Heart Promises and Premonitions

Garland Moore, shaped by a turbulent childhood and a pact with her sister Dara to seek better love than their parents, receives a "heart promise" bracelet as a symbol of that vow. On her honeymoon, Garland has a strange, vivid vision when a stranger returns her lost bracelet at the airport—a flash of a future with him, surrounded by love and laughter. She dismisses it, determined to make her marriage work, but the moment lingers as a sign she can't quite shake.

Divorce, Disillusionment, and Dara

Three years later, Garland's marriage to Ethan collapses, leaving her adrift and living with Dara in North Carolina. Garland's optimism is battered, her self-worth shaken, and she clings to the hope of Ethan's return. Dara, ever the practical and quietly supportive sister, encourages Garland to join her at an adults-only summer camp, hoping for healing and a second chance at joy.

Camp Carl Cove Arrival

Garland and Dara arrive at Camp Carl Cove in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a place that promises the childhood escape they never had. They're greeted by the camp's charismatic twin owners, Tim and Tommy, and introduced to a cast of diverse campers, including Michelle, a trans documentarian, and the Magnusson siblings—three brothers and their sister, Stevie. Garland is assigned to a cabin with Michelle and Stevie, setting the stage for new connections.

Alliances and Unexpected Chemistry

Garland and Stevie, both the youngest in their families, quickly form an alliance—part Survivor, part instant friendship. Their banter is easy, their chemistry palpable, and Garland feels a spark she hasn't known in years. As they navigate camp rituals and activities, Garland's old wounds begin to heal, and she starts to imagine a life beyond her divorce.

The Man from the Airport

During introductions, Garland is stunned to recognize Mason, Stevie's brother, as the man from her airport vision. The shock is so intense she faints. The vision's weight returns, and Garland is torn between the supposed fate she saw and the reality of her growing feelings for Stevie. The camp becomes a crucible for confronting destiny, desire, and self-discovery.

Summer Camp Reboot

Camp life is a blend of nostalgia and new beginnings. Garland, Dara, and the Magnussons throw themselves into color games, obstacle courses, and late-night mixers. Garland's social nature makes her a camp favorite, but she struggles with the pressure to reinvent herself and the fear that happiness is always fleeting.

Color Games and Competition

The camp's color games pit Garland and Stevie on the same team, forging camaraderie and competition. Garland's fear of heights is tested on the ropes course, where she freezes and costs her team the win. Stevie's disappointment is palpable, but their bond deepens as they navigate vulnerability, forgiveness, and the messy process of showing up for each other.

Ropes, Fears, and Failures

Garland's failure on the ropes course becomes a turning point. She's forced to confront her fear of letting people down and the ways she's internalized her parents' definition of love as suffering. Stevie's support is unwavering, and Garland begins to see that true connection comes from honesty, not perfection.

The Real Crush Emerges

As Garland spends more time with Stevie, her supposed destiny with Mason fades. She realizes her crush on Stevie is more than friendship—it's a deep, romantic attraction. Garland grapples with her queerness, her history of daydreaming about men, and the new, electric reality of loving a woman.

Exes, Obstacles, and Realizations

The arrival of Stevie's ex, Allison, stirs up old wounds and jealousy. Garland's own ex-husband, Ethan, unexpectedly visits during visitors' day, forcing her to confront the final remnants of her old life. Through these encounters, Garland gains clarity: her marriage is truly over, and her future lies elsewhere.

Letting Go of the Vision

Garland finally rejects the idea that her life is dictated by visions or childhood promises. She confesses her feelings to Stevie, and they both admit their mutual attraction. The supposed fate with Mason is revealed as a misreading—her true connection was always with Stevie. Together, they choose each other, not because of destiny, but because of love.

Confessions in the Dark

In the quiet of night, Garland and Stevie share their fears, hopes, and desires. They confess their love, make each other laugh, and finally give in to the physical and emotional intimacy they've been building. Their connection is electric, healing, and affirming.

Lake Night and Love

Stevie invites Garland to the Magnusson family's secret lake night ritual, a tradition of floating on the lake, sharing memories, and letting go. Garland is welcomed as one of their own, and the experience cements her sense of belonging—not just with Stevie, but with a new, chosen family.

Winning, Losing, and Loving

The last day of camp brings the ultimate obstacle course. Garland, once paralyzed by fear, climbs the rock wall for Stevie, proving her growth and commitment. Their team wins the color games, and Garland is crowned Most Influential Camper, a testament to her transformation and the impact she's had on others.

Sisters, Scissors, and Second Chances

Garland and Dara share a poignant moment as Garland cuts Dara's hair—a symbolic act of letting go and embracing change. They exchange their heart-promise bracelets, acknowledging that happiness can be self-made and that love comes in many forms, not just romantic.

Bonfires and Burning the Past

At the final camp bonfire, campers write down what they want to leave behind and burn it. Garland releases her fear, self-judgment, and the need to control outcomes. She embraces her queerness, her romantic heart, and the messy, beautiful process of becoming herself.

The End of Summer

As camp ends, Garland and Stevie face the uncertainty of life beyond the mountains. They decide to travel together, embracing the unknown and trusting in their partnership. Dara, now confident in her own path, supports Garland's leap into the future.

New Beginnings, Old Promises

A year later, Garland and Stevie return to Camp Carl Cove, now partners in life and love. Surrounded by friends, family, and new adventures, they honor the traditions that brought them together while forging their own path. Garland, once defined by loss and longing, is now a woman who chooses joy, love, and the present moment.

Characters

Garland Moore

Garland is a thirty-something woman whose life has been shaped by her parents' unhappy marriage, a childhood pact with her sister, and a failed marriage of her own. She is deeply empathetic, prone to daydreaming, and struggles with self-doubt and the fear of being "too much." Garland's journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to embrace her queerness, let go of old narratives, and choose love on her own terms. Her relationship with Stevie is transformative, teaching her the value of vulnerability, presence, and authentic connection.

Stevie Magnusson

Stevie is the youngest of four siblings, a former park ranger, and a camp veteran. She is bold, outdoorsy, and fiercely loyal, with a playful sense of humor and a deep well of empathy. Stevie's past includes heartbreak and betrayal, but she remains open to love and new experiences. Her alliance with Garland quickly becomes something deeper, and she is both a catalyst for Garland's growth and a partner in healing. Stevie's ability to see and accept Garland fully is central to their love story.

Dara Moore

Dara is Garland's older sister and lifelong confidante. She is practical, competent, and often emotionally reserved, but her love for Garland is unwavering. Dara's own journey involves letting go of bitterness, embracing change, and recognizing that happiness can be self-made. Her relationship with Garland is a touchstone throughout the novel, providing both support and challenge.

Mason Magnusson

Mason is Stevie's brother and the man from Garland's airport vision. He is affable, athletic, and initially positioned as Garland's supposed soulmate. However, Mason's true role is to help Garland realize that destiny is not always what it seems, and that real love may be found elsewhere. His sibling dynamic with Stevie is both supportive and antagonistic, adding depth to the camp's social fabric.

Tim and Tommy

The twin owners of Camp Carl Cove, Tim and Tommy are the heart of the camp experience. Adopted, gay, and deeply invested in creating a space for healing and joy, they orchestrate the camp's rituals, competitions, and sense of belonging. Their friendship with Garland and Stevie is warm and affirming, and their own history of overcoming adversity adds resonance to the camp's ethos.

Michelle

Michelle is a trans woman, documentarian, and one of Garland's cabinmates. She is deadpan, stylish, and on a quest to find her birth family. Michelle's presence offers both comic relief and emotional depth, and her friendship with Garland is marked by honesty, mutual support, and a shared journey of self-acceptance.

Allison

Allison is Stevie's ex-girlfriend, whose arrival at camp stirs up old wounds and tests Stevie's resolve. She represents the pain of betrayal and the challenge of moving on, serving as a foil to Garland's emerging relationship with Stevie.

Ethan

Ethan is Garland's ex-husband, whose unexpected visit to camp forces Garland to confront the final remnants of her old life. He is patient and well-meaning but ultimately unable to meet Garland's emotional needs. His presence is a catalyst for Garland's closure and growth.

Marge

Marge is an older camper with a sharp tongue and a big heart. She becomes Garland's unlikely ally during the color games, offering both tough love and acceptance. Marge's own story of late-in-life love and resilience mirrors the novel's themes of second chances and self-acceptance.

Julianne

Julianne is a fellow camper and initial antagonist, whose strict adherence to rules and competition masks her own vulnerabilities. Over time, she becomes a reluctant teammate and, eventually, a symbol of the camp's capacity for growth and connection.

Plot Devices

Heart-Promise Bracelets

The bracelets Garland and Dara make as children serve as a symbol of hope, resilience, and the desire for better love. They anchor the story's themes of fate versus choice, and their exchange marks key moments of transformation and closure.

The Vision

Garland's vision of a future with Mason is a classic red herring, guiding her (and the reader) toward a supposed destiny that ultimately proves false. The vision's true purpose is to force Garland to question her assumptions, confront her desires, and choose her own path.

Summer Camp Setting

Camp Carl Cove is both a literal and metaphorical space for healing, growth, and transformation. The camp's rituals, competitions, and traditions provide structure for character development, while its isolation allows for honest self-exploration and new connections.

Color Games and Competitions

The camp's color games and obstacle courses serve as crucibles for testing fears, building trust, and fostering camaraderie. Garland's journey from failure to triumph mirrors her internal evolution, and the games provide a backdrop for key moments of bonding and revelation.

Found Family

The relationships Garland forms at camp—especially with Stevie, the Magnussons, and her teammates—embody the novel's central message: family is not just blood, but the people who see, support, and love us as we are.

Rituals and Traditions

From lake night to the bonfire, the camp's rituals offer opportunities for reflection, closure, and hope. These traditions ground the story in a sense of continuity and community, while also allowing characters to release the past and embrace the future.

Analysis

That Summer Feeling is a luminous, queer-forward reinvention of the summer camp romance, blending nostalgia, humor, and emotional depth into a story about second chances, self-acceptance, and the power of found family. Bridget Morrissey uses the camp setting as a microcosm for transformation, allowing her characters to shed old identities and embrace new possibilities. The novel subverts the trope of "fated love" by showing that destiny is not a fixed path but a series of choices, and that true happiness comes from authenticity, vulnerability, and the courage to love—ourselves and others—without reservation. Through Garland's journey from heartbreak to hope, Morrissey reminds us that healing is messy, joy is worth chasing, and the best endings are the ones we create for ourselves.

Last updated: May 29, 2025