Summer Secret

Reviewed by Dian Suaidah Binti Azudin, Intern, UiTM Merbok Kedah.

In addition to being a fascinating drama, Summer Secrets is a wonderfully depicted depiction of relationships, betrayals, and forgiveness. It is a story about accepting the things we cannot change, mustering the courage to alter the things we can, and developing the fortitude to withstand hardships. Twenty-something journalist Cat Coombs finds herself descending into a downward spiral after a shocking family secret is revealed. She gets used to having wild, extravagant evenings out in London and severe hangovers the next day, which causes her to make a tragic mistake one night when visiting family in America on the island of Nantucket. She is unable to forgive herself for her error. When she gets back home, she faces the unavoidable reality of her situation and realises that she needs to mature. She is unsure, though, of her ability to win the individuals she wronged over. As the years go by, Cat reaches her forties as a struggling single mother, dealing with her newly discovered sobriety and resolved to make apologies at last. She might be able to win their forgiveness by going back to her past and seeing the family she abandoned on Nantucket all those years ago, but doing so could put the people she loves most in danger.