What do you think?
Rate this book
The Forever Summer
When a DNA test reveals long-buried secrets, three generations of women reunite on Cape Cod for the homecoming of a lifetime.
Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: at twenty-eight she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and the hard-won admiration of her father. But one moment of weakness leaves Marin unemployed and alone, all in a single day. Then a woman claiming to be Marin's half-sister shows up, and it's all Marin can do not to break down completely. Seeking escape, Marin agrees to a road trip to meet the grandmother she never knew she had. As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's quaint beachside B&B, it becomes clear that the truth of her half-sister is just the beginning of revelations that will change Marin's life forever. THE FOREVER SUMMER is a delicious page-turner and a provocative exploration of what happens when our notions of love, truth, and family are put to the ultimate test.
Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: at twenty-eight she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and the hard-won admiration of her father. But one moment of weakness leaves Marin unemployed and alone, all in a single day. Then a woman claiming to be Marin's half-sister shows up, and it's all Marin can do not to break down completely. Seeking escape, Marin agrees to a road trip to meet the grandmother she never knew she had. As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's quaint beachside B&B, it becomes clear that the truth of her half-sister is just the beginning of revelations that will change Marin's life forever. THE FOREVER SUMMER is a delicious page-turner and a provocative exploration of what happens when our notions of love, truth, and family are put to the ultimate test.
358 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2017
About the author
Jamie Brenner
18 books1,580 followersJamie Brenner grew up in suburban Philadelphia on a steady diet of Jackie Collins and Judith Krantz novels. Her books include the national bestseller THE FOREVER SUMMER and her upcoming A NOVEL SUMMER (Park Row Books/HarperCollins). Jamie lives in Bucks County, PA and spends her summers visiting the beach towns that inspire her novels.
For contact info, tour dates, and book clubs please visit www.jamiebrenner.com and Instagram @jamiebrennerwrites
For contact info, tour dates, and book clubs please visit www.jamiebrenner.com and Instagram @jamiebrennerwrites
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,076 reviews
April 19, 2017
Marin Bishop’s life is in shambles. She is thirty years old and has just broken off her engagement because she is cheating on her fiance with a co-worker. Cheating must be hereditary in the Bishop family because her parent’s marriage is also dissolving due to her father's indiscretions. Complicating matters is an email from a twenty-two year old woman named Rachel, who claims to be her half sister. This revelation came after Marin innocently supplied DNA through a testing kit at work.
Rachel always wanted to know the history of her father’s family since her mother’s pregnancy was a result of a sperm donation. The DNA testing provided her with enough information about her father to find her paternal grandmother. She is excited about her discoveries and invites Marin to join her when she meets her new grandmother. Marin must decide if Rachel is a hoax because the truth implies that her family is full of devastating secrets.
This book is about a family coming together for a summer under unique circumstances. The author does a wonderful job weaving some of the universal themes such as love, regret, and happiness. I enjoyed this heartfelt book by Jamie Brenner.
2 book giveaway on my blog until 4/25 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
Rachel always wanted to know the history of her father’s family since her mother’s pregnancy was a result of a sperm donation. The DNA testing provided her with enough information about her father to find her paternal grandmother. She is excited about her discoveries and invites Marin to join her when she meets her new grandmother. Marin must decide if Rachel is a hoax because the truth implies that her family is full of devastating secrets.
This book is about a family coming together for a summer under unique circumstances. The author does a wonderful job weaving some of the universal themes such as love, regret, and happiness. I enjoyed this heartfelt book by Jamie Brenner.
2 book giveaway on my blog until 4/25 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
June 15, 2017
How shocking would it be to take a genetics test as a work-related project and get matched with a half-sister you knew nothing about? Marin Bishop is sure there must be a mistake with the test when someone from California makes that claim. This discovery leads the two young women to spend the summer on the northern tip of Cape Cod, home of a grandmother they've never met.
THE FOREVER SUMMER is a bittersweet tale of family secrets, love, and forgiveness, with a perfect summertime setting. I enjoyed the multigenerational cast of strong female characters, and reading about how this group of strangers forged a bond. There were tears, heartache, and other trying revelations along the way. This was a great beach read, and the Provincetown location was beautifully described. Sounds like an amazing place to spend the summer! (Borrowed from the library.)
THE FOREVER SUMMER is a bittersweet tale of family secrets, love, and forgiveness, with a perfect summertime setting. I enjoyed the multigenerational cast of strong female characters, and reading about how this group of strangers forged a bond. There were tears, heartache, and other trying revelations along the way. This was a great beach read, and the Provincetown location was beautifully described. Sounds like an amazing place to spend the summer! (Borrowed from the library.)
July 9, 2018
The Forever Summer was thoroughly delightful.
I enjoyed getting to the know the characters, all different, but recognisable.
Provincetown provides the perfect background for this family saga. The messiness of life is well encapsulated in this novel: strained family relationships, divorce, disease, half-siblings who had no idea about each other existence, make for a realistic but enjoyable journey.
This was my first Jamie Brenner novel. I will happily read other novels written by her.
I enjoyed getting to the know the characters, all different, but recognisable.
Provincetown provides the perfect background for this family saga. The messiness of life is well encapsulated in this novel: strained family relationships, divorce, disease, half-siblings who had no idea about each other existence, make for a realistic but enjoyable journey.
This was my first Jamie Brenner novel. I will happily read other novels written by her.
June 20, 2017
“The thing about families was that there was always some question nobody wanted to answer for you, and it was like a stray thread pulling loose in a sweater. You could tug at it all you wanted, but in the end, all you'd have was a pile of twisted yarn.”
----Sarah Sullivan
Jamie Brenner, an American author, has penned a compelling family drama in her new contemporary fiction, The Forever Summer that centers around three generations of women, all tied up together in a web of long buried family secrets, that unravel this summer to bring them closer to the summer house in order to reunite and find one another about their past and the untold secrets and stories, the two half sisters and the mother and the grandfather, all connected with one single link, so read this book to find out now.
Synopsis:
Named one of Coastal Living's 50 Best Books for the Beach, one of Fort Worth Magazine's 10 Must-Read Beach Books, and one of 11 Summer Reads for "maximum vacation enjoyment" by Bustle.com.
When a DNA test reveals long-buried secrets, three generations of women reunite on Cape Cod for the homecoming of a lifetime.
Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: at twenty-eight she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and the hard-won admiration of her father. But one moment of weakness leaves Marin unemployed and alone, all in a single day. Then a woman claiming to be Marin's half-sister shows up, and it's all Marin can do not to break down completely. Seeking escape, Marin agrees to a road trip to meet the grandmother she never knew she had. As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's quaint beach-side B&B, it becomes clear that the truth of her half-sister is just the beginning of revelations that will change Marin's life forever. THE FOREVER SUMMER is a delicious page-turner and a provocative exploration of what happens when our notions of love, truth, and family are put to the ultimate test.
Marin has a perfect life with a fiance as well as with a blooming career, but this summer, she decides to end her engagement as she had been secretly cheating upon her fiance with her boss from her firm where she works. And upon breaking this news to her loving and ideal parents, they feel sad, although her parents, Blythe and Kip too were ready with a similar devastating news to be shared with their daughter, Marin. And that is, Kip and Blythe are getting a divorce because of Kip who has infideled away his marriage with some other woman and that has taken a heavy toll of Blythe, thereby making her feel ignorant of the gravity of the whole situation. Little did Marin had any idea that her summer would turn so appalling when a random DNA test result's email would tell her about the existence of a half sister named Rachel, who too found out about the sperm donor's identity and that led her to the sperm donor's mother, Amelia's beach-side house in Provincetown.
So Marin, who after losing her job at the firm, that discovered about Marin and her boss's affair decides to sack them, decides to pack away her belongings for the summer and zoom off to this little seaside town where there is a possibility of unraveling her family secrets and also a chance to reconnect with them, along with her mother. But is Marin, Rachel, Blythe and Amelia ready to embrace the hard truth that is either going to shatter them or leave them feel happy about their choices?
This is a beautiful depiction of the charm and the feel of actual summer and family secrets that often doesn't harm or destroy the affectionate bonds formed over the ages. This is a happy story and after reading it I actually felt quite summery and blissful about it. Yes a light read that is a must have in your bag when you're planning for a summer vacation. A story to touch hearts and a story that will inspire one to forgive and to accept those lemons that are unfortunately thrown upon our path. Not only the story is infused with emotional family drama, but lots of unpredictable plot twists, that definitely kept me glued till the very end. So chick-lit aficionados, don't miss this apple-pie and slightly ginger cookie flavored summery cocktail of family secrets and romantic drama with a dash of mystery.
The backdrop of Provincetown is well depicted with its tiny little details starting from its folks to its food to its architecture to its golden beach to the customs that bond the people of this town. The vivid portrayal of a beach-side town, especially with the impression of the weather that flows freely through the course of the story line only makes the tale full of its flair and charm. Hence the readers will actually be able to feel the warm breeze and the salty taste in the wind with a smell of the sea while reading this book.
The author's writing style is excellent and articulate enough to make the readers contemplate with the story line. And with a steady dramatic flow of the dialogues, the author has made sure that the narratives hit the readers right at the center of their hearts. Although the emotions aren't that intense or has that kind of depth, yet somehow, keeping it light-hearted will resonate with the readers looking out for a perfect summer read. The pacing is fast, as the story is layered with unforeseeable twists and edgy turns, that give a provocative boost to the story line.
Not that diverse set cast of characters, but this small cast is enough to make the story entertaining and absorbing with their honest and realistic demeanor. From Marin's inquisitive nature to Blythe's sympathetic self to Rachel's excitement to Amelia's grief, everyone's emotions are well tuned and that is penned so strikingly that the readers will find it easy to comprehend with the main characters' plights. Even the secondary characters like Kip, Kelly and many more, are well portrayed that will peak the readers' interest for them.
In a nutshell, even though there is enough drama to keep the readers on their edges, yet the story is going to make the readers extremely reminiscent for one's own family and its values.
Verdict: A perfect beach book that only promises to delight its readers.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Sarah Sullivan
Jamie Brenner, an American author, has penned a compelling family drama in her new contemporary fiction, The Forever Summer that centers around three generations of women, all tied up together in a web of long buried family secrets, that unravel this summer to bring them closer to the summer house in order to reunite and find one another about their past and the untold secrets and stories, the two half sisters and the mother and the grandfather, all connected with one single link, so read this book to find out now.
Synopsis:
Named one of Coastal Living's 50 Best Books for the Beach, one of Fort Worth Magazine's 10 Must-Read Beach Books, and one of 11 Summer Reads for "maximum vacation enjoyment" by Bustle.com.
When a DNA test reveals long-buried secrets, three generations of women reunite on Cape Cod for the homecoming of a lifetime.
Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it's paid off: at twenty-eight she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and the hard-won admiration of her father. But one moment of weakness leaves Marin unemployed and alone, all in a single day. Then a woman claiming to be Marin's half-sister shows up, and it's all Marin can do not to break down completely. Seeking escape, Marin agrees to a road trip to meet the grandmother she never knew she had. As the summer unfolds at her grandmother's quaint beach-side B&B, it becomes clear that the truth of her half-sister is just the beginning of revelations that will change Marin's life forever. THE FOREVER SUMMER is a delicious page-turner and a provocative exploration of what happens when our notions of love, truth, and family are put to the ultimate test.
Marin has a perfect life with a fiance as well as with a blooming career, but this summer, she decides to end her engagement as she had been secretly cheating upon her fiance with her boss from her firm where she works. And upon breaking this news to her loving and ideal parents, they feel sad, although her parents, Blythe and Kip too were ready with a similar devastating news to be shared with their daughter, Marin. And that is, Kip and Blythe are getting a divorce because of Kip who has infideled away his marriage with some other woman and that has taken a heavy toll of Blythe, thereby making her feel ignorant of the gravity of the whole situation. Little did Marin had any idea that her summer would turn so appalling when a random DNA test result's email would tell her about the existence of a half sister named Rachel, who too found out about the sperm donor's identity and that led her to the sperm donor's mother, Amelia's beach-side house in Provincetown.
So Marin, who after losing her job at the firm, that discovered about Marin and her boss's affair decides to sack them, decides to pack away her belongings for the summer and zoom off to this little seaside town where there is a possibility of unraveling her family secrets and also a chance to reconnect with them, along with her mother. But is Marin, Rachel, Blythe and Amelia ready to embrace the hard truth that is either going to shatter them or leave them feel happy about their choices?
This is a beautiful depiction of the charm and the feel of actual summer and family secrets that often doesn't harm or destroy the affectionate bonds formed over the ages. This is a happy story and after reading it I actually felt quite summery and blissful about it. Yes a light read that is a must have in your bag when you're planning for a summer vacation. A story to touch hearts and a story that will inspire one to forgive and to accept those lemons that are unfortunately thrown upon our path. Not only the story is infused with emotional family drama, but lots of unpredictable plot twists, that definitely kept me glued till the very end. So chick-lit aficionados, don't miss this apple-pie and slightly ginger cookie flavored summery cocktail of family secrets and romantic drama with a dash of mystery.
The backdrop of Provincetown is well depicted with its tiny little details starting from its folks to its food to its architecture to its golden beach to the customs that bond the people of this town. The vivid portrayal of a beach-side town, especially with the impression of the weather that flows freely through the course of the story line only makes the tale full of its flair and charm. Hence the readers will actually be able to feel the warm breeze and the salty taste in the wind with a smell of the sea while reading this book.
The author's writing style is excellent and articulate enough to make the readers contemplate with the story line. And with a steady dramatic flow of the dialogues, the author has made sure that the narratives hit the readers right at the center of their hearts. Although the emotions aren't that intense or has that kind of depth, yet somehow, keeping it light-hearted will resonate with the readers looking out for a perfect summer read. The pacing is fast, as the story is layered with unforeseeable twists and edgy turns, that give a provocative boost to the story line.
Not that diverse set cast of characters, but this small cast is enough to make the story entertaining and absorbing with their honest and realistic demeanor. From Marin's inquisitive nature to Blythe's sympathetic self to Rachel's excitement to Amelia's grief, everyone's emotions are well tuned and that is penned so strikingly that the readers will find it easy to comprehend with the main characters' plights. Even the secondary characters like Kip, Kelly and many more, are well portrayed that will peak the readers' interest for them.
In a nutshell, even though there is enough drama to keep the readers on their edges, yet the story is going to make the readers extremely reminiscent for one's own family and its values.
Verdict: A perfect beach book that only promises to delight its readers.
Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Hachette India for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
November 17, 2019
3.5 stars
My third Jamie Brenner read (The Husband Hour and Drawing Home are the other two) features four women who have their hands full as they navigate family secrets, mother-daughter relationships and complications in love during a summer in Provincetown.
In a nutshell, New York attorney, Marin is contacted by a California woman named Rachel who claims they're half-sisters due to a DNA search. Rachel's mother, Fran used a sperm donor to conceive Rachel. Although reluctant to accept these results, Marin believes that her parents might not have told her they had trouble conceiving out of embarrassment. When Rachel shows up in the city and says she's going to meet their grandmother, Amelia, Marin is pretty flabbergasted, but thinks that this may give her some clarity after recent changes in her personal and professional life. Adding to the roadtrip is Marin's mother, Blythe who is struggling to find a way to reveal secrets she has buried for thirty years.
I think Kelly and Amelia were my favorite storyline as they welcome Amelia's guests into their home and into their lives. Their storyline was what kept me reading. On the other hand, the way in which Marin and Rachel acted was very strange behavior for women of 30 and 22 to act. As for Blythe, I was back and forth on how I felt about her and her reluctance to just deal with the facts.
Overall, I did read this book in one sitting and it's partially due to the overwhelming majority of soap opera dramatics that go hand in hand with this story.
Goodreads review published 16/11/19
My third Jamie Brenner read (The Husband Hour and Drawing Home are the other two) features four women who have their hands full as they navigate family secrets, mother-daughter relationships and complications in love during a summer in Provincetown.
In a nutshell, New York attorney, Marin is contacted by a California woman named Rachel who claims they're half-sisters due to a DNA search. Rachel's mother, Fran used a sperm donor to conceive Rachel. Although reluctant to accept these results, Marin believes that her parents might not have told her they had trouble conceiving out of embarrassment. When Rachel shows up in the city and says she's going to meet their grandmother, Amelia, Marin is pretty flabbergasted, but thinks that this may give her some clarity after recent changes in her personal and professional life. Adding to the roadtrip is Marin's mother, Blythe who is struggling to find a way to reveal secrets she has buried for thirty years.
I think Kelly and Amelia were my favorite storyline as they welcome Amelia's guests into their home and into their lives. Their storyline was what kept me reading. On the other hand, the way in which Marin and Rachel acted was very strange behavior for women of 30 and 22 to act. As for Blythe, I was back and forth on how I felt about her and her reluctance to just deal with the facts.
Overall, I did read this book in one sitting and it's partially due to the overwhelming majority of soap opera dramatics that go hand in hand with this story.
Goodreads review published 16/11/19
April 25, 2017
4.5 stars
The Forever Summer is such a fun book and a great read to get ready for summer. Jamie Brenner explores the many meanings of family, the impact of long-held secrets on both the secret keeper and those affected by the secret, and the joy of friendship. Her characters are richly crafted and highly entertaining, and I wish I could spend a summer with them in Provincetown (except for maybe Nadine). Brenner’s descriptive manner made me feel like I was at the Beach Rose Inn and elsewhere on Cape Cod. The story cleverly unfolded revealing secrets that I often did not see coming. For anyone headed on vacation this summer, grab this wonderful book and take it with you! You will not want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Forever Summer is such a fun book and a great read to get ready for summer. Jamie Brenner explores the many meanings of family, the impact of long-held secrets on both the secret keeper and those affected by the secret, and the joy of friendship. Her characters are richly crafted and highly entertaining, and I wish I could spend a summer with them in Provincetown (except for maybe Nadine). Brenner’s descriptive manner made me feel like I was at the Beach Rose Inn and elsewhere on Cape Cod. The story cleverly unfolded revealing secrets that I often did not see coming. For anyone headed on vacation this summer, grab this wonderful book and take it with you! You will not want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2017
Secrets, mistakes, and revelations abound in THE FOREVER SUMMER.
We meet the Bishop family with members having secrets from the past as well as the present.
We also meet family members that were not known to exist.
THE FOREVER SUMMER brings together an unknown half sister, a grandmother, and memories of a father the sisters never knew.
The generations of women and how they connected as strangers was wonderful, and the beach setting was perfect for the connections and story line.
THE FOREVER SUMMER was filled with character disappointments, but it was also filled with love and making family connections and approval very enjoyable.
I enjoyed the characters....especially Grandmother Amelia. Amelia made everything pleasant and made everything and everyone come together.
THE FOREVER SUMMER was an enjoyable read and filled with what women do best when they are together....nurture and care for each other.
A heartwarming beach read...ENJOY when you get to read this book. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2017
3.5 stars
This book's cover is enitrely apropos. "The Forever Summer" is just the kind of book you'll want to read while on the beach -- or the kind of book to read if you want to be transported to the beach on a cold, gray afternoon.
As you might gather -- without even reading the marketing blurb -- "The Forever Summer" involves themes of family, love, betrayal, secrets, and forgiveness. Readers will certainly know basically how this is going to all end up, but won't know exactly how the author is going to get us there, and thankfully Brenner does throw in a few surprises for us.
While there are several archtypical characters found within the pages (Marin, the Type A lawyer from Manhattan; Fran, the free-spirited, yoga-practicing Mom from California, etc.) Brenner does round them out at least a little bit to prevent them from being complete charicatures.
This book is best appreciated for what it is: a quick and easy escape from reality.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book's cover is enitrely apropos. "The Forever Summer" is just the kind of book you'll want to read while on the beach -- or the kind of book to read if you want to be transported to the beach on a cold, gray afternoon.
As you might gather -- without even reading the marketing blurb -- "The Forever Summer" involves themes of family, love, betrayal, secrets, and forgiveness. Readers will certainly know basically how this is going to all end up, but won't know exactly how the author is going to get us there, and thankfully Brenner does throw in a few surprises for us.
While there are several archtypical characters found within the pages (Marin, the Type A lawyer from Manhattan; Fran, the free-spirited, yoga-practicing Mom from California, etc.) Brenner does round them out at least a little bit to prevent them from being complete charicatures.
This book is best appreciated for what it is: a quick and easy escape from reality.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2017
Very much enjoyed this roller coaster story, bittersweet in places. Ultimately family wins through. Narrator Amy McFadden brought it beautifully to life.
April 21, 2017
The Forever Summer is a rich, emotional journey about a group of strangers, drawn together by long-hidden secrets, who come together as a family. The story and the characters drew me in from the very first page, and as I got to know this interesting group of people, I found myself loving them, hurting for them, and wishing for their happiness. Tuck this lovely story into your suitcase when you go on vacation, in your beach bag, in your backpack....I loved this passage, a perfect description of a family: "If we think about the mosaic, the beauty of the mosaic, it is perhaps the art form that most reflects family. All the different bits and pieces, some that clearly fit together, others not so obviously, joining to create one beautiful, colorful whole."
August 10, 2018
Beautiful story about love in all its forms and the importance of family!
June 3, 2024
Families are complicated.
But imagine if you do a DNA test and find out something more? Different? Unexpected?
The author explores the many meanings of family, the impact of long-held secrets on both the secret keeper and those affected by the secret, and the joy of friendship.
Her characters are richly crafted, interesting, sometimes entertaining, but mostly a nice escape to a cozy beach side Inn one summer in Provincetown.
If you don’t like romance, or hints of it, don’t even think about this book.
But imagine if you do a DNA test and find out something more? Different? Unexpected?
The author explores the many meanings of family, the impact of long-held secrets on both the secret keeper and those affected by the secret, and the joy of friendship.
Her characters are richly crafted, interesting, sometimes entertaining, but mostly a nice escape to a cozy beach side Inn one summer in Provincetown.
If you don’t like romance, or hints of it, don’t even think about this book.
June 21, 2017
Well that was a complete waste - ridiculous amount of drama crammed into the time frame (all that was missing was the inn burning down, and the women huddling together on the lawn crying that they'll rebuild) and then implausibly neat happy endings for them all?
I knew it was chick lit so I didn't go in with high expectations, but it truly was ludicrous. Oh, I can say one good thing: clean language and no graphic sex scenes.
I knew it was chick lit so I didn't go in with high expectations, but it truly was ludicrous. Oh, I can say one good thing: clean language and no graphic sex scenes.
April 13, 2017
I was immediately drawn into this book and couldn't put it down. Such a great cast of characters that were very likable and very real, each had their own story to tell, and the setting in Provincetown, MA had me yearning to be right there in that beach town running a bed and breakfast like the Beach Rose Inn. This book had a lot of heart, some surprises that I didn't see coming, but most of all I think it showed the importance of family, honesty and trust. This is definitely a great read and I highly recommend it!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an advanced review copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 2, 2018
great summer read!
July 6, 2021
This was just the Summer read I was looking for, and it was my first book by this author and I’m officially hooked.
I loved the strong family bonds and the Provincetown beach setting that really tied the story together. I’m already looking forward to reading the next book by Jamie Brenner!
I loved the strong family bonds and the Provincetown beach setting that really tied the story together. I’m already looking forward to reading the next book by Jamie Brenner!
November 13, 2016
What a wonderful read. Twenty-two-year-old Rachel lives in LA and has always known her father was a sperm donor, but working as a research assistant on a show that helps celebrities discover their family history, she’s inspired to track down him. Thirty-year-old Marin, a New Yorker from Philadelphia has just broken off her engagement because she’s in love with a man at the law firm she works at. Unfortunately, everything in her life gets ruined one after the other.
DNA testing connects Rachel and Marin—and their paternal grandmother who runs a B&B in Provincetown. Rachel convinces Marin to spend a few days meeting their grandmother. Since Marin’s life has been destroyed in a variety of ways, she agrees.
What follows is beautifully written story about family and secrets and lies. The secrets unfold naturally—I never felt manipulated by the author. The Forever Summer is truly a feel-good book with a happy ending you don’t see coming. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
DNA testing connects Rachel and Marin—and their paternal grandmother who runs a B&B in Provincetown. Rachel convinces Marin to spend a few days meeting their grandmother. Since Marin’s life has been destroyed in a variety of ways, she agrees.
What follows is beautifully written story about family and secrets and lies. The secrets unfold naturally—I never felt manipulated by the author. The Forever Summer is truly a feel-good book with a happy ending you don’t see coming. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown for the opportunity to review this book.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog/
May 18, 2018
This was a lovely read about a family with a lot of secrets and drama that they need to overcome. I loved the atmosphere and the descriptions of the area and the locals. It was a great beachy read. It had a bit too much angst in some parts for my taste, but those parts were minor. Also, there was a little too much of a "neat bow" ending, but it was still really enjoyable getting there. 3.5★
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with a free electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2018
I enjoyed this so much ♥
April 27, 2017
This little gem of a book caught my attention immediately not only because of the beautiful book cover but also this line, " Mrs. Cabral, my name is Rachel. I live in L.A. And I'm pretty sure your're my...grandmother." So on this rainy day in Illinois the author took me, the reader, to a sunny beachside town in Massachusetts where I stayed at the Beach Rose Inn. Oh how I wish this were true! The two main characters, Marin and Rachel, discover that they may be half-sisters. Both journey to Provincetown to meet Amelia and sort out this mystery. The story is filled with lovable, down-to-earth residents, romance, mystery, and little twists that keep you interested in how this family drama will end. This book makes for a great read while sipping on a cold drink in the warmth of the summer sun! A big thank you the author, Jamie Brenner, for sending me a signed copy of this wonderful book.
January 8, 2022
Silly and over the top. Every now and then I read something that claims to be a bestseller. Research I call it.
This is what I learned from this book, which was donated to the little library in our laundry room. Spoilers ahead!
Everyone is very beautiful unless they are a bad person. AIDS “afflicted” Provincetown. There are any number of people who will converge on a vacation town to help move the plot. Someone who doesn’t even own a house will attempt to sell it.
All in all a strange preposterous novel in which the highest goal is HEA (happily ever after, in romance terms) except, strangely, for Blythe, who has to settle for her incompatible husband even after her promising start with the too good to be true silver fox from the garden store. HEA — bah, hum*#*+!
This is what I learned from this book, which was donated to the little library in our laundry room. Spoilers ahead!
Everyone is very beautiful unless they are a bad person. AIDS “afflicted” Provincetown. There are any number of people who will converge on a vacation town to help move the plot. Someone who doesn’t even own a house will attempt to sell it.
All in all a strange preposterous novel in which the highest goal is HEA (happily ever after, in romance terms) except, strangely, for Blythe, who has to settle for her incompatible husband even after her promising start with the too good to be true silver fox from the garden store. HEA — bah, hum*#*+!
April 18, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! It drew me in and didn't let go! I binge read until I finished it as I couldn't put it down! I loved all the characters and their stories. The setting was just beautiful. I truly could picture myself in Provincetown staying at the Beach Rose Inn and collecting the ocean's treasures on the beach with Amelia and Marin. It is a beautiful story of family, love, and secrets. I received an ARC of the book for an honest review.
August 4, 2019
After reading The Husband Hour and The Forever Summer back to back, I have added Brenner to my list of favorite authors. Her characters are likable and her style of writing draws you in.The husband Hour was my favorite of the two. I enjoyed the story line and especially the location where the story takes place appealed to this Jersey girl. Two great summer reads.
September 4, 2017
When attorney Marin Bishop loses her job and her fiancé in the same week, she can’t imagine any more surprises in her life – until she gets a call from a stranger, Rachel, who explains that she and Marin are biological sisters and Rachel is on her way to meet their biological grandmother. Marin’s parents have been happily married since before Marin’s birth, so while this news is extremely confusing and she remains in denial about Rachel’s claims, she agrees to accompany her to their supposed biological grandmother’s beach house. At the last minute, Marin’s mother tells her that she and her father are getting a divorce and she’d like to accompany Marin and Rachel on this trip – even though she still refuses to tell Marin the truth about her paternity. This road trip is just the beginning of a summer filled with secrets being outed, lives being changed forever, and relationships evolving as these three women figure out the truth about their pasts and futures.
The Forever Summer started off with a lot of promise, but it has SO much going on that it ended up being a bit much for me. I will just be honest and say upfront that I just did not enjoy the book. About halfway through, I wanted to give up because there was just too much drama – most of it unrealistic – but a small part of me did want to know what would happen to the characters, so I pushed on.
Without spoilers, I will just say that way too many bad things happened to these characters in a short period of time to the point where it felt like a soap opera and not a novel. It was just too much – unrealistic melodrama at its finest. I totally get why people could love this, though – there are multiple characters with Major Issues to focus on, complicated family dramas, big reveals towards the end of the book, all kinds of stuff to keep the reader interested. I have to admit, I was kept on my toes throughout most of the book as I waited anxiously to find out what would happen to these characters. But the reason I wanted to find out how things would turn out wasn’t because I cared, necessarily, it was more that I had already invested time into the book and wanted that time to pay off somehow.
Overall I didn’t HATE the book but just can’t recommend it. Plenty of people would enjoy The Forever Summer but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The Forever Summer started off with a lot of promise, but it has SO much going on that it ended up being a bit much for me. I will just be honest and say upfront that I just did not enjoy the book. About halfway through, I wanted to give up because there was just too much drama – most of it unrealistic – but a small part of me did want to know what would happen to the characters, so I pushed on.
Without spoilers, I will just say that way too many bad things happened to these characters in a short period of time to the point where it felt like a soap opera and not a novel. It was just too much – unrealistic melodrama at its finest. I totally get why people could love this, though – there are multiple characters with Major Issues to focus on, complicated family dramas, big reveals towards the end of the book, all kinds of stuff to keep the reader interested. I have to admit, I was kept on my toes throughout most of the book as I waited anxiously to find out what would happen to these characters. But the reason I wanted to find out how things would turn out wasn’t because I cared, necessarily, it was more that I had already invested time into the book and wanted that time to pay off somehow.
Overall I didn’t HATE the book but just can’t recommend it. Plenty of people would enjoy The Forever Summer but it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
July 18, 2017
This is one long soap opera.
I'm a dude.
I'm a dude who likes good soap operas.
Downtown Abbey? Good soap opera.
Desperate Housewives? Good soap opera (mostly).
Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Mad Men - soap soap soap.
But "the forever summer", is 300 pages of 100 things happening. I have no problem with 100 things happening. I LIKE 100 things happening. But I don't like not caring about the characters. I simply didn't care and had zero investment in any of them. Divorce, Babies, Cheating, Secrets, Cancer - didn't care.
I DID finish the book.. which says something. I did want to find out thing 97, 98, 99, 100 - so I guess that's one in the plus column.
My advice - go read something else.
I'm a dude.
I'm a dude who likes good soap operas.
Downtown Abbey? Good soap opera.
Desperate Housewives? Good soap opera (mostly).
Six Feet Under, Sopranos, Mad Men - soap soap soap.
But "the forever summer", is 300 pages of 100 things happening. I have no problem with 100 things happening. I LIKE 100 things happening. But I don't like not caring about the characters. I simply didn't care and had zero investment in any of them. Divorce, Babies, Cheating, Secrets, Cancer - didn't care.
I DID finish the book.. which says something. I did want to find out thing 97, 98, 99, 100 - so I guess that's one in the plus column.
My advice - go read something else.
August 5, 2019
You had me at Cape Cod. ❤️
This is an easy, breezy summer read. Two young women, Marin and Rachel, whose lives are in turmoil, discover through DNA testing that they are half sisters. They meet up and go to Provincetown, on Cape Cod, to meet their newly discovered grandmother, Amelia. Marin’s mother, Blythe, accompanies them, knowing that her life is also in a state of upheaval and carrying a secret that could explain everything and destroy her suddenly fragile relationship with her daughter. While on Cape Cod, secrets are revealed, new relationships formed, and love is everywhere.
There are so many wonderful characters in this book, all wonderfully portrayed. You grow to care for almost all of them. The only one I couldn’t warm up to was Nadine, Amelia’s grown daughter. She obviously despises her mother and tries to undermine her at every step. For whatever reason, she never moved on from the issues that caused an estrangement between the two.
A lot of issues are addressed in this light read: love in all its forms, family, life expectations, unexpected pregnancy, loyalty, illness, disappointment, forgiveness and honesty. Some of these sound intense for a light read, but they are handled well and with finesse. The book is very well written (for this genre) and moves along quickly.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more by her.
A definite recommend!
This is an easy, breezy summer read. Two young women, Marin and Rachel, whose lives are in turmoil, discover through DNA testing that they are half sisters. They meet up and go to Provincetown, on Cape Cod, to meet their newly discovered grandmother, Amelia. Marin’s mother, Blythe, accompanies them, knowing that her life is also in a state of upheaval and carrying a secret that could explain everything and destroy her suddenly fragile relationship with her daughter. While on Cape Cod, secrets are revealed, new relationships formed, and love is everywhere.
There are so many wonderful characters in this book, all wonderfully portrayed. You grow to care for almost all of them. The only one I couldn’t warm up to was Nadine, Amelia’s grown daughter. She obviously despises her mother and tries to undermine her at every step. For whatever reason, she never moved on from the issues that caused an estrangement between the two.
A lot of issues are addressed in this light read: love in all its forms, family, life expectations, unexpected pregnancy, loyalty, illness, disappointment, forgiveness and honesty. Some of these sound intense for a light read, but they are handled well and with finesse. The book is very well written (for this genre) and moves along quickly.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more by her.
A definite recommend!
April 17, 2019
3.5
Very entertaining... so much drama 🤣
Very entertaining... so much drama 🤣
May 20, 2017
3.5*
Not my typical genre. I was wanting a family drama, but one that was lighter than some of the heavier ones I read. The Forever Summer hit the spot, and I loved the cover.
This is a fairly typical summer read; a little drama, family relationships, life changing mistakes made by pretty much every main character, forgiveness, and romance (so not my thing).
I liked the characters, although some of their storylines were a bit fafetched, but letting go for summer read allows for a bit of plot leniency.
All in all, a good 'fluff' read.
Not my typical genre. I was wanting a family drama, but one that was lighter than some of the heavier ones I read. The Forever Summer hit the spot, and I loved the cover.
This is a fairly typical summer read; a little drama, family relationships, life changing mistakes made by pretty much every main character, forgiveness, and romance (so not my thing).
I liked the characters, although some of their storylines were a bit fafetched, but letting go for summer read allows for a bit of plot leniency.
All in all, a good 'fluff' read.
July 9, 2017
DNF.
I made it 60% through the book and when I still didn't care about the characters or the plot, I knew I had to walk away. I just didn't get drawn into the book. Based on others' reviews, this was a problem that only affected me. And that's fine...reading is a personal connection.
I made it 60% through the book and when I still didn't care about the characters or the plot, I knew I had to walk away. I just didn't get drawn into the book. Based on others' reviews, this was a problem that only affected me. And that's fine...reading is a personal connection.
April 24, 2017
This book stole my heart. From the very first marvelous chapter to the emotional words on the very last page I was glued to every sentence and invested in every character and dying to know how it was all going to work out.
I adored The Beach Rose Inn and found myself wanting to spend some time there with Marin, Rachel and Amelia. They all felt so real to me and for me that's the absolute hallmark of fabulous writing. This author had me feeling a part of this book from the very first page. It's rare that I cry when a book is over not just because there was a very emotional ending, which there was, but also because I was so sad that the book was over. I will miss spending time with these people and in this setting. I love when a book can make me feel that way!
I absolutely highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to be transported to the beach, to be absorbed in the lives of people you really come to love, and who doesn't mind a tear or two to fall while reading about these people. This will be a favorite of the summer and the year for me!
I adored The Beach Rose Inn and found myself wanting to spend some time there with Marin, Rachel and Amelia. They all felt so real to me and for me that's the absolute hallmark of fabulous writing. This author had me feeling a part of this book from the very first page. It's rare that I cry when a book is over not just because there was a very emotional ending, which there was, but also because I was so sad that the book was over. I will miss spending time with these people and in this setting. I love when a book can make me feel that way!
I absolutely highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to be transported to the beach, to be absorbed in the lives of people you really come to love, and who doesn't mind a tear or two to fall while reading about these people. This will be a favorite of the summer and the year for me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,076 reviews