Rating: 
Summary: A Little Disappointed
Review: Hannah's descriptions of the Pacific Northwest were wonderful prose, almost amounting to poetry. But the characters and the story itself were fairy-talesque: two dimensional, not very substantial and way too rich, thin and beautiful to believe. By all means, pick up Summer Island if you are looking for a light read that can carry you off to a beautiful part of the world. But if you are looking for something that really addresses the issues of broken families, tragic death, coming of age or even the real issues between mothers and daughters, look somewhere else.
Rating:
Summary: Not as expected
Review: This book was a nice read to pass the time, but deep enough for my tastes. The plot was predictable, as was the ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Mother-Daughter Read
Review: I must admit that I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book when I first started reading it. The main character is Nora Bridge, a host for an advice radio talk show, living in Seattle. It sounded too much like a cross between Frasier and Dr. Laura. But, I gave it a chance and was pleasantly surprised. The story of a mother and her estranged daughters unfold to display a tale of love, heartbreak, and finding each other again. It's probably a bit predictable, but heartwarming and an easy read. I enjoyed the way the story played out...even with the tradgedies that do occur. I would recommend this book to any mother and daughter.
Rating:
Summary: A real tearjerker.
Review: Beautifully written, poignant and sweet, Kristin Hannah will take you away to a place that lives within each of us. You have been there before. Summer Island is a place of childhood dreams, of friendship that is true and genuine, of the only real love there is. Meet Nora Bridge, famous advice columnist and radio talk show therapits for tortured souls. The one problem Nora does NOT have the answer to is her own. While successfully helping thousands of people across the country, Nora must live with the knowledge that she was unable to hold her own family together, and indeed, once committed an act so unforgivable to her own two daughters that one of them, Ruby, has not spoken to her in years, and the other daughter is barely civil. Ruby is a tragic character, seeking love and acceptance through fame, living always under the dark shadow of her mother's sins. For Caroline and Ruby, sisters sharing Nora's painful legacy, they must face a childhood ruined, friendships destroyed, and a life spent trying to forget the pain their mother inflicted on them. A fabulous young man named Eric nearly steals this story, for it is through him and his brother that the story comes alive. You will enjoy this book, and it is perfect summer reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Five Stars, Four Hankies
Review: What appears from the cover to be an easy beach read, this very elegant and well crafted tale turns into something far, far more important. Not just a tale of a mother-daughter struggle, but a realistic, almost voyeuristic view into the real world of families and friends and living our lives. A spiritual odyssey, full of important truths that will make the reader reassess their lives, leave them gasping and - yes, shedding a tear or too. Lives out of control, bad things happening left and right, and still a spirit of hope, of reaching out. The author exhibits a maturity that doesn't match her photograph, and presents us with a well developed tale with believable, very human, characters in an exquisite setting.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful story!!!!
Review: I took "Summer Island" along to the beach with me and finished by the pool. What a wonderful story!!!!! Although I do agree that the Dean and Ruby story was not fully developed..I did enjoy the renewal of the Nora/Ruby relationship. I loved how Nora doted on Eric...especially since his owm mother abandoned him at such an early age. I love Kristin Hannah's books and intend to read them all.
Rating:
Summary: Summer Island
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. It feels like Kristin Hannah is writing right to you in all of her books.
Rating: 
Summary: Summer Island
Review: Advice columnist turned writer Nora Bridges leaves her husband and two daughters suddenly, leaving the daughters emotionally bereft and vastly unsettled. Their life following is tragically affected by this departure, and they spend the remainder of their adolescent-to-adult lives trying to make sense of the departure. Ruby, the most distraught of the two, tries to recede into the underground of stand up comedy, but has little success. She is obsessed with trying to understand why her newly-famous mother (now seen as a moral authority) would have done this awful abandonment.The mother, after a long-ago lover releases some nude photos of her to the press, sees her new life crumbling, and in an escape mode, turns to drink, heads to the car, and winds up with a broken leg, in need of help to recuperate. Ruby, the 'lost' daughter, decides to 'help' her Mother by joining her in the Summer Cottage where they had spent many good times as a family before the Mother left.....while she is writing an expose on the Mother for a $50K fee. Mother and Duaghter explore their past, the Father enters the picture and sheds light on the reason for the Mother's departure and many late night discussion help them see each others' perspective. Meanwhile, a secondary plot with two brothers unfolds - one of whom was Ruby's first love, tho other of whom is dying of cancer. Sound complicated? It really isn't, but there are too many story lines to allow the full development of any of the characters. Things happen without explanation (especially disconcerting is a love scene that seems dropped in to the book just to have one there.) Although you begin to understand Ruby and Nora, that understanding is more based on ones' own background and sympathies than on those developed by the author. This is not a bad read, but I found myself frustrated that the author seemed to be racing to complete the book. The writing is just 'choppy'....if you can get beyond that, the story is entertaining and fine for a sunny day on the deck.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: I loved it. Great story, great characters, great ending!
Rating:
Summary: Loved this book!
Review: Kristin Hanna has written a very touching,thought provoking book about family dynamics and torn relationships. The notoriety that forces Nora into hiding after an accident brings her estranged daughter, Ruby, to her side to care for her. What started out as animosity slowly evolves into the love that had been lost for years as Ruby learns the truth about her mother. Her sister,Caroline,her childhood love, and his dying brother all contribute to this marvelous story of growth and the renewal of lost love. It is a wonderful book that will touch your heart
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