The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George

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The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George, is a YA murder mystery novel, with a touch of romance. It isn't really a cozy, but since it has some cozy elements, such as amateur sleuthing in what I perceive as a small town atmosphere, it fits the theme of my blog.

It's been two years since Darby and Morgan have spoken and their group of friends has broken up. That is, until the body of their former science teacher is found on the grounds of the camp where the teens were once counselors. The group of friends reunite to solve this mystery in which the crime apparently took place two years ago. The problem is no one in the group remembers anything about that summer...or no one wants to remember. The stakes are high when they realize they are being followed and time is of the essence before someone else gets hurt. Will they solve this puzzle in time? If so, how will they uncover the facts if no one remembers anything or no one wants to talk? Will friendships and romance rekindle?

I think authors are faced with a challenge to balance introduction of characters with moving the story along, especially when it's a standalone book or the first in a series. Because of that, the pacing of the first half of this book was very slow for me. However, once the murder mystery really picked up I could not put it down.

Caroline George has a way with words. There were some sentences I read over and over again just for the sheer pleasure of experiencing them. Some of them touched me deeply and prompted me to reflect on my own life. It's a gift to be able to write prose that is so beautiful and meaningful. I felt it did slow down the pace of the story a bit, yet these reflections are some of the most memorable aspects of the book.

I was frustrated that no one remembered anything (or no one was talking about it) in a good portion of the first half of the book. How can anything be accomplished in the story if no one is talking about what happened? On the other hand, this also made me curious to find out how it was all going to turn out. And the issue of not remembering or talking about things was compensated with getting to know the characters as they are now.

Once it gets going, there are so many unexpected twists and turns. The story has a lot of depth to it. It isn't just a murder mystery. It dives deep into themes that teens can relate to. In fact, even I (someone who is not a teen) could relate to them.

The story is told from the perspectives of two main characters - Darby and Morgan. Each chapter alternates between their perspectives, so we really get to know both of them. I have never read a book like that before. In my experience, stories are usually told from one perspective. So this was a unique and refreshing experience for me.

I follow Caroline George on Instagram and because of that, I got a taste of what she experienced while writing this book. I've been anxiously awaiting its release date since last summer and I'm glad I finally got to read the final product. I read it from cover to cover, including the discussion questions and her acknowledgements at the end.

I originally thought this was going to be a standalone novel, but now I'm not sure. The end leaves room for a follow-up. I hope there is one because I'm curious to read how the next step unfolds.

In the meantime, be sure to check out The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George. It truly is an unforgettable experience.