The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey

 

Title: The Summer of Songbirds

Author:  Kristy Woodson Harvey

Narrated by:  Jennifer Jill Araya, Reena Dutt, and Jackie Sanders

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 58 minutes 

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster Audio.  Thank you @simonandschuster #BookClubFavorites for the free books!

Did you go to summer camp growing up?  I always wanted to, but it was too expensive.  I did go to a couple of church campouts, and they were a lot of fun.

Three women met as young girls at Camp Holly Springs and became lifetime friends.  Now as adults they are shocked to learn that the camp is going to close.  June Moore has run the camp for many years and is sad about its closing, but is happy that her niece Daphne and friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart are back with ideas on how to keep it open.  They are all going through interesting periods of their lives.  Mary Stuart has just gotten married.  Lanier is engaged but can’t help thinking of the one who got away.  Daphne is also thinking about the one who got away, Lanier’s brother.  Lanier doesn’t want Huff and Daphne to get back together, but will their hearts let them give up love a second time?

This story was told from three points of view:  Lanier, Daphne, and June.  I thought it was interesting that June was one of the narrators rather than the third person in the friend trio, Mary Stuart.  I also love how they always call her Mary Stuart with her first and last name.  The audiobook had three different narrators which provided each book narrator with their own unique voice, which I enjoyed.

I thought the story was entertaining and light.  I loved that it explored friendship and growing up.  I loved how the women had a great time as children at the camp and wonderful memories to fall back on.  I liked that they were there to support each other during hard times and that they could still learn as adults that they can make changes and move on from mistakes.  I loved the theme of found family.  The epilogue tied up everything perfectly. It was a perfect summer read.