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OVERVIEW
This is probably about my 11th or 12th book by Beatriz Williams. She writes very unique historical fiction about periods of time that are "orphaned" or not written about much. The hot time period, WWII, has been the big time period in historical fiction lately.
This novel takes a different tack and writes about post-WWII which was a very scary time for the world. There was so much going on between the West and the Soviet Union including McCarthyism, nuclear bomb proliferation, and the rise of intense spying. Most of us here in the United States don't know much about it and I include myself in that uninformed group.
The plot of this novel is mainly about two families on an island in Long Island Sound. The rich, mainlander Peabody family and the local Winthrop family with a symbiotic relationship between the two families. The main character, Emilia AKA Cricket, is lifelong friends with the Peabody boys who live in the large manor house. Cricket's father works as a caretaker for the manor house and the Winthrop family lives in the caretaker house.
Of course, there is mystery, intrigue, and drama, OH MY!! Yes, there are many secrets including former military members, as well as the KGB, CIA, and the FBI!! Oh, and don't forget about the secrets about the mainlander "Families" as well as the local families along with the secrets between them all. Who doesn't like drama???
Again, I don't do spoilers so I don't want to give too many hints at all!!
REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The Beach at Summerly was a typical Beatriz Williams historical fiction novel. She writes so descriptively and beautifully yet her books are so easy to read. Perfect to read at the beach or by the pool!
The novel takes place in two post-WWII time periods 1946 and 1954.
There is so much mystery and some lovely plot twists which I really loved!! I did not figure out some of the spoilers which is a sign of a good book to me!
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters are Cricket and Olive, a relation, to the mainlander Peabody family. Olive spends the summer in the manor guest house with her three children while Cricket works for Olive taking care of the three children.
Then all of the twists and turns start after the main characters are introduced. But, we get to know the main characters Cricket and Olive very well especially with the two time periods. There are supporting characters of the Peabody and Winthrop families. All of these secondary characters are fully revealed and in some cases additional reveals in very unique ways.
Also, the island plays a tertiary role in the novel. Without the dichotomy of the mainlander and local families, there would not be drama!
Storyline: 4.5 stars
This was an obviously well-researched novel as Beatriz Williams does a great job in that area. Since it was fiction, I definitely want to learn more about this post-WWII era as I can see that there is so much that I obviously don't know!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
It was okay and conveyed the topic of the novel.
Book title: 4.0 stars
Yes, the beach at Summerly was what it was REALLY about!!
Gut feeling: 4.0 stars
I always like Beatriz Williams's novels so I wasn't disappointed.
Suggestions:
A map of the island would have been fun!
Highly RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The Beach at Summerly by Beatriz Williams
368 pages
5 days to read it (I couldn't put it down this afternoon)
Read it as a LAPL ebook
Release date of 06/27/2023
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5451625156
https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/william-morrow
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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