Summer Island Book

Nora Bridge finds her orderly world turned upside down overnight. She's a famous syndicated radio talk show host, dispensing advice about family and relationship. What the public didn't know was how far away her life was from what she preached. When that was inevitably leaked, Nora returns to Summer Island where she has to come to terms with the world she walked away from a decade before.

I liked the story, even though it was fairly predictable. It tackled some strong themes, particularly the mother-daughter dynamics and the imprint those relationships leave from one generation to the next. Another was the carnage created by divorce, specifically when the children are left in the dark about why the relationship failed and that silence allows them to choose sides.

I also liked the contrast between the Bridge family and the wealthy Sloans who vacationed on the island each summer and formed a connection. The two sons, though their parents' marriage was still intact, suffered because of it and neglect.

In summary, it was an interesting story with thought provoking themes, even though I could have scripted the ending myself. The narrator gave a good but unremarkable performance as I couldn't hear much in the way of character distinctions. I've heard many positives about the author and am interested in exploring more of her work. 3.5 stars