Okay, Rapid City Summer completely caught me off guard—in the best way. I went in expecting a light summer read, but wow, this book had feelings. It’s one of those stories that slowly works its way under your skin, and before you know it, you’re staying up way too late to see how it ends.

The setting was so vivid—like, I could feel the heat shimmering off the pavement and smell the thunderstorms rolling in. It gave me major nostalgia for those messy, magical summers where everything feels both endless and urgent. And the characters? So real. Flawed, lovable, frustrating at times—but that just made them more relatable.

The romance (because yes, there’s romance and it’s slow-burn perfection) was chef’s kiss. Tender, a little messy, and totally believable. But what I really loved was how the book explored identity, family, and how much one summer can change you.

Not super plot-heavy, but the emotional depth? Top-tier. If you like character-driven stories that make you feel all the things, definitely add this to your TBR. I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

Natalie is a teenager who doesn’t embrace change. Therefore it’s a total shock when, due to her mom landing a dream job, her family makes a move to Rapid City, South Dakota. Leaving behind the comforting familiarity of Chicago is difficult; there’s even a maternal grandmother whom Natalie has never met that will be living ten miles away. Stepping out of her comfort zone takes courage, but due to the surprising help of new friends, and the budding relationship with her Grandma Diane, Natalie is able to fully embrace this different lifestyle.
So many things to love about this novel!
I was impressed that the author chose for her female protagonist to have a platonic relationship with a guy, who is literally “ the boy next door”. The two characters make this decision mutually early in the story, and it’s wonderful to read about how their friendship becomes cemented through the sport of fly fishing.
The author’s knowledge and expertise of fly fishing is evident. I think anyone who reads this book will be considering whether or not to give the sport a try themselves (I know I am)!
I liked the statement at the end about the audience this book was written for. This novel is perfect for middle-grade readers who have moved on to higher reading levels, but are not yet ready for the often mature themes of Y.A. literature for older readers.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*