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Literary Friday: The Guest Cottage

Friday, September 11, 2015



Happy Literary Friday!

It has been a great short week.  We stayed at the lake through Tuesday and went on a field trip to an art exposure class at Auburn University Tuesday afternoon.

Isn't the cover shown above pretty?  I saw this book at the library last week, and the cover caught my attention (I admit that I'm a sucker for a pretty book cover).  The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer was the perfect read for Labor Day Weekend: the perfect ending to the unofficial close of summer.

Sophie Anderson is a thirty-six year old soon to be single mom.  She has a fifteen year old son named Jonah and a ten year old daughter named Lacey.  When her husband confronts her and asks for a divorce, she's blindsided although no one else seems surprised.  Not one hundred percent happy in her marriage with her architect husband Zack, she has felt fulfilled if not content.  With summer quickly approaching, Sophie decides to rent her friend Susie Swenson's Nantucket guest cottage for the months of July and August.  She wants to spare her children from her husband's moving in with his partner and mistress.

Thirty year old Trevor Black, a software entrepreneur, widower, and father to preschooler Leo, is desperate.  Leo is showing signs of obsessive compulsive disorder, and both he and Trevor are not coping very well with Trevor's wife Tallulah's tragic heroine overdose.  A flighty actress, Tallulah never adjusted well to motherhood, yet both Trevor and Leo have mourned her death since the previous November.  When Trevor's friend Ivan Swenson offers him a steal of a deal on his family's rambling guest cottage on Nantucket Island (Ivan needs fast funding for a trip to India), Trevor jumps at the chance for a change of scenery for himself and his grieving son.

Unfortunately, Susie and her cousin Ivan don't communicate very well.  The cottage has been double-booked!

Sophie and Trevor decide to share the home (and chores) as it's large enough for both families.  They become attracted to each other in spite of distractions from visiting friends, family, and Nantucket acquaintances. They reluctantly fall in love, and as the end of August approaches, Sophie and Trevor must decide if there's a next step once the families ferry back to Boston.

I loved this book!  Each character is well drawn.  I like Trevor's confidence and vulnerability, but I don't think he's as well-defined as Sophie.   Sophie truly blossoms and starts enjoying music again after many years of not playing the piano.  The reader is given insight to her past which explains her actions in certain situations.  Plus the setting is dreamy: I would love to travel to Nantucket and visit the places mentioned in the book.  I wonder if some or most are fictitious.  I'd love the opportunity to visit the island and find out for myself!

Why I'm giving the book four out of five stars:  It bothers me that there are a couple of editing mistakes.  For example, Sophie arrived in Nantucket in an SUV, yet later everyone piles into her minivan.  Another thing that bothered me is Sophie's making such a big deal about the six year age difference between herself and Trevor.

Have you read any of Nancy Thayer's books? This is the first one of her books I've read, and I'd like to know which ones I should read next.

Don't forget that this is a link party!








Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill



11 comments

  1. I will look or this one. I know what you mean about those editing mistakes. I often see this on TV or in the movies, too. They are supposed to be paying attention!

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  2. Hi Ricki Jill,
    Happy Friday. I think I might give this one a read. Looks and sounds like a good end of summer read.
    Thanks for the book review.
    Kris

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  3. Hi RJ, this looks like a good read. So many good books and so little time. I haven't read this author so just might have to check it out the next time I'm at the library. I like good covers too :)

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  4. I recognize the name and remember an "easy beach read" set in Nantucket. I also remember being drawn to it by the cover.

    I hate when there are discrepancies in a story!

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  5. You find so books that look good. You inspire me!

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  6. Sounds like the perfect book to tuck into the weekend bag and head to the beach. Love going in October. Happy weekend RJ.............

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  7. Thank you, sounds like a good one. :-) Carla

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  8. I'm always looking for a good book. I'll have to put this one on my list!

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  9. Thanks for this!I can't wait to find it for myself...

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  10. Thanks for a good recommendation. And I am glad I found you also.

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  11. This does sound good. I can't believe how much your read! I'm amazed. I just went back and read your posts that I missed. LOVED the one on your home and what you want the girls to remember. :) It touched me.... I wonder what my daughter would say she remembered of our home.
    ~Liz

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Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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