At the End of the Summer

Caroline attends the Burning Ruins concert and after-party with her friend Julia. The guitar player, Joshua, spies Caro in the audience. An instant attraction between them develops, but Caro is focused on her upcoming summer in Rome, where she will be competing in a photography contest. Joshua, too, is headed to Rome for the summer where he will be teaching music to students at Professore De La Luca’s “Summer School of Music." Concerned for her safety, Julia encourages Caro to travel with their friend, Joshua. When Joshua first eyed Caro at the concert, he knew she was the one; and once in Rome, Joshua actively pursues her. Caro resists, jaded by previous relationships that she ends after only six months. Can Joshua convince Caro they are meant to be?

“At the End of the Summer” is a well-orchestrated piece combining the worlds of photography and music, and blending them in harmony. It showcases the growth of both Caro, who is obsessed with her work, and Joshua, who is afraid of his talent. One frustrating aspect of the story is the use of foreign languages. Although they are a nice touch, it will be frustrating to the reader if they are unable to translate the conversations, thus missing part of the story. Caro and Joshua are constantly drawing closer to each other then pushing each other away, exhausting the reader. Many extraneous characters with minimal depth lend little to the general story. A fun travel story of growth, forgiveness, and love, “At the End of the Summer” is a treasure to behold.

Belinda Wilson