Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde is a romantic, finding your way with some magical happenings book. The novel focuses on two sisters who are estranged thanks to their father. After their mother’s death they are invited to an island by their mother’s dearest friends to repair their relationship. The book is the second book in The Hobby Island series
The island (Hobby Island) is full of characters and I do mean characters. Each person who lives there full time seems to have a quirky and even quirkier personality which has permeated the island. There are shops where people are encouraged to join in completing or making various crafts. Much of the housing is painted and adorned with various colors and schemes. There are golf cars to help people get around although most people walk. There is a field where an emu lives and a section of the forest filled with windchimes and a secret spot with a journal for writing. It is as if the Hobby Island lives and breathes on its own space. You even need a golden ticket to get on the boat to get to the island.
Calista and Athena Dempsey’s parents were divorced. They ended up living with their father who epitomizes the self centered narcissistic overbearing father. He played his daughters off each other and planned for them. Calista and Athena want to find out about their mother who was banned from ever seeing and contacting them.
The book was colorful with the likeable characters, but I was not into the magical stuff. I found the scene toward the end with the emu and gold cart really funny. Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde was a different novel with the romance and characters.
