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Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. About the Author
  6. Dedication
  7. Quote
  8. Prologue
  9. Part One
  10. ONE
  11. TWO
  12. THREE
  13. Part Two
  14. FOUR
  15. FIVE
  16. SIX
  17. Part Three
  18. SEVEN
  19. EIGHT
  20. NINE
  21. TEN
  22. Part Four
  23. ELEVEN
  24. TWELVE
  25. THIRTEEN
  26. Part Five
  27. FOURTEEN
  28. FIFTEEN
  29. SIXTEEN
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. Part Six
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. NINETEEN
  34. TWENTY
  35. TWENTY-ONE
  36. Part Seven
  37. TWENTY-TWO
  38. TWENTY-THREE
  39. TWENTY-FOUR
  40. TWENTY-FIVE
  41. Part Eight
  42. TWENTY-SIX
  43. TWENTY-SEVEN
  44. TWENTY-EIGHT
  45. TWENTY-NINE
  46. Part Nine
  47. THIRTY
  48. THIRTY-ONE
  49. THIRTY-TWO
  50. THIRTY-THREE
  51. THIRTY-FOUR
  52. Part Ten
  53. THIRTY-FIVE
  54. THIRTY-SIX
  55. THIRTY-SEVEN
  56. THIRTY-EIGHT
  57. Part Eleven
  58. THIRTY-NINE
  59. FORTY
  60. FORTY-ONE
  61. Part Twelve
  62. FORTY-TWO
  63. FORTY-THREE
  64. FORTY-FOUR
  65. Part Thirteen
  66. FORTY-FIVE
  67. FORTY-SIX
  68. FORTY-SEVEN
  69. EPILOGUE
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. AUTHOR NOTE
  72. Reader’s Guide
  73. Questions for Discussion
  74. The Heirloom Garden
  75. Abby

As we drove just outside of town, she pulled down a long gravel drive that sat under a canopy of pines and sugar maples, and I saw a little cottage hunkered in the woods. When I walked inside, I gasped. It was a knotty-pine cottage filled with shiplap and soaring ceilings, old fireplaces, a farm sink like we had in the old cabin, a screened porch with views of enchanting woods, the sounds of Lake Michigan—just a half mile away—filling the porch. It had nearly as much quirk, character and history as my grandparents’ log cabin.

“I want it!” I said, though I couldn’t afford it.

That turned out to be the dumbest-smartest decision of my life. That cottage, now deemed “Turkey Run” for all the wild turkeys that amble through the yard and call back at the thunder, changed my life. It filled me with so much hope and happiness that I ended up quitting my job, moving to Michigan and becoming a writer. Adie Lou, the main character in The Summer Cottage, goes through a similar transformation. And she does it in Saugatuck-Douglas!

The Summer Cottage is inspired by all of this—down to Darryl, the moose head, which was a fixture in my old cabin—which is why I’m so, so proud of this novel. It truly is meant as a tribute to family, love and kindness, things we need more than ever in today’s world. It is also a tribute to our shared histories and connections, things we need to rediscover these days. It was written in hopes that readers will take even the briefest of moments to think about and connect with those you love, as well as to pursue your dreams and passion, before it’s too late. Mostly, I’m proud that readers will say my grandma’s name for centuries to come. I truly hope you love The Summer Cottage and that you tell all your friends and family about it...word of mouth is the greatest compliment to an author.

Happy reading and happy summer, no matter where it is you call home!

xoxo,

Viola

Reader’s Guide

The Summer
Cottage

Viola Shipman

Reader’s Guide

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Questions for Discussion