From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean, a razor-sharp, wildly sexy novel about a wealthy New England family’s long-overdue reckoning . . . and the one week that threatens to tear them apart.

Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.

Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.

A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.

“A gripping inheritance drama, wrapped around a swoony summer romance.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Longtime fans of MacLean’s historical novels will recognize her singular romance prowess in this tale of twisted family drama and unfortunate connections.”—The Washington Post

“In her contemporary fiction debut, a glamorous, scandalous picture of a messy family whose wealth has given them everything except for love.”—Library Journal, starred review

“MacLean’s dedicated readers will recognize her strong characterization and her ability to spin a tight plot with enough surprises to keep the pages turning.”—Booklist, starred review

“MacLean’s first foray into contemporary family drama has notes of Succession along with the steamy romance she’s known for in her historical novels.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

https://amzn.to/4nHVmWu

Alice Storm has been estranged from her ultra-wealthy family for five years, but when her father dies, she’s summoned back to the family’s private island. She hasn’t spoken to her parents or siblings in all that time, but plans to pay her respects and leave quickly—or so she thinks. But her father has one final surprise waiting.

Jack Dean, her father’s trusted second-in-command, delivers shocking news to the assembled family. Their patriarch has left explicit instructions for the week ahead: everyone must remain on the island and complete specific assigned tasks. If anyone fails or leaves early, no one inherits a dime. With so much money at stake, everyone reluctantly agrees—except for Alice, who has built a life completely independent of the family’s fortune. Yet, under pressure and guilt, she stays to see her father’s strange, week-long challenge through.

The setup creates fertile ground for exploring years of unresolved emotional baggage. The story dives deep into the tangled web of family resentments and secrets, reminiscent of the power struggles in Succession. But unlike the rest of the family, Alice is a grounding force—practical, self-aware, and resistant to the family’s toxic pull. Meanwhile, Jack is there to judge the competition, but sparks fly between him and Alice, leaving her uncertain whether getting close to him is wise. The novel expertly balances intense family drama with a compelling romantic subplot that never overshadows the main story.

This is MacLean’s first novel outside the historical romance genre, and she absolutely nailed it. The premise is fresh and compelling, the characters vividly drawn, and the story itself impossible to put down. Highly recommend!

Personal note: This book brought back a lot of memories for me. It was reminiscent of my family dynamic, in particular my father, who had money and thought he could control everyone that way. It worked, for the most part, except with me. We didn’t get along; our values, morals, and ethics were just too disparate. In fact, I hadn’t spoken to him in more than thirty years when he passed away.

Unlike the father in the book, mine didn’t leave behind a set of challenges after his death. Instead, a few years earlier, when his wife was seriously ill, she convinced him to give her children a lot of money. Not sure how much, but one of my step-siblings described it as “never having to work again” money, so not insignificant.

As for me, I never cared about his money, and he could never understand that. I used to joke that my father’s side of the family put the “dys” in dysfunctional, and truthfully, I was much happier living my life without them.

Fortunately, I had a wonderful mother, and when she eventually remarried, her husband became so much more than just a stepfather—he truly was my dad in every way that mattered. He also became my husband’s best friend. I miss them both terribly.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean. Ballantine Books (July 8, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593972250. 400p.

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