Part of The Baby-Sitters Club, book 34
First published 1996
Mary Anne Spier arrives back in Sea City for another summer helping the Pike family with their kids. She brings along her friend Stacey McGill to share the mother's helper duties. The familiar beach town holds memories from the previous year, including romantic ones. Both girls reconnect with the boys they dated during their last visit. What seemed like a simple summer job becomes much more complex as old feelings resurface. Mary Anne finds herself caught between her expectations and reality. The presence of multiple romantic interests creates tension she did not anticipate. Managing eight Pike children while navigating her own emotional confusion proves challenging. Stacey faces similar complications with her own summer romance. The girls must balance their responsibilities to the family with their personal lives. Mary Anne discovers that returning to a place where you experienced your first serious relationship brings unexpected challenges.
Genres: romance, family-life, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, friends-to-lovers
Setting: Sea City
Period: summer
140 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks