The Summer We Started Over

Two sisters reconnect and pursue their dreams on the beautiful island of Nantucket, overcoming life's challenges and finding new love, in this heartwarming and hopeful novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.

Eddie Grant is happy with her life and her work as a personal assistant to Dinah Lavender, one of the most famous and renowned romance authors in the business. But being a spectator to notoriety and glamour isn't as fulfilling as she once thought. Thankfully, Eddie has the perfect excuse for a vacation: Her hardworking younger sister, Barrett, is opening her gift shop on Memorial Day weekend, and could use all the help she can get.

But going home to the beautiful island of Nantucket means facing the family's difficult past. Shortly after the death of Eddie and Barrett's brother, their mother left them and their father made the spontaneous decision to buy a small farm. Eddie stayed there for only a year before her family's grief threatened to consume her as well, and had been living in Manhattan ever since. Now that she is back, Eddie must face all she left behind: her father's increased eccentricities, which has led to a house bursting at the seams with books; her sister's resentment over Eddie's escape; and a past love connection, one that is still undeniable and complicated, all these years later. But the Grant sisters are nothing if not resilient and capable, opening a used bookstore in their father's abandoned barn to manage his hoarding, and navigating the discovery of a long-buried family secret that will change all of them forever.

In The Summer We Started Over, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer transports readers with a moving story about family, courage, and the resiliency of young women.

From the publisher

Penguin Random House/Ballantine Books | March 25, 2025 | 336 pages | ISBN: 9780593724019

1. The Summer We Started Over explores many poignant themes, including grief, self-discovery, embracing change, and taking chances on love and personal fulfillment. Which theme and storyline resonated the most deeply with you, and why?

2. Examine the role of the setting, both the summer season and the location of Nantucket, in the novel. How does the season of change parallel the characters' personal growth and transformation? How does the island's dynamic as a popular tourist destination play a role in the story?

3. Discuss the different paths to happiness pursued by Eddie, Barrett, and Bill. How do their individual journeys reflect their personalities and values?

4. Analyze the theme of pursuing dreams. How do Eddie and Barrett's aspirations compare and contrast, and what obstacles do they face in achieving their goals?

5. How does the theme of grief play out in the story? How do the losses that Eddie, Barrett, and Bill have experienced shape their individual journeys?

6. Explore Eddie's struggle to find her place both professionally, romantically, and in regard to motherhood. How does her uncertainty about her career path, her desires for a fulfilling romantic relationship, and her hesitancy towards motherhood influence her personal growth and overall pursuit of happiness?

7. Analyze Barrett's character and motivations. What drives her passion for opening Nantucket Blues, and how does this dream shape her identity? How does her pursuit of her dream impact her relationships and personal fulfillment?

8. Discuss the role Dinah plays in the lives of Eddie, Barrett, and Bill during The Summer We Started Over, and the ways that each of them-and Nantucket!-impact her in return.

9. How does Dove's return, death, and the introduction of her young son Bobby impact each of the family members?

10. Reflect on the overall message of the novel. What lessons can be gleaned from the characters' experiences about finding happiness and following one's dreams?

Book Club Talking Points:
The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer is the kind of novel that sparks thoughtful conversation about life's turning points, forgiveness, and the choices that shape us. Set against the charming backdrop of Nantucket, the story follows two women rebuilding their lives-and their friendship-after unexpected loss. With its emotional layers, relatable characters, and themes of renewal, it's the perfect book club selection to inspire meaningful discussion.

"Bestselling author Thayer delivers another heartwarming story that fans will enjoy."-Booklist

"With richly drawn characters and a lush, gorgeous setting, Nancy Thayer sees straight into the heart."-RaeAnne Thayne, New York Times bestselling author of The Cafe at Beach End