Frankie Simon is thirty years old and is grieving the loss of her mother, who had never revealed who her father was. She continues to run their Hollywood movie memorabilia store. A package arrives which includes a photo of her mother before she was born. She is with a famous movie star who left Hollywood in 1979 to live in a small coastal New England town. Sealed letters written by his actress wife are also enclosed. Frankie heads to the Cape Cod town of Harpswitch, Massachusetts and its annual Stardust Summer Film Festival to learn about her mother’s past and possibly discover the identity of her father.
This thoroughly enjoyable book, which is set in the past and present, is an impressive debut for author Erika Montgomery. She has created a strong cast of characters, a story that kept me fully engaged and it’s all in a picturesque setting. As Frankie starts to uncover her mother’s true story, the people with a connection to her mother have their own secrets and heartbreak. The magical world of the movies is interwoven throughout the story. If you are a film buff, you’ll adore all the references.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read A Summer to Remember in advance of its publication. It is a perfect book to escape into.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Contemporary Fiction.
Publication Date: May 11, 2021.
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