Book Review: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I read this book a few years back, but it’s one that stuck with me. First, I am a Kristin Hannah fangirl. Not only as a reader, but her storytelling has influenced my writing.

Summer Island unfurls the intricate layers of a mother-daughter relationship tested by time and truth. When Nora Bridge left her family to build a career as a renowned radio talk show host, she didn't just abandon her marriage, she left a scar on her daughters, especially Ruby, her youngest. As Nora hands out family advice to her listeners, her estranged family crumbles in the backdrop, hidden from the public eye. Decades pass, and an incendiary scandal drags Nora's private failings into the glaring spotlight. Ruby, grappling with her own place in the world as an aspiring comedienne, is tempted by an offer to pen a tell-all biography about her estranged mother.

Circumstances push Ruby back to the nostalgic shores of Summer Island, the family home, forcing her to navigate the complex tides of her relationships. As she faces her first love, a dying childhood companion, and the revelations from a mother she thought she knew, Ruby's journey becomes one of self-discovery and reconciliation. The story delicately reveals the power of truths spoken and the redemption found in forgiveness.

Kristin Hannah's craftsmanship evolves with the novel, blossoming into the rich, evocative prose that fans adore. She weaves a tale that resonates with anyone who has ever sought understanding and compassion amidst familial strife. The narrative offers profound insights into the resilience required to mend bonds and the grace of giving and receiving forgiveness, echoing in the hearts of readers long after they've turned the last page. Summer Island is more than a story; it's a testament to the beauty of second chances and the liberating force of letting go.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars only because it took a few chapters to find the rhythm.

My favorite quote from Summer Island

“A daughter without her mother is a woman broken. It is a loss that turns to arthritis and settles deep in her bones. This I know now.” ~Kristin Hannah