Island Girls is a lovely, relaxing summer read, not too taxing on the brain or emotions, but with just enough intrigue and romance to keep the reader interested. The premise is simple: three sisters, all from different mothers and one adopted, have to spend the summer together in the family summer home on Nantucket in order to inherit the house from their recently deceased father, Rory Randall, a notorious ladies' man. Arden, Meg, and Jenny are as different as sisters could be. Arden, the daughter of Rory's first wife, Nina, is a sleek, sophisticated TV host in Boston. Dowdy Meg, with a Marilyn Monroe figure and in denial about her feelings for her younger colleague, Liam, is a professor of English literature at a community college and the daughter of Rory's second wife, Cindy. Jenny is the daughter of Justine, Rory's widow, and was adopted by Rory as a young girl. She is now living at the beach house and working as a web designer and IT specialist.
I wouldn't call Island Girls great literature. The outcome is predictable and problems are resolved a little too easily for real life, but do we really want real life when we open a book on a lazy summer day? Thayer does a superb job, as always, of communicating the feel and ambiance of Nantucket's summer community, history, and beautiful beaches. Her characters are likable enough that you care what happens to them and the family dynamics add a touch of excitement. If you want a gentle, restful read that still engages your interest, this might be the beach read you've been looking for!
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