Summer Wives

★★★☆ (3.5/5)

The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams is a novel that takes place on Winthrop Island (inspired by Fishers Island) off the coast of Long Island. Wealthy families summer there and the year-long population is made up of Portuguese locals who fish and run the Island businesses. There is a distinct class disparity, but at the surface the Island runs in perfect harmony until a fatal accident leaves a dark mark on the Island atmosphere for years.





 Synopsis:
The story is told from the perspective of two women over the course of multiple decades, but all during the summer (June-August).  I loved how the generations were linked and came together; Williams was good at building the intrigue with each chapter/person so that you were eager to come back to each one.

Miranda Thomas (1969):
Miranda Thomas is a famous actress who comes "home" to Winthrop Island to escape from a poisonous marriage after a bad car accident. Her return shakes feathers and opens some old wounds on the Island; and "so happens" to coincide with the escape of a fugitive who is accused of murdering her step-father. While the Island may seem the same once she arrives, it's obvious that there are a lot of changes that have shaped Grayfriars (her family's property) since she left.

Miranda Schuyler (1951):
Miranda Schuyler moves to Winthrop Island for the summer after she graduates high school, due to to her mother's marriage to a wealthy bachelor, Hugh Fisher. It's here that she meets Isobel (her step sister) and Joseph Vargas, and it is an introduction to a new life. The summer consists of lots of drinking, meals at the country club, and time spent near the water. Isobel, who is privileged and reckless, teaches her about growing up and Jospeh teaches her about love.

Bianca Medeiro (1930):
Bianca is a local Islander who is orphaned at a young age. Now, she lives with her Aunt & Uncle, and at age seventeen is madly in love with a young and hot Hugh Fisher. Their summer "romance" (if you can call it that) secretly blossoms over the course of a few months, and shapes both of their lives forever.

Thoughts:
I read this book over Labor Day weekend and it was a perfect beach read. I felt that the mixed perspectives and mystery element were really strong (it's a little much at first, but the conclusion doesn't disappoint). I come from a beach town (where I was when reading this!) and have a very mixed perspective on this; I'd technically qualify as being one of the "Families" but have considered that town my full time home for my whole life. I know plenty of wealthy families that "summer" in our town, but also know and have worked with the local population and feel more connected to them than anyone else. However, at summer parties wherever both groups were involved it was obvious that I was never a true "local", which relates to Miranda's perspective. I also can relate to Miranda coming back after years, and feeling like people know you and know all about your life and make their own judgements before actually talking to you - as they say "everyone dies famous in a small town" - and even though I'm not necessarily a "local", I definitely still qualify. So long story short: I loved this book; it's not necessarily Shakespeare (even though they quote him quite a lot), but it's entertaining and exactly what I was looking for on a sunny beach weekend.