I truly loved this book; it kept me reading until I found out the answer to the mystery. It hooked me from the beginning as a group of kids - the counselors- including the two main characters just cant remember anything about their summer 2 years ago- the summer that everything changed and nobody talks about. They know and feel that something bad happened but they can't remember any details or what their involvement was. I was pleasantly surprised as the bits and pieces of the story were revealed were believable. Some fun twists and turns as we learn about Morgan and Darcy's love story and how their relationship fell apart while investigating the mystery of what happened over the summer they all forgot. All while being chased by somebody who wants back what they stole from them- but what, why and who could it possibly be??
Caroline is an excellent writer and kept the story moving giving out little nuggets of truth along the way but not enough to be able to figure it out until she wanted to reveal it. You find out how all the teen Counselors fit together, the connections between them, how their friendships fell apart and how they connect with the community around them. All the teen stuff and paraphernalia was true to todays times- any teen today would relate to it. She did a great job of bringing in current teen lifestyles and topics.
What a fun experience this was! I will definitely be recommending this to my bookish family and friends especially my teen daughter and her bookish friends! Thank you Caroline and Thomas-Nelson publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

While I don't usually (read: never 😉) read murder mysteries, I saw this one from Thomas Nelson and was too intrigued to pass it up. So special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free early reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

First things first, I'm extremely happy this book was clean. It's not every day I discover clean contemporary mysteries, so this was unique. It was honestly refreshing to read a book set nowadays with teenage main characters who weren't constantly cursing. 😝

One thing I loved about this book was the mystery. The author spun a story made of broken memories, forgotten pasts, and teenage characters in a rich town in a way that didn't seem forced or stereotypical—and kept me on the edge of my seat with the twists I did NOT see coming. I especially love how she wove the themes into the storyline in such a natural way that didn't distract from the unnerving mystery—which was really the heart of the story, and for good reason, too!

However, the romance (in my opinion) was problematic. In the end, most of the teens got paired up with each other with little contribution to the plot, and to me, it came across as random. I would've loved to see more platonic friendships between guys and girls in the story, which I thought the author pulled off relatively well in the start. And secondly, seeing how this is by a Christian author, I would have loved to see more of a clean romance, rather than something that felt appearance-based and a bit like idolatry (there are even a few scenes that back this up).

But overall, the themes were lovely and definitely resonated with me. I'd recommend this book to readers of clean murder mysteries and thrillers, who don't mind a lot of romance and love killer twists. Because be warned: this book is full of them.

"Healing so often resembles grief."

Darby and Morgan were once best friends but they no longer speak and their friendship group has splintered. Two years is a long time to harbour a grudge but, maybe, beneath this hurt are deeper emotions that also continue to remain. In the face of the new discoveries and the past secrets that refuse to remain buried, they are forced to confront each other, their tumultuous past, the secrets of a forgotten summer, and just where these feelings stem from.

This remained full of teenage drama and angst and yet I was engaged with it, throughout. It was fun and sometimes a little silly or overly emotional, but mostly intriguing and full of mysteries. The characters' interpersonal relations never overtook the focus of the story, which was on one summer that had been erased from the minds of this friendship group, and these individuals used their emotions to return themselves both back to their former closeness and to uncover just what they forgot.

The why and the how was shocking and unforeseen and ensured this a fun, fast-paced, and fascinating thriller that I tore through in just one sitting. It was a unique creation and I'm already eager to read from this author.

How could all of them have forgotten what happened two summers ago, especially if a murder was involved? Darby Wallis can’t remember what happened to her and her friends two summers ago when they were all at a summer camp and she has a deep suspicion that whoever she was back then isn’t the same perfect image she tries to desperately to keep. The premise of this young adult thriller is perfectly intriguing and the layers of the mystery do not disappoint! Expertly written in first person, The Summer We Forgot is hard to put down, while being just the right length. Darby and Morgan’s relationship is sweet and the summer feels from this book are cozy and nostalgic. Highly recommend!

This was a solid YA mystery. I finished this in one day. I loved it and I can’t wait for my students to read this.

Fav quote: “Healing so often resembles grief”

Some Memories Are Better Left Forgotten...

Best friends and potential love interests Darby and Morgan were counsellors in training at a summer camp when their former science teacher and head of the camp vanished. Two years later, Darby and Morgan are not speaking and their friend group is splintered- but no one can really remember why. When their teacher's body is found at the campgrounds, Darby, Morgan and friends must struggle to regain what they lost before history repeats itself. But can they trust each other?! Can they trust themselves?!

As a sleepaway camp veteran (hello, 9 years!) I LOVE mysteries set at summer camps. It's such an isolated, creepy setting, ripe for mystery and murder.

This read starts off with a bang and a double whammy: who is the killer and why can't any of the staff remember that critical summer? So much to figure out!! What I really enjoyed is that the book does not rely on flashback chapters to tell you the story... the readers are figuring out the who and the what just as the characters are. I also really liked the mystery within the mystery... it constantly left me guessing. On top of the twists and turns, I felt invested in the characters and the sweet relationship between Darby and Morgan was heartwarming.

Prepare yourself as this book is on the long side for a thriller at 384 pages but you are going to want to devour it in one sitting! I had to force myself to put it down (sleep isn't important right?). Overall just a really thrilling read which should be at the top of everyone's 2022 TBR list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected pub date is March 8 2022.

THE SUMMER WE FORGOT by CAROLINE GEORGE is a really good thriller with plenty of suspense and twists and turns. The plot is interesting - how can people forget what happened two years ago? This group of good friends, who have changed after their time as counselors at Camp Choctawatchee, need to work together to remember before they are charged with the murder of their science teacher who disappeared from the camp and whose body has hust been found.
These amateur sleuths, all with secrets of their own, neither trust themselves nor one another, but have to work together to stay alive. I like the way we are introduced to their families and see what part their upbringing plays in their lives. Will these broken teenagers ever get back what they have lost? How will the trauma they are going through affect the rest of their lives?
Darcy and Morgan have drifted apart over the past two years due to a video of them kissing going viral. I like the way the author tells the story from each of their viewpoints. We see how broken they are and how hard they try to live up to what is expected of them. A quotation that I particularly like is “Wanting to grow up is a good thing. It means we feel the future is a place worth going.”
I know this novel is weitten for young adults, but it is also most enjoyable for those of us who are not so young!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The title, The Summer We Forgot, literally tells you basically what the book is going to be about.

A previously missing teacher turns up dead and its up to a group of friends to figure out what happened 2 years ago a camp before they get blamed. For the death, or even worse killed, problem is none of them can remember anything from that summer!

The book is a decent YA mystery that has a good cast of characters. There were some twists I did not see coming and the author did a good job of keeping it interesting. The only negative was the story took a few chapters to really get into. Overall a great YA mystery/thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for arc, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer We Forgot is just waiting to be turned into a Netflix special. The characters were interesting, and I was kept invested throughout the story to find out what happened the fateful summer Darby and Morgan can't remember.

If you're going to read The Summer We Forgot, make sure you start it only if you have lots of time to just read through the book. Because this mystery thriller is hard to put down.

The settings were well done. And when it needed to be creepy, it totally got creepy--but in a "good" way that was appropriate to the mood.

The characters were also well done. George kept all of them different from each other and made sure that their various personalities played off of each other. They felt like a very realistic friend group.

Like I said above, the plot of The Summer We Forgot is one that pulls you in. Twists and turns pop up all around the novel, and the stakes only get more intense as things progress.

Also, let's just mention how George is skilled as a writer because Dearest Josephine and The Summer We Forgot are totally different from each other. And both of them are well written.

If you're looking for a clean book, The Summer We Forgot does have some cautions. There are several mentions of making out, a number of kisses, some crude language, and mentions of murder of course. Aside from one abbreviated blasphemy, there isn't any actual swearing or blasphemy.

Overall, The Summer We Forgot is a great YA mystery thriller.

I honestly don't even know if I can talk coherently about this book. What a ride! I started this book yesterday and had to stay up until one in the morning because I couldn't put it down. Caroline George is a master of suspense and keeping secrets and character development. I felt like I was a part of Eliza, Darby, Morgan, Kip, Spooner, Cyrus, and Amanda's group, and I wanted to know about the forgotten summer just as badly as they did! I really can't convey in words just how hooking this story is. Oh my goodness, it was amazing. Also, my heart was thumping so hard at so many points because Caroline George executed the freaky stalker-y parts of this book just so well. When I mean this book was a ride, I mean it was a full out heart-thumping, mind-racing, fight-or-flight ride.
The only reason I took off one star is because I felt that forgiveness was offered between friends far too easily. Each one of the friends lied to each other, yet when the lie is revealed (never confessed), the friends act like it wasn't a big deal (when they'd just been acting like the lie was a huge deal and they couldn't trust that person anymore). Maybe it's because I have a hard time trusting others, but I felt like the forgiveness was offered too easily and too quickly if the friends really didn't trust each other. I also wished I knew more about Darby's relationship with her mom. It made me so sad to see that she found her mom's standards so hard to live up to, and it seemed like there was a conversation between them that needed to happen and forgiveness and love offered on both sides. Yet it never happened. We don't ever know if Darby and her mom ever got along better. And I don't know, that just made me sad.
BUT READ THIS BOOK! Oh my goodness, this is one of those books that you'll wish you could read again for the first time because the adrenaline. Still not over the ending. Freaking scared me to death - in such a good, on the edge of your seat reading way. :P

I got this off of Netgalley and these opinions are my own. I’ve be really into mysteries lately so a book and people losing their memories and a murder definitely peeked my interest! I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book and I think Caroline George hooked the reader pretty early by keeping what happened between Darby and Morgan vague. Through in a dead body, blackmail, and a missing Summer and of course you have to keep reading. I enjoyed all the supporting characters as well, I really like that though this is a mystery there was enough background about the characters that you could become invested in them as a whole and not just in how they were connected to the dead body. I enjoyed finding the clues with the characters and I placed the ending a little before the end, though the full picture was vastly different then I expected! This was a really good book and I’m excited to read it again when it comes out!

"The Summer We Forgot" is a brilliant YA mystery and I highly recommend everyone reads it!

I flew through the pages as I was desperate to know what happened next – I simply couldn’t put it down!

You can’t help but fall in love with the characters in this book, particularly Morgan & Darby, and I adored the camaraderie across the whole friendship group. Add in the sleuthing and you have the perfect detective murder mystery read.

I actually hope Caroline George writes another book with these characters in, either as a continuation of their senior year following on from their eventful Summer, or as a college murder mystery that they all come together to solve. The characters in this friendship group are well thought out and so relatable, that they would make for a good series. Think Riverdale in a coastal setting.

5 Star Read – A must read for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus

Publication Date: 8th March 2022

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ThomasNelson and #CarolineGeorge for an ARC of #TheSummerWeForgot in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 stars

What drew me into this book was the title and the blurb. How can someone forget a whole summer? My interest was piqued and so I hit that request button. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long to get approved and here we are with my review!

The book is told from two point-of-views: Darby and Morgan. I thought it was done well and gave us more incite into the mystery as well as the relationship between them. Their relationship was one of the better ones I have read when it comes to YA Mystery/ Thrillers as most just don’t have the history that these two had. I also wasn’t fully invested in them either but I think that just has to do with not fully connecting to the book which I will get to later.

One thing I do like to see in books like this are different formats. This book contains short interviews with the different counselors and detectives. I do think that the book could have been better with more point-of-views since the plot is based around all of the counselors not remembering anything.

The characters are relatable in a lot of ways as one is far from perfect but tries to portray herself in that way. It’s easy to want to live a double life and be who your parents want you to be instead of expressing yourself. I totally get it and have been there in my own teen years.

As for the plot, it was good and did have it’s moments of surprise. I will say that the book took me a bit to get into and I did like the second half more than the first. The reveals for everything was unique and I would have never guessed the outcome. I’m still not even 100% sure if I actually understand everything that went on, haha. It was a lot in a small amount of time! It was one of the more unique plots that I have read from this specific genre.

Besides what I have already written when it comes to dislikes, I’m not really sure where to pinpoint as to why I didn’t like this one fully. It most likely is a me thing for whatever reason and it totally happens to us all with certain books.

Overall, this was good book with surprising twists and a unique plot because of the forgetfulness of that summer. If you are looking for a YA Mystery / Thriller to read, I’d give this one a try!

It's official. I have absolutely no self control when I am reading a good book. I literally read this in one sitting, with only a short break for dinner (and that was only because I had to).

Caroline George is an actual genius. She mastered the period drama vibes with Dearest Josephine, and then did a complete one-eighty and nailed this teen murder mystery. Very rarely have I seen an author that can execute multiple genres that are this different from one another so well. And her writing style is literal poetry.

Now for the plot. It really is original in so many ways. The closest thing I can compare it to is the Netflix show Outer Banks, but while they are similar they are also super different. I loved that a significant portion of the detective work is psychological as they try to recover their lost memories. It added a unique twist that kept me fully engaged (and completely unable to put it down). And the ending was totally unexpected but absolutely perfect!

Moving on to the characters. I adored Darby and Morgan so much. They are both so real and relatable, and their relationship is absolutely adorable. They genuinely care about one another as people. YA books can have a tendency to base relationships on appearances and chemistry, and so this was a breath of fresh air. Caroline did an amazing job creating all of her characters so that they were three-dimensional people with a real-world balance of good and bad (even the 'bad guys').

The overall message of this book is that life is messy, and that's ok. The harder we try to fight for perfection, the messier everything becomes. It's ok to make mistakes, it's ok to feel hurt, it's ok to be human, and it's ok to let others see that we are not perfect. Some of the best relationships are built around pain and imperfections, as this story shows. This is such an important message in today's world of social media, especially in the young adult genre.

My single, teeny tiny critique is that I wish that some of the other counselors had gotten more screen time. Because the story is told from the perspective of Darby and Morgan, they are obviously the focal point (and I wouldn't have it any other way), but I would have loved to have gotten to know some of the others a little better.

Overall, this is an amazing book that I would highly recommend reading (but maybe not in one sitting if you can help it 🙃).

This book is a perfect mystery that will keep you guessing. I could identify with the characters and I kept waiting to find the solution. I highly recommend it.