The Best Summer of Our Lives

by Rachel Hauck

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

Praise for The Best Summer of Our Lives

"Rachel Hauck sets the gold standard in inspirational fiction. The Best Summer of Our Lives is a nostalgic novel of friendship, romance, and the choices that define a life."-- Brenda Novak , New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

" The Best Summer of Our Lives blends faith and hope into a story about the seasons of life, the seasons of friendship, and the seasons of love."-- Lisa Wingate , #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends

" The Best Summer of our Lives brought me back to my teenage years, with all the angst, the hope, and the friendships, and reminded me that the best times of our lives don't have to be perfect to be loved."-- Susan May Warren , USA Today bestselling, award-winning author

"Rachel Hauck fans will savor this sparkling story full of depth and heart!"-- Lauren K. Denton , USA Today bestselling author of The Hideaway and A Place to Land

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Christian, Historical Fiction, Summer

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2023

About the author

New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.

A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.

Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.

The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by Brain Power Studio

She loves to hear from readers. She also loves to encourage new writers and is a retired member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Executive Board.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a BA in Journalism, Rachel is an avid OSU football fan. She hopes to one day stand on the sidelines in the Shoe with Ryan Day.

Visit her web site to find out more and click on the icons to follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

www.rachelhauck.com

Reviews

[Oceana Reads Co. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck is a Christian contemporary dual-timeline story following the lives of 4 best friends during the summer before they go off to college.

Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow - known as the 'Seasons' - are best friends who get in trouble for a prank that sends them to a camp for girls for the whole summer of 1977.

It opens with Summer's point of view, but quickly jumps perspectives almost every chapter. We get to see inside the mind and life of each girl as they navigate being at this camp. In the future timeline of 1997, you see where each girl is now and how their friendships broke apart and why.

It took me a solid 70% before I started vibing with the story. The early camp days were dull to me and the petty girl drama was eye-rolling. I was engrossed in the 1997 timeline, but we spend the majority of the time in the 1977 timeline. As things started to get revealed, I found myself getting more and more invested, and by the end I could feel an emotional reaction brewing, which speaks highly of the writing.

There were times when I found it difficult to differentiate the 4 girls in my head. I found Autumn and Snow very similar in tone. Summer and Spring had the easiest and most interesting pov's in my opinion.

Greta was a darling character and I enjoyed seeing her in both timelines.

The boys to men in this book were dashing. Complete gentlemen with hearts of gold. I enjoyed the little bit that they were in.

This is a totally clean book; however, abduction, rape and sex before marriage are topics discussed in semi-detail.

The faith message is what stands out the most. I loved seeing how the author incorporated the Holy Spirit. It was subtle in a way that feels like it could appeal to a broader audience if given a chance.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. If you like a slowly woven story surrounding friendship, redemption, and second chances, then check it out!

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book! The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck is a raw, beautiful, coming-of-age Christian contemporary story. The story is dual-timeline, taking place primarily in 1977, with glimpses of 1997. 20 years. 4 best friends. Many secrets. Encounters with Jesus. I really enjoyed learning all about the 4 seasons friend group and look forward to reading more of Rachel's books in the future, as this was my first read by her. 4 stars!

This book is following 4 women - the 4 seasons as they're known - Summer, Autumn, Spring and Snow. We are following their journey right out of high-school as they're forced to become camp counselors during the Summer of '77 in Tumbleweed, Oklahoma because of a prank they pulled in high school. Little do they know, this summer will bring many eye opening events, truths to the surface and walks with God. We see each girl's perspective as they go through this new camp experience. Then we have the 1997 timeline, 20 years later, and you know for some reason early on, the girls had a falling out. We get bits and pieces of where each woman is in their life 20 years later and quickly get back into the '77 timeline to see what happened during that summer that got them to where they are today.

My favorite part of this story was the ending. I have a hard time with multiple POV stories personally, so I struggled keeping everyone together at first, but once I was about half way through the story, I was really interested in their stories and their personal lives. There was a lot of family drama but what I liked was we end up with an underlying faith element that touches your heart in the end. I did tear up with the last sentence and the author's note. Rachel reminds us in her author's note to always go to Jesus in the desert times - cling to Him. Even when you don't or you are running away in hard times, He is always with you. This story reminds us of that and I really appreciated it in the end. I think many people will be impacted by the way Rachel interweaved the faith in this story.

Our side characters were also really nice - Greta was so precious and Levi was my favorite of the male roles. Overall, I am so glad I read this book as it is a gentle, spiritual reminder to run to Jesus in those tough times in life. Thank you to Baker Publishing, Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review.

*Content Warnings* This book is overall clean, but has a VERY BRIEF mention of 3 young girls who were kidnapped, raped and killed at another camp. We also have some discussions surrounding sex before marriage, adultery, teenage pregnancy and dealing with divorce.

[Lauren (thebookscript) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just really didn’t like this book and I wish I would have DNFed way sooner.

Its probably a case of it’s me not the book, but man it was a slog to finish this. I didn’t love the way so much of the drama was handled, and how shallow the characters seemed. The dialogue was really immature in past and present timelines and I didn’t connect at all to the way the faith portion of the story was present. I’m incredibly religious but this portion of the book seemed stilted, odd and incomplete.

I just don’t think it was for me but I’ve seen so many positive reviews so im glad they found something I didn’t.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was far more than just a camp story about friendship. Secrets will be exposed, hearts broken, fear encountered and finding faith.

Four friends find themselves having to work as camp counselors, after a school prank went wrong. The four seasons Snow, Autumn, Summer and Spring thought that this would be the best summer of their lives. But they will soon learn that secrets are hard to keep and hearts are even harder to mend.

I loved the characters, and felt the pain and love that they each endured through their lives. The story is told in four perspectives, so it did take a little reading before I remembered who was who. There was some things I guessed through the story, but a whole lot of secrets I never saw coming.

*thank you to Baker and Bethany House for a copy of this book to read and review.

[Tyler Childress · Rating 3 out of 5]

ugh 😑

I had high hopes because I’m a fan of Hauck. I have one word for this book. Weird. Plain weird. Unsettling is another good one. I did finish it because it was one of those books that you really don’t like but want to at least see how it ends. Hence my ugh…”the preacher” is a bit much. Emotional and unnecessary. Jesus is awesome and amazing without us turning Him in to some fiction 70s character to go chasing after a selfish insufferable girl. And oh for the love it’s such a hard book to follow. Many time throughout the book your wondering who the heck is talking to who. I had to read sentences and paragraphs over several times to figure out what was going on. And sometimes I didn’t waste anymore time and just moved on. I did give it three stars because despite my strong opinions the plot of the book was well thought out. I just feel she misses her mark.

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Rachel Hauck. I have read several of her books and she is on my auto read author list. I would call The Best Summer of Our Lives Rachel Hauck at her best. I absolutely loved that this story centered around The Four Seasons friend group Summer, Spring,
Autumn and Snow.

This one had a nostalgic feel and kind of reminded me of the movie Now and Then. Summer, Spring, Autumn and Snow have been friends since kindergarten. After getting in trouble for a prank they are sent away to camp where they are determined to have the best summer of their lives!

The book bounces between two time lines; 1977 where the majority of the story takes place and 20 years later in 1997. I absolutely loved the dual time line and how it was woven together to keep me turning the pages. We get to see the girls at camp and get inside each of their POV’s and friendship in 1977 as well as see where they are now in 1997, what brought them there and why their friendship has been broken apart. Rachel is a master at the dual timelines. I never felt lost and who they were in ‘77 and who they are now completely made sense for each character.

The entire story really captivated me.
There were several jaw dropping moments I did not expect and although the story focuses on the four girls friendships there were some beautiful romances as well. I especially enjoyed Summer and Levi’s story. I loved the theme of forgiveness and the faith message. It all wove together so well and came together with a beautiful ending.

To me this had everything it needed to be the perfect summer read. I enjoyed every minute of the book and it now has a spot on my favorites shelf.

Thank you to the author and Bethany House Publishing for the complementary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional story of four best friends dubbed the Four Seasons. Summer, Spring, Snow and Autumn. And, later, Baby Season, Greta, rounds it up to Five. The initial four girls have been best friends from elementary school and believe they have an unbreakable bond with each other. In the Summer of 1977, the now 18 year old Seasons are sent to Camp Tumbleweed as counselors for punishment of a prank gone wrong. This heartfelt story is like a recap of their lives that summer that was supposed to be the best summer of their lives before they all went to college together. Told in short chapters from one girl to another’s point of view in 1977; then in present time, which is 1997, twenty years later where hurt feelings have kept them apart and out of touch too long.

Parts of this story are meant to be inspirational; however, they were so strange, I would have preferred those scenes be omitted. JMO. I enjoyed all the stories about each of the girl’s and what they were dealing with personally that summer. Moxie is a great character, also. This book makes a great beach read! Keep a tissue close by.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing. All opinions are my own. Thank you.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I am usually all about summer camp books, but this one didn’t really do it for me.

First of all, it was very difficult to keep the characters straight. Three of the four main characters have “season” names that start with S (Summer, Spring, and Snow), and it was hard to remember who was who at first.

I honestly didn’t really like the whole “Seasons” friend group. Cliques are a big turn off for me, especially when they name themselves—of course, that’s more of a normal thing for high schoolers, but they continued referring to the group that way into adulthood and their parents/other adults also referred to them by their clique name. In addition, they seemed to have pretty superficial relationships with each other most of the time. They just didn’t seem to embody true friendship, even at the end (which felt a bit forced/rushed).

The whole thing with The Preacher was over the top for me. It just wasn’t realistic or theologically accurate.

There were a few more minor things too:
-Some of the dialogue was unnatural. For example, someone said, “I’m a national merit scholar for crying out loud” in the middle of a conversation. Another example is when someone was referred to as “the hostess with the mostest” in the middle of a serious scene.
-It seemed weird that they kept calling Autumn “Fall” but never called Snow “Winter” since hers was the only name that wasn’t a literal season.
-“Salute” got annoying pretty quickly, as did the “saaaavvve yourselves” joke which kept being repeated despite not being very funny in the first place.
-At one point, Snow says, “Wherever he landed in the afterlife,” but the concept of eternity was not really exploited beyond that. Since this is a Christian book, I would have expected more in terms of hope for eternal life.

No swearing or sex, but there was some mature content (none of this was graphic or described in detail; it was all just mentioned):
-Mention of three girls between the ages of 8 and 10 being kidnapped, raped, and murdered
-Reference to a character having many lovers/one night stands
-Pregnancy out of wedlock and consideration of abortion
-A specific mention of where a baby was conceived
-Teenage girls asking their experienced friend about sex

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those "almost" historical novels, The Best Summer of Our Lives explores friendship in a raw and authentic way that takes you back to a time that feels as if it's your time even if it's a bit before or after yours. Hauck weaves secrets, deceptions, anger, fear, and a host of other facts and emotions into a book you can't put down even when everything in you says, "NOOOOOOOOOOO" at what you suspect is coming.
"The Seasons" don't all make smart decisions. Actually, all of them do something stupid, but the primary focus is on a supernatural encounter that one of the seasons, Summer, has with "The Preacher" who represents Jesus. The Preacher keeps telling her to sing for him, but not until she faces all the demons, confronts her own willfulness, and works through her issues does she finally understand what that means.
Readers will walk away from The Best Summer of Our Lives feeling seen, heard, understood. But more than that, they'll understand the relentless pursuit of a loving God for His children in a fresh way.
*Thanks to the author for this book. No review was required or even requested.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook (narrated by Suzy Jackson)
I had a little trouble in the early part this story, keeping track of the four POV characters in both 1977 and 1997. But once I got further into the book, everyone had my full attention. Teenaged angst, tangled webs caused by secrets, the foolish decisions, the hurts one person inflicts on another (sometimes with intent and sometimes unknowingly). The Christian aspect of the story was unique and beautiful, a delicate touch that left me yearning for the Preacher.

Robin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved/enjoyed it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Liked it. Glad I read it. Engaging/entertaining/interesting.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed other books so much more.
1🌟 = For whatever reason, I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--are headed off to be camp counselors during the summer of 77, a summer that will change their lives forever. Hidden anger, wreckless choices, and long-kept secrets combine to try and tear the four apart. Twenty years later, in 1997, Summer is a struggling singer, still trying to make it big in music. She makes commitments to no one, especially Spring, Autumn, and Snow, who she left behind years ago.

This is a wonderful coming-of-age story with explosive hidden secrets that will keep the reader riveted to the page. The characters are easy to connect with, and The Four Seasons are a special group. All of the relationships in this book are complex and nuanced, and the author brings in real life tragic events--the murder of three girls at Camp Scott, Oklahoma, in 1977, and the Ted Bundy murders at Florida State in 1978.

With a compelling plot and memorable characters, this story will touch your heart.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a captivating read. The themes of friendship and secrets made this one hard to put down. The secrets kept me guessing and there were at least two jaw drop moments for me within the story. I really felt like I was part of the story, it pulled me in that much. There is really just a beautiful storytelling element to this book, and I truly enjoyed it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

[Heather Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best Summer of Our Lives is a coming-of-age /women's fiction with all the "Summer of '69" (but '77) vibes. It was totally different from anything I'd read of Hauck's before, yet with the spiritual elements that were very much familiar and what I've come to expect from her.
It follows four besties fresh out of high school, each hiding their own secrets and fears for the future, as they carry out court-ordered community service as camp counselors. Now twenty years later, the girls-turned-women look back on that summer as the time that everything changed for them.

Between having four POVs and two eras... It was more to keep up with than I generally prefer. I hate to admit it, but I kept having to stop and try to remember what I knew about each of the girls when their POV came up because I especially had trouble keeping two of them separate in my mind, despite their different storylines.
With the grown-up perspective coloring what is unfolding in the 1977 timeline, it felt like a trainwreck waiting to happen for much of the book. I think that's what ultimately made it a four instead of five star for me. This is a good book, with good encounters with the Lord, and a great cast of characters (although I could see that they fell into types), but it didn't have the five star power of some of my favorites by this author.
It did have Jeremiah Gonda though. So, maybe 4.5 stars then. 😉 He's one of my favorites of her characters.
But if you love the seventies, love the summer camp scene, and love how Hauck writes spiritual encounters, you'll probably want to escape into this story.

I read an eCopy provided by the publisher and Netgalley so I could write an honest review. All opinions are my own!

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: The Best Summer of Our Lives
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Women’s Fiction/Inspirational Fiction
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Synopsis: “She went straight there, unloaded her suitcases and guitars, then stood on the front porch facing Camp Tumbleweed….She never seemed to run out of melodies. Yet none of them were the true reason she’d returned to the little town on the Oklahoma prairie. No, Summer Wilde came back to find herself.” The Four Seasons have been best friends since kindergarten. After high school graduation, the girls plan the perfect summer traveling Europe. But one impulsive choice lands them in handcuffs, before a judge, and spending the best summer of their lives as camp counselors. The summer doesn’t go as planned and secrets begin to unfold and threaten to ruin their lifelong friendship. Looking back on their younger years, the girls, now adults, search for answers to their past and restoration of their relationships.

Analysis: Rachel Hauck is a new to me author, and while I enjoyed this read, it wasn’t my favorite. I loved the premise of a summer camp mystery, and it had a lot of good elements such as friendship, seeking forgiveness and restoration, and meeting Jesus. But the plot didn’t follow what I expected or seem to flow well. Being teenage girls, there was a lot of drama and a lot of questionable choices, but I’m glad the author didn’t shy away from these hard topics. Though the plot seemed a little disconnected, I loved that the book left you with Jesus as the overall theme. In the end, there was healing, restoration, and redemption which is always a good thing to me!
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Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved every book I have read by Rachel Hauck. I was excited to read The Best Summer of Our Lives but found it difficult to get into.

This book was completely different from what I was expecting. It is also different from any other book I have read by Rachel Hauck. It is a dual-timeline predominately set in 1977, with the current time frame in 1997. The story follows four best friends-the four seasons-Summer, Snow, Autumn, and Spring. Each chapter jumps to a different perspective, sometimes in '77, other times in '97. This made the story difficult to follow. It also took me out of the story many times.

A coming of age story that can be summed up with lies, secrets, stupid decisions, and an explosive revelation. However, the faith element was expertly woven. I liked the ending, but it did feel rushed.

Trigger warnings: death of a loved one, thoughts of suicide, talks on abortion, underage drinking, sex before marriage, abduction, murder of three girls.

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is there are 4 main characters named, Summer, Spring, Autumn (also called Fall) and Snow. They call themselves, The Four Seasons and I personally found it a little difficult following each of their stories and remembering which girl was which. I liked the duel time frame of 1977 and 1997. It’s very much a summer read with a large part of it taking place at a summer camp.

[Becca Kinzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer camp in 1977. Four best friends with secrets. Tons of heart. Lots of grace. I loved everything about this story. (Especially Levi Foley.)

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

read if you love:
•summer nostalgia
•dual timelines
•second chance love and friendships
•the movie now and then
•character growth

“𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧𝘧. 𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘪𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘚𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯.”

the four seasons — summer, spring, autumn, and snow — what a wild ride these four teenagers/women were! i loved this book. it had all of the teenage angst and drama that i just crave sometimes and it was beautifully woven into a broader story of growth and forgiveness. so much unfolds over the summer of ‘77 for these four best friends. so many life altering secrets — some that were obvious and others that made my jaw drop.

the fallout from that summer had consequences that are still unresolved 20 years later and i enjoyed seeing how the present would play out as the past unfolds. rachel hauck cleverly bounced between ‘77 and ‘97 and constantly had me turning the pages to find out what happened next!

the main focus of this book are the friendships, but there is some sweet romance as well throughout — both past and present. i loved the theme of forgiveness and it’s powerful affect in friendships and other relationships. i loved all of the seasons individually and their unique personalities and voices stood out. my favorite was summer though. she’s tough to love sometimes, but as the story unfolds you understand her more and more. you can’t help but root for her and just want to wrap her up in a hug. this book was truly satisfying from beginning to end.

thank you to bethany house for the book. my thoughts are my own.

[Suzanna Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining……. And then randomly out of the blue super religious

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Best Summer of Our Lives was an interesting dual time story about four friends who experienced a summer of events which led them to different routes than what they thought and planned.

Sometimes it was difficult to keep everyone straight, but I enjoyed following the four friends through the two time periods, to see what happened in the summer of 1977 which led them to the current stories in 1997.

It was interesting to see how even though the friends were tight, secrets and personal dreams not voiced to each other affected their friendship.

*I listened to the audiobook on Everand.*

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best Summer of Our Lives is quite different than the other books I have read by Rachel Hauck. Although this is also a dual timeline like the previous books I have read by her, this one is told in multiple point of views which at first turned me off because when authors do this sometimes it gets confusing but I will say that she did a great job at making it easy to read and not get lost.

The story follows these four best friends (named after the seasons) as they are sent to a camp out of state to do some community service. While this was not their plan for their summer before entering college, they are still determined to have the best summer of their lives. I don't want to give too much away from the story but let's just say that their plans did not go as they expected and life completely changed for them that summer.

I must admit at the beginning of the story I was unsure where Ms. Hauck was going with the story. The characters, especially Summer grated on my nerves. I just thought she was a bit selfish but as we see the progression of the story and her character I must say I was laughing, cheering and getting teary with these characters and the change they go through. This book definitely has tons of character development so know that starting the book. There are also a lot of jumps between the POV of the characters but the chapters are clearly labeled and you won't get confused. I didn't have any issue following the story. The story also remains mainly in the past as you get to know these girls so at times it does feel like you are reading a young adult novel which again I didn't mind.

Ms. Hauck did make me wait for that faith element and boy when it shows up it definitely shows up and left me in a state of thought. Here is what I left with after this book: There is a season for everything. Some seasons are easy and fun, some are raw and leave you wondering where did God go?, other seasons He is telling you exactly what to do and you choose to follow another path but throughout all of that HE is always there no matter what. He doesn't leave you despite of what your season looks like. He will be there when we finally decide to call on Him.

There was some romance but it was light which fit the storyline as this was more about the girls lives and I just wanted to note that there are mentions and happenings of premarital sex but keep in mind that this happened before the characters were believers so don't let it deter you from reading the book. We are all sinners saved by grace.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend you grab it especially if you enjoy this author and enjoy reading "coming to faith" stories.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Hannah Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite of hers yet. The writing was great as usual, but this story had me in tears by the end. The way she crafted all of the mysteries (yes there are multiple things you are dying to figure out) was brilliant. I felt deeply connected to the characters and their journeys. Definitely a re-read for me!

[Alicia (aliciasbooksanctuary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OVERALL STAR RATING: 4/5

CLEAN RATING: 5/5

This book was sweet, suspenseful, sad and inspiring all rolled into one! I loved Rachel’s writing and this beautiful story that walks you through some serious highs and lows of teenage female friendships.

The year is 1977 and what was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde’s life, turned out to be one of the most complicated and challenging. Summer and her best friends, Autumn, Snow and Spring (they call themselves The Four Seasons) find themselves in hot water due to a prank gone wrong. As an alternative to sporting a neon vest and working roadside community service, the four girls wind up with a gig as camp counselors out in Tumbleweed, OK. They try to make the best of it, but it doesn’t take long for MAJOR secrets to start ripping their friendships to shreds. That coupled with a murder that took place at a campsite not too far away from their own, causes tension and all sorts of obstacles for the eight weeks they’re to spend in Tumbleweed.

This story is written in dual timeline, flipping between 1977 and 1997 as we get a glimpse into how the women have changed 20 years since the summer that none of them were soon to forget. There are A LOT of fences to be mended, but maybe that ship has sailed. They’re all grown adults now so maybe it’s best to just leave all the heartache and drama in the past. God is certainly capable of healing the broken and showing us that beauty can come from the ashes of our past.

A powerful and nostalgic coming of age story woven with redemption and faith. This is not a light teen read…there’s a lot of serious drama that will keep you flying through the pages. Topics of death, infidelity and teen pregnancy are mentioned.

**For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary

[Heather Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best Summer of Our Lives is a coming-of-age /women's fiction with all the "Summer of '69" (but '77) vibes. It was totally different from anything I'd read of Hauck's before, yet with the spiritual elements that were very much familiar and what I've come to expect from her.
It follows four besties fresh out of high school, each hiding their own secrets and fears for the future, as they carry out court-ordered community service as camp counselors. Now twenty years later, the girls-turned-women look back on that summer as the time that everything changed for them.

Between having four POVs and two eras... It was more to keep up with than I generally prefer. I hate to admit it, but I kept having to stop and try to remember what I knew about each of the girls when their POV came up because I especially had trouble keeping two of them separate in my mind, despite their different storylines.
With the grown-up perspective coloring what is unfolding in the 1977 timeline, it felt like a trainwreck waiting to happen for much of the book. I think that's what ultimately made it a four instead of five star for me. This is a good book, with good encounters with the Lord, and a great cast of characters (although I could see that they fell into types), but it didn't have the five star power of some of my favorites by this author.
It did have Jeremiah Gonda though. So, maybe 4.5 stars then. 😉 He's one of my favorites of her characters.
But if you love the seventies, love the summer camp scene, and love how Hauck writes spiritual encounters, you'll probably want to escape into this story.

I read an eCopy provided by the publisher and Netgalley so I could write an honest review. All opinions are my own!

[Alayna | Literarily Persuaded · Rating 2 out of 5]

Y'all I'm having a very hard time trying to rate this book. It was not what I'd expected, and honestly, that isn't really a good thing, so I'm settling on a 2 star rating.

First, the things I liked:
It had that nostalgic '70s summer vibes with all the makings of a great read. It followed four friends, the seasons, in a coming of age story. It was set in a summer camp, and the book. blurb really intrigued me. I loved the writing style, and I had such high hopes for this book. In all appearances, it was exactly the kind of book I'd been craving.

Unfortunately there was so much wrong with the book, that greatly lowered my rating.
To start off, the names were so confusing. Spring, Summer, Snow and Autumn, and you get the pov of every single character, in both timelines ('77 and '97). And they all have secrets, so I found myself wondering which secret belonged to which person, and whose pov I was reading quite often.
And don't even get me started on the main friend the story focuses on. In my own opinion, she was a piece of work, and I didn't enjoy her aspects of the story. She needed to grow up, which unfortunately she didn't seem to do.
I thought the faith content in the book was really weird as well. I can kind of see what the author was trying to do with it all, but it felt much more suited to a fantasy novel, and I just found it really strange.
The content was also way worse that I had expected for a Rachel Hauck novel. And my final problem with the book? The whole book was leading up with all these problems, regrets, and grudges, for everything to be solved in the last ten pages with basically a big hug and a nice bow to finish it off. Yeah, that's believable. Oh, and there was still some unfinished things that I have questions about.

So all in all, I was unfortunately very disappointed with this book, considering how hopeful I was when I started it. It had some good aspects, but the bad really just outweighed the good.

CONTENT NOTES / SPOILERS
mentions of three girls between the ages of 8-10 who had been kidnapped, raped, and murdered.
one girl finds out she is pregnant and wonders if she should have an abortion
a parent had another child before he'd married his wife and kept it a secret
one of the girls' parents get a divorce
several mentions of one person having a lot of guys in her life through the years

[Rosalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story about the Four Seasons - four girls named Autumn, Spring, Summer, and 'Snow'. Best friends since kindergarten, all the way through their school years. Until when the main story line takes place, 1977...their senior year.
Because of being forced to do community service as a result of prank gone wrong, the four girls find themselves in Tumbleweed, OK, at a girls camp.
This finds them all at a very difficult time in life, and as a result, their friendship is tested as never before.
Secrets are exposed. Truths and lies are revealed. And the four seasons....are torn apart.

20 years later. They are all at very different places in their lives. Will a reconciliation be possible? Will all the truth finally be revealed?

Well written, and hauntingly beautiful, Rachel Hauck gives us a tale about the best (or worst) summer of their lives. If you enjoy a story that will make you think, reflect on your own youth and regrets, maybe give this one a chance.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

[Laura and Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself changing my opinion on this book quite a bit throughout reading it. We’re taken down two different timelines and there’s multiple POVs.. both of which I really like!

At first, the characters weren’t very likable and I wasn’t rooting for any of them.

As I got further into the story, I started to get to know them more and they did grow on me. Autumn was my favorite character, followed by Snow.

I liked the dynamic of their friendship and was sad to see them go their separate ways, but it did seem inevitable.

The mystery part of this book was just ok. Certain things kind of just happened, were briefly mentioned, or just left us hanging all together. Some more development in that part of the story would have been welcomed!

This book touches on some really hard subjects, friendship, faith, romance, and forgiveness.

Overall, I’d say it was pretty good for those contemporary readers out there! Just don’t expect too much on the mystery side of it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt and moving women's fiction story about four best friends, their memorable last summer together at a beloved camp in 1977 and the way that it changed their lives in different ways twenty years later in the future. Told in a dual timeline with alternating POVs, this is a great beach read about friendship, growing up, love and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of authors like Kristy Woodson Harvey or Kristin Hannah. Good on audio too narrated by Suzy Jackson.

CW: parental infidelity, teen pregnancy, accidental death of a loved one

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins in 1997, after Summer’s band mates abandon her in the middle of the night. As she brainstorms her next career step, she finds herself in Tumbleweed, Oklahoma where she must face the people she left behind twenty years ago. Including her best friends: Spring, Autumn, and Snow.

In an alternating timeline, switching from 1997 to 1977, readers slowly begin to unravel many secrets that lead to their friendship crumbling the summer before college. I loved the author’s setting, and at times I got a little frightened and emotional. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be working at that camp in 1977.

Don’t let the cover fool you. I went in thinking this was going to be a light/fun summer read, but it is a heavier story that explores the depths of female relationships. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but readers should know there is sensitive content in this story. Nothing is overly descriptive, but it can be triggering. Please message me if you have any questions.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’ve read a good number of Rachel Hauck’s books. This one is a lot different than any of the other ones I’ve read. I can’t say it’s my favorite, but it is worth reading if you realize it isn’t your “normal” Rachel Hauck book. One “problem” I had with the book is that I didn’t like the characters – four spoiled, self-centered rich girls who’ve graduated from high school and got in trouble celebrating, so instead of trips to Europe and having fun all summer, they’re stuck being counselors at a camp for young girls in Tumbleweed, Oklahoma. Hauck writes all the gritty truth about growing up, with the angst and tensions between best friends since kindergarten who suddenly have to face life’s realities. She’s got good insights on finding love, giving up control, trusting those who love us, and finding peace and meaning.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #TheBestSummerofOurLives #NetGalley