Title: Awakening of the Summer
Author: Yorker Keith
Publisher: BookBaby
ISBN: 1543923429
Pages: 320
Genre: Romance; Literary
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
Awarded to books of excellent Merit
Awakening of the Summer by award-winning author Yorker Keith is a romantic literary read set around a love triangle between a painter and two sisters. James has taken a break from his life on Wall Street for a trip he’ll never forget in New Hampshire. While out painting by the lake, he encounters the beautiful Burnett sisters and quickly finds himself drawn to both. Sophie is reserved and always looking out for her flirtatious younger sister, Kelly. After the arrival of Sophie’s longtime boyfriend David, James saves her from a mysterious accidental drowning. As he enters into a relationship with Kelly, he becomes conflicted by his feelings for Sophie and the sudden appearance of Kelly’s boyfriend Steve who shows up to propose. James gets the chance to exhibit his paintings and is swept away by the attention. The sisters’ pasts come back to haunt them as the three navigate their growing and complicated feelings.
The opening scene paints the scenery as a paradise with serene and calming details which reflect how at ease the characters feel in this place. The sisters are often described in sensual or poetic detail with James often referring to them as nymphs. A connection to art is what first connects James to the sisters as they are immediately captivated by his painting. He bonds with Sophie through her love of poetry and his love of paintings, but it’s his paintings of the sisters which creates a tie to each. He captures their personalities and the relationship he has with each of them through the talent within his painting. Sophie is portrayed in a calm moment reading poetry while her sister’s painting ends up as a nude. In the beginning it almost feels as if they have a competition to get his attention before Kelly actually begins to date him. Poetry plays a crucial role in the character of Sophie, the story, and her relationship with James. She often reads poems which reflect what she is experiencing in the moment which seems to emotionally ground her. Poetry acts as a form of therapy for her in the same way she uses the resort as a form of an emotional escape.
The sisters have vast differences between them with each relating to a different side of James. Kelly livens up things with her upbeat and playful attitude, successfully getting him to have fun; while Sophie appeals to his artistic and quiet side. The most interesting aspect about this love triangle is that it’s not bitter. While it starts off with a bit of a competition, ultimately both sisters want the other to be happy even if it means they’re not with James. They care more about protecting each other than a romantic entanglement which gives the love triangle more heart.
The central theme is relationships, expanding further than just the love triangle, but the boyfriends whose appearances disrupt this paradise they’ve formed. Neither sister is satisfied in their relationships but each seemingly finds the ideal relationship with James and both are running away from their problems, which largely involve their boyfriends. When the two men show up they send both sisters into tailspins and provide the biggest source of drama. Mental illness is touched upon through the sisters and their relationship with these two men. This romantic vacation acts as a fresh start for both sisters as well as James; with each finding a new path for their lives. Awakening of the Summer explores themes of romance and relationships which are rooted in a modern love triangle and set in a stunning background. Yorker Keith demonstrates his skill in wordsmithing as analogous to the artist within his protagonist. This is exactly why romance novels are such in demand, and this one is a must read. I highly recommend Awakening of the Summer by Yorker Keith to fans of romantic suspense. It would also be a perfect selection for a romance reading groups. I look forward to reading more novels by this author.