Review: The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore
Earlier this year I read The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore at the recommendation of one of my favorite authors. I feel like if I type “Elin Hilderbrand” one more time on here I’m going to be flagged as a stalked. But, Elin recommended it so I added it to my list. I read it on eBook so it was a little hard to get through, but I did really enjoy it. I love when authors recommend who they love, especially if they have a similar style. That’s how it went with The Islanders as well! Elin said that if you enjoyed her books, The Islanders would be a great fit for you as well.
The Islanders is also by Meg Mitchell Moore and takes place on Block Island, Rhode Island. If you’ve never visited, I highly recommend adding it to your travel list, especially if you live on the East Coast. It’s a delightful island! We have vacationed in Rhode Island the last two summers and have taken the ferry over to Block Island. It’s a great spot!
From the publisher: “Over the twelve short weeks of summer, three strangers will meet and grow close, will share secrets and bury lies. And as the promise of June turns into the chilly nights of August, the truth will come out, forcing each of them to decide what they value most, and what they are willing to give up to keep it.”
The three strangers include Anthony Puckett, the son of a famed novelist and one himself, Joy Sousa, an islander and owner of her own whoopie pie bakery, and Lu Trusdale, a wife to a doctor and mother searching for purpose outside the home.
I really enjoyed this book. After Us Against You, it was exactly what I needed and I flew through it 24 hours. It was delightful with a lot of substance and fun characters. I will say I wish it had been a little more fleshed out. A lot happened behind the scenes, like we’d get to a confrontation and instead of reading it, the chapter would end and it would then be wrapped up in a few sentences. My actor brain LOVES details and loves dialogue between characters. But I do think it’s an interesting tactic and allows a sense of mystery to take over.
*minor spoiler in the paragraph below*
My biggest regret is that we are told from the first page that there is a massive storm on the Island in August. Personally, I love a good storm drama. I think it’s my sailing background or something but I think it’s such an interesting topic to see characters endure difficult weather. But we don’t really get to experience the storm with them, just the days after.
Overall, I think this is an awesome summer read if you are a fan on of Elin Hilderbrand! And well, we all know I am. Plus, Mitchell has an amazing way of writing about food and this book includes recipes! It was so fun to turn to the back of the book and see the recipe for Joy’s famous whoopie pies.
I highly recommend adding this book to your next vacation reading pile or for any pool, beach, or lake day!
Photo sourced from Google Images. I do not claim to own it.