The Summer Place

A Novel

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Sutton Foster

Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of That Summer comes another “fun, feisty” (The Washington Post) novel of family, secrets, and the ties that bind.

When her twenty-two-year-old stepdaughter announces her engagement to her pandemic boyfriend, Sarah Danhauser is shocked. But the wheels are in motion. Headstrong Ruby has already set a date (just three months away!) and spoken to her beloved safta, Sarah’s mother Veronica, about having the wedding at the family’s beach house in Cape Cod. Sarah might be worried, but Veronica is thrilled to be bringing the family together one last time before putting the big house on the market.

But the road to a wedding day usually comes with a few bumps. Ruby has always known exactly what she wants, but as the wedding date approaches, she finds herself grappling with the wounds left by the mother who walked out when she was a baby. Veronica ends up facing unexpected news, thanks to her meddling sister, and must revisit the choices she made long ago, when she was a bestselling novelist with a different life. Sarah’s twin brother, Sam, is recovering from a terrible loss, and confronting big questions about who he is—questions he hopes to resolve during his stay on the Cape. Sarah’s husband, Eli, who’s been inexplicably distant during the pandemic, confronts the consequences of a long ago lapse from his typical good-guy behavior. And Sarah, frustrated by her husband, concerned about her stepdaughter, and worn out by the challenges of the quarantine, faces the alluring reappearance of someone from her past and a life that could have been.

When the wedding day arrives, lovers are revealed as their true selves, misunderstandings take on a life of their own, and secrets come to light. There are confrontations and revelations that will touch each member of the extended family, ensuring that nothing will ever be the same.

From “the undisputed boss of the beach read” (The New York Times), The Summer Place is a testament to family in all its messy glory; a story about what we sacrifice and how we forgive. Enthralling, witty, big-hearted, and sharply observed, “this first-rate page-turner” (Publishers Weekly) is Jennifer Weiner’s love letter to the Outer Cape and the power of home, the way our lives are enriched by the people we call family, and the endless ways love can surprise us.

©2022 Jennifer Weiner, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

To much illicit sex!

I love Jennifer Weiner books. I became a fan with Good In Bed, because I'd never read about a plus-sized heroine before! She used to be a champion of the big girls. This story, while enjoyable, lacks the soul of many of the others, and it seems to try to make up for it by much more graphic sex scenes than before. I have to say I'm disappointed. Not the Jennifer Weiner I've come to love.

Wow

What a fantastic book. So many delicious nooks n crannies. I could not stop listening!

The summer place

This is a great book… Interesting story line… But I think every reader needs to read it or listen to it and get out of it walk away from it with how it affects your life.

Very Good

This was a very enjoyable story. A few twists and turns at the end !!!! Recommended listen to!

My FAVORITE Weiner book to date!

Everything about this story was perfect for me. And way to go Jennifer on the love scenes (Fifty’s Shades move out of the way!).

Another Amazing Read

Jennifer did not disappoint! Another amazing book by this thoughtful writer. Love the twists on the book and the chronology. 10 stars out of 5.

There was a lot going on here

This was complex but well written. A lot of crazy coincidences and felt a little bit like a soap opera.

Be Warned...

This is not a light summer novel. but I thought it was great. It is a book of shame. secrets. betrayal, but mostly love.

Great story

I really enjoyed this book. A little bit crazy the ending story line but it was enjoyable. I 100% teared up at the ending. Sutton Foster read the book wonderfully. I could hear her talk all day.

Narrator

Sutton foster was awesome narrator and pleasant to listen to and gave each of the many characters their own identity. Beautiful story and well written.