Summer under the Stars

The second book I’ve read from this author, and I was seriously hoping for better development, a less indecisive heroine and some solid reasons to like her ‘love interest’. The underlying plot that involved Daisy’s grief at the loss of her adoptive mother and her questions (and ultimate search) for her birth mother did have me engaged and curious to see where the story would go. But I patently disliked Toby and found him selfish, self-serving and rather flat. When he’s been such a pill and decides they need a ‘holiday’ away, and Daisy goes all out to arrange a retreat with glamping, no screen time, and plenty of together time he was just petulant. Of course – the two had been involved for a while – so why she didn’t know his likes and dislikes (including the outdoors) was a bit of a puzzle for me. Then we add in Jake – a ‘blocked’ writer who’s encounter with Daisy didn’t go well, but he wants more. And, surprisingly enough this thirty-something heroine fancies herself in “love’ with him: making a miraculous recovery after discovering Toby’s infidelity and his inability to understand why she is upset to seeking out Jake. Oh, and did I mention that this is the village (or outskirts thereof) in which Daisy was born? Yeah – there’s plenty of drama to go round here. What Ferguson did well was explore Daisy’s grief and her questions about her birth and all of the emotions being in ‘that place’ held for her. As well as recognizing just how much she missed the mother that raised her, she’s curious – as anyone would be, and perhaps even guilty and hopeful that a similar bond can be built. But, that was honestly the sum total of positive in this story for me. Perhaps there were too many elements that never quite felt plausible, or maybe it was that the author and editor didn’t dig into the story and lead with the strongest parts of the book. But the romances were flat and immature, Toby, Jake and Daisy were underdeveloped and immature, some pathetically so, with Daisy alternating between actual emotional moments and teenaged-tone dithering. I’ve read two from Ferguson and while the synopsis and settings always please, the actual book lets me down each time. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.