Blundell (who has spent most of her career in YA, often under the pseudonym Jude Watson) casts her net wide: Season teems with angst-riddled teenagers and twentysomething grifters, townies and trophy wives and eccentric billionaires. But she weaves them all together seamlessly, landing somewhere in the smart, breezy sweet spot between Meg Wolitzer and Elin Hilderbrand.
The summer chronicled in The High Season is hell and, come to think of it, high water ... Ms. Blundell knows the territory ... Her account of Ruthie’s coming to grips with a career, a daughter and a community in flux is as touching as it is convincing. And watching her re-connect with a mensch from her past is a pleasure. Yes, it’s high time for a moratorium on chapters composed entirely of texts or emails, a device that seems designed to let middle-aged authors prove that they’re hip to the ways of the young’uns, but it’s a small matter. No bummer, for sure.
I was expecting The High Season to be a light summer read perfect for the beach. I definitely did not expect to feel the urge to pick up an ax and chop down a tree as Ruthie does in her blind rage ... Blundell packs this book with twists and turns, leaving you guessing how her characters will piece their lives back together. She delicately details intricate plot lines that weave together the stories of several characters through their pasts, presents and futures. Blundell’s writing feels effortless as her story becomes more complex with each summer day. The High Season more than just the perfect beach read --- it is a must-read.
...a Gatsby-esque tale of haves and have-nots centered on fictional people and real places on Long Island’s East End ... The High Season goes beyond light summer fare. It’s a bit like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous but with Jane Austen’s type of biting wit and keen eye toward the human heart as an undercurrent.
Trouble comes when renters arrive for the season, bringing with them art-world intrigue and memories Ruthie would rather push out to sea. If you loved The Affair, you’ll love this book.
Ruthie’s journey is especially satisfying, and although some threads are left untied, Blundell’s...engrossing novel has enough high-society proximity to make it beachy, but enough emotional reality to make it resonate.
Luscious but not too sweet, astute but not too serious, Blundell's novel is a treat you don't have to feel guilty about and a sign of good things to come.
