The Summer We Met: The Destin Diaries, Book 1

The Destin Diaries #1

by Hope Holloway, Leslie Howard (Narrator), Cecelia Scott

Seven summers. Two families. One beach house. And a diary that holds all the secrets.

Thirty years ago, two families shared seven magical summers together, vacationing in a shared beach house on the white sands of Destin, Florida. For three months every year, they basked in laughter, love, and endless beachside memories... until a mysterious falling out ended those sun-soaked summers, leaving the families estranged for decades.

When that very house—newly renovated and twice the original size—goes up for sale, it sparks an unexpected reunion among the five adults who'd spent their teenage summers there. Now navigating their forties and fifties, this group of sisters and friends decide to share the beach house for one more summer, hoping to recapture the joy of those sunlit years and create new memories.

Returning to Destin rekindles emotional fires and launches personal transformations. Old crushes deepen to love, childhood friendships grow and mature, and the enduring power of sisterhood is tested. But the discovery of long-lost diaries that chronicle those seven summers of decades ago puts everything at risk again. Forced to face the truth of their past, these families must join forces to protect what they've created... or let love sail away for good.

Can their lifelong relationships, shared memories, and newfound connections be enough to mend what was shattered... or will old wounds drive these families apart once again?

The Summer We Met captures the spirit of summers gone by and the promise of second chances, set against the backdrop of the beautiful white sands of Destin. The Destin Diaries is a heartwarming family saga co-written by bestselling women's fiction authors Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Family, Friendship, Romance, Summer, Beach Reads

Audible Audio

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this light, summery, beachy series starter just as much as I loved this writing duo's Carolina Christmas series (starting with The Asheville Christmas Cabin). I love that the entire series is available in Kindle Unlimited, so I can just go all in on them during this season!

The story is just so cozy and relaxing with a strong family storyline, some light romance, and of course, a long-buried family secret to uncover. The perfect comfort read.

NOTES: this book has zero steam and a very light Christian tone (just from one character)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, beach setting story!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great new series by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott, with great family drama, emotions, wonderful characters, and a touching and engaging story. Meet Vivian, Eli, Kate, Tessa, Lacey, Josh, and others as they gather at the revamped Summer House in Florida, where they spent many summers as children. Here some of them will redefine their lives, discover their strengths, seek answers, and build relationships. I loved this first book in the series and can’t wait for more!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my flavor of beachy, summery goodness. There was love and angst and family drama and goodness and God, and a just a bit of saltiness so I didn’t get a cavity. This was a fun escape.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure which I’m enjoying more…the fact that two of my favorite authors wrote this series together…or meeting the Lawson and Wylie families in Destin Diaries! As someone who doesn’t live too far from Destin, I was super excited to read this series, having loved all of the previous books from both authors. And it did not disappoint! Everything was so vivid and detailed, and I felt the families could be just down the road. The story line is already tugging at my heart. I can’t wait to see where this family and their past and present take us!

[Joy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful book, unsatisfactory ending

I loved this book. I could not stop reading it. But I had to stop because the ending left me hanging and the next book in the series won’t be out until May. I think a book should stand alone. If it has hints of what is to come in future books, fine, but the main story line should be wrapped up before the book ends. I really considered a 1-star rating because the ending was so disappointing. Sorry, but this is just not a good ending at all.

[Barbara Cranston · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cliffhanger

Loved this book but it is part 1 of 3! Nowhere does it say this is only one part. I, for one, am done, feel cheated. Why don’t authors/publishers say up front- this is not a complete book?

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 great book for bedtime. Nice story line

[Jamie Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk how I feel about this book. It was cute but very predictable and they drug out the big family rift secret for the entire book and now I have to go to book 2 to find out still lol!

[Andrea Grimm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars-quick read, predictable but I did like the characters and the relationships. Really no ending as it leads into the next book in the series.

[Korian Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun summer read. I love the mix of romance and mystery.

[Lindsey Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up to a 4. Perfect cozy, solid & steady beach/pool story.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Hope Holloway. She writes really good family dramas and I like the fact that she writes about good things happening to good people. This is book one in a seven book series just like the Amelia Island series I am almost finished with. This book however left off on a pretty big cliff hanger so I'm going to have to dive in to book two after reading book seven of Amelia Island. If you like more wholesome stories with zero spice and mentions of God this author is for you. ♥️

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series about family and seven summers of two families at the beach in Destin, Florida.
These families met for years until something caused a rift between them. Now thirty years have
Come and gone and the children want to find out what caused this. The Lawsons and the Wylies
Need to find themselves, friendship, love, and come together again at the big restored beach house .
Is this possible.? An enjoyable beach read with good characters and family drama. Recommended

[Deb F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!!

WOW!!!! I don't think I ever wanted a second book in a series more! I don't say this lightly! The Summer We Met is a fantastic story about two families who spent summers together for about six years. Families who had so much in common, the kids loved staying at the Dustin, FL.. beach home and they always thought these special summers would never end. Until they did, with a quarrel so deep between the parents that each families name was not mentioned by the other family. Unfortunately, the teen kids in the family had no idea why the other family was a name never spoken. Fast forward thirty years and as this story is told by these two most talented authors, Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott, the two families children are each at the most interesting times in their lives. How the authors intertwine the characters in the story developed into a book you do not want to miss reading. I would give it 100 stars if I could! The ending is worthy of any
blockbuster written!! Don't miss reading this excellent story of hope, forgiveness and love. With wonderfully beautiful descriptions of the Florida area and memories of a lifetime by such great descriptive characters, these authors put together an unput- downable story!!

[Carol Cason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Half a book

Once you get invested in the characters, and climactic action is looming, the book ends abruptly as if the rest of the story was just whacked off with a chain saw. Nothing is resolved, nobody's story gets an end, and you get the news that you are expected to buy more books if you want to find out what happened. A cheat, by both author and editors. I will not be buying from the publishers in the future. Shame on all of you.

[Debra Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a refreshing place, the Summer House

Two families come together, coexisting in a dream home after 30 years. Neither know why or what happened to separate their families yet have formed a bond they can't deny.
Can't wait for next book to see how this saga goes!
Thank you ladies for this series of friebdahip, the impossible by man that God may have other plans.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 destin diaries

Wow!
What a great start to the beginning of this series.
Hope,love, friendships, romance, and betrayal.
Life has many betrayal but there is also reason in the end. Mistakes,misunderstandings. Etc.

I love that there is mention of God and having faith.
Looking forward to more.

If you haven't read Sanibel island series go read it. It was wonderful.

[Sheila DeChantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty years ago, the Lawson and Wylie families shared a beach house on the sands of Destin, Florida, for three glorious months a year. When a falling out happens between the two families, the paradise vacations come to a sudden halt, leaving many unanswered questions and a decades-long estrangement.

When a twist of fate puts the home back into the lives of one of the families, newly modernized and now twice the size, it sets a reunion between the two families' teens ( now in their 40s and 50s). Deciding to share the home for one more season, the old friends experience a catch-up time of love and loss, old hurts, buried secrets, dreams, and more. But when a diary is found that chronicles the seven summers of the past, they are once again found in jeopardy of losing the few setos they had made to building their friendships again.

Ok - full disclosure. I love a cover like this. It makes me think of friendships and beautiful beachy settings... perfect for this time of year.

I did not realize going in that this was a series ( let alone seven books) or I would have likely passed due to the time commitment to an unknown series to me. However, book one flowed so nicely and was a nice distraction while I do yard work; book 2 came as a pleasant surprise.

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

One book and I'm hooked. Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott have joined forces once again to bring readers a new book - and series - filled with hope, humor, heart, the possibilities of romance, and the complications of family. These two paint pictures with their words that draw me into the heart and soul of their characters, giving me stories I'm unable to put down. They create realistic and relatable characters who weave together the multi-layered threads of siblings, parent/child relationships, and friendships lost and regained. I'm eager to discover what awaits these three generations of characters as they and their relationships evolve over the course of this series, not to mention the mystery of the secret being kept by the matriarchs of these two families that drove a wedge between them that kept the families estranged for decades.

Will the younger generation, now with children of their own, succeed in mending fences, restoring friendships, and finding new love or will secrets uncovered drive them apart for good? I can't wait to find out!

[Melissa Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found Family and Family Secrets

Hope Holloway has been one of my favorite authors since discovering the Seven Sisters series. A few months ago I read the Carolina Christmas series that she co-wrote with Cecelia Scott and loved it, so I couldn't resist this collaboration.

This book is full of found family, treasured memories, and deeply buried family secrets. Seeing the friendships rebuild after so many years was a treat. I loved the healing happening, not only between the different families, but within the families themselves ~ sisters, mother and child, father and child. There is still much work to be done, as we can tell from the cliffhanger, but I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

The only thing that bothered me in this was an inconsistency regarding a pregnancy – when we first hear of it, the mom-to-be is seven and a half months along. Later, we're told the dad wants to be finished with something in six months so he'll be around for babe's arrival.

This is a “sweet” read ~ nothing explicit, with only a mild profanity or two.

[Kyle M. Koeneman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay. I thought there were way too many convenient events that happened. I found myself rolling my eyes.
The sister decides to go to Destin after losing her job and breaks into the beach house at almost the exact time her former friends go to the house? Furthermore, she doesn’t really seam to see anything wrong with this behavior. Then she happens to be sitting under the dock at the precise moment that a wealthy man mentions needing a party planner (which she happens to be). The prodigal son returns to his family for the first time in years and is able to find his calling while there. Coincidentally, he is able to quickly achieve admission into a culinary school that - wait for it - just established a culinary program and just happens to be nearby. Vivian's daughter has been searching for a career and a purpose for years. Sudden, she quits her job, comes to the beach house and voIla she discovers her new career in party planning.
The characters were likable but the story was unbelievable.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to The Summer We Met on audiobook today. I did not particularly like the reader because I would’ve read it differently. (Less breathy, a bit more on character)

This book had six main characters with a bunch of extra characters that could’ve been so confusing. These two authors made reading a breeze.

They had just enough information on each character before moving on to the next so that everything made sense and there was no confusion.

Eli is renovating a beach house in Destin, Florida and asks his sister Vivien to do the interior design. I thinks its March and the book covers about a month of time.

Each character is important and well thought out. Vivien is reevaluating her life. Tessa is starting a new adventure. Kate is amazing. Vivien’s daughter Lacey wants a career change. Eli reconnects with his son, Jonah. The summer house is place for making memories.

At the end, we find out why the families stopped speaking to each other and that part bothered me a bit. However, real friends have broken up for lesser things. So it’s totally believable, I just didn’t like it.

I didn’t know this was a series when I began, but I’m very looking forward to the second book.

I give The Summer We Met 4 out of 5 relationships

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

I enjoyed The Summer We Met overall, but it wasn’t quite a standout for me. Hope Holloway writes heartfelt stories, and I liked following the characters as they navigated family relationships, personal growth, and new beginnings. The coastal setting gave the book a relaxing summer feel, and I appreciated the emphasis on friendship and finding your way through life’s unexpected changes.

For me, the story moved a little slower than I would have liked. It was very character-driven, and while I enjoyed getting to know everyone, I found myself wanting a bit more momentum and emotional impact. I stayed invested enough to keep reading, but it never fully pulled me in.

Overall, this is a sweet, comforting women’s fiction novel that’s perfect if you’re in the mood for a slower-paced, feel-good summer read. It wasn’t my favorite from the genre, but I’m glad I picked it up.

[Becky Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great summer read for the first book in the series. The Wylies and Lawsons and a Destin vacation year after year. Only a falling out stops them. And the kids have no idea why. Fast forward several years and those kids are now adults and end up back in Destin at the newly renovated beach house for a last summer hurrah before it’s sold. However the Lawsons want to keep it and continue the traditions. But the secrets between the Lawsons and the Wylies may stop that from happening. But Eli is holding onto his faith and praying reverently that it is all going to workout and he will get the Wylie woman he loves. I throughly enjoyed book one of this series and am looking forward to more.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott have pulled it off again. The Summer We Met is the first in their new series, The Destin Diaries and it does not disappoint. There is so much emotion throughout the book. There are the wonderful tugs at your heart strings, the love and support of family, but also the tensions and mystery fraught with a thirty-year-old feud between the parents of two families. The sense of strength comes through as several characters realize the opportunities of starting over while holding onto the memories of their childhood and making new ones for the future. This is another exceptional book and I cannot wait for book two in the series!

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lawsons and the Wylie families spent the summers together for years in Destin, Florida until the year things forever changed for the Lawsons. Now secrets from the past are being uncovered almost 30 years later and the now grown up Lawson and Wylie siblings are starting to find out what their parents have been keeping from them.
This has a wonderful mix of self discovery, rekindling old friendships which leads to fun times, laughter, links to the heart and coming together to help one another.
Unfortunately this does leave us with a bit of a cliff hanger that leaves counting down to the next book which fortunately released soon! :D

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who remembers Destin…”Maggie smiled, settling [Aunt] PittyPat on her lap…I am about to change all of your lives…” and so the Destin Diaries begins. Where reconnecting with the past will reshape your future. With secrets uncovered and love reignited but is it enough to overcome the challenges of the past and keep Eli, Vivian, Kate, and Tessa together. The Destin Diaries is sensational. It’s the kind of book you want to finish—-but you don’t want to finish. Well done my fav authors, Holloway and Scott.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited when I heard these two authors were writing together again!

I loved this new series starter; there is a lot of promise for this series. The Destin Diaries are about families, the drama, the love, the range of emotions, and how, all these years later, a summer house can have just as much meaning in their lives as it did in their youth.

As with previous series there are threads woven throughout the series. The books need to be read in order, so get started today on this new series.

Thank you to the Authors for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming and engaging introduction to the Destin Diaries series. It was filled with friendship, fresh starts, and the kind of small-town connections that make you want to linger a little longer. The coastal setting was beautifully portrayed and added a relaxing atmosphere to the story.
I especially enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the themes of love, family, and personal growth. Such a feel-good read with memorable characters and a beach-town setting will likely enjoy this one and look forward to continuing the series.