When Jennifer from Book Club Girl recently raved about this book and this author, I was hooked because 1. I like many of the same books as Jennifer and 2. It is hard for to resist book titles that contain the word “Summer”. For the record, Jennifer did not steer me wrong, and this is an EXCELLENT summer read. ~Sheila
It’s 1931 and best friends Lily Dane and Budgie Byrne attend a football game to watch Bungie’s boyfriend. Lily, spots a new guy on the field, a tall good looking guy that she can hardly take her eyes off the entire game. Nick Greenwald is an amazing football player and while he looks back curiously at the blushing Lily, she knows her parents would never approve of this beautiful Jewish boy.
But who listens to everything our parents warn us about?
Lily and Nick soon find themselves inseparable until Lily suddenly breaks it off.
Now it is 1938 and Budgie is now Budgie Greenwald having married the very guy she warned Lily to stay away from and Lily can do nothing but try to protect her broken heart. A storm is approaching in more ways than one and a story unfolds of friendship and betrayals, of class and lack there of, of hearts wanting what the heart wants.
This is quite possibly the best book I have read in 2015.
A Hundred Summers is written in a beautiful and intelligent way, alternating chapters from 1931 when Lily and Budgie are just girls, to 1938 when Budgie has the man of Lily’s dreams and we the readers, are wondering why. Each chapter unfolds a little more of the story in 1931 and in 1938 bringing about what happened then so you can understand what is happening now (1938). I honestly wish I had words to describe this better because really all I want to say here is
READ THIS BOOK!
I listened to this book on audio audio and was captivated with the remarkable story line form the beginning. Kathleen McInerney narrates wonderfully throughout the alternating characters. I rooted for Lily, wondered why she would ever friend someone like Budgie, and sympathized with all of the above from beginning to end. Author Beatriz Williams should be commended for her brilliant writing, writing that kept me listening every moment I had free to know (I had to know!) what was going to happen.
Highly recommended. Not your average summer beach read. This one has real depth. In a word…. delightful.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 11 hours and 35 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Penguin Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: May 30, 2013
- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Berkley; First Paperback Edition edition (April 1, 2014)
Book Journey 
Thanks sheila!!!! Been wanting to read this!!! Love your chairs!!
Thanks Karen
Love the sound of this one!
I think you would enjoy it Laurel!
I’m reading A Certain Age right now and am loving William’s writing. I have a feeling I’m going to want to read her whole backlist.
I think I need to read her back list too.
Okay, now you’ve convinced me I need to move this one up on my TBR list!
Its the perfect time of year for it.
I’ve had this for a few years and haven’t gotten to it yet! Glad you enjoyed it so much!
I did, I hope you get to it soon Vicki 🙂
This is my FAVORITE beach read – ever! So glad you enjoyed it.
I have been reading so light lately that this was a nice (and safe!) change up for me.
Great to hear. Yeah I definitely want to read this one and her new novel Tiny Little Thing.
I will have to check out her new novel too!
I agree that this book was fantastic. I listened to the audio as well and it was great but then Kathleen McInerney is a favorite of mine.
I would like to listen to more of her for sure!
I liked this … but … it got a little too soap-opera-ish for me at times. The historical fiction part was great, but I guess I’m just not that big of a romance fan.I liked the author’s last book, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, even better. Don’t miss that one!
I don’t like romance reads at all but didn’t consider this one a romance. Now you have me curious about The Secret Life of Violet Grant… I think I have that one somewhere around here 🙂
Now you got me thinking… so I went back and read my own review! Ok, correction, it was the author’s first book, Overseas, that had the big, sappy romance going on. Blech. This one was an acceptable romance 🙂 but a little light on the history. Violet Grant had mystery, intrigue, and romance – and I liked that one best.
Yeah – I would pass on that one… not a fan 🙂
I have been wanting to read this for some time, but haven’t been able to work down my TBR to it.
Sheila, this sounds wonderful and I will definitely keep it in mind, thanks to your review.
I’m going to put this on my TBR list. BUT I do have to read the Violet book ,because it’s our book club choice this month. I always trust your opinion, so I wish I could read this first.
Glad you enjoyed this audio. The book made my favorite list!
I listened to this one and really liked it!
I think I have this one – clearly I need to find it!
I liked this one, even if a bit too dramatic at times. I want to read her others now!