The Healing Summer

Steven heads back to his hometown, and is at the cemetery visiting his wife's grave. She has been gone for about 3 years, but he still goes to visit when he can. Leaving, he hits Carol's car with his bicycle, and ends up getting hurt. He has known Carol, the local hairdresser, for a long time, as she has been his friend, his wife's friend and his sisters' friend forever. She has also been to the cemetery, visiting her baby's grave, who died of SIDs 17 years ago. The father of the baby is also buried there, so her and Steven have the pain of loss in common as well as friendship. Gradually they both start to look at each other in a new way, and as the title implies, they help each other heal during their summer romance. The question is though, is it strong enough to last? Overall a good story, and one that I really enjoyed. Felt the ending was a little rushed though and actions were a little forced, but otherwise I highly recommend this story.

The Healing Summer by Liz Flaherty is a wonderful story of loving and moving through the losses when they come. Steven Elliot is a heart surgeon and just lost a young patient before he made it to surgery. He retreats to his small hometown of Peacock Tennessee to take a break but will it offer healing or just more sad memories of losing his wife? He shows up at his sister, Grace’s, house and tells her and her husband Dillon that he has six weeks of vacation and they tell him he is welcome to stay with them. His sisters Grace and Faith were good friends with his late wife, Promise. Carolina Whitney is visiting her daughter’s grave and they literally collide with one another. He is riding Dillon’s bike which is totaled and her car is old and broke down which is why she had no control of it. Reese is being raised by her widowed father who knows little about teenaged daughters. She spends time after school at Carol’s beauty salon doing homework getting some girl time. Will their lives collide to bring healing to each of them? Is Steven done running from his ghosts?
I enjoyed this book. It is a pretty quick read but mostly because I couldn’t put it down. I wanted the characters to find their ways of healing and to bond in the process. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. It deals honestly and openly with issues loss and how families heal in their own ways. This book will appeal to a wide audience, in my opinion.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A good story, both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. I loved the style of writing, the character development and how the author describes the path to overcome grief.
It was a good read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Nice feel good book. It flowed very well. was easy to read. Nice characters. Good storyline. What’s not to love.

The Healing Summer is an emotional story about loss and grief and moving on or giving up. I liked the story, the book is one that you want to finish to see how it ends , but you dont want it to end because it will mean the b story is over. I loved each of the characters who feel like your own friends. I highly recommend this book.

Easy to read summer kinda book. It was a full story that keeps your interest and makes you want more of the story. I really loved the main character.

Dealing with grief, loss and loneliness is what The Healing Summer will give you.
Beautifully written
Heartwarming
I loved the characters of Carol and Steven. From the moment he rides his bike into her care, I was totally invested in their story.