The Summer List: A Novel by Amy Mason Doan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In the tradition of Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters, The Summer List is a tender yet tantalizing novel about two friends, the summer night they fell apart, and the scavenger hunt that reunites them decades later—until the clues expose a breathtaking secret that just might shatter them once and for all.

Laura and Casey were once inseparable: as they floated on their backs in the sunlit lake, as they dreamed about the future under starry skies, and as they teamed up for the wild scavenger hunts in their small California lakeside town. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake.

But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. With a twist: this time, the list of clues leads to the settings of their most cherished summer memories. From glistening Jade Cove to the vintage skating rink, each step they take becomes a bittersweet reminder of the friendship they once shared. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart…

Mesmerizing and unforgettable, Amy Mason Doan’s The Summer List is about losing and recapturing the person who understands you best—and the unbreakable bonds of girlhood.

“This accomplished debut novel from Doan cleverly blends a coming-of-age tale, the story of a long-simmering mystery, and a thoughtful study of relationships between childhood friends…. With lovable characters and a scenic small town, Doan’s pleasant mix of mystery and high school nostalgia will please readers who grew up with the novels of Judy Blume.”-Publishers Weekly

“A trip down memory lane becomes a hunt for long-buried secrets in Amy Mason Doan’s gripping and poignant debut about the bond between two compelling outsiders. The Summer List is an evocative tale of family, first love, and the unique and lasting gift of a friendship formed in girlhood.”-Meg Donohue, USA Today bestselling autho

my thoughts:

The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan is a terrific book for a summer beach read. Its about friendship, mother-daughter relationships, and scavenger hunts - how perfect does that sound?! I absolutely LOVED it!

This is the story of two best friends, Laura and Casey.  Once a dynamic duo, these two besties become separated following a dramatic betrayal that shatters their friendship forevermore. Or at least it seems like forevermore.  Thanks to Casey's mom, Alex, she pushes the two gals together once more.  She sends them each a note (in each other's handwriting) proposing a scavenger hunt (an event that the ex-bffs loved to participate in) - its Alex's attempt to help the two ex-friends get back together and heal their fractured friendship.  And so the story begins, with flashes of the past and present, that help to provide us with insight into what tore these two besties apart and how they've coped ever since.

I really enjoyed reading all about Casey and Laura, summer time, scavenger hunts, and the DRAMA that unfolded between them. Talk about a great beach read!  The writing was fast-paced and engaging - I couldn't stop reading!  Plus, I just love books about friendships - always a treat to read about.  I would happily recommend this book for fans of books about friendship - you will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Summer List

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!