Book Club: A Hundred Summers

Image Via Chapters Indigo

Book: A Hundred Summers

Author: Beatriz Williams
Indigo Summary:

Lily Dane has returned to Seaview, Rhode Island, where her family has summered for generations. It’s an escape not only from New York’s social scene but from a heartbreak that still haunts her. Here, among the seaside community that has embraced her since childhood, she finds comfort in the familiar rituals of summer.

But this summer is different. Budgie and Nick Greenwald—Lily’s former best friend and former fiancé—have arrived, too, and Seaview’s elite are abuzz. Under Budgie’s glamorous influence, Lily is seduced into a complicated web of renewed friendship and dangerous longing.

As a cataclysmic hurricane churns north through the Atlantic, and uneasy secrets slowly reveal themselves, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional storm that will change their worlds forever…

What I Have To Say:
This is a book that had been on my reading list forever and I finally got around to reading it. The chapters alternate between 1932, when Lilly and Nick first met, and 'present day' 1938, where the summer portion of the book is set. For this book, I liked the alternating time periods, as there was a six year lapse that didn't really have anything to do with the story. It also keeps the reader engaged and wondering what happened in the past to get to the 1938 present situation. The characters are well developed, and Lilly is likeable. There is depth to the plot and it flows well, which keeps you wanting to read. The plot lines and character relationships keep things interesting but are not overwhelming that you can't keep track of them. 

The storm of 1938 is a storm that actually happened. While what happened to Lilly et al was fictionalized (including the community they live in), the storm portion was based on real events- which is crazy! I can't imagine living through that or even being calm enough to figure out my own survival. 

Final Verdict:
Highly recommended! This was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! My first instinct is to say that this is a great beach read, but I did enjoy being transported to a beach town in the middle of a very cold and snowy winter. I'm looking forward to re-reading this book soon.