Don’t Judge The Summer Before by Its Cover: A Dark Summer Read You Won’t Forget

When readers first pick up The Summer Before, they often think it’s an easy beach read. I get it—the cover shows a girl jumping into the water, the title says Summer, and it’s set on a stunning Massachusetts island filled with beaches, lighthouses, and salty air. Sounds like the perfect light summer read, right?

But covers can be deceiving.

If you look closely at that cover, you’ll see it’s not all sunshine and freedom. There’s a storm rolling in the distance, darkness creeping across the horizon. Just like the story itself.

This isn’t your typical beach read. The Summer Before dives deep into secrets, betrayal, and the kind of truth that changes everything. It’s a raw, emotional novel exploring relationships, trauma, and resilience in ways that stick with readers long after the final page (at least that’s what they tell me).

I’ve had a few reviews where people felt a bit deceived at first—but then went on to leave glowing five-star reviews. Because while it surprises them, it also moves them.

Hey, Jaws had the same elements. Beautiful beaches, summer vibes… and then a shark shows up. (Don’t worry, there are no sharks here. But the darkness is real.)

Why Readers Love The Summer Before

The reviews are in, and people are loving it. I’m so grateful for every single reader who picks up this book, takes a chance on my work, and shares their thoughts.

This week, I’m writing my second check to MV Community Services from my book royalties—so thank yourselves for supporting. Giving back always feels good. Maybe even better than those coveted five-star reviews. If you’d like to learn more about their CONNECT program, which helps victims of domestic and sexual violence, click HERE. They’re doing truly important work.

Upcoming Book Events

📚 Book Signing: I’ll be signing The Summer Before on the porch at Edgartown Books on July 30th.

📝 Author Talk: I’ll also be speaking about writing and publishing at Barnes & Noble in Hingham on July 18th, alongside the fabulous Judy Lannon, whose new book Callahan’s Cottage just launched—and it’s AMAZING. Grab a copy. You won’t be sorry.

Karen Read is Free

And on a completely different note… can you believe it? Karen Read is FREE! I cried, celebrated, and bought the entire bar on Plum Island a round. It was a glorious day for justice and restored my faith in the system, at least a little. I have SO much to say about that and might have to write another post just for it. Tell me what you guys think—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading, thanks for supporting, and if you haven’t yet, grab your copy of The Summer Before today. It might not be the light read you expected—but it just might be the one you needed.

💛 Dianne