Imagine all the drama you could think of happening within a family, and quadruple it. This family goes through a lot, with cheating, divorce, serious illness, death, lies, debt, in-laws, as well as everything else! Corr this is a book and a half. This will be your read of the summer, that’s for sure! Hell, maybe even your read of the year! Every character was in transition and actively moving forward while wading through unanticipated opportunities and conundrums. I adored the couple of Mason and Robyn, but Mason most of all, as he was not at all what I was expecting. This engaging story explores the power that lifelong friendship and unconditional love have to help us through life's challenges. Told with a style as authentic as it is entertaining, this book is for the author's many fans as well as those who enjoy Debbie Macomber and Susan Wiggs."— Library Journal on The Friendship List

Her daughter, Harlow is a rather selfish, entitled young woman who doesn't understand that her mother can no longer afford to live on the huge home they've grown up in and needs to sell. She is insistent on having her wedding there.

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Robyn stared at her friend-slash-boss. “You two talked about how that promotion would be more work for him but that it would be worth it. You wanted this for him.” Madison offered a self-satisfied smile. “I wondered why you were so calm. I’m sorry to be the one to bring you such bad news.” There is a lot of angst in the story, but also humor. It's a light, enjoyable read. The characters felt real. Robyn is a strong character who guides her family and deserves respect. I loved the character, Lillian, who was loved by all in the book and was a person Robyn and her children could come to for advice with anything. And she has 15 cats names for kings and queens!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.One woman takes the vacation of a lifetime in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold a family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

You have four kids,” Robyn pointed out. “If things go south in your marriage, I’d rather have Payne move in.” This story has it all and it is all done so well! Personally, there are more graphic, steamy scenes than I am comfortable with, but I glossed over those and the rest of the story is perfection. There is humor, some eye-rolling, head-thumping interactions, relatable dialogue, laugh out loud banter, tender moments, sweet romance and inspiring family bonds. It’s so refreshing to actually see healthy family relationships, especially with adult children. The characters are intelligent and strong, flawed, but likeable (or not in some cases, as is intended), but authentic and appealing. I loved this story and am so grateful that I got to read it.

Take a vacation, of course. Press reset. When her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane to sunny California. A very valid question, Robyn thought. “How can you be insightful? That’s your third glass of champagne.” However, Robyn is all things to everyone. Her time away is soon populated by everyone in her life that she thought she was getting away from. Robyn is a people magnet. While she received comfort from Lillian, she herself was the source of comfort to everyone in her life. Thin eyebrows rose as much as the Botox would let them. “Your ex-husband is dating your daughter’s fiancé’s twin sister.” Robyn Caldwell is mother of two young adult children and is managing a lot in her life. As the drama and tensions build, she decides an escape to her precious grandmother’s home in picturesque Santa Barbara, California, like previous times in her life, is exactly what she needs. One-by-one the people and problems she is running from show up at her door, but she’s finally ready to deal with them. What she isn’t prepared for is the new arrival of a handsome, kind-hearted stranger, the estranged relative of her grandmother’s late husband.

The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery is a family drama that includes an ex-husband, an entitled daughter, and an unambitious son, along with a cheating friend, and a fabulous great-grandma. I enjoyed this fast-paced story that had me hooked from the very beginning and didn’t let me go until the very end.The story is fairly simple. Robin is the divorced mother of two. Her son is an 18 year old who doesn't want to go to college. Her daughter is engaged to be married and is planning her wedding. Her ex husband owns a lucrative charter boat business and is a habitual and long term womanizer.