Review: Summer of Secrets by Rosie Rushton

 

Summer of Secrets is a book by Rosie Rushton, first published in 2007 by Piccadilly Press Ltd.

What would happen if the traumas of teenage life from Jane Austen's 

Northanger Abbey surfaced in our modern day lives?

   Caitlin Morland has always craved excitement and mystery. When she wins an art scholarship to Mulburry Court School, she's delighted to suddenly befriend the glamorous Izzy Thorpe and guarded but intriguing Summer Tilney. 

When Summer unexpectedly invites Caitlin to join her family on a holiday to their villa in Italy, Caitlin readily agrees. But will her dreams of a romantic getaway turn into something so much more?

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Caitlin felt as if she was sitting in the middle of one of those TV adverts for Italian cars or jars of pasta sauce. A long trestle table had been set up under the trees at the side of the villa and was laden with bowls of salad, dishes of olives, baskets of garlic bread and jugs of wine. Two barbecues sizzled away at the side, grilling huge shrimps, whole fish and chicken legs doused in honey and herbs. 

Sir Magnus had invited friends from the neighbouring villa to the meal, and Caitlin's ears were assailed with the rapid staccato of Italian spoken so fast that she couldn't understand a single word, despite having scanned the pages of Italian in Seven Days at the airport. 

She felt as if any moment now a Fiat Punto would hurtle through the olive groves, or some fat senora would brandish tomato sauce to background music of Arrivederci Roma and pronounce that it was full of Italian sunshine for just two pounds thirty-five.

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   I also managed to pick up this book second hand, luckily, but I did think I hadn't read this one. It turns out I have read it before, also a couple of years ago, but I had no clue about the ending, which means I re-lived this book as if it was my first time reading it. 

I have read other Rosie Rushton books in the past, such as the What a Week series, but I really believe that her true skill for writing comes through in Summer of Secrets and The Secrets of Love. 

Although I have not read the original Northanger Abbey, I think she portrayed the original story, and the romance and mystery is included brilliantly. 

The only thing I would change about this book is the start. Nothing is wrong with it, I would just like to know how Caitlin became friends with Izzy and Summer, as it's not really explained. Aside from that, the plot is great, with enough excitement to get you involved in the novel and make you want to find out what happens.

-Beth

Happy Reading!♥