Ari Reviews The Lost Summers of Newport – Beatriz Williams

The Lost Summers of Newport is a historical fiction that tells the stories of three women who encounter the gilded mansions of Newport, RI and the secrets and lives of the rich who resided in these magnificent homes . The book focuses on three main characters Andie, Ellen, and Lucia “Lucky: who live in different time periods in Newport that give the background of life in Newport and how their lives all connect in the different time spans that unravel the secrets of the past. The book starts off in the year of  2019 where we meet Andie Figuero who lands her dream job of being a producer on the famous TV show Mansion Makeover that focuses on renovating historic homes.  Andie’s assignment in her new role is to renovate Sprague Hall in Newport, RI that is located along with the well-known Gilded Age families the Belmonts and Vanderbilts. Andie is determined to make Sprague Hall alive again with her vision of redesigning some areas in the house but however she runs into conflict with the Spagrue family’s requests: Andie and crew members can’t see the living Sprague heiress named Lucia who also goes by the name of  “Lucky” who is still currently living there and they also must not touch Sprague Hall’s boathouse. When Andie and her crew began renovating in the mansion they discover a box that once belonged to former heiress Maybelle Sprague who once resided in the mansion a century ago that contains letters and other items that have a mysterious connection to the mansion’s past. Then we are taken back to the mansion’s beginnings to 1899 where we meet Ellen Daniels, a young woman who seeks work in the Sprague family to become the music teacher for a mining heiress named Maybelle. Maybelle’s family is considered new money in Newport society and her stepbrother John Sprague is determined to marry Maybelle to an Italian prince who is also a fortune hunter to find a heiress for their money. Ellen is expected by John Sprague to prepare Maybelle with her music and singing lessons to impress the Italian  prince when he is a guest at the mansion in prospects of a marriage arrangement. Ellen Daniels however, runs into some conflict in her new role as music teacher and servant to Maybelle where she has to hide her true identity due to her past prior to coming to Newport. Ellen faces a dilemma where she discovers the Italian prince has feelings for her and wants her to be in his life but she is supposed to aid Maybelle in winning his heart to become a princess and to impress the Newport elite in marrying royalty as her stepbrother John hopes to make happen. Lastly, we meet Lucia also referred to as “Lucky” where we see her story which takes place in 1958 Newport. Lucky feels like an outcast and never has felt accepted at Sprague Hall. Lucky and her nonna fled from Mussolini’s Italy to come back to Newport since her grandmother has not been there since her marriage in 1899. Lucky faces challenges in her life such as dealing with her alcoholic husband Stuyvesant, her husband’s affairs, falling in love with another man named Ted, caring for her daughter Joanie, and trying to fit in and seek acceptance with her husband’s family, and preserving Newport’s Gilded Age mansions. Lucky however, one night she finds a deep dark secret in the boathouse that will change her life forever and rethink the past she thought she knew. This book leaves with many questions as I was reading it: what are the deep dark secrets of Sprague Hall’s past that connect all three main characters? Will Andie fulfill her project in renovating Sprague Hall and solve the mystery in what they uncover ? What will Lucky discover in the boathouse ? Will Ellen fulfill her duty to help Maybelle in becoming a princess or will her past catch up with her and be revealed? You will have to check this book out to seek the answers to these questions. I loved reading this book and loved how the author had various narrators and timelines that played off each other very well. I loved how there were aspects of Newport history during the Gilded Age since I am a big fan of Gilded Age history.  The book overall, was well-written and had a great storyline . This book would be great for readers who love historical fiction and mysteries as well as stories that include many narrators/timelines that connect one way or the other to the book’s plot.