Summer Island

From the beloved author of On Mystic Lake comes Summer Island, a heartfelt and luminous novel that dives deep into the complicated bond between a mother and daughter. Nora Bridge walked away from her marriage years ago, leaving her daughters behind to build a life as a celebrated radio host and columnist known for her moral wisdom. Meanwhile, her youngest daughter, Ruby, struggles as a comedienne, channeling her bitterness toward her famous mother into sharp, cynical humor.

When a long-buried scandal about Nora resurfaces in the tabloids, their already fragile relationship is thrown into turmoil. After Nora suffers an accident, Ruby is unexpectedly offered a fortune by a glossy magazine to write a tell-all about her mother. With mixed feelings and under false pretenses, Ruby returns home to care for the woman she hasn’t spoken to in nearly a decade.

Nora insists they retreat to Summer Island, the idyllic place where Ruby grew up—filled with memories of love, laughter, and belonging. There, Ruby reconnects with her first love and his brother, the trio once inseparable until the summer Nora left and shattered their hearts. What starts as a mission to expose secrets transforms into a tender exploration of family, forgiveness, and understanding.

Ruby soon discovers that Nora is far more complex than the woman she resented. Witty, wise, and vulnerable, Nora longs to heal their fractured relationship. As the magazine deadline looms, Ruby faces a painful choice—betray her mother or embrace the chance to see her, and herself, through a new lens. Summer Island is a beautiful story about love, growth, and the power of forgiveness. It’s funny, tender, and ultimately triumphant—a novel that stays with you long after the last page.