Summary: Cricket is elated when her best friend Jules asks her to spend the summer on Nantucket with her family. Cricket adores the Claytons and is thrilled about the possibilities of the months ahead … particularly since her longtime crush Jay Logan will also be summering on the island. But an unexpected tragedy changes everyone’s plans. Cricket is still determined to spend her summer on Nantucket; but when she gets there, nothing turns out like she planned.
Thoughts: I must start by saying that I love Nantucket. The grey shingled houses, the bursting blue hydrangea, the idyllic main street, lobster rolls … it’s like a postcard come to life. I wish I could afford to summer there myself! So, I was already excited about this book just because of the setting. And, author Leila Howland does an incredible job recreating this magical place, taking the reader right to the quaint streets and sandy shores of Nantucket.
But, I was surprised by the story. It’s a summer romance, but has a lot more depth and plot development than I expected. I fell in love with the interesting cast of characters including Cricket, her family, and the many people she meets on the island. The novel explores the challenges of friendship, family relationships, loss, and self-discovery in addition to navigating first love. I really enjoyed this book and immediately treated myself to the juicy sequel, Nantucket Red!
I recommend the book duo to anyone looking for good beach reads, hoping to be transported to a picturesque summer town, or seeking a compelling story about figuring out who you are and who you really belong with in the world.