Every summer two sisters who had married two brothers take their six children to the lake house. Both sisters have three daughters, who when growing up acted more like sisters than cousins. Until the summer one of the younger girls drowns in the lake. After that nothing was the same.

Now a lot of years later, the girls are all grown up. The two sisters don't speak with each other anymore; no one really knows the whole story. Charlene, one of the older cousin's life is falling apart. Her dream job has come to an end. Her sister Megan is dying of cancer. Megan decides that the girls should all get together at the beach one more time. Charlene is all for this; she does need to get away. Her boyfriend Michael wants them to get married, after all these years, but Charlene just doesn't know if this is what she wants.

So the summer at the lake becomes a reality. While Charlene is there making sure that everything is ready, out in front of the house is her cousin Krista who has been in jail for the last twenty years for the murder of her boyfriend. Krista always claims that she didn't do it, and finally the courts believe her. Krista knows that she must get a job and ends up getting one at the hotel on the beach where she meets Jake.

One of the other cousins Hope always dreamed of nothing but being rich. Hope thinks that she had it all until her husband Franklin divorces her and married someone else. Hope never accepted this and still believes that they are married. Maybe going to the lake will be the best thing for her. Except, her life all comes crashing down on her.

Through all of this drama, Charlene is still dealing with whether she wants to marry Michael. Things really take a turn when Charlene is introduced to Jake. However she remembers him a little different, as in back in the day, his name was Mack, and he and Charlene had a summer affair that left her pregnant. Mack disappears, and Charlene gives the baby up for adoption. Will all of them learn to forgive and forget all that they have gone through?

Once again Robyn Carr writes a great book about growing up. Anyone who has grown up with cousins knows what it likes. I grew up very close to my cousins. Now as we are older, everyone has moved, and we don't really stay in touch, except for weddings, funerals and sometimes holidays.

Carr writes such a story line that I felt like I was at the beach with all of them. It certainly is strange how things turn out. As much as you don't want to grow up, you do and sometimes things you do as a teenager come back to haunt you.

Buy THE SUMMER THAT MADE US, a Robin Carr book never lets you down.