The Summer That Changed Everything
Published on: June 3, 2025
The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak is a gripping story about Lucy McBride returning to the town that shaped her life as a teenager. At 17, Lucy’s world was shattered when her father was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a family friend. But as she grows older, doubts about her father’s guilt begin to creep in, and she decides to spend the summer back in North Hampton Beach hoping to uncover the truth.
The book follows Lucy as she rents a small cottage and tries to navigate a town that is cold and unwelcoming. To complicate matters, her ex-boyfriend Ford, who has his own wounds from a broken marriage, unexpectedly comes back to town. Their relationship starts off tense, but they slowly join forces to piece together the mystery that has haunted Lucy for years.
What stands out in this novel is the multiple points of view that deepen the story, giving readers a richer understanding of the characters and their motivations. While some parts of the plot can feel a bit predictable, the overall story remains intriguing, and the twists keep you guessing until the very end. The audiobook narration by Courtney Patterson adds a beautiful layer to the experience as well.
It’s a heartfelt, well-crafted story about coming home, seeking justice, and finding unexpected allies along the way. The Summer That Changed Everything just released on June 3, 2025, and it’s definitely worth picking up if you enjoy suspenseful, emotional reads with a strong sense of place and character.
About the Author
Brenda Novak
Brenda Novak’s journey to becoming a bestselling author wasn’t something she planned, it came from a place of urgency and love for her family. She recalls a deeply unsettling moment when she discovered her day-care provider was drugging her children with cough syrup and Tylenol to make them sleep while she was away. That experience sparked a determination in Brenda to find work she could do from home.
Interestingly, writing wasn’t on Brenda’s radar at all. Growing up, she was far more comfortable with numbers than with creative pursuits. Math and science were her strongest subjects in school, and she chose to study business in college. At 20, she left her academic scholarship at Brigham Young University to get married and start a family. Before turning to writing, Brenda explored careers in commercial real estate and worked as a loan officer.
The decision to become a novelist came slowly. Brenda spent five years teaching herself how to write, emphasizing the importance of reading widely to learn the craft. Her advice to aspiring writers is simple but powerful: “read, read, read.”
After selling her first book, Brenda’s writing career took off. Today, she’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, publishing two or three novels a year across multiple genres.
Brenda lives in Sacramento with her husband, Ted, and they are proud parents of five children, three daughters and two sons. Now that their kids have grown, Brenda enjoys spending time with her two grandchildren. Beyond writing and family, she dedicates much of her energy to raising funds for diabetes research, motivated by her youngest son, Thad, who lives with diabetes. So far, Brenda has helped raise nearly $2.6 million to support this cause. When she’s not fundraising or writing, Brenda loves traveling, watching sports, and biking, she pedals an impressive 20 miles every day!
You can connect with Brenda on her Facebook page.
| Book Title | The Summer That Changed Everything |
|---|---|
| Author | Brenda Novak |
| ISBN | |
| Book Language | English |
| Book Format | Ebook, Paperback, Hardcover |
| Date Published | June 3, 2025 |
| Publisher | MIRA |
| Awards | None |
| Pages | 367 |
| Tags | Family Life |
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