It has been seventeen years since Laura and Casey were best friends. It all fell apart the summer after their senior year. That summer was carefree and relaxing as they planned to head off to college. Casey's mom would put together these elaborate scavenger hunts for the girls and their friends. Alex's relaxed rules and an open mind towards social situations made "The Shipwreck" the place for the kids to be on hot summer nights. One night Casey's father catches them in an act that he doesn't understand and it sets off a chain of events that changes everything.
It has been seventeen years since that summer and seventeen years since Laura has spoken with Casey. She receives an invitation in the mail from Casey and after weeks of agonizing, Laura returns to the house on the lake that held so many memories. She arrives to discover that it wasn't Casey who sent that invitation, but her mother. Alex set them up for a weekend alone and has left the girls one of her elaborate scavenger hunts. The hunt sends them down memory lane and helps to provide answers to decades-old questions. Like what is the truth of Laura's parentage? And what really sent Laura on a path that took her away from Jade Cove?
The Summer List was a fun book to read that reminded me a bit of Firefly Lane and an old Bette Midler film. (To say which one would give it away.) Let me say first, that I loved the setting of Jade Cove and the cabins on each side of the lake. I like both Casey and Laura. Laura was obviously subdued and I think it came from having parents of an older generation. Casey gave her a sense of confidence that she never had before. A few things to note - the fact that she was adopted played a lot into Laura's story. And I loved (!!) how one particular about Casey was handled by the author, by Laura, and by Alex. It was all so natural. And I loved it. Some elements of the story were predictable and cliche, but the writing was mostly engaging and the characters were enjoyable. I had figured out some of the surprises, but not all of them. -CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS
Bottom Line - The Summer List is one of those books that you should probably read with your best friend. Especially if your best friend was around during your high school years. You will likely find a lot of similarities between you and Laura and Casey.
Details:
- The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan
- On Instagram
- Pages: 384
- Publication Date: 6/26/16
- Buy it Here!
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