I’ve been contemplating the title of this book, All the Summers in Between, because this book is about the two summers on either end of the in between, the summers of 1977 and a more modern summer, maybe modern day. In the summer of 1977 Margot and Thea became unlikely friends. Thea lived in the Hamptons year round, while Margot summered there, with her wealthy family. She brought a life to Thea, that was unfamiliar and exciting. Thea thought it was a sister-like forever friendship until Margot left her devastated. In current day, Margot shows up unexpectedly, causing her to remember that original summer and their friendship.

Like my bookclub, all of the music and movie names were fun. There is also a mystery element. If you have triggers, you might want to check them for this book.

“To be motherless was to be unmoored, like that sailboat drifting in the harbor.” ch 2

“Thea imagined lying in this spot for the rest of the summer, the world creeping by as she remained perfectly still, and nothing changed at all.” ch 20

“I’m just saying that you don’t need to run from your past. You can walk.” Ch 24

“Old friends—they were another kind of important. You kept parts of them inside you for a lifetime. All these years Thea had forgiven the dishonest, insecure aspects of Margot’s personality because all she could see was the young woman who had taught Thea to live with joy, to live in the mindset that a daydream on a sleepover could become reality. Margot, in turn, had ignored the part of Thea that bent her morals to please a friend, seeing instead a young woman who didn’t love herself, even if everyone else around her did.” ch 28

A look at female friendship in the 1960s and 70s between two women from very different upbringings, and an attempt at reconciliation ten years after a dark night led to ending their friendship. I enjoyed the dual timeline and the musical references from those years. Was a little slow at times and the characters could have been fleshed out a little more.