The Summer Remains by Seth King

Twenty-four-year-old Summer Johnson knows two things. The first is that due to a quickly worsening medical condition, she faces a risky surgery in three months’ time that may or may not end in her death. The second is that she would like to fall in love before then.

As spring sinks into her namesake season on the Florida coastline, Summer plays the odds and downloads a new dating app - and after one intriguing message from a beautiful surfer named Cooper Nichols, it becomes clear that the story of what may be her last few months under the sun is about to be completely revised. All she has to do now is write something worth reading.

Tender, honest, devastating and triumphant, The Summer Remains explores a very human battle being waged in a very digital age: the search for a love that will outlast this temporary borrowing of bones. In an era when many feel compelled to share and re-share anything about everything, prepare to feel a love so special, you will want to hug it close and make it yours forever.

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Five Star Review by Ashley

Deep breath in- This book, a debut novel from Seth King, completely blew me away. All I knew going in was to be prepared for the waterworks. Oh, did the tears come. I got wrapped up in the sheer joy of living life to the fullest and this beautiful journey of love. So much love. So much beauty to be found in the everyday. So touching. The Summer Remains both warmed and broke my heart. What I wasn't quite expecting was to be so enthralled with the story. I must've hilighted at least half the book. The words were poignant and moving and took me back in time to when I was a young twenty-something struggling to find my place.

I fell for Summer right away. I admired her courage, her will to be the best version of herself despite everything life had thrown her way. And it threw A LOT her way. Summer is living with a rare medical condition but she is also a young woman trying to come into her own. She was humble and had this grace about her that made it so you couldn't help but like her, scars and all. Her quiet resolve to have her best summer, to finally live the life she always wanted- complete with romance and stolen moments had me rooting for her to get her happy ending. Even though she knew she might not live to see it. On a whim she tries a new app and it changes the course of her life.

Enter Cooper Nichols. This guy, what can I say about him...I loved his beautiful spirit. His ability to see past the surface. His patience and care. His gentleness. His talent. His selflessness. His brokenness. How he feels and gives with his whole being. How he loves- fully, boldly, unapologeticly. How he learned to love himself again. How he made Summer glow.

I loved them individually but together they were something magical. Their connection and relationship was uniquely theirs. It was bashful and sweet and funny and deep and profound and the love that dreams are made of. And Cooper was so much more than she could've ever dreamed of. He was Summer's wish come to life. And Summer brought him back to life. She woke him up and made him put his dreams into action. They lifted each other up and it was so refreshing and freeing.

Then reality sunk in, harsh truths had to be swallowed and it was a bitter pill. From here on out it was a complete sob fest. I actually had to stop reading because I couldn't see through my blurry eyes. However, there were times when I was smiling through the tears as well. Seth King, WOW! Just wow. I wanted to shake you for doing that to me and then have you hug me until I could breathe again. The beauty of this book really was in the simplicity. It was a boy and a girl trying to beat the odds and make dreams come true by falling in love. The ending, gah! the ending, perfectly showcased how much Cooper and Summer just instinctively "got" each other. The Summer Remains completely stole my heart, there is no other way to put it. I am speechless and heartbroken and hopeful- and...deep breath out...

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