The Summer We Celebrated

by Hope Holloway, Cecelia Scott

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

In Destin, the drama isn’t winding down—it’s deepening, carrying the families of the Summer House into a month marked by change, reflection, and unexpected reasons to gather.

An unforeseen newcomer unsettles Maggie in ways she never anticipated, challenging the forgiveness she thought she’d given her late husband. Kate and Eli face the tender, complicated work of aligning not just their lives, but their hearts, their faith, and what a shared future might truly require. And Meredith makes a surprising connection that stirs emotions—and possibilities—she never saw coming.

As the families gather to celebrate Tessa's breathtaking beach wedding, they face the risk that old memories could yet again destroy new relationships. Can the bond of friendship and family hold them together, or will a secret from the past tear them apart once again?

The Destin Diaries -- A heartwarming family saga co-written by bestselling women's fiction authors Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott.

The Summer We Met (Book 1)
The Summer We Danced (Book 2)
The Summer We Made Promises (Book 3)
The Summer We Kept Secrets (Book 4)
The Summer We Let Go (Book 5)
The Summer We Celebrated (Book 6)
The Summer We Sailed Away (Book 7)

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2026

Reviews

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost couldn’t breathe at the end of this book with everything happening between Eli and Kate. The struggle between someone with faith and someone without is such a real and relatable dynamic, and one I’ve experienced myself. I loved all the stories and the continued development of the relationships throughout the book. This family feels so real, like they live just down the road, and honestly, I want an invite to one of their backyard barbecues! I don’t think I’ve ever been this on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book in a series.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another heartwarming and wonderful book in the Destin Diaries series by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott. There is so much love to spread around in the Lawson and Wylie families. All the emotional feels are there: love, trust, and faith, along with life’s heartaches, confusion, and turmoil. Emma, Kate’s 17 year old daughter, made a life-changing mistake. Lessons are learned in a very difficult and hurtful manner but Emma grows up fast with the help and support of both families. Through that hurt, she and Eli develop a wonderful relationship as only Eli can master, giving her the father figure she needs and deserves. Kate is wrestling with her love and respect for Eli against his unwavering faith in God. Jonah is struggling with being a single dad while going to culinary school. Tessa and Dusty need to be married in order to adopt adorable little Olive. And Meredith is her usuaI workaholic self dealing with a new major work project in Destin. I love the heart and soul of these books, the strength of the women and men involved, and of the biological and found families. This series is women’s fiction at its best. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

[Pj Ausdenmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story continues in the sixth book of this hopeful, heartwarming series. By now, these characters feel like family. I couldn't put the book down as their stories continued to evolve, evoking tears, laughter, and edge-of-my-seat tension. With multiple generations facing a variety of challenges, and strong themes of family and faith, there is no shortage of complex relationships and life-altering decisions on the line.

I can't wait to discover how everything plays out in the final book of the series. The Summer We Sailed Away is scheduled to be released on July 31, 2025. With the relationship threads still dangling and a hurricane on the horizon, I have a feeling this last book in the Destin Diaries series will be an emotional juggernaut.

This is a series that I strongly encourage readers to read in order.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer We Celebrated, book 6 in the Destin Diaries, packs a punch! The emotion is palpable, with a roller coaster of ups and downs. Life challenges, opportunities, setbacks, promises, disappointments, and through it all, love. The love and understanding of family draws them all together and helps each move forward. I love how this heartwarming series pulls me in and makes me feel like I’m part of it. I couldn’t put it down, and I’ll admit to plenty of smiles and tears. I look forward to the final book in the series, but am already dreading having to say good-bye to this wonderful group of family and friends. I highly recommend this whole series! Read it from the beginning - it’s a continuous story and you don’t want to miss a thing!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story of faith and hope. I love all the emotions. Meredith is amazing and so professional. She handled herself so well with an immature worker and took care of the situation with help from her new heartthrob Connor.
Eli is such a great guy and helped Emma with her high school problems. If only he and Kate could figure everything out.
And Tessa tied the knot with Dustin and are ready to make a great life with little Olive.
This was so good! I can't wait for the next in the series.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Summer We Celebrated”
This is book 6 in the Destin Diaries series and it is packed full of adventures, challenges, lessons learned, new relationships but most of all lots of love. So much to celebrate! The Wylie and Lawson families spent many summers together at the beach years ago and are now enjoying reconnecting and supporting one another. The lasting friendships and love they share is what families are all about. What a great story and I can’t wait to see how book 7 concludes this great series.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer we Celebrated by Hope Holloway and Cecelia Scott ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Book 6 in the Destin Diaries series. This series must be read in order.

Welcome back to Destin Florida for this perfect summertime beach read. Catch up on your favorite family, BBQs and fun in the sun. I feel right at home with every book in this series. The struggles are real and they always find their way. Can't wait for book 7 to see what will happen next. Stay tuned it's coming later in the summer.

[Lisa Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series! This book did not disappoint except for the fact there’s a two-month wait for the next one. I was trying to save it until then so I could read them back-to-back, but that didn’t happen.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC copy. What a good book and great series - a perfect beach read. It felt like l lived in the neighborhood and dropped in on old friends. Can’t wait for the next book!