First published 2014
Rose arrives at the family lake house in Awago Beach expecting another peaceful summer with her parents and her friend Windy. Instead, her mom and dad argue constantly, filling the house with tension. Rose and Windy escape by hanging around the local convenience store and beach, watching the older teenagers who seem so much more sophisticated. When they learn that one of these teens faces a serious crisis, Rose and Windy get pulled into adult problems they don't fully understand. The girls discover that growing up means confronting harsh realities about relationships, family struggles, and the gap between childhood dreams and adult disappointments. Through it all, Rose and Windy's friendship anchors them as they navigate this complicated summer of change.
Genres: fiction, friendship, coming-of-age, contemporary, adolescence, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Awago Beach
Period: Summer
320 pages · Library Binding · Turtleback Books