From the Publisher
"There are few more skilled practitioners of the craft of summer fiction than Beatriz Williams." — New York Times Book Review
"Grand and gripping...shot through with suspense, romance, and glorious, beach-laden locales. I could not put it down." — Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Affair
"Readers will be hooked from the first page.” — Publishers Weekly
“Full of evocative, whip-sharp dialogue… [T]he author’s deft exploration of many thought-provoking issues, from social class to personal responsibility and regret, make this one a winner. A well-researched exploration of love and redemption against the backdrop of post-World War II New England.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The Summer Wives is an exquisitely rendered novel that tackles two of my favorite topics: love and money. The glorious setting and drama are enriched by Williams’s signature vintage touch. It’s at the top of my picks for the beach this summer.” — Elin Hilderbrand
“Williams has crafted a kaleidoscope of a novel—a mystery, a romance, and an utterly beguiling examination of the cost of secrets . . . The Summer Wives is a startling portrait of the courage it requires to make your own second chances.” — Entertainment Weekly
"Beatriz Williams's vivid historical novel alternates with measured suspense between present and past." — Booklist
“[A] satisfying simmer of a read.” — USA Today on The Summer Wives
“Engrossing and gripping, you will finish this book in one sitting.” — St. Louis Post Dispatch on The Summer Wives
“Satisfyingly tempestuous—and eminently beachworthy.” — Kirkus (starred review) on The Summer Wives
Kirkus Reviews
2023-04-12
Shortly after World War II, a young woman falls for the prized son of a wealthy family and finds herself caught in a web of international espionage.
The book opens in 1954 as Emilia Winthrop, a professor at Wellesley College, receives a phone call from her aunt informing her that the Peabodys are returning to Winthrop Island to restore their summer home. Summerly hasn’t been used since just after the war, and the return of this prominent family raises many questions. The book then shifts to 1946, back when Emilia still lived on Winthrop Island. Though the island bears her family's name, the Winthrops sold their land generations earlier, and they have since acted as hired help for the wealthy vacationers who use the place as a summer playground. Emilia reconnects with Shep Peabody, her best childhood friend, who has returned from the war a hero. As they get to know each other all over again, Emilia wonders if she and Shep could be more than just friends, though she worries their family backgrounds are simply too different. Meanwhile, Shep’s cosmopolitan and mysterious Aunt Olive has just arrived on the island, bringing along her high fashion and tales of Europe during the war. While Emilia revels in Olive's worldliness and sophistication, others on the island begin to grow suspicious of the long-lost aunt and her unusual behaviors. As the accusations against Olive grow increasingly serious, Emilia is forced to defend her new friend against allegations of disloyalty to the U.S., even whispers of treason and spying. As tensions continue to build, Emilia wonders whether Olive's presence on Winthrop might destroy her budding relationship with Shep, or worse. When the story shifts back to 1954, an older Emilia must confront the memories of that fateful summer and ask herself if she can claim the life she's always wanted. With a narrative that starts in the middle and jumps frequently between timelines, Williams’ novel requires patience as readers get the lay of the land. Once the plotlines become clearer, suspense builds, and the novel becomes entirely engaging. Full of evocative, whip-sharp dialogue, the book shines especially in its description of fictional Winthrop Island, a New England vacation enclave something like Nantucket but with idiosyncrasies and traditions all its own. As the characters struggle to regain their footing after the war, there are moments when excessive description and lengthy backstory get in the way of the plot. Even so, the author’s deft exploration of many thought-provoking issues, from social class to personal responsibility and regret, make this one a winner.
A well-researched exploration of love and redemption against the backdrop of post–World War II New England.
