The Summer I Found Myself

By: Colleen French

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

In the last two years, English professor Ellen Tolliver has weathered heartache with grace - including an unwelcome divorce and losing her parents. In her more honest moments, Ellen might admit that she's sick of loss. She longs to stretch and grow, to truly fill her days. Maybe this year, she'll have something to recount in her Christmas letter other than her son's travel adventures. Maybe she'll be too busy to even write a Christmas letter.

On impulse, Ellen invites her ailing best friend, Lara, to spend the summer with her at the Delaware beach house she inherited from her parents. Lara can relax on the big front porch after chemo while Ellen readies the house for sale. But Lara has plans, too - she'd like to help Ellen discover who she is, or better yet, who she can still become.

At Lara's urging, Ellen joins a local writers group, tries online dating, and mingles with the new friends Lara brings home from her support group. She forgoes white wine (won't stain if you spill it!) for red and eats French fries for breakfast. She even flirts with the local bookstore owner, a handsome, sun-kissed, younger man. And as she embraces the freedom that comes with breaking her own rules, she wonders if it's not just her past that lies in this beloved quirky town, but her future, too....

©2021 Colleen French (P)2021 Tantor

I can’t even finish it

Oh my goodness I can’t get through this book. Readers is great, but the characters are so unlikable and unbelievable I find it hard to believe it’s going to get any better. The only intriguing part is the old lady making the coffee and other than that I can’t be bothered. maybe I’m missing something and somebody else has gotten something great out of it but not me.