The Summer Pact

The Prologue of the novel is crucial to establishing the themes and relationship dynamics of the narrative. Although the narrative moves forward chronologically, the Prologue offers a backstory that is crucial to understanding the present-day timeline. In contrast to the chapters set in the present day, which are mostly composed of dramatic scenes interspersed with occasional thoughts or reflection, the Prologue offers more summary between its major scenes. There are three important moments: the conversation in which the four meet and establish their friend group; Summer’s death; and the aftermath, in which the three surviving friends make their solemn pact, which provides the premise and the title for the book. By taking the time at the beginning of the narrative to explore the history of the friends, the novel establishes the long-standing and deep nature of their bond, showing why they are willing to drop what they are doing, regardless of personal and professional cost, when the Summer Pact is invoked. 

These chapters also establish the narrative structure of the novel: alternate points of view, each told in first person by Hannah, Tyson, and Lainey. The first-person point of view offers insight into each character’s thoughts and memories, offering different perspectives on shared events as well as information about each that the other characters aren’t privy to. In addition, each chapter establishes the unique voices of the characters, further developing their characters and unique perspectives on life. Tyson is meticulous, vigilant, and self-contained. Hannah is innocent and self-conscious. Lainey is self-centered and a touch cynical. This characterization is furthered by the way each person’s activities reflect their personality. Summer, as a runner, is driven and always pushing herself. Hannah likes to arrange things so that they look pleasant, appealing, and comfortable, which suits her career in interior design. Lainey enjoys drama in her acting roles and her life, while Tyson, the lawyer, wants to make sure that the rules are being followed and that everyone is being held accountable to high standards. Their strengths provide balance to one another as well as the opportunity for conflict that will add tension and drive the plot forward.

The dialogue between the friends both continues this characterization and develops the dynamics between the friends. It is tight and vivid, and in the present-day timeline, it is the chief way the dramatic action unfolds. Lainey is bold and outspoken, while Hannah tries to be conciliatory and not show too much emotion in their interactions. Tyson remains even and logical in almost all interactions with his friends, even when he is angry. While their characters are different, each of the three surviving friends shares similar obstacles and share similar themes through their individual character arcs.

Although Hannah’s discovery of Grady’s infidelity is the inciting incident to bring the friends back together, each of the characters faces a breakdown in their goals and what they believed their life would look like, proving that all three of them need the Summer Pact. Tyson faces a clear turning point as he is challenged to choose between his job and girlfriend and his loyalty to his college friends. Lainey makes a similar decision to sacrifice a career opportunity when she receives Hannah’s distress call, also demonstrating her loyalties. While the break in Lainey’s life came earlier, when her mother died, she still feels adrift. Each of the characters faces the task of deciding what they want for their life and what goals will guide them, but their instinctive reliance on each other illustrates The Power of Friendship as an important component of the narrative.

The exploration of this theme continues through each character’s reflection on what Summer’s death means to them. For Hannah, the grief is mixed with guilt since she feels that she is to be blamed for not replying sooner to Summer’s text. Tyson, too, feels his own guilt about failing her and about keeping their relationship a secret. Because they don’t know Summer’s reasons, they struggle to make peace with her death, and part of each of their journeys over the course of the novel is releasing the guilt and grief over their loss. These chapters establish truthfulness and honesty as hallmarks of the friends’ more mature interactions. As the novel develops, they continue to move forward in their emotional maturity and their character arcs through their honesty, developing their Self-Awareness as an Aspect of Resilience.

Giffin uses pop-culture references throughout the novel to make the narrative lively and relatable, offering references to recognizable places and celebrities whom Lainey has met. However, these references are also used to address social issues and deepen thematic meaning. The reference to Serena Williams, for example, offers commentary on the subtle racism and gender discrimination that permeates society. Tyson reflects on how Grady’s comments about Williams highlight his own experience as a Black man who encounters subtle or overt racism nearly everywhere in a white-dominated culture. Williams, as a Black woman at the top of a predominately white sport, is doubly interrogated and judged, held to a higher standard than her peers, as Tyson feels he is. Through this reference, and Tyson’s interaction with Grady, Giffin comments on the double standards of racism and gender discrimination that still pervade American culture, adding a level of realism and a social justice perspective to the novel.