“Summer Triangle” Is a Story of Healing Set in Rehoboth Beach

The picturesque shores of Rehoboth Beach serve as a backdrop in a story about healing, second chances and the unbreakable bonds between women.

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Summer Triangle, Elizabeth Webster’s debut novel, is also her love letter to the Delaware beaches.

“I’ve spent nearly every summer somewhere on the Delmarva peninsula,” Webster says.

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Webster brought her summers in Rehoboth to life in the form of a heartfelt story about old and new friendships, family dynamics, healing past traumas and a sprinkle of romance. She tells a dynamic story through the perspectives of three different women in their mid-30s. Each is balancing her own intriguing backstory, romantic relationships, familial issues and career responsibilities.

The plots converge in Rehoboth Beach, where Webster immerses the reader in all the charm of Delaware’s coastal towns. She mentions local favorite restaurants, shops and landmarks. The characters pick up a box of donuts from Fractured Prune and crack crabs at The Blue Crab in Bethany. Webster mentions street names and familiar scenery as she guides the story down the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk, through Penny Lane and along the shore.

“I wanted this story to be very immersive for the reader,” she explains. “If they haven’t been [to Rehoboth], it’s an introduction to the area.”

Equally immersive are the characters and dialogue throughout the novel. With so many well-developed characters in various stages of life and with different past experiences, it’s easy to relate to the story. Webster wanted the reader to see themselves in the characters. She made it easy to do so by giving each character detailed background stories and a myriad of unique struggles, passions, personal goals and family dynamics.

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“What I really wanted to present was women in their mid-30s sandwiched between all of these competing obligations—parents, work, children, relationships,” explains Webster. “I’ve had people tell me, ‘This book is packed!’ But that’s the life experience of people in that age group.”

Webster uses the overarching Summer Triangle metaphor to explain the dynamics of her characters. The astronomical pattern includes three bright stars—each one a member of their own separate constellation. Webster introduces the novel with an overview of the asterism:

The stars of the Summer Triangle are among the most brilliant in our universe, but never shine so brightly as when they are together.

At its core, Summer Triangle is a story about friendships and the importance of those bonds—particularly between women.

“I wrote this during a lonely stretch,” Webster says. “When there’s a lack in our lives, it illuminates a need. I wanted to show an older friendship versus a newer friendship, and how difficult it can be to make friends in adulthood. But also how important it is to maintain those friendships.”

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The debut author is far from finished writing dreamy stories set on the Delmarva peninsula. Webster is already hard at work on a sequel, set in St. Michaels, MD, and following at least one of the characters in Summer Triangle. 

With relatable characters, an engaging story and the familiar backdrop of Rehoboth Beach, Summer Triangle is an ideal beach read. Plus, you just might walk away with a new appreciation for the coastal region we call home.

“I think this region is a little unsung,” Webster adds. “It really is beautiful.”

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