The Summer Guests, Mary Alice Monroe
The Summer Guests, Mary Alice Monroe
8 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

The Summer Guests

Bestseller

Author: Mary Alice Monroe

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Unabridged: 11 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/11/2019


Synopsis

This “authentic, generous, and heartfelt” (Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author) novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Beach House series explores how new beginnings can be born from disasters and how, even during the worst of circumstances—or perhaps because of them—we discover what is most important in life.

Late August is a beautiful time on the Southern coast—the peach trees are ripe, the ocean is warm, and the sweet tea is icy. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the rocking chairs on the porch. But beneath the calm surface bubbles a threat: it’s also peak hurricane season.

When a hurricane threatens the coasts of Florida and South Carolina, an eclectic group of evacuees flees for the farm of their friends Grace and Charles Phillips in North Carolina: the Phillips’s daughter Moira and her rescue dogs, famed equestrian Javier Angel de la Cruz, makeup artist Hannah McLain, horse breeder Gerda Klug and her daughter Elise, and island resident Cara Rutledge. Strangers to all but the Phillips, they must ride out the storm together.

During the course of one of the most challenging weeks of their lives, relationships are put to the test as the evacuees are forced to confront the unresolved issues they have with themselves and with each other. But as the storm passes, they realize that what really matters isn’t what they brought with them to the mountains. Rather, it’s what they’ll take with them once they leave.

“The Summer Guests in an intimate and wise novel about what matters most in our lives. Mary Alice Monroe writes with great wit and wisdom about what happens when both human nature and the natural world collide” (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author).

About Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including the bestselling The Beach House series. Monroe also writes children’s picture books, and a middle grade fiction series called The Islanders. She is a member of the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame, and her books have received numerous awards, including the South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award; and her novel, A Lowcountry Christmas, won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction. The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie MacDowell. Several of her novels have been optioned for film. She is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. Monroe is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards. She lives on the South Carolina coast, which is a source of inspiration for many of her books. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Diana on June 17, 2019

3.5 Stars → THE SUMMER GUESTS is the first book I've read by Mary Alice Monroe. I know she's well known for her Beach House series, but I wanted to jump in with a summery standalone novel. As a Category 5 hurricane is barreling toward the coast of Florida and South Carolina, a mix of different people......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on May 04, 2019

Mary Alice Monroe effortlessly blends characters and nature, and captures the complexities of interpersonal relationships. SUMMARY A hurricane is threatening the coasts of Florida and South Carolina and evacuations are mandatory. An eclectic group of evacuees flee for the mountains of North Carolina......more

Goodreads review by Tammy on June 21, 2019

I loved The Beach House series and this is another great story from Mary Alice Monroe where she’s also included Cara (from that series) and her new beau in its storyline. Racing against time to rush from hurricane Noelle brings people together at the Freehold Farm in NC. Old and new friendships, hor......more

Goodreads review by Carrie on June 15, 2019

Being from Indiana we are right in the middle of tornado country where you basically just cross your fingers or pray tornadoes don’t pop up or if they do they don’t do too much damage. Hurricanes aren’t something that happens where I am however I have had a couple of close vacation calls with Sandy......more

Goodreads review by Katy O. on July 18, 2019

Sigh. As far as craft goes, this was a MESS but I was still entertained enough to read it in a day 🤷🏼‍♀️......more


Quotes

"Narrator Cassandra Campbell provides listeners with a full range of accents, emotions, and inflections for characters who span the globe in this audiobook about horses, family, and friendship. In North Carolina in 2018 during a hurricane, guests and their horses converge in the hills to escape the storm. While there, emotions run high, secrets are revealed, and lives are altered in unexpected and unplanned ways. Campbell captures the atmosphere with her nuanced voice. Whether a character is from Germany, South America, or North Carolina, Campbell's accents let the listener know who is talking at any given time. The story is rich with information about horses, competition, and unspoken expectations. Campbell's deft narration is an enjoyable listen."