Our Extraordinary Summer by Lori Wilde: Two estranged sisters. One final wish. And a summer that could change everything.
Calista and Athena Dempsey were golf prodigies, but were controlled each step of the way by their father who was a star on the PGA tours. He expected to continue to grow them as golfers. He treated them with harsh discipline. They felt they had nowhere to escape. Their father had cut them off from their mother after a divorce. The two girls felt their mother had abandoned them.
Calista finally has enough and walks away from golf and her controlling father at a prestigious tournament. This also cause estrangement from her sister who stays with their father. Calista starts her own business. The women find out their mother has died on Hobby Island that is run by a friend of the family., Eloisa Hobby. She urges them to come to the island for a memorial for their mother and play in a charity golf tournament. She hopes the women can re-connect and deal with the past and grief.
If things weren’t already difficult enough, Calista finds her former boyfriend also on the island. He betrayed her at the tournament that she left and they have not had any contact since then. He is now a vloger and is here to record some of the moments of the memorial ceremonies. Will they be able to get over the past or will they stay in their current circumstances? Calista and Athena decide they can at least get along with the memorial events and activities on the island. Can Eloisa help them get over all the pain and hurt of the past? Will they discover secrets?
Although there is romance in this book, it’s more about family and forgiveness. It’s hard to get past the “scars” and deep pain of the past. It’s a quick read and contains my most important items in stories: hope and redemption. Although this is the second in a series, it was easy to read as a standalone.
Tropes & Vibes
👭 Estranged sisters
💞 Second chance romance
🏝️ Island setting
🗝️ Family secrets
🌊 Emotional summer read
❤️🩹 Healing journey
Themes
💛 Family relationships
🌱 Healing and forgiveness
✨ Second chances
👭 Sisterhood
🏡 Finding your way home
💕 Love after heartbreak
The island setting, the emotional sister dynamic, and the themes of healing and second chances created a story that was both moving and hopeful. If you love women’s fiction that balances family drama, emotional growth, and a touch of romance, It will be a good addition on your summer reading.
Book Info:
Publication: April 21, 2026 | Avon | Hobby Island #2
New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.
Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.
Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.
Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.
Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?
As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?
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