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Cover of The Paths of Summer

The Paths of Summer

Iris Bromige

285 pages

A nostalgic journey through the English countryside as a successful woman unravels the deceptions of her past to reclaim a lost love.

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What it feels like

Reading this novel feels like taking a reflective stroll through the English countryside of the 1970s, moving between the quiet charm of Sussex and the coastal breezes of Cornwall. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, inviting the reader to sit with the bittersweet sting of unresolved history and the sudden, sharp shattering of long-held professional illusions. It is a deeply nostalgic and earnest experience, focusing on the internal landscape of a woman who must reconcile her glamorous, hard-won career with the ruthless manipulations that cost her a past love. The prose is traditional and emotionally attuned, perfectly capturing the awkwardness of social encounters and the quiet courage required to set things right. It will delight readers who crave vintage, character-driven romances centered on second chances, personal growth, and the brave pursuit of a lost summer.

Mood
  • nostalgic
  • bittersweet
  • sun-dappled
  • wistful
Tone
  • earnest
  • reflective
  • romantic
  • resolute
Pace
steady
Themes
second chances · shattered illusions · professional ambition vs personal cost · re-evaluating the past · rekindled romance
The writing
Traditional and emotionally focused, capturing the quiet tensions of English social circles and the internal shifts of its heroine.
The arc
Moves from confident career satisfaction to the painful realization of past manipulation, culminating in a courageous effort to reclaim lost love.
Who it's for
Readers who enjoy vintage English romances where career ambitions clash with matters of the heart amidst picturesque settings.
Content notes
  • emotional manipulation
  • relationship breakdown

About the book

Working for Conrad Ravensburg, the smooth, celebrated and successful author, has brought Josephine a career as satisfying as it is varied and exciting. It had been worth breaking an engagement four years ago in order to become the increasingly invaluable right-hand of this grand old man of letters. She had travelled the world and gained poise and assurance in his shadow.

And as far as Mike Wexford was concerned four years is surely time enough for healing. So when Josephine meets her former fiance again she faces the shutters of bitter hostility Mike raises against her with surprise and dismay. It is also more than a little embarrassing, as they have many good friends in common and avoiding encounters is difficult. But beyond the social embarrassment, there is real hurt. Determined to set the record straight, Josephine probes into the four year past and is shattered to find her charming employer has a streak of ruthless self-interest in his dealings with other people to which she has been blind for too long. But once aware of the facts, Josephine sets out to remedy a situation in a manner which takes courage and at the same time becomes a quest for the paths of summer past.

Description from Open Library.

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