SUMMER TRIANGLE

Three women face personal reckonings in Delaware in Webster’s debut novel, which highlights the power of female friendship.

The Summer Triangle is an astronomical phenomenon in which three unrelated stars appear linked and shine most brightly when seen together. Such is the relationship between Natalie, Eliana, and Allegra, three resilient women in their mid-30s. As the story unfolds, each woman finds herself at a crossroads where she must face weighty challenges and painful truths. Natalie is a successful interior designer whose unfaithful spouse is leaving her; she and her two kids spend the summer with her childhood friend, Eliana, in the coastal Delaware town of Rehoboth, where they grew up. Eliana’s life appears idyllic, but she’s struggling as a mother of young twins who’s given up her career as a translator. Allegra is an outsider—a supermodel whose life has been sabotaged by a psychologically abusive ex-husband. The three women meet when Natalie attempts to visit her childhood home, where Allegra now lives, and although the initial encounter goes badly (“We wouldn’t want to intrude,” says Eliana, and Allegra replies, “But that’s exactly what you would be doing: intruding”), they soon form a bond. The snappy, skillful dialogue flows naturally and provides each character with a distinctive voice. The plot moves along at a satisfying clip, never tempting readers to skip ahead. Each character’s arc is significant, but it’s Natalie who anchors the book, and whose story of recovery from abuse is the most complex and poignant. Some storylines are predictable (when Eliana’s brother meets Allegra, for instance, the trajectory of their relationship is easy to guess), but most twists and turns are unexpected. These women may be financially successful and remarkably attractive, but their problems are relatable and never seem trivial. Many serious themes arise, including the complexities of motherhood, marriage, and career and how friendship allows people to tackle past traumas. Romance is in the air, as well, along with more prosaic concerns and a lot of soul-searching.

A captivating page-turner about three friends letting their true selves shine.