The Summer We Started Over

I spent nine hours and forty-four minutes with this audiobook, and by the end, I wanted to move to Nantucket—preferably into one of those cozy cottages where the sisters reunite. Tavia Gilbert’s narration is the secret sauce here. She doesn’t just read the words; she inhabits them, giving each character a distinct cadence that makes the cast feel like real, flawed people. Clover’s slow unraveling from a life she thought she wanted is heartbreaking, while Ginny’s impulsive energy keeps the story from sinking into melancholy. Gilbert’s performance makes it impossible to tune out, even during the slower patches where Thayer lingers on the island’s beauty. That said, the book isn’t without its stumbles. A few side characters feel underdeveloped—like the ex-boyfriend who appears out of nowhere with zero emotional buildup—and the resolution wraps up a tad too neatly, as if Thayer was eager to tie everything in a bow. But those quibbles fade next to the novel’s strengths: the way it balances humor with heartbreak, the tactile descriptions of Nantucket’s landscape, and the unshakable sense that these sisters are worth rooting for. If you’re craving a summer read that feels like a hug, this is it—just don’t be surprised if you start daydreaming about trading your commute for a cottage by the sea.