At the beginning of this book, Frankie is working in the Hollywood memorabilia shop she owned with her recently deceased mother, when she finds from her mother’s belongings something that suggests her mother had a life she never knew about, connected to fictional famous actress Glory Cartwright and her actor husband Mitch, and the film festival they sponsored on Cape Cod before their deaths. Frankie, who never knew who her father was, sets out for the film festival to find out more about her mom’s past. What the publisher’s blurb does not reveal, however, is that the book also is told in both the past and present from the perspective of Louise, who was friends with Glory and now runs the festival, and her husband Russ. I definitely felt more invested in present day Frankie’s perspective more than the present day Louise. And while finding out about the past was interesting, I kind of wish we had seen it instead/also from either Glory and/or Frankie’s mom’s perspectives as they never quite fully came into focus. However, I very much enjoyed Frankie’s character, the Cape Cod setting (since I’ve enjoyed many vacations there), and the story in general with its little bits of family mystery and even romance. The way the dual time period played out reminded me a bit of Sarah Jio, with perhaps just a touch of the old Hollywood vibe of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. 3.75 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the free book.
This is a book perfect for summer reading. There's plenty of complex family relationships, a Hollywood film festival on the East Coast, and a mystery of what happened to Frankie's mother. I really enjoyed this story. I think the balance of the elements was well done. I also enjoyed how the past timeline slowly unraveled and wove into the present timeline, yet didn't give anything away too early. I also thought that the big plot point was worked up to well, and I didn't figure out what it was, yet I was satisfied with how the story went. If you want a quick story with some depth, make sure to check this one out.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery.

Frankie is grieving her mother and running the Hollywood memorabilia shop she owned when she gets a package that was left behind from her mother's things with a photo of her mom and a famous movie star along with two sealed addressed letters. She he decides to go to Cape Cod to share the letter with their owner and maybe learn more about her mother's past and maybe find out who her father is?

This had a few unexpected turns in it and I loved the Cape Cod setting. It is a book about finding out who you are, the power of memories and what is family. I enjoyed the writing and the romance storyline too.

If you love older Hollywood movies and books about identity and finding yourself you'll enjoy A Summer to Remember.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the novel by Erika Montgomery - 4 stars for a wonderful debut!

Frankie owns a movie memorabilia shop in Hollywood that she opened with her now-deceased mother, Maeve. It was always just the two of them and Frankie is a bit lost without her mom. She receives a package with a photograph of her mom years ago with two movie stars at a Cape Cod film festival, along with two sealed letters. Frankie investigates and then tries to return the letters to their owners, but decides that a trip to Cape Cod might lead her to find out more about her mom and hopefully learn the identity of her father.

This is a wonderful story, told in both present time and in the past, about memories and collections and how they tie us to the past and the people we loved. It's also about loyalty and family, however that looks, and making our peace with the past. Each chapter opened with a movie quote which was one of my favorite things about this book - this is also a love letter to the impact that movies have on our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this escape to Cape Cod and into the movies and am looking forward to more from this author.

A Summer to Remember is the debut novel by Erika Montgomery. For 30-year-old Frankie Simon, selling movie memorabilia in The Memory Shop on Hollywood Boulevard with her mother is more than a job, it is a connection to the only family and life she has known especially since the tragic death of her mother the year before. When a package arrives containing a photograph of her mother with famous movie stars Glory Cartwright and her husband, Mitch Beckett, at a coastal film festival the year before Frankie’s birth. She is left with so many questions, she journeys to the Cape Cod film festival to find the answers to those questions. There she meets Gabe Beckett, the adopted son of Glory and Mitch, and Russ and Louise Chandler, the couple’s closest friends. Soon the journey reveals buried family secrets, betrayals, and the bonds of friendships. Will the answers to her questions bring the closure that Frankie wishes? Or will the answers lead to more questions?
A Summer to Remember is a story of the power of memories. The nostalgia we feel when we watch a favorite movie and the emotions tied to that movie. Some movies speak to us and stay with us long after the screen goes black. When we see a piece of that movie, whether is it a piece of a costume or a set location, those emotions and memories come rushing back and we remember. That is what Frankie and her mother sold. They sold more than just memorabilia, they sold important reminders for those fans. I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t overly dramatic but felt real and relatable. The questions, the regrets, and the doubts of the characters are ones we have all struggled with and dealt with. Switching between the present and the past, the events unfold as secrets are revealed and each character must come to terms with the decisions made and secrets kept. I highly recommend A Summer to Remember.

A Summer to Remember is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook.

This book is a perfect summer read. It has great characters that you can’t help but root for, a wonderful summer setting, as well as some romance and intrigue. I live thirty minutes from Cape Cod so I initially found it a bit jarring that the town was made up. It did make sense with this particular story. The setting needed to be a summer resort, but it could really have been anywhere. Movie fans will love the movie references as well as that old Hollywood glamour. The ending was a bit too perfect, but isn’t that what you want in a summer read? Overall, this was a very enjoyable read.

This is one of those books that will stay with me. It's a fabulous beach read, but also touches on topics of family, belonging, loss, and longing. The dual timelines took me a couple of chapters to get into. But I ended up eager to find out the answers to mysteries on each timeline. Lovers of movies, mysteries, and families need to snap this one up. Plus there's a cute dog with a great name. 4 paws up!!


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.25 stars!

A Summer to Remember is the perfect escape---especially if you're a fan of movies and old Hollywood. If life would have allowed, I would have read this one in one sitting. And I was continually impressed that it's a debut novel with the skillful writing and well-rounded characters.

The novel follows two women---Frankie, who runs a memorabilia shop in Hollywood started by her late mother, and Louise, who runs an annual film festival in Cape Cod. The two women's lives will converge in Cape Cod in surprising ways, and Louise's story includes flashbacks to the past and how the film festival came to be.

Montgomery has fleshed out all her characters and I was completely sold on following their journeys. While some of the twists were predictable, I was still invested. It was inspiring to see these two confident women find their footing. I also appreciated the realistic portrayal of Louise and her husband Russ's relationship as an older couple. It was refreshing and heartwarming.

The chapters were quick and concise with just the right amount of history, mystery, and romance. And I so enjoyed the movie quotes that opened each chapter, recognizing many of my favorites.

I'm so happy I picked this one up, and I look forward to Montgomery's next story!

This is the perfect book for a movie lover to read on the beach. A Summer to Remember is the story of Frankie, a Hollywood memorabilia shop owner and her journey to finding out who she really is after her mothers unexpected death. It's a story of love and friendship and secrets that bring new light to Frankie's picture of her mother but also to how she views family. The movie quotes and references are spot on. The intrigue of what Frankie doesn't know twists and turns in an unexpected way and the HFN is just what I wanted. You need this book, a cold drink and a chair by the water in your life this summer.

Secrets, Romance, and Betrayal

At thirty, the only life Frankie has known is helping her mother run a shop selling movie memorabilia. When her mother dies, she’s devastated and doesn’t know whether financially she’ll be able to continue to run the store.

When she receives a package containing two letters and photograph that her step-father found among her mother’s things, she’s introduced to a life her mother had before she was born and one she’s never talked about. Frankie is surprised to see her mother in a group of people including Mitch Beckett and Glory Cartwright, a glamour couple from the early Hollywood days.

Although she could sell the letter in the shop for a great deal of money since they appear to be the last letters Glory wrote, she decides instead to go to Harpswich, Massachusetts where the picture was taken. She may even find a clue to who her real father is.

This story is told in two time periods: Frankie in the present and her mother in 1989. I often don’t like stories split between time periods because one is usually more interesting than the other. However, in this case the split worked well to give us a comprehensive view of the important characters in the story. The characters were well drawn. I felt that we got to know all of them and sympathize with their actions.

I recommend this book if you enjoy romance and secrets. It’s a perfect beach read.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

A Summer to Remember is a memorable novel that combines mystery, romance and celebrity. Frankie was raised by her single mother Maeve in Los Angeles and never knew her father. After Maeve's death Frankie discovers two sealed envelopes addressed to a famous movie star and his son,Gabe. Although the actor is dead, Frankie is determined to deliver the letters to Gabe. These clues and a photo lead Frankie to Cape Cod and a world famous film festival. In the town of Harpswich Frankie meets people who knew her mother well. Frankie feels she is close to discovering her father and she is also intrigued by the ruggedly handsome Gabe. Montgomery's character's are evocative and she successfully connects many intersecting plot lines. This novel is a great read in any season.

Our main character, Frankie is a thirty year old woman who is deeply grieving the death of her mother, Maeve. With no other family, her mother was all she had. As if dealing with that loss isn't enough, her most recent romantic relationship just ended badly and she's unsure if she can continue to run the movie memorabilia store that her mother started years ago. It's just not looking financially feasible.

Grieving and in turmoil about the future, Frankie receives a package that her step-father found after her mother's passing. Inside she finds an old picture of Maeve with a famous Hollywood couple from that time, Mitch Beckett and Glory Cartwright. In addition, there are two sealed letters that appear to be from Glory to her husband, Mitch and son, Gabe. Frankie knows she could sell them for a hefty price tag because Glory's memorabilia has a big following, but it doesn't feel right. Knowing that Glory died when she was young and these are probably the last letters she wrote to her loved ones, Frankie feels a commitment to get them to their son, Gabe, the only surviving member of the family. In addition, she hopes to find out more about her mother's time in Harpswich, Massachusetts where the picture was taken. Maeve never spoke about her time there and she's curious how she knew this famous couple. Even more importantly, Frankie thinks there could be clues there about who her father is.

This was a beautifully written story. Ms. Montgomery tells the story in two time periods - - the past, when Maeve was in Massachusetts and the present, when Frankie is there. This blending of different times enabled her to give the reader bits of information as needed. You come to understand how the people who remained had been forever touched and changed by the events that unfolded up to and including Glory's death. I really liked the characters who served to link the past and present, Louise and Russ, who were Glory and Mitch's close friends

Even though this is an easy read that's perfect for the beach, it also has substance and some unexpected twists. I also really felt that the story speaks to how one simple decision can alter the course of your entire life.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Thirty year old Frankie is operating her late mother's Hollywood movie memorabilia shop. It has only been the two of them her whole life and she is still grieving her loss. Frankie has never known who her father is. When letters and an old photo of what appears to be a famous movie couple surface in her mother's belongings, Frankie is drawn to go find out how her mother knew them and who her father might possibly be.

Frankie sets off to Harpswich, Massachusetts to find some answers and to, hopefully, find the people that the letters are addressed to. Mitch Beckett, the movie star, has passed away, but the other letter is addressed to Gabe, Mitch's son.

I enjoyed the dual timelines in this book. I loved reading about Glory Cartwright and Mitch Beckett, Hollywood super couple, and what their life was like--especially how it connected to Frankie's mother. The characters of Russ and Louise were wonderful and I loved seeing them in both timelines. The added romance for Frankie was a bonus, too.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Also, thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted final copy.

I love storylines with relationships that have characters that seem destined to be together. Frankie starts a journey after finding a picture and some letters from her deceased mother. The book tells two stories. One of the characters today and one thirty years in the past that lead to the events in current time. The blend of the two stories works well in this book. As the characters in current time try to unwind the past, we are given the story in the past. Everything seemed fated for everyone to cross paths and get the answers to years old questions. The book was well paced and moved well. Frankie and Gabe work really well together. I finished the book feeling very satisfied with the conclusion. I found the book easy to read and enjoyable. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Looking for the quintessential beach read? You'll find it in Erika Montgomery's A SUMMER TO REMEMBER: a Hollywood golden couple, family secrets, a film festival at Cape Cod, and an unforgettable love story - what more can you ask for? From the moment I read the synopsis I knew this book would find a place in my heart. I could feel the breeze and smell the ocean air as I quickly turned the pages of this marvelous debut!

A Summer to Remember was a joy to read. Frankie was an immediately lovable young woman who recently lost her mother without ever finding out who her father might be. Luckily her mother has left some letters. Unluckily they are not addressed to Frankie. So Frankie decides to make sure the letters get to their owner. In doing so, she gets to learn a part of her mother’s life she never knew about. Her journey also exposes secrets that have been hidden for too many years. This is a story about family, love and secrets. I did not want it to end.

With a nod to Hollywood's glory days, this story reminds us of the power a simple object holds when it's linked to memories. Just by touching an old ticket stub, one can be transported back to the sights, sounds, smells, and familiarity of family or friends to the time that movie was first viewed so many years ago.

Frankie Simon has worked alongside her mother in their Hollywood memorabilia shop all of her adult life. After her mother's death, Frankie receives a package containing a group photo that includes her mother, as well as two unopened letters.

Looking for answers, Frankie heads to the Massachusetts coast and the Stardust Summer Film Festival. The time period of the picture seems significant, and Frankie wonders if the answers she seeks will lead her to find a father she's never known.

By way of a fledgling friendship with an older married couple, Russ and Louise, who knew her mother, and told through snapshots of the past, Frankie learns about a life her mother never spoke of.

Fiction with a touch of romance, this compelling, heartfelt story of friendship, family, loyalty, secrets and self-discovery will be one of your most enchanting, heart-warming, memorable reads this year.

3.5 stars

I liked this book a lot. Debut author Erika Montgomery immediately pulls you into Frankie's life in Hollywood. Frankie is still morning her mom's death, lives alone, just went through a breakup, said ex is the landlord who just raised her rent. Life in Hollywood isn't going so well.

After receiving some letters her mom had left her, Frankie is torn. Does she sell them in her memorabilia shop? Return them to their rightful owners? After some cheesecake with a fond neighbor, Frankie makes the decision that will change her life.

What follows is a history of life on the East Coast. Told in dual timelines, we get to see Frankie fairing her way through this little conundrum, as well the history of her mom's relationship with this seaside town and a couple of its residents.

There were a few holes throughout the story, and some areas I would've liked to hear more about, but all in all, it was a good read. The character development and world-building were written very well.

I will give this book a trigger warning for suicide.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Memories define who we are and where we belong— revealing a past that unlocks the present, of buried family secrets, betrayals between lovers, and bonds between friends. And for one woman, a path to self-discovery, the meaning of home, and the magic of true love.
I loved the references to movies, finding true love and finding ways back to love. Big hole in the book for me is it seemed that Frankie found who she was looking for originally and then that was it. Nothing else. Argument could be that she realized that's not who she was really looking for after all. But otherwise I very much enjoyed the book and felt it was a very good debut novel - would possibly read other books from the author in the future.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an early e-copy for my opinion on #ASummertoRemember, which releases on #May11th2021.

A Summer to Remember is a poignant, bittersweet story about love and what it means to be a family. This novel also explores the ramifications of sacrificing one's happiness for the sake of someone else's needs and desires, and what happens when secrets are finally brought into the light. As a mother, I found the characters' struggles that revolved around motherhood to be so interesting. One woman was a mother but treated it more as a role she could never play well. Another woman lost her mother and desperately wanted more: more time, more information ... just more. These are themes that I think readers will enjoy exploring because all of us can relate to at least some portion of this story. The movie memorabilia and references to iconic films and Hollywood stars was very cool!
I really enjoyed this one. I highlighted so many well-crafted phrases and descriptions. Erika Montgomery is a gifted writer and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.