The Last Summer Before Whatever Happens Next

by Bee Burke

It’s the summer of 1980-something, and valedictorian Claire Hart has nothing to do. Her summers have always been meticulously planned—a class here, educational camp there—so her last summer before college she quickly becomes lost in the possibilities. She can’t believe her luck when she’s swept up in the storied world of the Tooheys, heirs to a plumbing fortune and the richest, quirkiest family in Keech Harbor, Maine. She’s found a perfect summer, full of Toohey hijinks. As she follows the Toohey clan from one party to another, she starts to feel like she belongs somewhere other than in the library with her nose in a book. But perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Claire has to decide whether she wants to live a perfect life—or one that’s perfect for her, whatever that may be.

240 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book and all its magnificent eighties references. Sequel, please!

[Victoria Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully written and engaging story for readers of all ages! One of its standout features is the rich, sensory descriptions that bring the story to life. Whether it’s the luxurious scent of expensive soaps or the vivid imagery of the family compound, the author skillfully pulls you in. I also particularly enjoyed the references to the Maine coast, one of my favorite places on Earth.

[David Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Crapper would adore this novel! As Fitzgerald wrote, “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.” Like Nick Carraway, Clare, (the first-person, mostly reliable teenage narrator of Bee Burke’s young adult novel) is plunged into the vortex of a wealthy, reckless family. The Touhee clan has a coastal compound, a yacht called The Plunger and a fleet of cars with plumbing related vanity plates. Their fortune is founded on ingeniously silent toilets. The first half of the plot provides plentiful laughter and adventure built around Clare’s seduction by the charismatic clan. There are echoes of Salinger, Jane Austen, John Irving and Curtis Sittenfeld in Burke’s novel that elevate it beyond the usual YA tropes into the realm of classic literature. This is a must-read debut from a major talent.

[Elizabeth Guillemette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a North Star Nominee and a fun read for a hot summer day. There are some unexplored relationships and issues, and the ending makes some big jumps in time, but it is a fun summer read that explores issues of wealth, privilege, and identity.

[Linda Crotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect summer read—or anytime read—of a young woman’s dream-come-true summer, which just might be anything but…

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A YA book that is generally light-hearted, thoughtfully comical, and fast-paced! Lots of Maine-based references that read accurately.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a book that is a an entertaining (clean) read.

[Saratogacutie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program - a big thank you to the author and publisher!
“With no homework, nothing to study for, no reason to go to bed early, no camp to prepare for, no job to fill the hours, I suddenly felt overwhelmingly lonely.”
Claire Hart has spent years studying and honing her resume, all in hopes of graduating as valedictorian and being accepted to a great college. Having accomplished both, the only thing standing between her and her future is a summer with nothing planned. Enter the Toohey family - Keech Harbor, Maine royalty. A chance encounter launches Claire into the middle of their wild summer plans and she finds herself accepted as part of their seemingly idyllic family. As Claire learns more about the quirky clan, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about the Tooheys, and whether their life is really as “perfect” as it seems.
This novel was a fun and refreshing read that instantly transported me to a summer in Maine. Claire’s narration gives a unique and evolving perspective on the quirky characters in the Toohey family. The structure and setting of the story allow the reader to see Claire’s growth as she begins to challenge her own perceptions of what she really wants out of life.
The first book from Bee Burke, “The Last Summer Before Whatever Happens Next” was quick-paced, entertaining, and engaging. Perfectly capturing the feelings of uncertainty and change that many experience the summer before college, it felt both nostalgic and modern. I look forward to reading more from the author.
5/5 stars

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's her last summer before college, and Claire's father has instructed her to have fun, free of responsibilities. Before she knows it, she's swept up in the excitement, drama and culture of the wealthy, as the Toohey family spontaneously adopts her into their extensive clan, dragging her along to restaurants, boating excursions, clambakes and other social events. Behind the money and sparkle, though, Claire starts to sense that being a member of the wealthiest family in town might not be all that it's cracked up to be.

This was an entertaining, mostly lighthearted story with some darker undertones. Claire is a quirky teenager getting to have summer experiences that she never had the opportunity to in previous summers because her days were booked solid with "enrichment," so it was fun to see what sorts of shenanigans she would get up to. A few quibbles: Right away I detected that there was lots of tell but not much show in the narrative, which was somewhat grating chapter after chapter, in addition to weird, contrived conversations and manufactured drama. Most unfortunately, Claire comes across as not a very kind person. Sure, all teens are annoying to some extent, but the reader is privy to her inner monologue, and I have to say though she may not be quite to the point of unlikeable, she's frequently cold and selfish, a drawback for a protagonist whom the reader is expecting to identify with or at least root for. Meredith, the book's only real antagonist, is bizarrely one-dimensional, a stereotypical villain with no clear motivation for being so. Overall, the story was enjoyable to read, but some aspects lacked nuance and felt a bit unpolished.

I received this ARC via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

[Jessica Consalvo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️