Frank's work is some of my favorite. She talks about themes that women can relate to, especially in their midlife years. I've been on a "re-read jag" of her work lately, and I happened to find this one that I hadn't read previously. It's different from many of her books, in that the main character is the next generation of a family we got to know in a previous work. Her characters are well-drawn, and the stories tend to be "small" - not large and sweeping vistas, but more local stories about how people really live. Definitely worth the read.

I was in the mood for something light and fun. No thinking required. And since I loved "Sullivan's Island" (read it twice!), I thought this would be the perfect ChickLit pick-me-up. I was wrong. This book is very disappointing.

The plot was way too predictable, the writing a little too breezy for comfort and at times cringe-worthy and the characters and their conversations were just not believable.

If I had to sum this up in one word it would be: contrived.

P.S. I read this in the Kindle version, which I purchased in 2010. I notice it is no longer available for Kindle, for what that's worth.

Return to Sullivan's Island was a joyful return to some of the people of this magical island. The Hamiltons, owners of one of the island's old family homes, are quirky and such fun to read about. Beth, a 23 year old college graduate is forced to stay and house sit for a year instead of going on to graduate school. Her family are scattered about, even her mother is in Paris for a year. Beth grows up in only a few weeks on the island during everyone's absence. Love, dishonor and tragedy bring all the family back to the island to mourn one of their own and regroup. I love the island stories of Dorothea Benton Frank, and am planning to reread them all again and again. They call to my spirit.

I loved the storyline, as I love all of Dorothea Benton Frank's books. The addition of Beth bringing a younger voice to the main character was really enjoyable. Loved every minute and was upset when I was done!

I have read all these reviews that think this was the worst Dorthea Benton Frank book they have ever read...I disagree. According to what these reviewers said, it might make me sound trite, or without depth of understanding, but that is necessarily not the case. I ordered my book on CDs..and don't know if the reader was just great, or it lent itself to an oral read, rather than in the book..Now I have ordered the book to give it a real chance. I found it thoroughly enjoyable..because it was good to have a heroine who was not perfect, and made mistakes in discerning the character of people, and was just as naive about life as a 23 year old might be..I know someone like this (not me). People do make mistakes in their lives in judgements, decisions..I found it totally believable that Beth could fall in love with this devastatingly handsome man who was a perfect specimen, although as many handsome men are..decidely flawed..but she didn't see that, she was so in love with him. We see what we want to see, and make allowances for what is not there. At first, unlike the other reviewers, I didn't see through him, although he sounded a little too perfect to be true. Then, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that he is a scam artist. The reason I enjoyed this angle is that when I was younger and in real estate, I had a client, a very rich girl from a top family in New Orleans, who called me to see a rental apartment in the French Quarter. He was so handsome, she was so beautiful..and with this excellent background of the girl, I didn't immediately ask for a down payment from them..not smart I know, but I was young and trusting. When I finally called her mother when the down payment was not forthcoming, her mother told me that they had checked into this man's finances, and that he was totally a scam artist, and wanted all over the country for the same thing.
So I totally bought into this same scenario that it could happen. In fact, I couldn't wait to find out what he had done, when he didn't call her and when the FBI came. I thought the insight into how shallow a young girl can be, and the trouble that can ensue was excellent.
After writing the above, I read the end of the book..I agree with some of the others that this addition and ending did not fit with the former story and weakened it. Aunt Sophie and Aunt Allison were barely mentioned..and Sophie's death and Beth and Woody's trip to Florida to see about them just didn't fit I think the author would have done much better to have explored more about Max...and why he did what he did and what happened to him.. We had such an interest in him...he was so handsome and a "real catch"..It was totally unexplained about what happened to the money he got from Beth and Woody. And could the money be returned..That part of the story was just unfinished, and the diversion to Sophie and Alison and the Vitamin scare and the body in the freezer tried to turn it into more of a mystery, and it didn't work...I agree..what happened to the editing, and did someone rush the author? But I thought the first part of the book was great!
I do agree that the story of the dog, Lola was sort of unnecessary, but apparently Dorthea must be a dog lover and wanted to write about that. I liked the maid and her imput with the girl. But on the whole, I found the book enjoyable..I loved the original "Sullivan's Island", but also found this perspective of young people was great..so if you haven't read it, give it a chance!

Funny and wonderful. Could not put my kindle down. I love Dorothea Benton Frank. I've read all of her books and appreciate her story telling.

I was looking forward to this book. And the early part, the sections relating to the party before Susan's trip to Paris, were good. Beth seemed to be worth reading about. By the end of the party with her big family, she had emerged as a really balanced person who was able to see her family in some of its positive lights even though she had initially dreaded the party.

Then the book evolved into a cheap romance. I could find no reason to stay with the "Max and Beth" scenes.

This book is far below the books of this author that I read before. It is as if it were an early book, before she had her craft under control.

Personally, I would not buy this Return to Sullivan Island again. Some of the characters, such as Sophia, were worth discovering. But Beth, the principal character, comes across as vapid, someone who has strong rules in one direction but breaks them the next. She seems so strong in her beliefs that marriage is not for her only to fall almost over a cliff for Max, the first offering of male interest. She comes across as hormones, not as a person.

Her red hair that is dyed even too red for her, and her seductive clothing that others notice but she does not, seems a signal that she is confused. I guess she is. The author does not know who Beth is. I don't either. And Beth is not worth remembering.