Member Reviews

What a delightful read! I loved the book from start to finish. It has that beautiful Norfolk setting and some vividly drawn characters who all add to the story. Aaron and Clancy are strong central characters and you are willing them to untangle their feelings despite family tensions around them. This is a great summer read which kept my attention right to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of the book

Was this review helpful?

Following her break up with her fiancé and a falling out with her co-workers, Clancy Moss needs to escape her chaotic life. She takes a job as a caretaker in Nelson Bar, a dreamy cottage part-owned by her cousin, Alice, who jilted her fiancé, Lee on her wedding day.

At Nelson Bar, she runs into Aaron, Lee’s older brother and best man, who is not too pleased to see her there. She has to convince Aaron that the intentions of her visit are good.

Set against the backdrop of Norfolk coast, A summer to remember is a breezy read with likeable characters. I was easily transported to the setting in this book. I loved how the author captures the idyllic surrounding and her vivid description of the holiday cottage where Clancy Moss was working as a caretaker. I would recommend this one.

Many thanks to Sue Moorcroft, Avon, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A new book, and a new Norfolk location – and, to my great surprise, I didn’t miss Middledip one bit. Nelson’s Bar is such a wonderful creation – the Roundhouse and cottages, the Duke of Bronte B&B, the cliffs with their leap leading to the secret beach – and by the book’s end I think I’d be able to find my way pretty easily to Aaron’s cottage and workshop or to the De Silva house. The fact that it’s an internet “not-spot” might just be a challenge, but I do know where to go to get a connection. If, like me, you like your books to have a strong sense of place, a feel of a community, you’ll find this book an absolute delight.

I defy anyone not to take to Clancy when she arrives as caretaker at Roundhouse Row – cleaning and changing beds on visitor changeover day, along with a little light gardening – having walked away from her high-powered London job and her former relationship after a particularly embarrassing and public humiliation. She’s really nothing like her cousin Alice, joint owner of the Roundhouse, who’s behaved particularly badly – and people’s memories of Alice and the repercussions of her behaviour mean that Clancy has an uphill climb to prove to people that she’s a rather different proposition. Slowly but surely, with Aaron’s help (what a lovely man!), she wins people over – well, most of the people – but later twists and turns then put her happy future in Nelson’s Bar in jeopardy.

One of the many things I love about the author’s books is that edge of something a little darker, the extent to which it intrudes perfectly judged: while never losing the story’s essential lightness, she doesn’t shy away from issues that could be rather more uncomfortable in less capable hands. The complexities of relationships feature quite heavily, and they’re handled particularly realistically: the developing relationship between Clancy and Aaron is set against a background of prejudice, mental health issues, heartbreak and betrayal, and the whole story has a very satisfying depth that raises it well above whatever you might expect from the playful description and sunny cover.

All the characters are exceptionally well drawn, their relationships so well handled. I’ll admit to a particularly soft spot for Dilys and Ernie, and the gentle humour they inspire – and Nelson the dog is just wonderful. But the less likeable characters are strong too – Alice with her breathtaking selfishness, Jordy with his arrogance and bluster, Genevieve nursing her imagined wrongs with her capacity to cause real upset.

The writing and storytelling is superb. These are all real people, behaving in a wholly believable way: and the ease with which the author manipulates their stories makes the book an absolute joy to read, the pages turning so very easily as you wonder what fate might have in store. This is one of the must read books of the summer, and highly recommended by me.

(Also copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

Was this review helpful?

This book has everything in it. Moments of seriousness, joy and laughter
This book is just simply lovely

Was this review helpful?

Despite having a few Sue Moorcroft books on my bookshelf, A Summer to Remember was my first read.

I was instantly hooked at the first page, it made me want to read more, which I soon found out was a regular pattern in the book, I couldn't just read one chapter, I had to read a few, which I suppose it's no suprise that I finished the book in two days. The descriptions really draw you in and as soon as the character Aaron described Nelson's Bar I instantly wanted to be there, it sounded like a wonderfully, isolated place. I also fell in love with Clancy but I also felt pity for her for all that she had been through, I also felt pride at how she had managed to pull herself back.

A Summer to Remember was an absolutely incredible read that made me wonder why I hadn't picked up one of the Moorcroft books I have before, she is a fabulous writer. This was an lovely read.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first Sue Moorcroft book I have read and hopefully it won’t be my last, I throughly enjoyed this book. It was such an easy, relaxing book to sit and read on a summers day and I got through it very quickly.
The story really flowed and the characters were interesting and Sue described everything so well that I could visualise the characters and the Norfolk village in my mind.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, if you want a lovely, warm story with a happy ending this one’s for you.

Was this review helpful?

After reading the foreword where Sue Moorcroft says this was the most difficult book to write I was stunned as you would never know it as the story flows seamlessly. Clancy arrives at Nelsons Bar to get over heartbreak and humiliation and finds friends in unlikely places. A perfect summer read that makes me want to escape to my own hideaway somewhere.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a fan of Sue and her books for a while now. Her books are simply adorable and I am first in the queue whenever Sue releases another book. Her most recent book is called ‘A Summer To Remember’ and it was released on 2nd May 2019. I absolutely adored this book, which combines a beautiful cover with an equally beautiful story but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Clancy, who is the main character of this book? When the story begins she is about to be the bridesmaid for her cousin, with whom she is very close. Sadly the wedding doesn’t go ahead. Then the story fast forwards a bit until we meet Clancy in the present day. The poor lass has literally had the rug pulled out from under her feet when her love rat of a boyfriend, with whom she was living, is found in the arms of the next available floozy. Clancy loses her relationship and her home. Then if that wasn’t enough she is forced to leave her workplace even though she has done nothing wrong. I must admit that part of me wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give those who were upsetting Clancy a darn good slapping. Clancy is hurting in more ways than one. It’s not surprising that she needs time to sort out her feelings and to have a period of recovery after everything that she has been through. She gets herself a new job, which is totally different to anything that she has done before. This new job brings her into contact with the local dreamboat. I was keeping everything crossed that the pair of them would just get together and live happily ever after as it were. Clancy is tough, determined, stubborn, assertive and she doesn’t hesitate to help others when she can.
Chuffing nora, ‘A Summer To Remember’ was one of those books that tugged on my heartstrings right from the beginning. I just couldn’t get enough of the characters and the storylines in this book. I also loved the idea of life in Nelson’s Bar and if I could have then I would have packed a bag to go and stay there myself as Sue makes it sound idyllic. I soon became addicted to reading ‘A Summer To Remember’. In fact I was hooked on this book from the very first word on the very first page. I just couldn’t stop reading. I binge read the book over the course of a day but because I was enjoying the book so much, I didn’t realise just how quickly the time was passing and the speed with which the pages were turning. Before I knew what was happening I got to the end of the book, which I was most disappointed about. I don’t mean that I was disappointed with the ending, because that couldn’t be further from the truth, but I was enjoying the story and the characters so much that I just didn’t want the book to end.
‘A Summer To Remember’ is superbly written but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from the very talented Sue Moorcroft. I thought that Sue’s other books were good but for me, ‘A Summer To Remember’ blows her other books out of the water and it is easily my favourite book so far. Sue has a way of writing, which makes you feel as though you are part of the story yourself. Indeed when I closed my eyes I could easily imagine that I was there in Nelson’s Bar with the sun beating down on my face and the seagulls squawking away. Sue clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in her writing. In fact she has created the characters so well that at times it was hard to believe that they weren’t real.
‘A Summer To Remember’ certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the highs and lows, twists and turns. I found that I was feeling the exact same emotions that the characters were going through. I even found that I was beginning to interact with the book. Yes I know, ‘A Summer To Remember’ is a work of fiction but if I enjoy a book as much as this book, then I tend to talk aloud to the book as if the different characters can hear me. There were certain times when I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to give certain characters what for for upsetting such as Clancy or to shake certain characters by the shoulders to give them a bit of a reality check. In the case of Clancy’s former boyfriend, I could have quite cheerfully have chopped a certain part of his anatomy off with a pair of very blunt and very rusty scissors. See I told you that I got far too involved in books that I enjoy.
In short, I adored, adored and ooh adored this adorable book. As I indicted above, ‘A Summer To Remember’ is in my opinion the best book that she has written to date. The book is sure to fly up the bestsellers list, which is nothing less than it deserves. I can’t wait to read what Sue comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. I would definitely recommend Sue’s books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Was this review helpful?

Summer by the sea in a perfect little cottage on the Norfolk coast sounds idyllic and the ideal retreat for Clancy who, hard done by, is in need of a bolt hole. An enjoyable romcom with convincing characterisation, swiftly moving storyline and a very satisfying conclusion. Would make a perfect and escapist holiday read - from armchair or otherwise.

Was this review helpful?

Swimming in Norfolk waters - distinctly chilly as I recall. The Norfolk coast is notorious for its winds and chill and marshes and birds and seals too.
So what would you do when your fiancée makes his attraction for another woman quite so obvious? I guess I would do the same as the lead character here, and run off somewhere very remote. Personally, I’ve always thought the wilds of Scotland would be a good place, but a hamlet on the Norfolk coast with no internet or mobile signal I guess does as well.
This hamlet does not like ‘in-comers’ at all. Is very conservative in behaviour and lifestyle. And is very good at holding grudges it seems. So it is a bit of shock when it gets disturbed by cousins and ex-fiancées and gays. Not what it is expected.
Overall, a pleasant story if not one that will strain your memory or your emotions. And please get the proof-reading done completely.

Was this review helpful?

A Summer to Remember follows Clancy, a Londoner who after too many personal setbacks decides to become a caretaker in Cornwall for the summer. But this isn't just any caretaking job - she's looking after Roundhouse Row, which her cousin and her cousin's former fiance's brother own. I loved the depth of this book. It wasn't just a romance (although I loved the love story). It focused on family, on acceptance, on being content with life in a small town. I highly recommend A Summer to Remember.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first Sue Moorcroft book I have read, and I want to go out and buy all of her books now! A thoroughly enjoyable book. Loved finding out about the characters and the will they, won’t they kept me interested, almost to the point of wanting to shout at them! A warm at points heartbreaking novel which i couldn’t put down. A great read!

Was this review helpful?

My Review
I signed up for this book never having read any of Sue's books before but just really liking the blurb and wanting to try something different.
I'm normally into my psychological thrillers so this type of book wouldn't cross my path too often...
Oh but I loved it 💕
Sue is definitely on my radar now for her other books as she has lots more before this one and I'm sure lots more to come.
In A Summer To Remember, we meet beautiful Clancy who flees to Nelson's Bar having discovered her fiancè Will has been cheating on her and her work colleagues turning it around on her, almost blaming her.
Nelson's Bar offers her a safe haven for a time so that she can gather her thoughts, lick her wounds and decide on her next step.
Her family have history in Nelson's Bar however. Her cousin Alice ran out on the groom to be Lee on their wedding day causing complete devastation on her way and earning herself the name Awful Alice.
Can Clancy help those around her realise she is not Alice?
Will they see that she is nothing like Alice and that she is hurting too?
There are such an array of characters in this book, you will love them 💕
The unstoppable duo Harry & Rory, gorgeous Nelson, neighbourly Dilys & Ernie, beautiful Daisy and the very handsome Aaron.
Will Clancy mend her broken heart in Nelson's bar before returning to London or will she be able to create a new life somewhere different, away from the hustle and bustle of her old life.
Could she even find love in Nelson's Bar of all places?
Lovely book, thoroughly enjoyed it and a new author to add to my list...

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book at the beginning but it lost my interest about halfway through. I found it hard to remain engaged

Was this review helpful?

A great summer romance by Sue Moorcroft. A beautiful setting, great characters (including some you won't like!), and interesting story lines make for a good read.

Was this review helpful?

This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I've not read the author before. It was descriptive and made me want to take a seaside vacation, the delights of small-town living effectively conveyed - but, there was so much going on - so many storylines when I was looking forward to just a beachy summer read. It tackled some tough issues - losing some of the lightheartedness I was anticipating. Not a bad read, just not what I was hoping for when I cracked it open.

Was this review helpful?

Cute chick lit book, but not so memorable that I would recommend it to all my friends.

I enjoyed the style of A Summer to Remember and I liked Clancy a lot for the most part. The main male character in this book Aaron was also a really lovely guy, so that made this book more enjoyable, but still there was nothing that made this book better than so many other chick lits I have read.

Was this review helpful?

What a lovely story! I have read it in almost one sitting, and in less than a day. It is a romance, but one where life, friends, and especially relatives keep getting in the way of good communication. There are occasions in this story when Clancy and Aaron are so busy sorting out other people's problems that they cannot even have the simplest of conversations themselves, and that lack of explanation causes issues between them. It gives an interesting view of life in a small village, where everyone knows everything about everyone else - it can sometimes be comforting, and at other times it is just claustrophobic!

The characters are all very well described, you feel that you know and understand them all. All emotions get involved at some point. Who, these days, can imagine living somewhere that does not get decent wifi, and no mobile phone signal? Aaron has satellite broadband, he needs it to run his business, and it is very amusing when he has friends at his home and he needs to give someone his password so that they can use their mobile phone, and everyone gets their phone out to make note of the password ... he has to change the password regularly!

This is a really satisfying read, most enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Was this review helpful?

Quite a good read, kept me engaged, really enjoyed the plot and the characters and i would read more from this author.

Was this review helpful?