Summer Sisters [Hardcover]

Judy Blume (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 1998

No writer captures the seasons of our lives better than Judy Blume.  Now, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wifey and Smart Women, comes an extraordinary novel of reminiscence and awakening--an unforgettable story of two women, two families, and the friendships that shape a lifetime.

When Victoria Leonard answers the phone in her Manhattan office, Caitlin's voice catches her by surprise.  Vix hasn't talked to her oldest friend in months.  Caitlin's news takes her breath away--and Vix is transported back in time, back to the moment she and Caitlin Somers first met, back to the casual betrayals and whispered confessions of their long, complicated friendship, back to the magical island where two friends became summer sisters.

Caitlin dazzled Vix from the start, sweeping her into the heart of the unruly Somers family, into a world of privilege, adventure, and sexual daring.  Vix's bond with her summer family forever reshapes her ties to her own, opening doors to opportunities she had never imagined--until the summer she falls passionately in love.  Then, in one shattering moment on a moonswept Vineyard beach, everything changes, exposing a dark undercurrent in her extraordinary friendship with Caitlin that will haunt them through the years.

As their story carries us from Santa Fe to Martha's Vineyard, from New York to Venice, we come to know the men and women who shape their lives.  And as we follow the two women on the paths they each choose, we wait for the inevitable reckoning to be made in the fine spaces between friendship and betrayal, between love and freedom.

Summer Sisters is a riveting exploration of the choices that define our lives, of friendship and love, of the families we are born into and those we struggle to create.  For every woman who has ever had a friend too dangerous to forgive and too essential to forget, Summer Sisters will glue you to every page, reading and remembering.

Judy Blume's twenty-one books have sold over sixty-five million copies worldwide and have been translated into twenty languages.  She spends summers on Martha's Vineyard with her family.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Judy Blume first won legions of fans with such young adult classics as Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Forever, in which she tackles the cultural hot button of teenage sexuality. In Summer Sisters, her third novel for adults, the author again explores the ramifications of love--and lust--on two friends. Initially, the differences between Caitlin Somers and Victoria Leonard (or "Vix," as Caitlin christens her) draw them together: privileged Caitlin is wild and outspoken, beautiful but emotionally fragile, while working-class Vix is shy, reserved, and plain in comparison. After Caitlin selects Vix to accompany her to her father's home in Martha's Vineyard for the summer, the two become inextricably connected as "summer sisters."

On the Vineyard, Vix and Caitlin first find love, then sex--and lots of it. Yet Blume soon moves beyond hot fun in the summer sun, tracing the romantic and familial travails of the two from pre-adolescence to adulthood. Solid Vix evolves into Victoria, an equally solid, Harvard-educated, Manhattan public-relations exec. Unpredictable Caitlin opts out of college and travels to Europe, where she has a string of short-lived affairs with a series of intriguing (in every sense of the word) foreigners. It is only after she returns to the Vineyard that Caitlin does the unthinkable, forever changing both her friendship with Vix and their lives. Blume once again proves herself a master of the female psyche, and Summer Sisters is likely to entertain both her postadolescent and more mature readers.

From School Library Journal

YA-Caitlin lives with her mother in Sante Fe, but spends summers on a New England island with her father, brother, and stepmother. Both parents give her free rein, and her beauty, independence, and talent for getting away with outrageous behavior make her an intriguing star to her middle school classmates. Victoria can't understand why Caitlin would single her out to be her "summer sister" on Martha's Vineyard as she sees herself as quiet and dull. She senses, though, that this vacation is an important turning point and convinces her conservative parents to let her go. The girls become fast friends, sharing six unforgettable summers together. The strength of the novel lies in the portrayal of those six seasons. The author provides an engaging tableau of teenage experiences, worries, and emotions. Together, the girls cope with their changing bodies, difficult family relationships, boyfriends, and concerns about their futures. After high school graduation, Victoria goes on to college and a career while Caitlin travels to Europe and spins out of control. She even marries Victoria's former lover and has his child before escaping to Europe alone again. The end of the novel seems rushed but, overall, both the story and the girls will quickly capture readers' interest. The author's perceptive treatment of special childhood moments, the trials and joys of adolescence, and the magical possibilities of summer make this an entertaining read.
Mary Alice Giarda, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Press (May 4, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385324057
• ISBN-13: 978-0385324052
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,172 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,249,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, NJ, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places, doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Superfudge; Blubber; Just As Long As We're Together; and Forever. She has also written the best-selling novels Wifey; Smart Women; and, Summer Sisters. More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages.
She receives thousands of letters each month from readers of all ages who share their feelings and
concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year that American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has won more than ninety awards, none more important than those coming directly from her youngest readers.
She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild, currently as Vice President; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, where she sponsors an award for contemporary fiction; and the National Coalition Against Censorship, working to protect intellectual freedom. In Spring 2002, Judy was a spokesperson for the Cheerios "A Book for Every Child" literacy campaign which benefited Reading is Fundamental, America's largest literacy organization. She is also the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation.
Judy's first book in the Fudge series, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, was published in 1972. She is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th Anniversary with the publication of Double Fudge. Just as generations of fans have loved the Fudge books, generations of Judy's family have inspired them. Thirty years ago, Fudge was inspired by her son, Larry, and now Double Fudge was written at the request of her grandson, Elliot.
Judy lives on islands up and down the East Coast with her husband George Cooper. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A tale of two friends, July 27, 2003

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Summer Sisters (Mass Market Paperback)

SUMMER SISTERS by Judy Blume

The story of a rather one-sided friendship is told in Judy Blume's SUMMER SISTERS. Victoria (Vix) meets Caitlin as young schoolmates, and for some reason although the two of them are worlds apart, Caitlin chooses Vix as her guest to summer with her family on Martha's Vineyard. Vix has always been the quiet one, and Caitlin is the wild and crazy one. And despite their differences, Vix seems to be attracted to Caitlin's life, including her family and Caitlin's' rather eccentric ways.

The story opens in the present (1990), with Vix receiving a call from Caitlin, saying she's inviting Vix to her wedding. The brief prologue sets the stage, with Vix a bit perturbed by the phone call and torn between being angry with Caitlin, but also thinking "summer sisters forever". It is obvious that there is a love-hate relationship between the two, or at least that is how Vix feels about her long time friend Caitlin.

Their summers together on Martha's Vineyard are full of fun and laughter. But as they get older, Caitlin's selfishness starts to show. Vix however takes it all without too much complaining, always finding reasons to forgive Caitlin. Caitlin's selfish behavior is not obvious to all, but are subtle and often times happen in shocking ways.

As the two start to meet and date boys, Caitlin's behavior in this department is directly opposite in the way Vix handles herself with the boys, and on one night, Vix celebrates her birthday with Caitlin and the boys and it ends up a disastrous moment for Vix. (Caitlin, on the other hand, sees nothing wrong with what she has done, and thinks it's all in good fun).

As the two girls become young women, their differences tear them apart. Their friendship, which Vix always treasured, seems to be on a rocky road to disaster. Caitlin's father and his new wife are taken by Vix and try their best to mend the friendship, but Vix has been hurt enough. She goes off on her own, and cuts her ties with Caitlin. Or so it seems.

SUMMER SISTERS was a great summer read. The plot kept my interest throughout the book, and the characters felt real and I cared about what happened to them. Judy Blume did a good job with the story of two friends and their ever-changing relationship from childhood to adulthood. It was also a good character study about two girls from different backgrounds, and the events and people that can shape a child into the adult she is today.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun "beach read," some poignant moments, July 27, 2005

By 

GadgetChick - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer Sisters (Mass Market Paperback)

I picked up this book before a beach vacation because I figured it would be a quick, easy read. It was, but it was also a pretty compelling story. Note I didn't say "perfect" story, or "complex" story - but it was compelling.

I think the people who are most likely to relate to this book are the ones who have been in a lopsided friendship like Caitlin and Vix's. I had a friend who was very much like Caitlin - extremely self-centered, yet demanded absolute attention, closeness and loyalty. She would swear her undying love and friendship, then turn into the cruelest, most indifferent person I had ever met, if she met someone or came across something that was more interesting to her than I was. Caitlin is an absolute narcissist, and Vix is just vulnerable enough to mistake their relationship for a friendship - until the end of the book. The book made me re-examine my "friendship" with the Caitlinesque girl I had known, and looking back on things with the wisdom of experience, I can see that I - like Vix - allowed myself to be treated poorly. However, there's also a lot this book says about unconditional love, and how you can still be friends with someone like Caitlin, as long as a. you understand that there's only so much they have to give you, because so much of their emotion is turned inwards and b. you can still be friends with someone despite deeply disapproving of their choices.

Judy Blume is not the best writer in the world but I don't think she's trying to be. This is an excellent book for what it is - a piece of entertainment. I don't think it's meant to be another "War and Peace." There are some plot holes, the narrative style is a little uneven and the first-person/third-person switchbacks can get annoying, and the ending is somewhat trite. But if you're looking for something you can read that will be emotionally engaging, but not too intellectually taxing, you could do a lot worse than this book.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Major disappointment, Major waste of time., July 11, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer Sisters (Mass Market Paperback)

I am glad to see there are many others who feel this book is a waste of good wood pulp and I'm encouraged to find that there are still other discriminating people who insist on substance in a novel, even if it is a "summer read".

I would like to mention a couple of observations myself though. In this book....

1) Judy continuously builds sexual tension (I want to....no I shouldn't...I want to...no I shouldn't) only to blow off the decision, and the moment, by having the character "wake up in the morning" after it's all over. It's cheating the reader and taking the "easy way out"!

2) There are many, many characters in this book who are nothing but "page fillers".

It's as if the publishing company told the author "Look, Judy, you have a short story here, a book needs to be at least 400 pages". Thus enter Lanie, Lewis, Sharkey, Daniel, Dorset, Trisha, the Countess and the anti-Semitic Grandmother Somers. All "nothing" characters with "nothing" to say, but with a proper type-setting the paperback meanders on to page 399!

3) Besides those majorly useless characters there are the "parental units" who are supposed to have influence over, and set limits on, Vix and Caitlin and what are they doing? Again nothing!

I'm talking about Ed, Tawny & Phoebe. There they are, jet-setting around the world wearing southwestern jewelry or sitting in the corner, on their private "pity pot", while these girls grow up without morals or guidance.

Abby is the only one who seems to take an interest, so naturally she's to be dispised by Caitlin.

4) And then there's poor Maizie, what was that for? I guess without Maizie, you'd only hit page 390!

5) Finally, I just want to say I am always disappointed when a book promotes misinformation and allows people to "file away" facts which are untrue.

Page 331 of the paperback has our Harvard graduate telling Phoebe "High in cholesterol, Avocados, that is." So much for higher education!