Seven Summers – Paige Toon
Seven Summers by Paige Toon – A Coastal Tale of Love and Loss
Set against Cornwall’s hauntingly beautiful, often mist-wrapped coast, Seven Summers is a story steeped in love, grief, longing, and the quiet burdens we carry. It’s one of those reads that reveals the layers of raw emotion and taps into the quiet ache that sits just beneath the surface of everyday life.
The book follows Liv and her on-again, off-again relationship with Finn. Once little more than vague acquaintances at school, they reconnect when Finn returns to Cornwall from LA to visit family. The story gently unfolds over the present day, interwoven with memories of each of the six summers before, as Liv finds herself caught between the past and the pull of the present.
The setting is simply stunning. Paige Toon paints such a vivid picture that you can almost feel the cool sea breeze on your face and hear the waves rolling in. Her world-building is immersive without being overwrought, and the cast of supporting characters are a true delight. They aren’t just padding, they bring genuine heart and depth to the narrative. If anything, I wanted more of them. I’ve yet to meet a reader who didn’t fall head over heels for Liv’s brother, Michael. The portrayal of a character with Down syndrome is done with sensitivity and warmth, and his role in the story is as meaningful as it is memorable.
Watching Liv and Finn navigate years of trauma and grief is, at first, emotionally resonant. I found myself quietly rooting for them, hoping things would finally align. But as the story progressed, my patience began to wear thin with one particular character. Their relentless self-interest and refusal to acknowledge the responsibilities that can’t just be brushed aside began to grate. There’s one scene where an innocent person is dragged into their drama just so a point can be scored in an argument. It was infuriating. Other people’s feelings, major life moments, even a friend’s wedding, are treated like a backdrop for emotional theatrics, and that’s hard to overlook.
Then there’s Tom. Ah, Tom. A beautifully drawn, gentle soul who breathes fresh life into the story. His quiet strength, artistic nature, and emotional maturity provide the grounding the narrative sorely needs. He’s the kind of character you wish had more page time, because everything starts to make sense when he enters.
That said, the pacing does falter. Much of the story’s emotional weight and depth is squeezed into the final few chapters, particularly the epilogue. It’s as though the heart of the book was saved until the very end, and we only get a fleeting glimpse of what could have been a much fuller, richer experience. While the journey feels steady while you’re reading, in hindsight, it comes across as slightly flat, the real substance rushing past in the final sprint.
Still, there is one sentence – just nine words – that makes the whole book worth it. I won’t spoil it here, but when you read the book, you will know the one. It is nine words of utter perfection. Nine words that make the rest of the book worth reading. Nine words that will live on in your soul long after turning the final page.
Seven Summers is a story worth spending time with. Yet I couldn’t help but feel that Liv was always waiting: For love, resolution and permission to truly live. Her personal triumphs are barely acknowledged, overshadowed by her relationship status. I don’t dislike where the story ended up, but I do wish there had been more emphasis on self-discovery and the power of finding joy in who you are, outside of a romantic connection. That might have made both the character and the story all the stronger.
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