Promo Text

From the acclaimed author of When We Collided comes a vibrant, compelling story of love, loss, faith, and friendship. Lucy Hansson was ready for a perfect summer with her boyfriend, working at her childhood Bible camp on the lake and spending quality time with her parents. But when her mom’s cancer reappears, Lucy falters–in her faith and in her ability to cope. When her boyfriend “pauses” their relationship and her summer job switches to a different camp–one for troubled kids–Lucy isn’t sure how much more she can handle. Attempting to accept a new normal, Lucy slowly regains footing among her vibrant, diverse coworkers, Sundays with her mom, and a crush on a fellow counselor. But when long-hidden family secrets emerge, can Lucy set aside her problems and discover what grace really means? Emotionally-charged and unforgettable, Emery Lord’s storytelling shines with the promise of new love and true friendship, even in the face of life’s biggest challenges.

Tropes present

Death by Newbery Medal Lucy’s mother’s cancer has come back and is forcing Lucy to mature in ways she doesn’t want to.

Found family Lucy is an only child and has a few friends at school but doesn’t really “fit in.” At first she’s unhappy about being sent to be a counselor at the camp for troubled children, but then her fellow counselors turn out to be an important support network.

Slow Burn Lucy and Henry. Lucy is trying very hard to be a good girl, which means she doesn’t have time to fall in love. So it happens slowly.

Long-lost relative Lucy just thinks she’s an only child. It turns out her mother was pregnant before and her world gets turned upside down (again) when she figures this out.