In the Gulf of Mexico, near South Padre, sits a private island with a bit of a magic about it: the colors are brighter, the food tastes better, and turtles and cranes find sanctuary there. Eloisa Hobby, the billionaire heiress who built the thriving resort on Hobby Island exclusively for crafters, is as much a mystery as she is a mentor. Those in trouble are invited into the aftermath of emotional turmoil, and with help from the other crafters on the island, Eloisa acts as a sounding board while gently and unobtrusively guiding the visitors toward healthy resolutions in their lives. Only a few receive the honor of a golden ticket.

Luna, ever the pragmatist, is reeling in the wake of tragedy: she’s just moved with her fierce, opinionated teenage daughter Artemis to her mother’s house, after they lost their husband and father. But her mother, Jeanie, artistic and sensitive, has faced her own troubles recently, and her home may not be the stable sanctuary the three women so desperately need.

When Jeanie receives one of the coveted tickets, inviting her and her family to Hobby Island, the blessing is one they can’t turn down, though both Luna and Artie remain skeptical of their eccentric host and benefactor. Together, the three of them will have to learn to trust one another again, accept help from those who love them, and embrace life—during a summer they’ll never forget.

Titles in the Hobby Island series include:  The Summer That Shaped Us** ~ Our Extraordinary Summer** ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  The Summer That Shaped Us
Series:  Hobby Island #1
Author:  Lori Wilde
Published:  April 22, 2025
Publisher:  Avon
My Rating:  4 stars

It didn’t take long for The Summer That Shaped Us to draw me under its spell. The first story in the Hobby Island series introduces us to three women, a family of grandmother, mother, and daughter who are facing life challenges, each in their own unique way. Each is hurting, each needs the magic of Hobby Island, even though they might fight those changes, they each have to discover what drives them, what is hurting them. Often, change doesn’t happen without pain, and Jeannie, Luna, and Artie will each have their own heartaches to work through before that elusive peace and happiness find them.

Eloisa, the owner of this magical island and the woman who created the crafter’s paradise and the possibilities it offers, is a unique and mysterious character. Watching the ways she befriended this family and seeing the truth about all the visitors to her island was, at times, a bit of a roller coaster. Which I happened to enjoy.

There is mystery in The Summer That Shaped Us, as well as healing for the women of this family. There is also a bit of romance, friendships, and peace of mind to be found.

I enjoyed my time here and would not hesitate to recommend this book to any reader who enjoys Women’s Fiction, Romance, and a bit of mystical Magic.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

** This review was initially written when I was fighting to get my original website back from thieves.  It was posted on various retail sites, but since I love this series, I wanted to make sure readers could follow the stories within it that I’ve read and reviewed here.**

This title is available at Amazon