Bummer Camp: A Novel

Two sisters scramble to save their family's legacy in a funny, huge-hearted novel about grandiose plans and summers to remember by the author of I Thought You Said This Would Work.

Cat McCarthy has spent years extricating herself from the family business--an increasingly run-down theater camp--and all the drama contained within it. At thirty-seven, she's putting the final touches on a new life as she renovates her dream cottage and awaits her first child. Does it worry her that the McCarthy legacy is in the hands of her disastrously irresponsible sister, Ginger? Sure. But the camp's not Cat's problem anymore.

Then a series of frantic text messages pulls Cat back to center stage. Ginger has handed the reins to a crackpot motivational speaker, Bob Durand, and his scheming wife, Elaine. The couple's plan to rebrand the camp as a "rehab" for anxious adults has nearly bankrupted the McCarthys. And now the Durands have skipped town days before investors arrive for a fundraising gala that could determine the camp's future.

As Cat and Ginger wrangle a cast of lovable misfits and underdogs to save the camp, the sisters rediscover the importance of family, belonging, and holding fast to sweet summer memories.

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331 pages

Average rating: 5.71

7 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

AmiC
Nov 09, 2024
3/10 stars
DNF
redamelia
Sep 11, 2024
7/10 stars
A pregnant Cat McCarthy is seeking a quiet, comfy life for her and her baby when an urgent call pulls her back to her family's summer camp. Her sister, Ginger, has been running the camp but now faces the threat of bankruptcy. Cat feels almost obligated to step in and save the day. This story had me laughing throughout, with a delightful cast of misfit characters and a quirky therapy chicken named Connie. Each character felt welcomed and accepted at the camp, and it was heartwarming to see two sisters, as different as night and day, try to learn from each other. The camp itself, rebranded from a theater camp to a retreat for anxious adults, provides a place of healing and relaxation. While Cat's character was unique, I understood and appreciated her as the story developed. Ginger and the lovable camp staff like Shirtless Gary added to the charm and humor. The relationships and dynamics between the characters felt relatable, and I was touched by how their parents' story unfolded as well. Although the pacing started slow, the book became a feel-good read with surprises along the way.
Mrsk
Sep 01, 2024
5/10 stars
Overall we didn't love it. Awfully quirky and the characters were annoying.

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