Time with the Vickerey family always involves love and laughter, and this season is no different. Vivacious matriarch Susanna Vickerey is celebrating her sixtieth birthday, but beneath the merriment, trouble is brewing. The family patriarch, Dr. Alastair Vickerey, is quiet and detached, while unspoken tension looms over oldest son Henry, a respected young surgeon. Warm and witty Robin, the most grounded of the siblings, is keeping a secret from her parents. Iris, the colorful baby of the brood, remains rudderless and in need of guidance. And the sexy, stunningly handsome, untouchable James--to Courtney's dismay--may be in love with a beautiful and vibrant local artist. As the summer unfolds, a crisis escalates, surprising truths are revealed, and Courtney will, at last, find out where her heart and her future lie.
Weaving the trials and uncertainty of real life into a tapestry of passion, hope, and courage, The Island House is a beautifully told story about the ties that bind us--and how the blessings of love and family heal us in ways we never dream possible.
My Thoughts:
I always enjoy reading Nancy Thayer and find myself wishing for a summer vacation to Nantucket Island every time I pick up one of her books. This was just another example of why I love her so much.
These characters are just so real to me, and watching them all navigate their way through life and summer together brought me so much joy. I thought their emotions, their struggles, and their journey to find themselves was so real and so relatable regardless of who you are.
While I know Robin and Courtney, James and the other summer kids were supposed to be the main focus of this book, I found myself drawn to the father, Dr. V. I found it so much fun to watch him live his life secluded and in complete bliss of his family and the life happening around him. Yet when tragedy struck, he came to life and was able to offer love, wisdom, and support for those who needed him the most at the moment. I thought it was such a real reflection on how so many men can be in life.
This would make a great beach read - or a middle of the winter read. Worth a spot on your reading list.