That Summer

About the book

Daisy Shoemaker is struggling to get a good night’s sleep. Despite running a successful cooking business, juggling a packed schedule of volunteer work, and living in a beautiful home in the suburbs of Philadelphia, she still feels dissatisfied. Her teenage daughter is challenging, her husband is distant, her work feels unfulfilling, and she lacks true friends. Yet, Daisy knows she should feel grateful for what she has. So why is she plagued by insomnia?

While trying to uncover the source of her discontent, Daisy starts receiving emails intended for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark off from hers. While Daisy is busy with carpool duties, Diana is leading meetings. As Daisy prepares dinner, Diana is making plans to reshape corporations. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single life seems worlds apart from Daisy’s simpler one. When a mistaken email leads to an unexpected encounter, the two women form a friendship. But as they grow closer, it becomes clear that their connection was not mere coincidence. Who exactly is this mysterious woman, and what are her intentions towards Daisy?

From the polished streets of Philadelphia’s Main Line to the rugged beauty of the Outer Cape, That Summer captures Jennifer Weiner’s trademark humor and keen insights into human behavior. It is a ‘gripping, nuanced novel’ (Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post) that delves into themes of overcoming the past, facing the future, and the enduring power of friendship.