The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner

Published: April 25th 2017 by Little Brown and Company

The discovery of long-buried secrets brings three generations of women together to Cape Cod for the summer homecoming of a lifetime.

Marin Bishop has always played by the rules, and it’s paid off: on the cusp of thirty she has a handsome fiancé, a prestigious Manhattan legal career, and her father’s hard-won admiration. But with one careless mistake at work, Marin suddenly finds herself unemployed and alone. Before she can summon the courage to tell her parents, a young woman appears, claiming to be Marin’s half-sister. Seeking answers, Marin agrees to join her on a soul-searching journey to Cape Cod, to meet the family she didn’t even know she had.

As the summer unfolds at her grandmother’s beachside B&B, it becomes clear that her half-sister’s existence is just the first in a series of truths that will shake Marin’s beliefs–in love, and in her own identity–to the core. Filled with shocking revelations, heartfelt romance, and resilient women banding together against the most unexpected twists of fate, THE FOREVER SUMMER is an emotionally resonant page-turner, and a delicious escape for any season.

I read this book during a spring blizzard and it was a perfect escape. My go-to favourite for summer favourites has always been Elin Hildebrand, but it’s safe to say she now has some competition!

I loved that this book jumps right into the action, by page 2 the plot is beginning to unfold. The prose is concise and tight, effectively taking the reader on a journey at the snap of our fingers. I find that sometimes summer fiction novels seem to be a bit too wordy, heavy on the details and slim on the action. The Forever Summer, captured the perfect balance. There was just enough details and dialogue to make the story come to life.

This story explored the dynamics of family–the good, bad and everything in between. It is so much more than a fluffy beach read. There are lessons to be learned from a dynamic set of characters we come to adore by the ending of the novel.

Check this story out, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you, Hachette Book Group for the review copy.