The Summer Demands by Deborah Shapiro

Ms. Shapiro words pour like water from a creek telling the story of a woman having a midlife crisis.  She's lost the child she was bearing and she wanted to have one so badly.  Her husband says they still can.  If necessary, they can adopt.  She's not sure about that.  She's not sure about her life at all at this stage...

Catapult Book sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published June 4th.

Emily is getting close to her fortieth birthday when she inherits an old camp that a relative has left her.  She and her husband have big plans to refurbish and bring it to life again but they didn't realize how derelict it had gotten.  They begin work on it but there's so much more to do.  Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

Emily is shocked when she finds someone living in one of the cabins.  Stella is young.  She swims in the lake and drinks wine and is enjoying her time in the cabin.  She was supposed to have a female friend with her but she went on to school, so she's alone.  Emily visits with her and likes her.

From this chance meeting, Emily finds she's attracted to Stella.  She's confused.  She's kissed Stella and enjoyed it but she loves her husband.  Where will she go from here?

There's more trauma and more soul searching for Emily to go through.  Who will she choose?

You never know what a summer off might bring...