Publication Date: July 9, 2024
Two former best friends each find love at an adults-only summer camp in this romantic and nostalgic novel that proves “once a camp person, always a camp person.”
Growing up, Jessie and Hillary lived for summer, when they’d be reunited at Camp Chickawah. The best friends vowed to become counselors together someday, but they drifted apart after Hillary broke her promise and only Jessie stuck to their plan, working her way up to become the camp director.
When Jessie learns that the camp will be sold, she decides to plan one last hurrah, inviting past campers—including Hillary—to a nostalgic “adult summer camp” before closing for good. Jessie and Hillary rebuild their friendship as they relive the best time of their lives—only now there are adult beverages, skinny dipping, and romantic entanglements. Straitlaced Hillary agrees to a “no strings attached” summer fling with the camp chef, while outgoing Jessie is drawn to a moody, reclusive writer who’s rented a cabin to work on his novel.
The friends soon realize this doesn’t have to be the last summer. They’ll team up and work together, just like the old days. But if they can’t save their beloved camp, will they be able to take the happiness of this summer away with them?
Camp Chickawah has been Jessie’s refuge for two decades, first as a camper and eventually as the director. The news the camp is being sold devastates her.
Author Ali Brady delivers a heart-tugging tale in Until Next Summer. The title perfectly fits with the story, representing the phrase campers use when leaving at the end of the summer, indicating the adventures will continue.
The setting delivers a nostalgic look at summer camp and childhood memories of team-building activities, campfires, and a feeling of freedom.
To cope with the impending sale, Jessie invites past campers for an adult camp. Reunited with her teen best friend, Hillary, the two revisit the glories of camp. Along the way, they each discover unexpected sources of romance.
Structured with a dual point of view, the story effectively develops the four main characters, each of whom is drawn to the camp for different reasons. Together, they illustrate the value of second chances in a wonderfully engaging way.
Until Next Summer provides all the ingredients for a fantastic beach read filled with humor, friendship, and romance.
Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. The Beach Trap is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago and works as a VP and creative director at an advertising agency. She’s the author of You and Me and Us and Little Pieces of Me. Bradeigh lives with her family in Utah, where she works as a physician. She’s the author of the psychological thriller Imposter.
