The High Season
A Novel
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
“A mesmerizing, head-spinning—and sometimes madcap-hilarious—take of have and have-nots.”—People (Book of the Week)
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE AND KIRKUS REVIEWS • “In the smart, breezy, sweet spot between Meg Wolitzer and Elin Hilderbrand.”—Entertainment Weekly
No matter what the world throws her way, at least Ruthie Beamish has the house. Located by the sea in a quiet Long Island village, the house is her nest egg—the retirement account shared with her ex-husband, Mike, and the college fund for their teenage daughter, Jem. The catch? To afford the house, Ruthie must let it go during the best part of the year.
It’s Memorial Day weekend and the start of what Jem calls “the summer bummer”: the family’s annual exodus to make way for renters. This year, the Hamptons set has arrived. Adeline Clay is elegant and connected—and will never need to worry about money. Before long, she demonstrates an uncanny ability to help herself to Ruthie’s life. Is Adeline just being her fabulous self, or is she out to take what she wants?
When an eccentric billionaire, his wayward daughter, a coterie of social climbers, and Ruthie’s old flame are thrown into the mix, the entire town finds itself on the verge of tumultuous change. But as Ruthie loses her grasp on her job, her home, and her family, she discovers a new talent for pushing back. By the end of one unhinged, unforgettable summer, nothing will be the same—least of all Ruthie.
Praise for The High Season
“Blundell knows the territory. . . . Her account of Ruthie’s coming to grips with a career, a daughter and a community in flux is as touching as it is convincing.”—The Wall Street Journal
“A huge page-turner . . . so compelling . . . a classic beach read, but very smart, very intelligently written.”—Us Weekly, Emily Giffin’s Summer Reading Recommendations
“An acid-laced domestic drama set during one golden summer on the moneyed, beachy North Fork of Long Island.”—The New York Times
“Judy Blundell wields words like an oyster knife in this shimmering story of art, money, and celebrity.”—Helen Simonson, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Before the War
“A wry, often hilarious story of a woman trying to keep it together when everything is going so, so wrong.”—Real Simple
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Judy Blundell’s novel has everything we look for in a beach read. Ruthie Beamish leads a charmed life—gorgeous house, prestigious job, wonderful family—but when she rents out her coastal home to a charismatic socialite for the summer, she unwittingly invites chaos into her pristine existence. Marrying wry observations on social niceties with deliciously despicable characters, Blundell explores class hierarchies and the darker side of polite society with biting wit. We found ourselves utterly sucked in and riled up: these characters are fabulously real.
Customer Reviews
Perfect book for the beach!
Was fortunate to receive an advance copy through BookishFirst and thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are flawed which makes them very human and believable. The main character Ruthie is going through some tough times and makes some bad decisions but I still found myself rooting for her to straighten out her life. Touching, emotional and surprising. Highly recommend!
wow!
I have found a new author! She is smart, witty, and awesomely interesting. Best book I’ve read in years. A page-turner for sure! Absolutely loved it.
Not my cup of tea
I finished the book because I always finish a book I start. It found it tedious mainly because the characters were not flushed out enough at the beginning to hold through.