By Summer's End

by Pamela Morsi

Dawn Leland never thought in a million years that she and her girls would end up back with her in-laws. Sixteen years is a long time to be away, but life has dealt her something unexpected, and now she has no choice. It takes some forgiveness, a little understanding, and the magic of two young girls to make everyone see that - although it's hard to imagine - they have all ended up where they belong.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Drama, Contemporary Romance

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Pamela Morsi was an American writer. She was the author of 29 romance novels, beginning in 1991.

Reviews

[Ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good read until the end... The book ended, and I was left wondering what the other half of the book was for. It didn't lead to the story, it didn't give any background to the story (as it was a total other story 'based' on the first story), it contradicted what was in the "real life" aspect of the book. I'm baffled, which makes me feel jipped. I still expect a story to explain itself, even if the ending is open-ended. Yet this book had two somewhat simultaneous stories, but only one ended....Hmmf!

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pamela Morsi is one of my all-time favourite authors, but this book was definitely not one of my favourites. I must confess the parallel story line threw me, and I did not realize it was related to the chaos theory until I read the reviews here on Goodreads and saw it being discussed. The ending was a bit disappointing, as well.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed By Summer’s End, which is also known as What Was and What Might Have Been, and the reconnection of the Lelands. It reminded me a bit of the movie Sliding Doors. It was a sad, but uplifting story and showed Dawn’s strength and resiliency.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Morsi read!

[L B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this (though I see that many didn't). I can imagine a whole series like this.

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Life as it is, was, or might have been for these characters, is fascinating and beautifully rendered. Laughter, tears, and most of all, love. So very good. Highly recommended.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting much from this one. I picked it up on the last day of our library book fair last year when paperback romances were 5/$1. I had picked out four books, so I figured this was ‘free’ since I had to pick a 5th one. It didn’t matter if I didn’t finish it. But I was really surprised! It was very good!
Dawn is the mother of 2 teenage girls, Sierra and Dakota. She was widowed just before Dakota was born. And Dawn has a bit of a quirk; she only dates guys named ‘Sonny’, which was her husband’s name. Dawn left town shortly after the death of her husband, due to a falling out with her mother-in-law. But she now returns to beg them to help her. She has cancer and does not want the girls go be alone if she dies.
There are two alternating storyline to this book. One is labeled ‘Real Life’ and follows Dawn and the girls as they return to Dawn’s in-laws. The second is labeled ‘Sonny Days’ and gives an alternate story in which Sonny did not die. It gets very confusing and you are left wondering what is going on; did Sonny really die? is this a dream? is Sonny in hiding? and how will the author resolve this? But resolve it she does, and very nicely! I really don’t want to spoil this, but it has to do with ‘chaos theory’ and the ‘butterfly effect’ and how small changes can make major differences in outcomes......or does it? There is a second part to ‘chaos theory’ that most of us don’t know about. Read this book and you will not only know about it, but have an example of how it all plays out. The book is thought provoking, and on very deep levels!
Don’t be scared off by that though. You can read it on the ‘light summer read’ mode and enjoy it. But if you want something to chew on, this book can give you that, too!

My Rating: ★★★1/2 3-1/2 Stars

Why did you choose this book? seemed like a good ‘beach read’
When did you read this book? May 2012
Who should read this book? readers looking for a light summer read...or something to think about
Source: book fair

[AndreaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

It sounds far-fetched but actually works: This is novel is narrated by a 13-year-old girl fascinated by the chaos theory; how everything happens, and no matter how chaotic, creates a pattern. The book is written in two parts, real life vs. Sonny Days.
The narrator's dad died before she was born. Now she, her older sister and mom are back in Knoxville living with her dad's parents because her mom has cancer.
Real life chapters are that;about real life.
Sonny Days are chapters written as if one little thing changed in real life, and how that little change would have rippled and created other changes in the family's life.
It could be a little confusing, but the feeling and outcome make it worth. It's also not a heavy book, and is heavily beach worthy.
Don't let the 'chaos theory' put you off!

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Morsi is an amazing writer. Her historical romances are sweet and off the normal path. They aren't bodice rippers and really believable. But her contemporary books are even better, and coming from a major historical fan, that's saying a lot. Her topics are always endearing and I never fail to tear up in public and cry if I'm alone. This book deals with so many topics and issues I don't know where to start. It's not too heavy, but I'd recommend reading it when you have got some quiet time alone.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as captivating as some of her other stories, but a nice easy read told from the youngest daughter's perspective. Chapters alternate between "Real Life" and the past, which might be confusing if you aren't paying attention. The ending was kind of a let-down -- expected more of a climax due to the animosity between the mother and grandmother -- they never did air their past grievances with one another.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story line. It kept me interested all the way through. The only thing confusing was the double story line. It's like there were 2 different story lines of Sonny's life going on at the same time. It guess it puts into action the theory that they are talking about in the book ... one little thing can change your life drastically. And, these 2 story lines are they 2 outcomes that could have happened to the family. Interesting to think about!

[Tamra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story of forgiveness and second chances. I am a big fan of Pamela Morsi. I love the way she writes about the interaction in families in a very realistic, but sweet, manner. This is both the story of a single mother with two girls who is forced to ask her unforgiving former in-laws for help, and the love story (told in flashbacks) that has so affected them all, despite the passage of many years.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a woman who finds herself struggling with cancer while raising her two daughters. A family divide between her and her in-laws have kept her away from them for more than a decade. But, in order to raise her daughters while getting treatment, she opts to move back to her in-laws house. This time with their grandparents shows both girls how they ended up in the place they are in. The book is filled with hope and family.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I didn't get where the flashbacks were going until a discussion on fractals between the grandfather and the granddaughter. Possible a spoiler, so don't read further unless you are willing to risk it: I thought it was some mystery that the older characters were covering up, as I assume the author intended, until after the fractal discussion, then I caught on. Very good book and highly recommended.

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm slow, but I didn't figure out that it was two parallel stories until midway through, which really confused me. Woman with two kids goes to live with deceased husband's parents when she gets sick.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story, though predictable. One of the main characters is only 13, but talks as though she were much older. A little unbelievable even with the way she had grown up.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting light read. While the story is no great shakes, I like the idea of applying chaos theory to lives...change one small (or not so small) detail and you create a whole new pattern.

[Carmussel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morsi is good at 'women's fiction' - I thought she handled the teenaged characters in this novel. The ending wasn't totally believeable, but overall the book was a good read.

[Karen L Portch]

What?


I really enjoyed reading this as I tried to figure out the end. Still confused.
Two different stories and only one has an ending?

[Kira]

Wrenching. Beautiful. Insightful. Chaos theory meets life lessons. Yes, there is order in the universe, even if we can't see it but from an eternal perspective.