Summer Reading Giveaway: The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. by Nichole Bernier

Last week, I brought you a great piece of southern literature, and a great summer read, as a Summer Reading Giveaway. This week, I have a very different novel to give away, but one that is every bit as enjoyable.

The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. is also set on the coast, but a bit further north than last week's Sea Change, which took place on St. Simons Island, Georgia. This week's giveaway novel, by debut author Nichole Bernier, is set on Great Rock Island, most likely a fictionalized version of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

My review will post later in the week, but here is a summary of the novel from the author's website:

Summer island vacation with her family was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who’d lost her close friend Elizabeth in a plane crash. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth's journals, they reveal a woman far different than the cheerful wife and mother Kate thought she knew. The complicated portrait of Elizabeth — her upbringing, her marriage, and journey to motherhood — makes Kate question not just their friendship, but her own deepest beliefs about loyalty and honesty at a moment of uncertainty in her own marriage. When an unfamiliar man’s name appears in the pages, Kate realizes the extent of what she didn’t know about her friend — including where she was really going when she died. 

Set in the anxious summer after the September 11th attacks, this story of two women —their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions and fears — considers the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.

Although it just debuted last week, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D. has garnered praise from many sources. Authors Jenna Blum, Randy Susan Meyers, and J. Courtney Sullivan all hailed the novel as one that stays with you long after you read the last page. It has earned 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and 4.2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. The book has also received positive reviews from the book blogs Devourer of Books and S. Krishna's Books.

To enter the giveaway, simply fill out the form below. The contest runs through Thursday night. I will email the winner on Friday, then send your contact information to the publisher so they can get you your free book!