This book reminded me so much of the stories I grew up on. Judy Blume, Sarah Desson, Meg Cabot, all authors whom I loved as a teenager and if this book came out back then, I would've loved it with my whole heart. Sadly, I now struggle with coming of age novels and just don't get the same enjoyment from them as I did when I myself was coming of age. It is a beautiful story though.

Looking for a story about friendship? The Summer List will deliver!

This is a slow burn read which allows you to really get to know both characters from their younger years, through their 'break-up' and into the present. Will they be able to put things behind them and rebuild their friendship or will the past continue into the future.

Not usually my style of a read but it was a nice, calm story that helped me reset my brain between a few Thriller reads.

This novel is a thoughtful and enjoyable version of the summer holiday trope - returning to the lake house where the main character spent her childhood summers, she reunites with an old friend and together they expose the secrets that tore them apart. Exploring themes of friendship and mother-daughter relationships, the novel was somewhat predictable but still touching and bittersweet.

I enjoyed reading this book, although it was a little more intense than what I thought it would be. Any book about best friends is going to pull some heart strings.

I plan to read more by this author.

4.5 stars.

Wow... This was deeper and more intense than I was expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed this.

I devoured this book, I was absolutely hooked. The mystery of why the friendship ended.. the 3 points of view/timelines. The mystery of the third timeline (although I did figure it out, but it's still amazing) all of it created this beautiful book that hit me right in the childhood nostalgia.

The more I experienced Casey and Laura's childhood, the more I craved to know what was bad enough to tear them apart... for Laura to ran away and never return. That reveal was surprising, and so not what I was expecting it to be. But ultimately foolish, and could have been resolved quite easily which made me really frustrated. The way they were brought together by the meddling of their mother's both times was nice symmetry.

Casey offering Laura a free shopping spree in her bookshop is honestly the dream!
The lake, and crescent moon motifs importance throughout the story was quite endearing.

As someone who has experienced the loss of a childhood friend and confidante three times this book hit home on multiple occasions. At the back of the book are discussion questions asking how you would handle the loss of a friendship... my response, not well. I avoided running into them at all costs, it makes me feel like such a coward but the pain that losing them caused runs deep and I worry what will happen if I pick at the scab after so many years... when we are completely different people to who we were... its a question that haunts me a lot. So I ignore it and try not to be in a situation where I would be confronted by those feelings. Like I said, I did not handle it well.
So I really can't judge Laura's trepidation about reconnecting and wanting to run away. Since she went toe-to-toe and on a scavenger hunt with her past, and I can barely look mine in the eyes. This book hits deep.

This also perfectly portrayed the pains of living in a small town with a tight-knit community. Also I enjoyed seeing Laura's confliction with her faith especially as the third POV/storyline features hardcore religious fanatics. It created a nice symmetry.

Alex is an interesting character, but I definitely couldn't handle if she were my Mum. How Casey doesn't lose it at her more than is shown is a testament of her love.
As her story is revealed, it's more understandable why she acted so wild, sporadic and young at heart.

Her scavenger hunts were fantastic, although they definitely took on a life of their own and became more for Alex, than Laura and Casey. I also love that Laura and Casey were nicknamed Pocahontas and Ariel, that made my heart happy.

Don't let the title fool you. This isn't some light, summer beach read that you will fly through in a day. Instead you will find yourself in the midst of a slow burn, exploring friendships, familial relationships, first love and regret. This novel was beautifully crafted and I so enjoyed watching all of the pieces fall into place in real time as the characters. If you like complicated families, then this is a book you are not going to want to miss.

This was my first book by this author, and I can positively say that I really enjoyed reading this one. Its captivating. For sure I will be checking other books written by this author.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. I truly enjoyed this novel about love and friendship. Basically, two friends separate and reunite many years later. A well written book about adult friendships. Thank you again.

A novel about friendship. However I was confused throughout 60% and finally gave up on it. My interest was lost and it was just too slow for me.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Between the cover and the comparison to Summer Sisters by Judy Blume, this book was a must for my beach bag.

Listen, we all have that one friend- that glorious friend that we exchanged BFF necklaces with or mood rings and promised to be by each other’s side. And you know.. maybe you still are. Or maybe your friend got a boyfriend and forgot about you. Or you just drifted apart. Whatever. The point is that most of us can relate to both Laura and Casey.

For me, Casey was kinda like reading about Caitlin from Summer Sisters. Getting to “see” Caitlin grow up in a way.



What I liked:

The cover. Gah, the cover was so delicious. I really wish I had gotten a real book instead of the e-book version, because this cover is SO bookstagrammable.

How the gals decided to go on the treasure hunt. They could have decided not to do it. I mean, they are adults. But I liked how their childhood friendship lured them into doing this, but without immediately falling back into BFF mode (because they did have some issues!)

The secret.



Bottom line: I really did enjoy The Summer List, but I think I enjoyed Summer Sisters by Judy Blume a touch more.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

The Summer List is the perfect beach read with secrets and betrayal! Amy Mason Doan's debut novel is a rock solid hit!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, well-paced and beautifully written. A story--split between three timelines--of a friendship broken, The Summer List paints a picture of those awkward and confusing years of adolescence while exposing the truth we all know: that even adults don't have it all figured out and need a little help sometimes. The weaving together of multiple, layered storylines into a satisfying conclusion pushed this book beyond being simply a good read into being one of my favorites of 2018.

Graydon House and NetGalley provided me an electronic copy of The Summer List. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Laura and Casey were inseparable through their teenage years, until a shocking revelation shatters the bond between the best friends. After a seventeen year absence, Laura returns with a possible reconciliation on the table. When the pair are sent on a scavenger hunt, not unlike those that were the favorite pastime of many of the town's youths, will they learn more about themselves and each other that they could ever dream possible?

The transitions between the adult versions of Laura and Casey and their youthful counterparts could have been handled better, but The Summer List overall was a good read. Taking a chance to atone for past mistakes, Casey's mom sends the pair on an epic search to find each other again. The book proves that it is never too late to change the path upon which a person is traveling and that the possibilities are endless when it comes to love. Certain aspects of the story were not all that believable and I found the constant back and forth in time ruined the continuity of the book. Despite a few missteps with the plot, I would recommend The Summer List to other readers.

Another summer romance to tick off my list! Amy Mason Doan’s debut novel is by turns moving, impressive and beautifully written: and for once, it’s a love story about the friendship between two women.
The women in question are Laura and Casey, two girls who meet when Casey moves into the abandoned house next to Laura’s, with her mother. Struggling to break free of her strict Christian mother, Laura soon becomes fast friends with her- but fifteen years later, they’re estranged. So when Casey invites Laura back to the lake, to make amends, we’re sucked back into their story, and into the mystery of why they fell out. Can they start anew, so many years after Laura left?
The friendship between these two girls is the beating heart of the novel, and it’s beautifully written. Every sentence struck a chord with me: Amy Mason Doan really has an eye for the nuances of teenage friendship, with all the angst that comes with finding your place in the world, and feeling your way to adulthood. Laura’s rebellion, especially against her strict Christian family, and experiments with boys, felt particularly relatable!
As we’re taken from their first meeting to their blossoming friendship, different threads start to come together and the mystery deepens. By the end, it’s not just a story about Laura and Casey: it’s a story about the lake, about their mothers and about all the different types of love.
The characters are fantastic. They’re flawed, scarred and very believable, and watching them grow up feels realistic, as Mason Doan coaxes them through puberty and into adulthood. I especially liked seeing Laura and Casey’s relationship grow as they do, and seeing it through their eyes as they visit the places they held important, now as adults, whilst also deepening the mystery: why did these two women stop speaking to each other- and what does it have to do with Casey’s enigmatic mother, Alex?
With the two stories practically running parallel to each other, the plot is pretty seamless, and it paints a really moving story of a changing friendship. The first half, I raced through. The second, I found dragged a little bit, especially when Laura’s love interest was introduced: cue a lot of silent shouting at the pages, urging them not to be stupid and get together.
Though the story can sometimes veer into melodrama, and the climax relies a little too heavily on cliché, this is a moving and beautifully written tribute to friendship and to the beauty of childhood and nature. With a story as soothing and beautiful as the lake around which it’s set, it’s a stunning debut for Amy Mason Doan. Thumbs up!

I am responsible for the 'Staff Picks" web page for the library I work in. I was thrilled to include this book.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! The first half of the book totally pulled me in and it made me feel like I was reliving my childhood summers with my close friends. This charming tone gets lost as the book progresses and the story definitely takes some unexpected twists and turns. I was disappointed that the second half of the book felt more like it was written to just to finish writing rather than give the characters the ending they deserved. That being said, I still would recommend this as a good, quick read.

Loved this book! The Summer List was a perfect summer read! Laura & Casey, once inseparable in their teenage years, have been tricked into spending a weekend together. Reluctant at first to visit the past, we delve into what happened, what can tear friendships apart and the secrets between family & friends. Alternating between past & present very fluidly, this book is a must read!

This book wasn’t for me. Instead of posting a negative review, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or label it as DNF (did not finish) on Goodreads/Amazon.

This is an amazing book by a debut author. This is a beautiful novel with some great characters and lovely descriptive writing. The story is about two childhood friends, Laura and Casey, and the breakdown and repair of their friendship. In high school they are inseparable until a misunderstanding occurs that tears them apart. In the process Laura also destroys her relationship with her boyfriend JB. Laura has been gone from their small town for 17 years until she is drawn back by a letter from Casey. As it turns out the letter was from Casey’s mom in an attempt for the girls to reconcile. They are sent on a scavenger hunt to help rekindle their friendship. Along the way they learn truths about each other and the people they love. A captivating book about hope, love, and the bonds of friendship. A perfect summer read!

I moved this book - it was well written, the characters were well thought out, and there was just enough of a mystery, and it was one that didn't seem too forced. I'd definitely recommend it!