Summer Breakdown

A Novel

By: Colleen Temple

Narrated by: Patricia Shade

This summer doesn’t just unearth the past—it threatens to unravel Sabrina’s life completely.

Her alcoholic father is dying, she’s estranged from her family, and she’s only surviving motherhood thanks to bottomless cups of coffee and secret cigarettes. After years of trying to avoid her issues, she finally comes face-to-face with them on a reluctant journey back to Seaside, Massachusetts. And this time, she doesn’t run away.

But returning home sends Sabrina spiraling. Watching her father die is overwhelming. Living under her mother’s reign is suffocating. And finding out her dead sister Coraline’s secret brings up 15 years of unresolved grief. This trip forcibly lifts Sabrina from her fog and drops her directly into chaos, past traumas, and the arms of her high school ex-boyfriend.

This summer Sabrina learns firsthand that no one is as perfect as they want you to think.

Summer Breakdown is a raw and moving love story—set in a charming New England beach town—about the complexities of family, marriage, humanity, and the dual beauty and heartache of raising children while also raising yourself.

©2022 Colleen Temple (P)2023 Colleen Temple

I have never felt so seen in a book!

I have never felt more seen in a book. I have never read a fiction book with more life lessons then Summer Breakdown. I often found myself stopping and thinking wow, I totally get that or sh*t, I need to think like that. Not only did it hit the soul but what a story. I laughed, cried, found myself smirking at the 1990s/2000s references. Colleen temple did an amazing job and Patricia shade was incredible with changing tones and voices to literally let the story play out in your head. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Heartfelt and real

Colleen’s novel brings forth family dynamics in a manner that feels genuine. It flows through situations of love and turmoil poignantly depicting the power and importance of expression and resolution toward peace.

Women

I am a woman in her 30s, with small children. I see a lot of myself in the main character - a woman who has lost herself in motherhood and trying to find out who she is again. It’s a beautiful story about finding one’s self, motherhood and family 💜

Great story, fantastic dialogue and a super reading performance.

I finished this book in two days which is a great compliment. There's a lovely supply of revelations as we move through this story. The dialogue is really natural and I loved the writing style. Well worth a listen, if you start it you'll be hooked all the way to the end.