Two couples travel to Antibes after first meeting in Edinburgh, which triggers a series of unseen events in the novel, Midsummer. The novel explores friendship, family ties, and complex relationships.

Ned and Raine convince Lia and Sam to travel off-course with them to Antibes. But after falling asleep on the beach, the three awake to find Raine gone. After a frantic search, Sam finds her, and a bond develops between the couples. However, little is explained about Raine’s disappearance until the end is revealed. Suspense and backstory drive this novel. Troubling family relationships and complicated marital situations keep the reader wondering how everything ties together.

Midsummer wraps all loose ends together at the end, as revealed in Lia’s journal. The novel is a quick read to discover the ending, but the author drags the story on with an unsatisfied conclusion. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Midsummer. #NetGallety #Midsummer #Womensfiction

MIDSUMMER by Maryann D'Agincourt is my first experience with this powerful storyteller. I deeply enjoyed the characters she created -- didn't have a favorite, but was interested in what each one of them thought and felt -- which was delivered throughout the book in a quiet, third-person distant approach. While the hints of discord and nagging memories foretold the ultimate revelations, I was surprised in a good way with how each person reacted, feeling by then like they were people I knew. It's a quiet, slow read -- a perfect Midsummer night's story. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This book is very much so literary fiction and going in with that in mind it’s an interesting read. There is not much plot, more so it is a deep dive character study not only into the four main characters but also their parents. Sometimes I found the parents’ stories to be the most captivating. The writing style is very descriptive and languid which I found worked for a story like this.

In all honesty, I couldn't get through this book. I was initially intrigued by the premise, it seemed romantic in the way that traveling through Europe and making new friends always is. However, the portion that I read felt very clinical. Quoted dialogue was limited, the character's speech being portrayed instead passively which made it come across as a movie script setting the scene even when the cast was speaking to each other. The dialogue seemed forced- I have never known human beings to speak so blandly and clinically. Nothing said was of substance and yet it was phrased to sound more elevated than it was. It is hard to describe. I couldn't bring myself to overcome the distance I felt from the characters enough to really jump in and get through the story.

I had really high expectations going into this one, but unfortunately it just didn't get me. The premise was there, and by all rights I should've loved this book! But there was something in the writing style that tilted me, it felt disjointed and adjunct. I can definitely see where the writer was coming from but I was spending so much time trying to decipher what felt like code that I was unable to get a satisfaction from finishing it. All work no play. Which is just a shame really, but the concept was intriguing.

SOOOOOOOO COZYYYYYY! Omg I just loved to read this book. The atmosphere is so cozy. So well written, the characters are so precious as well... 5 stars from me obviously!!!

This book started out as an interesting exploration into the lives and intersections of two couples who ended up in the same place at the same time. The characterizations of each of their parents, however, was much more fascinating and dynamic, even though it felt like it did not lend much to the actual plot of the novel. The relationships between the members of each couple felt tangible and the strains and admirations were realistic and sharp. The dialogue, however, was considerably poorly-written and far-fetched.

This was a great read! It kept me turning pages until the very end. I recommend it to all fellow fiction readers!

The story begins with two couples who meet each other in Edinburgh on vacation. After eating together and talking for awhile Lia and Sam decide to change their plans and go to Antibes with Raine and Ned instead of going to Burgandy. An incident happens in Antibes which is stressful for all involved. As we go through the story we find out snippets of their young lives and current lives and get to know the characters. The novel was really good - I just would have liked to know about the characters in a little more depth. Overall, a fast read that I enjoyed.

What a darling book! There was just so much emotion in this one. I loved the main character and the storyline behind it. Well done!

Midsummer by Maryann D’Agincourt is about two couples who meet while on an overseas trip and continue to travel together. I use the word ‘about’ loosely because really, there was an extreme lack of plot.

It’s split into present day and on overload of background information. The writing style in the present day is absurdly descriptive, clunky, hard to read and connect with. I found the dire lack of contractions in dialogue especially unbelievable and it kept taking me out of the ‘story’.

However, I had a glimmer of hope when we heard Sam’s parents backstory because even though there was no particular reason we should be getting such a lengthy one, and I didn’t care about Sam, it sounded like a different writer. It was engaging, emotive and even enjoyable.

It was alarming when out of the four main characters, none of them felt as real to me as the minor characters. Despite their never ending internal monologues, the four were distant, flat and forgettable. I really wanted to love them but didn’t.

The premise was intriguing and I was excited to read this but it didn’t work for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where is the story or the plot in this book? There isn't any. Essentially, this novel is a series of descriptions and potted biographies of a group of characters who connect in some way, either via happenstance encounters or through marriage or familial relationships, but that is all. The narrative journey the reader is made to patiently wait for never actually occurs. There is some backstory of the characters' history but, again, these titbits of jejune, shallow insights into their lives unfortunately do nothing to develop or move on the story 'proper' — probably because there isn't one.

The premise of this novel sounded promising and intrigued me enough to want to read it. But what a disappointment. I'm sorry, once again, this book wasn't for me.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.