“They each sat in a chair without talking. Words weren’t necessary to keep someone company.”
― Amy Sue Nathan, The Last Bathing Beauty

Review to follow..someday!

Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Nostalgia!!

That is what this book does..clothes you in nostalgia!

How many times have I said nostalgia now?

So..just a few thoughts on this one. I am not always in the mood for nostalgia. Certainly not now. This is one that I think is really beautiful that I just was not in the mood for because..that word again! It is nostalgic!

A grandmother recounting what went wrong in her life to her Granddaughter who is in danger of making those same mistakes.

So nostalgic.

And summery. It is blooming with summer as Bet recounts the summer on the beach in Michigan that changed her life and altered its course forever.

I have read so many books like this and sometimes I find them wonderfully tranquil, even therapeutic, but other times books like this bring me down.

Why? Because we can't go back..any of us..the beach is a distant memory and I'm stuck in the house trying to avoid Corona Virus.

Not in the mood to be nostalgic.

That does not mean it isn't a moving, well written and tender read, brimming with breathtaking descriptions of the Lakes of Michigan. Calling all Michiganders...you will want to read this!

And it takes place at an inn, strangely like the Catskills where us New Englanders got our summers on. (See Dirty Dancing for more on that.)

I do not want to give anything away so I will not. But one thing: the kind of thinking that lead to a certain decision the main character made infuriated me.

I w as in a youth group as a kid for people of my religion, Jewish. I stopped going when, at a weekend getaway, they showed us a film on why it is so important Jewish people marry in their own religion only.

Being the little rebel I was, I was enraged, disgusted and quit the group.

I believe anyone should love whomever they want and whatever ethnicity or religion they are, it's fine. I never subscribed to that other stuff. (I could use a stronger word than "stuff" but for purposes of being the demure gal I am not, I will refrain).

Anyway..yeah, I LOVED the Jewish terms that will make sense to nobody who does not know Judaism. That's Okey Dokey though. I would encourage people to read The Last Bathing Beauty, as it is witty and warm and full of strong characters. It is just a fun book. But it is NOSTALGIC! Oy vey. Highly recommended. ( )

The story of Betty (nicknamed Boop) and the summer that her life trajectory totally changes. The summer before Betty starts college in NYC should be the best of her life - she has grandparents who support her, 2 best friends who love her, a resort owned by her grandparents that she calls home and she meets her first love that summer. The story takes place in 1950 where girls are expected to behave in certain ways and not behave in certain ways.

( )

This story hit close to home - physically! I loved listening to a story that is set less than an hour from my house!

The story kept me laughing and brought me straight back in time, which I adored!

Great job! ( )

Betty Stern was a beauty working at her grandparent's lakeside resort. Her life laid out in front of her. But, that is not the life that she ended up having. Will she reconcile with her past? ( )

Betty, age 84, relives her teen years and her loves, as her granddaughter shows up for more than a short visit and as her two grade school girlfriends are visiting. Takes places in NY and is of Jewish culture. Very interesting. I just wonder if society was as she depicted 70 years ago. A quick read, a good beach read. ( )