The Summer Getaway: A Novel

The Summer Getaway is a family drama with romance thrown into the mix. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing. The characters are realistic and developed. They seemed like real people with realistic problems. I liked that Robyn is a mature protagonist (in her 40s). All the activity kept the book moving forward. I wanted to see what choices each character would make especially Robyn. Lillian was my favorite character. I hope I am as lively and quick witted when I am that age. I would have loved to live in Lillian’s quirky home. The Summer Getaway is an emotional novel. There are some wonderful heartwarming moments as well as some devastating ones that cause pain. There are also some laughs along the way. I especially enjoyed people’s reactions to Lillian’s home. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. I do want to warn readers there is foul language and intimate situations (some of them steamy with a little too much detail). The Summer Getaway is an entertaining story (have the popcorn ready) with family drama, romance, humor, relationship angst, poor choices, financial woes, and helpful advice. It is a great book to read on a rainy afternoon or a sunny one laying by the pool. The Summer Getaway is a diverting tale with a self-centered sister, a Don Juan dad, a flirty friend, an affable aunt, stalwart son, an ex-military man, and an odd domicile.

Another excellent read from Susan Mallery. This story centers on family issues, young adult children, separated parents and growing pains of “adulting” for all involved. Robyn, the main character, is a bit of a paragon of virtue and a good portion of this book involve droves of tears. The book is a good one and a fast read. Grab this or add it to your TBR list so you don’t miss it.

This was a delightfully amusing and engaging read that kept me smirking and pleasantly entertained throughout perusal. I enjoyed all the various storylines, all of which were advancing at a steady pace. Every character was in transition and actively moving forward while wading through unanticipated opportunities and conundrums. I adored the couple of Mason and Robyn, but Mason most of all, as he was not at all what I was expecting. The writing was crisp, insightful, and smartly paced with a well-honed balance of clever humor and tension and surprising conclusions to several of the threads. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of these characters in an ongoing series.