The Best Summer of Our Lives

Written by Rachel Hauck

Narrated by Suzy Jackson

Twenty years ago, the summer of ’77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde’s life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow—the Four Seasons—had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, “Nowhere,” Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past.

Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It’s a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love’s voice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705097243

Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

Reviews for The Best Summer of Our Lives

[Ann Bush · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of course, the Preacher. Other than that, it was a story of 4 friends and the trials of growing up. I really didn't think I'd like it, but since I've loved all Rachel Hauck's books, I listened and I loved this one too! The narration was also good!

[Donna Irvin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book!
Listened to audiobook, had a hard time following each season in the beginning!

The narrator is superb! I love the timeline of the 1970's to 1990's ......great for boomers!

The preacher song and character brings out the love of Jesus to all!

Good goose bumps! We are all broken!

[Lisa Harness · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The four seasons, friends for life. But, the summer of ‘77 seemed to derail their plans. Twenty years later, will they be able to mend what’s broken?

[TAMMY OBERLIN · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The narrator, Suzy Jackson, did a fantastic job, as she has with any narration I’ve heard by her.

I’m struggling to know what to say because I believe in leaving honest reviews. Though I loved The Writing Desk by this author, this book was just okay for me.

“The Seasons” of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Show was a little too corny for me personally. I did love the appropriate song titles for chapters. I enjoyed the camaraderie, friendship, growing pains, etc. but I struggled with liking Summer at all — until maybe the very end. Her happy ending felt a little forced. Snow seemed like a minor character and this book was mainly Summer’s story. Jumping between the characters and the time periods was a little jarring at times. Sometimes I wondered where the book was going.

For me this is a clean fiction book, not Christian fiction, in all honesty. The faith element was lacking and that was disappointing. “The Preacher” character seemed more like a mystical/gnostic being for me. An encounter with Jesus is spiritual. A physical man isn’t needed and that just didn’t sit right with me. Jesus Christ makes himself real to us in a way beyond a ‘body’ when we seek Him.

I appreciated the emphasis of appreciating friends and not waiting to make things right after a separation or fall-out.

Like anything else, book enjoyment and experience is subjective. I guess this just wasn’t completely for me but I wanted to attempt to explain why.

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book of childhood best friends, the love abs and support. It also shows that as you age, you lose contact. Then the reunion. A must-read. Great book!