Every August, Maddy, Rachel, Barbara, and Melinda would gather together to spend a week at the beach, renting a new house each year. They called themselves the Girls of August. The ritual began when they were in their twenties; their only criteria were ocean-front and isolation, their only desire to strengthen their far-flung friendships. But when Melinda dies tragically, the group slowly drifts apart and their vacations together come to an end. Years later, a new marriage reunites them and they decide to gather once again, this time on a remote barrier island off the South Carolina coast. Baby, the new and much younger addition to the group, soon tests their patience and good will. But Baby is the least of their worries: on this island, far from civilization, the strength of their friendship will be tested -- and all four women will make startling discoveries that will alter them in ways they never expected. With lush prose and richly imagined character, The Girls of August is a poignant depiction of female friendship, as well as a compelling exploration of the deep, complex bonds that tie people together -- and tear them apart.