“After a decade apart and a painful secret, can these two teenage sweethearts find their way back to a love that defies cultures and time?”
For anyone who ever had a ‘summer cottage boyfriend’ and ever wondered what happened to them, or what life might have been like if you reunited, this book is for you. The Summers Between Us is a novel written by Toronto author Noreen Nanja and is the perfect book to pack into your beach bag for an enjoyable beach read.
“Five years together. A decade apart. One last chance at love” is the subtitle to the book. “After a decade apart and a painful secret, can the two teenage sweethearts find their way back to a love that defies cultures and time?”
The main character is Lia Juma, a successful corporate lawyer who is single and in the dating game. The perfect immigrant daughter was forbidden to date until after she graduated university and is now dating a man who matches her parent’s criteria for husband material. Hassan “has potential” and seems like the ideal person to get serious about. But fate intervenes when her family calls on her to help look after her niece Ciji.
Fast forward to the family cottage where Lia and Ciji share some quiet time together. And guess who reemerges—Wesley (Wes) Forest, Lia’s long-lost love. As teenagers Lia and Wes were secretly an item for several summers.
So what happened to drive the two lovers apart? Fate, miscommunication, the distance apart and a misguided phone call. Now having reconnected by chance, Lia has some serious thinking to do about her future.
The story is told over a course of five years in the past and a summer in the present. There’s a substantial twist mid-way through the book which will surprise readers. And although this book deals with some heavy topics such as illness, identity and family values, the overall theme is about romance and deciding if you should listen to your heart or your head.
A quick, easy, enjoyable read. 8 out of 10
The Summers Between Us was released on May 12 and is available at bookstores. Copyright © 2025 Noreen Nanja. Published by Random House Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Cover art design by Emma Dolan.
About the Author
Noreen Nanja is a writer, reader and a chronic couch napper who lives in Toronto with her small, yet demanding dog, according to her bio which adds: “A second-generation immigrant, Noreen’s writing explores themes of identity and belonging wrapped in stories of romantic and familial love.”
The Summers Between Us was released on May 12, 2025 and is available at bookstores. Copyright © 2025 Noreen Nanja. Published by Random House Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Cover art design by Emma Dolan.
by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
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