The Summers Between Us

By: Noreen Nanja

Narrated by: Athena Karkanis

A decade apart, a painful secret—can two childhood sweethearts find their way back to a love that defies cultures and time?

Lia Juma thought she’d buried the dreams of her heart long ago. But when she’s forced to return to her family’s summer cottage on Pike Bay, the life she’s carefully crafted begins to unravel. The perfect immigrant daughter, Lia has carved out a successful career as a corporate lawyer and has just started dating a man who fulfills all her mother's criteria for the ideal son-in-law. But underneath her polished life lies a secret she’s never spoken of—one she fears could have destroyed her family a decade ago.

Back at the bay, Lia stumbles upon memories she thought were long forgotten and, at the centre of it all, is Wesley Forest—the boy she left behind, the boy who knew her dreams better than anyone. Their friendship and young love once burned bright, woven through long sun-drenched days and whispered promises of a future together. But when family pressures and heartbreak pulled the two lovers apart, they were forced to follow separate paths.

Now, Wes is back in her life, and with him, old wounds and feelings surface. As the two confront the choices and secrets that divided them as teenagers, Lia must decide if she can heal from the past and finally embrace the life and love she’s always craved. Could a second chance with Wes be worth risking everything for?

Told over the course of five years in the past and one summer in the present, Lia will discover that sometimes, the only way forward is through the heart’s deepest scars.

©2025 Noreen Nanja (P)2025 Random House Canada

Critic reviews

"Seamlessly traveling between the past and the present, The Summers Between Us is a deeply emotional and moving second chance romance. Noreen Nanja’s craft shines and I was fully taken by these characters and their journey together and apart and together again over the years. A truly brilliant debut!"—Naina Kumar, USA Today bestselling author of Say You'll Be Mine

"Brimming with poignant and heartfelt commentary on diasporic families, immigrant values, and multi-generational conflict, Noreen Nanja’s stunning debut, The Summers Between Us, is, at its core, everything a second chance romance should be: hopeful, full of tension and yearning, and so genuine that you can’t help but remember the first time you fell in love. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait for what Noreen gifts us with next!"—Aurora Palit, author of Sunshine and Spice

"A debut novel that masterfully weaves in the angst and tension of second chance romance with the complexities of immigrant family dynamics, Noreen Nanja's The Summers Between Us is an emotional journey through the highs and lows of first kisses, near-misses, and rediscovering who you are and what you truly need from love."—Swati Hegde, author of Match Me If You Can and Can't Help Faking in Love

Absolutely boring

There was absolutely no chemistry, and the book was incredibly boring. It was torturous to finish, even with reading along with the audiobook. I’m so glad I borrowed it on Libby instead of wasting money on the paperback and cluttering my bookshelf with mediocrity.

Also, justice for Hassan.

Realistic

A beautiful second chance/friends to lovers debut! The MCs were likable and realistically flawed. Check CW.