High school graduates Spring Duval, Summer Wilde, Margaret “Snow” Snowden, and Autumn Child are the Four Seasons, best friends from kindergarten who are now spending the summer of 1977 together as camp counsellors in Tumbleweed, Oklahoma.

It’s going to be the best summer of their lives. But The Best Summer of Our Lives is a dual timeline novel, and 1977 is the past timeline. In the more recent 1997 timeline, Summer has just arrived back in Tumbleweed for the first time since the summer that broke their “forever” friendship.

The Best Summer of our Lives moves between both timelines to show the story of the summer of 1977 from the perspectives of each of the four teenage girls, then moving to 1997 to show where they are now, and how the secrets of 1977 moulded them into their 1997 selves.

I did find the story a little hard to get into because we were moving between four points of view and two timelines, which felt like eight different characters to keep track of mentally (and I imagine it would be even harder with an audiobook).

But I persevered, and the results were worth the effort. There were hints of secrets and withheld information from the get-go. Spring’s secret was relatively easy to figure out, as was part of the underlying conflict between the friends. Other information was harder to figure out, perhaps because it was more important to the teenager characters than to the reader. (Although that still felt realistic, given teenage girls and our/their habit of misinterpreting motive and over-dramatizing events.)

But there were times when I mixed up the characters, forgetting their histories, and that did mean the Big Reveal of one secret fell flat, because I’d lost track of the character. There were also times when I wasn’t sure who the main character was, or even if there was supposed to be a main character.

There is: Summer Wilde. In 1977, Summer is an opinionated and impetuous teenager with father issues. In 1997, Summer is a wannabe country music composer and singer who has never achieved the success she dreamed of (and who still has father issues). The beginning of the story belonged to Summer, and the end did as well. But, like Summer, it kind of got lost in the middle.

Despite the hormones of four teenage girls, The Best Summer of Our Lives in Christian women’s fiction rather than romance. The Christian element grows as the novel progresses … which potentially makes this a good novel to loan to non-Christian friends who are seeking God in the midst of their hurts, past and present.

The Four Seasons are excellent characters, and will remind many readers of the friendships and insecurities of their own teenage years (I’ll leave it to you to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing).

Overall, The Best Summer of Our Lives is a strong coming-of-age story that builds in some of the wisdom that only comes with the passing of time.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This was a cute story about high school friends. I enjoyed the changes over time and liked the writing. Thank you NetGaley and the publisher!

I received a complimentary copy of The Best Summer of our Lives and this review is completely my own.
I was disappointed and was so looking forward to a new book by Hauck.
It seemed to drag and was confusing flipping back and forth more than usual it seemed.

Growing up. Friendship. Secrets... these are all primary themes in this novel about four best friends who find themselves stuck doing community service at a summer camp.

I thought the idea of the "Four Seasons" was really fun. It also has the pull of nostalgia (especially women who grew up in the 1970s) to look back at their memories of decades past. However, I found it difficult to feel invested in the characters, as it gave us a POV from all four girls in both '77 and '97.

I've enjoyed reading some of Rachel Hauck's books in the past, but this one was a little too dramatic for my liking. The girls were supposedly best friends but were fighting and keeping secrets through the whole story. The faith aspect was also a bit strange and felt disjointed and disconnected from real life.

All in all, I finished it, but it‘s not a personal favorite.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book is so filled with pointless ramblings that really do not entice the reader to pursue. It took a great amount of discipline to complete reading especially since it has such an aura of predictability

From the title, I thought this would be a beach read. Little did I know that Summer, would take her life in college and the book would be an inspirational read of friendship and loyalty. A good book to read - any time.

This is the story about the Four Seasons - four girls named Autumn, Spring, Summer, and 'Snow'. Best friends since kindergarten, all the way through their school years. Until when the main story line takes place, 1977...their senior year.
Because of being forced to do community service as a result of prank gone wrong, the four girls find themselves in Tumbleweed, OK, at a girls camp.
This finds them all at a very difficult time in life, and as a result, their friendship is tested as never before.
Secrets are exposed. Truths and lies are revealed. And the four seasons....are torn apart.

20 years later. They are all at very different places in their lives. Will a reconciliation be possible? Will all the truth finally be revealed?

Well written, and hauntingly beautiful, Rachel Hauck gives us a tale about the best (or worst) summer of their lives. If you enjoy a story that will make you think, reflect on your own youth and regrets, maybe give this one a chance.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

My thoughts: The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck is a woman's fiction about  four women who had been best friends since kindergarten. The year they were 18 they managed to get in trouble with the law and were facing either prison time or community service and they were assigned to work at a camp for at risk girls.  Unfortunately, things blew up and the best summer of their lives turned into the worst summer of their lives. I had to keep reading to find out what broke these four friends apart and wondered how they turned out years later.  There is a mini romance and a very light Faith message. This was a compelling read and I recommend it. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

It's more like a three and a half. I didn't hate the story but I didn't love it either. It reminded me of Mean Girls, the way the Four Seasons treated each other was not nice even though they were best friends. Summer was very self centered even though she truly cared about her friends she seemed to be more about herself. Before the story is finished she does change so there is great character development in her. I'm glad the story ended on a good note but I felt like I was reading a book about Christian mean girls. I liked that there were a couple of plot points that dealt with real events in the United States even though they were sad events.

One of those "almost" historical novels, The Best Summer of Our Lives explores friendship in a raw and authentic way that takes you back to a time that feels as if it's your time even if it's a bit before or after yours. Hauck weaves secrets, deceptions, anger, fear, and a host of other facts and emotions into a book you can't put down even when everything in you says, "NOOOOOOOOOOO" at what you suspect is coming.
"The Seasons" don't all make smart decisions. Actually, all of them do something stupid, but the primary focus is on a supernatural encounter that one of the seasons, Summer, has with "The Preacher" who represents Jesus. The Preacher keeps telling her to sing for him, but not until she faces all the demons, confronts her own willfulness, and works through her issues does she finally understand what that means.
Readers will walk away from The Best Summer of Our Lives feeling seen, heard, understood. But more than that, they'll understand the relentless pursuit of a loving God for His children in a fresh way.
*Thanks to the author for this book. No review was required or even requested.

I really enjoyed this book and the dual time-line through. Reading this made me nostalgic for my own summers at camp growing up and the memories and friendships made there. Rachel is a talented storyteller and this is a must-read.

The Best Summer of Our Lives follows the lives of "the 4 seasons"... 4 friends who met as children and are best friends up to the summer right before college. I enjoyed the look back in time to 1977 and 1997. The book focuses mostly on Summer but you also see what the other seasons are going through. Each has something that they're dealing with. Even though the girls endured heart aches throughout, this had a satisfying and happy ending.

I also listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narrator.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 27 June 2023

Fair warning: don’t start reading this one unless you have loads of time, love staying up into the wee hours of the night (I got mad every time I was forced to stop!), and you don’t like having your heart tugged this way and that way until you’re positive it will break beyond repair.

Also, don’t finish reading the book out in public unless your favorite thing is to ugly cry in public ( I just finished and I’m at work—in the mall) because we’re talking full on sobbing, runny nose, and broken laughter that makes you sound a little crazy.

I’ve read just about everything Rachel Hauck has ever written, and she’s written a ton of outstanding fiction. But the Four Seasons (and Baby Season) are now embedded in the fabric of who I am. I’ve spent the Best Summer of Their Lives with them and I have wept, laughed, argued, and prayed with them through those eight weeks and beyond.

This is one of those books you will never forget long after you’re done. One I know I’ll read again and again. My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review was not solicited in any way and every single word is the truth.

Don’t miss out on this one.

My thanks to the publisher for my advance copy. My review is not solicited and is truthful.

When you read a story about friends that went through a great summer and then lost touch, reconnecting, it is a good book. This one was so well done!

I loved this book. Intresting premise. Mystery , Romance, and Historical Fiction

Rachel Hauck knows how to weave a powerful tale while using the physical presence of God. What Christian doesn’t long to sit with God, to see Him and speak with Him? To be brought to a place so overwhelming that you end up face down on the ground in humble adoration? This is where Summer was brought to, though she didn’t quite understand it. And with any good story, it wasn’t the end. The journey had only begun, and God’s timing was at work. This is what I absolutely love about Hauck’s stories.

A slowly woven story of friendship and redemption. I found it a little hard to get into and sometimes confused the girls in my head, but overall a great read with a refreshing storyline.

The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck is the PERFECT summer read, whether hanging out at the pool or chilling on your sofa. Filled with the warm glow of memories from days gone by and the sweet security of sisterhood, The Best Summer of Our Lives takes you on a nostalgic journey of four girls coming of age, counting the cost of secrets, and discovering how to stand on their own. I was immediately drawn into the drama of the Four Seasons (Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow) and loved getting to know their equally quirky personalities. This story isn’t light reading. It deals with many heavy topics, but it gives us a true look at life and the ways that God can weave together one broken thread after another to create a beautiful tapestry of our lives. Readers will see themselves in each of the Seasons and cheer for these women to overcome the obstacles we stumble over as we walk through this broken world. It’s a beautiful story. An inspirational read. A labor of love honoring those who are bound to us in friendship and our greatest Friend of all, who knows all our secrets, and our fears, and is still willing to walk through the ugliest parts of life with us. Please, put this story on top of your TBR, and be sure to get a copy for your best friends, too!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck.

With a nostalgic feel that combines childhood summer camp with adult friendship, this book will draw you into four lives expertly intertwined by Hauck’s heart wrenching storytelling.

I listened to this as audio and did have some trouble differentiating between the four girls, but overall the story unwound in such a beautiful way with both slight mystery and romance. I latched on to summers story most of all and loved the resolution of it.

I recommend this book to lovers of Christian fiction romance - you’ll recognize Hauck’s characteristic style, as well as a gentle twist on her storytelling with 4 protagonists (in a sense).

My rating: 4.5*

——
Thanks to the publisher for a gifted paperback. All opinions are my own.

I have very mixed-up feelings about this book. I struggled to get into the story, partly because of the back and forth timeline from 4 different perspectives. I also had a hard time connecting to any of the characters; their actions always felt too unrealistic for me to relate to. I do like a good redemption theme, but this one felt very delayed and therefore rushed. Overall, it's a nicely tied up feel good kind of book; just be in the right headspace before starting so you can gather all the pieces of her puzzle together.