Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final request: come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?

Titles in the Hobby Island series include:  The Summer That Shaped Us** ~ Our Extraordinary Summer** ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Our Extraordinary Summer
Series:  Hobby Island #2
Author:  Lori Wilde
Published:  April 21, 2026
Publisher:  Avon
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Our Extraordinary Summer is the second title in the Hobby Island series, where we’ll begin a new, slightly mystical adventure under the watchful eyes of Eloisa, the owner of this magical island and the woman who created the crafter’s paradise and the possibilities it offers.  We met Demetra, briefly, at the end of the previous book, The Summer That Shaped Us.  Now, Demetra’s daughters, Calista and Athena, are invited to the island for a month to celebrate their mother’s memory, as she has recently passed away.  They come together once more to honor their mother’s final request, to make peace between them.  Unfortunately, with their father’s history of narcissism, betrayal, and lies, peace has always been an elusive thing.  As young children, they were torn away from their mother, completely dominated by their father, who controlled their futures.  One sister became the golden child, the one who always followed daddy’s instructions; the other became almost an afterthought and never reached the level of fatherly love her sister did… both betrayed by a man who didn’t deserve one ounce of their affections, their father.

As professional women golfers, both sisters found a level of achievement… but not close to what their dominating father demanded of them.  This particular day, Calista made a shocking discovery of a betrayal so harsh that she walked off the greens and into oblivion, as far as her father was concerned.  She reunited with her mother and changed her focus, but could never face her father again.  Yet another wedge was built between the sisters thanks to dear ol Dad.

Our Extraordinary Summer is a story of survival, of finding a way to forgive someone for things they themselves were unaware of.  A time for reflection, to find peace between sisters, to acknowledge how badly their mother had been treated, and how utterly awful their controlling father really is.  It’s not an easy journey; there’s anger to be dealt with, misconceptions to be untangled, and lies to be revealed for what they were: betrayals.  Calista will also come in contact with Reid, a man from her past who holds secrets that may shape her future.

Their story is well-written, emotional on so many levels, and full of possibilities.  If you enjoy a story full of tears and regrets, joy and acceptance, and sisters reunited before it’s too late, then you’d love this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This title is available at Amazon