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That Summer
575 pages
A seemingly breezy tale of mistaken identity that slowly peels back the manicured layers of suburban life to reveal the enduring scars of the past.
What it feels like
This novel masterfully disguises a heavy, emotionally resonant exploration of trauma and justice inside the inviting wrapper of a summer beach read. The pacing is steady, drawing you into the restless, manicured claustrophobia of suburban motherhood before slowly tightening the screws as the true nature of a seemingly accidental friendship comes to light. The prose is warm and accessible, yet sharp in its observations about midlife invisibility and the burdens women carry. It feels both breezy and deeply serious, shifting from sun-drenched coastal memories to dread-soaked revelations. Readers who love Liane Moriarty's blend of domestic suspense and female-centric drama will devour this empathetic, thought-provoking journey about reclaiming one's power and the fierce bonds of unexpected solidarity.
- Mood
- suburban-claustrophobic
- tense
- sun-drenched
- melancholic
- Tone
- empathetic
- reflective
- earnest
- sharp
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- midlife dissatisfaction · the long shadow of trauma · female friendship and solidarity · maternal anxiety · reclaiming one's narrative
- The writing
- Accessible, warm, and emotionally observant, balancing breezy aesthetics with sharp social commentary.
- The arc
- Begins in restless domesticity, plunges into the dark revelations of past trauma, and resolves in a space of hard-won empowerment and solidarity.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate nuanced domestic fiction that tackles heavy, real-world issues beneath a veneer of summer escapism.
Content notes
- sexual assault
- trauma
- marital infidelity
About the book
"Daisy Shoemaker can't sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home in the Philadelphia suburbs, she should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful, her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Still, Daisy knows she's got it good. So why is she up all night? While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she's also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy's driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy's making dinner, Diana's making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana's glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy's simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?"--Publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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