"Fine chick lit"
Gincy Gannon, Danielle Leers and Clare Wellman share
little in common except knowing that their next birthdays
mean they turn into thirty year old geezers. Each decides
to spend their last youthful summer in the Cape rather
than become ancient spinsters in overheated Boston. They
turn up late at a room matching session at Oak Bluffs so
the threesome by default become summer roommates though
they never met before. Gincy comes from a small New Hampshire town that she left
without a look back. Currently she works as a senior
editor with Boston PBS. A loner, she has doubts about
roommates. Danielle comes from a wealthy Manhattan family. She knows
she is pretty, intelligent and deserves the happiness and
love of an upper crust husband that she plans to catch
this summer. Clare is engaged to attorney Winchester Carrington III
after a decade together. She has major doubts about
becoming Mrs. the third. This summer solace she seeks to
find the "vanished" Clare. Roommates do not necessarily mean friendship. However, a
support group bond forms as each of these turning
geriatric women search for their inner essence while
hoping to find love in the dunes. Chick lit fans will take pleasure in THE SUMMER OF US due
to the strong characterizations. The three lead
protagonists, who rotate first person narration, learn
over the most wonderful summer of their lives that they
have much in common. Each of these slightly flawed but
feisty protagonists seeks fulfillment, love and happiness,
which leads to a camaraderie. Holly Chamberlin's
delightful buddy tale contains depth much deeper than the
surface sunburn that the sub-genre often furbishes to
readers. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 11, 2004
SummaryGincy Gannon isn't exactly an easy fit with the upper crust
Vineyard scene. Raised poor and precocious in
Nowheresville, New Hampshire, she escaped to Boston after
high school. Now a career at PBS fills her days, while her
freewheeling sex life keeps her otherwise stimulated.
Commitment is definitely not her thing. So why, when
Gincy's supposed to be reeling in lifeguards, is she
getting hooked on a single dad?
Life is good for Danielle Leers. She's got a close-knit
family, a killer wardrobe, and a job that keeps her in
manicures and massages. As far as Danielle's concerned,
pampering is a right, not a privilege. Besides, now that
she's set her sights on settling down, her good grooming
will attract great husband material. Which should mean a
well-heeled Jewish professional. Not a townie who fishes
for a living . . .
Blueblood Clare Wellman doesn't worry about keeping up
appearances -- her boyfriend, Winchester Carrington, III,
is in charge of that. Actually, he's in charge of pretty
much everything . . . and never lets Clare forget it. Some
time on her own is just what Clare needs to get to know
herself again. Then Win proposes. An engagement ring
shouldn't feel like an albatross -- and this summer may be
Clare's last chance to see what could be -- before what is
ties her down for good . . .
Three city-smart girlfriends are about to take the plunge
into love, lust, and letting it all hang out, Vineyard-
style. It will be a summer of change -- but long after the
tan lines have faded, they'll still have each other.
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