The Summer Before

by Dianne C. Braley

If someone you love was assaulted, abused, or was a victim of a crime --- you are a secondary victim. If the perpetrator is also someone you love, there are no words.

Madeline and Summer are more than best friends. They might as well be sisters; they've claimed the title, anyway—and sisters tell each other everything. But Summer has a secret she's been hiding for years. Someone's been hurting her, someone close, and when it comes out, it destroys everything around her with the force of dying stars.

Six years after the trial, Madeline is a haunted young woman trying to build a new life in Boston, but the guilt of her betrayal when her friend needed her most—brings her to the brink of suicide. Madeline embarks on a journey to heal from the damage caused by Summer's secret and both her and her mother's terrible response. To let go of the past, Madeline must confront her father, mother, and all those involved with the trial that split her family apart—or continue her descent into dust, finishing what she started to escape it.

Genres: Fiction

213 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

A gritty New Englander, Dianne C. Braley found love for the written word early on, reading and creating stories while trying to escape hers, growing up in the turbulent world of alcoholism while living in the tough inner city. After putting her pencil down for a time, she became a registered nurse finding strength and calm in caring for those who couldn’t care for themselves. Still, she never lost her drive to write and became published in various medical online and printed publications. Seeing a painting and remembering a visit to Martha’s Vineyard as a girl and falling in love when her bare feet first stepped on the sand, she moved there for a time, caring for an ailing Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. He not only was her patient but soon became her friend and motivator. He and his books helped her realize she missed crafting stories, and she had some to tell.

Currently, Dianne and her family, both human, furry, and feathered, are firmly planted in a small town north of Boston but not far enough away to lose her city edge. She is currently earning her degree in creative writing. Still, she escapes to the Vineyard every summer, picking up her pencil, resetting herself, and writing in the place that again inspired it. The Silence in the Sound is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐
Genre ~ women’s fiction
Setting ~ Massachusetts
Publication date ~ October 15, 2024
Publisher ~ Koehler Books
Est Page Count ~ 262 (25 chapters)
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ suicide references, depression, child molestation, sexual assault, flashbacks

Maddie and Summer were best friends, almost like sisters, since they were four. Six years ago, when the girls were seventeen, Maddie’s father was convicted of molesting Summer, which began when she was around nine.

Maddie wonders how she could not know what was happening to her bff. On the other hand she never thought it could be true, but as she listens to the court tapes there are some revelations and this is her journey of coming to terms with things and healing after attempting suicide.

Overall, this was as heavy hitting as you can expect. I do wish we had a little more on Summer's journey of healing, but it gives the reader a good look at how the perpetrators' family deals with the aftermath of something so despicable. It was interesting to see how the wife reacts vs the daughter. The process of healing when the person you trust the most in the world does the unthinkable seemed realistic. Through therapy, and with the love and support of her boyfriend, Jay, Maddie perseveres.

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[Farda Hus · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

Wow, where do I even start? First, a huge shoutout to the publisher and author for the advance copy. I don’t think I’ve ever been so thankful for a book that wrecked me like this one did.

I was hooked from page one and didn’t stop until I was done. I’m talking about reading while eating, and yep, that’s how I found myself bawling into a plate of late night Chinese food, noodles dangling from my chopsticks like my sanity. This book is just so intense and raw, it digs into depression, how to deal with your past, and the painful process of moving on and forgiving. Every single word hit me right in the gut.

The friendships in this story are beautifully written, and they’re contrasted by the harsh reality of life’s cruelty. And don’t get me started on that freakin' bastard who wrecked everything. He had me fuming with how he messed up something so pure.

Honestly, I couldn’t have picked a better book to end my 2024 reading challenge. This one’s definitely earned a spot among my favorite reads of the year. If you’re up for a read that’ll have you crying and reflecting all at once, this is it.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeline is remembering her good friend Summer. They did everything together until everything changed. This book was a page turner.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeline and Summer are like sisters, sharing everything with each other. However, Summer has been keeping a dark secret about someone close to her hurting her for years. After the secret is revealed, it shatters their friendship and leaves Madeline haunted by guilt. Madeline must confront her past and those involved in order to heal and move on from the betrayal that drove her to the brink of suicide.

"The Summer Before" is a masterfully crafted tale that delves into challenging themes. Authored by the talented Dianne C. Braley, this gripping narrative keeps readers on the edge of their seats, refusing to shy away from the raw emotions that permeate its pages. Prepare to be moved to the brink of tears as you journey through the intense emotional landscape of this captivating book. Braley's unflinching approach to storytelling ensures that nothing is sugar-coated, yet she skillfully avoids delving into gratuitous details. Get ready to be swept away by the powerful storytelling of "The Summer Before."

Thank you NetGalley and Koehler Books for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Max · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writer handled the sensitive subject with care, which I admire and appreciate, but this book wasn’t for me. There was a missed opportunity to really go deeper with the emotions and situations but it felt as though it was only scratching the surface. I wasn’t really connecting with Madeline, which was a problem considering it’s essentially a story about her healing as she pieces together the events that led up to her father being in jail. The large swaths of dialogue to move the story along also felt forced. I really wanted to like it because I think the premise had a lot of intrigue but it just glossed over too much for it to have a lasting impact on me.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thank you to NetGalley, Dianne Braley and Koehler Books for an ARC of this incredible book. Wow. I read this book in one day, so that’s self explanatory. I loved the characters, but most especially the friendship between Summer and Maddie - it’ll get you right in the feels. My only recommendation would be a trigger warning as subject matter is heavy and can definitely trigger some. Despite this, INCREDIBLE read. I would love to read more from this author. Highly recommend.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for approving my request and giving me access to download this book. I loved it! Thank you!

Life can hold a lot of surprises. Even when you think you know someone. Secrets that can change everything and turn your life upside down. Putting you in a situation where you have to reflect on everything you have ever known before. To reconsider who you are as a person. To lose yourself. To reinvent yourself. Or to find your way back to the person you were before. It is a long road; it takes time, but if you are strong enough or lucky enough, you can make it. Madeline is on this journey. She lost her best friend to a secret, betraying her by not being there for her when the secret came out. Betraying her by not believing her. And she has been feeling guilty ever since. She realizes that she has to take the blindfold off and face the demons of the past to let go. To finally live.

As I said before, life can hold a lot of surprises. Just like this book. Despite the heavy topics and my on-going reading slump, where I tried to push through every single book just so I could tell that I had read them, this book was a real pageturner. I didn't want to put it down, and I was genuinely surprised by that because I have not felt like that in a long time. I loved that it had an unusual point of view regarding this topic, and I loved our main character as well. I think that the author did a fantastic job by creating the whole plot, and the writing was also beautifully done. I loved the characters, the friendship, the parallels... everything. I loved everything.

[Poornima · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary book that examines the far-reaching effects of abuse on those who weren’t necessarily the victims but became so by being in the vicinity of the abuser.

For Maddie, her life is collapsing around her as she tries to come to terms with the loss of her best friend and her innocence. Is it worth living if every moment is a nightmare she cannot wake up from?

Her only hope is to revisit the trial and her memories to try and understand what occurred and whether she can reconcile her present with the erosion of all that she believed to be true in her past.

Dianne has captured the agony, the loneliness and the self-recrimination of the protagonist in beautiful prose that sweeps you along, at once riveted and terrified that things may not end well for Maddie.

A beautiful albeit devastating novel which I highly recommend with the caveat that there are plenty of triggers for those who cannot handle difficult subject matters like sexual abuse, depression and suicidal thoughts. In which case, avoid. If you can, however, don’t miss out on this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance review copy of this book.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleased to read an advance copy of this compelling book, but it is a difficult subject matter dealing with the abuse of a young girl by an older, trusted family friend. The book explores the devastating effects for innocent victims and their families, and also for the families of the perpetrators whose lives and relationships are blown apart. What do you do and and who do you trust when your beloved family member is accused of doing such terrible things to your best friend? If these things happened, how did you not know? Was it your fault too? Excerpts from the trial are interspersed with current and on-going reactions to the events which took place several years earlier. The book is set in Martha's Vineyard which is often thought to be a vacation paradise, but this serves as a reminder that abuse can happen anywhere.

[TamieTurnsPages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you first and foremost to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review! This book follows are main character Madeline and Summer. They are best friends and like sisters. Something starts happening to summer that Maddie is unaware of and when she finds out she is shocked that she was not able to figure it out earlier. This obviously worded the relationship but also changes the relationships she had with more than just Summer. In this book there are a lot of triggers, SA, guilt,molestation, grief, estrangement. This is obviously a heavy read that is also very hard hitting and emotional! I have it a 3.5 stars please read only if you are in a good headspace or if you are ready to read a book with this content.

[Amanda Alviz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes some extremely heavy topics, and yet it was done so well. There are some major trigger warnings: pedophilia and suicide, so please consider this before reading. It goes into pretty deep details. Based on the cover I thought this was going to be a fun summer read, but it’s one of the heaviest books I’ve read. While I think it’s an important topic to address and the author approaches with seriousness, this will be a difficult read for many so please heed the trigger warnings.

Thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[emily *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
tw: sexual assault & eating disorders & suicide
Summer and Maddie have been best friends since they were little kids. When a secret that Summer kept comes to light- it destroys both of them. will they ever be the same? this book takes us on a journey of healing from trauma. overall it was a super easy read- that i could relate to in certain aspects.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!

[Bethany Latronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wrecked my soul. It's such an incredible, heartbreaking, gut wretching, real and raw story of friendship and what happens when secrets are kept. I couldn't put it down, read it straight through. The storyline continuously broke my heart, because it's just so relatable - many people have experienced the events & feelings in this book. I was glad to see it end the way it did, proving that there IS life after trauma.

⭐5/5

✨ This is a HEAVY book with HEAVY topics ✨

[Marcia Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by Dianne C. Braley’s debut novel, “The Silence in the Sound,” which I was fortunate to have received as an advanced reader’s copy by BookSirens and therefore leapt at the chance to read another of her books, again offered to me as an advanced reader’s copy by BookSirens. Although I read “The Summer Before” it in its unpublished form, it was published about ten months before I read it. I regret I hadn’t read it sooner, as again I found Ms. Braley’s writing to be superb. As ever, my opinions are 100% voluntary.

As with Ms. Braley’s debut, “The Summer Before” overflows with emotions; I could feel every raw thought and all anxieties, doubts, and disappointments, anger, disbelief, numbness, and shock of the main character, never knowing until the very end whether she would emerge from the depths of her despair. Ms. Braley is truly a gifted writer, and I look forward to her having a long, productive career.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heard about this book on wonderful book podcast I listen to regularly, Books Are My People. Powerful book. Not easy to read but well worth it.

[Lauren Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy.

I loved this book. I am so picky about books involving recovery/occurrence of trauma because they can feel so inauthentic.
It’s really heartbreaking to watch Maddie go through this. I work with clients with severe trauma, and this feels so similar to journeys I see every day. It is EMOTIONAL so please be prepared for that. If you don’t like books about abuse and trauma don’t read this. But if you do, I highly recommend.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a true crime junkie. I’m constantly listening to podcasts or watching documentaries and the victim is always at the forefront. As they should be. I walk away from those experiences thinking, “that person’s poor family.” It rarely crosses my mind to think about the secondary victims, the family of the perpetrator.

How does a daughter or son of someone who did something so inherently evil move on? How do they cope? It’s a constant discussion of nature vs nurture, which begs the question for a child, am I also a monster? Am I also capable of something so terrible?


Dianne C Braley writes about Maddie’s exact struggles with that question, along with the trauma of knowing your father did something truly despicable to someone you love so dearly, in such a raw, heartbreakingly beautiful way. There was a moment where I found myself crying without even realizing that I was. It’s a hard story to read but an important one, and one that I am glad I took the time to read.

[T. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s easy to think about abuse as being bullet involving the victim and the perpetrator. But it’s not; it’s a shrapnel bomb, wounding everyone in its radius. This beautifully written novel takes you into the world of one of those victims, a girl who had stood too close.

A deft and heart-rending exploration of the themes of friendship and loyalty, memory and delusion, truth and lies, addiction and mental illness, acceptance and denial, and the healing power of knowledge and forgiveness. Highly recommend!!

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie (Madeline) Plympton and Summer Starr are inseparable, so much so that Summer often joins the Plymptons on family vacations and trips to the city. Still, the seemingly carefree girl has a dark secret that she’s buried deep for years, which cannot be concealed any longer. When Pandora’s box is opened, revealing the abuse Summer has endured at the hands of Maddie’s perfect father, it upends her entire world.

Six years after the courtroom deliberations, Maddie’s mental health has spiraled as she is haunted by the outcome of the trial— the sentencing, the look on her father’s face, and the finality of it all. After trying to end her life, Maddie realizes the only way to claw herself out of this rut is to stop hiding from her demons and face them head-on. This means doing the unimaginable—confronting all those connected to the trial in hopes she can begin to piece her life back together.

“The Summer Before” by Dianne C. Braley is a deeply affecting novel about trauma, friendship, and having the courage to face your darkest fears. As Maddie relives the trial, it consumes her entirely. She feels the torment all over again, but something else surfaces: an unshakeable guilt and sadness for her best friend, Summer, the girl she turned her back on when she needed Maddie most. While Maddie has spent the last six years trying to alleviate these feelings by numbing out with alcohol and bad decisions, it has only prolonged the inevitable: to move forward, she is going to have to go back. Thus begins her long and arduous journey to healing.

This story of healing is emotionally driven, and it took Maddie in all sorts of directions. Because she could download the trial recording onto her phone, she went about her day, traversing through Boston, catching the ferry to the Vineyard, and going for exhausting but cathartic runs while listening to the court proceedings. This was a clever tactic applied by the author, as it allowed for an ever-changing backdrop where Maddie vividly recalled the town and cherished landmarks she grew up visiting. It sparked further musings and recollections of the sisterhood she shared with Summer, some joyful and others painful.

As an avid runner, I know it can be a physically and emotionally taxing endeavor. But the beauty of feeling the pavement moving beneath your feet is that you become entranced by the steady rhythm. Alone with your thoughts and working through the chaos in your head, it has a way of putting things in perspective. I adored how the same concept was applied to Maddie’s experience. The further she ran, the clearer she could see the truth for what it was.

Dianne C. Braley’s illuminating novel will appeal to readers who enjoy stories that strongly emphasize character evolution. While it can be excruciatingly difficult to digest heavy topics like child abuse and trauma, the overarching message in “The Summer Before” is one of hope: It doesn’t define you, and you can rise above.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Before by Dianne C. Braley is a coming-of-age novel that takes us through the emotional complexities of Madeline Plympton’s life as she navigates the fragility of family relationships, personal trauma, and the bond of sisterhood with her best friend, Summer. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Martha’s Vineyard, the story delves into how deeply a single secret can fracture lives, casting a shadow over the seemingly perfect world Madeline once knew. As she uncovers the truth about her father’s dark actions, the past and present collide, forcing her to grapple with painful revelations and her own identity.

Braley's writing style pulls you in with its vivid sense of place and atmosphere. The descriptions of the island are so alive you can almost smell the saltwater and feel the summer sun on your skin. Yet, beneath the warmth of these memories lies a growing tension. The prose seamlessly shifts from the calm to the chaotic, reflecting Madeline's inner turmoil. One aspect that stood out is the raw exploration of trauma and its aftermath. Summer's abuse and the ripple effect it has on Madeline’s life are handled with sensitivity, but Braley doesn’t shy away from the discomfort. The courtroom scenes, for instance, felt painfully honest. As Madeline hears the details of her father's actions, her internal conflict leaps off the page. The way Braley captures Madeline’s struggle between loyalty to her father and her love for Summer is gripping and heartbreaking. You can feel the weight of guilt and confusion press down on Madeline as she tries to reconcile her memories of her father with the man she now knows he is. Madeline and Summer's friendship is the heart of the story, and Braley beautifully captures the complexity of close relationships. There’s a bittersweet quality to their interactions, particularly in scenes where they reminisce about their childhoods, like when they laugh about their names, Summer Starr and Madeline Plympton, and pretend to be old ladies. Their bond feels real, the kind of friendship that can weather any storm, even the darkest secrets.

The Summer Before is a poignant and haunting novel that tackles difficult subjects with grace. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally charged narratives with strong character development. If you’re someone who loves stories about the complexities of friendship, family secrets, and personal growth, this book will resonate deeply with you. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions because Braley doesn’t hold back. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

[Wendy Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dianne C. Braley tackles incredibly complex topics in her fiction. In “The Summer Before” the author dives deep and explores a whole new level of introspection and exploration in her flawed and brilliantly portrayed characters. She brings up questions and then exposes profound dynamics in the exploration of the rippling out of trauma. These questions expose the complexities of situations, the repercussions and how one moves forward after traumatic entanglement and the questioning of loyalties and accountability. What does it mean when one moves forward? How does one move forward after shock and trauma when the revealed events don’t just affect a single person, but the ramifications created an entangled miasma?

Braley’s characters are flawed, real and vulnerable as they search for some sort of release from trauma’s searing and branding memories that create smoke-filled and foggy confusion, shame and recollections. There can be a tenacity in the search for this release that is driven by the confusion that the revelation of trauma can bring up in a family unit. This confusion will ripple out like a tsunami until one releases childhood familial loyalties and shattered ideals of youth. How can a predator be both a wonderful family member and an exploitative wolf of the innocent. Does one shut this out to survive? Or does one courageously confront the binding and constraints that are holding us back because of trauma and memory lapses to begin to heal?

Braley’s novel is gritty and the real deal! The subject of the novel is not light and breezy, but at the beginning of the novel the author sweeps the reader right into the story by jumping in mid-story with an adult grappling with trying to maintain her head above water until she starts the face the truth of past events. As the author states, secrets can destroy us and sometime those secrets are not the secrets we think they are.

Absolutely brilliant novel about rising from the ashes, much like the phoenix, to reclaim oneself without the binding of shame and blame, so that one may move forward.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a ripping-off-the-bandaid kind of book. It begins with Maddie jumping into finally processing the long-standing family trauma that she, and the rest of her family, have been shoving under the carpet for nearly a decade.

I found it to a really beautiful and complicated portrayal of sisterhood and family loyalties. And what happens to the people on the periphery of a life-altering betrayal.

Major spoilers ahead

I liked how the author played with the idea of "evil" and how that intersected with personal responsibility. This is a complicated story with no easy "whys," and a whole lot of victims.

Every character was a real person, very humanized -- very complicated. I really enjoyed Braley's writing, and the emotional rollercoaster she took us on with this story.

When Summer said "Lemonade" at their reunion, I wanted to bawl my eyes out. I was then a bit confused why Maddie later says they'll never be friends again. It seemed as though they both still have a lot of love for one another, and while I understand there is no easy way to reconnect... That felt unexplored to me.

Also -- in the first half of the book... there were a few illusions to Summer being dead? Bit shocked when she turned out to be alive.

Overall I found the writing to be fantastic, but it was a bit clunky in establishing the story. In particular, this passage really stood out to me as a LOT of exposition that could have been more nuanced.
“I know you want to know, hear her voice and what happened— Summer’s words. You never got to because you had to testify and were not allowed to be in the courtroom. I know that’s killing you, Mads.” His voice softened, and he cleared his throat. “You believe her now, just from the sentencing, but you didn’t until you stopped believing him. I know you want to hear her words, Maddie.”

Overall, I would rate this book 4.5 stars. I found this emotionally devastating, and covered some very heavy themes with nuance and care.

[Tyresha Allred · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This review is so difficult to write because this book is so incredibly beautiful but also the hardest subject matter. At a first glance of the cover, I thought this was an upbeat, summer read. I could not have been more wrong. I very much so hope that this book comes with a trigger warning, but that being said the writing was so well done, it took such a heavy topic and made me, as a reader, even slightly understand the repercussions that happen to those close but not directly involved by what happened.

**SPOILERS AND TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide, Sexual Assault of a Minor, Rape**

We meet Madeline Plympton at her lowest point: she's trying to resume life again after her failed suicide attempt. As Madie tries to resume life, she goes to the places and spaces that defined her childhood, but most importantly, she faces the truth head-on: is her dad, who has been in prison for sexually assaulting her best friend for 5+ years really guilty?

The book follows Madie as she relives her past with her best friend, Summer. By listening to her father's trial, she realizes she may have drawn the wrong conclusion all along, and in doing so finds healing for herself, healing for her mom, and healing for Summer.

As mentioned previously, this is not a light book. It's heavy, sensitive, and dark subject matter, but Dianne Braley does an incredible job of shedding light on this and treating it with the seriousness and tone that it deserves. I would recommend this book to anyone who knows any individuals that have been victims of the aforementioned triggers. I would not recommend this book to any victims of the aforementioned triggers and just want them to know my heart goes out to them for what they had to endure. Please do not stay silent if it happened to you, and know that you did not do anything wrong.

[Chrissy Francis-Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions of Boston and the immersion for the reader into the streets and setting of this novel are wonderful. I have never visited Massachusetts but was able to truly imagine the place and all its feelings. This seems to be exactly how Dianne C. Braley has set out to evoke emotion in her readers and the story moves between time periods and seasons but the place remains loyal.

The novel is in 1st person and gives the personal narrative of Madeline who is troubled by memories from her past and her relationships with Summer, a sister-like friend of hers who was abused as a child by her father (Trigger warning). No details are conveyed but the emotion of Madeline's guilt as an adult are conveyed as she realises her younger self may have ignored or helped Summer dismiss the way she was treated as okay. Of course this haunts the protagonist and Braley's premise for the novel is that she too is likely to be an indirect victim with sufferings too.

"A gripping exploration of trauma, guilt, and the unyielding strength of friendship." Anna David, NYT bestselling author
"The Summer Before gives readers a shocking and raw look at the devastation that is left in the wake of childhood trauma and abuse. When one woman takes a closer look at the complex details that caused her relationships to implode, she can finally face her existence built on a lifetime of lies and shame. With powerful writing, Braley gets everything right, from the smallest detail of the Jaws Bridge in Martha's Vineyard to exactly how guilt can bring you to your knees and not let you back up until you are ready to face the truth. A unique point of view on a gut-wrenching topic makes this book hard to put down and will stay with you long after you have read the last page."-Addison McKnight, Author of An Imperfect Plan and The Vineyard Remains

[inapileofyarnandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for CSA and suicide. Also some semi spoilers in this review.

This was a well written book dealing with difficult subject matter. I found the writing itself engaging and well paced, and the protagonist flawed yet sympathetic.

I guess I had a little bit of a disconnect with the book as a whole because it is essentially a book about healing from trauma, but it felt like a lot of that process was skipped over. The majority of the book takes place at a time in her life when Maddie is finally starting to actually face these events from many years ago. We see these confrontations play out (her father, her mother, summer) on the page, but nothing actually changes based on any of them. I don't think that's a bad thing in itself, a large part of dealing with trauma can be recognising what you can't change/control, processing it and moving forward. The problem is that the processing part takes place off the page, with her doctor during a time jump we don't see. The end of the book is a skip into the future, where she still doesn't speak to her father or summer and ignores her mother's willful denial. The only difference really is how she perceives her life. The end just felt a little unsatisfying to me because we didn't experience the healing process with her, we didn't see how she got there.

Overall, wonderful writing on a difficult subject to write well, and worth a read. I'll definitely pick up anything else this author writes. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kim Garrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

What an emotional and thought-provoking book dealing with a very real and dark topic. This story absolutely broke my heart for both Madeline and Summer! These two girls were as close as sisters, sharing such a deep bond that was suddenly and selfishly ripped away because of an ugly, and tragic situation neither girl was responsible for. Maddie loved Summer, but she also loved her father...it was inconceivable that what Maddie said could be true. To believe meant her father was a monster...On the other hand, she loved Summer and deep down knew she would never lie.

The book is told from Maddie's perspective years after her father's conviction for abusing Summer. Maddie's life has spiraled with the realization that Summer was telling the truth. After an attempt to end her life, Maddie is now trying to face the facts through therapy and also listening to the transcripts from the trial. Maddie's boyfriend Jay is beyond supportive! There is also the complicated relationship Maddie has with her mother. At first, I was so disappointed in her mother, but then there was a sad twist added to the already sordid tale that explains a lot to her mom's actions. The only person in the book who I couldn't feel sorry for was the father! It may have added another layer to delve into the "why" of his actions. There definitely was no remorse or apology on his part. Monster is an apt description for him...
While we get a brief look at Summer's current life and a brief reunion with Maddie, I would have loved to of heard from Summer's side. (Maybe a book told from her point of view could happen?!) And I wish there was some way for the two to retrieve what was lost between them. It was just so unfair that they had to lose so much...:( At least we could see their progress of healing even if t it was at such cost.

4 stars

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Before by Dianne C. Braley was a read that I can't say was enjoyable because of the subject matter, but it was compelling and it has stuck with me since finishing it.

Summer and Madeline are the best of friends and everything is perfect until it isn't. Madeline's father has been sexually abusing her and when this is discovered it destroys everything in Madeline's life. Six years after the trial, while still struggling with what her father did, losing her friendship with Summer and her own other's reaction to everything, Maddie reaches a point where she considers ending her life to escape the pain of everything. With the help of her boyfriend, Jay, she listens to the trial and details about the events that took place and just wants answers - why Summer did come to her and confide in her, and then she confronts her parents to find out more so that she can heal.

This was a hard read, but one that made me look at this situation from a different angle - there are so many victims in a sexual assault and this perspective made me think about the after - for everyone involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Becky Cavazuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of the Summer Before by Dianne C. Braley. This story takes place mostly on Martha’s Vineyard, which is always a draw for me. Madeline and Summer grew up together, and were as close as sisters. Summer spent a lot of time at Maddie’s fancy house, and Maddie’s parents included Summer in things that her mother could not afford. But early on we learn that Summer was repeatedly sexually abused by Maddie’s father, and he is now in jail for it. Maddie does not believe that he did it, and her friendship with Summer is ruined. But the story follows Maddie as she works through what happened and starts to realize the truth. I liked the story, but didn’t love how everything worked out, I felt like some areas could have been explored further. #thesummerbefore #diannecbraley #sexualabuse #femalefriendship #bookstagram #booklover #reader #bookblog #lovetoread #fictionreader #bookreview #bookrecommendation #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #takeapagefrommybook #readallthebooks #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #booknerd #whattoread #readingtime #bookaddict #ilovetoread #ilovebooks #needtoread #readallday #netgalley #advancedreadercopy

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished The Summer Before by Dianne Braley, and wow – what a heavy but powerful read. The story dives into some really tough topics like child abuse and self-harm, so it’s definitely not an easy book to get through, but it’s so worth it.

Maddie, the main character, reflects and grapples with her shattered past —“my father in jail and the collapse of my life, the loss of my best friend, my sister, and my island…”— it was impossible not to feel the weight of her grief and the profound impact of her trauma. This novel is not just a story about pain, though; it’s about how we carry it, live through it, and eventually begin to heal from it.

The relationship between Maddie and Summer is a core anchor of the book. Their invented phrase “lemonade” – meaning “I’m okay” – encapsulates a bittersweet moment when they braved the terrifying leap from a dock into the ocean. It’s one of those moments that captures how they tried to hold onto some sense of safety while their world felt like it was falling apart.

In the end… lemonade. 🍋

Thank you to NetGalley, Koehler Books and Dianne Braley for the ARC!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Summer Before is a well written starkly moving drama by Dianne C. Braley. Released 15th Oct 2024, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author writes well, and eloquently. The plotting, pacing, and characterizations are well rendered and effective. That being said, the content is often quite dark and difficult to read. There are strong themes of SA (involving a child), suicide ideation, abuse, coercion, failure of care, and more. Really nothing is glossed over, but neither does the author include prurient unnecessary gratuitous detail. Nevertheless, it's a very difficult read, and readers should be in a good mental state before reading.

Three and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.