The Best Summer of Our Lives

"Two friends became insular. Three, a triangle, which led to someone being left out. Four friends created a square that could contain the drama and dynamics of four young women. Remove one, and the square collapsed." Rachel Hauck has woven a beautifully nostalgic and redemptive story of four childhood-to-high school best friends from the summer of 1977 to 'present day' of 1997. Their conversations and interactions are authentic and real. How they come together to create a summer camp experience for younger girls is fabulous yet secrets abound that affect the four friends' lives permanently. Filled with heart-warming events, shocking secrets and their consequences, heartbreak and grief and regrets, and supernatural encounters, this book is a good summer read and will make you reminisce about your own friendships of old. Having been a part of four-best friends-square in high school myself, I totally empathized with the dynamics of their friendship. It was somewhat difficult to keep the four friends straight in the beginning, especially with the shifts from 1997 to 1977 and each chapter centering on one time period and one girl. I couldn't keep straight their individual personalities and backstories until about 60% into the story. I had a hard time fully connecting with Summer, the main character of the book. Her 1977 eighteen-year-old self was rebellious, selfish, insecure, and obnoxious while her 1997 version was pitiful and still selfish. Her salvation story in 1977 was eventful though, and her 1997 redemption and healing journey was quite fulfilling and emotional. Though I didn't connect with Summer, others may empathize and sympathize with her. Spring had the next largest voice in both timelines and her conquering of fear and shame was admirable. I wish Autumn and Snow had bigger voices and that Levi and Mal from 1977 and 1997 had more presence because I really liked these characters. I received the book from Bethany House via Interview & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.