Gossip wounds lives in ‘Last Summer’

  Words are powerful. They can comfort, heal or do irrevocable damage, depending on the deliverer.
  In Jean Reynold Page’s book “The Last Summer of Her Other Life,” readers will discover how a few words can have a lasting effect on the lives of many.
  Jules Fuller’s life is something of a mess. Thirty-eight years old, single and pregnant by a man she is afraid of, she has come back to her North Carolina hometown to nurse her dying mother. With her brother Lincoln helping out at home, Jules fills in her downtime with some freelance work in her field as a sound effects technician. She also drops by her old high school drama class to give a talk to the students about her profession. She even finds a bit of time to reconnect with her high school sweetheart, Sam, with whom she has a complicated past.
  After her mother passes, Jules is still in mourning when the unspeakable happens. She is accused of having inappropriate sexual conduct with a young boy who she doesn’t even know — a boy who happened to be in the drama class the day she was there, and also who is the grandson of her pastor. And although the accusations are false, Jules finds herself battling to save her reputation and her family’s name. It is soon evident that the boy is lying, but Jules suspects that there are deeper problems bubbling beneath the surface that could wreck the lives of those who are closest to her.
  Lincoln does his best to help his sister through this trying time, but as he is drowning in his own health and relationship problems, he struggles to provide any substantive assistance. Sam, hoping to rekindle his relationship with Jules, provides a sturdy shoulder to cry on, as well as a lawyer. But the devastation of a past incident prevents any real sense of closeness between the former lovers.
  It’s a surprising new presence that will reshape Jules’ life forever, bringing acceptance and forgiveness in ways she could never imagine.
Author Jean Reynolds Page weaves together a story of the past, present and future with this fascinating look at small town life and how rumors and gossip can swirl around, leaving lives wounded. But Page also provides a look at how decent people can be, if given a chance to prove themselves. “The Last Summer of Her Other Life” is a mature, well-crafted novel that promises to leave a lasting effect on its readers.