When your life needs a change, summer is what it needs

Synopsis

Two people. Two pasts. One summer to fall in love.

Caleb is a former professional surfer trying to build his life after a career-ending accident.

Lindy has moved to Loor island to start a new life, combing the shores for sea glass to weave into jewelry.

When the two meet, sparks fly – but not the good kind. Then they discover they’re neighbours, and they’re stuck with each other for one, long summer.

As they slowly learn to trust each other, and find themselves sharing their stories that brought them to Loor, their dislike begins to unravel into friendship, then maybe something more.

But will the weight of their pasts ruin their chance of a future?

My review

Needing a change in her life, Lindy has moved to Loor Island. While the accepted job as a pet sitter isn’t exactly what she thought it would be, she is ready to give it her all. And of course, she hopes that all the sea glass she finds on the island can be integrated in jewellery. But already upon her first arrival, Lindy learns that the island way of life is very different to the life she has known. And her neighbour, former professional surfer, Caleb, is someone Lindy just cannot read… Nevertheless, Caleb is there when needed, forced or not by his grandmother Betty, who is a force to be reckoned with. As summer passes by, Lindy and Caleb grow closer, but with both having a past haunting them, is one summer enough to chase those dark clouds away?

Most of the times, I immediately like the main character(s) of a story. there is something I can relate with them, seeing things of myself in them or even them having the kind of life I always dreamed of. But with Lindy, I have to admit, that wasn’t the case.

I understand it that perhaps you don’t have the job you dreamed of, or that at that same job you aren’t as respected as you should be. For sure I have been in a likewise situation, where I didn’t feel the passion for my job anymore. But it never stopped me from doing my job good. And it bothered me to see how distracted Lindy was, and how easily her thoughts were wandering off, even when her boss was talking to her.

And there is her relationship with Max, which I just didn’t understand. Yes, everyone can have their hobby or passion. But in a couple, isn’t it also to have a hobby or passion in common? Or at least there is a right amount of balance? Because with Lindy and her boyfriend – at – the – start – of – the – book, it felt to me like Lindy was doing a lot for him, but the actions weren’t reciprocated?

On the other hand, who am I to comment on someone else’s relationship, me, the single – for – life? 😊

And when that relationship stranded, it for sure wasn’t healthy to see how Lindy kept checking online what was going on!

But on the other hand, I also admired her. Because Lindy understood that something had to change, and she bravely decides to make the move to Loor Island.

Not only did I admire her choice, but I also admired her courage. Because let there be one thing clear, if I discovered what the job truly entails, I would be running away, as fast as possible!

I have to say though, I had several laughs at poor Lindy’s sake… the misunderstandings she has, or how she finds herself in situations she didn’t ask for, well, as a reader it was the best! 😊

Yet it’s also a fact that Lindy finds her real self on the island, and she finds herself understanding what it means to be part of a community, if she wants it or not.

Even if her first encounter with Caleb wasn’t a positive one, it’s clear that they both are people with serious baggage. And that perhaps meeting each other, is what they both need in order to be able to move on.

While initially reluctantly, Caleb finds himself being helping Lindy, and that creates a bond that they cannot keep on ignoring.

With two people with demons, I always like to see the evolution in their characters. Things never start on a great note, but slowly both main characters are able to let down their guards, even if sometimes it needs some well-intended interferences. Yet the loveliness of this book is how the demons can be chased away, and that the right people will just get you. But also that distance can put a lot in perspective, and can make you see what you weren’t able to see before.

And that obviously, one summer can make a huge difference, and that one summer can bring so much in your life, and it can make you feel more at home and at ease than you could ever imagine.