Just a Summer Fling

Movie star Ashley Carlsen is sick of the paparazzi and tabloids, tired of not being taken seriously as an actress, and disenchanted with Hollywood, so she runs off to rural Vermont for a summer vacation. She is enchanted by the tight-knit Lake Sullivan community, and with handsome handyman Josh Sullivan in particular. Despite Josh clearly and repeatedly rebuffing her advances, Ashley is dogged in her pursuit. Her impulsiveness is cringeworthy (especially since she’s nearly 30), but her mortification feels genuine when she realizes how badly she’s been behaving. Naturally, her contrition leads to some explosive sexual chemistry between Ashley and Josh, though the bedroom scenes are repetitive. Cameron’s characters are complex and well crafted, and each one, from the main protagonists to the various personalities living in Lake Sullivan, feels real—not always likable, but admirably sincere. Ashley’s best friend, Charlotte, provides maturity and good sense, helping Ashley figure out how to grow up. Ashley and Josh intertwine fantasy with reality in this introduction to the new Lake Sullivan series, making it a summer to remember. (Aug.)