Plot Summary

The Rocks

Peter Nichols
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The Rocks

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1969

Book Brief

Peter Nichols

The Rocks

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1969
Book Details
Pages

434

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mallorca, Spain • Contemporary

Publication Year

1969

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Rocks by Peter Nichols unfolds on Mallorca, spanning from 1948 to 2005, and starts with the deaths of octogenarians Lulu and Gerald, who were briefly married in the 1940s. Their families intersect despite a long-standing rift triggered by a mysterious event on their honeymoon. Their children, Luc and Aegina, navigate complex relationships and personal struggles as familial secrets and past traumas gradually surface and reshape their lives.

Nostalgic

Bittersweet

Romantic

Melancholic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.4

10,797 ratings

42%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

24%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Peter Nichols' The Rocks masterfully intertwines captivating romance and generations of secrets on the sun-soaked island of Mallorca. Critics praise its vivid settings and complex characters. However, some find the nonlinear timeline confusing and pacing uneven. Overall, it is a compelling read for fans of rich, character-driven narratives.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Rocks?

Readers who would enjoy Peter Nichols' The Rocks are fans of multi-generational sagas filled with romance, mystery, and complex family dynamics. They likely appreciate novels like Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See and Amor Towles' A Gentleman in Moscow, which balance historical context with deep, evocative storytelling.

3.4

10,797 ratings

42%

Loved it

34%

Mixed feelings

24%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

434

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mallorca, Spain • Contemporary

Publication Year

1969

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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