A Hundred Summers

By: Beatriz Williams

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

As the 1938 hurricane approaches Rhode Island, another storm brews in this New York Times best-selling beach listen from the author of Her Last Flight and The Golden Hour. Lily Dane has returned to Seaview, Rhode Island, where her family has summered for generations. It’s an escape not only from New York’s social scene but from a heartbreak that still haunts her. Here, among the seaside community that has embraced her since childhood, she finds comfort in the familiar rituals of summer.

But this summer is different. Budgie and Nick Greenwald - Lily’s former best friend and former fiancé - have arrived, too, and Seaview’s elite are abuzz. Under Budgie’s glamorous influence, Lily is seduced into a complicated web of renewed friendship and dangerous longing.

As a cataclysmic hurricane churns north through the Atlantic, and uneasy secrets slowly reveal themselves, Lily and Nick must confront an emotional storm that will change their worlds forever...

Listeners guide included.

©2013 Beatriz Williams (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] fast-paced love story...the scorching sun illuminates a friend’s betrayal and reignites a romance." (O, The Oprah Magazine)

"Perfect for fans of the Gossip Girl series." (People)

"Summer of 1938: A scandalous love triangle and a famous hurricane converge in a New England beach community. Add in a betrayal between friends, a marriage for money, and a Yankee pitcher, and it’s a perfect storm."(Good Housekeeping)

What a Memorable Summer Read

I love perfect narration. Narration that gives life to the story and the characters and doesn't get in the way. Narration is portrayal in that way. This is a wonderful long intricate story that might have ruined by the wrong narrator. If you like stories from the era this placed in there is no reason why you wouldn't love this one. A story to savor.

You will not want to Pause

Where does A Hundred Summers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks at the top of the list. First, the story was very well written, and Kathleen was exceptional! I could listen to her in the wee hours of the morning. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope to hear more from Kathleen.

What other book might you compare A Hundred Summers to and why?

The Great Gatsby. Due to similar eras of time (women love to smoke and drink) and they are encouraged to marry well and mostly there are secrets of past generations and affairs of sort. Loved them both! Would love to see a movie based on A Hundred Summers.

Have you listened to any of Kathleen McInerney’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, have not, as would love it! Would encourage authors to use her as she is outstanding!

If you could rename A Hundred Summers, what would you call it?

Not sure, would have to think about it.

Predictable

This book passed the time, but I wouldn't recommend it to a good friend. The storyline was a bit superficial and predictable.

Here We Go - the '13 Best Summer/Beach Reads...

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...the barrage of "Best Summer/Beach Books* lists have hit; two of my favorite words in the English language" "Beach" & "Books" -- and giddy with the prospect of glorious summer, I decided to accept a challenge and tackle every one of them. It seemed doable time-wise, and it's always good to adventure outside of your zone, so I downloaded those that were available now, and headed off for a weekend at the lake. After about an hour with the one about the Camperdowns, and thinking I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than go on, I realized my biggest challenge would be subject matter...which brings me to A Hundred Summers.

Rather than throw in the beach towel, so to speak, I decided to have a 50page/1hr. audio rule for my summer challenge (unless there is some big sign of promise). I'm not generally a fan of chick-lit, but the cover of A Hundred Summers reminded me of Tigers in Red Weather, a book I enjoyed very much during the summer of 2012. So I began book #2 with my fingers crossed, and Belief, Reality, and Logic suspended deep in my beach bag. Happy to report that after an hour I was still listening -- not a needle in sight -- thoroughly enjoying myself as I listened and baked.

Another languid summer at the beach house in Seaview, RI, where the setting is swell, the sun is scorching, the ocean deep breezy blue, the drinks are icy and loaded with gin. Everyone is rich, the girls are sassy, the guys are dreamy, the romance is swoony, the sex is risqué, and the family secrets jooooooosie. But not everything is as fabulous as it seems under those glittery sheaths and searsucker suits. It is 1938 and the gossip in town carries the rumors of war, both in the world and in Seaview. Lily's old friend, the beautiful and scandalous Budgie, has returned to her family beach house after years away, bringing along her new husband, Lily's former boyfriend Nick Greenwald. As the summer heats up so does the social atmosphere; it is the eve of WWII (did I mention Nick was Jewish?) and there is a *hundred-year hurricane* in the forecast, threatening to blow the roof off more than just the seaside cottages.

I was content to spend the entire day (and a few evening hours) finishing this book, and think it really might be the perfect beach read for the ladies. It is predictable, mindless, the characters are figments of every woman's imagination, the ending was a little schmarmy, but I liked it--sue me! As books go - 3 *'s; but as beach reads go - 5 bottles of sunscreen. McInerney does a nice job with the narration, and makes the back and forth transition of years, and different characters, effortlessly. I've heard it compared to some of author Daphne du Maurier's books and agree (she wrote during the same time period in which this novel is placed). With all the elements of those great beach reads from my past: romance, intrigue, drama -- the only thing missing here was the warning from the Surgeon General...(seriously)...the suitable subtitle would be "smoke 'em if you've got 'em" and not because of the hot sex (although that too was smoking). Great fun, loved it, I'm 1 for 2, and on to my next beach read. Hope you enjoy this, and your summer.

Star Crossed Lovers

This was a feel good listen for the beach with an enjoyable, somewhat predictable plot.  It's great to come across a really good, easy read for those wonderful mindless summer days.  Heads up for some five alarm, steamy love/lust scenes that may require headphones in mixed company. 

Somewhat tortured characters who's complex personalities are intertwined from 1931 to 1938. The time period is depicted beautifully and Seaview, RI almost becomes a character in itself. Heartsick lovers Nick and Lily are separated because of tragic events, secrets and guilt.  Time, revelation, confessions and true love may be just enough to bring them back into each others arms and lives. Or......, will they just be blown away?

Kathleen Mclnerney did an excellent job bringing all the different characters to life.  Her pace and timing definitely added to the story, especially the turbulent ending.  I am looking forward to listening to her narration of, "The Nine Lives of Christmas", in December.

So great!!! 10 stars

Love love love the story line, narrator brings it to life as if I could visualize the characters. Easy listen, didn’t want it to end!!

Great “Beach Read”

This is what I like to call a “beach read”. I loved the characters and enjoyed the story.

Great story, but...

Would you consider the audio edition of A Hundred Summers to be better than the print version?

Definitely not.

What other book might you compare A Hundred Summers to and why?

N/A

How did the narrator detract from the book?

When she tries to act out the voices (male lead, and small child), she sounds absolutely ridiculous.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nope.

Any additional comments?

I can't wait until this stupid concussion is over and I can READ things again and narrate them in my own head - properly.

Keeps you interested the whole time!!

Any additional comments?

Great summer listen! A little predictable, but good twist and turns. Agree with other readers that I wanted to know what happened to the characters after the ending!

Wonderful light summer read

This is a great light book. The story is well developed and I liked the characters. It is very kitch but in a good way. It is about very wealthy people with nothing better to do than just be rich but still have struggles. The writing is very pleasant and the story while full is not deep. Love the narrator. This is my 4th book by Beatriz Williams. Will keep coming back.