The Summer House Party is set between the hot summer of 1936 when a group of friends meet at a country house for a party, and the end of the war in 1945. This is a beautifully written book where the cleverly woven descriptions bring the period to life very well. The story evokes a more innocent, yet judgmental way of life where secrets were kept and reputations broken by an unplanned action. The first thing that caught my attention was the beautiful cover, I love books set during this period and couldn’t wait to begin reading.

It took me a little time to get into the book because the reader is introduced to so many characters – understandably as it does start with a party – but it was initially difficult to differentiate between some of them. The story begins at the house party hosted by rakish artist, Henry Haddon and his wife. He is attracted to younger women and in particular the children’s nanny, Madeleine, a bored, beautiful girl who has been taken in by his wife and who makes a decision that will change many lives. Something terrible happens early on and the repercussions of the incident during the house party resonates through most of their lives.

Dan Ranscombe, is a charismatic man who finds his lack of personal wealth a bit of a trial, especially when one of his friends, Paul Latimer, a good looking and extremely wealthy but very straight-laced man becomes close to a woman that Dan is attracted to. Meg Slater, can’t help fancying Dan, but she is very unworldly and also well aware of his reputation. She decides that Paul might be better husband material. However, none of their lives progress as any of them had imagined and their three lives become entangled in various ways.

I loved the characters, but especially Diana, Paul’s socialite sister. She is bold, unafraid of criticism, clever and beautiful, but has to rely on her brother Paul for her allowance. Meg, although the heroine of the book, is a rather unsympathetic character. I was more interested in her aunt, Sonia who hosted the initial party and worked hard to keep her country house functioning while looking after those closest to her.  I don’t want to give any plot spoilers, but when I did get into the book I really couldn’t put it down.

Although The Summer House Party was initially a slow-starter for me, that soon changed and I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book and would definitely recommend it.

8/10

Buy The Summer House Party by Caro Fraser here