Member Reviews
Another Sarah Morgan at her best and an absolutely perfect beach read. Multi generational family/friends story, where lives intertwine. Love,loss,grief,secrets,affairs all make this book a wonderful rollercoaster of a read. An absolute must read. Thanks netgalley for an early copy of this book.
Heartwarming, comforting and healing - I loved everything about this book and I love everything Sarah Morgan writes.
Told from the perspectives of three different women from three different generations, The Summer Swap kept me hooked. I felt equally invested in all three storylines. The Cape Cod setting was stunning and the cottage was gorgeous.
What a beautifully written book. Started and finished in one day as it was such a lovely read and very difficult to put down. Told by three women of different generations the book follows the lives of Celia, Kirsten and Lilly. All three are strong women who have been left to feel less than important and on the wrong path. Celia was married for many years to a famous artist but following his death left with unanswered questions. Kirsten is the daughter of Celia and on the outside is so capable of dealing with any issue, including the sudden death of her beloved father. Lilly is a friend of the granddaughter of Celia. An artist at heart but struggling to find her way.
Beautiful descriptions of the cove location and the windswept landscape and pull of the sea for these characters. So well written and balanced between the lives and tribulations of them all.
Lovely ending and I felt that the characters had all grown by the end of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this authors books and was looking forward to reading this and was the perfect read to
Immerse me whilst recovering from illness in the summer sunshine.
This was a beautiful story covering several generations of family and written from several characters points of view. And covered a lot of relatable issues such as friendships, relationships,
Grief and journey of self discovery and making fresh starts.
I loved the connections between the characters particularly those between Cecilia and lily
Look forward to seeing what this author writes next.
A lovely story revolving around the lives and loves of three women from three generations in a gorgeous Cape Cod cottage. Read it you won’t be disappointed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A very enjoyable summer read. I wouldn't expect any less from Sarah. Loved the characters and the storyline. A binge worthy, get lobster red in the sun kind of read.
I’ve been a big fan of Sarah Morgan’s books for many years now. So I couldn’t wait to dig in to The Summer Swap.
This book was simply a joy to read. I loved all the characters, especially Lily and Cecilia. I particularly loved the relationship that grew between those two.
I loved the romances too, and that people at different stages of relationships. I enjoyed watching people working out what they want, and learning to communicate better.
The setting was lovely, I felt right at home in the cottage by the sea. I loved the theme of art too.
Overall, this was a wonderful and heartwarming read. I highly recommend it.
I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.
It was interesting seeing the story develop from different character's viewpoints, rather than a single one. This helps you see how important communication between couples is, and what can go wrong if you don't. Cape Cod certainly sounds like the kind of place I'd love to visit. The world of art is something that I've had very little interaction with, but this has me a certain insight into it and what it really means to those directly involved. A lovely beach read that I'd give 4.5*,but it would be churlish not to give the full 5* when some readers would not try this due to a less than perfect score.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
Another lovely gentle easy read from Sarah Morgan.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Thank you Sarah for a beautiful, warm, comforting read, full of well written characters that flow from the page and into the heart, I always enjoy your stories but this one will stay with me for quite a while, bravo!
Cecilia Lapthorne lived in the shadow of her husband Cameron, a successful artist, for many years and, since his death, she's just been plodding along with life, then her daughter Kristen decides to throw a party for her mum's birthday and uses the occasion to exhibit some of her father's artwork but this all becomes too much for Cecilia and she decides to escape, going to the one place she swore she'd never return to; Dune Cottage. The remote cottage on Cape Cod used to hold some special memories for Cecilia, now the only ones she keeps remembering are the bad ones. Lily has dropped out of medical school, she never really wanted to be a doctor but didn't want to disappoint her parents, who think she's throwing her life away, so she takes off to Cape Cod to decide what happens next and has been hiding away in Dune Cottage, however Cecilia's arrival could change that, but the two hit it off and together they begin to help each other realise they could follow their dreams after all.
The Summer Swap is the latest women's fiction by this author and is a multi perspective tale of families, relationships, betrayal, secrets and lies. I loved the instant rapport between Lily and Cecilia and the subsequent friendship that developed, helping each other realise that they could live their lives the way they wanted, how other people felt about their decisions wasn't their problem. This was another easy, feel good read which tapped on all my emotions throughout the story, smiling one minute and crying the next and the events that followed melted my heart. This author creates likeable characters and brings them to life within the pages of her stories, highlighting issues that many of us face in real life and writes about them so beautifully. Another five star read for me, which I highly recommend, but don't forget your tissues!
I'd like to thank HQ and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
‘The Summer Swap’ by Sarah Morgan is a fabulous beach read full of sunshine vibes, emotion, intergenerational dynamics and sprinkles of romance which I really enjoyed reading. As a big fan of those author’s festive novels, I was delighted to try one of her summer books…
This novel follows three women: Cecelia, who is trying to rediscover herself as more than just the widow of a famous artist; Kristen, her anxious daughter whose marriage is on the rocks; and Lily, the former best friend of her granddaughter Hannah who has stepped away from a life in medicine to follow her artistic passions but wonders if she has made the right choice. Each of the three main characters belongs to a different generation and I enjoyed their different challenges and perspectives, as well as the ways they interacted with each other.
Much of the book is set in a gorgeous vacation home by the beach in a small coastal town, and I adored how the cottage became a character in itself, containing artworks, memories and an abundance of potential!
I really liked:
- Lily’s relatable lack of confidence and how torn she was between what she desired and what she believed would impress her parents
- The exploration of grief in Kristen’s story
- Cecilia proving that it’s never too late to take life in a new direction
- Multiple distinct love stories throughout the chapters
- The connections between the women and the importance of supportive people to confide in
- Encouragement to follow your dreams
Giving this 4.5 stars and truly think anyone who enjoyed any of Sarah’s Christmas tales will adore this too!
I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher HQ via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Another exceptional novel from Sarah. Set in wonderful surroundings where Cecilia returns to for some me time. Family issues, secrets and romance abound.
This is a lovely summer read. It had me giggling one minute and crying the next. It is about relationships at the core. It was lovely once again to read one of Sarah's books, she is a brilliant author and her stories really draw you in. A five star read for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this ebook
I had been (in)patiently waiting for the book to be released and so when I managed to get an early copy it went straight to the top of my to-be-read pile.
I wasn’t disappointed! I really enjoyed reading The Summer Swap. I felt I could connect to all the characters. It was well written.
Another great read from Sarah, her books seem to get better and better the more she writes. A lovely summer read and you will enjoy this very much. 5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC
This is such a sweet and uplifting read with a gorgeous setting close to the beach.
The storyline focuses on relationships. The ones between both couples and the relationship between family members.
I loved how three generations had a point of view, and I enjoyed each side of the story's. I'm usually drawn to just one couple in these circumstances, but I thoroughly enjoyed all three. I need Lily to come and decorate my room 😊
Another great read by Sarah, this is the perfect summer read.
Another winner from Sarah. I enjoyed this book very much. A perfect summer read either on the beach or in the garden. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
The Summer Swap is billed as the perfect summer novel and I wholeheartedly agree. It’s a tale of family, new beginnings, friendships and old acquaintances. The plot unfolds well and each chapter leaves you eager to keep reading. The characters were both likeable and relatable and the whole novel was truly captivating. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
I always look forward to reading a new Sarah Morgan and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. The Summer Swap is set mainly in the gorgeous location of Cape Cod. The story is told from the POV of three women, Cecilia who has escaped to Cape Cod to avoid the birthday party organised by her daughter Kristen, Lily who is escaping from her family and trying to be an artist and Kristen who is struggling to cope with the death of her father and a mostly absent husband.
I loved all three of the women and the way that they all grew during the course of the novel. Kristen’s story in particular really resonated with me and I was almost disappointed by the resolution even though it fitted the story beautifully. The romance between Lily and Todd was touching and I enjoyed the way it gradually grew during book.
As always, location is a huge part of Sarah Morgan’s books and she always makes me want to go straight to the places her novels are set in.
This is the perfect Summer read and I am very grateful to Net Galley and HQ for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.