I just Love. Beatriz. Williams. In my opinion, I could end this review there.

That being said, The Summer Wives was not my favorite of her novels – it is significantly less astounding. This, however, is not as much a criticism of the book as it is praise for the author. I truly feel taken in by each one of Williams’ novels – just some more than the others.

I think that I knew this one may be a little flat. The hardcover copy of the novel has sat on my bookshelf for nearly a year. Perhaps the mediocre reviews permeated my subconscious.

Still, I’m glad to have read it. Quick and vigilant, the story marches, like trained troops, towards its realization. The main character of Miranda Schuyler marches like a soldier through her own story, rather than taking the lead as General.

In comparison with other Williams heroines, Miranda was a bit feeble, and not particularly determined to own her story. That’s okay, there are all different types of characters, but I felt like Miranda rolled over and let life happen to her rather than living it.

The one thing she does for herself throughout the noel is to become an actress, and even this wasn’t her own dream, but the dream of her former lover for her. She doesn’t do a lot of thinking for herself, which troubled me.

Miranda’s mother is a complete waste of space. She never defends her daughter or acts in her best interest, choosing to wallow away in the shadow of her husband’s death – who was a di**.

Hugh Fisher is the example of all that is wrong with society, he is rich (or acts like it) and takes and takes from everyone around him, living like a parasite off the emotions of people he has deemed lesser, and who allow him to take advantage.

I am a huge proponent of flawed characters, but overall, there were too many, in roles that were too standard.

The romance, the picturesque setting, the lyrical prose – all magnificent. Williams truly has a way with sentence structure. I am really looking forward to her next novel, The Golden Hour, due out in July. I hope the next novel reflects all the true writing prowess Williams possesses to tell a story and to make the reader completely bereft at the thought that they can’t be a part of the story itself, upset every time they have to close the book. Williams has given me that feeling before, and I’m looking forward to it again.