Delphine Crandall and Maggie Weldon become instant best friends at the age of nine, when life has complications such as which flavor of ice cream to choose. Delphine is a native of Maine, while Maggie’s family visits Maine each year for a vacation. Maggie’s family is well off, and she has many opportunities in life. Delphine doesn’t have the same social status as Maggie, but the girls don’t let that get in the way of become friends. Their friendship stays strong for years, and the girls even go to college together in Boston. But during college, something changes for Delphine. While Maggie gets her degree, a great career, a husband, and eventually children, Delphine slinks back to Maine to work for her family business. She cuts off her friendship with Maggie, and Maggie is devastated over the loss of her childhood friend. But after twenty years, Maggie decides she wants answers- and hopefully her friend back. She tracks down Delphine, still living in Maine and working with her family, with no husband or children. Maggie tries reconnecting with the woman who she once shared all her secrets with…but can their friendship still last despite all that’s been thrown at them?
I was a little torn while reading Summer Friends by Holly Chamberlin. While I loved the vivid scenes that paint the quaint town of Maine and thought Maggie’s character was kind, generous, and good-hearted, I could never really get into Delphine. I was a little confused at why she dropped Maggie’s friendship so quickly. It is kind of explained towards the end, but I didn’t find it to be a real powerful motive for completely shunning someone out of your life. I did enjoy the ending, I thought Chamberlin wrapped up the story of these two women nicely, but the book didn’t really move me like I was hoping it would.
[Rating: 3]
