Likable characters, complex relationships, and family drama with an engaging mystery – you have me sold!
Erika Montgomery, in her debut novel, has masterfully crafted characters and places you can’t help but love and want to learn more about. I spent much of the read visualizing what the story would look like on the big screen – perhaps a result of the strong classic Hollywood theme but more likely a result of the wonderful details and seamless dialogue.

The story follows Frankie, 30-years-old and recently orphaned after the death of her mother with whom she ran their Hollywood memorabilia shop. She never knew her father and never expected she’d find clues to his identity when a package arrives at her apartment. From her mother’s personal collection, it includes letters from deceased movie star, Glory to her fellow film star husband, Mitch, and son, Gabe – letters just about as old as she is – accompanied by a photo of her mother with Mitch.

Is Mitch Frankie’s father? Frankie is determined to find out and when Gabe refuses the letters, she decides a trip to Cape Cod is in order. She’ll hand-deliver the letters, investigate the mystery of her past, and dig up old memories and family secrets.

Highly recommend A Summer to Remember for lovers of sweet beach reads, light mystery, old Hollywood, and family drama. If you liked Beach Read or The Vanishing Half, this might be for you!
The more I think about this book, the more I fall in love with it. It is a subtle, beautiful, and reflective story of true friendship, deep love, and the complexity of relationships of all kind.

I absolutely love this book, it had it all the, old Hollywood glamor, mystery, family secrets, love stories, a little bit of everything I don't know how you couldn't love it!
Thank You to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful story of love, secrets, and discovery.
Frankie sells Hollywood memorabilia, a business started by her late mom to help support them. Frankie has always known and enjoyed her mother's love of Hollywood, and planned to continue in her footsteps until two mysterious envelopes appear in the mail. They were found among her mother's things along with a picture of her mom taken with the famous star, Glory Cartwright and her husband. But how did her mother know Glory? Deciding the date on the picture is awful close to the time she would have been born, Frankie decides to go to the film festival and seek answers, especially about the mystery of who her father could have been. Her mom would never tell her. When she gets to the cape, Frankie discovers a world unknown to her, but very much known to her mother. She meets people that knew and loved her mom, and help her unravel the secrets of her past.
Great story, and great characters.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a perfect beach read! Frankie is alone in the world since the death of her mother Maeve. She is trying to keep the memorabilia shop her mother started open, but a rent increase has her doubting her chances of success. Her mother's boyfriend sends her a package with two unopened letters and a picture. The letters were written by Glory Cartwright, a famous actress who died many years ago.
But it is the picture that grabs Frankie's attention, her much younger mother is in it along with Glory. Frankie never knew that they were acquainted, just like her mother never told her the identity of her father. Thinking this might be a clue that will lead her to her father, Frankie heads to Cape Cod eager to learn more about the time her mother spent there.
Chapters alternate between the past and the present. We learn Maeve's connection to Glory and what lead to her death. If I had to pick which timeline I enjoyed the most, it would have to be the past. That is how we learn the secrets to this mystery about Maeve's past and how Frankie comes to discover another side to her mother. I kept flipping the pages to see how everything would come together.
An engaging plot, interesting characters, and enough red herrings so that it wasn't at all easy to guess what secrets the past held. My favorite characters were Lou and Russ, a couple that Frankie winds up staying with and who were also very involved in the past timeline. This was an above-average debut in my opinion. 4.5 stars.

If, like me, you enjoy stories that involve friends and family told in multiple time periods, I’m here to recommend your next read. A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery is a poignant story of family, friends and love during the golden age of Hollywood as well as the present. Set in Cape Cod, it is the perfect book to escape to for those of us craving summer weather.

Frankie Simon is a thirty- year- old woman who sells movie memorabilia in her Hollywood shop that she opened with her late mother. Frankie has never known her father’s identity - her mother would never disclose this information. When a package arrives including a photo of her mother with famous Hollywood celebrities Glory Cartwright and her husband while at a Cape Cod festival the year before Frankie was born, she is highly intrigued. Her mother had never shared with her this part of her life and feels a strong connection to seek out the mysteries of the photo. How did her mother know these celebrities and why was she in Cape Cod that summer? Given the time frame, she’s curious to see whether or not this information may lead her to the identity of her father. Will Frankie gain the knowledge she so desperately is seeking?

A Summer to Remember is a beautifully written book. The characters are well developed and likeable. The story unfolds naturally is a series of reflections of the events of the past, interspersed with the current storyline. I felt engaged and connected to these characters. I particularly appreciated the female friendships established in the book as well as the discussion on the sacrifices women make for their families. I really enjoyed Frankie’s journey to discovering more about her mother’s life during this time and was satisfied with the ending.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here. A Summer to Remember publishes May 11/21.

A Summer to Remember: A Novel
Written by: Erika Montgomery

A Summer to Remember is a debut novel by Erika Montgomery and what a first novel she has given us. This is one book I know I will recommend again and again. I enjoyed the way it was written, the story it told and the memories it brought back to me.

Frankie Simon owned and ran a memorabilia store that she and her mother had opened years ago. Frankie’s mother died recently and Frankie obviously is still wrapped up with the memories of the years they had together. Frankie’s childhood memories were of the ones her mother and she made together. Her mother Maeve Simon took care to keep the past hidden from her daughter.

Frankie had unanswered questions, who was her father being the biggest one. Then out of the blue a package arrived from the man her mother had been living with before her death. Inside was a picture of her mother with a man, a famous actor Mitch Beckett standing close to a banner that said, “Welcome to the Fourth Annual Stardust Film Festival.” Along with the picture were two letters one addressed Dearest Mitch and one addressed to My Beloved Gabe. Thinking some of her questions might be answered she decides to go east to Harpswich, find Louise Chandler (who runs the festival) and see if any of her questions can finally be answered. Would she find her father? Would she learn more about her mother? Would she find something that she had always longed for?

Erika Montgomery entwines three story lines within this novel. Frankie’s story of trying to find out more about her mother, Louise and Ross Chandler who may be able to help her and had been best friends with Mitch Becket and his wife Gloria Cartwright (famous Hollywood actors, both now gone) who had lived in quiet Harpswich, Mass, with their son Gabe. The story weaves around these people and their legacy The Stardust Film Festival. The thread that ties these people together is Frankie’s mother Maeve. She’s gone but the catalyst to what gives this book its story.

It’s an emotional story that moves easily through the present and past memories and brings readers into the stories that are bringing readers towards the answers Frankie, Louise and Gabe are looking for. It was a beautiful, heart-warming read about truths, forgiveness and new beginnings.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for allowing me the privilege of reading this ARC.

This book, in my opinion, is a great beach read. Mostly set in Harpswitch, Massachusetts, a small beach town, this book laces nostalgia with family secrets, betrayal, and romance.

Frankie Simon lives in Los Angeles and runs a movie memorabilia shop. She receives a mysterious package containing a picture and two unopened letters. The picture shows her mother, now deceased, with a famous movie couple. Noting the date, Frankie realizes that this could be a link to finding out who her father is. She flies to Massachusetts to attend a film festival honoring the movie couple in hopes she may find some link to her father.

The book is filled with movie nostalgia that movie buffs will love. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. The story moved well and was told by two narrators and switched between present and past to provide the background history and the present day occurrences.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I loved this book and that's saying a lot. I don't toss 5 star ratings out like skittles! Very well written with complex characters and a great story. The writer brings the characters and story to life. It flows like a river.

A Summer to Remember is a book to remember! I loved the story line and the characters! The chemistry between Frankie and Gabe is palpable! Lou and Russ are great. I love how the story takes place in present day but has flashback chapters to fill in the gaps! Its a wonderful story about a woman who lives in Hollywood and travels across the country to discover truths about hers and her mother's past. She also learns about connection to old Hollywood she knew nothing about. I didnt want this book to end! Must read book!

I liked how the book revolves around movies. I’m not a movie buff, but I enjoyed all,the references to different movies. I liked that Frankie ran a memorabilia shop. She sells movie history that makes people happy to posses items from movies that had significance. I was surprised at some of the angles the story took and one of the theories was proven completely wrong, which was clever deceit on the author’s part. It’s a good story about family, secrets, unanswered questions, and Hollywood stuff.

This was a great book with a creative story and interesting characters. Definitely a beach read as it moves along at a quick pace. The love story ramps up pretty quickly between two people who apparently don't like each other in the beginning, but isn't that the beauty of a fun beach read! Enough mystery to keep you wondering how it will all end. I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery is a book for romance, mystery, and old Hollywood lovers. I was interested in this book because part of it takes place in Cape Cod, a place I visited before.

Frankie sells memorabilia in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Her mother is a collector of 'movie' items and Frankie continues the profession after her mother's death. She comes across letters from her mother's collection, after her death. The letters are from a classical Hollywood actress, Glory Cartwright. Frankie is not aware of the connection of her mother to the famous actress. She approaches Glory's son about the letters but he refuses them. Frankie makes a trip to Cape Cod to deliver the letters in the hope of finding out the identity of her father.

The novel is set in contemporary times and also in the past. Other main characters are Louise and Russ, who were friends of Glory and her husband Mitch. I liked the Hollywood touch of the novel. I was interested in the adventure of Frankie and the budding romance between Frankie and Gabe was expected. However, the mystery of Frankie's mother's life in Cape Cod and her purpose held to the end and made the novel an interesting read.

This was a beautifully written and intriguing story. I read this book in a little over a day and a half because I just could not put it down. Old Hollywood glamour mixed with an enchanting Cape Cod setting. Family secrets, a little mystery, some sweet romance. This is sure to be one of my favorite books of 2021.

An adorable book. The story is about Frankie Simon, a girl who sells movie supplies in a store that just opened on Hollywood Boulevard. For her, it is more than hers, her sustenance, as it is a place that connects her with the only family she has ever known. One day, she receives a mysterious package containing a photograph of her mother with famous Hollywood stars. Frankie wants to learn more about the life of her mother. She also wants to discover the meaning of the contents of this package. I love that this book mentions a lot of cool movie facts. I've always been a movie fan, and Frankie's optimism was easy to feel. It is a book that I enjoyed until the last page. I thank NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

“Summer to Remember” is the debut novel from Erika Montgomery.

The novel’s heroine is Frankie Simon who is grieving the death of her mother, Maeve. While she is trying to keep her mother’s store open, inflated costs make keeping the business afloat a challenge. Her mother’s boyfriend gives her an envelope that he found while cleaning out his filing cabinet. Inside the envelope are two unopened letters; one addressed to Gabe and one addressed to Mitch.

These mysterious letters send Frankie to Cape Cod looking for both of these men, either of whom could be her dad. While in Cape Cod, Frankie learns more about her mom as well as the men who could be her father.

I have read plenty of novels where the main character goes in search of her past to find her future, but Erika Montgomery manages to keep the material both fresh and poignant. In this author’s hand, the characters, especially Frankie, leap from the page.
I found this to be a sweet story and the perfect read on a warm summer day.

Thanks to Erika Montgomery, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley, Erika Montgomery and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of A Summer to Remember. This is my personal review.
Frankie operated a Hollywood memorabilia shop that she had with her mother Maeve for many years.
The story was written so I felt a connection with each and everyone in the story. There are so many feelings as I read that I could not wait to know what was happening next as I read.
This is one that is a great book to grab and give yourself I chance to unwind and relax as this amazing story unfolds.

A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery is the perfect beach read! Frankie is the owner of a Hollywood memorabilia shop and loves to sell items that have personal stories and connections to the stars. Her mother, who recently passed away, had worked behind the scenes in Hollywood and collected items from all the sets she had worked on.

When she was given sealed letters and a photo from her mother's estate, she wondered if the man in the photo with her mother, the husband of 70s star Glory Cartwright could possibly be her father, who her mother had never named. She had to find out, so made her way to the film festival on Cape Cod that Glory had started before her sudden death years before, which many thought was a suicide. Her trip sets in motion a shocking journey into her mother's past, family secrets and the possibility of a new love...something Frankie thought she would never find.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. If you enjoy novels about the secret lives of stars, this one is for you! 3.5 Stars

4.5/5⭐️

I really loved this one! It features a dual timeline, switching between late 1970s-1980s and modern day.

I must admit that I had preconceived notions from the cover that this would just be a sweet romance, and while there is some of that, there’s so much more. I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a story about multiple topics…losing a sense of oneself due to a spouse’s decisions, gut-wrenching decisions made for those we love, discovering good/bad family history that was kept from you, the bonds of women’s friendships, forgiveness…I could go on and on. There was so much more to this story than a simple romance…it brought in lots of different emotions for me.

Frankie is a young woman who owns a movie memorabilia store in Hollywood. Her mom, who has recently died, left her some info which leads her to Cape Cod in search of the father she’s never known. She discovers a secret whole other life that her mother lived that was intimately connected to a famous Hollywood couple with secrets/troubles of their own.

This story kept me glued as at least two mysteries loomed to be solved. And yes, there were tears as I became involved in these characters’ lives.

Much thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the early ARC for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This is a lovely book that really draws you in rather quickly. A young woman, Frankie, runs a movie memorabilia store in Hollywood that she and her recently deceased mother had begun. She receives a package from her mother’s former boyfriend that opens up a lot of questions about her mother and who she really was. Enclosed are two letters that need to be delivered along with a photo of her mother and two of the biggest stars in Hollywood from many years before at a Cape Cod film festival.

Frankie decides to go to the Cape and deliver the letters in person but also to learn more about her mother. What she learns will change her life in countless ways as she meets people who were close to her mother, but who were also hiding secrets that really had impacted their own lives for 30 years and needed to be uncovered.

The format of the book is very effective. There is the story of Maeve, Glory, her husband and their friends in this small Cape Cod town set in the past and then there is Frankie’s story in the present as she tries to unravel the secrets of the past. I really enjoyed this story of the power of long buried secrets and betrayals and the power of memories to define us. This is a very interesting book and I highly recommend giving it a chance to work it’s magic.

Frankie Simon's life has been characterized by the charm and glamour of Old Hollywood through the lens of the memorabilia she sells in the shop opened by her late mother. When she is sent a mysterious photograph of her mother with a famous movie star in Cape Cod, Frankie sets out to discover the secrets of her past that she has never been able to answer. It turns out the folks in Cape Cod have a few questions of their own, and Frankie's arrival sets off a course of events that changes everyone who knew her mother 30 years before.

This book was not what I expected. There was a lot of reliance on Old Hollywood references and I think someone more enchanted by the world of movies and memorabilia would be much more charmed by the book than I was. It had elements of a sweet summer read set in Cape Cod, but it was just much more about the old movie stars and the folks that worked for them.

Perhaps if I had had different expectations, I would have enjoyed this more, but as is, I just found it to be okay. Nothing terrible, but nothing amazing for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.