The Lost Days of Summer

by Katie Flynn

When war breaks out in Britain, Nell Whitaker is sent to live with her aunt on a remote farm in Anglesey.

She sorely misses thriving Liverpool but slowly begins to embrace country life. Nell even finds herself growing closer to Auntie Kath whose harsh attitude hides a kind heart.

But when personal tragedy strikes, Nell's world crumbles around her.

Can a blossoming friendship with Hywell, a boy from the neighbouring village, allow Nell to overcome her past and enjoy a brighter future?

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Historical Romance

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Katie Flynn was born in Norwich and attended Norwich High School, where she was extremely happy and extremely undistinguished. Published at the tender age of eight, in Enid Blyton's Sunny Stories, she joined a Writers’ Circle as an adult, publishing short stories, articles, etc; only turning to novels in 1971 because the postal strike cut off her main source of income!
At first she wrote under several different names – Judith Saxton, Judy Turner, Lydia Balmain, Judith Arden – but her Katie Flynn books were a delight to write and proved far more popular than she had dreamed. She has now published nearly ninety novels, twenty-seven of which are Flynns. Her most recent titles are: Lost Days of Summer and Christmas Wishes.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book. Recommended.

[Sue]

I normally love Katie Flynn books, but this was not one of her best. Sorry Ms Flynn but I found this disappointing. It took a very long time for any real story to begin by which time I had lost interest and was eyeing my next book up.

[Maria Argent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very slow

[Yuyu_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but it took more than half of the book for the story to really start.

[Mari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at page 45 xd

What really was I thinking when I picked this book up? I don't even like historical f. Oh that's right, I just desperately wanted to buy at least one book and there really was nothing that interested me despote the long ass sifting, and i was like the only customer there. The cashier was looking at me like bitchm

Anyways this book is suuuuuper long, very boringgg. Might as well say teeediiouss. Main character is a super duper chatterbox! Bet she's an Aries.. The space lining is slim to none. This book frigging irritates mee!

[The Endless Unread · Rating 1 out of 5]

I never thought I would be DNF’ing a Katie Flynn book as I have loved her books in the past but one of the prominent characters in this book was so vile I just couldn’t carry on with it. I am so disappointed.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I nice, easy read. Nothing too dramatic happens and can be a bit long winded at times - but a good storyline. Not Katie Flynn's best - but still OK.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of it however i didnt like the way it ended it should of carried on a bit more!

[Janet]

rubbish .. gave up on it after 150 pages ..just waffled on and nothing happened

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good easy holiday read. Most enjoyable.

[Annette Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, didn’t like Auntie Kath, she did improve as the book goes on.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely heartwarming tale, really enjoyed this...

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took near half the book to start and the ending felt hurried.
The characters were interesting and the relationship and bonding between Nell and her Aunt was lovely.
There was a few loose ends I would have liked seen to like the story between Nell and her mother, it was mentioned that her mother would like her to move to Canada (?) with her and her new man. this story was just dropped but i would have liked to see Nell and her mother have one final conversation.
Having Kath and her sister have a reconnection in person would have been nice, as Trixie would have thought Kath stole her man all these years. Kath seemed a little lonely so it would be nice that she united with her sisters.
Now Kath and that first love of hers that she thought was dead but was alive the whole time and they finally are going to get married. While this story line was a little far-fetched and a bit fluffy for me, they just decide to marry on their first encounter after what, 20 years. They have lived through two wars, death and different countries they would have become two very different people than they were in WW1.
This little triangle with Nell and the two boys Hywell and the first one they thought dead. The first guy that was a little possessive over Nell would have tried harder to win Nell or had a run in with Hywell.
The book used Welsh words and it would have been very helpful if there was a little dictionary at the back of the book to flip to as a reference.

[Maria Moriarty Eames · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely light read set in war time Liverpool and Anglesey, it strikes the right balance between the reality of war and a focus on the lives of those in the countryside supporting the war effort. A lovely twist and multiple love stories with some switching between decades, but easy to transition and beautifully presented. I’m also familiar with some of the places on Anglesey where the story is set which added extra personal interest to me to bring the story to life. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Ann Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read. Nell is sent, against her wishes, to stay with her aunt who lives on a farm in Anglesey. It is during the second world and Nell is reluctant to leave her beloved Liverpool. On arrival at the farm Nell is also very dismayed to find that she is not welcomed by her aunt and that she had been betrayed by her mother. However Nell does settle down on to life on the farm and a bond does develop between Nell and her aunt.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from Katie Flynn. Nell is 15 when war breaks out and against her wishes her mother basically dumps her with an aunt she has never met in remote Anglesy. It is a completely different life from anything she ever experienced in Liverpool and even new language to learn. Despite the remote location, the effects of war are still felt including loss and grief but as time passes, new family bonds strengthen and resilience allows Nell to mature and find happiness.

[Cathy de Seton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fond of reading "teen fiction" as it gives me an idea of what life is like for teens, and how they may have seen the world in an earlier time. The young woman who is uprooted from the city and sent to live with an Aunt in the country during WW2, the whole caper of learning to be a farm-hand rather than possibly a pampered city lass - but also losing what she thought would be her future...

[Joan Morin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy book to read. A 15-year old girl from Liverpool is sent to live with an aunt she doesn't know in a remote farmhouse during the war. They experience ups and downs as they both adjust to a now different life. A little bit slow and simple in plot but the characters are well described so the story is interesting. The ending is unexpected -- but nice!

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice change of pace for a WW2 story. I will for sure read other books by Katie Flynn.

There are times when fewer words could have been used, but overall an easy read. The ending was very abrupt, now I'm wondering if there is a sequel.

[donna Hehir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

I love these stories from early 1900's onwards. Love the old romances and struggles they had to face. And I do love a happy ending. However I always find that the ending is too quick, and I'm waiting for more

[carlee loveday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book that puts you right in her shoes

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable book to read .... loved the ending.

[joanna wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

It was brilliant I enjoyed the audio and the narrator was good with her different voices made the book come alive.

[Bernadette Firth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read

Another enjoyable read I love the way that Katie For writes. I would love a follow up to this book , if love to know what happens to Kath and Nell.

[belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing nicer than being able to get lost in a book. I love reading books set in times gone by and Katie Flynn writes them so well.

[De Beresford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The list days of summer

Very enjoyable read. I love the descriptions of all the places and characters......I could picture every detail. Can not wait to read the next novel.

[Laura Perkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay read took a while to get in to the book wasn't to fussed on it the actual book itself or the author

[Kay Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

always love reading Katie Flynn books another brilliant book

[jean clarkson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason I given it three stars, which is unforgivable of me I usually love Katie Flynn,because I was bored, the chapters where way to long for me and I just gave up on page 77

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great until the last 2 chapters