Summer of 69 by Elin Hilderbrand on Libby Audio; 14 hours

 I almost returned this early because it was so inane and shallow, but gradually got interested in the characters and finished it as I walked and cleaned house. This author has the annoying habit of overstating and listing and re-explaining things from different characters' points of view. It's constantly redundant. The other annoying thing was the purposeful name dropping of every street and business on the two islands, oh yes, and the beaches and the descriptions; it was almost to prove that she spent some time there. It was unnecessary and annoying. 

She also kept naming the music, the songs, and the bands that were popular in 69. Okay. You know some of the music. What she didn't capture was the mood or ambience. Parts were okay...like the excitement of the moon launch and the way people felt, but it really sort of missed for me. I was hoping for a nostalgic trip down memory lane and there were good parts where Jesse's thirteen year old feelings rang true, but otherwise it was kind of a waste. I believe I'm done with this author. There are so many more satisfying stories out there!

Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer

So glad I didn't buy this book, but picked it up at the Cancer Center... I had just returned from Rapid City, and Len and I went to the hospital for his radiation treatment, and I browsed the loaner bookcase because I had nothing to read at home. This one sounded like a good light, summer read. 

And it was, but it was also frustrating in its inanity! I mean, really, who lives like this? The author obviously enjoys life on her beloved Nantucket Island and wants to share all her inside knowledge of cute places to go... that was okay. And she idealized her characters who were not believable on any level, but she dressed them well...and they did unrealistic things....the three sisters each had romances that were shallow and somewhat sexy... I don't know, it was a fun to read when it wasn't frustrating! Not worth the paper it's printed on, but it was fun to read when I was tired this weekend. And there were some cozy family scenes and dinners. This author likes food and likes describing how to cook it... So, not a total waste, but pretty close!