Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Review: The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer

Title: The Guest Cottage
Author: Nancy Thayer
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publication Date: 12th May 2015
Pages: 336
Book Source: Own purchase


Synopsis: Sensible thirty-six-year-old Sophie Anderson has always known what to do. She knows her role in life: supportive wife of a successful architect and calm, capable mother of two. But on a warm summer night, as the house grows quiet around her and her children fall asleep, she wonders what’s missing from her life. When her husband echoes that lonely question, announcing that he’s leaving her for another woman, Sophie realizes she has no idea what’s next. Impulsively renting a guest cottage on Nantucket from her friend Susie Swenson, Sophie rounds up her kids, Jonah and Lacey, and leaves Boston for a quiet family vacation, minus one.

Also minus one is Trevor Black, a software entrepreneur who has recently lost his wife. Trevor is the last person to imagine himself, age thirty and on his own, raising a little boy like Leo—smart and sweet, but grappling constantly with his mother’s death, growing more and more closed off. Hoping a quiet summer on the Nantucket coast will help him reconnect with Leo, Trevor rents a guest house on the beautiful island from his friend Ivan Swenson.

Best-laid plans run awry when Sophie and Trevor realize they’ve mistakenly rented the same house. Still, determined to make this a summer their kids will always remember, the two agree to share the Swensons’ Nantucket house. But as the summer unfolds and the families grow close, Sophie and Trevor must ask themselves if the guest cottage is all they want to share.

My Thoughts:
My first Nancy Thayer read but it won't be my last and luckily I have a bunch of her books waiting for me. The Guest Cottage was just the incentive I needed to make a dent in that backlist. 

When Sophie Anderson rents a Nantucket cottage with her two children for 2 months of summer and finds Trevor and his young son Leo have rented the same guest cottage they decide to make the best of the odd situation and share the house and their holiday.

It's a chance for both adults to take an honest look at their lives and for everyone to enjoy a summer of discovery, growth and healing.

The Guest Cottage is a lovely summer beach read and if you live in the southern hemisphere like moi`it's the perfect read to bring the promise of summer to a chilly winter's day. I guess this was somewhat predictable but that also made it an easy, relaxing read which added to the holiday vibe. 

Nantucket seems to be the idyllic setting for many a novel ... I'm definitely adding this place to my travel bucket list. 


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18 comments:

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    1. one of those don't-have-to-think-too-much-feel-good reads :)

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  2. Make sure to save your $$$$ if you ever want to travel there ... lol ... it's a VERY expensive town! LOL!! This book sounds WONDERFUL!!!!!! Just a feel good book!! Adding to my list!!!

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    1. OH darn ... thanks for busting my bubble Julie LOL. Maybe I'll take it off the bucket list until I win the lotto ;)

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  3. I just finished reading this one last night. I don't always like her books (it's hit or miss) but I did enjoy The Guest Cottage. I liked both families and the setting. I did have some issues with the development of the romance but the characters were likable. I hope you enjoy her other books.

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    1. Any recommendations on what to read next Christina, I've got half a dozen of her books lol. Or any 'misses' to avoid?

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    2. I liked Beachcombers and An Island Christmas was okay. I DNF'ed Summer Breeze. I just found that one boring for some reason. I really struggled with it and finally had to set it aside. I thought I'd read more of her books but realized I got some of hers mixed up with other similar authors. Oops. :)

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  4. I've read other books by Nancy Thayer and liked them. Looking forward to reading this one. I have to be in the right mood, but her books are perfect at times.

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    1. that's exactly how I felt Kay, it was just right book, right time. Hope you enjoy it too!

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  5. I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I have it on my list to read very soon. It'll be my first by Thayer, too!

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    1. Hope you enjoy it too Brandie, nothing earth shattering but it was just what I needed.

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  6. I agree was a nice summer read. (Brrr!) It was my first Thayer book too, I am not sure when I will get to another of hers, I feel so guilty looking at the huge TBR stack. Nantucket sounds real nice, all that area in fact. I seem to be reading Nth and Sth Carolina books this month, no intentionally but has just happened that way.

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    1. me too Kathryn! Nantucket's time on the bucket list was shortlived ... after reading Julie's comment lol. Unless of course I come into a lot of money HA

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  7. I like her books when I need a pick me up read.

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    1. yes that's a great way of putting it Nise :)

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  8. I have tried and enjoyed this author before. I love the setting and this sound perfect for summer!

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  9. I read one of her older ones, Belonging, for my first Thayer read. I didn't love it but I always love a Nantucket setting. I'll probably give her another try someday.

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