Some families we’re born into Some we find for ourselves When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for 23andMe, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers. The … only way to get answers.
The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.
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Brenda Novak always writes emotional, tender, beautiful stories that draw me in from the first page. I loved Serenity, Reagan and Lorelei and the Lake Tahoe setting was perfect for the story. Highly recommended!
One Perfect Summer is a study in how the connections we have, both biological and through chosen relationships, can not only shape our futures but also get us through our darkest hours. Through the seemingly magic of DNA, we can find our history. But we can also heal our futures. Brenda Novak continues to take realistic, relatable topics and spin them into stories that not only entertain but makes us think. And lasts on the edges of our memory for days to come.
Wow! I started this book just before a 2 week vacation and didn’t get a chance to pick it up again until 4 days ago. Once I did, I couldn’t stop reading it. What a great story about 3 women and DNA testing that brought them together. They were not only half sisters, but they became a family. Each was going through their own issues, but decided to get to know each other for one week, that turned into a summer in Lake Tahoe.
Beautifully written! It had me laughing, crying and cheering. This is such a great read. I always look forward to Brenda Novak’s new releases, but this one is definitely one of my favorites.
Fantastic book that had me so involved in story. I cared about all the main characters and my heart went out to them in the search of why their DNA results claimed that they were half sisters. I wanted to read in one sitting, but forced myself to consume this book slowly, to enjoy every bit of it.
I loved how the author made it all come together at the end. A perfect ending to a wonderful book.
I purchased a package from the author’s website (which included a copy of this book) to attend the launch of this book, which was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID19 pandemic.
One Perfect Fictionalized Story Of Real World Concerns. I picked this book up the instant I read the description because it seemed like it would be working through in novel form many of the same issues Libby Copeland raised in her nonfiction book The Lost Family, which released about a month before this one will. (Yes, this is yet another book I’m reading as an ARC, and my reviews are my own honest thoughts no matter how I acquire a book or when I read it in relation to its official publication date.) I was not disappointed in that regard at all, and if anything this book actually did a better job of truly exploring these complexities than the nonfiction book did, if only because in novel form it is much easier to express just how messy these situations can be from so many angles. Yes, you may get answers – but those answers in these cases… well, many of them were buried for very good reasons. And then there are the people who just do these DNA kits on a lark to “find out where they’re from” or some such – which is actually how one of our lead protagonists arrives in this situation, highlighting the stark realities of how serious even taking one of these tests can be. Truly an excellent work grounded in real world research and even real world situations, as the nonfiction book shows. Very much recommended.
True to life, honest, partially broken and lovable characters in a base storyline that, thanks to DNA testing, could very well happen to anyone. It’s sprinkled with solid tidbits of advice for getting through life’s tough times. This was my first Brenda Novak novel and it was a brilliant introduction to her writing style.
Brenda Novak never disappoints! She’s a master at her craft! Highly recommend this book.
Such a good book, but left a lot to the imagination. But I kind of like that I can now sit and ponder what happened and what I want to have happened! I’ve never read a Brenda book I didn’t like, and this one ranks up there!
Three very different women find themselves throw together when they discover they are all half sisters. But that’s only part of the mystery. Who is their father? Are Serenitys parents really hers? Is Regans father who she was told he was? For Lorelai it’s all a dream come true. An orphan with no one other than a cheating husband and a wonderful daughter she has a future with her new sisters. As they come together to navigate their new realities that all face challenges in their lives. But together they may just be able to get through it. It’s sweet, funny and a perfect summer read!
As with all of Brenda Novak’s books, One Perfect Summer, was a great story. The way she wove the story of three strangers who find out through DNA that they are (half) sisters and continues with them through them meeting and trying to untangle their secrets.
Having done DNA tests and finding several relatives that we knew nothing about, I found how the author untangled the family secrets quite true to life.
The story and narrator were excellent and I found it hard to stop listening.
three women find the are somehow related by a DNA test and try to figure out how since all come from different families from different parts of the country. The women have their own issues they are dealing with and each has their own stories to deal with while finding out.
Wow – One Perfect Summer was one perfect read. The book had so much depth – character development and setting were wonderful. I liked the different viewpoints, as it really helped the story flow. I was truly interested in every single aspect of the story. Each sister – Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei – had so much going on that they could each have their own books…the same with Finn, Nolan, and Davis. One of my favorite things about Brenda’s writing is that she really makes the characters come alive. This story felt so real – it felt like I could pick up the newspaper and read about it.
This perfect escape is just what I needed to get through (hopefully) the last chilly days before Spring officially sets in here. Absolutely wonderful from beginning to end, and I’m so glad I read it.
I purchased this book and am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts – my review is not influenced in any way.
Enjoyable
I have been to Incline Village many times. Really enjoyed the characters’ reaction to that beautiful location.
Brenda has a gift for making her characters come alive. Real people you can root for. And I was definitely rooting!
I love the sisters they were si individual and interesting . Thoroughly enjoyed the book
Very interesting. Today DNA tests bring many people together that were unknown most of their lives.
I truly enjoyed this book. I love the way the sisters get to know each other and form a life long bond.
Great beach read
First of all I really liked this book. I was looking for something light and fun to read with a little romance. This book filled the Bill. The characters were believable and the plot/plots were not always predictable but interesting. It was easy to follow and I really enjoyed it.