The Summer I Dared: A Novel

I love Barbara Delinsky and I gave this one a four star instead of the usual five stars review. The story is about an island off the coast of Maine that becomes a refuge for the main character, Julia Bechtel. She goes to the island to spend time with her aunt and to get away from her unsatisfactory marriage. The island is home to men who set traps and catch lobsters. They have been doing this on the island for generations.En route to the island for her vacation, Julia suffers a horrific accident that changes her outlook on life. The book deals with Julia's search for herself and what she wants out of her life. This became a little tedious at times.The book was slow going at times because Barbara Delinsky really researched lobstermen. There was too much detail, for me at least, about how the lobsters are caught, how the traps are prepared, how the buoys are painted, and on and on ad infinitum. I wanted more story and not so much about the technicalities of catching lobsters.That said I still liked the story and it was enjoyable but not Delinsky's usual five star read.

What a winner. Only a very experienced author could handle this many plot lines and characters, and have them all remain distinct, and resolve well. (There was one minor story line that wasn't resolved, but it wasn't necessary...although I remain curious!) Anyway, this is the story of a doormat wife/mother/daughter trying to understand her own potential for change, to live life the way she wants and not solely in service to her family. Julia and Noah, the mains, were well-drawn, as were the young adult children, the parents, and the other residents of the town. The dramatic tension kept me up past my bedtime. The setting was lovely and interesting. This book had it all.I do think Julia could have been older. A 50 yo would have had more time to build resentment at how she'd lived her life, more than the 40 yo Julia. But there were other issues that tied in that required youthfulness, so sometimes an author has to sit on the suitcase of her story to get it zipped.In the Acknowledgements, Delinsky reveals that in preparation for writing this book, she immersed herself in learning (exhaustively!) about two things she knew nothing about: the raising of Angora rabbits for commercial use, and the lobstering culture and business. She could have taken the easy route and written about something she knew, but in service to her art, she embarked on a path of learning. What a professional. She's an icon.

I have read many of this talented author’s books and enjoyed them all. This was an enjoyable read about a woman coming into her own with renewed energy, resilience and confidence.This story is based in Maine on a small coastal town of Big Sawyer. The main protagonist, Julia Bechtel, comes to the island to vacation and visit with her Aunt Zoe. On her way to the island she is involved in a horrible boat accident that kills nine people. The only survivors are Julia, Noah Prine, a lobsterman, and a young woman, Kim Colella. Their lives are entwined from that moment on.Julia struggles with the why and how this accident happened. She feels torn over the loss of all the other passengers that were on the boat and is drawn into the lives of the islanders. Her life is forever changed in ways she could never have imagined. She must rediscover herself and what she can do to make her life matter since she has been given a second chance on life.I would recommend this book to anyone who needs to rediscover what it is important in one’s life. The author did an enormous amount of research about lobstering and angora rabbits in order to make this book more realistic.

This book by Barbara Delinsky is one of the best I have read in a very long time. It includes a beautiful love story ,real life problems that could destroy the weak. I could hardly put it down and look forward to sharing with other friends that enjoy love,mystery,and real life problems all in one story.

Delightful and heart-warming, it tells the story of Julia Bechtel who is one of three survivors of a tragic boating accident involving the ferry to Big Sawyer Island and a speedboat. The trauma shakes her up and makes her reevaluate her life in the context of the question, "Why did I live when others died?" At the same time, there is mystery and danger when authorities realize the driver of the other boat had been shot before he ran into the ferry. While police dig into the clues about the accident, Julia also digs deep into herself and her values. Supported by a loving aunt and a new friend for whom she feels both attraction and affinity, she finds the courage to identify what matters most in her life and take steps to reach for it.

A romantic fiction set on a small island in Maine. A story that speaks to the hard trials and tribulations of lobstering, along with territorial wars of fishermen.As difficult as life can be, there is always time for love and family.

Another one that makes me sad that the story ended. This story is the perfect one for those feeling stuck. Gives you a thoughtful perspective on mid-life crisis. I loved the suspense, but not too much to make it dark and too instense. The Love Story was sweet and developed, the father son, mother, daughter relationships had a lot of layers. FIVE stars+ Can't imagine anyone who would give it less!