Title: The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
In the tradition of Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters, The Summer List is a tender yet tantalizing novel about two friends, the summer night they fell apart, and the scavenger hunt that reunites them decades later—until the clues expose a breathtaking secret that just might shatter them once and for all.
Laura and Casey were once inseparable: as they floated on their backs in the sunlit lake, as they dreamed about the future under starry skies, and as they teamed up for the wild scavenger hunts in their small California lakeside town. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake.
But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. With a twist: this time, the list of clues leads to the settings of their most cherished summer memories. From glistening Jade Cove to the vintage skating rink, each step they take becomes a bittersweet reminder of the friendship they once shared. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart…
Mesmerizing and unforgettable, Amy Mason Doan’s The Summer List is about losing and recapturing the person who understands you best—and the unbreakable bonds of girlhood.
Review:
The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan is a bittersweet journey of healing and reconciliation.
Growing up, Laura Christie is a bit of an outcast among her classmates so she has low expectations for her unexpected friendship with newcomer Casey Shepherd. Since her ultra-religious, conservative mother does not approve of Casey’s much younger, free-spirited mom, Alex, the girls spend most of their time at the Shepherd home, also known as The Shipwreck.Inseparable over the first summer of their acquaintance, Laura is delighted when their friendship continues to flourish over the years. However, just weeks before moving away to live together while attending college, Laura’s life takes a shocking turn and she runs away without explanation.
Fast forward seventeen years and Laura has made a comfortable life for herself away from her small hometown of Couer-de-Luna. So when she receives an unexpected invitation to return to the lake and join Casey on a scavenger hunt, Laura is conflicted about whether or not she has any desire to revisit her past. Although she is uncertain whether or not accepting the invitation is prudent, Laura cautiously decides to meet with Casey. Their reunion is fraught with anxiety and they reluctantly collect the various clues from the list Alex has provided for them.
Chapters from their past are interspersed with the events occurring in the present. During their teenage years, Casey and Laura’s friendship is close-knit so there is a great deal of suspense surrounding their eventual estrangement. What happened to drive such a schism between them? What possible reason could Laura have for leaving everyone behind in such a dramatic fashion?
Equally compelling are the chapters that detail another unlikely friendship between two girls who meet at summer church camp. Neither of the girls are overly enthused about the camp and they embark on some rebellious adventures. After their time at the camp ends, their mothers’ choices lead the girls down an unanticipated path that culminates in an unforeseen turn of events for both of them.
The Summer List is a captivating novel of friendship that has a lovely nostalgic aspect to the storyline. The characters are vibrantly developed with endearing traits and relatable foibles. Laura and Casey’s reunion is realistically depicted as they gradually work through the lingering hurt and anger from their long standing estrangement. This impressive debut by Amy Mason Doan is an engaging and emotional novel that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.
