A Summer for the Books is an emotional, nostalgic story of two former best friends and the complexities of life, love, friendship, forgiveness, and identity. This multigenerational dual timeline story is told through three POVs with the use of journal entries and a book that is written about their past using aliases.

I liked the focus on the power of friendship and the importance of culture and remembering where you came from. I also liked that one of the MCs was an author and the other a bookstore owner plus the attempt at a book within a book. I thought the premise of the book had a lot of potential but the structure was hard to follow at times with the multiple names/aliases and being told through multiple formats of books. The timeline felt disjointed and the back and forth between journal excerpts, and excerpts from the book telling their past, and present day was confusing. I also felt like the slow burn to the big reveal wasn’t as exciting as it could have been and the ending was wrapped up rather quickly and unbelievable after everything they had endured.

I was thankful to have an ARC and ALC to follow along due to switching formats purposes. The audiobook narrator, Ariel Blake, did a good job with tone and dialect giving each character their own unique voice.

Thank you MIRA and Netgalley for my gifted ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

ALC REVIEW: 3.75 stars rounded to 4
I truly enjoyed this story. Two best friends whose friendship ends because of a secret and the actions taken.
I really disliked Jewel, I couldn't stand her character and cannot justify her actions.
The story was full of emotion and drama and most of all the power of love and healing.

The audio was not my favorite and why the 3.5 rating. The narrator's voice sometimes became too neutral and it was hard to tell the characters apart.

This story is one of exploring friendships, secrets, and second chances. I found the story to be a success overall in touching on those themes as well as love and marriage and parental relationships. I do think as an audiobook the story could get muddy at times trying to differentiate the alternating time/story lines.

I think in the end it’s a heartwarming story of redemption and the overpowering strength of true friendship.

A Summer for the Books is a heartfelt exploration of friendship and the long-lasting impact of the secrets we keep. Michelle Lindo Rice beautifully captures the emotional weight of promises made when you are young and how their impact ripples throughout adulthood. This is a story that will make you reflect on how your past shapes how you show up for the people in your life.

Jewel and Shelby formed a deep bond in childhood: Jewel, longing for unconditional love, and Shelby, seeking connection with someone who truly shared her passions. One transformative summer, filled with joy, confusion, and loss, alters the course of their friendship forever. Nearly two decades later, they're pulled back into each other’s orbit, forced to confront the promises they made as young women and the fallout of choices that changed everything.

One of the elements in this story I loved was how each woman wrestled with what they believed was the “right” thing to do in the face of unimaginable circumstances, and how their upbringing shaped those beliefs. Jewel, driven by a strong sense of duty and pressure to succeed for her family, is singularly focused on success. Shelby, grounded by a stable foundation, longs to rebuild that same safety in adulthood. The push and pull of their values and decisions creates a powerful emotional tension that drives the story.

Audiobook Commentary:
Narrated by Ariel Blake, the audiobook brings Jewel and Shelby’s voices to life with nuance and empathy. Blake expertly captures the emotional layers of both women, from that fateful summer where everything changes to adults grappling with those decisions, drawing you into their inner lives and making it nearly impossible to pause. Her performance adds depth to an already moving story.

If you're looking for a friendship-centered novel that dives deep into loyalty, loss, and the possibility of second chances, A Summer for the Books should be on your list!

Michelle Lindo-Rice crafts a heartfelt story about friendship, forgiveness, and the quiet strength it takes to heal old wounds. Jewel and Shelby, once close friends, are brought back together by unexpected events after years apart. Through journal entries and shifting timelines, their story unfolds with warmth and emotional depth. The beachside bookstore setting adds a cozy charm, and the characters feel real and relatable. This is a gentle, uplifting summer read that reminds us how love and loyalty can endure even the hardest seasons.

In A Summer for the Books, Michelle Lindo-Rice crafts a heartwarming tale of friendship, second chances, and the power of forgiveness. The novel follows the lives of two friends, an author and a bookstore owner, whose relationship is fractured by a series of misunderstandings. When an unexpected accident forces them to confront their past, the two women embark on a journey to rebuild their friendship.

Lindo-Rice, known for her award-winning and bestselling works, skillfully uses a dual-timeline narrative to unravel the complexities of the characters’ shared history. The alternating perspectives provide readers with a deeper understanding of the events that led to their estrangement, as well as the emotional growth required for their reconciliation.

The novel’s strength lies in its exploration of themes that resonate with many readers, such as the importance of communication and the courage to forgive. Lindo-Rice’s portrayal of the protagonists’ emotional struggles is both authentic and engaging, making it easy for readers to empathize with their journey.

However, the predictability of the plot is one area where the novel falters. From the outset, it is clear that the story is steering towards a resolution where the friends mend their broken relationship. While this predictability may detract from the suspense, it does not diminish the emotional impact of the narrative or the satisfaction of witnessing the characters’ growth.

Overall, A Summer for the Books is a feel-good novel that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction and stories of friendship. Despite its somewhat predictable storyline, the book offers a heartfelt exploration of relationships and personal growth, making it a worthwhile read for those seeking an uplifting tale of reconciliation and renewal.

A Summer for the Books is a heartfelt journey of friendship, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people who truly understand you. The story unfolds with a quiet intensity that makes you reflect on how time, distance, and pride can create cracks in even the strongest bonds. Michelle Lindo Rice captures the complexity of friendships that are tested by life’s unexpected turns. At its core, this book is about showing up for someone even when it hurts, and choosing grace over bitterness. The pacing slows in spots, but the emotional payoff is worth it. I give it four stars.

Jewel and Shelby once were best friends, but they hadn't spoken in 10 years until Shelby had a bike accident and lost her memory. When the two reunite, it brings up secrets and arguments long buried.

I found this book to be a bit hard to follow, with 3 different POVs, two books within a book, and journal entries with fake names. I also found the characters to be unrelatable and the central conflict to be oddly overblown. I think the writing was fine, but the book was just not for me.

2.5 stars

I did not read anything about this book before downloading it. The cover looked like the perfect summer read. I was absolutely correct.

I would call this more of a fiction book with romance involved. I really enjoyed following along in the journey these character took to rebuild friendships, find their true identity and try to navigate this thing called life. I thought the various plot avenues really gave depth to the story and keep me interested in finding out what was going to happen next.

I also really enjoyed the author's use of locations and descriptions to really make this story and all encompassing experience for me. I've been to Rehoboth beach, Jamaica and a few of the other places mentioned in the book which really made this a fun reading experience.

I kept finding myself lost. There was entirely too much going on between the different povs. I enjoyed it but it was a bit much.

The narrator, however, was amazing. I could listen to that voice all day.

I gave this book a 3/5 ⭐️. At first I was completely intrigued by the story. It sounded interesting , but as it kept going, I became lost with what was going on in the story. There were different perspectives, different timelines and journal entries to keep up with. I think I would’ve done better reading this book with a physical copy, so that I could annotate and flip through the pages when I found myself getting lost. The story was sad at times and there were a lot of learning experiences. Even though it has its ups and downs , I would totally read another book by this author!