These Summer Storms

A Novel

By: Sarah MacLean

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean, a razor-sharp, wildly sexy novel about a wealthy New England family’s long-overdue reckoning . . . and the one week that threatens to tear them apart.

“Deliciously impossible to put down.”—Jodi Picoult

“Addictive.”—Ali Hazelwood

“A gripping inheritance drama, wrapped around a swoony summer romance.”—The New York Times Book Review

Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.

Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.

A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.

©2025 Sarah MacLean (P)2025 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This twisty Succession-meets-Clue debut is deliciously impossible to put down.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult

“A gripping inheritance drama, wrapped around a swoony summer romance, that offers a nuanced portrait of a family grappling with secrets, privilege and grief.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A fun beach read, perfectly positioned for summer; on one level, it’s a light read with rich-behaving-badly appeal. But it also goes deeper, into grief and emotional healing.”—AP News

Favorite narrator!

One of my all time favorite narrators! JW brings the characters to life! I truly enjoyed this book snd its many emotional turns

Missed A Day of Work

Couldn’t put it down……got it cuz I thought it would be something I could listen to for a couple of weeks or so……NOT.

Great character development

This was my first read by the author, I always love anything narrated by Julia Whelan. I absolutely loved this duo. I will definitely check out more titles by this author.

Money equals happiness?

Good look into rich life. Everything isn’t as solid as it seems. Narrator did a fantastic job as always.

Laughed so hard!

Loved all the characters! Loved the twists and turns. Cant remember a book ever making me laugh out loud so much!

Five Stars

Excellent. Well done Sarah. Listening to Julia Whelan is always a treat. Enjoyed the characters and the dialog.

Family

These Summer Storms reminded me of HBO’s Succession, sharp, layered, and brimming with family drama. Sarah MacLean weaves a story of family, trauma, and the complicated games people play, with or without money. When the death of a parent forces siblings back into each other’s orbit, the cracks in their upbringing surface in ways that can’t be ignored. Navigating old wounds and unspoken rivalries feels like a real-life chess match, where every move matters. The tension, emotional depth, and sly undercurrents made this a compelling read. I found it both gripping and relatable, and thought it was a great book.

Great narrator

Julia Whelan really made this great story a super fun listen. My favorite book this summer. (And I listen to a lot of them).

So many twists and turns

This had all the components of a binge—worthy book….dysfunctional family, diabolical twists and turns, good romance.

This was a great story!

I loved this book! I Couldn’t put it down. It’s exciting and every time I thought I knew where it was going I was wrong. Great characters also.