Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not 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 challenge—an 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 sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s 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.
A New York Times Best Book of July and Best Book of 2025 (so far)
A People Magazine Best Summer Read
An Elle Magazine Best Book of Summer
A USA Today Most Anticipated Read of Summer
A Town & Country Best Book of July
A Real Simple Top Pick for Summer Book Clubs
A Woman’s World Book Club Pick
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Sexual Content - 2/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 2/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 3/5
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Summary
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
I’ve been thinking about how best to describe These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean. I’m a fairly new fan of hers, but after devouring the Hell’s Belles series, I quickly dove into her entire backlist. So I went into this one with high expectations.
I’d seen reviews mentioning that the story starts off slow, and I’m glad I was prepared for that. Unlike MacLean’s usual bold, kickass heroines, the female lead in this book—Alice—is more reserved, and the family dynamics take center stage. In fact, this felt more like a layered family drama than a traditional romance. That said, MacLean’s talent for writing emotional, character-driven stories still shines through.
Jack, the male lead, really stood out—charming, layered, and sharp-witted. While I didn’t immediately connect with Alice, her quiet resilience grew on me as the story progressed, and I came to admire her strength in a more understated way.
The real surprise? I couldn’t put the book down once I hit the halfway point. Each chapter revealed something new, and the emotional tension kept me turning the pages.
The ending leaned more toward a "happy for now" than a full resolution, and I would’ve loved an epilogue to show how everything worked out long-term. Still, the journey was worth it.
If you enjoy character-driven stories with family drama, emotional twists, and slow-burn romance, These Summer Storms is a unique addition to MacLean’s repertoire.