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    The Girls of August
    The Girls of August
    The Girls of August
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Girls of August

    Written by Anne Rivers Siddons

    Narrated by Kate Reading

    3/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Anne Rivers Siddons's New York Times bestselling novel about four friends whose lives are forever changed by the events of one summer.

    For fifteen years, four "girls of August" would gather together to spend a week at the beach, until tragedy interrupts their ritual. Now they reunite for a startling week of discoveries.

    The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt.

    Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women uncover secrets that will change them in ways they never expected.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHachette Audio
    Release dateJul 8, 2014
    ISBN9781619696518
    The Girls of August
    Author

    Anne Rivers Siddons

    Anne Rivers Siddons is the New York Times bestselling author of 19 novels that include Nora, Nora, Sweetwater Creek, Islands, Peachtree Road, and Outer Banks. She is also the author of the nonfiction work John Chancellor Makes Me Cry.

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    Reviews for The Girls of August

    3/5

    134 ratings26 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      A quick read, and a bit treacly. I kept waiting for the thing that would tie it all together a bit more.
    • 3/5
      For fifteen years, four "girls of August" would gather together to spend a week at the beach, until tragedy interrupts their ritual. Now they reunite for a startling week of discoveries.

      The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt.

      Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women uncover secrets that will change them in ways they never expected.
    • 4/5
      I love books about life long friends. Easy read to fly thru. Friendships made, kept and lost. What's not to like!
    • 2/5
      The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons

      2014

      Audiobook

      This is a typical beach read with an underwhelming storyline. It seemed promising with the varied characters brought together in their 20's during post college years. The wives often met up while their spouses were working on their medical residencies. There didn't seem to be any depth to the story. Once I became interested in the relationship of the four women who spent August summers together the story suddenly stops and moves to another plot.

      Essentially, it seemed to describe some middle aged women who come together one August summer after many years apart. Maddie, Rachel and Barbara reluctantly agree to stay at Baby's remote South Carolina beach house for two weeks on Tiger Island. They seemed to resent Teddy's new wife, Baby, who was young enough to be one of their children.

      After they all assemble on the island, the women begin their gossiping and rude behavior towards Baby, the young "girl." Each of the characters being with them after so many years apart "issues" which are eventually revealed. The women act more like grumpy old ladies drinking away their problems than friends uniting for a bonding experience.

      It was difficult to care or be invested in such negative characters. Their issues were not unusual nor did they warrant the childish behavior. The story lacked structure and the characters were very superficial. The story annoyed me more than entertain.
    • 5/5
      How could I not give this book, the last from my beloved author Anne Rivers Siddons, a 5 star review. What made it any better than all her other books, which were wonderful, I found this on my TBR shelf not realizing I still had one of her books I hadn't read. Thank you for the last of your gifts to your faithful readers world.
    • 2/5
      Anne Rivers Siddons is never going to win the National Book Award, but I can usually count on her for a good mindless beach read. This book, however, was just preposterous. A good 4th of July weekend i'll never get back.
    • 2/5
      Not up to her earlier books. Not worth the time.
    • 3/5
      This book should only be consumed as an audio book. Kate Reading does a great job of giving voice to these characters. I think if I had read the hardcover copy I might not have enjoyed it as much. This is about three women who have known each other for 20 years because they all met in college and their husbands were med students. They get together each August for a week and this time after a break a fourth girl joins them because their fourth friend Melinda who used to be part of this group died. Baby is a 22-year-old (I think) married to their friend Teddy who used to be married to Melinda. The four of them head to Baby's house on Tiger Island for two weeks. Things happen, that they don't expect. This book is about relationship, how we make generalizations of people we really don't know and how we deal with adversity. It's not a monumental book that is going to change your life so I think some of the other reviewers are being too harsh. It's an enjoyable book for when you have a long drive somewhere and you want to be taken to a small island in the south. I loved the biting bitchiness of Rachel and Barbara to Baby and Baby's carefree attitude. I was totally entertained while driving to/from work and I'm glad I spent the time with these women.
    • 4/5
      I listened to this book because I had read many a great review about it. I discovered for myself that the book was very interesting. I enjoyed the theme of friendship. I also liked that each character had a real personality. I was thinking at one point that nothing positive other then friendship was going to happen in the book; but the author proved me wrong. I enjoyed that one character had her dream come true and that they all met and got along with the natives. I will seek out this author again in the future.
    • 3/5
      Three women are heading to a summer home for their annual girls vacation. One of their group has died and now in her place is the new wife, Baby, who is 25 years old and appears to be a Barbie doll type. They spend two weeks in a beautiful summer home on the beach on Tiger Island.
      I enjoyed this novel because I have a core group of 4 friends that vacation together so I was interested in the relationship between the women. What I don't have that this novel has, is Bay the young chick. She is a great character in this novel and because of her, the novel is much more interesting. She adds some mystery. Is she as dumb as she appears. No. Each of the ladies has their own issue to deal with. Rachel has cancer, Barbara's husband is unfaithful and the narrator, Maddy discovers she finally is pregnant.
      Although the novel is a bit contrived, I enjoyed it quite a bit.
    • 4/5
      I'm just an Anne Rivers Siddons fan. Her books are always like the siren song of the ocean. They lure you in, from the shore and somehow there is always a storm; a hurricane, thunderstorm, fire, some kinda drama amidst the psychoanalysis of middle aged women who love their alcohol and an infinity for beautifully decorated houses. It's her formula, and when I'm needing some good "southerness" I know I can pick up one of her books and not be disapointed. She has a way with words, and I'm just a big fan. This one is a short read, perfect for the beach, or perfect if you wanna be at the beach. While this isn't her best book, it's still satisfying if you like her style.
    • 5/5
      excellent portrayal of adult life 20 years in to it.
    • 4/5
      Three old friends and one new wife in the group spend two weeks together. Sometimes I need a book like this. I will read this author again.
    • 5/5
      Another author whose books I just plain like because of the way she writes---yes, it's about women being women in all of their ups and downs but Siddons writes in what is a very appealing way, to me. Yes, I am now looking at what other reviewers have written--ie., predictable, short, recycled, etc.--but the story holds together and makes a light, fast, and very enjoyable read---again, to me.
    • 4/5
      Story of four long time friends who have gone away each summer for fifteen years. But this time one of the men has a new wife, his wife had died. She is almost 20 years younger. It is at her island home off Charleston where they spend their trying two weeks. Funny, but very realistic.
    • 3/5
      Good summer read. Light.
    • 2/5
      Very predictable and disappointing.
    • 3/5
      The Girls of August by Anne Rivers Siddons

      From Amazon: "Every August, four women would gather together to spend a week at the beach, renting a new house each year. The ritual began when they were in their twenties and their husbands were in medical school, and became a mainstay of every summer thereafter. Their only criteria was oceanfront and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. They called themselves the Girls of August. But when one of the Girls dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together are brought to a halt. Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to come together once again on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. There, far from civilization, the women make startling discoveries that will change them in ways they never expected."

      My thoughts: Ms. Rivers' last several books seem to lack the depth of characters of her earlier works. This book was a fast and easy read, but felt like I was skimming along the surface of the water. The character, Baby, just came off as silly. And the other three had formula problems. Enjoyed the book, finished it, will promptly forget it.
    • 2/5
      An okay book. Read it on the beach. Does not come close to many of her previous books. Some authors get better and some just do not.
    • 3/5
      This was a nice light summer read, but I did not feel like I was reading an Anne Rivers Siddons book. It lacked the complexity and depth that her earlier stories have.
    • 2/5
      Very disappointed with this book. It was very short, characters were not developed very well and not very likeable, the setting and story struck me as a rehash of some of her earlier work, and her prose, which is usually evocative, seemed tired and ordinary.
    • 3/5
      More of a novelette...I usually really like/love ARS books. They usually have the power to transport the reader to some salty shore. This book just transported me to puzzlement. The references seem a bit forced (whose favorite song is Lionel Richie's "Hello"??--no one) and written by someone trying to relate to the current generation of ladies going through the mid-life change. The book seems to cut off abruptly and go into some dream detail to finish it out. Very disapointing.
    • 3/5
      This was a short and easy read. I would consider this light vacation reading material. I liked the island setting and the idea of three women getting together and vacationing with a new fourth member. As we read the book we get to know each person and find out what is happening in each person’s life. This book reminded me a little of the Ya Ya Sisters, but these gals don’t seem to be having near as much fun. In the end though they do seem to bond. I wonder if there will be a follow-up book. This book to me was just average. I think it could have been better. I happen to like Nancy Thayer’s beach novels better!! (She has a new book Nantucket Sisters.) Anne Rivers Siddons has written several other books set in the south. I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
    • 5/5
      Four friends began to take a vacation together when all the husbands was in medical school/interns. This become a yearly thing that all enjoyed. For 13 years and then one died. So for a few years little contact. When the guy remarries, he ask the girls to try again and include his new wife (Baby). Baby is only in her 20's and the girls not sure about this.

      They meet and agree to give it a try. Baby has a secluded beach house that can only be gotten to by boat. So they are dropped off with supplies for 2 weeks. Longer vacation than normal, but guy can't pick them up before that.

      From the very beginning tension. The original 3 gets along well, but still things are different. Baby tries very hard to fit in, but so much younger than the others.

      Not your normal vacation, but do keep the reader wondering what will happen next. The island sounds beautiful.

      As the story ends the girls discover that Baby can fit in. It leaves the reader thinking that another vacation could be possible. Several secrets come out about the original girls.
    • 2/5
      This was a very disappointing book. I have always enjoyed this author and this book was one of her worst. The characters were one dimensional and I really didn't like any of them. They acted like junior high school mean girls to the 'new' girl in the their group and they were either arguing or making up for the whole book. The premise of the book was great and it could have been so much more.
    • 3/5
      This was definitely not up to Siddons usual standards. The characters were all unlikeable and annoying. The set up felt contrived and it was a very short book