The Summer of You and Me

by Denise Hunter

Maggie is a teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but she and her adorable four year old daughter travel to Seabrook, North Carolina, “a sleepy seaside town poised between the more popular Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach” for the summer. They will be staying in the home of her in-laws who are traveling in Europe. This is a big emotional decision for Maggie whose military  husband Ethan passed away five years ago in Pakistan. 

The summer is full of positive interactions with Ethan’s brother, Josh, and his sister, Erin. They have all been good friends for a long time. In fact, Josh, two years younger than Maggie, fell in love with her as a young teenager, but she fell hard for Ethan. How could Josh compete with his older brother when he was clearly too young to date Maggie? They became the best of friends, and no one ever knew that Josh loved Maggie. But Josh was always there for Maggie.

One summer evening, Maggie spies Ethan at a carnival, only it couldn’t be Ethan! That evening catapults the pair into a search for the truth that takes some interesting side paths that bring Maggie and Josh together and then apart in an emotional roller coaster ride. 

The Summer of You and Me explores the intricacies of family dynamics and how dysfunction in a family affects individuals. Even positive relationships can produce misunderstandings that change how a child views themselves, carrying unhealthy perspectives into adulthood. The characters in this story are interesting and are trying to do their best for everyone else, but things don’t always go the way they were intended. The impact of the fallout can be disastrous. The story holds a lot of surprises and tension as Maggie and Josh try to negotiate their changing relationship and solve the mystery of Ethan’s doppelgänger. I enjoyed the clean romance that combines mystery with relationships and psychology.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Romance, Women’s Fiction

Publication: April 22, 2025—Thomas Nelson

Memorable Lines:

As Josh entered, Mom greeted him in such a way as to maintain civility while still making him feel unwelcome. It was a special gift.

He didn’t feel like a friend. Friends didn’t make your heart wobble your chest. They didn’t make your knees go noodly or your skin vibrate with life.

God, help me. She winged the ancient plea heavenward. Hopefully He would forgive the ambiguous request. She couldn’t seem to formulate anything more meaningful.