Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner

A special thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Newly retired Ruth Cooperman longs for a simpler life in a sleepy seaside locale. She rents the perfect waterfront cottage for the summer while waiting for a property to become available. But little does she know that her new life will be full of drama, starting with a baby being left on her doorstep. Right away, Ruth calls Elsie Douglas, the owner of the house. But Elsie—who has been trying to have a baby for years—doesn't turn the infant over to social services.

Trying to run a business and look after a baby is proving to be too much, so Elsie and her wife, Fern, enlist the help of the community. Caring for baby Mira has Ruth feeling nostalgic and she reaches out to her estranged daughter, Olivia. She invites her to Provincetown for the summer in the hopes of reconciling. The summer home quickly fills up—Elsie and Fern move back in because they need more room for the baby, and Olivia shows up and extends an invitation to her dad, Ruth's ex-husband, Ben.

The summer grows new relationships while putting others to the test. Unlikely alliances form and secrets are revealed...including the biggest one of all: who Mira's mother is.

Summer Longing is more than a story with a great locale. It is about the bonds of women through friendships and motherhood. One of Brenner's favourite themes is of the families we choose. Although this is a mother-daughter story, it is also about those that we want to be part of our family. Mira brings the women of the town together: Amelia Cabral, the matriarch who lost her own child; Elise who longs for a baby; Fern, who is concerned that Elsie is going to suffer more heartbreak; and Jaci Barros, a teenager feeling smothered by her parents and the expectations that they've put on her.

If you love a good family drama, stick your toes in the sand and dive in. 

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JAMIE BRENNER studied literature at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Jamie moved to New York City where she started her career at HarperCollins Publishers, then later Barnes&Noble.com and Vogue.com before returning to books and becoming an author.

She is the nationally bestselling author of The Forever Summer. Her novels include Drawing Home, The Husband Hour, The Wedding Sisters, and The Gin Lovers.

Brenner lives in New York City with her husband and daughters.

Drawing Home by Jamie Brenner

A special thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely devoured The Husband Hour and was thrilled to review Brenner's latest work.  Set in Sag Harbor, Drawing Home is a story about an unexpected inheritance, broken promises, and how family can made up of those we choose.

Emma Mapson is a single mother who works at The American Hotel.  Emma's teenage daughter, Penny, inherits the town's biggest and most beautiful waterfront home from famed artist Henry Wyatt.  The property is incredible an is an extension of Henry's art.

Back in Manhattan, legendary art patron Bea Winstead is grieving the loss of her lifelong friend and former business partner.  Her sadness soon turns to outrage when she learns that she was not the recipient of Henry's estate and artworks.  Bea, along with her devoted assistant Kyle, descend on Sag Harbor determined to reclaim what's hers and preserve Henry's legacy.

Bea discovers that Henry left a collection of sketches that are scattered around the town. With Penny's reluctant help, Bea begins to piece together their meaning and discovers and unexpected twist that will change all of their lives.

In a battle over the house, Emma and Bea are forced to confront the past while they are challenged in matters of the heart.

One of Brenner's favourite themes is of the families we choose, and although this is a mother-daughter story, it is also about those we pick to be our family.  I found this work a bit vanilla and by that I mean that everybody likes vanilla, but it is just...fine.  Drawing Home was a nice light read but I knew where it was headed pretty quickly after starting it.

JAMIE BRENNER studied literature at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Jamie moved to New York City where she started her career at HarperCollins Publishers, then later Barnes&Noble.com and Vogue.com before returning to books and becoming an author.

Her novel The Forever Summer is a national bestseller. She is also the author of The Husband Hour.

Jamie  lives in New York City with her husband and teenage daughters. 

The Husband Hour by Jamie Brenner

A special thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren Adelman marries her high school sweetheart, Rory Kincaid, and they seem to have it all.  They are good looking, popular, and Rory has signed with an NHL team.  Rory shocks everyone—most notably, Lauren—when he enlists in the U.S. Army.  When Rory is killed in combat, Lauren is left devastated and alone.  

Lauren is thrust into the public eye and escapes to her family's old beach house when she can hide and be on her own.  However, this summer she's not alone—her domineering mother and contentious sister have also taken up residence at the house.  To top it all off, Matt Brio, a documentarian has tracked her down and convinces her to meet with him.  Lauren is not ready for all of this.  Matt's hour meeting sets in motion a summer of surprises, revelations, and disruption.  She is forced to deal with her grief head on, understand the past, and look toward her future.

This book was utterly captivating.  And being a Canadian hockey mom, can I just say that Jamie Brenner did her homework.

Brenner pens characters that are rich and layered and certainly not without flaws.  There is almost a naive quality to the three main female characters in that they don't realize their worth, strength and resilience.  The supporting cast is just as integral to the story and propel the main characters to grow over the course of the narrative.

Whether it be through death, or mourning the loss of a relationship, the theme of grief is an essential part of the story. Brenner juxtaposes this grief against self-empowerment and this is particularly effective in the growth of her characters.

This is a story of relationships, love, loss, and self-discovery.  It is beautifully written and paced—the story unfolds in stages much like grief and was a thoroughly satisfying read.  This book would make an excellent book club choice.

JAMIE BRENNER studied literature at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Jamie moved to New York City where she started her career at HarperCollins Publishers, then later Barnes&Noble.com and Vogue.com before returning to books and becoming an author.

Her novel The Forever Summer is a national bestseller.

Jamie  lives in New York City with her husband and teenage daughters.