I am a big fan of Elin Hilderbrand. She takes me on a short vacation with her descriptions of the eastern sea shore and Nantucket Island and I always feel connected to at least one of the characters in her novels. It is for this reason that when I saw she had endorsed this novel of Hannah McKinnon’s “Mystic Summer” with praise of her enjoyment, I thought I would give it a try. There are some books that may not have the most exciting plot, but are comforting in nature with likeable characters. I would file this book in that category. It is a beautiful setting in Seaside Mystic on the eastern shore, with characters and their relationships that are relatable. I truly enjoyed the family dynamics that were played out with her coming home, and the nostalgic lifelong friendships that Maggie was fortunate to hang onto. The theme of this novel was of finding home and the choices we have to make to get there. Finding herself unemployed and needing a new place to live, Maggie heads home to Mystic from Boston for her best friend Erika’s wedding. After running into her college boyfriend and rekindling sparks, she is faced with the decision to move forward in Boston with her boyfriend Evan, or pick up where she left off with her old flame Cameron. The novel takes you on a journey and questions you what choices you would have made. At times both of her love interests are likeable and makes the choice hard for who you are rooting for in the end. I found this book to be well written and enjoyable, but not overly exciting. It is a great read for a summer day sitting beachside or poolside.
