Those who like their beach books with a lot of drama will find what they’re looking for—and then some. Summer Stage is best enjoyed for its setting (in its varied loveliness Block Island becomes almost another character), for its observations about the changing nature of fame, and for its occasional sly commentary.” — Wall Street Journal
“Meg Mitchell Moore kept me flipping pages late into the night in a new novel about the fleeting nature of notoriety, the darker side of fame, and how, sometimes, simply saying yes can change our lives in the most unexpected ways. Set against the backdrop of a revival of Much Ado About Nothing on beautiful Block Island, a mother, daughter, and uncle—each struggling to reinvent themselves—will learn that, while you can’t change an iconic play, it’s never too late to rewrite your own story. Summer Stage is a five-star novel that deserves a standing ovation! And Meg Mitchell Moore has a permanent place on my list of favorite authors.” — Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil
“Moore brings summer theatre to life in her sparkling latest. The relationships feel real and engaging, and the dialogue is sharp and snappy, with smart writing that examines familial relationships with insight and aplomb. This one’s equally charming and satisfying.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Moore's latest deliciously captures the energy of a summer of creativity with this ensemble piece, combining a strong sense of place with likable narrators. From Sam’s stubborn vulnerability to Amy’s competence that belies bigger dreams, the characters are both relatable and aspirational. Give this to fans of Elin Hilderbrand and The Summer Set, by Aimee Agresti.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Moore has created a story that unfolds much like a hot summer day at the beach—slow and languid and spiced up with a bit of drama. A light beach read that also examines the benefits and costs of celebrity.” — Kirkus Reviews
"One of my own favorite writers." — Elin Hilderbrand
“A family of actors encounter more than they bargained for during a summer on Block Island, which finds them mounting a production while dealing with secrets, ambition, and self-discovery.” — Southern Living
“There’s sun, sea and major drama—you’ll be carried away.” — People on Vacationland
"Irresistible." — Vogue.com on Vacationland
"What a pleasure to open Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore and be invited for the summer to midcoast Maine. A novel full of rich, complex characters, deep blue-gray ocean views, and simmering secrets, Vacationland is as sophisticated and delicious as lobster bisque." — Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters and The Lifeguards
"Engrossing....A truly lovely tale of families, love, mistakes, forgiveness, and, yes, happiness." — Kirkus Reviews on Vacationland
"Delectable...Readers are in for a treat." — Publishers Weekly on Vacationland
2023-03-11
A 19-year-old social media star spends the summer working with her famous uncle on a summer theater Shakespeare revival.
With an uncle who’s a movie star, it's unsurprising that Sam Trevino was drawn into acting as a child—first in To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway, then in a short-run Disney sitcom out in LA, where she lived with her uncle, Timothy Fleming, and his then-wife, Gertie Sanger. But now, Sam has global fame all her own—albeit of the TikTok variety. Ready to be done with that after a scandal not of her own making, Sam lands back at home in Narragansett before swiftly relocating to Block Island, where her Uncle Timmy is directing a Much Ado About Nothing revival that will star her once-upon-a-time Aunt Gertie. (Fans of Moore's The Islanders, from 2019, will recognize some of that novel's characters in the background here.) Sam's mom, Amy, a high school English teacher, will be the production manager for her brother's show. Moore has created a story that unfolds much like a hot summer day at the beach—for the most part slow and languid but every now and again spiced up with a bit of drama. Most of the story is told from the third-person perspectives of Sam, Timothy, and Amy as each of them works to get the production ready for its run while simultaneously processing the emotions of their pasts—the choices they made and the events they couldn't control—and what their futures might hold.
A light beach read that also examines the benefits and costs of celebrity.
