The Summer House

Title: The Summer House

Author: Lauren K. Denton

Narrator: Devon O'Day

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance,

Source: Own

My Review:

I have had The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton on my bookshelf for several years. I am glad to have finally read it!

While published by a Christian publisher, I would not classify The Summer House as Christian fiction. It is a clean, contemporary read. There is no faith thread, despite forgiveness being one of the central themes of the story.

Lily's world turns on its axis the morning she wakes up to find divorce papers by her coffee pot. Her husband never said a word, and she finds herself spiraling as she tries to figure out where he went and what she should do next. 

Rose runs a tight ship at the retirement village. When Lily applies for a stylist position, Rose is sure she should say no, but finds herself saying yes. These two form an unlikely friendship, and Lily gains a new community.

I liked the story and was invested in the characters. I enjoyed seeing Rose's character growth, and I enjoyed the budding romances. I also enjoyed the antics of some of the members of the retirement village; they were good for some laughs.

★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads):  

The Summer House weaves Lauren K. Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself.

Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again.

Lily Bishop wakes up one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated, but a flyer at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community provides a refuge while she contemplates her next steps.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago—just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw.

Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where residents share town gossip, as well as a few secrets. Lily soon finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins—a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over—and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where she expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve experienced so far.