Susan Weissman

I loved this suspenseful novel of family secrets and drama.  It reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but with a southern gothic twist!  The narrators did a great job with the audio version, and added an extra layer of complexity to the characters. Excellent!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One Summer in Savannah is a beautiful novel. I wasn't crazy about the premise, selecting it based solely on its setting in a Savannah bookshop. But the writing kept pulling me in. The poetry was a nice surprise, and I think there was just a little bit of magic that pulled the strings together. I didn't want it to end, and am still thinking about the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this novel.

I really enjoyed  this novel set in 1920s New York. At the heart of the story is Zia, a young Italian-American widow who becomes tangentially involved with organized crime as she tries to investigate and avenge a family tragedy. Although people are murdered, this is not really a mystery novel. And although there are criminals, most of them are not portrayed as entirely evil. However, there is a manic uncertainty throughout the story. Characters seem to act irrationally and impulsively, without clear motive — whether it be drug use, or hidden loyalties, or family connections. The conclusion was satisfying but abrupt. I would love to see a series devoted to Zia and the rest of her life story, rather than have it quickly recounted in the last chapter.

All in all a satisfying story with interesting characters. I just wish it continued!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy to read and review.

Rather than the biography of a person, a saga spanning generations of a family, or the story or of the rise of city, this novel recounts the life of a restaurant, the Lakeside Supper Club, in a small vacation town in Minnesota. Although two families are intertwined with the life of the restaurant, the Supper Club itself is the one constant at the heart of the novel, and we learn of the human characters through their interactions and relationship with the restaurant.

I “read” the audiobook version of this novel. Although the shifts in time and perspective were sometimes challenging to follow, especially in the audiobook, the narrator, Aspen Vincent, did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and keeping them straight in my mind.

With a few exceptions, women played the major role in the novel and in the life of the restaurant. Each one had a distinct vision for the restaurant, and each achieved their personal destiny either through or as the result of their relationship with the Supper Club. I enjoyed seeing the threads unravel and then come back together at the end. A wonderful, emotional read!