Title: The Summer of Second Chances
Author: K.L. Walther
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5★)
Synopsis
Olivia Lupo puts her life on hold to stay close to home while her grandmother, Annie, battles dementia. When her family decides to spend the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, Olivia is hesitant at first.
But after discovering a box filled with her grandmother’s old memories from the island, she decides to go, hoping to reconnect not only with Annie’s past but also with herself.
There, she meets Connor, someone from her past who quickly becomes part of her present, and possibly her future. As Olivia retraces her grandmother’s steps, she must figure out if she’s ready to open her heart, even as she faces the fear of losing someone she loves.
My Thoughts
This was a mixed read for me.
The premise is really nice and I did enjoy the overall vibe. The Martha’s Vineyard setting was beautiful, and I liked the idea of Olivia retracing her grandmother’s steps through old photos and memories. It added a nostalgic and emotional layer to the story. Even though the dementia aspect is quite heavy, it didn’t feel overwhelming, as it was closely tied to that journey.
That said… Olivia.
I understand she’s going through a lot, but she felt frustrating more often than not. Her decisions, especially when it came to Connor, were hard to understand at times, and because of that, parts of the story started to drag.
And speaking of Connor, he was actually really sweet, which made the situation even more frustrating. I had a hard time connecting with their romance, as it felt a bit underdeveloped, so it was difficult to fully root for them. At times, I even felt like Connor deserved better.
I also wasn’t a big fan of the dynamic with Olivia’s dad. I understand she’s 19, but some of his decisions felt a bit unrealistic and didn’t sit right with me.
Plot-wise, the story felt quite linear and somewhat predictable. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it didn’t bring many surprises along the way.
Final Thoughts
Overall, not a bad read at all, and I can see why many readers would enjoy it, especially for the setting and emotional themes.
For me, it just didn’t fully click. One of those “it’s me, not you” situations.
If you are looking for a summery, emotional YA read with a strong sense of place and family focus, this might still be worth picking up.
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
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