The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton {A Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

Sometimes it takes losing everything to find yourself again.

Lily Bishop wakes one morning to find a good-bye note and divorce papers from her husband on the kitchen counter. Having moved to Alabama for his job only weeks before, Lily is devastated but forced to contemplate her next steps when she sees a flier at the grocery store for a hair stylist position in a local retirement community.

Rose Carrigan built the small retirement village of Safe Harbor years ago—just before her husband ran off with his assistant. Now she runs a tight ship, making sure the residents follow her strict rules. Rose keeps everyone at arm’s length, including her own family. But when Lily shows up asking for a job and a place to live, Rose’s cold exterior begins to thaw. Lily and Rose form an unlikely friendship, and Lily’s salon soon becomes the place where residents share town gossip, as well as a few secrets of their own. Lily even finds herself drawn to Rose’s nephew, Rawlins—a single dad and shrimper who’s had some practice at starting over, and one of the residents may be carrying a torch for Rose as well.

Neither Lily nor Rose is where they expected to be, but the summer makes them both wonder if there’s more to life and love than what they’ve lived so far. The Summer House weaves Lauren Denton’s inviting Southern charm around a woman’s journey to find herself.

LAUREN K. DENTON is the author of USA TODAY bestselling novels The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. She was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and now lives with her husband and two daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. Though her husband tries valiantly to turn her into a mountain girl, she’d still rather be at the beach. Website: LaurenKDenton.com; Instagram: LaurenKDentonBooks; Facebook: LaurenKDentonAuthor; Twitter: @LaurenKDenton.

I've had the chance to read a previous book by Lauren K. Denton and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I saw she had a new one coming out this summer, I was excited to check it out.

And I must say, this one was just as delightful! Right from the start, I was drawn in to the story as we meet Lily, discovering her husband of just one year had simply decided to up and leave her in the new town in which they had just moved, leaving a note and signed divorce papers. And the home that they'd just moved into? It was dependent on his job that he had likewise left. With no family and nowhere to go, Lily finds herself having to start over... and the small retirement village of Safe Harbor provides a great place to do just that. She wasn't the only one in need of a fresh start. Rose managed Safe Harbor, but had always kept herself at a distance. She-likewise- needed a fresh start with the relationships in her life... and to let go of past mistakes. Through this book we watch as both women are given that chance to move forward, and it truly was a joy to read. The community of Safe Harbor drew me in with it's quirky cast of characters. I found that I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to them just yet, and wished that this was part of a series so that perhaps we might get to catch up with them later.

I will say that parts did seem a bit slower than others, and there were parts that I wish would have gone into more detail... but overall, it was a quick and fun read that I truly enjoyed. If you're looking for a good beach read, this one would certainly be one worth checking out!