Header PromotionSame Time Next Summer by Holly Jacobs
As children, during their family summer vacations, Carolyn Kendal and Stephan Foster were inseparable--running in the hot sand, chasing shadows and building a friendship that would last a lifetime.
As teenagers, their friendship turned serious. Carolyn and Stephen found themselves exploring the intensity of first love--even if it was only for one summer.
As for adults, Caroline's daughter lies in a hospital bed fighting for her life. Suddenly Stephen is right there beside her, offering support, strength and enough love to last a lifetime of summers. Because when they're together shadows don't stand a chance. or do they?
I loved this book as it explored emotions and feelings in a more detailed way. Carolyn's belief in her daughter's recovery in the face of denial from everyone, ie doctors, nurses and even her own parents is beautiful. Stephen follows Carolyn's lead and begins to have faith in her belief and they begin to notice a decided change in Emma.
I enjoyed the way the story was written by using flashback mode when the past is discussed. This didn't affect the flow of the story at all but became a meaningful part of the main story.
Emma's recovery was detailed in a more realistic way in where it takes a long time for her to recover nearly all the way. Although she doesn't recover fully she adapts to her changes but also has a temper on days when she is frustrated. The difficulties aren't sugercoated and everything isn't magically all right at the end of the book.
The epilogue was a surprise as usually you expect a happy summary of what life is like but in this story its entirely different as it goes forward 5 years and depicts what life is like in the life of Carolyn. Problems arise in their life and through communication and space is resolved to its satisfactory conclusion. It would have been easier and better if this epilogue would have been titled the next chapter and with a subtitle 5 years later.
The last chapter of the story should have been the epilogue which describes what life is like on Emma's 20th Birthday. Its a more realistic look at life and how difficulties are handled as finding a 'new' normal.
This book was very emotional and sometimes bought tears to my eyes by the difficulties that Carolyn and Stephen went through in life. I would give this book 10/10. Beautiful!!
I really loved this book too!
I knew Holly Jacobs as a writer of humorous stories so I was a bit worried that I would like this book. I loved it. You have writen a excellent review of it.
When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus