Butternut Summer: A Novel (The Butternut Lake Trilogy)

Daisy is ready for another busy summer helping her mom, Caroline, run her cafe. She’s also trying to make room in her life for her estranged father, Jack, who has suddenly reappeared in her life. And now she’s adding a relationship to the mix: the more time Daisy spends with Will, the closer she grows to him, despite her mother’s disapproval. Caroline, meanwhile, is struggling with her own problems: a serious financial crisis, as well as establishing some ground rules with the ex-husband she is still secretly attracted to. And Jack, now a recovering alcoholic, is determined to get back into Caroline’s life. This summer will hold surprises and revelations for them all.

Mary McNear returns to Butternut Lake in her new novel, Butternut Summer. This unassuming novel makes a fantastic summer read; readers know exactly what they’re getting here, and you can pick up the book with a pretty good idea that everything will end on a relatively happy note, but that won’t stop you from enjoying every page. This is a great examination of relationships, both between lovers and parents/children, and McNear’s words just flow off the pages. This isn’t the deepest story I’ve ever read, but it is definitely enjoyable.