Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kendra is a successful novelist who is struggling to write her sophomore novel after receiving a letter from a reader who was disappointed in the story she chose to tell. She moves back up to her late grandfather's Michigan cabin on the lake to write without distractions and maybe even figure out who sent her that letter.

She doesn't realize it, but she's completely spiraling after not really dealing with what happened to her "That Summer." When the translator for the German edition of her debut novel (That Summer) shows up to work on the translation with her, she is pushed to remember her past and figure out who she really is.

I enjoyed the slow burn of this story and how it so intricately (and easily!) wove together plot from so many years ago when Kendra was just a kid playing with her best friend Cami and the current day where she is ever-so-slowly starting to fall for her translator. There were a lot of twists and turns and some pieces I couldn't put together until right when the reveal was happening. The romance was sweet, the feelings of grief, nostalgia, and being out of place were so strong and helped me to immerse myself deeply in Kendra's head.

I would highly recommend this title for people who enjoy a slow burn "mystery" that is a bit literary and tends more toward the gentle reminiscence of what has been. Please do check the trigger warnings at the end of this review though.

Mia Barron's narration was fabulous throughout. I enjoyed her pacing and the slightly different voices she had for each character (without being silly). She also does a "wunderbar" German accent for Andreas, which had me smiling every time he spoke.





Trigger warnings:
-Rape
-Sexual coercion/sexual assault
-Sexual assault by one sibling to another
-Child sex trafficking
-Death of a grandparent
-Possible suicide