The Longest Summer

by Jon Shannon

"The Longest Summer" takes readers on an emotional and suspenseful journey alongside Max, a man who awakens to a chilling reality where everyone has mysteriously vanished overnight. In this haunting world, Max is determined to find his missing wife, Hannah, and unravel the enigma of humanity's sudden disappearance.

As Max grapples with the shock and confusion of waking up alone, he embarks on a desperate search for answers. The once familiar streets of his small Maine town now stand empty, devoid of any signs of life. Max's quest to locate Hannah becomes intertwined with his relentless pursuit of understanding the truth behind this inexplicable event.

Driven by love and fueled by a deep sense of loss, Max scours every corner of his hometown, finding tantalizing clues that push Max further into the mystery that shrouds the world.

With every step forward, Max must confront his own fears, doubts, and the haunting loneliness that threatens to consume him.

"The Longest Summer” is a captivating tale of love, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit. Through Max's relentless search, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster, delving into themes of loss, identity, and the profound impact of solitude. As he grapples with the unknown, Max's journey becomes an exploration of his own humanity, forcing him to confront his deepest fears and find strength amidst overwhelming uncertainty.

This gripping book will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they accompany Max on a journey that ultimately leads to revelations that challenge their perceptions of reality and the power of love in the face of the inexplicable. "The Longest Summer” is a story that lingers in the mind, reminding us of the enduring resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond of love.

Genres: Book Club

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2023

Reviews

[Laura Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was a five star book for me up until the last chapter. I knew how it was going to end more or less. Everybody who read this book probably knew what was going on in the first few chapters. But I don’t think that was the point. The point was a love story. The point was Max, or Joshua, Finding his way back to the love of his life. What brought it down to four stars was that last chapter. I swear it could’ve been told in a better way, some character development for both of them. Even just an additional few pages on his recovery and the celebration of his return to this world. Instead, he wakes up and boom life is basically back to normal minus the fact that he wants to explore the places that the fog was occupying.

Jon please keep writing! If this is your first book, I can only imagine what your next one will be like. And I know the story wasn’t super original in the idea, but it was still really good. Written from the perspective. Person in the coma is a pretty cool idea. It’s also kind of fun to see all the places I know in the area.

[Dayna Roudybush · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the author's first book. The maincharacter is heartwarming and there are so many nuances in this book (personal favorite - the Monopoly money!) that kept me engaged. I finished the book in only a few days and look forward to seeing what the author does in future!

[Theresa Tarbox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Was a fast read, entertaining and made me think. This is Jon’s first book and I enjoyed his writing style .
Looking forward to his next book!

[Tarsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did with this novel what I do with every book I thoroughly enjoy- My quick reading turns to a steady crawl.. I find tasks to do so that I only read a few pages at a time .. I prolong the finish as long as I can!
Lots of thoughts about this book. It’s heartwarming, thought provoking, and most importantly - it’s worth the read.
I’m glad I supported my local book shop and a fellow Mainer by picking up his debut novel.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful book takes the reader on a journey of discovery alongside Max, who inexplicably wakes up one day to find he’s the only living creature in his town, and maybe in the world. All other people and animals have suspiciously vanished. Was there a plague evacuation and he was left behind? Did the apocalypse happen? Where was his wife? Max pursues answers to his many questions to try to understand his curious new reality.

The author’s vivid description of Max’s hometown in Maine conjures familiarity and nostalgia. While the plot is mysterious, the story unfolds gently, and you can’t help but root for Max as he walks through his solitary ordeal.

I had the distinct and surprising pleasure of meeting the author and his lovely wife in a bookstore in coastal Maine. I enjoy purchasing books about a local spot or by a local author when I travel, and serendipitously found the author in the “Maine Authors” section as I was browsing. A purchase, inscription, and photo together later, I can’t wait to read what else this author writes in the future.

Jon and Lori – if you happen across my review, please send me the photo you took! In all of my excitement in meeting you, I forgot to ask you for a copy of the picture. 😊

[Lee Zirkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*. I loved this book. It's about a man who goes through his day to day life over the course of the summer, however, all the people and animals have disappeared. As he waits patiently for his wife to return, he tries to piece together the quirky things that have happened to figure out where everyone has gone. It grabbed me from the first page and I didn't want to put it down. The author has my kind of humor and feelings on some things. Who knew day to day life could be so captivating?

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising

This book would not have even been on my radar if it wasn’t for my book club. It’s not generally the type of thing I read, but I ultimately enjoyed it. There was a bit, at the beginning, where I was just as confused as “Max”, and while I’m not sure it was intentional, I’m going to choose to believe it was so that I’m not bothered by it. Having spent some time in Saco, ME it was fun to have more of the “fog” filled in.

[Maggie Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC READ!

I couldn’t put it down! I love the ease of the author’s writing, not super wordy, direct and to the point. I typically skim while I read, most authors ramble on so much I get bored. This was just enough, kept me interested from start to finish!
Love the main character!! Looking forward to the next one!

[Jo Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

This book was such a good read. The descriptions of people and places made you feel like you were there. Max was a guy everyone could identify with, his story was honest and both sad and funny.
Great book John Shannon, can't wait for the next one!

[Peggy Strout · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good

I had no idea what to expect before reading this book.
I read it all in one sitting, was so good.

[MaggieDay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes after reading the synopsis of this book. On page 40, Max hears a beeping noise and doesn't know where it is coming from. Really? It took me all of 20 seconds to guess Max was in a coma. After figuring out this "twist", the majority of the book was trite and predictable. I wasn't surprised when he woke up from his coma and saw his wife next to him. I found this unoriginal and disappointing.

[M Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a quick read (when I would sit down to read it). Being from Maine and familiar with the author (he is one of my morning show personalities on one of my favorite radio stations) I was able to build a strong image of the locations in my mind. While the ending seemed a little rushed, the story was about the journey through the coma. It almost reads like there could be a sequel of some sort.

[Amber]

Poison-Reflections-book that you kow will make you think-man wakes up and finds everyone has disappeared by himself. He recalls everything but his name. Spoiler alert: Went through a guardrail to avoid a child in the road and is in a coma. Interesting part later in the book is that he can't investigate anything or place he hasn't been to previously in his life.

[Kate(Babygotbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun light read after a long week of school vacation ❤️

[Alexa]

Goodreads really needs a DNF button. I tried but this was supposed to be a grown married man and his POV sounded like a 16 year old.

Not for me.

[Alisha Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this debut novel from a super talented author. It was entertaining and kept me interested from start to finish. I look forward to seeing what this author creates in the future.

[Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, even though a bit short, had a good plot and characters were relatable