The Summer Bed By Ann Brashares previously published as The Whole Thing Together. The story revolves around two teenagers who share the same room on alternating weeks at a shared summer house and imagine what it would be like to meet in real life.

The book follows the lives of Ray and Sasha, who come from two different families but are connected through their parents’ complicated history. Ray’s mother, Emma, was once married to Sasha’s father, Robert, and they had three daughters together. However, their marriage ended in a bitter divorce, and both Emma and Robert remarried and started new families.

Ray lives with his father, Adam, and his stepmother, Evie, while Sasha lives with her mother, Lila, and her stepfather, Matt. Despite living separate lives with their respective families, Ray and Sasha share a bedroom in the beach house that has been divided into two halves. They have never met in person but have heard stories about each other from their family members.

As the story unfolds, Ray and Sasha navigate their own personal struggles while dealing with the complexities of their blended family. They both long for a connection with each other and fantasize about what it would be like to meet face-to-face. However, their hopes are constantly dashed as circumstances prevent them from crossing paths.

Throughout the novel, Brashares explores themes of family dynamics, love, loss, and identity. She delves into the impact of divorce on children and the challenges faced by blended families. The narrative also touches upon the power of forgiveness and the importance of communication in maintaining healthy relationships.

The Summer Bed is a heartfelt and poignant story that delves into the complexities of family relationships and the longing for connection. Brashares’ writing style captures the emotions and struggles of her characters, making it a compelling read for young adult readers.

• The Summer Bed

• By: Ann Brashares
• Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

“A wonderfully written novel about love, loss, and family,” said Nicola Yoon, best-selling author of Everything, Everything, praising this novel by the author of the series Sisters in Love. The Traveling Pants series.

Two teenagers share a room on alternate weeks at a shared summer home, imagining what a real-life encounter would be like. Previously published as The Whole Thing Together.

For Sasha, summer means time at her family’s large old home on Long Island. For Ray, it was the same. Sasha and Ray are not related – and they have never met – but long ago, before they were born, Sasha’s father and Ray’s mother were married. Then came a bitter divorce, remarriages and a new generation of children. Now, the two families have come to an agreement: to use the summer cottage at the scheduled time and never to cross the street. However, Sasha and Ray connect via email – joking, confiding in each other, forming a friendship. They have shared a lot already. . . What if they met in real life?

When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be a silly, cute summer romance. I was drawn to the characters and the story immediately. This book is so profound and heartbreakingly beautiful. I can’t put it down or stop thinking about it until I’m done with it. Just read it, you’ll be glad you did. The relationships and family ties and love between them all moved me more than I thought. I will definitely come back to this book again and again

I was confused reading this at first and I almost stopped but I’m so glad I didn’t. This is a wonderful book. I feel that it is a beautiful story. However, the ending left me wanting just a little more. Throughout the entire book, the main characters share an out-of-this-world connection with no final resolution. If it feels as if the author is just showing me a small slice of their life, makes me yearn for more

I love the book it’s beautiful but sad. I definitely recommend reading this book

Audiobookss audio player

Hi everyone, please be noticed that the Audio player doesn't play next track on IOS version < 15.6. If you are facing that issue, just upgrade your IOS to version 15.6 to fix it. Enjoy!