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The Summer That Changed Us: A Funny and Heartbreaking Novel Inspired by a True Story about Sisters, Grief, and Letting Go
Steel Magnolias
meets
Schitt’s Creek
with the heart of
This is Us
.
At fifty, Hope Hall has done everything right. She earned a PhD, built a career, and held her marriage together with determination and stubborn denial.
When her life publicly unravels, Hope returns to her hometown in Texas, and the loud, loving, opinionated family who never quite understood her. Surrounded by her four sisters, who make everything bigger, messier, and usually a public spectacle, she expects the chaos, the old grudges, and small-town rivalries that always seem to involve toilet paper and bail money.
What she doesn’t expect is June—her wild, fearless sister, who has spent a decade giving cancer the middle finger. But you can only run from the devil for so long, and what’s coming for June may be the thing Hope’s family can’t survive.
Told with sharp humor, messy love, and the kind of honesty that sneaks up and wrecks you, The Summer That Changed Us is a deeply moving, laugh-through-the-tears story about sisters, second chances, and what it really means to show up when it matters most.
*This book contains themes of terminal illness, grief, and the death of a sibling.
At fifty, Hope Hall has done everything right. She earned a PhD, built a career, and held her marriage together with determination and stubborn denial.
When her life publicly unravels, Hope returns to her hometown in Texas, and the loud, loving, opinionated family who never quite understood her. Surrounded by her four sisters, who make everything bigger, messier, and usually a public spectacle, she expects the chaos, the old grudges, and small-town rivalries that always seem to involve toilet paper and bail money.
What she doesn’t expect is June—her wild, fearless sister, who has spent a decade giving cancer the middle finger. But you can only run from the devil for so long, and what’s coming for June may be the thing Hope’s family can’t survive.
Told with sharp humor, messy love, and the kind of honesty that sneaks up and wrecks you, The Summer That Changed Us is a deeply moving, laugh-through-the-tears story about sisters, second chances, and what it really means to show up when it matters most.
*This book contains themes of terminal illness, grief, and the death of a sibling.
- GenresFiction
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2026
About the author
Jami Albright
13 books1,708 followersI'm a born and raised Texas girl and am the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don’t snort with laughter, then I haven’t done my job.
I'm also a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. I used to think I could sing until someone paid me to stop. I took their money and kept on singing.
I love my family, all things Outlander, and puppies make me stupid happy. I can be found on Sundays during football season watching my beloved Houston Texans and trying not to let them break my heart.
I'm also a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. I used to think I could sing until someone paid me to stop. I took their money and kept on singing.
I love my family, all things Outlander, and puppies make me stupid happy. I can be found on Sundays during football season watching my beloved Houston Texans and trying not to let them break my heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 13, 2026
This book! Heartbreakingly beautiful. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Spoiler alert... She dies. June dies after fighting cancer, surviving, and even thriving despite it for over a decade. And it's back. In a new way. And she fights the fight once again. Until the day she says she's done fighting. Her beauty and grace in acceptance. And her humor! I laughed, but I cried more. To watch someone's heart beats slow. To wait for the next one. To hear the last breath and having that deep knowing while you are simultaneously waiting, hoping, and watching for the next breath but also, somehow knowing that it was the last. The feeling that all the breath has been sucked out of you while watching their last breath. The feeling that with their last heartbeat your heart has been ripped out, split in two, and stomped on the ground. And yet, somehow, inexplicably, also recognizing the beauty and the peace that goes with the art of dying well. How is that all possible, all at the same exact moment. I don't know the answer but, I know that it is. This book! 5 s. And..."Say the words. Take the pictures. Spend the time."
June 13, 2026
Every once in a while a book comes along that I’ll never forget because of its impact! The Summer That Changed Us hit me in my heart and soul. I knew I had to read it, even if it made me cry. I lost count of how many tissues I needed. Along the way, I laughed just as often as I cried.
This is the story of two sisters. One is trying to figure out the rest of her life while another is facing the end. If the dedication at the beginning doesn’t get you, nothing will. There are so many lessons about life and loss throughout this story. I love the family bond that surrounded these two.
Hope is the sister I connected with the most. Many of her lines hit me like a truck. I appreciated and embraced the honest feelings she expressed as she experienced the loss of her sister and her perspective on her own changing life. June may have lived a shorter life, but she packed a lot into that timeline. I think that’s one of the best lessons I learned from this story.
I owe Jami a big thank you for the gift of this story. I lost my mother a year and a half ago, and the tears and laughter brought peace to my heart. There are not enough stars or words to express how special this book is.
This is the story of two sisters. One is trying to figure out the rest of her life while another is facing the end. If the dedication at the beginning doesn’t get you, nothing will. There are so many lessons about life and loss throughout this story. I love the family bond that surrounded these two.
Hope is the sister I connected with the most. Many of her lines hit me like a truck. I appreciated and embraced the honest feelings she expressed as she experienced the loss of her sister and her perspective on her own changing life. June may have lived a shorter life, but she packed a lot into that timeline. I think that’s one of the best lessons I learned from this story.
I owe Jami a big thank you for the gift of this story. I lost my mother a year and a half ago, and the tears and laughter brought peace to my heart. There are not enough stars or words to express how special this book is.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been a long time listener of The Wish I'd Known for Writers podcast and hearing Jami's journey with her sister helped to make me more invested. The story centers on a perfectionistic woman who thinks she has control over life. Slowly, she starts learning that she doesn't have control of much. Ultimately she learns that are most important things are right in front of her. The journey we were taken on was real, I could see the glimpses of her real life in this story. I recently lost my father, and the touch that a devastating death leaves on you, makes the writing come alive in a way that grief has never touched me before. It's a wonderful true glimpse into what family is like when someone important dies right in front of them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants something wholesome and emotional. I would also recommend it to someone who is grieving sometimes you just need something that meets you right where you are and this is it. Thank you Victory Editing and Net Galley for an e-arc of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am writing this review moments after reading the last words. I never write reviews but I HAVE TO with this book! It takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud or cry real tears while reading. This book had me doing both.
I never had a sister. I always wanted one but I was "blessed" with two older brothers who never wanted me around. I was super lonely as a kid. I have three daughters with whom I love watching their relationship dynamic. They may have fought like cats and dogs, but were fiercely loyal to each other.
Reading this book gave me another look into a kind of relationship that I've always wanted. It's beautifully written! I felt every emotion that each family member felt. Jami communicated the rollercoaster of grief so accurately, and how grief can either push you from or pull you closer to each other.
I loved this book so, so much! It has inspired me to have some important conversations that I've been holding off on having. So thankful for this timely read!
I never had a sister. I always wanted one but I was "blessed" with two older brothers who never wanted me around. I was super lonely as a kid. I have three daughters with whom I love watching their relationship dynamic. They may have fought like cats and dogs, but were fiercely loyal to each other.
Reading this book gave me another look into a kind of relationship that I've always wanted. It's beautifully written! I felt every emotion that each family member felt. Jami communicated the rollercoaster of grief so accurately, and how grief can either push you from or pull you closer to each other.
I loved this book so, so much! It has inspired me to have some important conversations that I've been holding off on having. So thankful for this timely read!
May 23, 2026
This book is actually based on a true story and from the first page you know it is going to tear your heart out. June is the baby of five girls and Hope is the oldest and she is the narrator of this story and that leaves Joy, Grace and Babe. June is outspoken and not afraid of anyone or anything so fighting lung cancer for ten years as only made her stronger but a new cancer has been found and there is no cure of that one. This details the day in and day out of what the family goes through when someone is dying and the heartbreak it brings but also the profound way you take each day in a more serious way. I loved every page and can relate to what they went through because I have lost someone very dear to me and the way it changes your life is forever. Thank You for writing this painful and so real look at how cancer effects everyone in the family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 27, 2026
This is a WOW! book for me. It’s beautifully written, and it’s filled with so much love from beginning to end. If you have read anything by Jami Albright, you certainly know how funny she is. It takes a skilled author to write a story inspired by the loss of a beloved sister, and to tell that story with heart, humor and warmth.
It’s sad, yes, because we know how it ends, but it’s so much more. It’s funny and heartwarming and so incredibly inspiring. It’s forgiveness and growth, second chances, gratitude, and living life—even at the end of it—on your own terms. It’s about the love of family and the love between sisters, even when it’s difficult.
Having lost my only sister three years ago, I was afraid it would be difficult to read, and at times it was very emotional, but honestly — it was healing for me as well. This is a bright, shiny five-star read, and it’s one of my favorite books so far this year.
It’s sad, yes, because we know how it ends, but it’s so much more. It’s funny and heartwarming and so incredibly inspiring. It’s forgiveness and growth, second chances, gratitude, and living life—even at the end of it—on your own terms. It’s about the love of family and the love between sisters, even when it’s difficult.
Having lost my only sister three years ago, I was afraid it would be difficult to read, and at times it was very emotional, but honestly — it was healing for me as well. This is a bright, shiny five-star read, and it’s one of my favorite books so far this year.
May 26, 2026
Oh. My. Gosh. The Summer That Changed Us by Jami Albright is most certainly a story that will stay with me for a long time. Grab a box of tissues because you will definitely need them for this emotional, yet uplifting story.
Hope's sister June has been fighting terminal cancer for ten years when things suddenly change and the entire family comes together for a remarkable journey.
Reaching down deep inside, searching for a strength they don't even know they had, they navigate the ups and downs with laughter, love and faith.
This emotional story was beautifully told with humor inserted in all the right places.
I lost track of all the times I was in tears. I absolutely loved this story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the honor of reading and reviewing this beautiful story
Hope's sister June has been fighting terminal cancer for ten years when things suddenly change and the entire family comes together for a remarkable journey.
Reaching down deep inside, searching for a strength they don't even know they had, they navigate the ups and downs with laughter, love and faith.
This emotional story was beautifully told with humor inserted in all the right places.
I lost track of all the times I was in tears. I absolutely loved this story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the honor of reading and reviewing this beautiful story
June 30, 2026
A Story of Love, Loss, and the Strength of Family
A Story of Love, Loss, and the Strength of Family. Told through the eyes of the oldest of five sisters, this heartfelt novel captures the unbreakable bond of family as they face the unimaginable loss of their fourth sister to cancer. Set in a close-knit small town, the story beautifully illustrates how friends, neighbors, and an entire community rally around the family, offering love, strength, and hope during their darkest days. Though filled with heartbreak, it is ultimately a powerful reminder that faith, family, and the kindness of others can carry us through life's greatest challenges, and that love continues long after a loved one is called home to Heaven.
A Story of Love, Loss, and the Strength of Family. Told through the eyes of the oldest of five sisters, this heartfelt novel captures the unbreakable bond of family as they face the unimaginable loss of their fourth sister to cancer. Set in a close-knit small town, the story beautifully illustrates how friends, neighbors, and an entire community rally around the family, offering love, strength, and hope during their darkest days. Though filled with heartbreak, it is ultimately a powerful reminder that faith, family, and the kindness of others can carry us through life's greatest challenges, and that love continues long after a loved one is called home to Heaven.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Hope realizes her sister, June, has been having more health issues she decides to stay home in her small town to help. Hope has been through a lot herself, but wants to be there to make sure everything is taken care of even though her other three sisters do not want her to try to be in control of everything. This story gripped me from the very beginning and I could not put it down. Hope’s family is amazing and showing how they were there for June during all parts of her life had me in tears several times. June sounds like a wonderfully, funny person and taken way too soon from her family and friends. You will want to hug all of your family after reading this book.
May 20, 2026
I’m a long time listener of the Wish I’d Known Then Podcast. Jami Albright has been very open about how the death of her younger sister Joni affected her and her entire family. Jami wasn’t sure if she’d be able to write again. Well, she sure can! This beautiful fictional story inspired by Jami’s real life experience is filled with funny scenes and heartwarming moments. You really get the sense of what it’s like when a large family of sisters, their parents, extended family and friends support each other when dealing with their own grief.
Jami, I’m sure Joni is looking down at you saying, “You did good, Sis. ❤️”
Your Canadian Fan 🇨🇦
Johanne
Jami, I’m sure Joni is looking down at you saying, “You did good, Sis. ❤️”
Your Canadian Fan 🇨🇦
Johanne
June 16, 2026
Jami Albright's writing has always had me laughing out loud, and this book is no different. But make sure you have the Kleenex ready because it had me ugly crying too. The Summer That Changed Us is a heartbreakingly beautiful story about a family's bond and the emotional roller coaster their relationships take them on. Make sure you set aside time to read this book because once you start reading, you won't stop until the final page. Great writing, strong and well developed characters, and a pull at your heartstrings storyline make this a five-star read. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow!!!
The Summer That Changed Us is a heartfelt story about family, the bond between siblings, love, and loss. This book hit me hard, it had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time. It’s emotional, raw, and beautifully written, making it a story that really stays with you long after you finish.
I am so honored to be given an ARC copy to read and review. Thank you so much Jami for reaching out to me, and sharing your sister's story with me.
This book is releasing May 18th!
#cancersucks
The Summer That Changed Us is a heartfelt story about family, the bond between siblings, love, and loss. This book hit me hard, it had me laughing and crying, sometimes at the same time. It’s emotional, raw, and beautifully written, making it a story that really stays with you long after you finish.
I am so honored to be given an ARC copy to read and review. Thank you so much Jami for reaching out to me, and sharing your sister's story with me.
This book is releasing May 18th!
#cancersucks
May 23, 2026
***Review of advanced copy from Netgallery-thank you ******
I absolutely loved this book. As heartbreaking as it was, I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt so real that at times I wondered if the author was writing from her own experiences — then I read the epilogue . Jami the character of June felt so real im so sorry for your loss but so glad the character of June is your sister
This wasn’t just a story you read and forget about a week later. I genuinely think I’ll be thinking about this family for a long time. Beautifully written, emotional, raw and full of heart.
I absolutely loved this book. As heartbreaking as it was, I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt so real that at times I wondered if the author was writing from her own experiences — then I read the epilogue . Jami the character of June felt so real im so sorry for your loss but so glad the character of June is your sister
This wasn’t just a story you read and forget about a week later. I genuinely think I’ll be thinking about this family for a long time. Beautifully written, emotional, raw and full of heart.
May 25, 2026
Wow! I really wasn’t prepared to spend the last several hours not being able to put this book down. Once I got into it, I could not turn the pages fast enough. At the end, I find it’s based on a true story about the author and her families journey with her sister who had cancer and a brain disease. So beautifully written, I cried over many images and also laughed at some humor. So glad someone on TT mentioned this book and that I have read it. It will definitely stay with me for a very long time.
Read
May 15, 2026𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝑼𝒔 is a funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming women's fiction book inspired by the last few months of my sister's life. It is a love letter to sisters, family, and to any woman who finds herself having to start over when she thought she had her life perfectly planned out.
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll want to hug your sister.
Think 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒔 meets 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕'𝒔 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒌 with the Heart of 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑼𝒔.
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll want to hug your sister.
Think 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒔 meets 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕'𝒔 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒌 with the Heart of 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝑼𝒔.
June 6, 2026
I laughed and cried. I love Jami Albright!
I’ve read all her books over and over. Then I wasn’t seeing any new writing so I checked her out on line and saw that she had been spending time with her sister who had cancer and then trying to work through her death. I am so glad she wrote this book! The story of a funny, imperfect quirky family loving each other through such a life altering experience. What a way to love your sister and family.
I’ve read all her books over and over. Then I wasn’t seeing any new writing so I checked her out on line and saw that she had been spending time with her sister who had cancer and then trying to work through her death. I am so glad she wrote this book! The story of a funny, imperfect quirky family loving each other through such a life altering experience. What a way to love your sister and family.
June 5, 2026
ALL THE FEELS…
… the good, the bad, and the ugly.
This story put me through the emotional wringer, making me bawl my eyes out one moment, then laughing through the tears the next.
I truly felt for Hope and her family and wanted to give them all a huge hug. There were so many little things (and big emotions!) that felt oh so familiar. But most of all, I felt the LOVE this family had for each other (even if some might not have been as good as others at showing it).
… the good, the bad, and the ugly.
This story put me through the emotional wringer, making me bawl my eyes out one moment, then laughing through the tears the next.
I truly felt for Hope and her family and wanted to give them all a huge hug. There were so many little things (and big emotions!) that felt oh so familiar. But most of all, I felt the LOVE this family had for each other (even if some might not have been as good as others at showing it).
May 18, 2026
Thank you Net Galley for the early read of The Summer that Changed Us. Just Wow!! I read this book in one sitting. I cried. I laughed. It had me in all my feels. This story revolves around June who is dying of cancer and how her family is coping in their own ways. Especially her four sisters. The dynamic between the 5 sisters is just so beautiful. What a great read!!!!
May 25, 2026
Beauty from Ashes
This book sends you on a journey of grief, healing, and laughter with one family as they face their hardest days anchored by each other. It gives the reader a raw look into what life is like on different levels for those watching a loved one die. A true beauty out of ashes story.
Much love to those who loved June/Joni, the most.
This book sends you on a journey of grief, healing, and laughter with one family as they face their hardest days anchored by each other. It gives the reader a raw look into what life is like on different levels for those watching a loved one die. A true beauty out of ashes story.
Much love to those who loved June/Joni, the most.
June 9, 2026
Jokes on you, because I was actually planning on sobbing blubbering heaving crying tonight. Raw emotion delivered in a very readable story. I love all of these characters and I appreciate how this story of losing a sibling to cancer was told with love and respect. Thank you for sharing your heart, and it seems the world would be a better place if it was filled with families like yours.
June 23, 2026
This family saga that's both tragic and humorous , dramatic and heartbreaking will keep you turning pages.
Very engaging with characters and situations you might find familiar. They are real.
Keep tissues handy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Very engaging with characters and situations you might find familiar. They are real.
Keep tissues handy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2026
family, emotional, love
What a beautiful tribute to a loving sister and family. You captured how the loss of a family member can take its toll on everyone who knew her and how to let her pass the best way everyone knew how to do it.
I can’t wait to read more and more from this author.
What a beautiful tribute to a loving sister and family. You captured how the loss of a family member can take its toll on everyone who knew her and how to let her pass the best way everyone knew how to do it.
I can’t wait to read more and more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
It is well written. Losing someone is a difficult subject. I loved this story. I laughed and I cried. Having lost a sister, mother and three fathers, I will try to remember the grace and wisdom shown here, if I am blessed to live long enough to lose more people in my life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Quite possibly one of the best books I’ve ever read. I laughed and I cried. My heart was full. Jami Albright devastates you all while putting you back together. Hope, June, and the whole family will stay with me for a long, long time.
May 25, 2026
Fun and Touching
Joy, humor, and heartbreaking love shine on every page. Jami Albright’s real journey through grief, packaged in this soulful fictional story, will resonate with anyone who has been touched by loss and who needs a good laugh and cry.
Joy, humor, and heartbreaking love shine on every page. Jami Albright’s real journey through grief, packaged in this soulful fictional story, will resonate with anyone who has been touched by loss and who needs a good laugh and cry.
June 17, 2026
This book will devaste you & lift you up ALL at the same time! Beautiful tribute for a BEAUTIFUL soul!!! 🤍
June 19, 2026
This book will sit with me for a long time……..
July 5, 2026
unexpected tears!
I have one sister who is ten years younger than me, but this book makes me wish I had 4. The tribe that comes with living in a small town shines through in this book. I cried, I laughed and I cried some more! Definitely worth reading!! Such a good story!
I have one sister who is ten years younger than me, but this book makes me wish I had 4. The tribe that comes with living in a small town shines through in this book. I cried, I laughed and I cried some more! Definitely worth reading!! Such a good story!
June 3, 2026
THE SUMMER THAT CHANGED US - A wonderful blend of fact and fiction in the author's retelling of the cancer that her sister lived with for ten years and how she chose to live with the monstrosity. Plenty of emotions, love, support, and community play out through this interesting and intriguing heartbreaking and heartwarming story. In the Jami Albright fashion, there is humor woven in the fabric along with the sadness, but depressing the story is not. A loving tribute to a very loved sister, daughter, wife, and mother. Source: Booksprout. 5*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews