Summer at the Lake | Book Review

“Love does not come without sacrifice. When we choose to love someone, it will always cost us something.”

Marco Bassani

Synopsis:

For Floriana, it is the place where the love of her life is getting married to another woman, and she is invited to the wedding.

For Esme, it is where, over sixty years ago, she fell in love for the first time. So often, she wonders what happened to the man who stole her heart and changed the course of her life.

Adam is in danger of burying himself entirely in his work after his girlfriend left him. Could a trip to Lake Como be the distraction he needs?

Now is the time for each of them to realize that the past is more than just another place; it also has the power to cast ominous shadows over everyone’s lives.

My Thoughts:

This novel, in contrast to the others I’ve read, features three primary characters.

A few days before Christmas, Floriana Day, an Oxford tour guide, got a wedding invitation from her closest friend Seb, with whom she had fallen in love. Floriana is one of the key characters in the novel.

Because she was too drawn to the card and unaware of her surroundings, she didn’t notice a car coming her way and hitting her.

That’s where she met Adam Strong, a property developer, and the lovely Esme Silcox, who happened to be in the same area.

I guess it was fate that brought them together so they could build a fantastic relationship with each other.

And, that was where the story took off.

Now let’s talk about the characters!

They were great; they’re lovely, and they felt so real.

I loved all of the characters. They’re just so realistic and very likable.

Esme is an 80-year-old lady who has lived alone for a very long time. She’s never gotten married because of her first love, Marco Bassani, whom she met in Venice when she and her father were traveling.

She was a lovely, strong, and sophisticated woman.

Floriana showed a lot of enthusiasm in this book; she’s outgoing and living the life she wants, but she can be vulnerable at some point, given the circumstances—her accidents, for instance—and the heartbreak she’s had.

Then we have Adam. At the beginning of the book, he is very serious, and it seems like he doesn’t know how to enjoy life, but as the story progresses, he becomes more sympathetic, especially with how he took care of Esme when she was sick.

He can be romantic if he wants to.

There were also a lot of small characters in the story.

From Floriana’s best friend Seb to her sister Ann, her fiancee Imogen, and the whole Bassani family.

And what I love about the characters is the relationship they formed with each other, which is just so beautiful to read about.

As far as the plot is concerned. It was well written.

I loved the pacing of this book.

During the first few chapters, I see the kind of life the characters had, their struggles, and their lowlights. But what I liked the most was the development of their story—from strangers to the best of friends.

I also got attached to Esme’s story.

I never imagined or anticipated how her story would progress. But I enjoyed how it was written.

I liked the travels they had back when she was nineteen years old.

I’d like to imagine myself standing in the middle of unknown places, finding myself lost in the streets, and living my life to the fullest.

My heart broke for Esme when she finally fell in love for the first time.

Fate just wouldn’t allow it to happen.

It was my first time reading Erica’s book, and I think it was beautifully written.

Rating:

The book deals with themes of love, loss, and redemption.

It was a heartwarming and uplifting read. It is a perfect choice for readers who are looking for a feel-good story.