THE LAST BATHING BEAUTY
BY AMY SUE NATHAN
I have a confession – I requested an ARC of The Last Bathing Beauty from NetGalley based mostly on the cover. I was born in the early 1950’s, and much of my childhood was spent on the beach playing with beach balls like the one in the picture, and my older sisters wore swimsuits of this style back then. But I was also interested in the synopsis of the story, although this isn’t the type I would normally choose.
Very well written, the story kept me interested throughout, even though it seemed basically what is referred to as “women’s fiction.” But hey – I’m a woman, so there! The story takes place in South Haven, on Lake Michigan, at a Jewish summer camp. The Stern family, comprised of Betty (also known as Boop) and her grandmother and grandfather, live there year round, and own and run the camp in the summer.
In 1951, Betty is eighteen years old, and determined to have her first summer romance before she heads off to college in the fall. Instead of just a summer romance, however, she falls deeply in love with one of the young men working at the camp that summer. What transpires over that summer will have repercussions for the rest of her life, and leave her wondering if she made the right choices when she was young. At age 84, living once again in South Haven, her granddaughter and her two best friends help her come to terms with how her life turned out.
The story may seem somewhat simple, but the author was skillful enough to leave me guessing at a couple of situations throughout. I did find the ending to be a little bit cloying in its sweetness, but overall, it was a pleasant and endearing read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
House of Black and Blue 