I've been aware of Jacquelyn Mitchard for years - surely everyone's heard of The Deep End of the Ocean, yes? - but I hadn't actually read any of her books until her latest, Still Summer. I'll definitely be reading more.
Still Summer is the story of four women - Tracy, Olivia and Holly, who have been best friends since high school, and Tracy's daughter Cammie - who arrange to take a yachting trip together, following the death of Olivia's rich Italian husband.
At first, of course, it's idyllic - at least the sailing is, Olivia is actually a bit of a pain and the women aren't sure their friendship will last, but then, following a series of more than unfortunate events, the women end up alone on the yacht (I hope it's a yacht; I don't know anything about sailing) and in fear of their lives.
I've read that Mitchard wanted to write a book in which the women have to save themselves (rather than waiting for someone else to save them), and she's certainly done that. It's an exciting and tense read and I didn't want to put it down.
What was less successful, for me, was the character of Olivia (too evil - although I did want to reach into the book and wring her scrawny neck) and some of the dialogue, which was pretty stilted. Having said that, I find it staggering to believe that Tracy, Holly and Cammie don't actually exist. They were utterly real to me as I was reading and remain so even a couple of weeks after finishing the book.
If you haven't read any Jacquelyn Mitchard, you don't know what you've been missing.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
