Synopses & Reviews
On this island, hearts open under the summer stars and secrets float in the sweet salt air…. Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in Nicoles island house off of Maine. But many years, and many secrets, have kept the women apart. A successful travel writer, single Charlotte lives on the road, while Nicole, a food blogger, keeps house in Philadelphia with her surgeon-husband, Julian. When Nicole is commissioned to write a book about island food, she invites her old friend Charlotte back to Quinnipeague. Outgoing and passionate, Charlotte has a gift for talking to people and making friends, and Nicole could use her expertise for interviews with locals. Missing a genuine connection, Charlotte agrees."If the title alone doesnt put you in a summer mood, the setting will." —Boston magazineBut what both women dont know is that they are each holding something back that may change their lives forever. For Nicole, what comes to light could destroy her marriage—but it could also save her husband. For Charlotte, the truth could cost her Nicoles friendship, but could also free her to love again. And her chance may lie with a reclusive local man, with a heart to soothe and troubles of his own. "Delinsky captures the magic of coastal Maine in this beautifully written book about friendship and redemption… a fantastic summer read!" —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
Review
“Delinsky combines her understanding of human nature with absorbing, unpredictable storytelling—a winning combination.” —Publishers Weekly (starred) on The Secrets Between Us
"Delinsky has a knack for exploring the battlefields of contemporary life.” —Kirkus Reviews on Not My Daughter
“Delinsky does a wonderful and realistic job portraying family dynamics.” —Library Journal on While My Sister Sleeps
“A writer who continues to earn her bestseller status." —Bookreporter.com on Escape
“Delinsky never fails to entertain.” —RT Book Reviews on The Summer I Dared
Review
Praise for Sweet Salt Air:
“With grace and dignity Sweet Salt Air reveals the fragility of human nature while intimating at the healing powers of forgiveness.”—New York Journal of Books
“If the title alone doesnt put you in a summer mood, the setting will." — Boston Magazine
“Delinsky captures the magic of coastal Maine in this beautifully written book about friendship and redemption. The characters are engaging and their various plights believable. The drama of betrayal, the tension of risk and the triumph of friendship play out in a setting that is a character in itself. [Sweet Salt Air is] a fantastic summer read!” —RT Book Reviews, “Top Pick”
“Delinsky's latest won't disappoint her fans. Friendship, romance, and her trademark New England setting —this time, an island off the coast of Maine--are all present and accounted for." — Booklist
Praise for Barbara Delinsky:
“Delinsky combines her understanding of human nature with absorbing, unpredictable storytelling—a winning combination.” —Publishers Weekly (starred) on The Secrets Between Us
"Delinsky has a knack for exploring the battlefields of contemporary life.” —Kirkus Reviews on Not My Daughter
“Delinsky does a wonderful and realistic job portraying family dynamics.” —Library Journal on While My Sister Sleeps
“A writer who continues to earn her bestseller status." —Bookreporter.com on Escape
“Delinsky never fails to entertain.” —RT Book Reviews on The Summer I Dared
“With grace and dignity Sweet Salt Air reveals the fragility of human nature while intimating at the healing powers of forgiveness.”—New York Journal of Books
“Delinsky captures the magic of coastal Maine in this beautifully written book about friendship and redemption. The characters are engaging and their various plights believable. The drama of betrayal, the tension of risk and the triumph of friendship play out in a setting that is a character in itself. [Sweet Salt Air is] a fantastic summer read!” —RT Book Reviews, “Top Pick”
Review
“Narrator Margeurite Gavins voice is low and sensuous. This serves her well in narrating the story and in voicing Charlotte, the more worldly and assertive of the two friends.” - Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
A New York Times Best Seller A Washington Post Best Seller A Publishers Weekly Best Seller An Indie Next Pick
On Quinnipeague, hearts open under the summer stars and secrets float in the Sweet Salt Air...
Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in Nicole's coastal island house off of Maine. But many years, and many secrets, have kept the women apart. A successful travel writer, single Charlotte lives on the road, while Nicole, a food blogger, keeps house in Philadelphia with her surgeon-husband, Julian. When Nicole is commissioned to write a book about island food, she invites her old friend Charlotte back to Quinnipeague, for a final summer, to help. Outgoing and passionate, Charlotte has a gift for talking to people and making friends, and Nicole could use her expertise for interviews with locals. Missing a genuine connection, Charlotte agrees.
But what both women don't know is that they are each holding something back that may change their lives forever. For Nicole, what comes to light could destroy her marriage, but it could also save her husband. For Charlotte, the truth could cost her Nicole's friendship, but could also free her to love again. And her chance may lie with a reclusive local man, with a heart to soothe and troubles of his own.
Bestselling author and master storyteller Barbara Delinsky invites you come away to Quinnipeague...
Synopsis
From
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Delinsky—a woman has a secret that may save the life of her best friend's husband—or destroy him
Charlotte and Nicole were once the best of friends, spending summers together in Nicole's family's island house, but they have since grown apart. A successful travel writer, Charlotte lives on the road, while Nicole, a food blogger, lives in Philadelphia with her surgeon-husband, Julian. When Nicole returns to the island house in order to write a book about island food, she invites her old friend Charlotte for both sentimental and practical reasons. Outgoing and passionate, Charlotte has a gift for talking to people and making friends, and Nicole would like her help interviewing locals for her book. Missing a genuine connection, Charlotte agrees. But what both women don't know is that they are each holding a secret that may change their relationship forever. Are the bonds of friendship strong enough to weather past indiscretions and betrayals? Can love survive an honest mistake? Filled with real, gut-wrenching emotion as well as a strong romantic storyline, Sweet Salt Air is a new offering from a beloved storyteller guaranteed to make you laugh and cry.
About the Author
Barbara Delinsky is a New York Times bestselling author with more than thirty million copies of her books in print. She has been published in twenty-eight languages worldwide. A lifelong New Englander, Barbara earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. Barbara enjoys knitting, photography, and cats. She lives in Massachusetts. She also loves to interact with her readers through her website at www.barbaradelinsky.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bdelinsky, and on Twitter as @BarbaraDelinsky.
Reading Group Guide
Discussion Questions: 1. Quinnipeague is a fictional island, but based very closely on the many islands that dot Maines coast and are popular with summer visitors. Have you been to a seasonal island or beach community on vacation? How was Quinnipeague similar to these places youve visited? What characteristics make Quinnipeague unique? What interesting dynamics play out in the story because of the seasonal nature of Quinnipeague? What differences did you find between the characters who are “locals” and those that are “summer people?”
2. One of the main plotlines is Sweet Salt Air revolve around Charlottes and Nicoles efforts to write a cookbook. What is the significance of food—how its prepared, served, and appreciated—in Sweet Salt Air? What makes the islands food special to the two women? Do they view food, and the process of collecting recipes and the stories behind them, differently?
3. Talk about the characters lives off the island of Quinnipeague—Charlotte, who lives in Brooklyn but travels constantly, and Nicole who is firmly rooted to her home in Philadelphia. What does each womans lifestyle reveal about her personality? Do their lifestyle choices seem in keeping with what the novel reveals about them?
4. Both Charlotte and Nicole are keeping secrets at the start of the novel that they have no intention of revealing. And yet, they both ultimately do. Do you understand why each woman kept her secret from the other? Do you think one was more justified in keeping her secret? What did you think of each womans reaction to the truth? Have you ever kept a big secret from a friend, only to reveal it later?
5. If you were Nicole, could you forgive Charlotte for what she did? Do you think there are some things in friendship that are unforgiveable? Do you think Charlotte has forgiven herself? If yes, what happened on the island that allowed her to forgive herself? If not, what do you think she still needs to do?
6. Nicole and Julian face challenges, but every marriage is tested at one time or another. What do you think is the hardest test? Illness? Infidelity? Money? Are we stronger for the suffering? In what ways?
7. Cecily Cole is a presence throughout the book, despite her death several years earlier. How do the locals see Cecily and her garden? How does Cecilys spirit affect each character in the novel? How do Leos descriptions of Cecily as a mother affect your view of her? Do you believe in the kind of lingering legacy that the women discover in the herbs and food of Quinnipeague?
8. Discuss the role of Salt to the story in Sweet Salt Air? Do you and your friends have the same taste in books? How do Charlottes and Nicoles differing reactions to the book reflect their natures? How did you enjoy the experience of hearing about a book you could not read? Were you surprised when you learned who had written Salt?
9. Nicole is upset over Angies relationship with Tom. Do you feel that shes justified? Have you ever witnessed a parents romantic involvement with a nonparent of yours? What emotions were involved for you? For your parent?
10. Leo has a “bad boy” edge. Does this make him more attractive to Charlotte? Do you think a little rebellion is attractive? Leo has committed some crimes in his life, crimes for which hes served time in jail. What is your sense of how Leos time in jail affected him? Has he changed? Does doing bad things make us bad people? And what about Charlotte, whos committed no crimes, and yet, shes done some terrible things? Would you characterize Charlotte as “bad?”
11. If you could ask the author anything about Sweet Salt Air—clarification of a plot point, a detail about a particular character, scenes from the cutting-room floor—what would it be? (You may choose to contact Barbara Delinsky, via her website or Facebook, and ask her!)