From the back over the audio case: Abbie Fox hasn’t seen her father or two younger sisters in almost two years, during which time she’s jetted around the world and experienced life. But now youngest sister Lily is begging her to return home to Nantucket because middle sister Emma has taken to her bed, devastated after the loss of her high-powered job and the break-up with her fiance. Also, Lily is worried that Marina, the enigmatic woman renting their guesthouse, has set her sights on the sisters’ widowed father, Jim. The Fox girls closed ranks years ago after the haunting, untimely death of their mother, but seeing their dad move on with his life forces each of them to take stock.
Over the course of the summer, the sisters’ lives grow as turbulent as the unpredictable currents encircling Nantucket. Abbie meets an incredibly appealing married man and breaks her own rules in the name of love; type-A Emma learns a new definition of success; and strong-minded Lily must reconcile her dreams with reality. Even Marina, who has come to Nantucket to forget heartbreak and betrayal, faces an astonishing turn of events that will find her torn between fate and freedom. At summer’s end, these unforgettable women will face profound choices – and undergo personal transformations that will surprise even themselves.
Read by: Karen White
My thoughts: This is the first time I’ve read anything by Nancy Thayer and I loved it. Beachcombers is a story about four women and their life changing experience one summer on Nantucket Island. The three Fox sisters – Abbie, Emma and Lily – are worried about their widowed father who has recently rented the guest cottage, named “The Playhouse,” to a beautiful, recently divorced woman, Marina. The girls come together to protect their father and end up having chaotic romantic summers of their own. They form Nantucket Mermaids and each girl takes odd jobs all over the island while making sure their dad is not going to make a mistake in love. Meanwhile, emotions run high, there are twists and turns in relationships and a happy ending takes place. It’s a wonderful story about unexpected relationships and the process of healing. I loved how the chapters alternate between the three sisters and Marina. Having two sisters I could relate to the relationships these sisters have. Nancy Thayer allows us to get a clear look into the sub-conscious of all the characters, allowing the reader to feel what they feel, see what they see and have a candid look into their lives. She also gives us a taste of what it’s like to live on Nantucket – somewhere I’ve never been. I happened to be reading an Elin Hilderbrand book while I was listening to this one and loved that both were set on Nantucket and that both mentioned similar places. Between the two authors, I feel I have learned lots of facts and historical pieces about Nantucket and would love to visit one day. I look forward to reading/listening to more of Nancy Thayer’s work.
(I borrowed this audio book from the library.)
I'm going to see if my library has the audiobook. I listened to a Hilderbrand last year and really enjoyed it. I've only read one Thayer book – Summer House. I liked it!
This looks like a really good book. I loved your review. Thanks, Kristin!
@Mary I am hoping some of Nancy Thayer's other books are on audio – this one was great to listen to and I'm sure her others will be, too.
@Gina Hott It was great and I will definitely be reading more by her.
I really want to read this book. I have also never read anything by this author before but I think this would be a great place to start. It sounds like a lovely bood! Great review Kristin!