All Summer Long: A Novel

Is it me??? Have I read too many books or are my favorite writers just writing drivel these days? I don't like doing negative reviews but it seems lately that is what I have. I'm on Chapter 9 of All Summer Long and so far this book is a big fat ZERO! I have not read one thing in this book to make me like it or the characters in it. What has happened to DBF's writing? She used to write the most wonderful books, oh my gosh, the Last Original Wife was superb! I don't think I've read anything of hers since that was worth my time. So sad because this woman has (or had) such a gift. This book doesn't even get by on descriptions of the low country because they aren't even good enough this time to draw me in. Such a bad book...save your money and devote your time to something more fun. Personally I have spent ALOT of money on books, I think at this point I am no longer buying them but using the public library because I find I don't keep any of them anymore for re-reads, I barely make it through them the first time. So sad.

I've read all DBF's books and loved them. The last few are absolutely terrible. I'm on page 38 of this new one and I am appalled at the frequent "name dropping" for products. It's just trashy and calls ones attention away from the story. Ex: They are installing a Traum safe in 2 weeks". Not just "I'm having a safe installed". This style brings your thoughts up and out of the story to think " did Traum give her a free one for mentioning them? (They cost several thousand dollars...)
Also restaurants, hotels,sunglasses, sialstone Quartz, name brand linens.... On and on. I feel like she WAS a great writer once but not so much now Hate the product mention stuff. Also her cover art for the last 4 books has been redundant. Ladies in swimsuits and hats facing away from the viewer. Got it - been done.

I am struggling to get through this book. I am a huge Dorothea Benton Frank fan and preorder her books every summer; however, this book is a huge let down. I am considering abandoning it and starting one of my Kindle library books that I have checked out. Boring storyline, boring main characters, boring, boring, boring! I hope she listens to her fans and returns to the sweet storyline that have made people excited for summer reading!

This is absolutely a terrible, poorly written story. It rambles and often makes no sense. There are also several editing mistakes - spelling and syntax errors - which should have been corrected before the book was published.

I want to start by saying that I've never read a Dorothea Benton Frank novel that I didn't like -- until now. I am halfway through the book and am still waiting for a plot to develop. Unlike the other books by Frank that I have read, this one has undeveloped and unsympathetic characters, banal and stilted dialog, and no direction whatsoever. It is very rare that I abandon a book without finishing it, but I feel so little connection to these protagonists and so little interest in sticking around to see whether anything ever happens, that I believe this will be one that goes to the Good Will donation center only half-read. I am extremely disappointed and more than a little annoyed that my expectations of a good summer escape to Sullivan's Island went woefully unfulfilled.

I've read and enjoyed all of DBF's past books, but this one seemed as if someone else wrote most of it. And it also seemed like 2 separate books -- one about the uber rich and their lavish lifestyle and overall nastiness, and one about a couple retiring to Charleston. What a disappointment.

I was very disappointed in this book - a lot of chatter and little depth or atmosphere. I usually love, love, love Frank's books but the last one and this one were disappointing and I struggled just to finish it out of loyalty to one of my favorite writers.

A special thank you to HarperCollins and LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Stunning Hardcover!

Dorothea Benton Frank, the "Queen" of Southern Fiction, returns following All the Single Ladies (2015) with her kickoff annual summer beach read—ALL SUMMER LONG. It just wouldn't be complete without our DBF fix!

From glamorous Manhattan, Nantucket, Spain to Sullivan’s Island, SC- a couple from different walks of life. A crazy tumultuous summer; coming to find happiness through life’s storms in unexpected ways: Belonging. A powerful story of renewal and magic in the LowCountry.

Meet Olivia, a New York highly successful top interior designer. Over the years she has had the privilege of observing the private and personal habits of the rich and famous. She has worked hard to rebuild her life after her first philandering financially irresponsible medical student husband, had taken everything and left.

She was determined this would never happen again. She buried herself in her work and built her business, one gnarly client at a time. Single life was lovely; however, she was fortunate to meet another man—a Southern gentleman from the Lowcountry. They remarried and have had a happy life. She still managed her independence at the same time.

Nick was like Olivia in that he also collected things. He loved leather bound books for his study. They loved to travel. He was a professor and the bulk of their money came from her and her business. She handled their finances.

However now, it was time to downsize—(necessary) the economy and her business was slowly shrinking. She has not told her husband their dire situation. She keeps thinking she would attain more clients, but she fears in the minds of her clients- she would be washed up. Moving away from New York would be horrific. Why in the world would a client in Manhattan hire an interior designer from anywhere else?

She had promised Nick, a confirmed bachelor, when they married fourteen years ago, when he moved in with her, they would retire to Sullivan’s Island, SC-- the land of his ancestors and boyhood. He was so excited . . and looked forward to their simpler life. He wanted to share every part of the South with her.

Olivia was not so sure. She has purchased a big old house to keep up her image, which needed a lot of work; however, how would they be able to afford the renovation and lifestyle without the money coming in? She knew the house would be far too grand for Nick’s taste. She hoped to build her business once back in SC, and as usual she was in a panic.

In the meantime, they are globetrotting, cruises and jetting around the world with the rich and famous, hoping for more work from these clients. She liked being younger than Nick, and the only other person she could depend on besides her husband, was her assistant Roni.

With her Manhattan lifestyle behind, can Olivia survive in the LowCountry, with no housekeeper, clients or contacts in Charleston,--places to shop, or get her hair done? She was stripped of her possessions. She had been playing the denial game for far too long. It was either Nick or Charleston---he had always had a desire for beautiful things—the big city. Whereas Nick’s parents lived a modest island life, but they gave him a world of things to feel passionate about and to love—encouragement. Olivia’s parents gave her none of those values.

Now Nick, age sixty-seven, an historian, had come back to the Lowcountry and slipped right back into his boyhood life without missing a beat. Olivia on the other hand was adapting slowly and her heart carried some gloom—she loved him and was determined to rise above the feeling that she was the proverbial fish out of water.

From their billionaire friends, Bob and his wife Maritza. and their differences, a cast of other eccentric characters—the ups and downs, dramas, Nantucket, and Roni---possibly Olivia might get used to the South. From friends, and lots of life’s curve balls—the enchanted waters of Sullivan’s Island might wash the urban demons out to sea.

An opening of heart and mind Believing, Faith, Love. Relationships, bonds, and marriage—trusting and loving. Money does not always buy happiness.

Dorothea Benton Frank once again brings her love and passion of the LowCountry to the pages making her characters come alive. From wit, charm, drama, and local flavor-from fresh fish, dogs, dolphins, music, seagulls, seaside, laughter—and dreams, a powerful place, happiness-home at last.

Not as extreme opposites as Green Acres, the American TV sitcom, starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, couple who move from New York City to a country farm. 1965-1971. However, quite entertaining!

Good this was not the first of her novels I was exposed to; would never, never, never picked up another. this was sooo bad, so boring, so not what I needed in a beach read. Not one character, nor the protagonist (varied from chapter to chapter??) was the least bit interesting, I could care less. i did finish, but albeit with speed reading, I have problems with not finishing a book; but SHOULD HAVE STOPPED. If you are contemplating reading her works, do not start with this one please. too disappointing. sorry Dorothea

LOVE DBF's new book! Wonderful story of all the intricacies of day to day relationships. The contrast of living between New York and South Carolina speaks true to my heart and I loved being whisked away in both.