Genre Fiction
![Nancy Thayer - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000APZJYW.jpg)
All the Days of Summer: A Novel
A woman's second act on the island of Nantucket delivers much more than she expected in this captivating novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.
"A beautiful, hope-filled, heartwarming story about new beginnings and second chances."-RaeAnne Thayne, author of The Cafe at Beach End
Heather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts. But when her marriage has fizzles out, Heather has to decide what sort of life to live next. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly-until her son, Ross, announces he's moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend's family's construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he'd promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her.
Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She's less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket-even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want.
With All the Days of Summer, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer delivers a moving novel that explores the complexity of family and the unexpected ways fate can guide you forward.
"A beautiful, hope-filled, heartwarming story about new beginnings and second chances."-RaeAnne Thayne, author of The Cafe at Beach End
Heather Willette has a good life in Concord, Massachusetts. But when her marriage has fizzles out, Heather has to decide what sort of life to live next. Ready to seek out her own happiness and discover herself again, Heather decides to leave her husband and rent a cottage on Nantucket. And her plan is going perfectly-until her son, Ross, announces he's moving to Nantucket to work at his girlfriend's family's construction business instead of going back home to work with his own father, like he'd promised. Worst of all for Heather, this means having to get along with her.
Kailee Essex is thrilled that Ross is willing to move to her hometown. She has big hopes for their happily ever after, especially now that her parents are finally showing interest in her career. She's less thrilled, however, about his mother living nearby. Kailee has clashed with Heather since the day they met. But anything is possible in the summer sun and sea breezes of Nantucket-even reconciliation. And when change comes sooner than either Heather or Kailee expect, they must learn to overcome their differences to fight for the future they want.
With All the Days of Summer, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer delivers a moving novel that explores the complexity of family and the unexpected ways fate can guide you forward.
Editorial Reviews
"Break out the sunscreen, kick off your flip-flops and settle in for a beautiful, hope-filled, heartwarming story about new beginnings and second chances. Nancy Thayer sees straight into the heart."-RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author of The Cafe at Beach End
"Thayer delivers another heartwarming story that fans will enjoy."-Booklist
"Thayer delivers another heartwarming story that fans will enjoy."-Booklist
Readers Top Reviews
SOMDReigel
All the Days of Summer explores the collapse of a marriage, motherhood, young love, friendships, family, romance, and new beginnings. It follows Heather who has left a loveless marriage and is finding her place in the world. Lovely descriptive writing with some unexpected turns. A wonderful summer read filled with hope and renewal. I enjoyed this.
Texas
All the Days of Summer is a lovely if somewhat slow moving story about new beginnings. Heather leases a cottage on Nantucket to find her true self. Her son, Ross and his fiancée, Kailee are learning to adult after college. Kailee’s mother Evelyn is dealing with health and environmental issues. Nancy Thayer writes characters that are real with both good and aggravating characteristics. The setting, of course, is marvelous as is the growth of the people written about. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.
kathleen g
Heather has decided to change her life- her marriage to Wall is dead, her son Ross is graduating from college and she needs to find her next act- so she rents a cottage on Nantucket for the summer. Turns out Ross plans to spend the summer (perhaps the rest of his life) on Nantucket working for his girlfriend Kailee's father. Kailee isn't happy that Heather is going to be on the island but Heather's got her own thing. This is classic Thayer, told alternately (in the third person) by these two women as they navigate the summer and major life changes. Heather integrates smoothly into town, rescues a dog, and meets a guy while Kailee struggles a bit with her own mother and her own expectations. There are good atmospherics (and recognize that these are very privileged people). The characters ring true and you'll root for them. Except for Wall. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Light reading prefect for the beach.
PLA
Things I enjoyed about this book: - Heather is a strong female, able to make difficult decisions for herself without being selfish - the beautiful setting of Nantucket and it’s small town atmosphere - strong sense of family - Evelyn’s dedication to preserving Nantucket’s environment There was probably only one thing that I didn’t care for, and that was Kailee’s immaturity throughout most of the book. I understand that it was probably written that way on purpose, but there never was an aha moment when she changed. I always enjoy books by this author, and I think you will too. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
JW
When life takes you on an unexpected path, it can shake up your life, but you know in your heart you must follow it. It is an adventure, both scary and exciting, but you follow it and see where you come out. Nancy Thayer captures their journeys as life moves on, and they move on with it. I received an ARC from Ballantine Books through NetGalley.
Short Excerpt Teaser
One
It was Heather who hated Kailee first.
Well, she didn't actually hate Kailee. But she wasn't sure she liked her.
The first time she met her future daughter-in-law was when Heather and Wall went to a UMass Amherst football game. It was early October. The air was cool, bright, and clear, what Heather's mother had called "snapping weather." The trees were changing color, putting on a brilliant display of red, orange, and yellow, and Heather had brought a container of her famous autumn chili in a tub in the Styrofoam cooler to give to Ross, because that was his favorite food. Ross didn't play football, although he had in high school, maybe because sports seemed to be the only topic he and his father could discuss without arguing.
Heather and Wall had made plans for Ross and Kailee to meet them at the Inn on Boltwood in Amherst for drinks and dinner. It was pricey, but Heather guessed from her phone conversations with Ross that Kailee might be special. Ross was handsome, tall, wide-shouldered, with curly dark hair and a great smile. He'd had plenty of girlfriends over the years, but the way Ross spoke about Kailee . . . there was a warmth in his voice. A happiness. Heather hoped that Kailee was an easy hugger, because Heather was, and if Kailee made Ross happy, Heather wanted to hug her tight.
Heather and Wall got to the restaurant first and sat at their table reading the menu. Heather wore her light brown hair in a messy bun and her favorite blue cashmere sweater with jeans. Wall wore jeans, a button-down shirt, and his good L.L.Bean vest.
Heather looked up and saw Ross and Kailee walk in. She nudged her husband, so they were both smiling at the couple as they threaded their way between the tables. Heather noticed that everyone else in the restaurant watched the couple as they passed through, as if they were royalty, and really, Kailee looked like Kate Middleton, tall and slender, with long chestnut hair, green eyes, and the lanky, easy stride of a Thoroughbred. Ross wore chinos and a navy-blue crew-neck sweater. Kailee wore a blue-and-white striped dress, very classic, very nautical, with espadrilles. Her hair was held back with a blue headband, and small diamonds studded her ears.
She was seriously beautiful. Heather realized, as they all greeted one another, that Kailee was not in the least bit worried about whether or not her boyfriend's parents liked her. She had an air about her-an aura?-of noblesse oblige, as if she were a princess allowing her subjects to speak with her.
Heather had never known a young woman with this kind of confidence, this cool, almost icy, poise.
Heather didn't try to hug Kailee.
They all took their seats, boy, girl, boy, girl, and chatted lightly about the game-the UMass Amherst Minutemen had lost to the Eastern Michigan Eagles by one touchdown.
"I wish they would change their name," Kailee said.
"Why?" Heather asked. "The Minutemen were a trained class of militia during the American Revolution."
Kailee ducked her head to hide a smile.
"Mom." Ross widened his eyes in a give me a break signal.
Heather said, "Oh," and blushed. Suddenly she felt naïve in front of Ross's very sophisticated girlfriend. It was not a pleasant sensation.
She hoped that Wall would say something in her defense, or at least say something to change the subject, but Wall's attention was fixed on the menu.
Grasping for an easy subject to discuss, she smiled at Kailee. "Do you play sports?"
Kailee shrugged. "Not really. I sail and play tennis, of course." She laid a possessive hand on Ross's arm. "I'm going to teach Ross to sail next summer, if we have time."
Heather was confused. Kailee played tennis and sailed, but said she didn't play sports. Trying to find something in common with the young woman, Heather asked, "Do you play pickleball?"
"God, no," Kailee replied.
Heather coughed and picked up her menu. "I wonder what's good here." She didn't care what was good in that restaurant, she had to hide her face before she burst out laughing. What a little snot Kailee was! How in the world could her son like Kailee? True, she was beautiful, but she had all the social skills of a cobra. Heather couldn't wait to talk to Wall about her, although Wall wasn't very communicative these days. She'd call her friend Christine. She wished she could dash to the privacy of the restroom and call Christine right now. How would they get through this meal? Ross couldn't possibly be serious about this girl.
It was Heather who hated Kailee first.
Well, she didn't actually hate Kailee. But she wasn't sure she liked her.
The first time she met her future daughter-in-law was when Heather and Wall went to a UMass Amherst football game. It was early October. The air was cool, bright, and clear, what Heather's mother had called "snapping weather." The trees were changing color, putting on a brilliant display of red, orange, and yellow, and Heather had brought a container of her famous autumn chili in a tub in the Styrofoam cooler to give to Ross, because that was his favorite food. Ross didn't play football, although he had in high school, maybe because sports seemed to be the only topic he and his father could discuss without arguing.
Heather and Wall had made plans for Ross and Kailee to meet them at the Inn on Boltwood in Amherst for drinks and dinner. It was pricey, but Heather guessed from her phone conversations with Ross that Kailee might be special. Ross was handsome, tall, wide-shouldered, with curly dark hair and a great smile. He'd had plenty of girlfriends over the years, but the way Ross spoke about Kailee . . . there was a warmth in his voice. A happiness. Heather hoped that Kailee was an easy hugger, because Heather was, and if Kailee made Ross happy, Heather wanted to hug her tight.
Heather and Wall got to the restaurant first and sat at their table reading the menu. Heather wore her light brown hair in a messy bun and her favorite blue cashmere sweater with jeans. Wall wore jeans, a button-down shirt, and his good L.L.Bean vest.
Heather looked up and saw Ross and Kailee walk in. She nudged her husband, so they were both smiling at the couple as they threaded their way between the tables. Heather noticed that everyone else in the restaurant watched the couple as they passed through, as if they were royalty, and really, Kailee looked like Kate Middleton, tall and slender, with long chestnut hair, green eyes, and the lanky, easy stride of a Thoroughbred. Ross wore chinos and a navy-blue crew-neck sweater. Kailee wore a blue-and-white striped dress, very classic, very nautical, with espadrilles. Her hair was held back with a blue headband, and small diamonds studded her ears.
She was seriously beautiful. Heather realized, as they all greeted one another, that Kailee was not in the least bit worried about whether or not her boyfriend's parents liked her. She had an air about her-an aura?-of noblesse oblige, as if she were a princess allowing her subjects to speak with her.
Heather had never known a young woman with this kind of confidence, this cool, almost icy, poise.
Heather didn't try to hug Kailee.
They all took their seats, boy, girl, boy, girl, and chatted lightly about the game-the UMass Amherst Minutemen had lost to the Eastern Michigan Eagles by one touchdown.
"I wish they would change their name," Kailee said.
"Why?" Heather asked. "The Minutemen were a trained class of militia during the American Revolution."
Kailee ducked her head to hide a smile.
"Mom." Ross widened his eyes in a give me a break signal.
Heather said, "Oh," and blushed. Suddenly she felt naïve in front of Ross's very sophisticated girlfriend. It was not a pleasant sensation.
She hoped that Wall would say something in her defense, or at least say something to change the subject, but Wall's attention was fixed on the menu.
Grasping for an easy subject to discuss, she smiled at Kailee. "Do you play sports?"
Kailee shrugged. "Not really. I sail and play tennis, of course." She laid a possessive hand on Ross's arm. "I'm going to teach Ross to sail next summer, if we have time."
Heather was confused. Kailee played tennis and sailed, but said she didn't play sports. Trying to find something in common with the young woman, Heather asked, "Do you play pickleball?"
"God, no," Kailee replied.
Heather coughed and picked up her menu. "I wonder what's good here." She didn't care what was good in that restaurant, she had to hide her face before she burst out laughing. What a little snot Kailee was! How in the world could her son like Kailee? True, she was beautiful, but she had all the social skills of a cobra. Heather couldn't wait to talk to Wall about her, although Wall wasn't very communicative these days. She'd call her friend Christine. She wished she could dash to the privacy of the restroom and call Christine right now. How would they get through this meal? Ross couldn't possibly be serious about this girl.
