Publisher: The Company.
Release Date: June 19th 2025.
Category: Short stories, paranormal, fantasy.
Source: From author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own honest opinions.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A mermaid outcast, a girl who can steal stars, and a high schooler suddenly affected by gravity in a gravity-free world—these are just a few of the fantastical premises you’ll find in this collection of short stories.
Weaving classic coming-of-age themes into magical versions of our world, fifteen Christian writers each bring a fresh perspective on childhood, loneliness, and identity.
Save a spot in your beach bag, because this collection of clean, fun summer stories is more than a fluff read. This beautifully brave anthology leads us to ask hard questions while staying grounded in the truth of the Bible. You’ll want to revisit these thought-provoking stories throughout the year.
Presented by The Company and The Pearl, Fantastical Summer features these short
“Alone,” by R.J. Catlin
“Leaving Lake June,” By Lucy Grecu
“Summer Miracles,” by K.Ann
“Closed Doors Don’t Open,” by Vella Karman
“Oh Deer,” by Adara King
“Gravitational Issues,” by Vannah Leblanc
“The Beast,” by Noah J. Matthews
“Circus of the Moon,” by Juli Ocean
“Sneakers of Joy,” by Gregory O’Donnell
“The Girl Who Lived Under the Water,” by Brad Pauquette
“Soul Marks,” by Alli Prince
“Beachcombing,” by Sarah Sax
“Goodbye to Yesterday,” by Hannah Stiff
“Turn to Face the Wind,” by Faith Tevy
“Confessions of a Mermaid Outcast,” by Thirzah
My Thoughts:
4.5 stars.
Fantastical Summer was a fun and unique collection of stories. They were all set in this world, in summer, but with a magical twist. A lot of them had a strong faith thread, which I really liked.
I enjoyed all the stories. There were werewolves, mermaids, yeti’s, unexpected friendships, magical sneakers and much more. All were well written and the authors should be proud of their achievements. What struck me most was just how clever and imaginative each story was.
Some stories were humerous, some were serious, but all had a lot of heart.
I am partial to mermaids stories so Confessions of a Mermaid Outcast was my favourite.
The stories were clean and can be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.
If you are looking for a summer read where the ordinary meets the fantastical, this collection of short stories is not to be missed. I highly recommend it.
I am looking forward to reading more stories from the authors in this collection.
Add it to your Goodreads here.
Rochelle L. Sharpe 