Summer camp. An iconic part of American culture. Whether or not you’ve attended sleep away camp (I myself had a hard time going away to college), you’ve seen it in movies or TV shows or heard about it from your friends who did go.

Perennials is the story of Fiona and Rachel, two unlikely best friends, who met at camp during their first summer away at 9 years old. After their freshman year of college, the girls return to Camp Marigold (whose slogan, in true American fashion is “Grow where you are planted.”). While the girls anticipate a familiar, carefree summer, both are faced with the growing pains that come with being newly minted young adults. The summer unfolds in unexpected ways, forcing both girls to face difficult situations and realize life is not as simple as when they were campers.

This book is about people and relationships. While at first glance it seemed light and fluffy, the story unfolds in layers. It brought back memories of my friends and me at 19. You feel like an adult, having gone to college and survived your first year, but you are only at the beginning of the next chapter of your life. I saw pieces of my younger self in Rachel, who wants to be noticed and validated, and Fiona, who would do anything to feel pretty and fit in. The story is told from other perspectives as well, including Rachel and Fiona’s moms as well as Fiona’s younger sister Helen. I thought Mandy Berman did a really great job tying together the many narrators’ stories – each giving a different perspective of the summer and its many trials and tribulations.

Although this is not a must read, I did enjoy the story and think it’s a relatively quick, thought-provoking novel. It is a happy medium, not too light or dense, and the different perspectives help to add another dimension to the struggles of the various characters as they realize it is a summer none of them will forget.

Verdict: Read it.
Length: 274 pages
When: You’re in the mood for a “Now and Then” type story about camp, family and friendship.
Favorite Quotes: “The thing was, friendships were so much sweeter when there were secrets to be kept.”
Also Read: The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

Get your copy of Perennials by Mandy Berman HERE

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