These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean: My Review
Looking for the perfect beach read this summer? Check out my book review of These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean, her first contemporary romance that is oh so good!
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
These Summer Storms
by Sarah MacLean
Category: Contemporary Romance
Tags: Dysfunctional Family, Forced Proximity, Suspense, Billionaire
Published July 2025
Amazonย |ย Goodreads
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These Summer Storms: The Summary
Alice Storm hasnโt been welcome at her familyโs magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five yearsโnot since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.
Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challengeโan inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.
But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sisterโs secret love affair. Her brotherโs unyielding arrogance. Her younger sisterโs constant analysis of the vibes. Her motherโs cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her fatherโs intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.
A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.
These Summer Storms: My Review
Sarah MacLean has written THE book for summer!
Iโm so glad that Sarah embraced this contemporary romance story that was percolating in her head even though sheโs known for her historical romance. It would be a tragedy if this book didnโt come to pass because it was such an epic page turner about a pretty neurotic family with characters you feel sorry for one minute and then want to bitch slap the next. She weaves together chapters from each adult childโs point of view with a really amazing romance that despite being pretty quick (we are talking one week) felt like a really hot slow burn. How she did this all in one book about a dead billionaire pulling the strings from the grave is why Sarah is an incredible author.
The story begins with Alice, a woman who hasnโt been home in over 5 years since an epic falling out with her father who just passed away. Because of his death, she returns to their estate on a private island in Rhode Island where she, her siblings and mother are thrust into one of their fatherโs infamous โgamesโ in order to earn their inheritance from the eccentric billionaire.
From there you learn about Aliceโs siblings who are all dealing with their own issues from being a part of this wealthy and prominent family. Tasks are assigned, truths are unearthed and secrets are revealed all under the watchful eye of their fatherโs second in command.
This book totally gave me Knives Out vibes (given the eccentric family and their desire for their inheritance) so if you liked that movie this will totally be up your alley. This book will also appeal to those who like womenโs fiction, romance and suspense because it weaves in all three. I am first and foremost a romance reader and I can say that the romance thread throughout was chef kiss! The chemistry between Alice and Jack was soooo perfect โ I loved their story and was so glad that she didnโt abandon her roots because Sarah can write romance.
This is the perfect beach read for the summer and one that I can see easily being made into a TV series. Iโm all for it.
*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Related Book Lists:
- Best Beach Reads in Romance
- Best New Summer Romance Books for 2025
- Best Forced Proximity Romance Books
- Best Meet Cutes in Romance
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