The Summer We Forgot Hardcover – March 8, 2022

Caroline George is officially an auto-buy author.I loved Dearest Josephine last year and couldn't wait to read her next novel! Although TSWF is a totally different genre, it was well worth the wait and anticipation! What the two books share in common, though, is the beautiful prose and way CG crafts her sentences. Her prose is somehow poetic and her poems are even more beautiful and thought-provoking. I seriously can't get over her writing style.As for TSWF's plot and characters...I don't think I've ever read a book quite like TSWF before! It's rare to read a YA book about teenagers that actually depicts teens the way are, not the way we see them on TV, while still being written in a mature, non-silly way. I enjoyed the suspense, mystery and intrigue and the pacing was well done. The characters were amazingly three-dimensional, lovable and flawed. Their interconnecting relationships and secrets were what made me want to keep turning the page.Overall, the concept, twist and message of TSWF is spellbinding and humbling. The challenge to look inward and reconcile with parts of your past is very well timed given that so many people are reexamining themselves since the pandemic. Although I don't have particular secrets or shame from my high school years, there are still definitely parts of myself I try to hide or change. This book challenged me to really think about how I'm perceived and how I perceive myself and to seek the truth in both. While CG's writing is not explicitly Christian, the themes line up with Christian beliefs so I feel completely comfortable recommending this book to anyone over the age of 15/16!I still get goosebumps thinking about that twist/ending...can't wait to reread it!

Alrighty, after two days of reading this amazing book, I’m ready to do a review.3.75 ⭐️Things I loved:-The storyline was crazy—in the best possible way. An intricate plot that kept me guessing. About 85% into the book, I texted Caroline and told her my palms were sweaty and I couldn’t wait to reach the ending—and it didn’t disappoint!!-The themes in this book were a huge part of the story, and I so appreciated that. Themes are a make it or break it for me when it comes to reading and loving books, and Caroline didn’t disappoint. So many quotes really touched my heart and left me with a gentle and important reminder: It’s okay to be broken—and your mistakes don’t make you less than or unlovable.-The writing style. Ahh, Caroline’s writing is lyrical poetry. It’s beautiful and inspiring and just plain amazing.One thing that kept me from giving the book a full five stars:-The descriptions of physical intimacies and romance were detailed. I know some people decided not to finish this book because of that, but I wanted to stick with it because the story was just so good. I really appreciated how Caroline had the characters realize how their actions were wrong and had them strive for a new start. A clean slate. No one is perfect and a lot of us make mistakes, and I appreciated how Caroline didn’t shy away from the mistakes we make when we’re young but also showed how we can begin anew when we’re older and wiser. Again, the only thing that made me feel a bit uncomfortable was the description of a specific scene in particular. (I know some people aren’t bothered by detailed descriptions. Everyone has different viewpoints on things, and that’s okay! This is just my personal opinion :))I can’t end this review without sharing a few of my favorite quotes. There were so many good ones!“Friends get us through rough patches, but some hardships are best endured with family.”“If our secrets don’t place us behind bars, they’ll poison us, because what stays in the dark becomes toxic unless someone calls it into the light.”“Even if he wasn’t happy all the time, at least he had something to smile about. I think that’s what matters. Having a reason to look past all the unhappy stuff.”In conclusion, The Summer We Forgot is a suspenseful, theme-driven read. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But I hope this review gives you a glance into both the things I loved and a cautionary too.

Another incredible 5-star story from Caroline George!"I think people need to confront their pains and make peace with them."The Summer We Forgot features a cast of relatable and believable teenagers, who come from a variety of backgrounds but I could find bits of myself in all of them, especially Darby. Her ever-changing relationship with Morgan was one of my favorite parts of this book, as together they worked through betrayal, forgiveness, and learning to trust again. Her friendship with Eliza and their ups-and-downs were also very realistic but still encouraging that healing from hurts is possible between friends."Hurting you won't ever be my way of fixing me."The mystery was a very fun ride, and having read a lot of mysteries, I have stopped worrying about trying to guess every little twist and just enjoy the rollercoaster! I didn't ever feel pulled out of like I had to suspend my belief with this story. The pieces fit together like a perfect puzzle."Because if the monster isn't in front of you, it's most likely inside of you."One of my favorite things about Caroline George's stories is how she brings so much raw heart to her writing. Having had personal experiences with repressed guilt or counseling someone through repressed trauma, the way she presents the forgotten memories in this story is very accurate. Sometimes we forget things because we think that's the way to protect ourselves, but if we don't face the darkness in our pasts, it will rear it's ugly head in new ways."You can't begin to heal until you know what's broken."I appreciate the way that Darby and Morgan learn to have the courage to need truth, no matter how ugly it is, and to be at peace with the past: guilt, hurts and all. The Summer We Forgot is not only a thrilling story, but one that I think might build compassion for one's past self, as well as for those who have experienced trauma, but are afraid of facing the truth."We can't erase our mistakes or trauma. We must look them in the eyes, remember, and live forward. That's how it goes."I also really appreciated the author's note and discussion questions at the end of the book. Since this book is beautifully raw, being given the tools to use it for self-reflection was definitely a gift."I tell her I'm not afraid of who she was and what she did."Looking forward to loaning this book to friends and the conversations it will create!