The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore

The Islanders by Meg Mitchell Moore

My rating: 4 of 5 star
The Islanders: A Novel by Meg Mitchell Moore
June 11, 2019
Kindle edition
William Morrow
432 pages
Rating: 4/5

I received this digital Kindle copy from GoodReads Giveaway and William Murrow Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.

The lives of three people converge one summer to form an unexpected circle of support and friendship in the small community on Block Island.

The story alternates between the main characters: Anthony Puckett, Joy Sousa and Lu Trusdale and their lives living on touristy Block Island.

Anthony Puckett is a disgraced author looking for refuge from the publicity following accusations of plagiarism. He offers to house sit for his friend Ryan Fitzsimmons who needs someone to care for his elderly uncle’s house while he is away. Anthony hopes that distance from his estranged wife, Cassie, who he discovers is involved with her art dealer, Glenn Manning. He regrets his actions which have ousted him from the literary community. His only request is for contact with his son, Max, who Cassie uses as a pawn to manipulate him.

Anthony receives support and encouragement from his mother Dorothy who makes excuses for his father’s disappointment in him. Anthony followed his father’s footsteps in becoming an author. Leonard Puckett is a widely known author and is embarrassed by his son’s failing career. Meanwhile, Shelly Salazar, his publicist, continually calls to encourage him to continue writing.

Joy Sousa is a single mother to Maggie, a 13 year old with a blossoming desire for independence. He ex husband Dustin has since remarried to Sandy and have a 2 yo named Tiki. Maggie alternates spending time at home with her mother and visiting her father when she isn’t working for her mother or babysitting for Lu. Joy is proud that she was able to recover and now thrive post her divorce. She owns and runs Joy Bomb which specializes in whoopie pies. She is looking forward to a productive summer season until a traveling French patisserie settles nearby. She finds consolation with her best friend Holly Baxter and trying new recipes she discovers on dinnerbydad blog written by a stay at home dad, Leo.

Lu Trusdale is presently a stay at home mother of 2 sons, Chase and Sebastian. She worked as a trial attorney before she and Jeremy, an oncologist, had children. Jeremy is heavily influenced by his mother, Nancy, who enjoys showing up unexpectedly for a visit. She feels entitled the liberty since she encourages them to spend the summer in the family home. Lu has been feeling constrained and bored of being a stay at home mom now that her boys are in school. Spending the summer at her in-laws home is more stifling than she prefers. It’s difficult for her to express her desire to feel productive as Jeremy is often away for several days working at a hospital off the island. She has found solace in blogging under the alias of dinnerbydad, pretending to be Leo, a faithful stay at home husband who always makes time to serve fresh delicious meals for his family. She is grateful for her new summer neighbor, Anthony, who saves her son from drowning. Lu eventually hires Maggie to babysit for her while she concentrated on her blog which has a mass following and paid sponsors. She discovers a confidante is Anthony the unassuming neighbor and shares her new recipes with him.

Over the course of the summer, each finds their purpose and happiness by taking risks. The story is one of strangers who become friends and learn the valuable meaning of family, friendship and forgiveness and seconds chances.




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