For fans of Where the Crawdads Sing and This Tender Land comes a heartfelt story about three young girls searching for adventure during the summer of 1960 from the New York Times bestselling author of Whistling in the Dark.That summer would change us . . . forever.The summer of 1960 was the hottest ever for Summit, Wisconsin. For kids seeking relief from the heat, there was a creek to be swum … forever.
The summer of 1960 was the hottest ever for Summit, Wisconsin. For kids seeking relief from the heat, there was a creek to be swum in, sprinklers to run through, and ice cream at Whitcomb’s Drugstore. But for Frankie, Viv, and Biz, eleven-year-old best friends, it would forever be remembered as the summer that evil paid a visit to their small town–and took their young lives as they’d known them as a souvenir.
With a to-do list in hand, the girls set forth from their hideout to make their mark on that summer, but when three patients escape from Broadhurst Mental Institution, their idyllic lives take a sinister turn. Determined to uncover long-held secrets, the girls have no idea that what they discover could cost them their lives and the ones they hold dear.
Six decades later, Biz, now a bestselling novelist, remembers that long ago summer and how it still haunts her and her lifelong friends in Every Now and Then, a story about the ties that bind us, the timelessness of grief and guilt–and the everlasting hope for redemption.
more
Entertaining, Reminiscent and just plain fun are things that come to mind when I think about Every Now and Then by Lesley Kagen. This was the first book I’ve read of hers and I am sure I’ll be looking at her other books for another great read.
I enjoyed reminiscing about my own childhood summers when I would be out with friends all day and our parents weren’t worried about us. We usually showed up at someone’s house for lunch and went home for dinner. We just had to be home by dark. Parents wouldn’t be so free with their kids today. We never locked our houses and you didn’t have to worry about theft. Those were the days. In this story we followed Biz, Viv and Frankie on their escapades during the summer of their 11th year. They got into a few more scrapes than I did at their age!
I was entertained throughout. The book was told from Biz’s point of view and I think in my mind it became more of a young adult novel but, it does very well in all age groups.
I won a copy of this book from the author in a giveaway. Thank you Lesley Kagen!
Lesley Kagen writes a page-turner of a book about three pre-adolescent friends who go in search of adventure and get themselves in a whole lot more trouble than they anticipated.
Biz, Viv, and Frankie are a triumvirate of trouble. If they were my kids I would lose my mind. 🙂 And I have four kids–three of whom are boys–so that’s saying something! But their hearts are golden although their choices are frequently lacking in judgment, so you can’t help cheering them on.
From the description of the book, I expected there to be a lot more darkness and twistedness than there was. The trouble, the danger, does come, but most of the book you’re just enjoying being a fly on the wall with these incredibly charismatic kids.
I frequently cry in books, but I don’t often laugh, and Kagen had me laughing out loud at random intervals throughout the book. My family kept thinking I was reacting to their conversations and couldn’t figure out what they’d done that was so funny. In truth, Biz’s voice is just that charismatic and funny. It’s brilliant writing when a child narrates a story in such a way that the reader can see everything going on even though the child herself has no idea–and laughs while reading.
Highly recommended.
“Every Now and Then” is a perfect summer sky of a story, in which lots of lovely blue is mixed with a few dark, descending clouds. Lesley Kagen offers a wry, winning story told in the enchanting voice of adolescence and with the pitch perfect vernacular of 1960. Filled with secrets, lies, and all the truth of what is to be human, especially in a small town, “Every Now and Then” is a story every heart will embrace.
Lesley Kagen’s exquisite novel, EVERY NOW AND THEN, has everything I look for in a novel ~ memorable characters, a richly drawn town teeming with secrets and a mystery that kept me flying through the pages. Kagen’s trio of best friends, Biz, Frankie and Viv left an indelible imprint on my heart. Don’t miss this timeless, beautifully crafted coming of age story.
This is my first book by Lesley Kagen but will not be my last.
This is such a good book. It’s a very cute quick read with a lot of intense things going on also. It starts out with Elizabeth Buchanan telling a story about her and her two best friends. The setting is the summer of 1960 and these three girls are eleven years old. Just old enough to be kids and be finding themselves. Their innocence is so sweet in this book. Some of the things they say made me laugh so hard. They are three different girls who are always there for each other no matter what. They call themselves the “tree musketeers.” Not a mistype either.
Elizabeth/Biz, Francis/Frankie and Vivian/Viv, are three great young girls who enjoy this summer to the fullest. They love going to watch scary movies at the Rivoli Theatre. They are on the edge of growing up and experience so many things this crazy summer. Some not so great but most was. They started visiting outside a mental hospital because, well in my opinion, they were just nosey and wanted to see what was going on. But they quickly became friends with some of the not so ill patience. It was just part of what they did that summer. Until something happened and they had to stop.
This is a story that will definitely make you see how fast time flies also. These youngsters were the very best of friends and stayed so all their lives. Even after they graduated and went on to different colleges and became individuals. They had a bond that drew them all back together to grow old together. To look back on that summer and some other times. To just be there for each other.
This is a very lighthearted book with some intense parts that will keep you turning the pages. The characters are so well loved. From Aunt Jane May to Doc to the sheriff. There’s so so many characters you will love that I can’t possibly begin to name them all. You will get to know then though and they will worm their way into your heart as they did mine. From the patience at the mental hospital to the relatives of these young girls. Each has a place that fits so well. This story will bring out a lot of emotions. From laughter, big belly laughs, too many tears. From realizing how fast time does fly by too enjoying the time you have now. Time.. It does go by so quickly. One day you are an innocent child, then you are looking back on your life talking about the things you use to get into. These three girls sure did.
The way the author made everything fall together in this book was great. It had no abrupt ending that left you wondering. Everything was cleared up. What happened to each person was there. I liked that so much. A lot of books leave me wondering. Not this one though. It was tied up without any doubts as to where each girl landed. Great job Ms Kagen.
Thank you #NetGalley, #LesleyKagen, #AlcovePress for this ARC. This is my own honest review.
I gave it a huge 5/5 stars and a very high recommendation. Great story.
I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story of three 11 yo best friends and a very adventurous summer of 1960 in Summit, WI. It’s an entertaining, often humorous tale centering on Biz, Frankie, and Viv, their summer hideout treehouse retreat, their interactions with townsfolk and the neighboring mental institution patients, and how their summer “to-do” list led them into danger.
This reminded me a bit of some Southern stories (although not set in the South) like Fried Green Tomatoes, The Myth of Perpetual Summer and Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn. While often light-hearted, it also deals with racism, the stigma of mental illness and alludes to sexual predators (nothing graphic). While the main focus is the friendships and how those we cultivate as children can often be tighter and more precious than “blood” kinships, there is also much to be said about being “different” during that time period.
The writing is beautiful, the characters so real, and the descriptions took me back to my own childhood in many instances (although I was not half as daring as these three).
I definitely plan to search out this author’s backlist.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #AlcovePress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Anyone who grew up in the sixties will love this novel and reminisce on the fun times that were had in those summers when school was finally complete. You rode your bikes to the creek, to town or to a friend’s house. You had sleepovers in a tree house with your very best friends, or you all were on a mission to find some fun when you were specifically told not to go and look for trouble or else!
This is the summer for the “Tree Musketeers” who are trying to solve a mystery at the Broadhurst Mental Institution. Why and how do three patients escape the building and will they kill someone?
It is a haunting story and one that everyone will enjoy as Biz and her friends find out all the haunting, tragic secrets that are happening in this facility!
Well done, well written with suspense included.
I was sent back to my own childhood while I tried to solve this mystery with Biz and her “sisters”!
One of the many things I loved about this book was the 60’s humor! I laughed out loud so many times, but actually felt like the main character Biz was living my childhood. A little naive, a lot know-it-all. I’m sad the book is over but love the way that it ended. If you love small-town friendships and southern charm, this is your book! If you love suspense and spent your summers tooling around town with few boundaries or limits, you will recognize yourself and possibly your town in this lovely book! You know the age where you’re fearless? And you are just sure that what’s ‘for your own good’ couldn’t possibly be…read this book! You will not want to put it down! Spend the summer in Summit with Biz, Viv and Frankie! You will not regret it!
This was such a sweet book. It totally kept me engaged and the perspective of the narrator as a child was priceless. I had many laughs at how she interpreted adult comments. The friendship of the three girls was precious and they got into a lot of mischief and got in way over their heads. I would definitely recommend this book!
Good premise for a story….just too many side stories
A poignant, beautifully told story… This novel is delightful and unputdownable — I can’t recommend it enough!
Lesley Kagen’s Every Now and Then ticks all the best boxes… This novel is delightful and the perfect summer read.
With a grace reminiscent of Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides, Lesley Kagen paints a tragic and evocative of a childhood summer disrupted by tragedy in 1960s Wisconsin… Both a memorable coming of age tale and suspenseful page-turner. Longtime and new fans of Kagen will delight!
[A] richly imagined coming-of-age adventure.
Another great book, I love this author.
#FirstLine PROLOGUE: The girls didn’t blame me at the time and all these years later they still don’t, but I’ve never quite forgiven myself for instigating what happened during the summer the three of us were eleven.
Can I give this book 100 stars??? Because this book deserves that many and then some. Nobody is better at writing from a child’s perspective than Lesley Kagen. She captures the wisdom, humor and straight talk you get from kids, as well as their curiosity and the shenanigans they get themselves into. She captures the way kids navigate the world around them with sheer perfection. This book was a real page turner. You cannot stop reading. There is mystery, suspense and a richly written story with such depth it seeps into your bones. The dialogue is spot on and the pacing of the story is flawless. You are right there with the characters experiencing everything they are because Kagen is a master of place and time. You will not soon forget this book and will want to tell everyone you know to read it! She keeps getting better and better with every book she writes. Now, as a huge fan, I am left to sit and wait until she come out with her next masterpiece!
A nicely written story of 3 very good girlfriends getting into mischief one very hot summer. You can actually picture them doing the things they did. Back in the day most of us had friends we could while away the hours cooking up innocent things to do.