Every summer Ruthie Beamish and her family have to move. Ruthie's husband Mike inherited a beach house that they have painstakingly restored, but the only way they can afford to live there is by renting out the house during The High Season. They have been doing this for years and it is never easy to leave the home they love so much and this year is no different. Except it is. Ruthie and Mike are separated and delaying a divorce, just because of financial reasons. Their fifteen-year-old daughter, Jem, is at that age that she is realizing just how different her artsy family is from the rest of the teens on the Northfork. And this year, instead of weeks of different anonymous families, their home is being rented by somebody they know. Adeline Clay is the widow of a wealthy, famous artist that Ruthie used to work for a million years ago. But this year is also different because Mike has allegedly fallen in love with Adeline Clay and Ruthie loses her job as director for the local art gallery. As the summer unwinds, Ruthie feels like her life is spinning out of control and lets her anger drive her actions in uncharacteristic ways.
The High Season is the summer beach reads from the other side. It is told from the perspective of a local woman and her family trying to make it through another summer of being forced from the home they all love. Every year a new crop of "Beach Reads" hits the market, often set in oceanside communities in beachside homes that we can only dream of visiting. We never think about the people that actually live in those homes, in those communities. You can sense the resentment in Ruthie for having to give up her home for the best months of the year, but she does it so she can remain living the illusion that her family has money and belongs in the community. I liked Ruthie. Even when she lets her emotions over her job loss and Mike's new relationship get the better of her. Everything about her seems so authentic, even her bad decisions seemed authentic. Her relationship with Mike seemed "too good to be true" and her reaction to him dating Adeline was just about right. There was a considerable amount of drama before the end of summer, but in the end, I think things worked out the right way. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS -
Bottom Line - Today is the official start of the summer season and The High Season is most definitely one that you should add to your list. The characters are so well written and the emotions so defined that it will feel like you are right in Orient with the Beamish family.
Details:
- The High Season by Judy Blundell
- On Twitter
- Pages: 416
- Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
- Publication Date: 5/22/18
- Buy it Here!
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