This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and it did not disappoint. Carole Brungar has done it again with her 4th novel in the <b>Return to Nam series<b>, she’s written a heartfelt, emotional read that manages to deal with important and often forgotten issues.
This is the love story between two unexpected soulmates, Scott Taylor a soldier in the Vietnam war and a teenage girl Summer, who is a free spirit in every way. What starts off as a Christmas card project organised by Summer’s school to send messages to the soldiers in Vietnam, turns into a pen-pal friendship that eventually becomes so much more. The effect that this friendship has on both of these characters is profound and changes them both even after they lose touch for many years.
From the jungles of Vietnam to the hippy communes of NZ in the 60s, through to NZ in the early 80s, I was transported to these very different places and I had my heart ripped out several times (you will require tissues).
Both Scott and Summer we great characters, both real, flawed and passionate. They both face many heartbreaking times, Scott with his marriage, Summer with trusting people she shouldn’t, but both of these characters have the will and the support of friends and family and the love of each other, to help them through whatever they face.
There is so much I want to say about this novel, but I don’t want to give anything away, because this is a journey that needs to be taken with no spoilers.
I highly recommend Loving Summer along with the rest of the series, while this is a standalone, there are mentions of characters from previous books and I recommend reading those too, in order if possible, but you will enjoy this even if you haven’t read them.
My reviews of the other books in the series
Claire's Reads and Reviews 