“A great summer read for fans of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin.” (Library Journal) A trio of college friends who reunite aboard a cruise ship experience an unforgettable vacation in this compelling novel from the author of The Summer of Good Intentions, which was hailed as “everything a summer read should be” by Elin Hilderbrand. Three college roommates are celebrating a twentieth wedding … roommates are celebrating a twentieth wedding anniversary by taking a cruise to Bermuda. As the ship pulls away from the pier, everyone is looking forward to lounging by the pool, sipping sunset cocktails, and reminiscing. Abby, the mother hen of the group, will be celebrating her wedding anniversary in style, even as she and her husband keep a secret from the group. Ambitious career woman Caroline happily anticipates several stress-free days away from her magazine job with her boyfriend, Javier, who may or may not be finally inspired to propose. And single mom Lee (annoyingly gorgeous and irresistibly popular in college) hopes she’ll win back the affections of her formerly sweet daughter Lacey, who after her first year in college, has inexplicably become a little bit of a monster.
As the balmy pink shores of Bermuda come into view, tensions simmer, and old jealousies flare, sending the temperature from soothing to scorching in this engrossing tale of three best friends on a vacation they won’t soon forget–but not for the reasons they expect.
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Three college friends getting together for their yearly catch-up decided on a cruise paid for by Abby and her husband.
Abby had a loving husband, twin boys, and a secret.
Lee was a single mother with a college-aged daughter who had problems of her own.
Caroline was single and hoping her boyfriend of three years would propose to her on the cruise.
All the characters worked well with each other. Ms. Francis made each character come alive with most being likable.
The story line was pleasant and made you want to go on a cruise to Bermuda as well as think about all your blessings.
If you need a pick me up and an idea for getting back together with friends from your younger years, THE SUMMER SAIL will make you want to give your best girlfriends a call and suggest meeting.
THE SUMMER SAIL was a lovely change of pace for me. This book is about love, friendship, caring, and learning to live life to the fullest.
There were some nice quotes to think about as well.
ENJOY when you read THE SUMMER SAIL. 4/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the author. All opinions are my own.
Very realistic and pleasant fast-read for summer lazy days. It touches on serious subjects like teen pregnancy and a serious medical diagnosis. But it isn’t sappy or overly emotional about them. The characters are all flawed but nice women.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher. This is my first time reading a novel by this author and it will not be my last. I appreciated the family and friendship dynamics throughout the novel; especially the emphasis on how your friends can become your family. I connected to each character and enjoyed watching them mature throughout the story.
/ 5
Do not be alarmed if The Summer Sail by Wendy Francis makes you want to go on a cruise because now I desperately want to!
The Summer Sail focuses on 3 best friends that were roommates in college – Abby, Lee, and Caroline. To celebrate Abby’s 20th wedding anniversary, she invites them to join her and her husband Sam on a cruise to Bermuda all expenses paid. Lee is a single mom living in South Carolina while Caroline is living in New York with her longtime boyfriend Javier. Everyone has something going on; Abby is carrying a large secret from her friends and 2 sons, Lee is struggling with her teenage daughter Lacey as she has become a bit of a handful after her first year of college in Maine, and Lee desperately wants Javier to propose on the cruise or she is considering calling things quits. Everyone is together on the cruise and it’s amazing how much happens in the week that this book covers.
The Summer Sail switches viewpoints from Lee, Abby and Caroline with a little of Lacey interspersed as well. It was interesting to see how each person is dealing with their own issues, and what Lacey is thinking while also knowing what her mom Lee is thinking. I think this might be the epitome of a beach read. It was incredibly readable and I was able to finish the entire book plus the conversation with the author all under 4 hours, something someone could easily accomplish at a day at the beach.
I loved that there were serious topics told in an overall light hearted manner, plus the book leaves you feeling hopeful. I really connected to these women and Lacey, and I was tearing up throughout but especially towards the end. This was a super sweet book that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy at the end.
Final Thought: I think The Summer Sail will be relatable for a lot of women, and it’s such a fun read about friendship, parenting and romance. Even though the characters are in their 40s and Lacey is 19, I still felt like I could connect to each of them in a way. If you like Hallmark movies there is a good chance you will love this book because I could totally see this as a Hallmark movie (and I personally love them). I definitely recommend this to people that need a lighter beach read to brighten up their summer.
A very enjoyable book about the friendship of 3 women who were college friends. They are all older now and are going on a cruise to celebrate one of the three’s 20th wedding anniversary. This book will appeal to those that like women’s fiction and stories about friendship and families. I enjoyed the descriptions of Bermuda. I gave this book 4 stars.
I am new to Wendy Francis. So when I picked up this book I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I fall into this book, connect with the characters, love the setting or would I struggle to enjoy the storyline? I definitely connected with the characters, loved the setting of the Bermuda cruise, and could not stop turning reading.
The college roommates who became forever sisters after they graduated are wonderful. They have each moved on with their lives, looking for love, having children, but have never lost touch. With this cruise, we learn about the good and the bad in their lives. The more I read about them the more I connected with them. They had real-life problems, real-life successes, and real-life reactions to what was happening around them. Single mom Lee was my favorite only because I could relate to her struggles with her daughter. Lacey, the daughter, goes away to college and comes home more independent, more in love with her boyfriend who the mom doesn’t really know, and more argumentative with her mother. I could feel the struggle between them but more than that I could feel their want to be friends and reconnect within these new rules of their life.
The ending threw me for a loop. I wanted it to all come together tied up pretty but it didn’t seem to do that. The story just ended. There was more to tell, more to share, and I wanted it. While there wasn’t necessarily a cliffhanger, it just didn’t come together as nicely as I would have liked. Maybe there is more to come from these characters, maybe it is up to the reader’s imagination to figure out what happens next… I am just not sure.
“The Summer Sail” by Wendy Francis is a women’s fiction novel that follows a trio of college roommates who have reunited for a cruise. Ostensibly, Abby has invited her best friends to help her and her family celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary, but each of the women has an additional goal for the trip. Amid the luxury and pampering of a trip to a beautiful Bermuda beach, real-life drama plays out as each reflects upon her life choices and her future.
This is a delicious summertime novel, perfect for relaxing at the beach with a cold libation. I enjoyed the author’s deft evocation of that lasting bond that forms during the halcyon days of college, when one has big dreams and the future is an open book. The three paths taken are contrasted as each woman deals with a crisis in her life that comes to a head on the cruise, juxtaposed with the hedonistic vacation they are enjoying.
Each of the friends’ point of view is provided so that we are able to understand some of what they are grappling with, but this book only provides a keyhole into their lives. We also get a brief look into daughter Lacey’s mindset, contrasting her college experience with that of her mom. I was a little surprised at Abby’s naivete with respect to her sons and I didn’t establish a deep connection with any of the characters but I enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of all of these folks. I am almost tempted to try a cruise but still fear that dreaded seasickness, not to mention being in forced proximity to so many folks! I’m a little disappointed that not all of the strings are tied off by the end of the story but I guess that reflects reality. I think the author has an engaging voice and that fans of women’s fiction will enjoy reading about these three friends.
A copy of this title was provided to me for review