Cecilia didn’t want a huge party to celebrate her 70th birthday or her late husband’s accomplishments. Nothing she says dissuades her daughter. On the day of the party, she discovers that her husband lied to her again. He never sold their cottage on Cape Cod. Rather than face all those people at the party, Cecilia flees.

She heads for the cottage on Cape Cod, leaving a note saying she needs time alone. No one in the family knows about the cottage. The cottage is where everything was perfect – until it wasn’t. She hadn’t been there in years, nothing was ever the same after her last visit.

At the cottage, Cecilia finds friendship with the caretaker: Lily. Unbeknownst to her, Lily is a friend of her granddaughter. Lily left med school, disappointing her parents. Now she’s trying to figure out her next steps. She’s cleaning cottages and painting. While she’d love to be an artist, she’s not sure she has the talent for it.

Kristen is struggling to find her identity after her father dies. She’s discovered holes in her marriage; she thinks about having an affair. The death of a friend pulls her husband out of his comfort zone. Kristen consoles him, even though he wasn’t there for her. Could this be a second chance for both of them?

The Summer Swap is the story of three women whose lives are woven together through grief and friendship. Each of these women is at a crossroads. As the summer progresses each woman takes charge of her future and learns to communicate with those they love. As they move forward, they deal with grief, disappointing their family, forgiveness, and believing in themselves. The cottage on Cape Cod feels like a magical escape – full of warmth and love and perfect to get those creative juices flowing. Sarah Morgan writes another captivating intergeneration women’s fiction story full of heart that left me sighing with happiness.