Rachel Hauck presents us with a different style of book in The Best Summer of Our Lives. Not that different is bad, per se. There is a dual timeline but the majority of the story takes place during the summer of 1977.

I struggled with the 4 different POVs as two of the characters were very similar. In my opinion, the de facto leader of the four seasons, Summer, was not likable. I had to stop reading multiple times and go back and re-read some sections in order to keep everything straight. The story finally clicked in for me around chapter 24.

Yes, Summer had a change of heart but I had a really hard time believing she changed. I would’ve liked to have heard her explain why she was sorry and why she changed. She left a trail of broken hearts and lives a mile wide. I’m glad I finished this book, as the cast of characters was well-rounded, intense, and impressive. As always, Rachel Hauck gives us a satisfying ending.

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a review. The opinion expressed is my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for this giving me the opportunity to read this ARC of The Best Summer of Our Lives.

What an incredibly good read. I really enjoyed the setting of Camp Tumbleweed and the back and forth between the years 77s and 97. It was refreshing to read about a simpler(not so simple for them) time with the nostalgia from both of those time frames mixed in. I also thought the way the Camp Scott and FSU murders of Ted Bundy were well mixed in. I felt at times the writing was a bit choppy and blunt when it seemed the author was going for a more subtle way to break information. One neat aspect of this book was that the chapters were song titles. Overall though this book is an easy 4 star read for me and I will be raving about it to others.

BOOK BY: Rachel Hauck

This women’s fiction piece is not an easy read.

The story follows four friends, nicknamed the Four Seasons (due to their uniquely weather-related names) who become friends in kindergarten and remain friends until the last summer before college. Readers move seamlessly between the years 1977 and 1997, as each friend shares equal page time in showing her side of the story.

There’s angst – as is normal with high schoolers embarking on a new chapter – but in this book, there’s quite a lot of it. Each girl is grieving the death of a friend who was like an older brother to them (and actually a brother to one of the girls), and with that grief comes accusations, acting out, and a whole lot of trouble.

Trouble leads them to an arrest and serving community service as camp counselors in Tumbleweed, OK.

As always, Rachel Hauck brings a bit of the supernatural into the story in the form of The Preacher. References to him are peppered throughout the book, especially in Summer’s story line.

Without giving any spoilers, this story isn’t an ideal “light read”. It may bring back nostalgia for those who were teens in the 70s (or even 90s), but the topics dealt with in this story are hard and raw. Grief, deception, selfishness, lust, murder, death, and mentions of terrible tragedies that happened in 1977 bring an emotional story taut with a rawness that will make readers think.

I didn’t like Summer. She is wild, unpredictable and so insecure that she makes foolish decisions. All. The. Time. Though her story is one of redemption, I really didn’t connect with her at all. She just made the whole situation more difficult for her friends. And I’m not sure I would’ve stayed friends with her – even knowing what she was going through. She wouldn’t listen to any one, even though others tried to help her. She didn’t want to be helped – even to the very end of the story.

The three other friends would have been better off without Summer. But then, this story wouldn’t have been as good! And the redemption/forgiveness thread wouldn’t be necessary.

Anyway – it’s a great angsty story.

I received an ecopy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! Let me start by reiterating that I love comedies and mystery/suspense. They are my go-to and where I feel most comfortable. I almost always steer away from women’s fiction. There’s just too much drama and emotional baggage for me to read anything with feelings. However, I do love books about best friends either reuniting or coming together as adults after knowing each other as children. So as soon as I read the cover copy for The Best Summer of Our Lives I grabbed it without hesitation.

But then I started reading…. And I had trouble enjoying it because I kept waiting for the fallout. The emotional upheaval that I knew was sure to come. Rachel Hauck pulled me in so thoroughly that I felt the emotions of all the girls. The love, the pain, the betrayal, and the regret. And not only could I love them as friends and individuals that I saw myself and my choices reflected in so many of their conversations and experiences.

This book is real, it’s heart wrenching, and it’s an emotional journey that’ll leave you crying while you’re cheering for each Season.

I may have gotten The Best Summer of Our Lives on loan from NetGalley but I will be buying myself a physical copy because The Best Summer of Our Lives is something I’m going to have to experience again.

This review will post at https://www.hottbooks.com/?p=53879 on June 22

This was a very good and interesting book by author Rachel Hauck as it gives me something to think about for awhile. This story has a little of everything you might like, such as murder, friendship trust, lies redemption, fear, humor, pain, grief, fun, and more. Like I said, a little bit of everything. Lots of emotions including just the right amount of spiritual happenings without being over done religion or the main event. As far as what the real main thing going on here is probably love and learning, about life and ourselves over time. The ending was good and did not leave me hanging. I liked the way it was easy to follow along with a new chapter or part beginning with the date and name of character. I never had to go back or figure out what year or who was talking, even though it spans over a couple decades with several people's lives. . I noticed a few typos here and there that did not distract me for too long as I wondered whether it was intentional or nor. All and all, a good read and I will look forward to more books from this author..

Four Florida friends from kindergarten are about to sprout their wings and go to college in the fall, but alas a teenage prank, and they are doing community service in Oklahoma.

This story is told in dual time, spanning twenty years, and begins at the camp they are sent to, and it becomes a catalyst to life changing decisions, but the four do add a new member!

The story is primarily Summer's life, but yes, we do get involved in Springs, Autumns, and Snows, and baby Seasons! They are also dealing with a death of a season's brother. There are big bomb shells, and wow surprises, I never saw coming!

By the end of the summer you will wonder if the Season's will even still be friends, but keep turning those pages!

I received this through the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

A wholesome coming-of-age book which makes a perfect summer read. I did find the switch of decades/timelines and multiple POV's did become confusing at times. However overall this was a really sweet and fun book with unique characters you can relate to and an emotional journey with a Christian message. Overall this was a beautiful written book with a great set of characters/

I thought Rachel Hauck's The Best Summer of Our Lives to be a pretty good read. I am giving it four stars.

The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck is a Christian contemporary dual-timeline story following the lives of 4 best friends during the summer before they go off to college.

Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow - known as the 'Seasons' - are best friends who get in trouble for a prank that sends them to a camp for girls for the whole summer of 1977.

It opens with Summer's point of view, but quick jumps perspectives almost every chapter. We get to see inside the mind and life of each girl as they navigate being at this camp. In the future timeline of 1997, you see where each girl is now and how their friendships broke apart and why.

It took me a solid 70% before I started vibing with the story. The early camp days were dull to me and the petty girl drama was eye-rolling. I was engrossed in the 1997 timeline, but we spend the majority of the time in the 1977 timeline. As things started to get revealed, I found myself getting more and more invested, and by the end I could feel an emotional reaction brewing, which speaks highly of the writing.

There were times when I found it difficult to differentiate the 4 girls in my head. I found Autumn and Snow very similar in tone. Summer and Spring had the easiest and most interesting pov's in my opinion.

Greta was a darling character and I enjoyed seeing her in both timelines.

The boys to men in this book were dashing. Complete gentlemen with hearts of gold. I enjoyed the little bit that they were in.

This is a totally clean book; however, abduction, rape and sex before marriage are topics discussed in semi-detail.

The faith message is what stands out the most. I loved seeing how the author incorporated the Holy Spirit. It was subtle in a way that feels like it could appeal to a broader audience if given a chance.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. If you like a slowly woven story surrounding friendship, redemption, and second chances, then check it out!

I love different POVs with different years of those views. It gives you background and context in how the story unfolded. The shirt chapters was another perk for me. My first book by Rachel and not my last.

A very good read. The saga of 4 friends from elementary to later life Lots of secrets, betrayal and sadness when they grow apart. It was interesting to read how they all find their way in life and the outcome for all of them!

"Two friends became insular. Three, a triangle, which led to someone being left out. Four friends created a square that could contain the drama and dynamics of four young women. Remove one, and the square collapsed."

Rachel Hauck has woven a beautifully nostalgic and redemptive story of four childhood-to-high school best friends from the summer of 1977 to 'present day' of 1997. Their conversations and interactions are authentic and real. How they come together to create a summer camp experience for younger girls is fabulous yet secrets abound that affect the four friends' lives permanently. Filled with heart-warming events, shocking secrets and their consequences, heartbreak and grief and regrets, and supernatural encounters, this book is a good summer read and will make you reminisce about your own friendships of old.

Having been a part of four-best friends-square in high school myself, I totally empathized with the dynamics of their friendship. It was somewhat difficult to keep the four friends straight in the beginning, especially with the shifts from 1997 to 1977 and each chapter centering on one time period and one girl. I couldn't keep straight their individual personalities and backstories until about 60% into the story. I had a hard time fully connecting with Summer, the main character of the book. Her 1977 eighteen-year-old self was rebellious, selfish, insecure, and obnoxious while her 1997 version was pitiful and still selfish. Her salvation story in 1977 was eventful though, and her 1997 redemption and healing journey was quite fulfilling and emotional. Though I didn't connect with Summer, others may empathize and sympathize with her. Spring had the next largest voice in both timelines and her conquering of fear and shame was admirable. I wish Autumn and Snow had bigger voices and that Levi and Mal from 1977 and 1997 had more presence because I really liked these characters.

I received the book from Bethany House via Interview & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

It took me a while to get into this book. I think there were too many main characters, and it was trying to follow all of their lives. It was somewhat confusing. I did enjoy the story in the end. I didn't think this was Rachel Hauck's best book, but it ended up being a good read. The nostalgia of the 1970s was interesting. Some of the lingo seemed a bit forced, though. Overall I'm glad I read it.

An emotional story of four best friends dubbed the Four Seasons. Summer, Spring, Snow and Autumn. And, later, Baby Season, Greta, rounds it up to Five. The initial four girls have been best friends from elementary school and believe they have an unreadable bond with each other. In the Summer of 1977, the now 18 year old Seasons are sent to Camp Tumbleweed as counselors for punishment of a prank gone wrong. This heartfelt story is like a recap of their lives that summer that was supposed to be the best summer of their lives before they all went to college together. Told in short chapters from one girl to another’s point of view in 1977; then in present time, which is 1997, twenty years later where hurt feelings have kept them apart and out of touch too long.

Parts of this story are meant to be inspirational; however, they were so strange, I would have preferred those scenes be omitted. JMO. I enjoyed all the stories about each of the girl’s and what they were dealing with personally that summer. Moxie is a great character, also. This book makes a great beach read! Keep a tissue close by.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

I’ve read several Rachel Hauck books and know that I’ll always get a good story. This book was no different. It old how four friends had met and continued as “the seasons” throughout adulthood. The elements of faith that are always present in a Hauck book were there but different than anything I’ve read before. I loved it. God never gives up on his children.

Adjusting to multiple narrators and time periods took some time, but once I figured out the who everybody was and got into the rhythm of the author’s writing, it wasn’t difficult to follow. Easy to read but more “meaty” than most beach reads. This was my first Rachel Hauck book but won’t be my last.

I’ve read many of this author’s books and found them to be enjoyable. Compared to previous stories, this one is very different. Things that appealed to me in the author’s other novels were her insightful topics, well-timed humor, and a charming narrative, with relatable characters.

The main theme of this novel is how hard it is to grow up, choose between friends and a career. The four seasons are concerned that their friendship is deteriorating as they attempt to make plans for the future.

This novel is told from the perspectives of four friends as they head to camp as part of their community service after a school prank goes bad. The story unfolds in two eras, which require the reader to frequently switch points of view and eras. These self-absorbed, privileged ladies think that this summer might be the happiest of their lives – until they learn about the killings at a Camp. The author pointed out that in her husbands’ research for this book, discovered the Camp Scott murders that happened in 1977. The author says, “she used this event to “drive the secrets from my characters… I wanted to pay tribute to and remember the girls. You are not forgotten.”

You’ll want to retreat inside this tale and hang out with the four seasons if you enjoy the 1970s, summer camp, coming-of-age tales, and a natural spiritual thread.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Wow. This started out and I wasn't sure where it was going or if I was going to love it. But I know this author. She's amazing. I've read so many of her books and I knew that I had to keep going.

There were a few times that I did have to go back a page or two to remember whose perspective we were working with. The book is written through the eyes of four friends. These four friends call themselves the Four Seasons. Their names are Spring, Summer, Autumn(or Fall), and Snow.

I would say the book spends more time in the perspective of Summer than the other three seasons but they all get their time in the spotlight.

These girls have been best friends from Kindergarten through their senior year. Now it's the summer between their senior year and college and they vow it's going to be the best summer of their lives. They're going to go to Europe and do all the things! But whoops they don't.

Instead, they get involved in a prank of pouring car wash soap in a pool and instead of house arrest and community service the four of them are off to be counsellors at a summer camp that Summer's mom is starting back up in Tumbleweed, Oklahoma.

What happens next might have started out as the best summer but it soon turns into the worst of their lives. Read the book to see what destroys their friendship, who has what secrets, and where they each go in life. And can Greta their honorary baby Season from the summer camp bring them all together again?

I can't tell you much more without spoiling the whole book but I have to say if you start the book and aren't sure whether you'll like it or not please keep going and give it a chance. You're going to love it in the end. And also I cried reading it. So there is that.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Great storyline, wonderful characters and a kitchy camp setting. It seems like an easy summer read, but has a lot of darker undertones in the storyline that kept me interested and wanting to know more.

The Four Seasons -- Spring, Summer, Autumn and Margaret "Snow" are the best of friends since the beginning until they aren't any more. After a college pool prank sends them on parole to Tumbleweed, OK to be counselors at an all girls summer camp, everything they thought would be the best summer of their lives, turns out to be more.

The story is gold in flashbacks to the summer of 1977 and "current day" 1997. Summer starts the current day storyline, she's a semi-famous country music singer who's band just road off without her - leaving her to figure out where things went wrong, and takes her back to Tumbleweed.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Best Summer of Our Lives tells the story of 4 best friends and the summer before college. There was a lot of going back and forth between time period and a POV from all 4 girls. It made it difficult for me to keep up with who was who and who was going through what issue. I loved that the girls wanted to always be there for each other no matter what arguments they got into. I also loved that they were going through real problems and sometimes they messed up. This made them seem more real to me and I loved following the paths that they took.

All in all, a great book and I would recommend it for a great summer read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.