The Summer Wives is a story set on a mysterious small
island where the elite vacation each summer on the East coast served by the working-class
inhabitants. Everyone lives seemingly in
harmony until one fateful day when murder invades their small community.
The Summer Wives is a historical fiction romance set in
1930, 1951, and 1969. I am a fan of
historical fiction novels that use flash backs and Williams employed the
flashbacks seamlessly in this novel. It
was very easy to follow as the story was divided up in chapters for 1930, 1951,
and 1969 and the chapters went in order.
The fateful decisions of the past and how they impact the future are
masterfully unveiled throughout the three time periods as the novel progresses. The three plots of the three time periods is
as follows.
1930 – Bianca is a young Portuguese girl who lives
with her aunt and uncle on the island.
The island has two distinct social classes, the wealthy who come in the
summer, and the locals who cater to the wealthy. When Bianca falls in love with a wealthy
young man, will their romance be able to live beyond summer?
1951 – Seventeen-year-old Miranda is going to the island
as her widowed mother is marrying the rich and glamorous Hugh. Miranda meets her new stepsister and is
intrigued by the mystery of her step-sister being engaged to one man while secretly
meeting the lighthouse keeper’s son. The
ramifications of this summer change her life forever.
1969-Miranda is now a successful movie star and has
come back to the island to escape a dying marriage. What secrets will she uncover?
I enjoyed this novel.
I did wish there was more historical detail. The Summer Wives seemed a lot like a soap
opera set during a historic timeline with it seemed like many different people
sleeping together and one surprise or revelation after another. I loved soap operas as a kid, so I enjoyed
it, but for those looking for history with their historical fiction, this is
not the book for you.
I thought Williams did a wonderful job of really
putting the storyline together and having it all seamlessly work as one cohesive
story.
Overall, The Summer Wives was a good summer historical
romance drama.
Source: Review
Copy from William Morrow. Thank-you!