Summer of Yesterday

Summer of Yesterday follows seventeen-year-old Haley Graham as she experiences mysterious blackouts during a family vacation at Disney World in Florida. The episodes transport her back to 1982, where she finds herself at River Country, Disney's first water park that closed years ago in the present day. In both timelines, Haley navigates relationships and attempts to understand her unexplained time travels. Her present-day struggles with epilepsy and family tensions intertwine with her growing connection to Jason, a boy she meets in 1982 at River Country. The story moves between contemporary Disney World and its earlier incarnation in the 1980s, exploring the contrasts between these two eras. Haley must determine if her episodes are seizures, dreams, or genuine journeys through time while the clock ticks on her present-day vacation. This young adult novel examines themes of time, memory, and the ways the past can pull on the present. The narrative raises questions about fate versus choice, and whether some connections transcend ordinary boundaries of space and time.

Readers found this to be a light, nostalgic YA romance that captured the atmosphere of Disney World in the 1980s. Readers appreciated: - Accurate details about Disney World and the River Country water park - The blending of time travel with teenage romance - References to 80s pop culture and fashion - The bond between the main character and her father Common criticisms: - Plot felt predictable and formulaic - Romance developed too quickly - Character motivations weren't fully explained - Some historical inaccuracies about the time period Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (50+ reviews) Several readers noted they finished the book in one sitting. One reviewer called it "a perfect beach read with just enough supernatural elements." Multiple readers mentioned wanting more development of the secondary characters and backstory. Some Disney fans read it specifically for the River Country setting but found the romance overshadowed the historical elements.

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🌟 The story's setting, River Country, was a real Walt Disney World water park that operated from 1976 to 2001 and now sits abandoned on Disney property. 🌟 Author Gaby Triana is a Cuban American writer from Miami who has written multiple young adult novels and won several awards, including the IRA Teen Choice Award. 🌟 The book combines elements of time travel with actual historical details about Walt Disney World in the 1980s, creating an authentic retro atmosphere. 🌟 The main character's epilepsy, which triggers her time-travel experiences, was extensively researched to provide an accurate portrayal of the condition. 🌟 River Country was Disney's first water park and was designed to look like an old-fashioned swimming hole, complete with a rustic theme that matched nearby Fort Wilderness.