The Summer We Read Gatsby: A Novel

A simple story of sisters. Relaxing and fun to read.

It is not The Great Gatsby it is more a book for bored cat ladies to enjoy. Maybe, I really have no idea if they would enjoy it.

This was an enjoyable read, perfect for summer. I love to read about quirky families. Pass it on to a friend when you're done reading it.

A perfect book club book, this light beach read really has nothing to do with The Great Gatsby. It’s an obvious trick to cash in on a classic in order to boost sales, but if you like reading silly fluff, don’t let that stop you.

Two half-sisters, as different as night and day, inherit a dilapidated shack from their aunt. But it’s in the Hamptons, so they decide to stay for the summer. Who cares if the back deck could collapse at any minute? They’ll throw parties until it does. What does it matter that unsavory characters (aka artists) stay in the house rent free? They’ll just embrace the bohemian atmosphere and not worry about their personal safety.

One sister has her heart set on a millionaire without good taste, and the other (the narrator) is of course sensible and expects her partner to be as flawless as she is. Never mind that she’s very flawed and unrealistic, making a living by writing scant magazine articles. She secretly wants a man to take care of her, just like popular culture assumes all women want. In comes her love interest: an architect with good taste (able to put a roof over her head), skills in the kitchen (can literally nourish her), tons of money (so she can still dabble at her articles but won’t actually be responsible for an income), and is terribly interested in her no matter how much she pushes him away. He might just be the most unrealistic love interest in a book I’ve ever read.

While this formulaic beach read is frustrating most of the time, it’ll be entertaining to bash with your girlfriends if you all read it together. Or if you’re looking for a book you don’t really have to pay attention to on an airplane, take this along on the way to your vacation.

Great little summer read. A little mystery, a lot of partying. Great read for the beach. Easy reading as well.

I'm a very picky reader, by nature. I rarely ever stray from my usual authors, unless I find something new that has fantastic reviews. I actually found this book at a dollar store and had never heard of the author or the book itself. I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad I did! I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by this book, and wish the author had more than just one other novel.
This book was funny and witty, and had a story line that was refreshingly different in many ways.
This is also the first book review I've ever done, so that should tell you something!

Some of my favorite memories have come from long summer days. So when I'm trying to decide what to read while sitting in the sun, on the beach or in a pool, I always gravitate towards summer-based fiction. I want to be able to read words that capture this feeling of complete and total relaxation, freedom and happiness. I am so glad I picked THE SUMMER WE READ GATSBY. Danielle Ganek, author of Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him, has hit a home run with this novel that explores the lives of two sisters (technically half-sisters, but anyone with a sister will recognize the dynamics as ringing perfectly true). Pecksland "Peck" and Stella are as opposite as two women can be. Where Peck is curvy, vivacious and charming, Stella is tall, thin, cynical and quick to judge. She doesn't seem to trust people easily, including her sister Peck. When the two sisters learn they have inherited their great aunt Lydia's house in the Hamptons, appropriately named "Fool's House," they are thrown together with unexpected circumstances at every turn. Fool's House is overwhelming to the girls in its dilapidated state and neither one has the resources to afford its upkeep. To make matters even more confusing, their aunt has instructed them to "seek a thing of utmost value," from within the house. The summer becomes a learning experience for both girls as they must learn how to come together, despite their differences and embrace the unexpected. They also begin to unravel secrets within themselves, face issues that have long been unresolved and learn to appreciate the blessings in life, no matter how small they may seem. This book offers a wonderful life lesson to appreciate what you have and resist questioning that which can not be explained or understood completely. Stella, the character who experiences the most change in the novel, learns to let go of what she can't control and enjoy the ride of life. A lesson her sister Peck seems to have already mastered, and that which makes her a very enjoyable character to watch throughout the novel. I really loved this book and can't recommend it enough! A perfect summer read with great characters, an enchanting setting and eloquent prose.