ABL Review at a Glance
Title: The Summer Set
My Rating: 4.25
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Author: Aimee Agresti
Format: eARC*
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
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Book Blurb
The real drama happens backstage in this juicy novel about an idyllic summer theater where hot stars, has-beens and hopefuls chase roles—and each other.
Charlie Savoy was once Hollywood’s hottest A-lister. Now, ten years later, she’s pushing forty, exiled from the film world and back at the summer Shakespeare theater that launched her career—and where her old flame, Nick, is the artistic director.
It’s not exactly her first choice. But as parts are cast and rehearsals begin, Charlie is surprised to find herself getting her groove back, bonding with celebrity actors, forging unexpected new friendships and even reigniting her spark with Nick, who still seems to bring out the best in her despite their complicated history.
Until Charlie’s old rival, Hollywood’s current it girl, is brought in to attract theater donors, threatening to undo everything she’s built. As the drama amps up both on the stage and behind the curtains, Charlie must put on the show of a lifetime to fight for the second chance she deserves in career and in love.
My Thoughts
The Summer Set is a contemporary romance, but with a lot more depth than is usually associated with the genre. I personally think that’s an unfair assumption, as contemporary romance almost always deals with very heavy and painful issues, but that’s the general consensus, so I want to address that up front.
I loved the idea of the Chamberlain theater and it’s summer acting apprentice program. It felt a lot like reading Step Up for young adult, struggling theater actors. The behind the scenes looks at rehearsals, the performances, and the personal relationships, all read as an inside look. At times inspiring, The Summer Set will make you want to dream big again.
My only issue with The Summer Set was the main character and her back story. First of all, it must be stated, I loved Charlie. She was so human and flawed, scared to trust but secretly wanting to love and be loved. She seemed to even hide that fact from herself, as she lived in unhappy denial for most of the book, erecting walls to keep out anyone that could hurt her
I’m a sucker for flawed but lovable characters because they feel the realest to me, the most human.
My problem lies in the explanation of Charlie’s baskstory, specifically as it deal with the main love interest, Nick. Aimee (great name btw) Agesti chose to reveal Charlie and Nick’s past in little bits throughout the book. Sometimes this can work, and at times it did here, making me need to know more thus propelling me through the story.
The problem came when fights would arise in the present tense of the story. Because we didn’t know all of what happened before, we couldn’t truly sympathize with Charlie, making a lot of her reactions and subsequent behavior come off slightly dramatic and bizarre. Nick’s ex-wife shows up to the play, and even after knowing he didn’t ask her to come and doesn’t want her there, Charlie refuses to even speak to him for a very long time. You can tell from the supporting characters that they understand her reaction, but the reader just can’t simply because we don’t know.
At times, I genuinely got frustrated with her, but after finishing the book, I totally understand everyone’s behavior. At the time of reading though, I couldn’t understand her, and therefore, did not get invested in her search for happiness. Without the emotional understanding, it removed me from the story at times, so that I struggled a bit mid way. Luckily, though, the subplot of Sierra and Ethan, kept my romantic heart interested.
The ending was perfect, especially the way she wrapped up the book and the story with IMDB-like entries and entertainment section articles.
The Summer Set is a perfect summer read for any fan of contemporary romance, especially those who love Shakespeare.
*Special thanks to Aimee Agresti and Graydon House for my copy of Beachside Beginnings in exchange for an honest review.
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