lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book, set over a dual timeline.
1939 and on the eve of war, the introvert Maddy is loving having her sister Georgina back, but not so much the company she has brought with her. Especially the elusive Victor, who she can't quite work out.
In the present day Chloe is in a controlling marriage and needing a reason to escape from Aidan. Meeting Maddy helps her confront the issue.
This sucked me in from the beginning and I enjoyed reading both of their stories. It was a good representation of how some people with not nice motives can twist things to suit themselves.
1939 and on the eve of war, the introvert Maddy is loving having her sister Georgina back, but not so much the company she has brought with her. Especially the elusive Victor, who she can't quite work out.
In the present day Chloe is in a controlling marriage and needing a reason to escape from Aidan. Meeting Maddy helps her confront the issue.
This sucked me in from the beginning and I enjoyed reading both of their stories. It was a good representation of how some people with not nice motives can twist things to suit themselves.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
4.0
First of all, a huge thank you to Becky Hunter and the team at Headline publishers for providing a lovely surprise on my return home from work one day to find Nikola Scott's second novel, Summer Of Secrets on my doormat. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's debut, My Mother's Shadow and was delighted to be able to dive into a new half historical/half contemporary fiction from Nikola sooner than I could have anticipated. Also, happy publication day as the novel is published today, the 6th September 2018 so you can get your mitts on it RIGHT NOW! For me, if I love an author's debut, I'm always slightly nervous about reading their follow-up. Would I enjoy it? Can I see myself becoming a fan of her work and look forward to whatever she writes? Well, yes, yes and YES on all counts here, I'm thrilled to report. Nikola Scott has a real gift for writing sumptuous, atmospheric fiction that has the heady advantage of pulling you into her world immediately, keeping you captivated throughout and making it very difficult for you to want to let go by the end.
Like My Mother's Shadow, Summer Of Secrets uses one of my favourite ways to create a narrative - a dual timeline and two endearing and compelling female leads in each separate time period. In contemporary times we follow Chloe, who has just recently found out she is pregnant but has misgivings for both her future and the future of her unborn child. Having previously worked as a photographer prior to getting married, she is sent to the old country estate of Summerhill to meet a person she has idolised since childhood. This person is Madeleine, whom we hear from in the alternate timeline, set just prior to the war in 1939. A talented artist, Maddy is awaiting the return of her older sister, Georgiana who has been away for a little while but when she returns she brings someone into their lives, her new beau Victor, who turns everything upside down.
The sisters have learned to be self-sufficient from a young age after tragically losing their mother and father but it has made them intensely vulnerable in very different ways and we start to see evidence of this as the story continues. However, back in the present time, how does Chloe's story connect with that of Madeleine, Georgiana and Victor? Can both women use the links and the similarities between their lives to help themselves (and each other) in their current situation? Or are they both too terrified of the potential consequences to open up and let the other one in?
Curling up with Summer Of Secrets was like having a cup of tea with your oldest friend. Sounds comforting, right? Now imagine your friend brought some snacks along and they are slightly spicy but you weren't expecting it? That's what the reading experience felt like to me. The story flowed along languidly and effortlessly and, quite unusually for me, I adored both the historical and the contemporary part of the narrative. This was a surprise as I was expecting to favour the historical side of the story and I can only credit Nikola's character creation with this sudden change in my normal habits! She has written two utterly fantastic female protagonists that I instantly fell in love with, wanted to root for from the beginning and was genuinely interested in their welfare, particularly when we learn of the harrowing things they have been through in their individual histories.
However, what really pulled me into this novel was the smidge of darkness the author placed delicately and subtly at first into each woman's story but then became such an integral part of the narrative that it did make for tough, uncomfortable moments at points, particularly as I personally identified with certain parts. I think the personal connection that I developed, especially with Chloe, made me further invested in the novel as a whole, willing her on from behind the pages, determined that she should find happiness. My partner will also attest to the fact that I exclaimed a few "choice words" out loud by the end of the novel (which amused him greatly!) as I found myself completely engrossed, forgetting where and who I was with.
I'm overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to read a review copy of Summer Of Secrets by Nikola Scott and even happier to announce that it exceeded all my wildest expectations for her second novel. I'll just wait here quietly, eagerly anticipating her third!
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
Like My Mother's Shadow, Summer Of Secrets uses one of my favourite ways to create a narrative - a dual timeline and two endearing and compelling female leads in each separate time period. In contemporary times we follow Chloe, who has just recently found out she is pregnant but has misgivings for both her future and the future of her unborn child. Having previously worked as a photographer prior to getting married, she is sent to the old country estate of Summerhill to meet a person she has idolised since childhood. This person is Madeleine, whom we hear from in the alternate timeline, set just prior to the war in 1939. A talented artist, Maddy is awaiting the return of her older sister, Georgiana who has been away for a little while but when she returns she brings someone into their lives, her new beau Victor, who turns everything upside down.
The sisters have learned to be self-sufficient from a young age after tragically losing their mother and father but it has made them intensely vulnerable in very different ways and we start to see evidence of this as the story continues. However, back in the present time, how does Chloe's story connect with that of Madeleine, Georgiana and Victor? Can both women use the links and the similarities between their lives to help themselves (and each other) in their current situation? Or are they both too terrified of the potential consequences to open up and let the other one in?
Curling up with Summer Of Secrets was like having a cup of tea with your oldest friend. Sounds comforting, right? Now imagine your friend brought some snacks along and they are slightly spicy but you weren't expecting it? That's what the reading experience felt like to me. The story flowed along languidly and effortlessly and, quite unusually for me, I adored both the historical and the contemporary part of the narrative. This was a surprise as I was expecting to favour the historical side of the story and I can only credit Nikola's character creation with this sudden change in my normal habits! She has written two utterly fantastic female protagonists that I instantly fell in love with, wanted to root for from the beginning and was genuinely interested in their welfare, particularly when we learn of the harrowing things they have been through in their individual histories.
However, what really pulled me into this novel was the smidge of darkness the author placed delicately and subtly at first into each woman's story but then became such an integral part of the narrative that it did make for tough, uncomfortable moments at points, particularly as I personally identified with certain parts. I think the personal connection that I developed, especially with Chloe, made me further invested in the novel as a whole, willing her on from behind the pages, determined that she should find happiness. My partner will also attest to the fact that I exclaimed a few "choice words" out loud by the end of the novel (which amused him greatly!) as I found myself completely engrossed, forgetting where and who I was with.
I'm overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to read a review copy of Summer Of Secrets by Nikola Scott and even happier to announce that it exceeded all my wildest expectations for her second novel. I'll just wait here quietly, eagerly anticipating her third!
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. I always enjoy a dual time frame novel and this novel was one I was looking forward to reading. I could visualise both periods very well. The reclusive Maddy who struggles to accept her sister’s friends and partying, and Chloe who would appear to have a fantastic life but for her very sick brother and her controlling husband.
At first I struggled to read Chloe’s story. I found intimidating with the way that her husband manipulated her. But, she is stronger than she appears, something he seems to have forgotten and she won’t behave the way that he expects. As the novel progressed and she became more aware, I wanted to carry on reading about her. Every time it switched back to Maddy I was itching to know what happened next.
I liked everything about Maddy’s story. The friendships she had with Susan, William and Cookie. The tolerance but devotion to Auntie and the way that she had to handle the death of her father. But again, there was a troubling relationship. Not as intimidating as the other but still a concern for the two sisters. There were a couple of touching parts in the novel, waiting for the announcement on the radio about the war starting and when the men started to leave to go off to war. I could picture clearly what it must have been like for thousands of families across the country.
The level of trust was something special, Chloe and Danny, Maddy and Susan and as they got to know each other, Chloe, Maddy and Matt. I would have loved to read about their relationships develop more.
A lovely novel and a reminder that I need to read the author’s earlier book My Mother’s Shadow soon.
At first I struggled to read Chloe’s story. I found intimidating with the way that her husband manipulated her. But, she is stronger than she appears, something he seems to have forgotten and she won’t behave the way that he expects. As the novel progressed and she became more aware, I wanted to carry on reading about her. Every time it switched back to Maddy I was itching to know what happened next.
I liked everything about Maddy’s story. The friendships she had with Susan, William and Cookie. The tolerance but devotion to Auntie and the way that she had to handle the death of her father. But again, there was a troubling relationship. Not as intimidating as the other but still a concern for the two sisters. There were a couple of touching parts in the novel, waiting for the announcement on the radio about the war starting and when the men started to leave to go off to war. I could picture clearly what it must have been like for thousands of families across the country.
The level of trust was something special, Chloe and Danny, Maddy and Susan and as they got to know each other, Chloe, Maddy and Matt. I would have loved to read about their relationships develop more.
A lovely novel and a reminder that I need to read the author’s earlier book My Mother’s Shadow soon.
kiercarnahan's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I really loved everything about this book. It followed Chloe in present day and Maddy in the past whose storylines converged. I wouldn't call it a historical fiction because it barely mentioned the war but it was still a good duel storyline book. I wish the children's book theme was a little more hashed out. It seemed to be not fully developed. I found myself like Chloe's storyline more.
I really loved everything about this book. It followed Chloe in present day and Maddy in the past whose storylines converged. I wouldn't call it a historical fiction because it barely mentioned the war but it was still a good duel storyline book. I wish the children's book theme was a little more hashed out. It seemed to be not fully developed. I found myself like Chloe's storyline more.
bookmadjo's review against another edition
4.0
I really love stories that follow dual timeline, and this story is particularly well done.
It follows the story of Madeleine and her sister Georgiana in 1939 in their country house Summerhill, in Cornwall. It also follows the story of Chloe in the present day, who has a seemingly perfect life with her doctor husband Aidan.
Both intertwining stories address both the light and darkness of love, from the joy of finding love to the dark side of love with control, abuse and violence.
It was a story that held my attention from the very first page right to the end, with a twist at the end that left me surprised.
This book was given to me to read via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It follows the story of Madeleine and her sister Georgiana in 1939 in their country house Summerhill, in Cornwall. It also follows the story of Chloe in the present day, who has a seemingly perfect life with her doctor husband Aidan.
Both intertwining stories address both the light and darkness of love, from the joy of finding love to the dark side of love with control, abuse and violence.
It was a story that held my attention from the very first page right to the end, with a twist at the end that left me surprised.
This book was given to me to read via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
nightresplendent's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on https://www.instagram.com/p/BnyZvq2lR4I/
I posted my review as part of the Summer of Secrets blog tour.
I have read a few works of historical fiction with dual narratives recently and @nikolascottauthor 's Summer of Secrets falls amongst the best of them.
With dual narratives, I've sometimes found that I prefer one time period over the other but that was not the case with this book. Each story is just as beautifully written and engaging as the other and both were a true pleasure to read.
Also, how beautiful is this cover? I received an ARC from the publisher with a plain blue cover so I took liberties with photoshop in order for you all to see this beauty.
Thanks so much to Headline Books and @annecater14 for having me on the tour and for providing me with a free copy of Summer of Secrets.
I posted my review as part of the Summer of Secrets blog tour.
I have read a few works of historical fiction with dual narratives recently and @nikolascottauthor 's Summer of Secrets falls amongst the best of them.
With dual narratives, I've sometimes found that I prefer one time period over the other but that was not the case with this book. Each story is just as beautifully written and engaging as the other and both were a true pleasure to read.
Also, how beautiful is this cover? I received an ARC from the publisher with a plain blue cover so I took liberties with photoshop in order for you all to see this beauty.
Thanks so much to Headline Books and @annecater14 for having me on the tour and for providing me with a free copy of Summer of Secrets.
karlou's review against another edition
5.0
I'm always tempted by dual timeline novels and books set in or preceding the Second World War so couldn't fail to be tempted by Summer of Secrets. Thankfully my high hopes were more than exceeded and I adored this wonderfully evocative book. I often find that I prefer one strand of the storyline over the other with these sorts of novels but I found both time periods equally compelling in this case.
Maddy's story takes place in the three days immediately before Chamberlain's broadcast to the nation when he announced Britain had declared war on Germany. Although her Aunt Marjorie is glued to the wireless, Maddy finds it hard to believe life at her sprawling Summerhill home will change. She eagerly awaits the return of her older sister, Georgiana who has been travelling in Europe; the two sisters are orphans whose bond seems unbreakable following the tragic death of their father. However, Georgiana has invited her new friends to stay at Summerhill, including the handsome and charismatic Victor. The newcomers bring with them a sense of glamour and wild abandonment at odds with the sombre mood of a country on the brink of war. At first Maddy feels awkward and immature around them but before long realises that Victor is not to be trusted. Maddy is an intelligent, compassionate young girl but it becomes increasingly clear that she has created a protective cocoon around herself at Summerhill and hasn't truly faced the ghosts of her past. The scenes set at Summerhill are so beautifully descriptive, I could easily believe it was a real place. Maddy's story is told in the first person, allowing the sense of foreboding to build gradually as the secrets she feel compelled to keep eventually threaten more than just the sisters' attachment to one another.
In contrast, I felt the third person narrative of the contemporary storyline had a more immediate feeling of oppression, although Chloe herself is unaware - or at least not ready to recognise - that her perfect life isn't quite as perfect as it appears. She thinks she should feel lucky, her husband, Aidan adores her and when she discovers she is pregnant, their happiness should be complete. However, she is stifled by Aidan's over-protectiveness and as his desire to control every aspect of her life escalates it frequently makes for a difficult read. As the book progresses it transpires that Chloe is actually a strong and determined woman who has advocated for the proper care for her brother for years but her fears for him coupled with her suffocating marriage means she has lost the sense of who she is. An opportunity to rediscover a previous passion takes her to Summerhill, where she becomes drawn to the events of the past and in doing triggers life-changing repercussions closer to home.
The connection between Chloe and Maddy never feels forced for the sake of the story and as the narrative switches between the two women, there are clear similarities between their lives even though their circumstances are very different. Summer of Secrets is a book about how the power of love has affected the three women at the heart of it. I'm including Georgiana here too because she as much as any of them, experiences the strength of a love which pulls her towards a person when she knows that for her own sake, she needs to seek out her own space in the world. It is not surprising then that Chloe feels an affinity with her as Nikola Scott poignantly acknowledges that love can be a gift and a burden at the same time, and that the responsibilities borne by the young can exert a toll which is felt for years.
Summer of Secrets is an exquisite novel which enthralled me from the first page and I finished it with a smile on my face even as the tears streamed down my cheeks, such was my pleasure at reading such an exceptional book. Highly, highly recommended.
Maddy's story takes place in the three days immediately before Chamberlain's broadcast to the nation when he announced Britain had declared war on Germany. Although her Aunt Marjorie is glued to the wireless, Maddy finds it hard to believe life at her sprawling Summerhill home will change. She eagerly awaits the return of her older sister, Georgiana who has been travelling in Europe; the two sisters are orphans whose bond seems unbreakable following the tragic death of their father. However, Georgiana has invited her new friends to stay at Summerhill, including the handsome and charismatic Victor. The newcomers bring with them a sense of glamour and wild abandonment at odds with the sombre mood of a country on the brink of war. At first Maddy feels awkward and immature around them but before long realises that Victor is not to be trusted. Maddy is an intelligent, compassionate young girl but it becomes increasingly clear that she has created a protective cocoon around herself at Summerhill and hasn't truly faced the ghosts of her past. The scenes set at Summerhill are so beautifully descriptive, I could easily believe it was a real place. Maddy's story is told in the first person, allowing the sense of foreboding to build gradually as the secrets she feel compelled to keep eventually threaten more than just the sisters' attachment to one another.
In contrast, I felt the third person narrative of the contemporary storyline had a more immediate feeling of oppression, although Chloe herself is unaware - or at least not ready to recognise - that her perfect life isn't quite as perfect as it appears. She thinks she should feel lucky, her husband, Aidan adores her and when she discovers she is pregnant, their happiness should be complete. However, she is stifled by Aidan's over-protectiveness and as his desire to control every aspect of her life escalates it frequently makes for a difficult read. As the book progresses it transpires that Chloe is actually a strong and determined woman who has advocated for the proper care for her brother for years but her fears for him coupled with her suffocating marriage means she has lost the sense of who she is. An opportunity to rediscover a previous passion takes her to Summerhill, where she becomes drawn to the events of the past and in doing triggers life-changing repercussions closer to home.
The connection between Chloe and Maddy never feels forced for the sake of the story and as the narrative switches between the two women, there are clear similarities between their lives even though their circumstances are very different. Summer of Secrets is a book about how the power of love has affected the three women at the heart of it. I'm including Georgiana here too because she as much as any of them, experiences the strength of a love which pulls her towards a person when she knows that for her own sake, she needs to seek out her own space in the world. It is not surprising then that Chloe feels an affinity with her as Nikola Scott poignantly acknowledges that love can be a gift and a burden at the same time, and that the responsibilities borne by the young can exert a toll which is felt for years.
Summer of Secrets is an exquisite novel which enthralled me from the first page and I finished it with a smile on my face even as the tears streamed down my cheeks, such was my pleasure at reading such an exceptional book. Highly, highly recommended.
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