That Summer

By: Lauren Willig

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

It is 2009: When Julia Conley hears that she has inherited a house outside London from an unknown great-aunt, she assumes it's a joke. She hasn't been back to England since the car crash that killed her mother when she was six, an event she remembers only in her nightmares. But when she arrives at Herne Hill to sort through the house - with the help of her cousin Natasha and sexy antiques dealer Nicholas - bits of memory start coming back. And then she discovers a pre-Raphaelite painting, hidden behind the false back of an old wardrobe, and a window onto the house's shrouded history begins to open....

In 1849 Imogen Grantham has spent nearly a decade trapped in a loveless marriage to a much older man, Arthur. The one bright spot in her life is her step-daughter, Evie, a high-spirited 16-year-old who is the closest thing to a child Imogen hopes to have. But everything changes when three young painters come to see Arthur's collection of medieval artifacts, including Gavin Thorne, a quiet man with the unsettling ability to read Imogen better than anyone ever has. When Arthur hires Gavin to paint her portrait, none of them can guess what the hands of fate have set in motion.

From modern-day England to the early days of the Preraphaelite movement, Lauren Willig's That Summer takes listeners on an un-put-downable journey through a mysterious old house, a hidden love affair, and one woman’s search for the truth about her past - and herself.

©2014 Lauren Willig (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Another Pleasing Lauren Willlig Book

A classic Lauren Willig. A modern Regency spliced with a 19th century Regency wrapped in a mystery. Always a great read.

splendid

love the way the characters intertwine. the suspense and intrigue were well worth the read.

Great story

it was a bit slow in the beginning but picked up steam. loved it!

Slightly disappointed at the ending

Kind of a lame ending. It just trails off ... Otherwise relaxing novel to listen to in my truck.

Intriguing, Bittersweet

My sister-in-law recommended this one, and I'm so glad I listened. The beginning was a tad slow, and I wasn't sure where the plot was going, but when it picked up, I was consumed.

Perfect for readers/listeners who enjoy books with dual timelines, mystery, and a bittersweet love story.

I liked it

Because I read a lot of books, I tend to encounter very similar plots. However, this one kept me guessing and I, like the main characters, enjoy a good puzzle, so it was fun following them through their logic and research as they fitted the pieces together.

Loved it

Super story line- the book kept me involved from the beginning to the end - was to quick wanted more-love a sequel.

A few hours light entertainment.

Would you try another book from Lauren Willig and/or Nicola Barber?

Yes

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Didn't tie up loose ends. Would have liked to have seen more of Julia's English family.

What does Nicola Barber bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Accents. Different voices. Great reader.

Could you see That Summer being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

In some ways, it is typical Lauren Willig writing although without the hook that reaches out and grabs you like her Pink Carnation series.

Hollow

It was not a bad story, but it ended rather abruptly. I would have liked more closure and more depth between the climax of the story and the end. There were several resolutions left unfinished.

An interesting puzzle initially, but ...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, in the beginning, but then I lost interest and did not finish. The opening had so much promise, but then it faltered. Too much back history and not enough character development of the main character If she was so smart as a financial analyst, let us learn why she is so naive and stupid in her interpersonal relationships.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Mostly expected. Again, I did not read all the way because I like smart heroines to be smart heroines.

What about Nicola Barber’s performance did you like?

It was okay enough. I thought the voice used for the americans was pretty lame and shrill. The British voices were better performed.

Could you see That Summer being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Any additional comments?

I was sad that this book just petered out in a slow and boring way. There was so much promise in the beginning. I wish some of the peripheral characters had been more fully developed to add a richness to the plot and prose. Natalie was interesting, despite the set-up scenes, but ...
It stretches credibility that the main character would be so smart and yet she can't talk straight and then lets "the man" take over. This is not realistic or even pleasing to read. If you set a book up as having a smart woman, then follow through. The era of the stupid female must surely be almost over.