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bernluvsbooks 's review for:
The Summer List
by Amy Mason Doan
A poignant story about the bonds of friendship, betrayal, secrets and second chances.
Laura and Casey met the summer before 9th grade and became inseparable. The beginning of the book chronicles their friendship and was delightful. Lazy summer days swimming and rowing on the lake. Picnics in secret spots, private talks, scavenger hunts and sleepovers every Saturday night. Doan did a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the lives of these two friends. They were exactly what the other needed and their bond was intense. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Laura and Casey's friendship.
Besides the friendship aspect of the book, it also focuses heavily on family. There is a great deal of emphasis on the mother-daughter relationships. Laura is adopted and yearns to know more about her birth mother. All she has is a handmade music box and lots of unanswered questions. Her adoptive mother is very religious, strict and not exactly emotionally demonstrative. She gravitates towards Casey's free-spirited mom who accepts her into their lives and home wholeheartedly.
Of course things are not always what they outwardly appear to be. Casey's mother, Alex, is hiding secrets. Secrets that end up tearing the girls' friendship apart and keep Laura away from her childhood home, her best friend and her first love for seventeen years.
After seventeen years away, Laura is tricked into a reunion with Casey by Alex who arranges one large scavenger hunt for the girls. The list of clues leads them on a trip down memory lane - reminiscent of their cherished summer memories together. The hunt also leads to the unraveling of long kept secrets and just might mean a second chance for Casey and Laura.
This was a slow simmering, beautiful story. It was definitely the perfect time for me to read (while I was on vacation) and appreciate this type of story. Having a strong group of female friends that I have known since elementary school, who are like family to me helped me open my heart to Laura and Casey. It left me feeling nostalgic for my teenage years and so grateful for the lifelong friendships I have.
Overall, this was a sweet and endearing tale of friendship that I recommend. I look forward to reading more from Amy Mason Doan in the future.
Laura and Casey met the summer before 9th grade and became inseparable. The beginning of the book chronicles their friendship and was delightful. Lazy summer days swimming and rowing on the lake. Picnics in secret spots, private talks, scavenger hunts and sleepovers every Saturday night. Doan did a wonderful job of immersing the reader into the lives of these two friends. They were exactly what the other needed and their bond was intense. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Laura and Casey's friendship.
Besides the friendship aspect of the book, it also focuses heavily on family. There is a great deal of emphasis on the mother-daughter relationships. Laura is adopted and yearns to know more about her birth mother. All she has is a handmade music box and lots of unanswered questions. Her adoptive mother is very religious, strict and not exactly emotionally demonstrative. She gravitates towards Casey's free-spirited mom who accepts her into their lives and home wholeheartedly.
Of course things are not always what they outwardly appear to be. Casey's mother, Alex, is hiding secrets. Secrets that end up tearing the girls' friendship apart and keep Laura away from her childhood home, her best friend and her first love for seventeen years.
After seventeen years away, Laura is tricked into a reunion with Casey by Alex who arranges one large scavenger hunt for the girls. The list of clues leads them on a trip down memory lane - reminiscent of their cherished summer memories together. The hunt also leads to the unraveling of long kept secrets and just might mean a second chance for Casey and Laura.
This was a slow simmering, beautiful story. It was definitely the perfect time for me to read (while I was on vacation) and appreciate this type of story. Having a strong group of female friends that I have known since elementary school, who are like family to me helped me open my heart to Laura and Casey. It left me feeling nostalgic for my teenage years and so grateful for the lifelong friendships I have.
Overall, this was a sweet and endearing tale of friendship that I recommend. I look forward to reading more from Amy Mason Doan in the future.