SUMMER LONGING takes place in the beachside town of Provincetown on Cape Cod, which relies on the tourist trade. But no one is quite ready for the arrival of this summer’s tourists as the town gets turned upside down.

Ruth Cooperman has run a successful business for decades and wants to retire and live permanently in Provincetown. However, due to the size and popularity of the town, there are no houses on the market, so she rents one instead. Unbeknownst to Ruth, Fern and Elise have not completely agreed to rent their home and have some personal issues they are trying to resolve. Elise wants a baby more than anything, and infertility problems have put a lot of pressure on their relationship.

"SUMMER LONGING is ultimately a breezy tale of redemption, motherhood and community. Brenner shines a light on the importance of staying true to oneself while also recognizing the gift of family."

The day after Ruth arrives on the Cape, a baby is left at her doorstep. She assumes there has been some miscommunication, so she alerts her landlords. However, no one knows where the baby came from. Ruth gets more than she bargained for, as she is now living with Elise and the baby. Elise insists on caring for the little girl and hiding the truth about her appearance from the town. Naturally, they must rally together and care for this unknown child, but the situation also creates a burden on Fern and Elise’s relationship.

In the midst of this baby drama, Ruth has her own problems to deal with. Her relationship with her only daughter, Olivia, is strained, but now that she is retired and has more time, she attempts to repair it by asking Olivia to come to the Cape. What was once supposed to be a quiet retreat has now become a full house. Olivia has work issues, so her two-day trip extends into an open-ended stay. Eventually her father, Ruth’s ex-husband, also arrives on the scene.

Author Jamie Brenner brings the quirky and unique Provincetown to life, but her real focus is her characters. Readers will root for these strong women even as they make questionable decisions and cheer when they set themselves on a positive path forward. SUMMER LONGING is ultimately a breezy tale of redemption, motherhood and community. Brenner shines a light on the importance of staying true to oneself while also recognizing the gift of family.