Summer We Fell by Elizabeth O’Roark
The Summer We Fell promised to be an emotional journey, testing the reader’s attachment to the characters.
Juliet had always craved love and security, and after overcoming a difficult childhood and finding a transformative romance, she felt content. One fateful summer altered her life’s trajectory and led her to someone who would impact her for years to come.
Despite a few issues, the reader remained invested in the story’s outcome. There needed to be more one-on-one time between the main characters, feeling that too many interruptions disrupted their connection.
This book, being written from a single point view, took something out of the story. I needed more insight for this story to truly capture you. Another point of view would have provided more insight into the hero’s emotional state.
The alternating timelines in this book offer a unique perspective on heavy themes and the transformative effect they have on the characters. However, despite its potential as a romance, the book straddles the line between women’s fiction and romance.
It is worth noting that the book deals with triggering content, such as religious trauma, purity culture, cheating, homophobia, death of loved ones, and off-page sexual assault. While the book is impressive as a work of fiction. I am uncertain of its success as a romance novel.
Nevertheless, the novel showcased a woman’s journey towards a happy ending despite the heartache and obstacles she faced.
