28 Summers

I had zero expectations because I do judge books by their cover and, frankly, I don't like this one. I assumed this would be your run of the mill beach romance. I was right and wrong. It's a beach romance, but not the cheesy run of the mill variety.

Jake and Mallory end up bonding one night in 1993 because “the dog chased the cat chased the rat.” A series of events left them alone in her cottage on Nantucket on Labor Day weekend. They have other commitments and life happens, but they vow to spend every Labor Day weekend at her cottage no matter what.

This is the story it sounds like it would be. It is. But what I loved about this was the atmosphere. I've never been to Nantucket and know nothing about it but I felt like I was there with them. The sun and salt air. And I felt so connected to the characters, Mallory in particular. They felt like real people. And we can't deny the pop culture references in the characters, UDG = AOC, red lipstick and all. It brought it all down a notch and made it somewhat satirical and not so heavy. Whether that was the goal or not, I'm not sure. But I enjoyed it.

Despite my prejudgement, here I am on a Friday at work crying at the end.