Summer Fridays: A Novel

by Suzanne Rindell

Overview

You've Got Mail for a new generation, set in the days of AOL and instant messenger banter, about a freshly engaged editorial assistant who winds up spending her "summer Fridays" with the person she least expects

Summer 1999: Twentysomething Sawyer is striving to make it in New York. Between her assistant job in publishing, her secret dreams of becoming a writer, and her upcoming wedding to her college boyfriend, her is plate full. Only one problem: She is facing an incredibly lonely summer as her fiancé has been spending longer and longer hours at work . . . with an all-too-close female colleague, Kendra. 

When Kendra's boyfriend, Nick, invites Sawyer to meet up and compare notes about their suspicions, the meeting goes awry. She finds Nick cocky and cynical, and he finds her stuck in her own head. But then Nick seeks out Sawyer online to apologize, and a friendship develops.

Soon, Sawyer's lonely summer takes an unexpected turn. She and Nick begin an unofficial ritual—exploring New York City together every summer Friday. From hot dogs on the Staten Island Ferry and Sea Breezes in a muggy East Village bar to swimming at Coney Island, Sawyer feels seen by Nick in a way that surprises her. He pushes her to be braver. To ask for what she wants. Meanwhile, Sawyer draws Nick out of his hard shell, revealing a surprisingly vulnerable side. They both begin living for their Friday afternoons together. 

But what happens when the summer is over?

Summer Fridays is a witty and emotional love letter to New York City that also captures the feeling of being young and starting out, uncertain what to do on your summer Friday. It’s also perfect for readers who remember when “going online” meant tying up the phone line, and the timeless thrill of seeing a certain someone’s name in your inbox.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593473917
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/28/2024
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	141,702
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.24(h) x 1.07(d)

About the Author

Suzanne Rindell is the author of four novels: The Other Typist, which has been translated into twenty languages, Three-Martini Lunch, Eagle & Crane, and The Two Mrs. Carlyles.

Editorial Reviews

A nostalgic, heart-pounding coming-of-age tale… Rindell perfectly captures the thrilling, butterfly-inducing feeling of falling in love against a background of sultry summer nights in the bustling city. She explores the complexities of wanting what you can’t have and pushing past feelings of settling for less… Heartbreaking and romantic in some parts, downright swoonworthy in others.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

"[A] lovely, nostalgia-tinged romance. Readers will be entranced."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Summer Fridays is absolute gut-wrenching heart-swooning storytelling perfection. I loved every subtle twist and turn of this book.”
—Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Same Time Next Summer

"In this pacey, emotional novel, Suzanne Rindell perfectly captures the essence of summer in New York City at the turn of the 21st century. With the wit and depth of all the best Nora Ephron movies, this love story is not to be missed."
—Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost

“Summer Fridays is both a love letter to New York City and a nostalgic glimpse back to the cellphone-free nineties. In this absorbing novel about a pivotal summer of longing, betrayal, and the desire to feel connected, a young publishing assistant needs to decide if she will follow the path others expect of her or if she’ll go after something—and someone—infinitely more fulfilling. A wonderfully satisfying read!”
—Amy Poeppel, author of The Sweet Spot

“I could not put down Suzanne Rindell’s delightful romance, which brought me back, in the most charming way, to the 1990s. A sweet, nostalgic coming of age tale.”
—Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of My Salinger Year

"When publishing assistant Sawyer suspects her fiancé is cheating on her with Nick’s girlfriend, the betrayal forges an unexpected connection. Exquisitely observed by Suzanne Rindell, Sawyer and Nick's forbidden romance blossoms over one unforgettable summer in a steamy New York City. Equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking, the outcome of this unique love story kept me guessing up to the very last page. Summer Fridays is the perfect way to spend your Summer Fridays!"
—Georgia Clark, author of Island Time

From the Publisher

★ 2024-04-05
Reminiscent of a Nora Ephron movie, Rindell’s novel is a nostalgic, heart-pounding coming-of-age tale about falling in love and finding yourself.

It’s the summer of 1999 in New York, and Sawyer is preparing for three months of enduring heat waves, reading manuscripts, and solitude. Her fiance, Charles, was assigned to a major case at his law firm, meaning late nights and working weekends with his too-close-for-comfort co-worker, Kendra. With summer Fridays approaching at Sawyer’s publishing job, she can’t help but dread the long, lonely months awaiting her in New York. But soon enough, Sawyer acquires an unlikely companion: Kendra’s boyfriend, Nick. At one of Charles and Kendra’s law firm dinners, Sawyer had the less than agreeable experience of talking to surly Nick, who poked fun at her name and hinted that their partners might be having an affair. Content to leave Nick and his cynicism behind, Sawyer is surprised to receive an email from [e-mail] containing an apology. They continue emailing, then instant messaging, and Sawyer learns that Nick is not only thoughtful and a great listener, but also the only person who truly understands her crumbling relationship. As summer continues and their partners stay out later and later for “work,” Nick and Sawyer become one another’s closest confidantes. He’s the first person to hear about her editorial dreams, her condescending boss, and even her NYC bucket list, which soon becomes fodder for their summer Fridays. Drawn together by the strangest of circumstances, Sawyer and Nick start living for their Fridays together. But when summer ends, where does their relationship stand? Rindell perfectly captures the thrilling, butterfly-inducing feeling of falling in love against a background of sultry summer nights in the bustling city. She explores the complexities of wanting what you can’t have and pushing past feelings of settling for less as Nick and Sawyer navigate a passionate, vulnerable connection with their future in limbo.

Heartbreaking and romantic in some parts, downright swoonworthy in others.

Kirkus Reviews