Someone Else's Summer
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Rachel Bateman |
| Products | Fiction novel |
Someone Else's Summer marks the first novel by Rachel Bateman, released in 2017. The story centers on seventeen-year-old Anna as she endeavors to complete the summer bucket list left behind by her late sister Storm.
Plot
Anna, who juggles roles as a cheerleader and lifeguard, experiences turmoil following the tragic death of her sister Storm in a car crash on their graduation day. Struggling to connect with Storm’s boyfriend Jovani and her best friend Piper, Anna instead forms a bond with Cameron, one of Storm’s close companions.
While exploring Storm’s bedroom, Anna uncovers a list of summer aspirations. She shares this discovery with Cameron, and together they decide to fulfill these goals. After discussions with her parents—her father giving his approval while her mother remains in mourning—Anna sets off on a road trip accompanied by Cameron.
Their journey along the coast begins with ticking off smaller tasks, heading toward a dive-in movie event that Storm had planned to attend. During the trip, Anna and Cameron’s relationship deepens, culminating in a kiss atop a lighthouse featured on the list.
One objective involves spending a night at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, but Anna finds out that although Storm was accepted, she never actually enrolled. At the Carolina Beach Lake Park dive-in theater, they discover it was destroyed by Hurricane Irene and never rebuilt.
While staying overnight in the dormitory, Cameron reveals that Storm’s cancer had returned and she had only months left to live, which explained why she kept it secret. Feeling hurt and suspecting Storm’s death might have been intentional, Anna abandons both the list and the journey.
Back home, Anna confides everything to her parents, who admit they suspected Storm’s relapse and felt guilt over her withdrawal from treatment. After being grounded by her mother for taking the trip without permission, Anna mends her relationship with Piper.
Piper and Jovani organize a gathering where Cameron surprises Anna with a homemade dive-in theater in their backyard. Watching The Lion King together in the rain allows them to fulfill another item from Storm’s list: sharing a kiss in the rain.
The final goal, "Be brave with my life," remains an ongoing commitment, symbolizing that Storm’s influence endures.
Reception
Kirkus Reviews provided a mixed critique, commending the romantic aspects but indicating that it did not fully succeed as a narrative about grief.
Adaptation
A film adaptation was announced even before the novel’s official release.