Now that’s it officially summer, who else is up for a good beach read? And what could be beachier than this title? Boardwalk Summer is as light as a summer breeze, as evocative as a whiff of suntan lotion, as enchanting as sweet memories of teenage love.
Meredith Jaeger’s new novel Boardwalk Summer is a satisfying read from start to finish. With some unexpected plot twists and a cast of multi-layered, multi-ethnic characters, this is a definite recommendation from me.
Boardwalk Summer
As in her previous novel The Dressmaker’s Dowry, which I also enjoyed, Jaeger pens a story in two different eras, connected by the unlikely relationship between two families.
In 1940s Santa Cruz, young ingenue Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk. Since she was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming a Hollywood star. However, she entered the contest illegally since it was for single women only, and she was married to the wealthy but creepy Charles Harcourt.Sadly, she hands the title to the runner up, her best friend.
Undeterred, and unhappy in her marriage, she runs off to LA to pursue her dream, but is disillusioned by the gritty Hollywood scene. The glamorous world she had imagined was not what she found, and she is forced to return to Santa Cruz and the wrath of her awful husband.
In the present day storyline, Marisol is a single mom living with her parents and daughter in a bungalow once owned by her grandfather, Ricardo. In his heyday, Ricardo had been a famous diving performer off the pier in Santa Cruz. The beach has been a sentimental favorite of Mari’s and her family for decades. Her grandparents danced in the beautiful pavilion on the beach when they were married.
The historical pavilion is in danger of disappearing as the mayor announces plans to demolish this treasure to make way for luxury condos. Mari is devastated and vows to fight the initiative with other concerned residents.
So what ties these two stories together?
I won’t give out the spoilers. You’ll have to read it to find out. I liked both storylines equally and was caught up in the love stories taking place decades apart. Of course, a romantic story about the beach will always grab me. What makes Boardwalk Summer different is that it’s not all cotton candy fluff. It touches on several modern-day issues that were as relevant years ago as they are today: racial discrimination, domestic abuse, and sexual assault.
Jaeger is truly a marvelous story teller and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
One of my lucky readers will receive a copy of Boardwalk Summer. Please leave a message on the Books is Wonderful Facebook page and a winner will be randomly selected. US addresses only, please.
I received a copy of Boardwalk Summer from William Morrow for an honest review,
which is the only kind of review i write.