A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams was my bookclub’s choice for this month and I think it’s safe to say we all enjoyed it. Taking place in the early 1930’s in the oceanfront community of Seaview, Rhode Island, this is a story of love, betrayal, money, and old buried secrets – a recipe for disaster!
Lily and Budgie have been friends since they were kids. On a trip home from college with Budgie, Lily meets Nick and falls hopelessly for him and he for her. They plan to marry but everything seems set against them and things happen that only throw them apart.
Years later Lily is planning on spending a nice and relaxing summer in Seaview with her little sister Kiki. At first when she hears that Budgie and Nick are coming to spend the summer as well and that Budgie wants to renovate her old family home she is angry. And yes you read that right – it is Lily’s former best friend and former fiance that are now married. It isn’t long before Budgie manages to insinuate herself into Lily’s life again. It also isn’t long before Lily and Nick are drawn together again and when they are secrets begin to come to light that shock Lily to her core.
Oh my goodness, the webs that we weave. This novel is chock full of them. I really enjoyed it having listened to the audio which is narrated by Kathleen McInerney who does a fabulous job. I’ve listened to her a few other times and really enjoy her narration. She portrayed these characters perfectly making Budgie sound as bad as she really was and Lily meek and mild. Eleven and a half hours flew by between having a story that kept me enthralled and a narrator who did too. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. It was a great way to spend a few hours!
Source: Audiobook from my personal library.
Gah! I’m off to see if my library has this…I’ve just seen too many good reviews and I do like McInerny’s narration.
Sandy, she really is a good narrator, isn’t she. I’ve enjoyed a few audios by her now. It’s funny now that I’m getting favorite narrators I’m almost willing to listen to a book because they are narrating it. lol. However this one was a good story too!
I haven’t been able to get my hands on the audio 🙁 Have been wanting to try this – sounds so good.
Diane, I hope you manage to get it on audio because it’s really well done. I am so hopelessly addicted to audios now. lol.
This sounds so good!
It was Kathy!
Sounds good, oh yes summer not in winter 😉
Linda, a summery type read for me was good since it’s getting too cold already for my liking here.
I loved the audio of this one too, both because of the story and the narration. And the book cover is perfect.
Laura, it really was well narrated. She did the voices perfectly!
I really enjoyed Overseas, so I’ve been curious about this one. Glad you enjoyed it!
Anna, having enjoyed this one so much I’d like to read more of her work so since you liked Overseas maybe I’ll start with that one.
I loved this in print.. glad to hear the audio is a hit, too!
JoAnn, I know you loved it. It really was great in audio especially with such a good narrator.
I could not put this book down! It is a great read.
Nise, I know what you mean. I hated when I had to stop listening even for a while.
The cover of this one could give the impression of light and fluffy but certainly it’s not a light and fluffy book. Looking forward to it.