The Academy

This book was a bunch of hot gossip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Academy is about an elite college prep/ boarding school on the east coast. Set over the course of a year, The Academy follows teachers, the dean, the students, the staff, and all the drama. Even though teens are featured heavily, a lot of the focus is on the staff. Illicit trysts, gambling, drinking, envy, and more. There isn't a huge over arching storyline per se, but I found myself eating it all up. It ended with some unanswered questions and to my delight I saw that there is a sequel releasing later this year! This book is perfect for those that like books with a wide cast of characters, witty dialogue, and lots of drama. So fun! 

The Island

This was one of the last books my mom got me before she passed and I wanted to like it more. I didn't hate it - it was a  compelling story and had a good plot - I just didn't love any of the characters. The Island centers on four women staying a month on a remote island while they all grapple with issues in their lives. Chess has just called off her marriage, quit her job, and is about to receive the biggest blow of her life. Her sister, Tate, has been coasting through life making big bucks as a computer programmer but doesn't have any friendships or relationships to speak of. Their mother, Birdie, has finally met a man after she separated from her husband but she's putting that on hold to spend some time with her daughters. Birdie's sister, India, is escaping a scandal at the art school she's working at. While on the island the only contact with the outside world is Barrett the hot young caretaker who comes once a day to bring groceries and keep the isolated house in working order. While they lick their wounds, they need to us the month to communicate with each other and maybe solve some of their issues. It weaved together well, I just wished I liked or related to the characters more. 

The Summer of '69

What a wonderful beach read. I breezed right through this and enjoyed every minute of it! The summer of 1969 on Nantucket won't be the same without Tiger, the beloved brother and son of the family. He's just been deployed to Vietnam and everyone knows nothing will ever be the same. This story is alternately told between his three sisters, and his mother; from dealing with first crushes, alcoholism, cheating husbands, and wild carefree parties; each woman is wrapped up in their own little world. Addictive and compulsively readable this story has it all; romance, adventure, intrigue, and hope. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book; this was my first Elin Hildenbrand but I will certainly read more!

The Identicals

This was a refreshingly light, easy beach read.I enjoyed it. It's not one that will stick with me forever, but it was easy to lose myself in the story and pass the time. The story follows two estranged middle aged twins. One of the twins lives on Martha's Vineyard and has bounced from job to job, a free spirited, drinking, husband stealing man. The other works for their mother in Nantucket, operating an upscale boutique and trying to reign in her rambunctious teenage daughter. The twins haven't spoken in nearly fourteen years but the untimely death of their father brings them together. They decide to "switch lives" for the summer, Harper helping out with the store and the rebellious teenager, while Tabitha goes to Martha's Vineyard to gut and re-sell their father's house. Little do they know how much their lives are about to change.