Good book. ( )

Part coming of age tale, part family saga, this work of historical fiction put me in mind of V.C. Andrews and I mean her true style when she was alive, not the ghost written books that came out after her death. Although on second thought she would have made it shorter to stretch it into a trilogy. Tallulah James is on her way back to a home she never expected to return to, after news reports that her brother has been arrested for murder. On the way, and once there she recalls what it was like to grow up in such tumultuous times, and the events that led her to flee at such a young age. The story touches on civil rights, mental illness, first loves and family secrets.


I received an advance copy for review. ( )

Truly could not put this one down. A deep look into the lives of a troubled family with past secrets keep coming back to haunt them. Memorable characters and a setting so realistically described that I could feel the heat of the summer days. The perfect book for the beach, pool, or comfortable chair at home. ( )

4.5 stars.

Weaving seamlessly between the 1960s and 1970s, The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall is an engrossing coming of age story full of family secrets and heartrending dysfunction.

Tallulah James and her siblings, Griff, Walden and Dharma live in the small town of Lamoyne, MS with their parents, Drayton and Margo. Tallulah is close to her grandmother who is the epitome of a traditional of Southern woman. Margo and Drayton's relationship is turbulent and they frequently engage in screaming fights that are often precipitated by Drayton's wild mood swings and Margo's frequent absences due to involvement in many causes and social activism. With Margo often flitting off to her next cause and Drayton sinking into dark depressions, Tallulah is tasked with raising the twins and with Griff's help, keeping food on the table. Following a series of heartbreaking events, Tallulah sets off for California where she remains until a family crisis brings home.

Tallulah has an overdeveloped sense of responsibility where her family is concerned and she often blames herself when things go wrong. She is frustrated with Margo's ease in leaving her family as she joins one cause after another. Equally troubling is the extreme unpredictability of Drayton's moods which veer from extreme highs to debilitating depression with bouts of normality in between. As she and Griff grow older, the duties at home mostly fall on Tallulah as Griff becomes involved in activities that keep him away from their dysfunctional family life.

Although Tallulah leaves Lamoyne, she cannot quite escape the effects of her childhood. She is closed off and finds it very difficult to open up about her past. Tallulah has managed to carve out a successful career that she dearly loves. However, it is not until she returns home after her brother ends up in serious trouble that she realizes how empty her life in California is. Upon her return to Lamoyne, Tallulah discovers disconcerting information that her grandmother has kept hidden and it is not until she presses her for answers that both women can begin healing.

The Myth of Perpetual Summer is a multi-generational novel that is absolutely compelling. Tallulah is a sympathetic character who is forced to grow up much too fast due to her chaotic home life. Her grandmother is quite dignified but her habit of sweeping problems under the rug is detrimental to herself and everyone around her. Throughout this captivating novel, Susan Crandall sensitively explores the long-term effects that undiagnosed mental illness, disinterested parenting and family secrets can have on family members. This glimpse of life during an oppressive and tumultuous time in the South will linger in readers' hearts and minds long after the last page is turned. ( )

The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall is a 2018 Gallery Books publication.

Heart wrenching southern style coming of age tale, bracketed into a touching story of eventual hope!

Mississippi during the 60s and 70s is boiling pot of tension and scrutiny. It’s the perfect backdrop for this coming of age story centered around Tallulah James and her dysfunctional southern family.

Tallulah copes as best she can in a house full of secrets and miseries. Her father exhibits the hallmark symptoms of mental illness in a time when it was something people didn’t understand or discuss. Her mother has little regard for parenthood, which leaves Tallulah, her brother, Griff, and younger twin siblings under their grandmother’s supervision most of the time.

Her grandmother’s overwhelming emphasis on propriety is overbearing, and her parent’s constant arguments and failings, leaves Tallulah desperate to escape Mississippi. Eventually, circumstances force her hand, propelling her to leave home and start a new life for herself. But several years later, a horrendous family situation sends Tallulah racing back home, back into her grandmother’s life, where she also reconnects with her old friend, Ross.

As memories from the past collide with the present, the family is finally forced to face the buried truths that have burdened them for far too long, paving the way for long overdue understanding, forgiveness, redemption, and healing.

I have been trying to work this book into my reading schedule for over a year and a half. It was supposed to be a summertime beach read for me, but I’m glad I ended up reading the book now, instead. It’s been a cold, dreary week, (proving there is no perpetual summer in Texas either, contrary to popular belief), and this book pulled me away from my present time and place, sucking me into a good old- fashioned southern family drama.

This story is absorbing, and so heartbreakingly sad. My heart ached for these children who longed for paternal love and guidance, but all too often had to be the adults in the family. Dark, buried secrets, is the foundation upon which lies, and scandals and whispers are built around the family, and Tallulah bears the brunt of something she doesn’t fully understand, as a teenage girl.

While the simmering Mississippi climate creates a haunting and taut atmosphere, the emotions run long and deep, building and cloying, desperate for a release. The dam will finally burst, and the relief is palpable and immediate. While the aftermath still leaves some uncertainty to contend with, overall, the predominant feeling is one of hope and new beginnings.

This is a terrific drama, which addresses a host of family issues, but with an emphasis on mental illness. The time frame reveals how once taboo topics are finally becoming less stigmatized and better understood.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Ross is THE show stealer! He is the most satisfying character in the book, all the way around. His unconditional love, patience, kindness, and loyalty are a much- needed balm. However, I also thought his own bit of family rebelliousness, which resulted in a most fitting career choice, was wonderfully ironic.

Although this book was marketed as a summer beach read, the weightiness is balanced enough to make it a great year -round choice. If you enjoy family sagas, historical fiction, or coming of age stories- this book is one you might want to consider!

4 stars ( )