The Summer Wives audiobook

Miranda Schuyler has arrived on Winthrop Island in the summer of 1951. Her mother is set to marry Hugh Fisher, and after the wedding she will be spending the summer in his home with her new stepsister, Isobel. Miranda soon realizes there are two types of people on the island, the wealthy who come to the island to stay in their vacation homes and dine at the country club, and the working class make ends meet by catering to the rich. As Isobel shows her around the island, Miranda is drawn to Joseph Vargas, who helps his father in the lobster boats and lives in the lighthouse across from the Fisher family home. Before summer's end, Miranda's path changes course and she leaves the island due to tragic circumstances. Decades later when she returns she realizes the island is still full of secrets as she attempts to seek justice.What I enjoyed about this book was due to the alternating timelines, you had an idea of what happened early on but needed the rest of the pieces to the puzzle to see the whole picture. I wouldn't say there were any truly shocking plot twists in this book but I still had a hard time putting the book down. I really enjoyed seeing the people of the island through the perspectives of Miranda and Bianca. The setting of Winthrop Island and how the rich and working class interacted were strong assets and made the book all the more enjoyable. My only disappointment with the book came with the ending. I didn't feel like it was the most satisfying ending. I don't know how to describe it other than when I finished the book I walked away with a "meh" type feeling whereas up until the last few chapters of the book, I had really enjoyed watching the story unfold. It certainly isn't a bad ending but for me it was the weakest part of the book. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Another elegant and mesmerizing read by Beatriz Williams. I've come to enjoy Ms. Williams' books. They are kind of like visiting an old friend. The Summer Wives is a story that weaves multiple timelines into a twisty and satisfying ending. Although the twists were not jaw dropping (I was able to guess what was probably going on midway through), it is nonetheless an absorbing story that is hard to put down. We meet the Fisher family who spend their summers living on Fisher's Island in the long island sound area. The wealthy Fishers' lives intersect with those of the locals, which impacts two generations of love and heartbreak. This book is probably best enjoyed with a mojito in hand on a warm beach. It is decadent chick lit that makes the heart sing.

Miranda has come back after eighteen years to the island where she has spent every summer since her mother married into the prestigious Fisher family. She hasn’t told anyone the reason why she has returned to Winthrop’s Island with bruises that no one mentions, but since she stays for a relatively long time, the reason can be assumed even though it might be the wrong guess.Miranda's return isn’t a welcome event even after all of this time, though, because of her testimony at the trial of the lighthouse keeper’s son back in 1951 when she was eighteen and in love with the accused.Miranda hadn’t grown up with the elite and wealthy. When her mother married Hugh Fisher after her father was killed in WWII, she is introduced to that life and also sees how the year-round residents who fish and work as domestics live.THE SUMMER WIVES goes back and forth from 1930 to 1951 and then to 1969. We learn about Miranda’s life, the lives of the Fisher and Monk families, the lives of other island residents, and how the lives of the domestic help are all connected by one specific incident during those years. I enjoyed the story from the 1950’s the best. It was the most interesting and the least confusing. The 1930’s didn’t make sense to me how it fit in, but as I kept reading, I found out that it kept a secret and held a BIG surprise.Ms. Williams has written another book that will hold your interest but has a bit of confusing story line with all the back and forth. THE SUMMER WIVES is a story of the typical antics and lives of privileged families. We learn that most of the Winthrop Island families may have had money, but most of them are not happy.THE SUMMER WIVES has a great setting, good story line, and has characters with problems and secrets both past and present. I enjoyed Ms. Williams’ latest even though it dragged a bit at times, but the ending had it all coming together and was very satisfying. 4/5I received an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! Told in alternating time periods between 2 women, only Beatriz Williams can pull this type of narrative off SO well. I loved the setting...a little island...and how she was able to evoke the details of the time and place so that I felt I was there, sipping one of MANY cocktails with the characters in the story. I thought she weaved a fantastic story and although I may have had a tiny issue with an event at the end, it wasn't enough to influence my enjoyment of the way the story unfolded. I can finally say I've found a summer must read that I can highly recommend! Whew I was beginning to get worried.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow Books for this free review copy!.Set on an exclusive island of elite wealth in Long Island Sound, THE SUMMER WIVES bounces between 1930, 1951 and 1969. Williams masterfully weaves these storylines and events together while always maintaining a taut tone of romance and suspense revolving around two very different families on the island - one year-round Portuguese family and one of the wealthy New England summer clans..There is really something for most readers in this tale ~ forbidden love warring with dutiful marriage, a movie star, mystery, murder and a gorgeous Atlantic coastal setting. Definitely one of my very top picks for summer 2018!

This could be my favorite book of 2018 no matter what I read moving forward. This is the book you recommend to a friend when they say to you, " I need a good page turner". It is full of mystery, romance and drama. It captures you from page one and never lets you down. Of course until you finish the book and you want to read more. Don't try to explain to people what it is about just simply tell them to trust you. I do advise readers to pay attention to every character no matter how insignificant they seem. Every character has a part to play and you will understand as you move through the pages. This is the book where you may have to go back to see if you forgot something. I loved Summer Wives and can't wait to read another Beatriz Williams in the future.

Ha. I persevere in reading book-club fiction, women's fiction, and assorted stuff everybody loves but I hate. (See: 'Big Little Lies.') And here I am rewarded: an engaging, well-paced story with credible, interesting characters, a meaningful plot, suspense, intrigue, and lots of sex.On the exclusive island off Long Island, the Families (ultra-rich dynasties) 'summer' in their ocean-view mansions, while the permanent residents of the island work hard and serve them. The weakest aspect is the title: wealthy, powerful men screw their way through the inexperienced local daughters, making whatever promises are necessary to get laid. Somebody refers to these mistresses as summer wives, since they only see their married, engaged, and generally lying lovers during the summer season. It's 'Great Gatsby' modernized with sex and powerful women. (And a plot--what the hell is Gatsby about? I was forced to read it in middle school, a sure recipe for rejection.)There are twists and surprises, a murder, and everyone, rich and poor, are trapped in their social strata, prisoners of their family traditions and the general patriarchy.Williams is an evocative writer, with the minor exception that she uses a lot of filters in her first-person narrative--I saw the boat approaching, I heard Isabel's footsteps, I could tell the tide had turned-- it's first-person, for Word's sake, we know it's you who saw/heard/could tell, just describe!The book raises bigger questions, beyond the obvious ones, such as, are all men willing to lie to get laid (mostly, yes) and are all 17-year-old women ready to fall for the promises of a wealthy, well-groomed man (probably.)The book takes place in 1931, 1951, and 1969, touching on three generations. At this time and previously, who is responsible for the valuation of women based on virginity? Men screw women, and they're manly. Women screw men and they're sinners, of low morals, disgraced, worthless. Obviously, the system is perpetuated by men, who control the money, the power, and want to control women in the same way. But women have always had bargaining power they haven't used--all the sleazeballs in this book would marry their 'summer wife' if she withheld sex and/or threatened scandal. But the women play by the rules [rules made by the men] while the men cheat the rules, nudge-nudge, wink-wink.Is it the church? That's a big factor in this book. The priests (all men, though celibate since Martin Luther, more or less) have interpreted the bible to say that a women who has sex is evil, while a man who has sex is three-hail-marys forgivable. Without the church to pervert sex, would women have given up their power?But I digress. An interesting and thought-provoking story.

3.5 stars rounded up. I listened to the audio CD of Summer Wives written by Beatriz Williams and narrated by Kristin Kelbly. This was my second attempt at reading this book. The first time I tried reading the hard cover version but just couldn’t get into it. I found it confusing with all the characters that were introduced. Listening to the audio CD this time, I was determined to persevere and I was glad that I did. It was well written, masterfully plotted and included several rich and well developed characters. It was also well researched by Beatriz Williams. Summer Wives took place on Winthrop Island, an island not far from both the shores of Long Island and Rhode Island. Winthrop Island was a place where the wealthy summered and boasted their status and country club life. The wealthy summer inhabitants lived among the locals that were comprised of working class families including Portuguese fishermen and domestic laborers. The class distinctions and conflicts between the very wealthy and the locals were glaringly obvious on this exclusive summer enclave. It took place during the summers of 1930, 1951 and 1969. It was about class status, love, romance, seduction, secrets, murder, betrayal and compassion. It had the elements of suspense, mystery and conflict. The ending had me at the edge of my seat. I particularly liked Miranda Schyler’s and Joseph Vargas’ characters. They were believable and likable and I found myself immersed in their complicated yet simple love that developed between them. Would Miranda and Joseph be able to rekindle the love they felt for each other that began all those years before? Could Miranda help prove Joseph’s innocence of the murder conviction he had been charged with? Would Miranda have to expose long kept secrets to ensure that justice was upheld? I have read several books by Beatriz Williams and although Summer Wives was not my absolute favorite book that she has written, I did enjoy it. The ending was suspenseful and included some twists that I did not expect. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of romance and mystery.

Thank you so much to TLC Book Tours and William Morrow Books for this gorgeous free copy of THE SUMMER WIVES by Beatriz Williams - all opinions are my own.This is my second Beatriz Williams novel and it was everything I hoped it would be: a story with mystery, murder, drama, and romance, told in alternating time periods, spanning decades with two narratives that only Williams can execute so flawlessly. Miranda Schuyler arrives at Winthrop Island located in Long Island Sound in the summer of 1951. Her mother is set to marry Hugh Fisher and she is then to move in with her new family including her soon to be stepsister, Isobel. While on the island, Miranda meets and is smitten with the lighthouse keeper’s son, Joseph Vargas. Before summer’s end, tragedy strikes and Miranda leaves the island for nearly two decades before she returns.This story revolves around several characters, but every one of them does have a distinct purpose, so it’s more enjoyable not to rush it. I really enjoyed the personalities of the two narrators, Miranda Schuyler Thomas and Bianca Medeiro. Williams is a master at writing vivid, picturesque, and dreamy descriptions that make you immediately want to go wherever she writes, drinking many many cocktails with her characters. And it was interesting to see the difference between the local, hardworking residents versus the wealthy, vacationing at their summer home, seasonal residents. All of the characters were well-thought-out and basically leaped off the pages. The novel starts with an intriguing murder mystery and proceeds to take you through a compelling, thoughtful story with fantastic and interesting characters. It’s the perfect summer read!

Beatriz Williams is back with another perfect summer read.Miranda Schuyler arrives on Winthrop Island in 1951 with her mother, who is about to marry Hugh Fisher. She is drawn in to a world of high class parties and money, something she knows nothing about. She ends up falling for Joseph Vargas, a fishermen on the island. This is not acceptable as there is a clear distinction between those who live on the island and those who simply spend their summers there.Almost 20 years later, Miranda returns to the island to try and solve unanswered questions and chase away old ghosts. I truly enjoyed this summer read.

What I love about Beatriz Williams books are how they are all connected to the Schuyler family, one way or another. This didn't I know when I started to read the books. So, it was with delight that I discovered that the books even when they are not part of a series are in some way connected. I have yet to read Overseas, Fall of Poppies and The Forgotten Room (there is a Schuyler in this one woohoo), but I will get to them soon I hope! Also, I'm dying to read the upcoming book: The Wicked Redhead!THE SUMMER WIVES have three different storylines, first, we have the 30s with Bianca Medeiro. Then, we have Miranda Schuyler in the 50s and finally Miranda again in the 60s storyline. These three storylines are interwoven in the book, and slowly they will reveal the connection. Bianca Medeiro story is the one that feels a bit like an outsider since both other stories are from Miranda's POV. However, Bianca's story is a vital part of the story.One thing I truly love about THE SUMMER WIVES are all the characters. Williams always writes such wonderful characters and I'm not even a big fan of romance stories. But, I think her ability to write characters with such depth and also her way of creating a story that engrosses you is the key to her success. You like the characters, they have weakness and are portrayed as human. Every time I finish a book is it with a bit of sadness because I just love the characters. This is why I love it when a Schuyler pops up in another book. THE SUMMER WIVES is a marvelous book, and I recommend it warmly. To be honest, I recommend all the book by Williams! I want to thank William Morrow for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!

Miranda has come back after eighteen years to the island where she has spent every summer since her mother married into the prestigious Fisher family. She hasn’t told anyone the reason why she has returned to Winthrop’s Island with bruises that no one mentions, but since she stays for a relatively long time, the reason can be assumed even though it might be the wrong guess.Miranda's return isn’t a welcome event even after all of this time, though, because of her testimony at the trial of the lighthouse keeper’s son back in 1951 when she was eighteen and in love with the accused.Miranda hadn’t grown up with the elite and wealthy. When her mother married Hugh Fisher after her father was killed in WWII, she is introduced to that life and also sees how the year-round residents who fish and work as domestics live.THE SUMMER WIVES goes back and forth from 1930 to 1951 and then to 1969. We learn about Miranda’s life, the lives of the Fisher and Monk families, the lives of other island residents, and how the lives of the domestic help are all connected by one specific incident during those years. I enjoyed the story from the 1950’s the best. It was the most interesting and the least confusing. The 1930’s didn’t make sense to me how it fit in, but as I kept reading, I found out that it kept a secret and held a BIG surprise.Ms. Williams has written another book that will hold your interest but has a bit of confusing story line with all the back and forth. THE SUMMER WIVES is a story of the typical antics and lives of privileged families. We learn that most of the Winthrop Island families may have had money, but most of them are not happy.THE SUMMER WIVES has a great setting, good story line, and has characters with problems and secrets both past and present. I enjoyed Ms. Williams’ latest even though it dragged a bit at times, but the ending had it all coming together and was very satisfying. 4/5I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The fateful summer still lay before me, a reel of film waiting to unspool, and how could I know that I was right now witnessing its first momentous scene? I mean, you never do suspect what inconsequential event will change the course of your life.Miranda Schuyler visits Winthrop Island for her mother’s wedding to Hugh Fisher. She finds herself in a new world of the privileged upper class with her own “tour guide,” her half-sister Isobel Fisher. Miranda soon learns that Winthrop Island consists of the upper crust who come in the summer months and the poor Portuguese working class who are year-round inhabitants. Her new stepsister schools her in the importance of money and privilege.“Money’s such a lovely thing to have. I don’t know what I’d do without it. Work or something, I guess.” She yawned. “Except what? I’m just like Daddy, no good for anything except decoration and conversation.“But then I’d be poor. I’d be nobody.” She rolled on her side. “Don’t you see? They’ve got us trapped. We can’t live without this, it’s what makes us special. What makes us better than everybody else. We don’t like to admit it, it’s un-American to admit it, but it’s true. When you have money and prestige—especially prestige—you think you deserve it, somehow, and everybody else is just—ordinary. Nobody else matters.Miranda is attracted to Joseph Vargas, a lobster fisherman who works with his father and lives in the Lighthouse. He is trying to improve his life and is attending Brown University. I only thought that he had a warm, beautiful smile, the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen, and in the instant before I ducked my head, I knew I was in love with him. Just imagine. As innocent, as uncomplicated as that. I still remember that moment, that sweet, shy revelation, remember it fondly, because it only comes once in your life, and then it’s gone. You can’t have it back.Miranda, now a well-known actress, returns 18 years later and we slowly learn why she stayed away for so long. Joseph has just escaped prison where he is serving a sentence for killing Miranda’s stepdad. Will Miranda and Joseph reunite? I liked Summer Wives and recommend it as a summer beach book or a light read. It has a little bit of everything — romance, mystery, adventure, and historical fiction. It is a compelling story that kept me reading. Williams does a great job in establishing the setting, making the reader feel as if they have travelled to Winthrop Island. Summer Wives covers three time periods — 1930, 1951 and 1969 and the story moves back and forth between these time periods. The book started off slow for me because it began (after a brief foreword set in 1969) )with the 1930s storyline which I found confusing. It was difficult to get so many characters straight and who was who in the 1930s but it finally came together later in the story.

Where has Beatriz Williams been all my life?.This novel was exactly what I needed. The 1950’s are a fascinating time for me. The class system is in full swing complete with all the bumps associated with white glove service and a clandestine relationship. The story reeled me in immediately..The characters were so well written...this Southern girl could hear the North Eastern accents. There was a great mystery thrown in and the casual move between the time periods was incredibly well done. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Historical Fiction with a little bit of a mystery thrown in..For me the fact that this novel took place out of a war was refreshing. I love WWI and WWII fiction...but this was a lovely break. It reminded me of an updated The Great Gatsby with all the pomp and circumstances of the well-to-do..Beatriz Williams will now be an auto buy author for me!

Another stunner by Beatriz Williams. It will probably go down as among my favorites of hers.

Enjoyed it! This is now my 2nd Beatriz Williams novel I’ve read (I enjoyed this more than Cocoa Beach) with a 3rd on my home bookshelf that I’m MOST definitely adding to my April reading list. The Summer Wives has three storylines spanning the 30’s, 50’s and 60’s full of mystery, family drama + romance and circles around Miranda who arrives back on the island in 1969, 18yrs later.

The Summer Wives is Beatriz Williams best book so far!! I absolutely loved it!