but I’ve just talked myself out of a star.
This book….just this one book…seemed longer and more drawn out than the 1,386 pages of the vampire trilogy. And I generally like books like this that are basically just stories.
I liked the women characters. But the male characters would have been better jumping into that Maine lake in February. And the ending. I flipped the page back because I thought I had surely missed some pages. And that is hard to do on a kindle! But what a dumb ending to a long book. In fact, I was going to give the book 3 stars, but I’ve just talked myself out of a star.
January 9, 2012
I picked this after reading and loving The Passage. The Summer Guest is quite a different experience than the former, and I'd describe it as a little sleepy. I'm not sure how the story could have been made more exciting, but I don't think it was really meant to be. A lot of the best parts arrive late in the story, and you do find that you care about the characters by that point which certainly makes a different. I'm a little ho-hum about this one in reflection but it was a pleasant read nonetheless.
October 10, 2014
A lovely story about three-generations of a family who run a fishing camp in a remote area of Maine. The story unfolds through the points of view of various family members and friends in alternating chapters, utilizing flashbacks to explain what is happening in the present--which is that a sick old man has come back to the camp to die. The main focus of the story is about relationships, especially that between a daughter and her father.
June 13, 2020
Beautifully written. A gorgeous story. Wonderful sense of place. I loved each and every one of the well-developed characters.
Cronin captures the way a place gets into your blood. He captures the sense of yearning for THAT place, the way it’s smells trigger memories, the bittersweet feelings it evokes of remembered “better” times.
I plan on reading everything he has written!
Cronin captures the way a place gets into your blood. He captures the sense of yearning for THAT place, the way it’s smells trigger memories, the bittersweet feelings it evokes of remembered “better” times.
I plan on reading everything he has written!
March 4, 2020
I find Justin Cronin an interesting writer. Any writer who can go from a vampiric trilogy (The Passage series) to a thoughtful rendition of relationships (Mary and O'Neill) quite remarkable. I was not disappointed in this book. He weaves a compelling story of love and life and our impact on each other.
August 25, 2017
John Irving + Kent Haruf = This novel.
A great read.
Families, secrets, danger & death.
A great read.
Families, secrets, danger & death.
July 9, 2009
This book is set in a fishing camp in nothern Maine so for location alone I was drawn into the book. However, I also enjoyed the storytelling style. Most of the story is told looking back, and by 5 different characters. I found the transition from their reflections back to the present nearly seamless which I found intriguing just from a writing perspective. In addition, there are mini-stories within the larger novel, each of which can be contemplated individually as well as part of an integrated whole. One scene with Harry and Meredith I found particularly well written.
To whomever I borrowed this from (I'm sure it was one of you), your name isn't in it, so let me know if it's yours and I will happily return it!
To whomever I borrowed this from (I'm sure it was one of you), your name isn't in it, so let me know if it's yours and I will happily return it!
March 7, 2019
This will forever be one of most favorite books. I’m drawn to books where the setting is as much as a character as the individuals. In this one it is a Northern Maine lake and fishing camp. The writing is beautiful. The characters amazingly special. This is a book in which I’m sad it’s over. A story about fathers and sons; first and life long loves, our inner battles and the wars around us, and finding peace and courage. It’s too bad this author mostly writes about vampires and what not these days as I would read his work again.
January 22, 2011
This book is a smooth read; it's generally well written, although Cronin's characters often speak in such cliches that it's hard to believe in it. The end is affecting. However, the book never really rises above the superficial level in terms of the characters, emotions etc. These aren't especially complicated characters, and I didn't come away from this feeling that I had read either a great book or a book with keen insight into the human condition.
March 5, 2011
Read this off my shelf where it had been for the last year. Loved it. Just a great story, so different from the passage, but I actually liked it better. It got me reading again.
November 2, 2025
This novel is lovely and elegiac. It is like reading a literary jigsaw puzzle that connects the lives of each character with their own history and family of choice. It is told from different perspectives, in differing timelines, and brings to light the mysteries and glue that make us who we are within the scope of those we are connected to.
The setting is Maine, a rural fishing retreat that has been in existence for decades. Joe and his wife Lucy run the camp and it is peopled by many who return each year for the fishing and camaraderie. What are the connections that bring each person back each summer? How do they fit into the big picture and current happenings?
It is beautifully written, the pace reminiscent of a meandering stream in rural Maine. I can see the trout and feel its tug on the line; I hear the wine glasses clinking in the evenings, and hear the banter between old friends and lovers.
I highly recommend this novel, a distinct change from the author's more well-known fare.
The setting is Maine, a rural fishing retreat that has been in existence for decades. Joe and his wife Lucy run the camp and it is peopled by many who return each year for the fishing and camaraderie. What are the connections that bring each person back each summer? How do they fit into the big picture and current happenings?
It is beautifully written, the pace reminiscent of a meandering stream in rural Maine. I can see the trout and feel its tug on the line; I hear the wine glasses clinking in the evenings, and hear the banter between old friends and lovers.
I highly recommend this novel, a distinct change from the author's more well-known fare.
May 25, 2023
I am only two books into Justin Cronin's catalogue but he his solidifying his spot as a favorite very early. The Summer Guest was so eye-opening, heart wrenching, thought provoking. Justin Cronin is a master at giving you characters and making you feel so many emotions in just a short amount of time. What really made this book magical is that it was told in 1st person POV, but he was able to give every character there own voice. The Summer Guest is told over the span of about 50 years in just 360 pages. So much is told through flashbacks and it all comes full circle in a wondrous way. I highly recommend. Be very wary of the triggers in this novel though, there are several. So I would do your research before diving in.
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