The Islanders audiobook

The book opens in August with a death before going back to June and events leading up to that event. There the reader is introduced to Anthony Puckett, a writer on his way to Block Island,. His first novel had been a resounding success winning him acclaim but now he is off to Block Island pretty much to hide out until the storm that has surrounded his latest literary fiasco has subsided a little. He hope to get back to the person he was. Joy Sousa, mother of thirteen year old Maggie, is one of the other voices in this story. Joy is a resident of the island and owns the Whoopie Pie Cafe. I admit this Aussie had to google what a whoopie pie was. Everyone sees Joy as hard work and independent but a food truck and increased rent threaten to derail her business. Lu Trusdale is the third person the reader meets. She is spending the summer with her two young boys on the island while her surgeon husband works long hours at the mainland hospital. However Lu has secretly been working for quite a while on a project that no-one, not even her husband knows about. Each one of these three have secrets in their lives that over the course of the story will be uncovered. What difference will it make to each life as the three get to know each other and as the secrets come out?I really enjoyed this story. I liked the way it changed from chapter to chapter and one character to another. I liked finding out more about each of them,. All of the characters were complex and didn’t always make the wisest decisions. Even when I didn’t agree with the choices made, as I didn’t at times, I felt like I was there with them experiencing the highs and lows. This is definitely a character driven novel as the setting is not overly described. I didn’t get that much sense of it. But the characters and their issues got me in. This was one where I felt involved rather than standing back watching on as has been the case with some other recent books. To me that is a sign of good writing and characterisation when they feel real. As a result it maintained my interest from start to finish. A story of friendship, love family and secrets this is an entertaining read with a little bit of a mystery involved. My first book by this author I would be very keen to read another by her as I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it as worth reading..

The moment that I realized The Islanders was set on Block Island, I knew that I wanted to read it. Block Island is a magical place so different from other New England islands because of its history and its remoteness to the mainland. After reading The Islanders, I know I made the right choice. The book is brilliant. Three strangers come together over a summer spent on Block Island: Anthony, a writer whose first book was a huge success but who is struggling with his second attempt; Joy, who runs the popular cafe on the island who has had a long run of success but now is feeling pressure from a new arrival on the island and Lu, a former attorney now SAHM who is on the island while her surgeon husband flies back and forth to the mainland. As each of these three develop a friendship over the course of the summer, they begin to reveal the small secrets that they each are hiding from their families and, at times, from themselves. As the summer draws to a close, the three must decide how they will confront the secrets and changes in their lives that have transpired over the summer. A riveting summer tale, Meg Mitchell Moore, has given us more than an ordinary "beach read," she has delivered a story that touches on our own fears, joys and anxieties while also showing us the joy and closeness of friendship and, sometimes, intense romantic relationships. The characters are real, very human and their feelings are those that each of us has experienced so that the story itself is one that draws you in and keeps you hooked until the very last page. Regardless of whether you read it under the sparkling summer sun or by a winter's fire, you will treasure Moore's writing in The Islanders.

4.5 stars Some books touted as beach reads mislead with the cover and title but not The Islanders, it's everything that I hoped it would be and I loved it! This was a total beach read with substance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀We meet the 3 main characters, Lu, Joy and Anthony who each have secrets and who each find comfort (for different reasons) on Block Island. The short chapters alternate between each character which often, for me, can be an issue but the way the author developed each of these characters, I felt like I knew them. In fact, they seemed so real that I found myself irritated with Anthony on many occasions…I just wanted him to get it together! I love that he was an author who had BIG past mistakes hanging over him, along with the fact that he had his larger than life best selling writes 3 books a year author father (definite James Patterson vibes here) hovering over his life and career.⠀⠀I loved Joy and could really sympathize with her as a mom trying to maintain a connection with a teenager who wanted her freedom. So much of Lu’s character also resonated with me as far as her being a stay at home mom who felt like she may need something more….I wasn’t on board with her secret keeping but that did make her story more interesting. I listened to this partly on audio and thought it completely brought the characters to life.

If you enjoy Elin Hilderbrand and her novels set on Nantucket, you'll enjoy this light "beach read" with well-developed characters from Meg Mitchell Moore. It's set on Block Island during the summer season. The three main characters are:1. Anthony, a summer renter, whose first novel was a blockbuster but he has been disgraced by plagiarizing in his second novel. His father is a famous author and is angry with his son for what he did.2. Lu, a summer renter, is an unhappy stay-at-home mom who feels a loss of her identity and has started a secret blog.3. Joy, a year-round resident who owns a bakery, has financial problems, and is raising a daughter who is now a teenager.These characters interact and each chapter has one of their points-of-view. There are secrets aplenty and some twists that help to keep the story interesting. I liked that the author gave closure to all of the main characters and didn't leave readers wondering.I thought the story was well-plotted with good pacing. Most of the characters were likable. This is my first novel by Ms. Moore and since I enjoyed it, I may try to read some of her other novels.Thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, via LibraryThing, for sending me this ARC to read and review in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 ☆ rated up.

(free review copy) THE ISLANDERS is set over the course of one summer on Block Island, RI and has three main eventuallly-intersecting characters/story arcs. As I have come to depend on this author for, it has depth and gorgeous language - add in the literary-world intrigue, the BAKERY, the blogging world and all of the parenting and marriage gems, and I couldn’t put it down..Highly recommended for anyone who loves their beach reads a little heftier in both size and language - I loved this one!

How do you describe the perfect beach read? Does it involve romance or a love story? Are their secrets and lies? A gorgeous beach setting of cool ocean breezes and hot drama? How about all of the above?!The Islanders follows three total strangers on Block Island, a tiny sleepy beach haven off the east coast, and in the three short months of the summer season, we find their lives intertwined in the most dramatic and delicious of ways - just as a perfect beach read should be.Anthony has come to the island to escape a literary scandal that has potentially ended his career while his superstar author father still casts a giant shadow over him, even though he's miles and miles away.Joy is the whoopie pie queen, baking up delectable desserts for the locals. Divorced with a teenage daughter and fiercely independent - this summer she fears a foreign food truck invading her island will threaten everything she's worked so hard for.Lu feels stuck on this island for the summer spending her day caring for her young sons as her surgeon husband saves lives in a fulfilling career on the mainland. She craves stimulation and adult conversation while harboring a HUGE secret that could tear her marriage apart.Their stories are meticulously entwined with substantial secrets threatening to tear their families apart, relationships that prompt plenty of lies for fear of exposure, and difficult choices that must be made by everyone involved. The way these three lives tangle and weave together is a gorgeous display of storytelling and combined with the fact they every single main and secondary character is so likeable and relatable, I found myself tearing through this wanting to see how close this trio will become and how everything would turn out.A really fun story for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Liane Moriarty, and now for me, a fan of Meg Mitchell Moore!

The IslandersByMeg Mitchell MooreWhat it's all about...Life on Block Island! How wondrous can that be? However most of the characters in this book are either miserable, hiding or semi miserable! This makes for a yummy summer beach book. My thoughts after reading this book...Anthony is hiding from a scandal...not even revealing his real name to people. Lu is hiding something else...from her husband and the entire blogging world. Joy...well...she is trying to keep her business, maintain a relationship and understand her 13 year old daughter and her secrets. And with all of these issues...literally...a Storm is about to rage on Block Island. What I loved best...I loved best all of the characters and their stories which are much more involved than I have described to you. I can’t spoil this wonderful book, it’s great writing and the way it grew on me with each chapter was terrific. I hope that you will have that same experience! What potential readers might want to know...Readers who yearn for a deep summery beach book should throughly enjoy this one. It’s filled with whoopsie pies and macaroons...good for you whoopie pies! I received this book from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my choice to read and review it.

4.5/5I’m joining the chorus of others that are saying: The Islanders is a great beach read, a great pool read, a great summer read, a great everything read. I enjoyed each of these characters right away when I met them and only grew to love them more as the story progressed. I could totally see some of myself in each of them, even when they were doing stupid things. This ended up being one of my favorite kind of stories: where there are several different, quirky, unrelated characters that eventually have intersecting storylines.Anthony is hiding away on the island because he made a Very Stupid Mistake and the entire world knows about it. Who doesn’t want to hide away when they’re deeply embarrassed and feeling shame and regret? We all do. He begins the story broken and feeling unworthy, and it is sad. It is nice to watch him redeem himself and it is hard to watch him have to own up to the mistakes he makes along the way. But, we all have to do that sometimes and I love his growth and the way things work out for him in the end.Single mother Joy is raising a young teenage daughter while running her own business: Block Island’s only bakery, specializing in whoopie pies. As the summer begins, Joy’s routine is thrown off balance when a new food truck appears on the island. The islanders and tourists love it, but Joy is shocked at how much it threatens everything she has worked to build for the past several years. I love Joy; she is feisty and independent and a hard worker. I love how fiercely she protects what is hers. I also love how truthful she is with herself about how hard things are, have been all along, and how afraid she is to lose everything if she takes risks.Lu has come to the island for the summer with her two young boys. Her husband is a very busy surgeon who spends most days working at a hospital off-island, then he catches a ferry over for a night with his family here and there. Lu’s in-laws are also on the island, and they are happy to be able to spend more time with the kids-although Lu is certain they really want to spy on her and check up on how she really manages her home. This is a huge problem. Because Lu has a HUGE secret.Of course, these three people will intersect throughout the course of the story-Block Island is far too small for their lives not to become mixed up a little bit. But it’s in the HOW that is so good. What I love most about this story isn’t that the bad things are prevented and someone comes in to save the day. No, that doesn’t happen. These three people that already have secrets and are experiencing difficulties will go through some even tougher times, have to make some big decisions, and have some major heartaches before the story is all said and done. I love that the author went there with the characters and gave us a chance to see how things turn out for them before she ended the story.The Islanders is completely engaging. The characters and the setting are great. I found that I wanted good things for everyone. I never wanted to put the book down, even though I had to so I could be an adult and do things like cook and sleep and drive my kids to their various places. This is the first Meg Mitchell Moore book that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, but I enjoyed it so much that I’m now really curious about her others!! I agree with the synopsis when it says this is a “delicious summer read” and with the positive comparison to Elin Hilderbrand’s stories.I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, William Morrow Books!Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!

Anthony Puckett had it all. A wife, a son, and a successful writing career despite the fact that his father, an even more successful writer, never really supported or encouraged him. Anthony was trying to write his second novel, but buckled under the pressure. What if it isn't as good as his first? Can he meet the rigorous deadlines? He ended making a very poor decision and one that ultimately ended his career. Then his wife separates from him and takes his son. Anthony needs some time to get his act together, so he borrows a friend's house on Block Island. Anthony's next door neighbor is a young mother, Lu, who is an attorney turned stay-at-home mother to two young sons. She is spending the summer on Block Island, thanks to her in-laws. Meanwhile her husband, a successful doctor, spends weekends there. Although this schedule is hard for Lu, she has learned to deal with it as her husband is never around. It gives her a lot of time to work on her successful blog Dinner by Dad where she pretends to be a stay-at-home dad and shares antidotes, recipes, etc. Much to her surprise, the blog has taken off and she is making a decent income, but it's hard to balance that with watching the kids all day. Plus, there's the huge problem of what will happen when her controlling husband finds out about her blog. Then there's Joy, a Block Island fill-time resident, who owns a whoopie-pie bakery and is also a fan of Lu's blog. Joy is a single mom raising a teenager and trying to do it all. She unexpectedly hits it off with Anthony, but there's so much baggage they are both bringing to the relationship. Can it actually work out? Joy doesn't even know about Anthony's past, his child, or his real last name. Slowly Anthony, Lu, and Joy's stories intertwine and make for a delightful beach read; fans of Elin Hilderbrand will enjoy The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore.Read my full review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...

Three main characters with their pov rotating seamlessly. I enjoyed this story of the ashamed writer with no money escaping to Block Island, eventually meeting up with Joy from a local bake shop and Lu a next door neighbour with a bent for cooking too. There are some secrets and characters make discoveries about themselves and others. The island setting is perfect, its a slow gentle book but it kept me engaged and then sorry to say good-bye.

Blog | Twitter | InstagramReview was originally posted here via Booked J. As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for participating in the blog tour/my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Another summer day, another engrossing summery read. The Islanders delivers in every way and Meg Mitchell Moore is officially on my radar. This is more than just an airy, light, perfect for summer read. Meg Mitchell Moore devotes time to developing her characters and makes sure they're compelling, complex and full of life.Meg Mitchell Moore's writing is just gorgeous and I loved the rotating point of view almost as much as the setting. The real shining star of the story is not merely the summery setting or airy prose, it's the flawed characteristics in each of the characters. As they navigate their day to day lives, we see the differences between each other and the growth that has yet to come. And what brings their lives together.Further, I found the entire plotline, from start to conclusion, to be perfectly paced and well thought out. Meg Mitchell Moore doesn't leave the readers feeling unsatisfied by the final chapters and ties things up quite beautifully. The story never struggles with a bleak, ordinary tone despite the story and its characters being remarkably normal--the prose of The Islanders makes it smooth and the character's make it extraordinary.Which goes without saying--what captivated me most were the characters and their development.What drove the plotlines home were these three--Lu, Anthony and Joy--and I found myself loving each of them in different ways. I really did feel like we were a part of their lives and as if they were people I'd known for years. When you can't connect with a story via the characters, it makes reading complicated--Meg Mitchell Moore never suffers this fate.If you're looking for something relatable, but still complex, The Islanders is a definite must-read for you this summer. Or year round, really.

I think one of the most important aspects of a story is transporting the readers to where it takes place. Meg Mitchell Moore does a wonderful job doing this in The Islanders. What she does for Block Island is what Elin Hilderbrand has done with Nantucket for years now. It’s because of this, along with the seemless way that the author intertwines the lives of the three main characters, that the summer and the story flies by. Block Island sounds like a great place to visit, much like Nantucket and you’ll definitely want to add it to your bucket list after finishing this great beach read. Reading it on the beach or by a pool is recommended, but not required.