Last Summer at Maine Chance - in 1954, three resilient women provide support to each other.

It's 1954 and Cynthia Proctor is finishing her sophomore year at a prestigious college in Maine. Although she is determined to pursue the male-dominated field of economics, her scholarship is not renewed. Her wealthy roommate, Pauline, invites her to spend the summer at her family's sprawling estate on Long Pond in Mount Vernon, Maine. Hoping to earn enough money to return to school, Cynthia finds a summer job working as a chambermaid at Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance, an exclusive spa. She reports to Iris, the housekeeper, who is committed to upholding the high standards set by Elizabeth Arden while she worries about her mother, who suffers from dementia. Cynthia forms a bond with Geraldine, a wealthy woman in her seventies who is a well-known local artist seeking new inspiration. She has chosen to stay at the spa for the summer to escape her late husband's family, who have shown up uninvited and invaded her privacy. These three women will soon provide unexpected support to each another. 

Last Summer at Maine Chance by Jessica Everett is a lovely book that takes us back to a time when many women attended college primarily to find a husband, even as new opportunities began to emerge in the post-World War II years. There was a significant divide between the classes - those who served and those who were served. The novel's alternating perspectives from the main characters offered good insight into the mindsets of three determined women during a period of societal change. Elizabeth Arden, who appears in the background of this enjoyable story, was a remarkable woman and it's always interesting to learn more about her successful ventures, such as the Maine Chance spa.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance.

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: May 12, 2026.

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