Shoulder Season by Christina Clancy (audio)

Publisher: Macmillan Audio / St. Martin’s Press

Published: July 6, 2021

Source: Audio via Netgalley / Print: ARC via St. Martin’s Press

 

Summary: 

A dazzling portrait of a young woman coming into her own, the youthful allure of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, and what we lose – and gain – when we leave home.

Once in a lifetime, you can have the time of your life.

The small town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is an unlikely location for a Playboy Resort, and 19-year old Sherri Taylor is an unlikely bunny. Growing up in neighboring East Troy, Sherri plays the organ at the local church and has never felt comfortable in her own skin. But when her parents die in quick succession, she leaves the only home she’s ever known for the chance to be part of a glamorous slice of history. In the winter of 1981, in a costume two sizes too small, her toes pinched by stilettos, Sherri joins the daughters of dairy farmers and factory workers for the defining experience of her life.

Living in the “bunny hutch” – Playboy’s version of a college dorm – Sherri gets her education in the joys of sisterhood, the thrill of financial independence, the magic of first love, and the heady effects of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But as spring gives way to summer, Sherri finds herself caught in a romantic triangle – and the tragedy that ensues will haunt her for the next 40 years.

From the Midwestern prairie to the California desert, from Wisconsin lakes to the Pacific Ocean, this is a story of what happens when small town life is sprinkled with stardust, and what we lose – and gain – when we leave home. With a heroine to root for and a narrative to get lost in, Christina Clancy’s Shoulder Season is a sexy, evocative tale, drenched in longing and desire, that captures a fleeting moment in American history with nostalgia and heart.

 

My thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read by Christina Clancy but it will definitely not be my last. I do have her other book, The Second Home, on my list to read, and after reading this one, I will certainly be bumping that one up on my tbr!

First, let’s talk about this cover. It totally screams summer read, and while it is, the book is so much more than that. It’s an honest look into one girl’s struggle as she comes of age in a time that wasn’t easy. I have to say there were times I loved Sherri and there were times I couldn’t stand her or the choices she made, but I loved every second of this book. There is something so compelling about this story that just draws you in. This is exactly the type of summer read I am drawn to when I am looking for something to sink my teeth in to that isn’t my typical thriller or usual war-related historical fiction.

I loved that this is set during a time when the Playboy resorts were still a thing and drugs, sex and rock and roll didn’t have the negative connotations that they do nowadays. The idea of the grass being greener on the other side is such a strong theme throughout this book and I also loved just how much the idea of finding oneself was important. Those are such universal themes, but to see it played out in such a naïve character really hits home.

I cannot recommend this one enough. It is an engaging, entertaining read, perfect for the summer!

 

Audio thoughts:

This was such a great book on audio and Karissa Vacker did such a great job narrating it. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed. I really enjoyed this one and enjoyed the right it was narrated.