Review: Enchanted August by Brenda Bowen

Enchanted August

by Brenda Bowen

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  On a dreary spring day in Brooklyn, Lottie Wilkinson and Rose Arbuthnot spot an ad on their children’s preschool bulletin board:
 
Hopewell Cottage
Little Lost Island, Maine.
Old, pretty cottage to rent on a small island.
Springwater, blueberries, sea glass.
August.
 
Neither can afford it, but they are smitten—Lottie could use a break from her overbearing husband and Rose from her relentless twins. On impulse, they decide to take the place and attract two others to share the steep rent: Caroline Dester, an indie movie star who’s getting over a very public humiliation, and elderly Beverly Fisher, who’s recovering from heartbreaking loss. If it’s not a perfect quartet, surely it will be fine for a month in the country. 
 
When they arrive on the island, they are transformed by the salt air; the breathtaking views; the long, lazy days; and the happy routine of lobster, corn, and cocktails on the wraparound porch. By the time of the late-August blue moon, real life and its complications have finally fallen far, far away. For on this idyllic island they gradually begin to open up: to one another and to the possibilities of lives quite different from the ones they’ve been leading. Change can’t be that hard, can it? 

Kritters Thoughts:  Yesterday I reviewed the classic - Enchanted April which this book was based on and today I share my thoughts on the modern retelling.

First, this was my first time reading a classic and then following it up with the modern retelling and I loved it.  I wouldn't mind doing this a few times a year - any suggestions?

I loved knowing the basic plot points already, but getting a different perspective with these four ladies going to Maine instead of Italy and having modern moments mixed in to the basic plot.  There were even conversations that were taken straight from the first book, or so I think.

The one minor thing that I completely loved about this book compared to the classic was the page breaks that helped the reader know that we were switching from one character to the next.  I loved it.  

I also felt like we got more story from the men in the book in the modern retelling and I enjoyed that.  It was great to read about the relationships from both sides instead of just getting half of the story.

I would still suggest reading the classic, but absolutely follow it up with this fantastic retelling!


Rating:  absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Viking/Penguin.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.