I chose this book because (1) Our students love the Mother-Daughter Book Club series and (2) I already have books 1 and 2 in the Pumpkin Falls Mystery series. I haven’t read the first two in the series but was pleased that the author filled in enough detail that I didn’t go into the story feeling lost.

As in The Mother-Daughter Book Club, one of Frederick’s themes is “family.” The close-knit Lovejoy family (their last name says it all!) has gathered for their yearly family reunion, this time in New Hampshire. Our protagonist, Truly, adores her cousins, but with a love-interest this summer, she’s anxious for them to leave so the best summer of her life with R. J. can begin. When the week is up, the unexpected happens when her mom signs her up for mermaid camp with her cousin. It was at this point in the story that I lost interest — it was an odd choice for the author and at that point, the book fell flat for me.