The Summer Getaway

Product Information

You have a great husband. Payne loves you and the kids, and never has eyes for another woman. Why would you screw that up?” Robyn, darling. You look amazing. What are you doing these days? You never join me for a foursome.” This book was loaded with fun surprises, a growing touching romance, and self-discovery that leaves the reader feeling fulfilled right along with the characters.

I had an interesting time with this story. The characters featured will make you either want to cheer them on, scream at them, shake some sense into them or feel indifferent towards them. I knew I would like Robyn from the moment of her introduction. She was such a personable character. No wonder everyone looked to her for solace, whenever situations in their lives goes sideways. Beginning of the story was ok but I found the characterization flat, superficial and boring. The story is told from multiple POVs, that makes things repetitive and predictible. I especially disliked Harlow's POVs. Was she real? Harlow's reaction to her parents when they didn't tell her she might die of cancer. When her mother wanted to sell their big house after Robyn was left to live there alone [house she never had wanted in the first place!]. Her father not giving her money to buy the business, discovering her father's affairs, etc. Harlow was an adult, her immaturity was excused with cancer...yeah. Then like a miracle, she's aware that she's behaving badly and she's changed person. Just like that. It felt like they all lived in the lala land. If author thought that this was character development, then sorry, but this didn't sound plausible.

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Robyn Caldwell is a divorced mother of two who’s soon reaching a crossroad. Her oldest, Harlow, is engaged, planning her wedding and turning into a bridezilla, blaming her mother for anything not going her way. Her son Austin is graduating from high school but doesn’t seem to have a plan. Her ex-husband Cord has entered into a disastrous new relationship he’s keeping secret from his children. With Austin turning eighteen, Robyn has to make a significant financial decision about their beautiful but costly Naples, Florida home in accordance with her divorce settlement. When her great aunt Lillian Holton calls and invites her to consider a summer stay at her Santa Barbara estate, Robyn flees to California for a respite. Little did she know how vital she was to the people in her circle who would soon follow her, bringing their baggage with them. Standalone Women's Fiction One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery. The story is fairly simple. Robin is the divorced mother of two. Her son is an 18 year old who doesn't want to go to college. Her daughter is engaged to be married and is planning her wedding. Her ex husband owns a lucrative charter boat business and is a habitual and long term womanizer. This was a delightfully amusing and engaging read that kept me smirking and pleasantly entertained throughout perusal. I enjoyed all the various storylines, all of which were advancing at a steady pace.

Robyn Caldwell, single mum to two now adults, decides she needs to make a plan for her life. She has mere months to either buy out her ex-husbands half of the house, or sell up. Her daughter desperately wants her to keep the house, as a selfish bride-to-be wanting her wedding there, while her son is off doing his own thing. When her aunt Lillian asks her to come and visit for a while, Robyn decides it’s the perfect time to go and spend some time thinking. One by one, every person she knows follows her to Santa Barbara, ending up with a house full of drama, oh and the handsome stranger due to inherit the house. A very valid question, Robyn thought. “How can you be insightful? That’s your third glass of champagne.”It has been a long time since I read a book by this author, although my Kindle is loaded down with her books. I do not recall her stories being this sexually explicit, but this one had a few sexy time scenes in it I wasn’t prepared for… but one can always skim past those passages, I suppose. Why did anyone think she was the least bit interested in who her ex-husband went out with? “I have no idea who that is.” The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery is a women’s fiction title that has some romance with a whole lot of family drama. The story in The Summer Getaway is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters giving all sides to the story.

Madison offered a self-satisfied smile. “I wondered why you were so calm. I’m sorry to be the one to bring you such bad news.” I was more analyzing, than enjoying the plot and characters. Perhaps author think that if she has a different narrator for every chapter, the reader might not notice how thin and unrealistic the plot is! I noticed. I disliked it....If you like family drama, this is the book for you! It would definitely make a great beach read. There's no end to the drama in this book: cheating, lies, divorce, grieving, steamy romance, entitlement, difficult decisions, you name it - it's all here. When Robyn realizes that her relationship has hit the wall, she decides to take a break. She travels to spend the summer with her great aunt Lillian, the one person who always gave her comfort. Facing an empty nest as her daughter is soon to be married and her son wants to move out on a trial basis, there is no time at the present for Robyn to take time away. Robyn is divorced, living in Naples, Florida, and will need to sell her home in just a few months as part of the divorce settlement. Her daughter has turned into bridezilla and is demanding to be married at the home - which just isn't going to work. Her son is eighteen and won't even discuss college. Her ex-husband is involved with a woman he shouldn't be involved with. Her best friend is talking about cheating on her husband with a tennis pro. Her boyfriend is not the man she thought he was. It's all too much. Robyn flees to California to stay with her great-aunt Lillian in a beautiful home on the coast in Santa Barbara. Robyn needs to come to grips with her life, her finances, her kids, and find the direction she wants her life to go.

Mindy, a petite brunette who was six months from turning forty, sighed. “I need a Dimitri in my life.” Robyn is striving to find her path in life, and taking a chance on herself just might be too big a risk. Lillian is incredibly wise and the time that Robyn spends with her will no doubt change her life. However, what about the fact that her family is showing up, one by one? Has Robyn actually gotten away or has everything she escaped followed her to the degree that she might never find her footing? Thanks. The last time Harlow mentioned the wedding, she said something about wanting to dye the pool to match the bridesmaids’ dresses.” Maybe just some kissing,” Mindy mused. “I want a little Dimitri action. The fantasies make me happy, so imagine what the real thing would do.”Madison shook her head in faux sympathy. “You have no idea what I’m talking about. Oh, no. I shouldn’t have said a word.” The story delivered some interesting and dramatic moments, most of which were centered around Robyn's philandering ex-husband , Cord and her entitled daughter, Harlowe. The depth of character development in The Summer Getaway was precisely what I expected from Mallery. The characters grew and learn from their mistakes. Even the obnoxious ones. I believe Robyn's friend got off too easy for her stupidity. After all the warnings Robyn gave her she went and did the unthinkable and then she came running to Robyn looking for solace. It shows Robyn's kindheartedness.