Summer Secrets

Please excuse any typing mistakes.  I have injured two fingers on my right hand and I have now have these bulky bandages on them (makes it difficult to type but keeps the blood off the keyboard).  Always approach a Chihuahua with caution!  I have had Tuxxe (my Chihuahua) for almost ten years. Poor Tuxxe had a traumatic childhood.  He was owned by a teenage girl who carted him around in a tote until he got too big.  Her friends teased him way too much.  When he got too big for the tote bag, my daughter and I rescued him.  I was just trying to clean his eyes today and CHOMP!  It is not a pretty sight!  I do not know what gets into that dog!

I just finished Summer Secrets by Jane Green.  This book bounces between 1998 and 2014 to tell the story.  Catherine “Cat” Coombs has been drinking since she discovered vodka at age fourteen.  Her father was nasty, distant (cold), controlling, and a bully.  Her mother, Audrey hid from her husband by staying in bed during much of Cat’s adolescence.  Alcohol made Cat feel better about herself and life.

Fast forward to 1998 and Cat is still drinking every night.  Once Cat starts drinking she does not stop.  She usually passes out sometime during the night.  One morning she wakes up in an apartment with a stranger.  Cat is very lucky that Jason is a nice stranger.  Jason is a recovering alcoholic.  Jason and Cat’s mother convince her to quit drinking.  Cat is doing well until she goes to America to meet her biological father, Brooks Mayhew.  Cat meets Brooks and his two daughters in Nantucket.  Brooks and his younger daughter, Julia drink all the time and Cat joins in.  The summer comes to an abrupt halt when Cat wakes up one morning with Julia’s boyfriend naked in her bed.

Cat returns home and gets sober for a while.  She even gets married and has a daughter.  Cat does not stay sober for long.  It is a constant battle for her.  Cat will have to lose everything she holds dear before she decides to get help.  Then comes the ninth step.  Amends is the ninth step.  Cat will have to go see her long lost sisters in America to make amends.  Will Cat be able to get forgiveness for past sins while staying sober?

I give Summer Secrets 3 out of 5 stars.  I found Summer Secrets very depressing.  This book left me feeling sad when I had finished reading it.  The basic story was good as well as the writing, but I felt it was something that had been done before.  It is not the type of book I would want to read on summer vacation (or if I was feeling down).  Summer Secrets will be out tomorrow, June 23, 2015.

I received a complimentary copy of Summer Secrets in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my latest review.  I am off to finish feeding dinner to my cats and dogs.  Have a lovely evening and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader