What do readers think of The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable? Write your own review.

I was prepared to really enjoy this book as I've enjoyed Ms. Gable's previous books. However, the book was all over the place with multi-generational family history, the personal histories, the summer house they are trying to save, consequences of war and dangers of having deep secrets. The book just tried to do too much and became tiresome and predictable. Some of the characters were interesting while others fell into stereotypes. While not unhappy to have read this book, it was not a favorite.

I was very disappointed in this book. I liked Michelle Gable's previous book (A Paris Apartment) and expected this one to be equally well written. The basic plot line of trying to save an elegant Nantucket mansion from falling into the ocean is an interesting one, but the author veers off in so many disjointed directions that the main idea becomes lost. Cliff House becomes a more interesting character than its inhabitants. The dialogue between characters is sappy, and the attempt to imitate the hip lingo of the 1940s is extremely annoying. The use of the guest book to advance the numerous plot lines was way too gimmicky. All in all this was an underwhelming read.

If you like to cry over poor rich people losing their million dollars house to erosion, cry over rich egocentric women from the past living in the same house, this book is for you. The only good side is I did not waste my money on that book.