For the Love of Summer: A Summer Beach Read by Susan Mallery

This novel by Susan Mallery, a perfect beach read, delves into complex relationships and the evolving dynamics between mothers and daughters. Here’s a summary:

Erica, the owner of Seattle’s top salons, finds herself grappling with the fear of losing her teenage daughter, Summer, to her stepmother, Allison. Summer seems increasingly drawn to her "other" family, particularly Allison, causing Erica considerable anxiety.

Allison’s life is unexpectedly upended when her husband, Peter, is arrested, leaving her pregnant, financially strained, and caring for a toddler. Despite Allison's efforts to shield Summer from the truth, the teenager discovers Peter's arrest and seeks refuge with Erica, her biological mother.

Reluctantly, Erica opens her home to Allison, feeling conflicted about harboring the woman who shares a complicated history with her. Erica perceives Allison as a rival—someone she believes is too dependent on her husband, contrasting Erica's own independent nature.

As Allison and Erica navigate their strained relationship, spending time together brings surprising revelations. Allison begins to understand that beneath Erica’s tough exterior lies a woman in need of genuine friendship, rather than rivalry. Together, they confront their past resentments and redefine their understanding of family.

Set against a backdrop of personal growth and shifting family dynamics, Susan Mallery’s novel explores themes of forgiveness, empathy, and the bonds that tie mothers and daughters together—whether by blood or circumstance. It promises a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of unexpected connections, making it an ideal choice for readers who enjoy stories by Elin Hilderbrand and Emily Giffin.

For more uplifting and engaging beach reads, readers can explore Susan Mallery's other works like "The Summer Book Club," "The Happiness Plan," "The Sister Effect," "The Boardwalk Bookshop," and "The Summer Getaway."