Christy and Todd are expecting! They're also planning a road trip to visit friends. During the same time, Katie returns from Africa when her father passes away. Her time staying with Christy and Todd is sweet and restorative. One thing I loved about this one was the realistic look at parenthood. Christy and Todd stay with Sierra and her husband and Christy is frustrated that they are not keeping to a schedule for their toddler. Things like that seem silly... until you are a parent to a toddler. I also thought their time in Glennbrooke was interesting. Robin Jones Gunn has always loved overlapping her characters' worlds and this one was no exception. It was frustrating to be so close to those characters and yet not feel like you actually connected with any of them. It did stay true to Christy's introverted personality though. I also liked the nod to relationships and friendships changing as you go through different stages. All-in-all a delight to read if you're already a huge fan of the series. These books just feel like visiting with an old friend.

“I have to consider all of this as part of the blessing during this time in our lives. It’s a chance for me to be grateful for what God is giving us and not get hung up on what He is taking away.” ( )

Christy and Todd are looking forward to their vacation. After planning and postponing for a couple of years, they're finally going to take a road trip up the California coast to Glenbrooke, Oregon. First, however, Christy's best friend Katie is coming back to the States for her father's funeral. Though it's for a sad reason, Christy is still excited to see her forever friend again. Of course, there's no predicting the twists and turns the summer might take for Christy and her friends.

I've read all of Gunn's Christy Miller books, and all of her Glenbrooke books. In this book, Christy goes to Glenbrooke, which should be the best thing ever, right? Not so much. Introverted Christy is stressed out over meeting the Glenbrooke cadre, and none of the Glenbrooke characters get more than a passing nod (my favorite, Wren, doesn't even get name-checked). If Gunn wants to write more about Glenbrooke, she should perhaps give thought to writing a collection of short stories featuring each character, because this sort of fleeting visit doesn't do any of the characters justice -- the world she's created is too big for anyone to shine when they're all crammed together in a small portion of a book.

Other than that, this book is about what I expect from this author and series: cozy and pleasant, not particularly challenging or demanding, and a little less polished in terms of writing than one would necessarily like. Recommended only for those who have followed the series to this point. ( )