A Month of Summer

Rebecca Macklin leaves her law practice in California to care for her estranged father in Dallas after his wife suffers a debilitating stroke. Upon arrival, she discovers the family home in disarray and her father showing signs of dementia. As Rebecca navigates her new caretaking roles, she must confront painful memories from her childhood and rebuild relationships with both her father and stepmother. She finds help from Hanna Beth Parker, an elderly neighbor who shares wisdom from her own experiences with loss and healing. The story alternates between Rebecca and Hanna Beth's perspectives as both women face challenges that force them to examine their past choices and current circumstances. Through their parallel journeys, they form an unexpected bond that helps them move forward. This multi-generational story explores themes of forgiveness, family obligation, and the ways trauma can echo through decades. At its core, it examines how caring for others can lead to personal transformation and healing.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of caring for aging parents and the complex family dynamics. Many reviewers relate to Rebecca's struggles as a caregiver and the emotional weight of family obligations. Readers appreciate: - Realistic depiction of dementia and elder care challenges - Multiple character perspectives that show different sides of family conflict - Focus on forgiveness and healing relationships Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Some find the alternating viewpoints confusing - Religious themes feel heavy-handed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) Reader quote: "Wingate captures the exhaustion and guilt of being a sandwich generation caregiver with painful accuracy." - Amazon reviewer Several readers note the book helped them process their own experiences with aging parents and family reconciliation.

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Peace Like a River by Leif Enger A family confronts truth, faith, and loyalty during a cross-country journey to find a missing brother while dealing with a child's chronic illness.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain A mother's past choices resurface decades later, forcing her daughter to confront family secrets while managing responsibilities to aging relatives.

🌟 Author Lisa Wingate worked as a journalist before becoming a novelist, which helped shape her detailed, investigative approach to storytelling 🌟 The book explores the complex dynamics of caring for aging parents, a situation that affects more than 40 million Americans who serve as family caregivers 🌟 The novel's setting in Blue Sky Hill, Dallas, is a recurring location in several of Wingate's works, creating an interconnected community across multiple books 🌟 The author drew inspiration for the character of Edward from her own grandfather's experience with dementia and the impact it had on their family 🌟 The book was part of a broader series that helped establish Wingate's signature style of weaving together multiple timelines and perspectives, which she later perfected in her bestseller "Before We Were Yours"