The Last Summer of Her Other Life: A Compelling Contemporary Drama About Pregnant Woman Facing False Accusations

by Jean Reynolds Page

From Jean Reynolds Page the critically acclaimed author of The Space Between Before and After and one of the most compelling voices in contemporary women's fiction comes a dazzling novel of loss and redemption, of relationships that damage and those that heal.

Thirty-nine and pregnant by a man she's decided to leave behind in California, Jules' life is changing. Always the protected daughter, she must now relinquish that role and prepare to be a mother herself. But her efforts are upstaged by shocking allegations from a local teen in her North Carolina hometown. The boy has accused her of what the police are calling “inappropriate sexual contact.” Three men rally in her defense: Lincoln, her brother, who flies in from New York to help her; Sam, her high school boyfriend, who after so many years still offers unconditional support; and Walt, the uncle of the teen, who charms Jules with his intelligence and unanticipated kindness.

Her search for the truth about the troubled teenager becomes, for Jules, a first step toward discovering the woman she wishes to be. But with so many wrong choices behind her, how can she trust herself with the future of her unborn child?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last Summer of Her Other Life sounded like it was going to be really good. Then I jumped into it and didn't expecting the roller coaster of emotions to hit me. Mostly because I was easily frustrated with what was going on. Not necessarily always at the character, Jules, but with what was going on around her as well.

Which, yes, I get that she was kind of thrown into certain sucky situations unprepared but dang. Then it really threw me for a loop with how open people were to talk about a certain situation. It just blew my mind. Mostly because of how everyone acted towards it. Like if it's a false accusation, maybe, I don't know... feel sorry for the person that was wrongly accused?

Then there's the romance part of this. Yeah, I wasn't a huge fan of this because it just seemed like she would develop a crush (or something stronger than that) towards almost every guy she meets. Like calm down girl. I know the hormones are making you crazy but dial it down to a level 1 please.

Other than that, the pages flew by, and I was entertained for most of it.

[Annemarie Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly had to force myself to finish this book, only because I hate to start a book and not finish it. The dialogue was choppy, at best, at times overly-descriptive (& not in a good way!) and complete nonsense at others. I felt like the characters did things that were absolutely ridiculous for the situation. Maybe that's the way things are done in rural North Carolina, but that, of course, was never clearly explained. Then there were the times when I felt like the author threw something in there to explain something that otherwise made absolutely no sense. What could have been an interesting story was really just kind of a messy telling.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Jules Fuller leaves her life in California to help tend her dying mother, she has no idea how much everything will change for her by returning to her hometown of Ekron, North Carolina.

She is totally unprepared for how people and memories of the past will forever change her world, altering everything she believed about herself and her family.

Her brother Lincoln has always been her staunch supporter, so when Jules is blindsided by an adolescent boy's allegations that turn most of the townfolk against her, Lincoln stands behind her. Along with an old friend/ex-boyfriend Sam, and an unexpected ally Walt, the teenage boy's uncle.

What secrets and lies will gradually unfold and tear at the fabric of all their lives? How will the truth accidentally come to light?

Beautifully characterized and plotted so seamlessly that the events seem as authentic as real life events, "The Last Summer of Her Other Life" was an unputdownable read.

I love this excerpt:

"...Things changed. Things that defined your life altered and shifted when you weren't paying attention. Sometimes you didn't even notice until you missed them...."

A five star read that I recommend to those who enjoy character-driven novels that spotlight family dynamics and contemporary issues.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book, but I would rather talk about the irritating details than the pluses. Number 1, if this woman is being accused of sexual contact with a minor, why in the world is she & everyone she is close to so freely talking to the accuser & other underage kids? Secondly, does Jules fall for every guy she meets? And third, even if the accusations are false, why is everyone acting so nonchalant about it?

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read, but the book felt cluttered. There were a lot of issues wrapped up in 300 pages: adoption, unwed mother, pedophilia, adultery, alcoholism, homosexuality, teen suicide. Just a lot of stuff but I still enjoyed it.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good “beach read.” Plot was okay and I did encounter some surprises. Average writing. The book takes place in the South; I wish the author had included some more descriptions of the beautiful setting.

[Running · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy quick read. I was hooked pretty quick and eager to keep reading.

[Pam Landers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast read filled with twist and turns and a number of story lines.

[Kolleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about Jules, a girl who teaches high school drama classes about the inner workings of Hollywood. As Jules' mother lies on her death bed, Jules returns to her childhood home to care for her mother and continue to teach teenagers her trade. Following one class that she spoke at in her hometown, a young boy accuses Jules of sexual abuse. Follow this by the fact that Jules is, in fact, pregnant, and you have what sounds like a perfect mystery. Wrong!

This was another bummer of a book. There were entirely too many things going on: pedophilia, addiction, murder, adultery, suicide, homosexuality, parental death, mental illness, etc, etc, etc. and the list could go on and on. For a book that is under 300 pages long, this is entirely too many issues to touch on at once. It led to each issue being talked about only briefly and on the surface, which further dumbed-down the reading. The Last Summer of Her Other Life was a total soap opera drama. At under 300 pages, and despite the number of different themes going on, it was a quick read, but still not worth it. It was just another story (poor story) to pass the time.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty interesting story but not as good as I had hoped after reading another book by this author. This story entails an adult daughter going back home to help her sick mother. Jules is pregnant but chose not to tell the father, her former boyfriend because of his dangerous choices caused by his bipolar. While home, she is accused by a young boy of being sexual with him. As they find out more about the boy, her and her brother end up befriending him, feeling there is something going on within his family but not sure what. The sad reality of what the boy was enduring comes out in the end. Throughout the book there are other deep relationships that have an emotional impact on her and her brother.

[Tiffanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jules and her brother Lincoln are back home taken care of their dying mom. Jules. Tells her mom she's having a baby and then takes a nap only to not wake up.
Lincoln is a former alcoholic who has hepatitis of the liver if he keeps drinkin he will die.
After their mom passes Jules helps out at the schools drama class only to have a boy spread rumors that they were having an inappropriate relationship. Jules has to look for an attorney quick she's scsred and so confused. The boy has some serious mental issues really feeling like he can say anythingn and make it true.
But when it's all said and done all the secrets tear apart this family.

[Klaudyna Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some reviews on how pretty bad this book was but I didn't think that it was that bad at all. I thought there were a lot of issues that were touched upon but it was a light read and I think that might have been the author's intention was to keep the story light. It wasn't too emotional and didn't go too in depth so that it was too hard to read. I enjoyed the ending as it was a surprise with who was hurting Vick and how the ending opened up a new door for Walt and Jules. I would recommend this book for someone who wants a light, not too emotional read.

[Loralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the book to pick up at bedtime when you just want a few minutes to calm your mind. I ended up reading the whole thing. But how can you stop when a woman gets wrongly accused of sexual impropriety with a minor, a charge that could ruin her whole life, and when things keep getting worse for both the minor and for herself? This author writes flawlessly, so that the characters feel as real as my family members, and I had to find out what happened.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read, and a page turner in a sense. The characters were well developed, but the story was not; perhaps due to the fact that the author tried to fit too many common fiction themes (death, love, pregnancy, homosexuality, teen suicide...) into one book. Though it sounds like a heart-wrenching tragedy, it is not a story that leaves you distraught after the final paragraph. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good beach read.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was a quick, easy, one - day read. I alomst think, though, that the best part of the entire book was the "boundtrack". The author listed music that she listened to while writing and how she related it to different characters/scenes in the book. I love finding out what authors are thinking when they write.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and I could not put the book down. It was riveting with lots of 'side stories'. I liked it very much and felt compelled to read it quickly, but can not say it was the best book I have ever read!!! I enjoyed it- was predictable, but then again, aren't most books? A story about relationships and lots of crisis

[Frannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good easy read. Didn't require any heavy-lifting but well-written. I thought it would be an easy light read and quickly forgotten; however, I still find myself thinking about the main character weeks later.

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jules, pregnant by a boyfriend she never wants to see again, and her brother, Lincoln, come back home to take care of their dying mother. Jules gets accused of inappropriate behavior with a teenaged boy in town.......

[Angila Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, it showed how crazy life can be for many people at one time. Sometimes in life we think we are the only ones that have it bad, but in reality there is so much more to the story.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very jumbled. I think there was too many "issues" going on, and in adding so much there was never any time to really focus on any one thing properly.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not love this book. It was ok alot of yucky themes and story lines. It kept going back and forth with flash back from childhood, and I don't like that, it makes it a little disjointed.

[Lisa Helms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just enough to keep me reading.....but very disappointing....

[Caroline Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book wasn't very thought provoking, it was a quick and easy read. It kept the readers interested through releasing "secrets" along the way and that was what kept me going.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Had a hard time putting it down.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great story line - kept me interested the whole time.

[Jamie Splinter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Jean Reynolds Page. I loved it! I never knew what to expect, and I would never have guessed the ending! I plan to read more of her books!

[Jessica Leyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets you thinking. Very good book, glad of the outcome. Started off really sad.
Good read

[Stacia Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much better than I expected. the characters were well developed. I couldn't put it down.

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too much going on in such a short number of pages. I finished it, because I can't not finish a book, but I'm not looking for anything else from this author.

[Amy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, a lot going on in this book.