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strawb3rrysugar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you like a comfy summer beach read that details delicious meals in a beautiful location, and you can get past the kind of monotonous character work and the main character's immaturity that borders on astounding at points, you'll like this book. The rush job the ending does plummeted this book from 4 stars to three for me. And if you're hoping for an explanation of how the book's time-travel mechanic works, you won't get one, unless Grief Vibes count.
I understand why the MC is the way she is, to an extent (though it borders on emotional incest very often) - she's intentionally built up an image of her mother in her head and has a hard time looking at the world without Mom-tinted glasses. But her exploration of this dynamic and the characters' development is incredibly surface level, and it feels like you're admiring a Pinterest board more than a person who haunts the narrative. Not an atrocious read, just kind of meh.
I understand why the MC is the way she is, to an extent (though it borders on emotional incest very often) - she's intentionally built up an image of her mother in her head and has a hard time looking at the world without Mom-tinted glasses. But her exploration of this dynamic and the characters' development is incredibly surface level, and it feels like you're admiring a Pinterest board more than a person who haunts the narrative. Not an atrocious read, just kind of meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment
There's two pretty brief sex scenes near the end of the book - descriptive, but not graphic. The central plot of the story has to do with the death of Katy's mother. A large subplot has to do with an affair Katy has with a man named Adam, but it's explained away by this weird time-travel mechanic.mamasuereads's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
I listened to the Audible audio and the narrator's voice did nothing to help me enjoy this story. I read this as my first read along on fable and because the title included the word summer. I was hoping the story would brighten but that did not happen for me. I do have to say, there is a lot of descriptive detail for both material items as well as Positano, Naples, and Capri Italy. There was just too much grief and relationship uncertainty in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
mamasuereads's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
I listened to the Audible audio and the narrator's voice did nothing to help me enjoy this story. I read this as my first read along on fable and because the title included the word summer. I was hoping the story would brighten but that did not happen for me. I do have to say, there is a lot of descriptive detail for both material items as well as Positano, Naples, and Capri Italy. There was just too much grief and relationship uncertainty in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity
jessalicemorris's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“History, memory is by definition fiction. Once an event is no longer present, but remembered, it is narrative. And we can choose the narratives we tell-about our own lives, our own stories, our own relationships. We can choose the chapters we give meaning.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
alexdandridge's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
jilley28's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
3bobbielee's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, and Death of parent
georgiaw2k's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
- I really enjoyed this type of story - The magical mystery of whether Katy’s mother was a live
- Throughout the book, I had theories on what may have happened - I initially thought she was in a coma and dreaming it, then I thought it wasn’t really her mother, just person very similar.
- I wasn’t expecting the time travel aspect of this book, but I didn’t not like it
- This story tugged at my heartstrings a lot as someone who has a very close relationship with their mother - really just everything into perspective.
- I felt like I was following along in Katy’s grief and fully felt what she felt - I am surprised I wasn’t more emotional (I think it’s due to my motivation with reading - as always)
- I wouldn’t say anything was missing aside from that I really hoped she could’ve seen her mother again.
- Could it be classed as cheating in time travel and a reality that isn’t real?
- I would be interested to explore more of Rebecca Searle’s work
- It felt like I had been gut punched when I realised certain points of the story were real and the hotel characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
kimmeyer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I thought this was well—written and interesting. I love the time-travel element in her books that isn’t super science-fictiony. I couldn’t connect with the characters as much as I would’ve liked, primarily I think because this is a story about a woman who has such a deep, abiding love for and affectionate relationship with her mother. As someone who has a difficult mother/daughter relationship I couldn’t imagine what this would be like — it almost seemed like fantasy. I did enjoy the setting of the novel and how the imagery brings to life Positano for the reader. I also liked that there were some parts that were real (the hotel and the people who work there). It is the type of book you don’t want to put down, however, which I love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment