Heather Dixon wrote a great bench read. We have the three sisters, Alex, Sam and Jess. They return home when their mom calls Jess and tells her that Dad had passed away. The sisters are lost without him and return home to be with mom. Alex is looking for some items in the shed when she comes upon a bundle of letters. She is wondering who the letters were from so she starts reading and discover they are love letters unsigned to their Dad. Thus begins the summer of lies and secrets. Can the sisters survive the summer and remain true to each other and themselves. Read this story and find the answers.

This is book 1 in the new series, Summerville. Three sisters, Alex, Sam and Jess return to Summerville because their beloved father has died. The women are concerned for their mother. Alex discovers a stack of hidden love letters that shows their father was having an affair with a local woman. The girls are devastated and when they figure out who the other woman is they are surprised. Last Summer at the Lake House explores how coming to terms with the past is the only way to create a hopeful future.

I hadn’t expected this to be such a short novel! I mostly enjoyed this story of three sisters who are brought back to their family’s summer home at the lake after the death of their beloved father.. The sisters are deeply grieving but also remembering the positive and happy memories of their time at the lake. When one of them finds unexpected love letters it becomes clear that their father has been betraying their mother their mother for a number of years. As the news sinks in, each sister has to come to terms with the father they thought they knew and the new reality in front of them. Alex is the sister who finds the letters hidden in an old shed on the property and she is deeply shocked. She feels a need to find out the truth about the letters and who they’re from, while her sisters feel it’s best to let things lie. They don’t want to face the truth or make the grieving process any worse for their mother, it’s interesting that at a point where the sisters are geographically closer than they’ve been for years, emotionally they’re sudden,y oceans apart. There’s a bravery in Alex, in her willingness to do it alone and potentially have the father she placed on a pedestal torn down in front of her. However, from the point of view of younger sisters Jess and Sam, she can seem bossy and stubborn. She’s determined to do everything her own way, perhaps not realising that her need to find out May devastate everyone around her.. This was an emotional read, with some great characterisation and understanding of family dynamics. When Alex succeeds in uncovering the full extent of his betrayal, how can they go back to being the family who arrived at the lake house only weeks before? Grief meant the women would never be the same again, it alters us in ways we don’t expect, but at least they had years of happy memories to look back on. There is some resentment and push back towards Alex for removing the one thing that was getting them through the loss. Now they have to question everything? Is there father still the same man? This was an interesting, thoughtful and intelligent read. It was slow in parts but the sister’s dynamic and interactions made up for this.

I was attracted to this book by the cover, and the title.
I didn’t know too much else about the book as I don’t like to read a synopsis or reviews ahead of time.
Once I knew what the story was about, although I don’t love a story that involves grief, particularly of losing a parent, I persevered and so glad that I did.
Very well written, very relatable story about family dynamics, nostalgia, grief.
The author’s writing style did justice to the storyline, and I will definitely read more books by this author. I’ve just ordered two more of her books!

Thankyou to author Heather Dixon and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Charlene @lastnownext 🌸📚🤗

THE GOOD:

Clean fiction about three women who, after their beloved father’s death, learn how he betrayed their family and had been doing so for years.

Lovely lakeside, summer vacation-town setting.

THE BAD:

A tad uninteresting, as the betrayal, in our modern world, sadly isn’t that shocking. It was difficult to really empathize with how upset our leading ladies really were.

CONCLUSION:

The above said, the tale was quite refreshing for it’s lack of post-2017 publishing nonsense.

If you’re looking for a beach read with minimal swearing, only hinted-at sex scenes, and no diversity checklist agenda, then this is for you.

Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy of this book. Unfortunately I found it a little predictable and silly. And the resolution was ridiculous.

This is the first book in the summerville series. I liked this book but I cant say I loved it. I found that it dragged in some parts and I found it to be very predictable. There were way too many characters to keep an eye on.

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. This book was well written with a great view of all the characters and their struggles. Would recommend.

The Last Summer at the Lake House by Heather Dixon is a story of three sisters who come together to help their mother after their father passes away. Thought provoking, emotional read.
#LastSummerattheLakeHouse #NetGalley

What a great read! I couldn't put this story down. Three sister's gather to be with their mom at the family cottage after they receive a call that their dad has passed away. The summer is spent together at the cottage, where childhood secrets are uncovered, and also more memories are made. There were some twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, which made me love Heather Dixon's writing and story telling. I can't wait to read more of her books. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

A brilliant book and story. The story is told from 3 sisters view at the Lake House. Each character is loveable in their own way.

This took my emotions on one heck of a Rollercoaster ride. I was hooked from the beginning and I loved every page of this! This is a definite must read! Perfect to get lost into.
I just reviewed Last Summer at the Lake House by Heather Dixon. #LastSummerattheLakeHouse #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This was a very quick rad for me at only 280 pages I had it read before I knew it. A great story of family and dealing with the past and present, lose and secrets and being able to look towards the future to heal.

I love the characters and the three sisters as it reminded me of my own family. This to me was a real family and one you can relate to, with all the emotional family trials and tribulations you would expect. And although sad in some ways it was uplifting in other ways which made it an very interesting, intriguing and easy to read book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A family reunite after their fathers unexpected death. The 3 sisters and their mother have different memories of their dad, gradually secrets are discovered, explored and dealt with in different ways. This leads to difficult times can they survive and return to the close knit family they were? All the characters are very believable. Their reactions are all true to life. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by HeTher Dixon

I finished this amazing book literally in one sitting, captivated by the intricate web of family secrets and the resilience of sisterhood. Heather Dixon's masterful storytelling drew me into the lives of these three sisters, each struggling to come to terms with their father's passing and the shocking revelation of his mistress.

What resonated with me most was the authenticity of the characters' emotions and the messy, complex nature of their relationships. The sisters' differing perspectives and reactions to the situation felt so real, making me reflect on my own relationships with my siblings and parents.

The small-town setting was also expertly crafted, providing a cozy backdrop that contrasted beautifully with the turmoil brewing within the family. I found myself rooting for the sisters, wanting them to find closure and understanding.

I appreciated how the author wove in themes of motherhood, grief, and forgiveness, making this a story that will stay with me long after finishing it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read. It's a stunning exploration of family dynamics, and I can't wait to discuss it with my own sisters!

What a sad but sweet read. A feel good read. Very glad I was able to read this book. Definitely had me in all of my feels!

The three sisters reunited again at their family's lake after the death of their father. During their time together, they uncovered some secrets about their father's betrayal. The sisters shared a beautiful bond and cherished the relationships they had with each other and their mother. I enjoyed reading this book.

A fantastic powerful life like story told from different people's perspective, it was an emotional read and I look forward to reading more by Heather

This was a delightful, family centred story. Some excellent characters and a storyline that was true to life and very compelling. The run up to the conclusion was very dramatic and my tissue was soaked by the end!

I loved reading The Last Summer at the LakeHouse by Heather Dixon. This story covers the lives of three sisters Alex , Sam an Jess who join together at the family Lake House and try to come to terms with the passing of their father. They are all close but also different from each other. When Alex finds love letters hidden in a tackle box in their fathers shed it causes tension between the three. Alex is determined to find out the truth behind the letters was her dad leading a double life without anyone knowing. Jess is worried the secrets she’s been hiding all these years are about to be exposing threatening her relationship with her sisters. Alex’s obsession is threatening to ruin her bond with her sisters as well as her marriage. This book was so hard to put down. It was full of emotions. I would highly recommend reading.