REVIEW • A Summer to Remember • thanks to @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy

If you're looking for a great summer read, full of a little mystery, drama, romance and the feel of Hollywood nostalgia, this is the book for you. After discovering an old picture and letters among her late mother's things, Frankie ventures to Cape Cod looking for answers about how her father is, and this part of her mother's past she knew nothing about. Once there, she soon finds even more questions, but may also find a family and community she wasn't expecting.

This was such an enjoyable, quick read, with some interesting twists and turns and lots of family secrets to uncover. Just when I thought I'd pieced everything together, something else would be revealed. I found the timeline to be a bit too quick for me, especially when it came to the romance plotline, but that's a minor complaint. Told through a past and present timeline, I thought the story was paced pretty well when it came to getting answers to the many questions that would arise, and I really liked Frankie as a main character overall. Definitely pick this one up this summer!

A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery was so much fun to read! Frankie owns a movie memorabilia shop with her mother. After she passes away she discovers two letters and a photograph that lead her to Cape Cod to discover who her biological father might be and other questions that she's had her whole life. A great beach read and my first book by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

Look, so I am a sucker for a beach cover. I see a beach cover on just about any book and I want to read it. It draws me in everytime. Maybe it is because I live in a landlocked city far away from any beach and it makes me just want to read about settings were characters have access to the open water. I adore the water and the beach so I love any covers that give that vibe. This gave that vibe and so I had to pick it up.

I will be honest that it is the cover that drew me in (only) because I was not especially interested in the actual synopsis. I know... That is not to say the synopsis is bad at all because it isn't, but I am not a real movie buff and care little for movie nostalgia. Old movies do nothing for me. In fact they just remind me of a time when society was even more racist, sexist, and all the terrible -ists. So I was scared I had made a mistake by judging a book by its cover but this is a book I actually did end up enjoying very much! Whew, I know that was a long introduction into my overall feelings about the book so forgive me.

This book is sweet, atmospheric, and I got invested in the story it was telling. There is a lot of mystery and a bit of romance. I love these things so that always wins me over. The mystery was such that it kept me guessing and I could not quite figure out everything that was going on. The ending of this got me and I knew I had to add this to my list of good books. It was a highly enjoyable read with my only complaint being the multi-narrative that is written here did not always work for me. Or rather, I had to work for it because I was more invested in one storyline more than the other. Toward the end, however, these storylines fused together in a way that was very meaningful.

I think if you are looking for a beach read with an actual beach on the cover, this will not steer you wrong. Both the cover and the inside are quite lovely.

Many thanks to Macmillan and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 This book was a pleasant surprise, I really enjoyed how Frankie came into her own. Her story mixed with her mother’s and Glory’s was heart breaking but beautiful. I loved the mix of Hollywood and Cape Cod life. It was a great summer read.

A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery is a women’s fiction title that has a touch of romance. The story is told by switching timelines and narrators. The main characters is thirty year old Frankie Simon who has never known her father and it follows her on her quest for information about who he may have been.

Frankie had grown up with only her mother as family in her life with the two running a Hollywood memorabilia shop. Frankie’s mother always had her own rules of how to handle the merchandise which included never opening a letter meant for someone else. When Frankie finds letters tucked away in her mother’s things that seem to be from a famous movie star couple along with a photo of them and her mother she begins to wonder how her mother knew them.

As Frankie looks into when and where the picture was taken that could lead her to who to return the letters to she finds that it seems to be from the year before she was born. Frankie wonders if anyone involved would be able to shed some light on who her father might have been so she decides to visit Harpswich, Massachusetts to see what she can find in the small beach town.

I have to say normally when reading a novel with old family secrets to be uncovered I find myself completely intrigued with the drama unfolding. However with A Summer to Remember I never felt that swept away by the past or the present of the book. This one seemed to be very slow moving and didn’t really catch me up in the story the way I prefer and I couldn’t quite put my finger on the why. The characters were nice enough and I understood the pull Frankie had to the town but I just didn’t feel that myself which is unusual with this type of setting so that made this one just a so-so read to me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

After Frankie's mom dies, she discovers sealed letters from a now deceased Hollywood actress, Glory, written to her movie-star husband, Mitch, and their son, Gabe. Why does her mom have the letters, and could it be the clue to finding her father's identity?

At the beginning, I was drawn into this story about a woman who owns a movie memorabilia shop in Hollywood but unfortunately, I lost interest about halfway through. While I enjoyed this debut author's writing style and her ability to create vivid scenes, the resolution was too much of a stretch for me. How and why would a secret like that be kept for 30+ years? I have more questions but in order to avoid spoilers, I won't include them here. Overall, this summer was one I'd rather forget.

Location: Hollywood, California and Harpswich, Massachusetts

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was not what I was expecting. Reading the synopsis and looking at the cover, I was expecting a nice Women's Literature story but what I got was so much more. I loved this one! The characters had so much depth and there was an unexpected romance that I loved! I also loved the journey the story took us on and the dual timelines enriched the story even more. I loved the Hollywood aspect and how it was present but not overwhelming. I loved all the beautiful quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I've also been to the Sundance Film Festival so this brought back some happy memories from that too.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

This is a quiet, character-driven story about a young woman looking for answers about her own family history. Frankie owns a Hollywood memorabilia shop that once belonged to her mother, Mauve. When she comes into the possession of letters from the famous actress Glory Cartwright, she sets out to Cape Cod to deliver the letters to the rightful owner with the hope of learning about her father and about her mother’s past.

The secrets and decisions that Glory, Mauve (and another character) kept from their families caused unnecessary pain, confusion, and resentment particularly for their children, Frankie and Gabe, Glory’s son. The romance that grew between Frankie and Gabe was sweet but I found it difficult to connect to the other characters. The book brings the setting of Cape Cod to life. Fans of Hollywood nostalgia will enjoy the many references to movies and memorabilia. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, I love all things Hollywood so this was right up my alley. This book is about a girl named Frankie who owns her own memorabilia store in Hollywood. After her mother passes, she finds some interesting letters and decides to find out just what happened during her mother's time in Cape Cod and to find her father. It was a really cute book, and everything truly tied together in the end.

Frankie, grieving the loss of her mother, receives some old letters found in her mother’s belongings. In the search of getting those letters to their rightful owner, she also thinks she might be able to finally figure out who her father is. Heading to the Cape Cod area she meets with friends of her mother’s past. Secrets are uncovered, old hurts find some closure and romance blooms. This is a great beach read. Thank you Netgalley and publishing house for an early copy in exchange for my review.

This thoroughly enjoyable book, which is set in the past and present, is an impressive debut for author Erika Montgomery. She has created a strong cast of characters, a story that kept me fully engaged and all in a picturesque setting. As Frankie starts to uncover her mother’s true story, the people with a connection to her mother have their own secrets and heartbreak. The magical world of the movies is interwoven throughout the story. If you are a film buff, you’ll adore all the references.

It is a perfect book to escape into.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Erika Montgomery's debut novel is amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this story and the love in the families in it. This is a heartwarming story of mothers and the love they have for their children. This is truly a work of art and I can't wait to read her future novels. I highly recommend this book.

Frankie is still mourning the death of her mother while running an old hollywood shop that sells memorabilia. A mysterious package arrives that reveals her mom may have had another life Frankie never knew about.

This was an interesting novel and I liked the flashbacks to the past. I always love a book that just gives you the waves of nostalgia to a time you wish you could have grown up in. I have a strong connection to my mother, so I appreciated the relationship that Frankie had with hers. It's odd thinking your parents had a whole different life before you were born, and the author does a good job of showing that, they do, in fact have those, in this book :)

A Summer to Remember is a nice, feel-good read arriving at the perfect time this May. A solid 3.5 star read.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Frankie is living in Los Angeles, managing a memorabilia store, when she is given unopened letters her mother had been saving. Her mother had passed away, and the letters bring up a bunch of unanswered questions, especially because there is a photo with them of her mom with a group of people Frankie never knew about. Frankie travels across the country looking for answers to the questions she already has, only to have more pop up. She makes discoveries about her mother's past and herself, and she helps those she meets find truths that had been buried for decades.
This was a lovely book, well written with strong and interesting characters. I enjoyed the timeline shifting between present day and the history leading up to and around when Frankie's mother had been in town. This is a great summer vacation book. There's a little bit of mystery related to some elements, and I thought I'd figured it out but was pleasantly surprised.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot was great and I couldn't put it down! This is my first read from this author and I would like to read more of her novels.

I loved this book ! Its the perfect summer read to sweep you away . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Frankie is in her 30's managing her movie memorabilia shop in Hollywood. She ran the shop with her Mother who has recently passed away. Frankie is grieving her Mom and wondering where her life with go next. A mysterious envelope arrives with a old photo of her Mom taken on the east coast before she was born. In the photo she is standing next to a well known star. Frankie decides to solve this mystery and leaves for the east coast to investigate her Moms history.

This is a wonderful story of old Hollywood, family and the secrets that bind us together. I loved the charcters and the plot. Well done to the author.

I’ve been looking forward to an upcoming beach trip and this book was the perfect read for the days leading up to the trip. Set in a small coastal town, the story includes all the atmosphere of coastal living, as well as the events that give the town its uniqueness.

Every year the town holds a coastal film festival that got its start from two famous movie stars that lived in the area. The story revolves around the film festival and the film stars and their friends who helped along the way.

One of those people was Maeve, who disappeared from the coastal town at a pivotal time. She ends up in Los Angeles, owns a memorabilia shop and raises a daughter to adulthood. After her death, her daughter Frankie finds some unopened letters with the instructions to give them to who is meant to have them. This leads Frankie to take a trip to the coast of Cape Cod and attend that year’s film festival while she’s there.

Of course, her journey uncovers some family secrets, leads to a romance and gives her a sense of family that she has missed out on all these years. Frankie knew her mother was really happy in the town and she feels a comforting connection.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Frankie never knew the name of her biological father. I picture and letters she receives after her mother's sudden death leads her on a quest to find him. I thoroughly enjoyed this story but thought it was interesting that Frankie never did confirm her father's identity. I thought there would be some big reveal regarding the type of martini he likes since that was all she knew about him. She didn't confirm her father on her quest but Frankie found love, family and a home.

I tried to get into this book, but I could not. I lost interest in the characters due to this being a slow burn. There is also so much detail that I felt was added to make the book longer than it should be.

This was a DNF for me.

This book right HERE!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if you read this you will be able to hear my tone, because this book was AMAZING! Did I cry? YES, that is all.

Just Kidding, We meet Frankie who runs a memorabilia shop with her mom, unfortunately her mom recently passed and Frankie is on her own running this amazing shop of great old Hollywood stuff, its amazing, I want to go to one, anyway she gets this package and this package takes her to the east coast. But of course there is more to that trip, she wants to find her father, she feels that the answers are in the letters that her mom left behind. Little did Frankie know, her presence brings back a whole lot of memories, and secrets that were meant to stay hidden, and then also she meets the most amazing people, who actually care for her, she finally got the family she needed and wanted. This book was just awesome.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.