One Perfect Summer: A novel

Brenda Novak

Apr 2020 · Sold by MIRA

About this ebook

"A great book to finish off your summer reading."—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Some families we’re born into
Some we find for ourselves

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for a genetic test, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.

"This heartwarming story of sisters who bond as adults is sure to please...those who enjoy books by Susan Mallery and Debbie Macomber."—Library Journal

Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s latest novel, The Seaside Library!

Other charming reads from Brenda Novak:

• Summer on the Island
• The Bookstore on the Beach

Ratings and reviews

One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak has Serenity Alston surprised by the results she received after submitting a DNA test to 23andMe. She learns that she has two half-sisters. The three women will be spending the summer together in Tahoe. It will give the three women a chance to get to know each other and try to identify their common link. Each woman is going through a rough patch. Serenity just finished testifying at her husband’s trial after turning him in to the police. Lorelei discovered her husband cheated on her with someone unexpected. Reagan had a one-night stand with someone from work and cannot face returning to her job. Each woman will need to overcome their issues before moving forward. One Perfect Summer is a light read that touches on an interesting topic. Imagine taking a DNA test and finding out you have two siblings. I liked that the three women who were at an intersection in their lives. It was touching to see them go from strangers to true sisters. The point-of-view switches between the three sisters which can be confusing in the beginning until you get used to each ladies’ voice. It does mean that there is a repetition of information. It does, though, allow us to understand what each woman is feeling and thinking. I wanted to find out how the three women were related and came to be separated. When the solution was revealed, I was surprised because it came out of left field. I liked Lorelei’s daughter, Lucy and how she helped an injured man. I did find the pacing a little sluggish and there is foul language (too much) in this book. I was happy with the epilogue that showed the women rallying around Reagan for an important event. One Perfect Summer is a sweet story about sisterly bonds, second chances, overcoming the past, finding love, and family.

True crime writer Serenity Alston submits an ancestry DNA test as research for her writing. Imagine her surprise when the test reveals she has two half sisters she never knew about. Serenity, Lorelei, and Reagan agree to meet at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. The three women are strangers to each other, but not only do they resemble each other, they each have complicated love lives they are trying to work through. Each wants to know how they could have sisters they didn’t know existed, how it happened, and wonder if it’s too late for them to become true sisters. I absolutely loved the dynamics between the half sisters of Lorelei, Reagan, and Serenity. Each of these women are dealing with life challenges and trying to respect the new found relationships they have as sisters. The relationships between the sisters were wonderful as well the understanding and acceptance behind the secrets of them all being half sisters. Ms. Novak did an amazing job of describing the setting and the characters in a way that makes them come to life. I was interested in what would happen next for each of sisters and was completely engaged in the story from the very beginning. We are exposed to seeing things from each woman’s point of view which helped us to better know each of them. Overall, I enjoyed reading One Perfect Summer and recommend it to other readers. I will say that it was an engaging story despite having struggled with parts of the story and that there are still some unanswered questions at the end. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Serenity Alston life has been through hell the past few years after finding out what her now ex-husband had done. Thankfully Serenity has had her wonderful family right by her side along with her ex's step brother, Sawyer to get through this dilemma. Now that Serenity is trying to get back to her job as a suspense author, she is finding it too hard to write. She decides on a whim to send in a DNA sample to 23andMe to get a better understanding of the process for her writing. She never expected to find that she has two half sisters out there that she never knew about. Enter Lorelei Cipriano and Reagan Sands. The three women decide to head to Serenity's family cabin in Lake Tahoe to spend a week together to get to know each other and see if they can figure out how they are related. Serenity, Lorelei and Reagan quickly realize that each of them have skeletons in their past that have caused them heartache. As the three of them start trying to figure out the mystery of how they are related, each of them is also trying to navigate through a bad marriage; a pregnancy; and a strong attraction to someone they shouldn't feel that way about. One week ends up turning into the whole summer for these three and they end up having a summer they will never forget. Fun memories are created while very surprising secrets are revealed. In the end these three will take you on a journey that you would never have thought when you first start this story. Overall this was a fun and entertaining story to read. Serenity, Lorelei and Reagan are great characters, and together they go on an even greater mystery. I really enjoyed all of the secondary characters as well especially Finn and Sawyer. This was another fun book from Brenda Novak.

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak has written over 60 novels. An eight-time Rita nominee, she's won The National Reader's Choice, The Bookseller's Best and other awards. She runs Brenda Novak for the Cure, a charity that has raised more than $2.5 million for diabetes research (her youngest son has this disease). She considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life. www.brendanovak.com