Summer At Willow Lake

This book floats between the past and present...the past being Olivia's days at the Summer Camp that her grandparents owned, and her friendship with Connor. Now, it's her grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary, and her Nana wants her to fix up the camp to make it look just like it did in the days of Summer Camp (The camp closed in 1997...this book is set in 2006). Olivia goes to live there for the summer, along with her good friend, Freddy, her sister Dare, and her uncle Greg, and his two children Max and Daisy. A lot of things happen during this summer, including Olivia and COnnor running into each other again and reminiscing about their past.


My Thoughts:

I got these questions from susanwiggs.com. I thought this would help. My thoughts on this book in general are at the end.


What are some of the feelings evoked by the phrase "summer camp"?
Have you ever been to camp? If so, what are some of the memories you have of that time? Were there friends? Rivalries? Romances?
Olivia has some unfinished business leftover from her less-than-happy childhood. How do her family and friends help and/or hinder her efforts to come to terms with the things that happened?
Do you think Olivia handled her parents' divorce in a healthy way? How did it affect her relationships with men as an adult?
As children, Olivia and Connor were from different worlds, yet at camp, they bonded. Why do you suppose they were drawn to one another?
How did Olivia's body image as a teenager affect her sense of self esteem? What do you suppose caused her to transform herself as a young woman, and how did this affect her career choice?
She's had two broken engagements. In your opinion, what caused those relationships, and the one with Rand, to fail?
Discuss some of the ways Connor's childhood shaped that man he is now. Why do you suppose he's still single?
Olivia discovers something about her father's past, and it changes the way she sees him. Have you ever thought you knew someone, only to discover something completely surprising?
What do you suppose the future holds for Olivia and Connor?

*Finished Late August/Early September 2007