Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

Summer Sisters

Summary

In the summer of 1977, Victoria Leonard’s world changes forever when Caitlin Somers chooses her as a friend. Dazzling, reckless Caitlin welcomes Vix into the heart of her sprawling, eccentric family, opening doors to a world of unimaginable privilege, sweeping her away to vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, an enchanting place where the two friends become “summer sisters.”

Now, years later, Vix is working in New York City. Caitlin is getting married on the Vineyard. And the early magic of their long, complicated friendship has faded. But Caitlin begs Vix to come to her wedding, to be her maid of honor. And Vix knows that she will go—because she wants to understand what happened during that last shattering summer. And, after all these years, she needs to know why her best friend—her summer sister—still has the power to break her heart.

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Book Setting: Martha’s Vineyard

  1. Tashmoo Pond: Lamb’s house looked over the sound and the pond

  2. Leslie’s Pharmacy: Vix and Caitlin would play with the makeup they bought there with Lamb’s charge account

  3. Flying Horses Carousel: Von worked here the first couple summers they stayed on the Vineyard

  4. Menemsha: Trisha lived here on her house boat and Vix has her first flirtation with Bru here

  5. Mad Martha’s: Vix, Caitlin, Lamb, Sharkey, Abby and Daniel celebrate Vix’s twelfth birthday

  6. Bunch of Grapes: Vix and Caitlin would buy romance books here

  7. John’s Fish Market: Vix and Abby stop here to pick up lunch and run into Von and Bru who are now working there

  8. Murdick’s Fudge: Vix went here to send Nathan a one-pound box to his summer camp

  9. The Black Dog: Vix and Caitlin celebrate Vix’s fourteenth birthday here. Where Caitlin and Bru have their prenuptial dinner

  10. Chappaquiddick: Vix, Bru, Von and Caitlin celebrate Vix’s seventeenth birthday on a beach here

  11. Homeport Restaurant and Oyster Bar: Vix worked here after she moved out of Caitlin’s house

Reviews

“An exceptionally moving story that can leave the reader laughing and crying . . . sometimes at the same time . . . Blume creates a rich tapestry of characters.”

—The Denver Post

“Blume’s characters still tend to hover after the book is set aside. . . . She catches perfectly the well-armored love between longtime female friends.”

—The Seattle Times

“As warm as a summer breeze blowing through your hair, as nostalgic as James Taylor singing ‘How Sweet It Is.’ You remember. So does Judy Blume. How sweet it was.”

—Chicago Tribune