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Summer Sisters
🎧Listening Length = 9 hours, 18 minutes
This #1 New York Times bestseller and Read With Jenna book club pick is “a book to return to again and again” (Colleen Hoover). In 1977, Victoria and Caitlin form a bond that changes their lives. Years later, they reunite for a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard — and confront the pitfalls of their friendship. With full-cast narration!
In the summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard's world changed forever—when Caitlin Somers chose her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomed Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha's Vineyard, a magical, wind-blown island where two friends became summer sisters...
Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin has begged Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go—for the friend whose casual betrayals she remembers all too well. Because Vix wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend—her summer sister—still has the power to break her heart...
Audiobook Cast of Narrators:
Sophie Amoss as Vix
MacLeod Andrews as Bru
Cassandra Campbell as Abby
Michael Crouch as Daniel
Mark Deakins as Ed
Ari Fliakos as Gus
Dawn Harvey as Regina
Rebecca Lowman as Tawny
Saskia Maarleveld as Phoebe
George Newbern as Lamb
Everette Plen as Sharkey
Kirsten Potter as Dorset
Brittany Pressley as Paisley
Xe Sands as Tricia
Phoebe Strole as Maia
This #1 New York Times bestseller and Read With Jenna book club pick is “a book to return to again and again” (Colleen Hoover). In 1977, Victoria and Caitlin form a bond that changes their lives. Years later, they reunite for a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard — and confront the pitfalls of their friendship. With full-cast narration!
In the summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard's world changed forever—when Caitlin Somers chose her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomed Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha's Vineyard, a magical, wind-blown island where two friends became summer sisters...
Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin has begged Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go—for the friend whose casual betrayals she remembers all too well. Because Vix wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend—her summer sister—still has the power to break her heart...
Audiobook Cast of Narrators:
Sophie Amoss as Vix
MacLeod Andrews as Bru
Cassandra Campbell as Abby
Michael Crouch as Daniel
Mark Deakins as Ed
Ari Fliakos as Gus
Dawn Harvey as Regina
Rebecca Lowman as Tawny
Saskia Maarleveld as Phoebe
George Newbern as Lamb
Everette Plen as Sharkey
Kirsten Potter as Dorset
Brittany Pressley as Paisley
Xe Sands as Tricia
Phoebe Strole as Maia
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Judy Blume
177 books11.4k followersJudy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,702 reviews
September 17, 2023
i really didn’t need to cry at 7am thinking about every friendship i’ve ever had.
January 14, 2018
3.5 stars
I LOVED Judy Blume books when I was growing up. One of my favorite memories is reading her books over and over!
This is my first adult Judy Blume book. I honestly wasn't sure if I would read any of her newer books. I'm not sure why... Maybe I just wanted to keep her associated with books from my youth. But I happened to come across this one when visiting my mother. Someone had dropped off some books for her to look through. I thought I would read a few pages just to see how it was and ended up reading it all.
I enjoyed reading about Vix and Caitlyn's friendship as it developed over the years. Like most friendships theirs is not without its struggles and hasn't always been easy, in the past or the present.
It reminded me of summer trips to the lake and hanging out with friends that I was only able to see during summer vacations. I miss those days!
A nice light read. It was a welcome change after some of the really emotional books I have been reading. A good summer read....or in the winter when want to think about summer!
The Judy Blume from my youth will always be my favorite but all in all this was a very enjoyable read!
I LOVED Judy Blume books when I was growing up. One of my favorite memories is reading her books over and over!
This is my first adult Judy Blume book. I honestly wasn't sure if I would read any of her newer books. I'm not sure why... Maybe I just wanted to keep her associated with books from my youth. But I happened to come across this one when visiting my mother. Someone had dropped off some books for her to look through. I thought I would read a few pages just to see how it was and ended up reading it all.
I enjoyed reading about Vix and Caitlyn's friendship as it developed over the years. Like most friendships theirs is not without its struggles and hasn't always been easy, in the past or the present.
It reminded me of summer trips to the lake and hanging out with friends that I was only able to see during summer vacations. I miss those days!
A nice light read. It was a welcome change after some of the really emotional books I have been reading. A good summer read....or in the winter when want to think about summer!
The Judy Blume from my youth will always be my favorite but all in all this was a very enjoyable read!
November 3, 2012
This story has so many elements that should make it an easy success. The senitmentality of childhood summers, first love, finding and defining family, a rags-to-riches tale, your first best friend, lost love, betrayal... But it just failed so hard!
None of the characters were believable; all were flat caricatures. The Saintly Martyred Poor Girl who worships Spoiled Socialite Girl, then lives with New York Jew and Southern Belle. The fathers are Emasculated Pushover and Hippy Mellow. Younger guys are Hunky Morons or Good Guy Who You Don't Know Exists or Sex-crazed Asshole. Yuck. I hated everyone, and while that can sometimes be a brilliant ploy by a writer to make a social or political statement (Fitzgerald comes to mind), I think Blume wants readers to connect with AT LEAST Victoria, who narrates the majority of the book.
The framework is another beef of mine. Throughout the book, Victoria's narrative is interrupted by brief third-person narrations of her friends and family. Nothing profound is revealed; it's actually insulting to be "told" by the characters things that were fairly obvious from context. It's also a cheat. If you can't develop your characters through the central narrative, then you failed; either give them some weight to earn their special voice, or just let them go.
I really wanted to like this book, and it has a couple of moments. The first couple of summers really do have some honesty; they nail the sometimes awkward and sexually charged friendships of early adolescence.
Summer Sisters has all the notes to make a beautiful symphony of a novel. But in the hands of an unskilled musician, it just ends up being a discordant echo of greatness.
None of the characters were believable; all were flat caricatures. The Saintly Martyred Poor Girl who worships Spoiled Socialite Girl, then lives with New York Jew and Southern Belle. The fathers are Emasculated Pushover and Hippy Mellow. Younger guys are Hunky Morons or Good Guy Who You Don't Know Exists or Sex-crazed Asshole. Yuck. I hated everyone, and while that can sometimes be a brilliant ploy by a writer to make a social or political statement (Fitzgerald comes to mind), I think Blume wants readers to connect with AT LEAST Victoria, who narrates the majority of the book.
The framework is another beef of mine. Throughout the book, Victoria's narrative is interrupted by brief third-person narrations of her friends and family. Nothing profound is revealed; it's actually insulting to be "told" by the characters things that were fairly obvious from context. It's also a cheat. If you can't develop your characters through the central narrative, then you failed; either give them some weight to earn their special voice, or just let them go.
I really wanted to like this book, and it has a couple of moments. The first couple of summers really do have some honesty; they nail the sometimes awkward and sexually charged friendships of early adolescence.
Summer Sisters has all the notes to make a beautiful symphony of a novel. But in the hands of an unskilled musician, it just ends up being a discordant echo of greatness.
May 28, 2024
I read this book every summer, mostly because it does such a great job of capturing the essence of the season. (I actually prefer to read it when it's still a little cold outside so I can be transported to warmer weather, but for the past few years it's been so hard to find time to get it in!) Anyway, if you define a favorite book as one you want to read again and again, this is definitely one of my favorites. I guess I'm not really surprised--Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret had the same hold over me when I was younger. I just love how fast-paced and frank Judy Blume's writing style is--it's so different from what you get with most chick lit. At times, it gets to be a little bit too much, but for the most part, I think it creates a more powerful story.
June 26, 2024
brb, crying about female friendship & girlhood 😭🩷
August 23, 2023
I cannot accept that someone would ever keep a person like Caitlin in their life.
October 28, 2008
I like that Vix and Caitlin were born the same years as me, it was easy to relate to that. I didn't come from a rich family nor a struggling blue-collar family. But I could understand the feeling of trying so hard but not quite fitting in.
And looking at the 2 of them and their families, you see that nurture versus nature struggle. Vix, you didn't have the benefit of money becomes a responsible, caring adult. Though he sister gets pregnant at 17. Then we see Caitlin, who has every advantage but is selfish and irresponsible while her brother becomes a successful scientist.
But I still wonder how Vix could remain friends with Caitlin through the years. Perhaps she was used to not expecting anything in return.
I hated the sad ending and feeling of things not being settled.
And looking at the 2 of them and their families, you see that nurture versus nature struggle. Vix, you didn't have the benefit of money becomes a responsible, caring adult. Though he sister gets pregnant at 17. Then we see Caitlin, who has every advantage but is selfish and irresponsible while her brother becomes a successful scientist.
But I still wonder how Vix could remain friends with Caitlin through the years. Perhaps she was used to not expecting anything in return.
I hated the sad ending and feeling of things not being settled.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
Terrific audiobook. Can you believe this is my first Judy Blume novel? 💙
August 8, 2009
Starting with the things I liked, I appreciated the book for it's nostalgic factor and being a quick, light read. It was seasonally appropriate and took me down memory lane in more ways than one...reminiscing about how complicated teenage female relationships can be and how people who know you in your formative years probably see you differently than anyone else in your life.
However, overall I thought the book was uneven. The first half of the book reads like an erotic teen novel. I get that they are horny and experimenting, but their relationships are completely defined by sex. The heart-pounding and pulsating wore thin on me after like the sixth time. And she could have referred to "The Power" a little less, too--it was just uncomfortable (for me) after a while.
Then, for the second half of the book when they get older, it becomes a character study of these two young adults. Caitlin is painted out to be such a horrible person, and Vix is weak and incommunicative. I didn't like either of them as grown ups and both of their behaviors frustrated me--why does Caitlin have to be so self-centered and why does Vix have to be so self-loathing?? i couldn't understand why they were still friends! (especially why vix even picked up the phone) I actually liked their relationship much better when they were younger...at least I understood it: popular girl wants someone intellectually stimulating who will adore her and hang out with her while not stealing attention away; while the less popular girl just wants to be noticed and likes her boundaries being pushed. It just felt like she took both girls' worst traits and amplified them as adults, causing neither to have a real character arc where we got to see them recognize their demons and change accordingly. I guess I missed that kind of payoff...
As for Bru, he is the most irritating character in the second half of the novel. There is NOTHING in this book that makes him a desirable husband. He doesn't talk, he's super clingy, he doesn't have any real life goals. Sure, they have great sex--but that seems more like a summer fling than anything. How great can it really be your first time? The author offers nothing in way of a personality for him, and because I don't know him, I don't care that either of these women want him. In fact, I really DIDN'T want Vix to end up with him. I felt like I sided with Abby, wanting her to grow up and experience things. Perhaps I'm projecting after knowing what it's like to be in a long-term relationship with my high-school sweetheart and discovering that there are WAY better things out there. But, in my distaste for Bru, I altogether ignored the fact that she did touch on the question of great sex being enough to sustain a relationship. So I concede your point there that she did recognize why Vix and Bru could not have a future.
My last problem with the book (which you actually liked) was the different perspectives. I felt like it was a cheap, easy way to add color to her novel...almost in the way a screenwriter would use a narrator or voiceover if they weren't smart enough to play out the action. It's probably just a personal peeve, but I wish she hadn't skipped around to the other people's viewpoints. I don't think it added anything to the story and, if anything, it telegraphed the fact that Gus and Vix were going to end up together.
Personally, I felt this was a soapy yet underdeveloped novel. I'll stick to my happy memories of Judy Blume's teenage books!
However, overall I thought the book was uneven. The first half of the book reads like an erotic teen novel. I get that they are horny and experimenting, but their relationships are completely defined by sex. The heart-pounding and pulsating wore thin on me after like the sixth time. And she could have referred to "The Power" a little less, too--it was just uncomfortable (for me) after a while.
Then, for the second half of the book when they get older, it becomes a character study of these two young adults. Caitlin is painted out to be such a horrible person, and Vix is weak and incommunicative. I didn't like either of them as grown ups and both of their behaviors frustrated me--why does Caitlin have to be so self-centered and why does Vix have to be so self-loathing?? i couldn't understand why they were still friends! (especially why vix even picked up the phone) I actually liked their relationship much better when they were younger...at least I understood it: popular girl wants someone intellectually stimulating who will adore her and hang out with her while not stealing attention away; while the less popular girl just wants to be noticed and likes her boundaries being pushed. It just felt like she took both girls' worst traits and amplified them as adults, causing neither to have a real character arc where we got to see them recognize their demons and change accordingly. I guess I missed that kind of payoff...
As for Bru, he is the most irritating character in the second half of the novel. There is NOTHING in this book that makes him a desirable husband. He doesn't talk, he's super clingy, he doesn't have any real life goals. Sure, they have great sex--but that seems more like a summer fling than anything. How great can it really be your first time? The author offers nothing in way of a personality for him, and because I don't know him, I don't care that either of these women want him. In fact, I really DIDN'T want Vix to end up with him. I felt like I sided with Abby, wanting her to grow up and experience things. Perhaps I'm projecting after knowing what it's like to be in a long-term relationship with my high-school sweetheart and discovering that there are WAY better things out there. But, in my distaste for Bru, I altogether ignored the fact that she did touch on the question of great sex being enough to sustain a relationship. So I concede your point there that she did recognize why Vix and Bru could not have a future.
My last problem with the book (which you actually liked) was the different perspectives. I felt like it was a cheap, easy way to add color to her novel...almost in the way a screenwriter would use a narrator or voiceover if they weren't smart enough to play out the action. It's probably just a personal peeve, but I wish she hadn't skipped around to the other people's viewpoints. I don't think it added anything to the story and, if anything, it telegraphed the fact that Gus and Vix were going to end up together.
Personally, I felt this was a soapy yet underdeveloped novel. I'll stick to my happy memories of Judy Blume's teenage books!
March 26, 2022
I loved this book when I read it because it reminded me so much of the relationship I had with my best friend growing up. We spent numerous summers together at her parents' cottage having the requisite summer flings with out of town boys who we would never see again (until the next summer), and this book made me very nostalgic for those times.
What I liked was how Judy Blume told the story not only from a generic narrator's perspective, but also from the perspective of each character in the story. This made the book more interesting, and gave me ideas outside of my own for what each character was thinking in different situations.
I also liked how Ms. Blume captured the friendship between Caitlin and Victoria- Victoria being the calm, straight-laced friend, Caitlin being the quintessential wild child- and the ups and downs and little "competitions" they would have (like who would get their period first or who would lose their virginity first). The ending surprised me quite a bit, and I have to say that at first I wasn't crazy about it because I don't like being left in limbo, but after thinking about it a bit I realized the story was wrapped up just fine.
I would definitely recommend this book to my chicas, it's a fun read and it will definitely take you back to a much simpler time (sort of).
What I liked was how Judy Blume told the story not only from a generic narrator's perspective, but also from the perspective of each character in the story. This made the book more interesting, and gave me ideas outside of my own for what each character was thinking in different situations.
I also liked how Ms. Blume captured the friendship between Caitlin and Victoria- Victoria being the calm, straight-laced friend, Caitlin being the quintessential wild child- and the ups and downs and little "competitions" they would have (like who would get their period first or who would lose their virginity first). The ending surprised me quite a bit, and I have to say that at first I wasn't crazy about it because I don't like being left in limbo, but after thinking about it a bit I realized the story was wrapped up just fine.
I would definitely recommend this book to my chicas, it's a fun read and it will definitely take you back to a much simpler time (sort of).
May 26, 2024
2.5/5 ⭐️ This was an okay read for me. I thought I would love it more but I just never really got that invested in the characters. I did like the summer vibes but it was pretty average to me. I also didn’t like the POV of other characters in every chapter. It didn’t really add anything important to the story. It just felt really random 🤦🏻♀️.
And Caitlin got on my damn nerves. She was such a horrible friend.
And Caitlin got on my damn nerves. She was such a horrible friend.
March 27, 2008
One thing I really enjoy doing is rereading kids books. I checked out Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and zoomed through it in about two hours. I have reread many other classics and enjoyed them. I think my next big kids read will be the infamous Harriet the Spy which I loved and totally identified with as a child.
One of the greatest regrets of my life (in terms of small scale regrets, anyway) is that I sold off my Sweet Valley High books. Now, granted, SVH isn't all that 'classic', but I so loved the storyline and always identified with Elizabeth. I used to own every book up past a hundred, and all of the special editions (summer, winter, etc) they had out. It took me years to collect. Now I have about three of them at home. I have been checking used bookstores but apparently they aren't that popular anymore. And no wonder. I don't think Jessica, the 'wild' twin, ever got beyond some passionate kissing. Which is why I'd love to have them around for my daughter when she gets older. So if you want to just box up all you have and send them to me...
But one of the biggest shocks I had in kids books came this weekend. While scouring paperbacks at the library, I came across a Judy Blume book for grownups, Summer Sisters. Now, Judy Blume was a crazy favorite of mine; I read pretty much everything she wrote. So of course I had to check out this novel. I had grown up; time to see if Judy did.
One of the things I enjoyed as a kid was Blume's realism and frankness. Although Ramona Quimby (age 8) was cute and adorable, she wasn't exactly realistic. Although Matilda was brilliant and could read by age 2 and move things with her mind...well, let's just say I identified with her except for that whole reading by age 2 and moving things with her mind. But Blume's characters were real kids with real problems.
The same is true of what I read in Summer Sisters I suppose. We have two girls experimenting with sex, naturally curious, and putting together one of those 'odd' relationships. However, in searching for realism, I felt Blume overdoes it. Sure, teenagers are sex crazed, but oh my goodness, I didn't know you could pack that much sex into so few pages. The novel was just too much for me, and so, although the storyline was interesting, I finally gave up and closed the pages for good when the girls started discussing their experiments with oral sex.
The characters were realistic and credible, but I guess just too nitty gritty for me. I also had a problem with the seven or eight point-of-views tried throughout the book, while the majority was told in the first person. I seem to be hitting a lot of that lately, and it has been driving me nuts. If nothing else, it breaks the flow of the story.
So I think I'm going to keep my mind uncluttered. I'll head back to one of my childhood favorites by Blume, Blubber and avoid the remainder of her adult novels. She's a great writer, but I guess I have another 10 or 20 years to go before I'm that grown up.
One of the greatest regrets of my life (in terms of small scale regrets, anyway) is that I sold off my Sweet Valley High books. Now, granted, SVH isn't all that 'classic', but I so loved the storyline and always identified with Elizabeth. I used to own every book up past a hundred, and all of the special editions (summer, winter, etc) they had out. It took me years to collect. Now I have about three of them at home. I have been checking used bookstores but apparently they aren't that popular anymore. And no wonder. I don't think Jessica, the 'wild' twin, ever got beyond some passionate kissing. Which is why I'd love to have them around for my daughter when she gets older. So if you want to just box up all you have and send them to me...
But one of the biggest shocks I had in kids books came this weekend. While scouring paperbacks at the library, I came across a Judy Blume book for grownups, Summer Sisters. Now, Judy Blume was a crazy favorite of mine; I read pretty much everything she wrote. So of course I had to check out this novel. I had grown up; time to see if Judy did.
One of the things I enjoyed as a kid was Blume's realism and frankness. Although Ramona Quimby (age 8) was cute and adorable, she wasn't exactly realistic. Although Matilda was brilliant and could read by age 2 and move things with her mind...well, let's just say I identified with her except for that whole reading by age 2 and moving things with her mind. But Blume's characters were real kids with real problems.
The same is true of what I read in Summer Sisters I suppose. We have two girls experimenting with sex, naturally curious, and putting together one of those 'odd' relationships. However, in searching for realism, I felt Blume overdoes it. Sure, teenagers are sex crazed, but oh my goodness, I didn't know you could pack that much sex into so few pages. The novel was just too much for me, and so, although the storyline was interesting, I finally gave up and closed the pages for good when the girls started discussing their experiments with oral sex.
The characters were realistic and credible, but I guess just too nitty gritty for me. I also had a problem with the seven or eight point-of-views tried throughout the book, while the majority was told in the first person. I seem to be hitting a lot of that lately, and it has been driving me nuts. If nothing else, it breaks the flow of the story.
So I think I'm going to keep my mind uncluttered. I'll head back to one of my childhood favorites by Blume, Blubber and avoid the remainder of her adult novels. She's a great writer, but I guess I have another 10 or 20 years to go before I'm that grown up.
June 25, 2023
Summer Sisters is an adult novel by Judy Blume that begins in the 1970s and follows two friends, Victoria and Caitlin, over the course of several years, primarily through their summers spent together in Martha’s Vineyard.
Caitlin invites Victoria to join her family in Martha’s Vineyard one summer and then returns with them, year after year. She realizes how different Caitlin’s family is from her own and often feels grateful to be included with them. Summer Sisters is largely a coming of age story that features friendship, competition, boys, family, and a little soul searching. I enjoyed the summer vibes and the various POVs throughout the story though there are some darker elements too.
I listened to the audiobook of Summer Sisters and the full cast of narrators worked well with the high volume of characters in this book.
Caitlin invites Victoria to join her family in Martha’s Vineyard one summer and then returns with them, year after year. She realizes how different Caitlin’s family is from her own and often feels grateful to be included with them. Summer Sisters is largely a coming of age story that features friendship, competition, boys, family, and a little soul searching. I enjoyed the summer vibes and the various POVs throughout the story though there are some darker elements too.
I listened to the audiobook of Summer Sisters and the full cast of narrators worked well with the high volume of characters in this book.
August 1, 2015
Whenever I pick a book I tend to read the reviews on here first. And then when I finish said book I come back to see if I agree or disagree with the majority afterwards.
My gut instinct was 4 stars - and I can truly understand why some people didn't love this book, I actually quite agree with half of the criticism. The cookie cutter characters, the underdevelopment of them, but I'll be damned if I wasn't invested at the end and choked up with how these people’s lives all turned out.
It did take me quite a while to get into the story. Like every adult who has read this story, I too read Judy Blume as a kid. Are You There God? made me feel connected to a story in ways I never had before. Maybe that’s why I can give leeway with all of the awkward sexual experiences of the characters. Maybe not everyone experienced those things at that young of an age, but if you've had sex at all, I know there have been some weird stories you could probably tell from it. It's not the ridiculous fantasy of it all, a la 50 Shades.
The majority of the book is told from when they were young girls though, which did make it feel slightly young adult to me. Ah Vix and Caitlin. They were an interesting duo to follow. I can and cannot understand why Vix would want to be her friend. At first, I get it. Popularity is paramount when you are in your school years. So if some vivacious, stunning, popular girl invites you to do something glamorous and out of your norm, why wouldn't you accept? What I don't understand is how it endured for so long. Clearly Caitlin was an awful human being at her core. She was bratty, competitive, unappreciative, and unsettled with herself from the beginning. Vix eventually found other friends who viewed Vix as the glamorous one - but they also maintained a mutual respect for one another. Caitlin never did. At some point, you would think Vix would have had enough. It was sad how her other friends urged her to let Caitlin go, but she never could. She could abandon her sick father, poor sister, dead brother - but never this one girl. Amazing really.
The ending, while sad to see happen, didn't really surprise me. A girl that is never satiated has nowhere to go, nothing to do. Caitlin fulfilled every fantasy and lived out every flighty decision she wanted - yet still never found happiness. So she tried to live the one life she could never let go of either - Vix's. We all knew that was going to fail too, huh? There was no way this would ever work with Bru. Desire and lust are not the only things you need to feel for someone to endure a marriage. Even if the ending doesn't spell out death to you, I think it signifies the complete and utter end of her. Maybe she did commit suicide, as it alludes to. Maybe she was just 100% done with any contact, any information about her old life and so she started anew. Either way, it was a sad way to see it all end. It's always a little heartbreaking to start a story with children and all their hopes and dreams - just to see it end so miserably.
My gut instinct was 4 stars - and I can truly understand why some people didn't love this book, I actually quite agree with half of the criticism. The cookie cutter characters, the underdevelopment of them, but I'll be damned if I wasn't invested at the end and choked up with how these people’s lives all turned out.
It did take me quite a while to get into the story. Like every adult who has read this story, I too read Judy Blume as a kid. Are You There God? made me feel connected to a story in ways I never had before. Maybe that’s why I can give leeway with all of the awkward sexual experiences of the characters. Maybe not everyone experienced those things at that young of an age, but if you've had sex at all, I know there have been some weird stories you could probably tell from it. It's not the ridiculous fantasy of it all, a la 50 Shades.
The majority of the book is told from when they were young girls though, which did make it feel slightly young adult to me. Ah Vix and Caitlin. They were an interesting duo to follow. I can and cannot understand why Vix would want to be her friend. At first, I get it. Popularity is paramount when you are in your school years. So if some vivacious, stunning, popular girl invites you to do something glamorous and out of your norm, why wouldn't you accept? What I don't understand is how it endured for so long. Clearly Caitlin was an awful human being at her core. She was bratty, competitive, unappreciative, and unsettled with herself from the beginning. Vix eventually found other friends who viewed Vix as the glamorous one - but they also maintained a mutual respect for one another. Caitlin never did. At some point, you would think Vix would have had enough. It was sad how her other friends urged her to let Caitlin go, but she never could. She could abandon her sick father, poor sister, dead brother - but never this one girl. Amazing really.
The ending, while sad to see happen, didn't really surprise me. A girl that is never satiated has nowhere to go, nothing to do. Caitlin fulfilled every fantasy and lived out every flighty decision she wanted - yet still never found happiness. So she tried to live the one life she could never let go of either - Vix's. We all knew that was going to fail too, huh? There was no way this would ever work with Bru. Desire and lust are not the only things you need to feel for someone to endure a marriage. Even if the ending doesn't spell out death to you, I think it signifies the complete and utter end of her. Maybe she did commit suicide, as it alludes to. Maybe she was just 100% done with any contact, any information about her old life and so she started anew. Either way, it was a sad way to see it all end. It's always a little heartbreaking to start a story with children and all their hopes and dreams - just to see it end so miserably.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2019
“Not everything has to have a point. Some things just are. ”
― Judy Blume, Summer Sisters
No one does summer quite like Judy Blume.
Summer sisters remains a favorite of mine many years after I read it. I love the tale of Victoria and Kaitlyn and their friendship as well as their growing into adulthood. It’s by far one of the best books Blume has ever written and one of the few adult books she has written.
One thing I found that surprised me is I found Victoria very difficult to like at least in girlhood. As she grew up, my feelings changed in that regard.
As much as I loved the story, I loved the atmosphere equally as much. This book is riddled with references to summer and the writing is exquisite.
That is not to say the book does not have its share of tragedy and heartbreak..it does. There is alot of it too.
SPOILERS:
But Summer Sisters is such a beautiful read and it’s one of those books that I never get tired of taking out every few years to and it always feels fresh . I’ve loved both Blume's children’s books and her adult books, although I will wonder forever what really happened to Kaitlyn.
As long as her books keep coming out I’ll keep buying them.
― Judy Blume, Summer Sisters
No one does summer quite like Judy Blume.
Summer sisters remains a favorite of mine many years after I read it. I love the tale of Victoria and Kaitlyn and their friendship as well as their growing into adulthood. It’s by far one of the best books Blume has ever written and one of the few adult books she has written.
One thing I found that surprised me is I found Victoria very difficult to like at least in girlhood. As she grew up, my feelings changed in that regard.
As much as I loved the story, I loved the atmosphere equally as much. This book is riddled with references to summer and the writing is exquisite.
That is not to say the book does not have its share of tragedy and heartbreak..it does. There is alot of it too.
SPOILERS:
But Summer Sisters is such a beautiful read and it’s one of those books that I never get tired of taking out every few years to and it always feels fresh . I’ve loved both Blume's children’s books and her adult books, although I will wonder forever what really happened to Kaitlyn.
As long as her books keep coming out I’ll keep buying them.
September 22, 2010
HORRIBLE!!! This is the first book that I actually returned to the library without finishing it. I think I made it to chapter 7 or so and just couldn't take it anymore. BORING... Enough about pre-adolescent girls feeling each other up. Stick to kids books Judy.
August 12, 2016
For a 400 page book exploring the relationship between "summer sisters" and the relationships around them, this book was incredibly shallow. Despite the years of information we're given on these girls, watching them grow up since the age of 12, I never really felt that we are able to truly "know" them. We are told so much, but shown so little, especially in regards to Caitlin. The lack of knowing their minds kept me from really caring about them on a deeper level. These characters are such shallow creations, and they never quite matured. Even by the end of the book, where real introspection could occur, it was barely touched on.
The characters felt like caricatures. The shy girl and the outgoing girl. Four of the worst, most out-of-touch, unrepentant parents. Siblings who are one-dimensional. "Island boys" who are complete clichés. Romantic relationships that only demonstrate sex lives but no depths whatsoever.
Then there's the story structures, which initially was interesting, going through the summers of friendship between Caittlin and Vix. But then we get all these randomly thrown in perspectives from the myriad of side characters, and for me they took away from the story. I felt like the writing was almost lazy using these perspectives to gain our understanding of the girls and their story instead of just writing the story better. And they broke up the flow.
Then, we finally get to the end, when the middle felt excessively long, and the parts I really wanted to know about were glossed over. Really? One of the appeals of a good book for me is character growth. This book had practically none. A miniscule amount. And when we finally get the opportunity to see some growth, some maturity, it's over. This book was disappointing.
The characters felt like caricatures. The shy girl and the outgoing girl. Four of the worst, most out-of-touch, unrepentant parents. Siblings who are one-dimensional. "Island boys" who are complete clichés. Romantic relationships that only demonstrate sex lives but no depths whatsoever.
Then there's the story structures, which initially was interesting, going through the summers of friendship between Caittlin and Vix. But then we get all these randomly thrown in perspectives from the myriad of side characters, and for me they took away from the story. I felt like the writing was almost lazy using these perspectives to gain our understanding of the girls and their story instead of just writing the story better. And they broke up the flow.
Then, we finally get to the end, when the middle felt excessively long, and the parts I really wanted to know about were glossed over. Really? One of the appeals of a good book for me is character growth. This book had practically none. A miniscule amount. And when we finally get the opportunity to see some growth, some maturity, it's over. This book was disappointing.
July 23, 2009
I read this for a book club otherwise I wouldn't have finished it. This book left me feeling dirty (and not "good" dirty). I could not relate to the characters - how can you keep a friend who lies and backstabs and treats you like that? I was disgusted by the relationships portrayed (12-year old girls experimenting with each other, a 15-year old girl and a 35-year old man, a 4-year old both crawling into a bathtub with a 20 year old womand and a brother wanting his sister and her friend in the back of his truck). Are there situations like that in real life? I'm sure, but I don't feel that is anything I need to read about. I read lots of romance novel so I don't have a problem with risque story lines but his book left me very uncomfortable. Tacky, amateurish and awful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2020
I was quite impressed by how much I adored this book. Having grown up reading Judy Blume as a girl, I wasn't sure what to expect from her adult fiction. I could not put this book down. It touched on so many different subjects, friendship, family, love, sex and what it means to care for someone so much that you put their needs before your own.
I cannot rave enough about "Summer Sisters."
I cannot rave enough about "Summer Sisters."
May 20, 2012
Not a book you read. A book you devour. Unsurprisingly, there are few reviews by men here. But I think any male writing writing female characters (in this case female friendships) could benefit from reading Blume.
And, yes. This is a great hot summer read, best read on a dock.
And, yes. This is a great hot summer read, best read on a dock.
December 1, 2024
3/5
Tokia nostalgiška, kiek senovinė dviejų merginų draugystės ir iš jos kylančių sunkumų istorija. Buvau jos skaičiusi gal pirmus penkiasdešimt puslapių ir ta mažo miestelio prie vandenyno romantika, tas augimas kartu, pažįstant viena kitą, savo kūnus, seksualumą ir poreikius, man rodėsi kaip gražios istorijos pradžia. Bet nežinau, ar paėmiau ne tos nuotaikos, ar kas man nutiko, bet pagavau save galvojančią – o kada jau tas veiksmas? O kada jau kažkokie pokyčiai, kažkas reikšmingo? Supratau, kad negaliu tapatintis su nei vienu iš veikėjų, o ir man jie pasirodė plokštoki. Sunkiai galėjau patikėti, kad su viena iš merginų kas nors galėtų norėti tęsti santykius – spjaučiau aš ir į nostalgiją, ir į senus pažadus – niekaip nesupratau, kaip jai niekas nespjovė į veidą ir nepasiuntė toli toli.
Dramos irgi tokios jau matytos penktadienio filmuose – kažkas permiega su kažkieno vaikinu, kažkas apie kažką meluoja, nauja pamotė, kurios vaikai priimti nenori, draugystės dramos ir nekaltybių (nekenčiu šito koncepto) praradimai. Bet niekas nesukėlė didesnių emocijų, prie nei vieno iš veikėjų neprisirišau. O gaila, nes tikėjausi nemažai. Ir nors Ignės Norvaišaitės-Aleliūnienės vertimas gyvas ir kokybiškas, o ir pati knyga parašyta visai šmaikščiai, bet veikėjų POV buvo per daug, o tikroviškumo – per mažai.
Tokia nostalgiška, kiek senovinė dviejų merginų draugystės ir iš jos kylančių sunkumų istorija. Buvau jos skaičiusi gal pirmus penkiasdešimt puslapių ir ta mažo miestelio prie vandenyno romantika, tas augimas kartu, pažįstant viena kitą, savo kūnus, seksualumą ir poreikius, man rodėsi kaip gražios istorijos pradžia. Bet nežinau, ar paėmiau ne tos nuotaikos, ar kas man nutiko, bet pagavau save galvojančią – o kada jau tas veiksmas? O kada jau kažkokie pokyčiai, kažkas reikšmingo? Supratau, kad negaliu tapatintis su nei vienu iš veikėjų, o ir man jie pasirodė plokštoki. Sunkiai galėjau patikėti, kad su viena iš merginų kas nors galėtų norėti tęsti santykius – spjaučiau aš ir į nostalgiją, ir į senus pažadus – niekaip nesupratau, kaip jai niekas nespjovė į veidą ir nepasiuntė toli toli.
Dramos irgi tokios jau matytos penktadienio filmuose – kažkas permiega su kažkieno vaikinu, kažkas apie kažką meluoja, nauja pamotė, kurios vaikai priimti nenori, draugystės dramos ir nekaltybių (nekenčiu šito koncepto) praradimai. Bet niekas nesukėlė didesnių emocijų, prie nei vieno iš veikėjų neprisirišau. O gaila, nes tikėjausi nemažai. Ir nors Ignės Norvaišaitės-Aleliūnienės vertimas gyvas ir kokybiškas, o ir pati knyga parašyta visai šmaikščiai, bet veikėjų POV buvo per daug, o tikroviškumo – per mažai.
July 23, 2015
How did it make it to nearly 30 without this treasure in my life? Perfect solo beach day read.
September 30, 2024
i am obsessed with the way this brilliant book was written. the characters, the layers, the storytelling. i can't. i love it so much. raw and beautiful and crazy, overall just fascinating!!! ❤️
January 7, 2024
Vicks Leonard is an average tween in 1977 when popular rich girl Caitlin Somers invites her for a summer at their family home on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a whole different world: a crazy house, a wild and rambunctious friend, and attractive boys that the adults declare off-limits – making them, of course, even more attractive. It becomes a cherished place for Vicks, even as Caitlin stirs up drama wherever they go. They form a close bond amidst all the chaos, and they make a pact to be “summer sisters” forever.
I’d call this an awfully big “slice of life” story, as it spans a good twenty years of Vicks’ teen years and early adolescence. The contrast between the impulsive, demonstrative Caitlin and the practical, even-keeled Vicks is played out over all kinds of life’s milestones: love, lust, college, travel, family life, their parents’ divorces, culminating in Caitlin’s wedding toward the story’s end. Vicks makes for an interesting protagonist: she marvels at Caitlin’s behavior, falls in love with an “islander,” goes to Harvard. She feels guilty about the privilege she gets from her summer family, wants to make it on her own, but she’s drawn to the vineyard by her first love.
In that sense it felt a little long. Lots of detail on Vicks’ life, plenty of her experiences. It’s certainly character-driven, as there doesn’t seem to be a real plot, other than life’s happenings. All good, interesting stuff, but it meanders, so be ready for that. That said, I liked Vicks: I sympathized with her work ethic, with her relationship to class and family, with her falling in love with Bru.
Let’s remember that Judy Blume is multi-faceted: she wrote kids’ books, and then this. It’s really racy at times – some of you blanche at that, but I kind of liked it. It wasn’t gratuitous: instead, it added to the characters’ sense of romance, truly capturing that sense of young love. Blume makes it easy to feel young again, to get that warmth and excitement from falling in love and having close friends. She indicates in her afterword that this novel was inspired by a childhood friendship of her own, and it’s beautifully retold in this fictional tale.
Mostly it’s told from Vicks’ point of view, but the narrative gets broken up by the occasional perspective of one of the side characters (just not Caitlin). Very clever and helpful to the story. It’s intense at times, but I got really vested, wishing for good decisions, just before Vicks is asked to be a maid of honor at Caitlin’s wedding. Others might not have liked the ending, but I thought it evoked some strong feelings.
Another great novel by one of the best writers of our age.
I’d call this an awfully big “slice of life” story, as it spans a good twenty years of Vicks’ teen years and early adolescence. The contrast between the impulsive, demonstrative Caitlin and the practical, even-keeled Vicks is played out over all kinds of life’s milestones: love, lust, college, travel, family life, their parents’ divorces, culminating in Caitlin’s wedding toward the story’s end. Vicks makes for an interesting protagonist: she marvels at Caitlin’s behavior, falls in love with an “islander,” goes to Harvard. She feels guilty about the privilege she gets from her summer family, wants to make it on her own, but she’s drawn to the vineyard by her first love.
In that sense it felt a little long. Lots of detail on Vicks’ life, plenty of her experiences. It’s certainly character-driven, as there doesn’t seem to be a real plot, other than life’s happenings. All good, interesting stuff, but it meanders, so be ready for that. That said, I liked Vicks: I sympathized with her work ethic, with her relationship to class and family, with her falling in love with Bru.
Let’s remember that Judy Blume is multi-faceted: she wrote kids’ books, and then this. It’s really racy at times – some of you blanche at that, but I kind of liked it. It wasn’t gratuitous: instead, it added to the characters’ sense of romance, truly capturing that sense of young love. Blume makes it easy to feel young again, to get that warmth and excitement from falling in love and having close friends. She indicates in her afterword that this novel was inspired by a childhood friendship of her own, and it’s beautifully retold in this fictional tale.
Mostly it’s told from Vicks’ point of view, but the narrative gets broken up by the occasional perspective of one of the side characters (just not Caitlin). Very clever and helpful to the story. It’s intense at times, but I got really vested, wishing for good decisions, just before Vicks is asked to be a maid of honor at Caitlin’s wedding. Others might not have liked the ending, but I thought it evoked some strong feelings.
Another great novel by one of the best writers of our age.
June 3, 2017
Ehhhh...it got better towards the end, but in general this book struck me as annoying at best, contrived and pedophilic at worst. The hyper-sexual nature of this coming of age story I found unrelatable and also stressful. I get that Caitlin's character has some mental health issues, but still...I was so turned off by the scenes of the little girls rubbing each other's genitals that I never really recovered....my social worker sense of danger (I'm trained in detecting potential sexual predators) was just going off big time the entire novel, which made it hard for me to enjoy anything else about the writing that I might otherwise have liked. It was just a little much for me...I wanted to jump into the story and help get those girls some better parents or some strong, positive role models.
Definitely not the fun summer read I was hoping for.
Definitely not the fun summer read I was hoping for.
July 28, 2020
This is one of the unique books for which my opinion was so controversial. Not with other reviews, but with mine.
The narrative was written as a light romance for summer, being at times irritating, especially the parts with first-person narrative. The book was unduly prolonged. Judy Blume is at her best with her children's and coming of age stories.
At the same time, the story was captivatingly dark, relative, and personal.
I mentally rated the book 1, 2, 3, 4 stars, but not with the following sequence. So, I will rate the average - 2,5 rounded up for the perfect ending. Blume didn't have any other choice.
The narrative was written as a light romance for summer, being at times irritating, especially the parts with first-person narrative. The book was unduly prolonged. Judy Blume is at her best with her children's and coming of age stories.
At the same time, the story was captivatingly dark, relative, and personal.
I mentally rated the book 1, 2, 3, 4 stars, but not with the following sequence. So, I will rate the average - 2,5 rounded up for the perfect ending. Blume didn't have any other choice.
June 27, 2021
What an entertaining and fun read! I was hooked from the start to finish, and it felt like I was just watching a good movie. And I actually liked the alternating perspectives(something I usually don’t) and felt it added to the story.
Spoilers:
I was so happy that Vix ended up with Gus. I loved him ever since he was little and apologized to Vix for being insensitive about her brother. I called that they were endgame! He also was sexy and bold.
Bruce had his appeal in the beginning but once he got serious with Vix his true colors came out. He was far too needy and was holding her back. He also couldn’t man up and decide what and who he really wanted when it came to marriage.
I did feel for Vix’s parents. Her father did have a lot of love for her, he just didn’t know how to show it. And Vix’s mother had a lot flaws, but she wasn’t a bad person. She just envisioned her life to go very differently than it had. She wanted Vix to have the life she always wanted, but resented her once she “got it.”
The best chapters were when they were teens at the summer house and the wedding chapter towards the end. However the drama with Caitlin “ purposely” getting Vix too high was confusing to me.
I liked how Vix’s friendships developed in college. At first she dismissed her roommate Maia as close minded and uptight (which she was), but without meaning to they eventually became close friends. Maia was a very loyal friend to Vix throughout her time at Harvard, and her work ethic was equivalent to Vix’s(despite Maia’s more privileged upbringing). It was a good lesson about worthwhile friendships and how people can surprise you.
The only critique I have was that I felt Caitlin’s character was underdeveloped. Usually the “wild” friend character has a certain intrigue, but for me Caitlin didn’t have it. There was nothing endearing or sympathetic about her. Perhaps that was done intentionally, because at the end of the day she wasn’t a great person, but I struggled to understand why she was the way she was. She had a very loving father and grew up relatively carefree. I’m not saying her life was perfect, but I would have liked more insight into her character and for her to have been more complex. She also was the only character whose perspective we didn’t hear from, which made her mysterious but also resulted in a disconnect with the reader.
If you’ve read this far thank you I just had sooo many thoughts about this book. It’s the type of book you want to talk and gossip about once you’re finished.
Spoilers:
I was so happy that Vix ended up with Gus. I loved him ever since he was little and apologized to Vix for being insensitive about her brother. I called that they were endgame! He also was sexy and bold.
Bruce had his appeal in the beginning but once he got serious with Vix his true colors came out. He was far too needy and was holding her back. He also couldn’t man up and decide what and who he really wanted when it came to marriage.
I did feel for Vix’s parents. Her father did have a lot of love for her, he just didn’t know how to show it. And Vix’s mother had a lot flaws, but she wasn’t a bad person. She just envisioned her life to go very differently than it had. She wanted Vix to have the life she always wanted, but resented her once she “got it.”
The best chapters were when they were teens at the summer house and the wedding chapter towards the end. However the drama with Caitlin “ purposely” getting Vix too high was confusing to me.
I liked how Vix’s friendships developed in college. At first she dismissed her roommate Maia as close minded and uptight (which she was), but without meaning to they eventually became close friends. Maia was a very loyal friend to Vix throughout her time at Harvard, and her work ethic was equivalent to Vix’s(despite Maia’s more privileged upbringing). It was a good lesson about worthwhile friendships and how people can surprise you.
The only critique I have was that I felt Caitlin’s character was underdeveloped. Usually the “wild” friend character has a certain intrigue, but for me Caitlin didn’t have it. There was nothing endearing or sympathetic about her. Perhaps that was done intentionally, because at the end of the day she wasn’t a great person, but I struggled to understand why she was the way she was. She had a very loving father and grew up relatively carefree. I’m not saying her life was perfect, but I would have liked more insight into her character and for her to have been more complex. She also was the only character whose perspective we didn’t hear from, which made her mysterious but also resulted in a disconnect with the reader.
If you’ve read this far thank you I just had sooo many thoughts about this book. It’s the type of book you want to talk and gossip about once you’re finished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2018
I love Judy Blume! Have I mentioned that before? Because I do. That being said, this story spans years in a young woman's life. Victoria is born into a poor family living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has a special needs brother named Nathan whom she adores. Her parents, particularly her mother, seem to expend all their energy & resources on his care. For attention-starved Victoria or Vix, as she come to be known, being picked as a best friend by new girl, Caitlyn, seems a godsend. Caitlyn comes from a family of privilege, although they sure don't act like it! Vix is invited to Martha's Vineyard for the summer and her life is altered forever!
No family is perfect, and neither Caitlyn's nor Vix's are. They are just very different. Slowly, over a number of years, Vix is sucked into Caitlyn's orbit. She always seems to be in the shadows while Caitlyn blazes bright. The two share everything. Finally, life events and time itself split them apart. Can their ever be a reconciliation? How much can one person forgive? Surprising and heartbreaking.
No family is perfect, and neither Caitlyn's nor Vix's are. They are just very different. Slowly, over a number of years, Vix is sucked into Caitlyn's orbit. She always seems to be in the shadows while Caitlyn blazes bright. The two share everything. Finally, life events and time itself split them apart. Can their ever be a reconciliation? How much can one person forgive? Surprising and heartbreaking.
July 27, 2019
I'm unsure when I first read this book, but probably right after it was published. I have read it more than once, because I've always been a huge Judy Blume fan and will read whatever she writes.
December 4, 2013
Meh. The first half the book starts out promising enough. 12 year old Caitlin Somers, a wealthy child of divorce, invites Victoria Leonard, a middle class girl, to spend the summer with her on Martha's Vineyard. Victoria (Vix)'s parents reluctantly agree to the trip, which begins a relationship that spans decades.
The story might have been more intriguing if each and every character had not been a stereotype. By the middle of the book, I could almost predict the actions of the characters. Caitlin's divorced mother is, of course, distant and aloof and abdicates most maternal responsibility. Caitlin, therefore, grows up without sufficient guidance and grounding. Caitlin's father, Lamb, marries Abby, another divorcee with her own son. Of course, the kids are resentful and bitter and spoiled. (Because every wealthy "trust fund" child is, right?) Bru and Von are brought into the picture as potential love interests for Vix and Caitlin. The prologue pretty much gives away the storyline regarding this foursome.
Interspersed throughout the book are brief passages written supposedly from different points of views of some of the lesser characters such as Lamb, Abby, Vix's mother and Caitlin's mother. While somewhat interesting, these points of view add nothing to the depth of the plot, which is predictable and boring. Blah, blah, blah, Caitlin spends her college money jet-setting around the world while Vix toils tirelessly in college, finally realizing that she doesn't want a relationship with a blue collar guy like Bru, who can't discuss books with her. (Yawn...) Caitlin beds every guy she can (and some girls) and eventually settles down and has a child, which she, in keeping with her character, abandons to the child's father, Bru. Oh, Caitlin finally does end up marrying Bru, much to the dismay of Vix. The reasoning behind this sudden romantic attraction is never explained.
I had a difficult time getting past the stereotypes in this book. Vix's roommate, Maia, is a New Jersey Jew who worries about everything. Tawny, Vix's mother, is a hardened, "stiff upper lip" woman who didn't marry for love and has now found herself trapped in a life she never wanted. Vix's sister, Lanie, ends up getting pregnant at 17 and has two kids by a slacker who smokes pot and now lives in a trailer park. (Ho, hum - I'm just picturing the guy wearing a wife beater and guzzling Budweiser) Almost every single character in the book is miserable due to their life circumstances. Boo, hoo, I'm rich and beautiful but don't like myself. Waaah, I struggle to make ends meet and hate everyone who has it better than I do. I'm blue collar, drink beer, don't read, but of course, I'm good-hearted. I couldn't find much of anything redeeming or remotely interesting about any of them.
I read on, hoping that by the end, the characters would do something out of character. I won't give away the end, but it seemed that the author just kind of gave up on Caitlin's character. She could have done something besides indulge herself, search for the meaning of life in a bottle or in a bed, but she didn't. She remained the spoiled little girl until the end.
The story might have been more intriguing if each and every character had not been a stereotype. By the middle of the book, I could almost predict the actions of the characters. Caitlin's divorced mother is, of course, distant and aloof and abdicates most maternal responsibility. Caitlin, therefore, grows up without sufficient guidance and grounding. Caitlin's father, Lamb, marries Abby, another divorcee with her own son. Of course, the kids are resentful and bitter and spoiled. (Because every wealthy "trust fund" child is, right?) Bru and Von are brought into the picture as potential love interests for Vix and Caitlin. The prologue pretty much gives away the storyline regarding this foursome.
Interspersed throughout the book are brief passages written supposedly from different points of views of some of the lesser characters such as Lamb, Abby, Vix's mother and Caitlin's mother. While somewhat interesting, these points of view add nothing to the depth of the plot, which is predictable and boring. Blah, blah, blah, Caitlin spends her college money jet-setting around the world while Vix toils tirelessly in college, finally realizing that she doesn't want a relationship with a blue collar guy like Bru, who can't discuss books with her. (Yawn...) Caitlin beds every guy she can (and some girls) and eventually settles down and has a child, which she, in keeping with her character, abandons to the child's father, Bru. Oh, Caitlin finally does end up marrying Bru, much to the dismay of Vix. The reasoning behind this sudden romantic attraction is never explained.
I had a difficult time getting past the stereotypes in this book. Vix's roommate, Maia, is a New Jersey Jew who worries about everything. Tawny, Vix's mother, is a hardened, "stiff upper lip" woman who didn't marry for love and has now found herself trapped in a life she never wanted. Vix's sister, Lanie, ends up getting pregnant at 17 and has two kids by a slacker who smokes pot and now lives in a trailer park. (Ho, hum - I'm just picturing the guy wearing a wife beater and guzzling Budweiser) Almost every single character in the book is miserable due to their life circumstances. Boo, hoo, I'm rich and beautiful but don't like myself. Waaah, I struggle to make ends meet and hate everyone who has it better than I do. I'm blue collar, drink beer, don't read, but of course, I'm good-hearted. I couldn't find much of anything redeeming or remotely interesting about any of them.
I read on, hoping that by the end, the characters would do something out of character. I won't give away the end, but it seemed that the author just kind of gave up on Caitlin's character. She could have done something besides indulge herself, search for the meaning of life in a bottle or in a bed, but she didn't. She remained the spoiled little girl until the end.
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