Book Club Pick: ‘Our Deadly Summer’, When Friendships Turn Dark

As summer fades, friendships can take on a different perspective too—especially the ones we’ve carried with us for years. Our book critic, Karli Newman, founder of The Flipside of Midlife, and her terrific book club members, recommend Our Deadly Summer by Emer McLysaght & Sarah Breen, a gripping read that explores  friendship, secrets and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried. But how well do we really know the friends we’ve carried through the years?

Our Deadly Summer doesn’t exactly hide its cards. From the very first line—“The body lay on the floor between them”—you know that deadly is meant quite literally. The mystery begins before you’ve even turned the page.

On the first page, you know there’s a body and that Laura and Deirdre are in deep. It’s how they got here and what transpires after this moment that keeps you turning the pages as fast as you can. But don’t think the surprises are all spent in the first chapter, my friend. There are plenty more in store for you!

Authors Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen have written a layered story with two timelines: one that drops you into a sweltering New York summer in 2001, and one that catches up with Laura and Deirdre more than twenty years later.

It turns out that what was meant to be the best summer of their lives ends in the unexpected heartbreak of losing a best friend. 

“America was the land of opportunity back then. Donald Trump just a property developer chasing his fifteen minutes of fame. Everyone had an aunt who’d emigrated in the eighties or a cousin who’d gone over to work illegally on the building sites. When Laura pitched her plan of getting a J1 student visa, which granted three whole months of living and working in the States, Dee had told her to get a grip and went back to crying over her political science essay.”

Two Authors, One Voice, and New Vocabulary Words For Me

I read Our Deadly Summer soon after mentioning it in a previous article, From Classics to Hidden Gems: 11 Summer Books Women 50+ Will Love. The book was the most recent release on the list, and its summary piqued my interest. Also, I’m fascinated by novels written by two authors.

Something I wasn’t expecting from the book was an enhanced vocabulary. I’m American, so it was fun to ‘hear’ the Irish vernacular, look up the meaning of a few words, and imagine the dynamic energy of the characters during their summer together. It was an element I didn’t anticipate, but it gave me one more reason to love this book!

“As soon as she pushed open the front door, she’d heard it. The ragged breathing coming from the living room. Every cell in Laura’s body told her that something terrible had happened. And what an understatement that was. She’d dropped her bag and ran.”

A Story of Female Friendships and Second Chances

Wondering what I loved about Our Deadly Summer?

First, the structure. I liked bouncing between timelines and the perspectives of Laura and Deirdre. It helped the story unfold as I learned about the characters and their friendship. I found it easy to follow and felt it was a creative way to reveal the who, what, and why of the story.

Next, the characters. From past to present, I appreciated the authentic personalities the authors gave the characters. I related to Dolly, a mother figure and confidant, who seemed to be the only one looking out for the girls. I wanted to “mom” every one of them! I cringed at the reckless behavior of the group of girls, the blatant sexual harassment they encountered, and the poor choices they made. It took me back to that age when freedom and fun felt like the most important things. At twenty, there isn’t enough maturity or life experience to foresee every bad situation or the consequences (even though we thought we possessed them).

In the present timeline, Laura and Deirdre are in their mid-40s. Their lives have unfolded in very different ways, both influenced by the events of that last day of summer 24 years earlier. Again, the authors have written this version of the women very believably. I know it’s fiction, but there’s a lot of reality , quirks and midlife humor woven into it.

Finally, the friendships. Time and place are important factors in a friendship, and the girls living, working, and partying together brought them close quickly. Remember those days? It also felt relatable when the added element of a boyfriend changes things in Laura and Deirdre’s relationship. When it comes down to it, the trust, loyalty, and love these two have for each other lead to an unspeakable decision that breaks them apart.

Overall, I loved the emotional journey this book took me on. I felt the fear, joy, anger, insecurities, and guilt of these women. The moral complexity of their choices left me with discomfort. I was sad about their loss of one another and happy that their friendship might have a future. Not every book makes me feel this much while also making me laugh! Our Deadly Summer never felt too heavy to keep reading, which is why I found it an ideal summer read. 

“When people think about English weather it’s usually gloom and rain that come to mind, but Dee would challenge anyone who thinks this part of the world is cold and damp to come and spend a few days here during a heatwave to see what it’s like to sweat profusely from your under-eye bags, particularly if perimenopausal and on a hefty dose of SSRIs.”

For Your Journal (or Book Club Discussion)

Friendship, secrets, and second chances show up in this novel in a way worth reflecting on. Land in your favorite thinking spot, or gather with friends who read the book, and review the questions below:

• Dolly was a mother figure and confidant for the girls that summer. How did she show up for Laura and Deirdre in ways their own families couldn’t, or didn’t?   
• Both Laura and Deirdre reckon with a version of themselves they aren’t proud of. How have you accepted past versions of yourself?
• Nostalgia is prevalent throughout the story. What elements spoke to you? What do you miss from this era? What has changed that you’re grateful for?
• The book moves between who these women were at twenty and who they are now. When you look back at your twenty-something self, what would you tell her if you could?
• Laura and Deirdre had a close friendship for two years. Do you think what they shared is enough to sustain a friendship in midlife and beyond? 

Our Deadly Summer reminds me of how grateful I am to have made it through my 20s unscathed and to have the life experience and wisdom that I now have in my late 50s. From past to present, this novel has heart, humor, and a friendship worth rooting for. I look forward to reading more from these authors.

Are you a fan of McLysaght and Breen? Have you read Our Deadly Summer? Pop down into the comments to share your thoughts about the authors or the book. I’d love to hear from you!

About the Authors, Emer McLysaght & Sarah Breen

Emer McLysaght is the former editor of The Daily Edge and has worked extensively in journalism and radio. Sarah Breen is a journalist whose work has appeared in Stellar, Image, U, the Irish Independent, and The Gloss. The two met studying media in college, and their friendship eventually became a writing partnership behind the bestselling Aisling series. Our Deadly Summer is their sixth co-written novel, and the first outside of the Aisling series.

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