Mystic Summer - (The Perfect Beach Read) by Hannah McKinnon (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes a readers' club guide with discussion questions.

Book Synopsis

"When two roads diverge...take the one that leads to the beach! Hannah McKinnon delivers a charming gem of a novel in Mystic Summer. I adored this book." --Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rumor

A chance run-in with a college boyfriend puts a young woman's picture-perfect life in perspective in this warm-hearted and lyrical novel--from the author of The Lake Season.

Since finishing graduate school, Maggie Griffin has worked hard to build an enviable life in Boston. She's an elementary school teacher in a tony Boston suburb, a devoted sister, and a loving aunt. With her childhood best friend's wedding quickly approaching and her own relationship blossoming, this is the summer she has been waiting for.

But when Maggie's career is suddenly in jeopardy, her life begins to unravel. Stricken, Maggie returns home to seaside Mystic, Connecticut, where she expects to find comfort in family and familiarity. Instead, she runs into Cameron Wilder, a young man from her past who has also returned home, and whose life has taken a turn that puts Maggie's city struggles in harsh perspective. When tragedy strikes for Cameron, Maggie is faced with big decisions as she weighs what matters most and strives to stay true to the person she's become.

Set against the gorgeous backdrop of a New England summer when past and present collide, Mystic Summer is a gorgeous novel about looking back, moving forward, and the beauty that blooms when fate intervenes.

Review Quotes

"A chance run-in with a college boyfriend puts a young woman's picture-perfect life in perspective in this warm-hearted novel."-- "Hinsdale Living Magazine"

"The Lake Season is one of those rare gems of a book that's both impossible to put down and emotionally complex. Do yourself a favor and put The Lake Season on your summer reading list: you'll love getting to know Iris Standish and her family and Hannah McKinnon's writing is so beautifully evocative that even the most landlocked of readers will swear s/he can smell the fresh New England summer air." --L. Alison Heller, author of The Never Never Sisters "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"A lovely, heartwarming novel that captures the intricacies within family and friend relationships . . . . McKinnon's empathic characters will make readers wish their story continued past the book's end."-- "RT Book Reviews"

"Charming and heartfelt! Hannah McKinnon's The Lake Season proves that you can go home again; you just can't control what you find when you get there."--Wendy Wax, nationally bestselling author "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Family and secrets colliding at a lakeside wedding...[a] must-read."-- "Cosmopolitan on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Fans of Debbie Macomber and those looking for a great summer read will enjoy this first foray into adult fiction by McKinnon (Franny Parker; The Properties of Water)...the story features engaging character development and an on-again, off-again romance that will keep readers intrigued." -- "Library Journal on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Hannah McKinnon's Mystic Summer is a heartwarming story of lost love and the against-all-odds chance of finding it again. . .Mystic Summer is a lovely summer beach read that will keep readers turning the page until the very end!"--Nan Rossiter, New York Times Bestselling Author of Under a Summer Sky

"Hannah McKinnon's The Lake Season is a pure delight. Iris Standish is such an appealing woman, handling an overload of family calamities with good sense and good will, not to mention a few really good times. It's a bonus that the setting on Lake Hampstead is as enticing and refreshing as McKinnon's voice."--Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Nantucket Sisters "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Hannah McKinnon's lyrical debut tells the story of a pair of very different sisters, both at a crossroads in life. McKinnon's great strength lies in her ability to reveal the many ways the two women wound - and ultimately heal - each other as only sisters can."--Sarah Pekkanen, New York Times bestselling author "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Hannah McKinnon's new book reminds readers that the right choice isn't always the logical one. Beautifully written, Mystic Summer blends the simple allure of past summers with the messiness of the present. It's the perfect summer read--any time of the year."--Amy E. Reichert, Author of Luck, Love & Lemon Pie

"If you enjoy a novel with a gorgeous setting and a side of dark family secrets, you will enjoy The Lake Season, which I recommend to fans of Nancy Thayer and Elin Hildebrand."-- "Confessions of a Book Addict on THE LAKE SEASON"

"McKinnon's voice is sharp and evocative...Making use of a gorgeous setting and serious themes, this novel rises above a flock of fluffier beach reads."-- "Kirkus on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Mystic, Connecticut provides an enchanting backdrop for this delectable summer read, in which the pull of home exerts its power on a delightful cast of characters... Hannah McKinnon masterfully shows that you can go home again-- it's what you do when you get there that counts."--Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Admissions

"New adults and women's fiction fans will find this book appealing. It's a novel for twenty-somethings facing major decisions including love, marriage, first apartments, jobs, houses, and the decision whether or not to have children."-- "Library Journal"

"Seasons of change take us home to the places and the people who shelter us. Well-told, and in turns sweet and bare, The Lake Season offers a compelling tale of family secrets, letting go, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood."

--Lisa Wingate, Nationally Bestselling Author "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"Set against the gorgeous backdrop of a New England summer when past and present collide, Mystic Summer is a novel about looking back, moving forward, and the beauty that blooms when fate intervenes."-- "Bibliotica"

"Sometimes sweet, sometimes tart, Mystic Summer is a refreshing story about the choices we make and the choices sometimes made for us."--Shelly Noble, New York Times Bestselling author of Whisper Beach

"The perfect summer read . . . .a book about friendship, long-lost love, and really looking at what makes you happy in your life."-- "Dandelions Inspired"

"This is a beautiful tale of sisters, a heartfelt journey of truth and choices that will leave you deeply satisfied."--Linda Francis Lee, bestselling author of The Glass Kitchen "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"This is a fun, sweet romantic read with intriguing characters and relatable situations. The charming seaside locale, summer setting, foodie descriptions, and themes of home, family, and love kept me distracted during sweltering days. Keep this one in mind when packing your beach bag this summer."-- "The Reading Date"

"Two sisters, a glittering New England lake, and one desperate, last-chance summer set the stage for Hannah McKinnon's emotionally affecting new novel, The Lake Season. The story features the complex Iris and her unpredictable sister Leah but its power extends well beyond the beautiful, heartbreaking bond between these two women. A memorable rumination on life, loss, and how to find a path home."--Michelle Gable, nationally bestselling author of A Paris Apartment "on THE LAKE SEASON"

"When two roads diverge. . . take the one that leads to the beach! Hannah McKinnon delivers a charming gem of a novel in Mystic Summer. I adored this book."--Elin Hilderbrand, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rumor

About the Author

Hannah McKinnon is the author of several acclaimed novels, including The Lake Season, Mystic Summer, The Summer House, Sailing Lessons, The View from Here, Message in the Sand, The Darlings, The Summer Club, and The Sandy Page Bookshop. She graduated from Connecticut College and the University of South Australia. She lives in Connecticut, with her family, a flock of chickens, and two raggedy rescue dogs.