Book Review: The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde

Some books surprise you. Others hug your heart.

The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde
Publish Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Format: ARC provided by NetGalley
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The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde is a sweeping story of friendship, secrets, and healing set against the backdrop of a transformative summer. With emotional depth and heart-tugging moments, Wilde captures the complexities of womanhood, forgiveness, and finding one’s place again.

My Review

Some books surprise you. Others hug your heart. The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde does both—with three generations of women, a heartfelt quilting competition, and enough twists to keep you guessing long after the last stitch.

As an avid reader of Lori Wilde, I know to expect deep emotion, Texas charm, and resilient women. This novel not only met those expectations—it exceeded them.

What I didn’t expect were the twists. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say there’s a reveal involving Eloisa’s past that adds rich complexity and will stay with you long after closing the book.

Luna Aldridge isn’t exactly the maternal type. Her relationship with her teenage daughter Artemis (Artie) is fractured, and she’s still working through pain from her own upbringing. When an unexpected invitation arrives for a summer quilting retreat on Hobby Island, Luna reluctantly accepts—only to find out Artie and Luna’s free-spirited estranged mother, Jeanie, are also invited.

Presiding over the retreat is the graceful and mysterious Eloisa Hobby, who challenges each woman to sew a quilt square telling her personal story. But as memories resurface, secrets unravel—and each woman must decide what’s worth stitching back together.

More Books by Lori Wilde

Standout Plot Threads 

The quilting competition might sound quaint, but it’s the emotional centerpiece of the story. Each square becomes a symbol of forgiveness, fear, and love lost or rediscovered.

My Favorite Quote

“A quilt is more than scraps of fabric—it’s layers of history, stitched with hope.”

This powerful line captures what the story is really about, how quilting represents healing and deep connections between mothers, daughters, and grandmothers. It illustrates how each character’s journey is interwoven, much like the fabric pieces in a quilt, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and renewed connections.

Character Spotlight

Luna: Fiercely independent, emotionally guarded, but deeply relatable. Watching her soften and begin to trust again was incredibly satisfying.

Artie: The heart-stealer of the book. She’s snarky, wounded, and beautifully honest. Her growth is both hilarious and heartbreaking.

Jeanie: Her unconventional, “live-free” persona hides pain and regret. She’s the emotional thread that binds the trio.

Eloisa: Elegant and reserved, her character serves as both a catalyst and a mirror for the others. I loved how Wilde unraveled her storyline slowly and with purpose.

Themes of Healing, Hidden Truths and Reconnection

Beneath the sunlit serenity of Hobby Island lies a tapestry woven with secrets, regrets, and the yearning for redemption. Each woman—Jeanie, Luna, and Artemis—carries her own burdens: Jeanie grapples with the aftermath of a financial scam, Luna mourns the loss of her husband while confronting past traumas, and Artemis navigates the tumultuous waters of adolescence and grief.   

                                      

The quilting competition serves as more than a mere contest; it’s a catalyst for introspection and healing. As they stitch their stories into fabric, long-held resentments and unspoken truths come to light, challenging their perceptions and forcing them to confront their pain.

A pivotal twist emerges when a concealed family secret surfaces, threatening to unravel the fragile threads of trust they’ve begun to weave. This revelation tests their resilience and commitment to one another, ultimately leading to profound moments of vulnerability and understanding.

Through shared experiences and the therapeutic act of creation, the trio embarks on a transformative journey. Their time on the island becomes a crucible for change, where past wounds are acknowledged, and the path to forgiveness is charted.

Final Thoughts

Lori Wilde stitches together grief, love, and second chances in a way that feels authentic and uplifting. The Summer That Shaped Us is about what we pass down—whether through heirlooms, habits, or hurt—and the courage it takes to begin again.

This isn’t just a story of mothers and daughters—it’s a tribute to the complicated beauty of womanhood, with enough emotional weight and narrative richness to make it unforgettable.

If you love multigenerational stories with a strong emotional core, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. I highly recommend it.

Join the Conversation

Have you read it yet? I’d love to know—whose quilt square resonated with you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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