That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Summary
Daisy Shoemaker can’t sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home in the Philadelphia suburbs, she should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful; her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Still, Daisy knows she’s got it good. So why is she up all night?
While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she’s also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy’s driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy’s making dinner, Diana’s making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?
From the manicured Main Line of Philadelphia to the wild landscape of the Outer Cape, written with Jennifer Weiner’s signature wit and sharp observations, THAT SUMMER is a story about surviving our pasts, confronting our futures, and the sustaining bonds of friendship.
Book Settings: Truro, Wellfleet
Corn Hill Beach: Diana’s life changed forever
Days Cottages: Diana rides her bikes past these to Provincetown
Knowles Heights Road: Dr. Levy’s cottage that Michael and Diana lived in
Crown & Anchor: Abbey crew would go here for singalongs
Truro Farmer’s Market Mondays, where Diana sold her artwork
Wellfleet Drive-In: Michael and Diana went on a date
Castle Hill Center for the Arts: Diana shared studio space
Atlantic Spice Company: Hal bought spices for Diana
Reviews
"“A classic Weiner heroine who grows wings... Weiner’s storytelling skill is such that she paints an uncompromising, complicated portrait that is also a lot of fun to read.”
—Booklist , starred review
“Engaging, thoughtful... Beautiful beachside settings and aspirational lifestyles on full display, but the depth of the story is what shines.”
—Library Journal
“Take a trip to Cape Cod this summer... Weiner explores the #MeToo movement, the complexities of friendship, and the search for happiness in That Summer.”
― Bookish