Summer Island

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

Thirty-four-year-old Ruby Bridge is a not-too-successful comedienne who uses her mother, a nationally-syndicated "moral and spiritual counselor" as the main fodder for her cynical, rather bitter humor. Her mother Nora, long divorced from Ruby's father, is a woman whose past is just about to catch up with her - in the form of blackmail by a former lover.

After an accident (an attempted suicide?) Ruby returns to care for her stricken mother - bitterly resenting the fact that once again her mother's life has colonized hers. When she is approached by a publisher to write a biography of her mother, Ruby is desperate for the princely sum offered. Yet her research into her mother's past reveals a woman very different from the one Ruby expected. And what began as "mommy dearest" ends as a love story - not only between mother and daughter, but involving two very different men who play a key role in linking the past to the present.

©2001 Kristin Hannah (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Thought it would be a typical story

The story line has been done and done again, but having grown up in a broken home, I appreciated the story line and it was a nice grown up reminder that we really don't know all that we think to know about things that happened in our family / families life when we were kids.

Good story. Horrible language.

I love Krisin Hannah books, but the early ones have a ton of language. The stories are always good.
Im glad i started with The Nightingale, True Colors and Firefly Lane are excellent.

Wished it could go on.

This book, like many of Kristin Hannah's was just wonderful. I have a close relationship with my sister and mother; every time I listen to her I want to call them and tell them how much they are loved.

Heartwarming

Kristin never disappoints. Heartwarming family novel. Never give up on our children, they are worth it.

Redemption

Enjoyed the book! Great discussions for our book club. Love Kristen Hannah 's stories! Enjoy!

Great Storyline

Enjoyed the book and the narration.
Serious, sad, and funny in one book.
It was so wonderful to see how the mother and daughters were able to reconcile and once again spend family time together.

So good! Nice Mother/Daughter story!

Loved it and the location! Big fan of the PNW! Quick read, kept you interested. Would definitely recommend.

Disappointed

I was a bit disappointed with this read. Maybe because it was an earlier writing than the ones I’ve been reading; earlier in her career. This just did not capture me and hold my attention as so many of her others. The love scenes were a bit steamier than I like but glad to know that her more recent writings are tremendous! Love this author even though not happy with this particular read.

Narration is not done well

The story is good and I usually don’t complain about the narration but this is done very poorly! It sounds automated with some of the characters. It was a huge disappointment.

Summer Island

I give this book an "ok".
Just not as good as the rest of Kristin Hannah's books. Yet good to listen to in the car.