Customer Reviews

Summer by the Sea

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

SUMMER BY THE SEA by Susan Wiggs

If you are looking for a beach read romance, SUMMER BY THE SEA by Susan Wiggs is not a bad place to start. It's a light summer romance about two lovers, Rosa Capoletti and Alex Montgomery, who are from two different worlds. Her father is a gardener, and Alex's family is wealthy enough to have a summer home in Winslow, where Rosa grows up. It is during the summer months that Alex and Rosa spend time together and eventually fall in love. But due to reasons unknown to Rosa, Alex one summer leaves Winslow, never to return. No phone calls, and no letters. It is as if their relationship, their friendship, never happened.

Rosa is now a successful restaurant owner, burying herself in her work, and Alex lives in the big city, working for his father's firm. When Rosa finds out that Alex has come back to Winslow, after being gone for twelve years, she is filled with conflicting thoughts. She realizes she has never gotten over him, and she also knows that in order to move on, she needs to confront her feelings. Whether she is successful or not is up to the reader to find out.

In the midst of this romance, Susan Wiggs has placed delicious Italian recipes that will have your mouth watering. It also helps lend a summertime atmosphere to the book, enhancing the feel of this romance.

I enjoyed SUMMER BY THE SEA and it's made me a new fan of Susan Wiggs. This was a delightful romance, very enjoyable and fun to read, and I recommend to other romance readers. It's a great escape and probably best read during the summer months. If anything, the recipes will make this book a keeper!

This was a really sweet, romantic book, with wonderful characters and a great background. I especially enjoyed all the Italian recipes and slices of life. Since I'm half Italian myself, I relived some of my childhood memories when reading about the Capoletti family and their traditions. Susan Wiggs has really hit her stride as an author; a new Wiggs book is a treat to look forward to. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all lovers of and believers in romance.

I love books set in Italian restaurants, and that it included such delicious-sounding recipes is a nice bonus! I will be jotting down a few to add to my recipe box, and to compete with my own Italian-family recipes!

This was an engaging sweet story that warms the heart and makes the reader believe in the soulmate, meant-to-be, kind of love.

Alex and Rosa are both top-notch sort of people, sweet, good-natured, kind-hearted towards others, sense of family-responsibility, hard-working and ambitious. I admired them, and would like to live in their community where I would be honored to count them amongst my friends and neighbors. Childhood sweethearts who initially came together in a compassionate friendship, they were torn apart by family objections, social class differences and gross misunderstandings. The tender and loving way they come back together leads them on a journey of self-discovery and a new understanding about life and love.

SUMMER BY THE SEA is a delightful summertime story of star-crossed lovers, Rosa Capoletti and Alex Montgomery. Their story begins with Alex having just returned to his beloved summer home, and Rosa, who is determined to forget the love of her life, finds herself still attracted to her childhood flame.

In chapter one, Rosa, who is working in her own restaurant "Celesta's by the Sea," is watching as her best friend Linda is being proposed to by her soon-to-be fiancé, Jason. Rosa is filled with happiness for her friend, but also feels a bittersweet ache inside. She soon finds herself arguing with her employees, who also happen to be some of her closest friends, about her own love life. They are worried about her --- that her relationships are going nowhere and that all she does is focus on the restaurant. Rosa, however, sees nothing wrong with her life. She's at a good place financially and owns her own restaurant that has garnered rave reviews from the New York Times. Celesta's is her dream come true, and a tribute to the mother who lost her life at such a young age.

While Rosa is contemplating the status of her love life, into the restaurant walks a customer who she recognizes immediately, and she's not very happy to see him. It is Alex Montgomery, who had spent his summers in Winslow along with his mother and their servants. Alex was once the love of her life, a childhood sweetheart and best friend. But somewhere along the way their romance turned sour, and for reasons still unknown to her, Alex left town without a word. Since that last summer together with him, she had decided to forget him and move on with her life. She felt that their love was never meant to be, because their social backgrounds were so different. Her father worked as the Montgomerys' gardener, while Alex and his family were from "old money." The two families would never fit in each other's lives.

Alex, however, is now determined to make amends for the past mistakes he has made, and tries his best to get Rosa's attention. But Rosa doesn't want anything to do with him. He had hurt her deeply at a time when she needed him more than ever. It had been twelve years since he left her, and she never forgave or forgot him.

The book then turns to the past and the reader returns with Rosa to her childhood, when Alex was a very sick boy with asthma and Rosa was a tomboy looking for a friend. Every summer the two of them were the best of friends, and every September Alex would return to his own world. They were friends only during three short months of each year, but they were special months filled with fun and adventure. One summer Rosa and Alex fall in love, and something magical happens between them. But as soon as they profess their love for each other, the romance ends abruptly after a serious accident changes Rosa's life forever.

Now, back to the present, the two of them are a part of each other's lives again. There's no telling what's in store for the two of them. Rosa sees that the past needs resolving in order to move forward, and is willing to work at it until she can get closure to her past. And Alex is desperate to explain to Rosa the reason why he left her so abruptly twelve years ago.

SUMMER BY THE SEA is a light, fluffy read, but at the same time delves into a few serious issues. In between chapters, Wiggs intersperses wonderful delicious-sounding Italian recipes, which help give the book a very summery type of feel, as if one is on holiday at a quiet summer resort. It lends to the mood of the book and is a very clever idea that works. The story itself could have been written in a tighter fashion. At times one is not sure if one is reading about the past, or is back in the present. Some chapters are marked with the year in which it is taking place, while others are not. Outside of these inconsistencies, the romance reader will enjoy SUMMER BY THE SEA. It's made a new fan out of this reviewer.

--- Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton (Ratmammy@lofton.org)

Awww, this was sweet! It left me with a happy glow when I finished reading it. A lovely story of a innocent childhood friendship between Alex Montgomery, son of a wealthy couple who had a summer home at the beach, and Rosa Capoletti, daughter of the Montgomery's gardener -- a friendship that develops into something more as they grow older. They're seperated by circumstances, and then meet up again as adults, and carefully try to reconnect with each other.

This book is full of warm-hearted characters who I loved getting to know, as well as some scrumptious-sounding Italian recepies that I can't wait to try. All in all, it's the perfect summer read, sweet and satisfying.

I could not have picked a more perfect summer read! Ms Wiggs is very entertaining with her mix of heart and soul with Italian Cuisine. Who could resist? Running a restaurant and protecting her heart, the story of a shy budding beauty and her childhood friend is enchanting. The early years are intertwined with the present. The blossoming of their love for each other is timeless in it's concept of the handsome Alex Montgomery sheltered rich and priveleged falling for the classic dark haired beauty of hardworking and intelligent Rosa Capoletti. With a bit of family mystery surrounding an accident and suicide thrown in to stir the "sauce pot" and real recipes for lovers of truly great Italian food Susan Wiggs captures not only the tastebuds but also the heart in Summer by the Sea to satisfy every appetite. A sequel please!!!

If you like stories on food and wine, friendship and romances than you'll never want to put this book down.

This was an amazing story that soothes the soul, and warms your heart. It makes the reader believe in second chances and love that you've never imagined would possibly ever occur.

In this story love, laughter, and secrets all take place. Rosa Capoletti takes a run-down pizza joint and turns it into an award winning restaurant that has been voted "best place to propose" three years in a row. For Rosa, though, there has been no real romance since her love affair with Alexander Montgomery ended, about a decade ago, without any explanation. Now Rosa's business is doing well and nothing could possibly go wrong, expect that Alexander returns to town. Reunited at the beach house where they first fell in love, Rosa and Alexander discover secrets about their history. Now, with all that Rosa could possibly want right in front of her, Will Rosa search for happiness with the man who once broke her heart? And will they learn that in love, as in life, there are second chances?

Also through out this book there are recipes for Italian food that you'll just absolutely die for!

I have to say that I disagree with every review posted here. This book is not wonderful, but it is not awful either. It falls somewhere in the middle. Just okay. The beginning of the story where Rosa (heroine) is watching her friend Jason propose to her other friend Linda is hoaky and awkward. The middle of the book, where Wiggs describes the childhood relationship between Rosa (heroine) and Alex (hero) was the best part of the book. Then the reunion when they are adults seems predictable and boring. And the accident mystery I had solved chapters before Wigg's intended. Too predictable, and much of the writng was cliche and corney for me. Grade C-

Sorry to be the bad one here, but I didn't think this was wonderful either. It started out wonderful and then went downhill.

The Good: I loved how the story started, I loved the Italian heritage references (as I'm Italian too), I loved the recipes spread threw out the book which reminded me of all my Mom's cooking, and I LOVED the flashbacks involving Rosa and Alex as kids and young adults....

The Bad: AND then it took a turn for the worse. I was very bored halfway threw the book at the adult reunion segment. I had issues finishing it. The so called 'mystery' part was perdictable and not exciting at all. Once the flashbacks to thier childhood were over, I lost interest in Rosa and Alex fast.

I am an avid reader and read many books (lol - as I'm sure most of us here do as well). I have a collection of over 200 Romances and I am one that is known to finish a book in one sitting. This one just didn't provide me with that 'I HAVE TO HAVE MORE FEELING'. It took me several days to finish this book and I found myself skipping pages (yikes!!!) I actually put the book down for several days inbetween readings as well. This was only OKAY at best for me - sorry guys! I had a tough time finishing it.

This was my first Wiggs book. To say I was pleased is an understatement. This book was an experience, it felt epic to me. It spans 20 years and you just get lost in the bittersweet sad story. This is one of those books that you still feel in your heart long after you have put it down. READ IT ! READ IT! You won't be sorry. I can not wait to read another Susan Wiggs novel.