Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (5)
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii (1)
- Idaho
- Illinois (1)
- Indiana
- Iowa (2)
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana (1)
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (5)
- North Carolina (3)
- North Dakota (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (3)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (3)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming (1)
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (3)
- Canada (2)
- England (7)
- France (2)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Beloved Author's Final Novel Not Up to Par
6:16 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Over the last fifteen years, four women have made it an annual tradition to gather at the beach for a week of R&R. Dubbing themselves "The Girls of August," they have bonded over everything—from the woes of being doctors' wives to the trials of motherhood (and infertility) to the pains of aging. When one of the women dies tragically, the group starts to drift apart, halting their cherished girls' weekends for years. Then, the dead woman's widower remarries and his young bride insists on resurrecting the tradition in an attempt to become a "Girl" herself. Reluctantly, the group gathers at a remote South Carolina island for a week's vacation. Along with their beach umbrellas and bathing suits, the women have brought secrets, desperation, grief, and anger—ingredients that will make for a dramatic and unforgettable Girls of August reunion.
I've read and enjoyed a fair number of Anne Rivers Siddons books over the years and it makes me a little sad that the author will never write another (she died in 2019 at 83 years old). So, when I saw Siddons' most recent book, The Girls of August (2014), in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble, I snatched it up. Written when she was in her 70s, the tale is definitely not on par with those she penned in her earlier years. Still, the novel bears evidence of Siddons' trademark warmth and wit. The "Girls" are a likable lot, even if they're not fleshed out enough to feel like real people. As far as plot goes, there's not much here, which makes the book a little dull. In the past, I've found Siddons' novels sumptuous and immersive—this one isn't that way, although it worked for an easy, breezy summer read. Although there's nothing memorable or outstanding about it, The Girls of August is an okay novel. Far from Siddon's best, it is, sadly, her last.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language and violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Girls of August from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)


Reading
You Are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh

Listening
The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Lewis


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers1 hour ago
-
Review: Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah5 hours ago
-
-
-
The Sufi Storyteller by Faiqa Mansab10 hours ago
-
When Alec Met Evie12 hours ago
-
-
-
Cornwell, Bernard "The Last Kingdom"15 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Blog Tour for Lessons in Life19 hours ago
-
-
Audiobook: Return to Sender1 day ago
-
-
-
Week in Review #202 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
A Review of Jade Cargo4 days ago
-
-
-
Catching up1 week ago
-
No Roundup this month2 weeks ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post #5684 weeks ago
-
-
February 2025 Reading Wrap Up2 months ago
-
One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery2 months ago
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October6 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I8 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus9 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ▼ 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)


2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
