A quick read, and a bit treacly. I kept waiting for the thing that would tie it all together a bit more. ( )

Took a while to get into this book.it seems you get lost in some of the stories. In the end I did enjoy it. ( )

For fifteen years, four "girls of August" would gather together to spend a week at the beach, until tragedy interrupts their ritual. Now they reunite for a startling week of discoveries.

The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt.

Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women uncover secrets that will change them in ways they never expected. ( )

I love books about life long friends. Easy read to fly thru. Friendships made, kept and lost. What's not to like! ( )

The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons

2014

Audiobook

This is a typical beach read with an underwhelming storyline. It seemed promising with the varied characters brought together in their 20's during post college years. The wives often met up while their spouses were working on their medical residencies. There didn't seem to be any depth to the story. Once I became interested in the relationship of the four women who spent August summers together the story suddenly stops and moves to another plot.

Essentially, it seemed to describe some middle aged women who come together one August summer after many years apart. Maddie, Rachel and Barbara reluctantly agree to stay at Baby's remote South Carolina beach house for two weeks on Tiger Island. They seemed to resent Teddy's new wife, Baby, who was young enough to be one of their children.

After they all assemble on the island, the women begin their gossiping and rude behavior towards Baby, the young "girl." Each of the characters being with them after so many years apart "issues" which are eventually revealed. The women act more like grumpy old ladies drinking away their problems than friends uniting for a bonding experience.

It was difficult to care or be invested in such negative characters. Their issues were not unusual nor did they warrant the childish behavior. The story lacked structure and the characters were very superficial. The story annoyed me more than entertain. ( )