When I first saw the blurb for this book, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I'd be reading it. The protagonist of this novel grew up in Mystic, CT and then relocates to teach in a tony Boston suburb. I lived in Mystic for many years and now live in a tony Boston suburb. I wasn't expecting great literature, but I had to see if McKinnon got the sense of place right -- in both places.

This book doesn't purport to be anything other than an enjoyable beach read, and on that measure it delivers (even for those with no ties to either location). While it doesn't quite make the leap to what I dub "beach read with a brain," it's far from the most mindless in the genre. Those expecting a Man Booker prize novel will be disappointed (and shouldn't have looked here in the first place). Those wanting to be transported away from their day-to-day lives with a story that ties up with a nice little bow will be happy.

As for the sense of place, McKinnon falters a bit in portraying Boston and the private school scene. There's reference to the main character having to buy Clorox wipes for her own classroom (no way, no how would that happen -- doesn't even happen in the "gold standard" public schools. I just about fainted when we first moved here and I learned what our PTA budget was). There's also several references to standardized testing (again, that doesn't happen at private school, which is one of the main reasons why parents send their kids to private schools).

On the flip side, McKinnon gets Mystic just right (with the exception of the repeated naming of the famous pizza place at which no local eats unless forced to by visiting guests), and it was a delight to read the real the names of real places and businesses. Even those unfamiliar with this charming town will enjoy the descriptions and detail of the seaside idyll -- "Downtown Mystic does it to me each time. I don't know if it's the sea air of the historic clapboard houses that line the street into the village, but there's something magical, as if you're entering a little storybook town."

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Good but not great. An easy beach read.I wouldn’t avoid this author but I wouldn’t actively search her out either. ( )

With an idyllic seaside setting and a delightful cast of characters, Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon is a heartwarming novel of family and friendship.

Maggie Griffin’s life is going just as planned: she has a wonderful job teaching elementary school, she has a terrific boyfriend and she remains close to her family despite living out of state. However, with her best friend (and roommate) Erika’s wedding fast approaching, Maggie cannot help but feel like everyone is moving on without her. Just she learns her position might be eliminated due to budget cuts, Erika’s wedding hits a major snag and Maggie suggests they move the nuptials to their hometown. Needing some time away, she volunteers to oversee the wedding preparations in Mystic and soon after her arrival, Maggie runs into her old college flame, Cameron Wilder. While she and Cameron enjoy revisiting their favorite spots and reminiscing about the past, Maggie puts off making any decisions about her future.

Maggie is loyal, kindhearted and often puts others needs in front of her own. Although she is thrilled that Erika is marrying the man of her dreams, she knows their friendship will be forever altered. Dreading living on her own, Maggie has put off looking for a new apartment while secretly hoping she and her boyfriend, Evan, will move in together. While she has been perfectly content with her relationship, once she reconnects with Cameron, she begins noticing little things about Evan that irritate her. Her friends and family certainly think that Evan is the perfect man for her, but Maggie is beginning to have doubts about their future together. After Cameron faces an unexpected crisis, Maggie cannot help but wonder if there is room for her in his life.

Despite a few serious undertones, Mystic Summer is a light-hearted read with minimal angst or drama. The characters are multi-layered and well-rounded and the situations they are dealing with are realistic and easy to relate to. An absolutely charming novel with a heartfelt and uplifting storyline that readers of contemporary fiction are sure to love. ( )

This book was one of my 20 Summer Reads and I am so glad I chose it. It was a light, easy story to read but had a good storyline that kept me interested. It was a romance, but there was a lot more to it than that. The story takes place in Mystic Connecticut and there is even a reference to the movie, Mystic Pizza.

When Maggie finds out that she is probably going to lose her job teaching at the private school in Boston due to budget cuts, she is not sure what her future holds. Not only that, but her best friend and roommate has to change the venue for her upcoming wedding due to mold issues. The venue becomes the yacht club back home in Mystic, and off they go to get things set up. Maggie is also dealing with her boyfriend Evan. He is an actor in a soon to debut television drama and seems to be so busy, they hardly see one another. Once Maggie is back home she decides to stay for a couple of weeks until after the wedding. When she runs into her old boyfriend who is back living in town, with a baby girl, some unexpected feelings emerge in Maggie. Even though Evan ticks all the right boxes and Maggie thinks he is perfect, there’s still some sort of connection with Cam that she can’t let go of.

I really liked this story for its simple and honest message. It was a story of letting go of the perfect image you might have of someone or a situation. It was about embracing what makes you happy. It was telling us to follow our hearts and what feels right. This is the perfect book for those times that you want to sit back and lose yourself in a quick and easy read. If you are looking for a summer read pick this one up before it gets to cold to sit out in the sun and just lose yourself in a story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )

Maggie has a comfortable life in Boston, but things are changing.
Her job is in jeopardy, she has to move from her apartment and she's unsure whether her boyfriend is the one.

When she travels back to her hometown Mystic, she runs into her last serious boyfriend Cameron. She is shocked at the changes in his life since she's seen him last.

Her best friend decides to have her wedding in Mystic and suddenly Maggie is spending a lot more time there. She's seeing more of Cameron, her parents and her sister than she has in years.

With her own life in flux, she starts to question where she belongs and who she belongs with.
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