The bestselling author teases her next novel “is about finding your way back to yourself”
Credit: Maggie Hall; St. Martin’s Griffin
NEED TO KNOW
- PEOPLE can exclusively reveal the cover of Dahlia Adler’s next novel Summer Camp Romance
- The adult romance from the Soon By You author follows the relationship between two camp staffers
- “As someone who’s also written a lot of YA, it was cool to write from the reverse lens this time,” Adler says
It’s time to pack your bags and head to camp with Dahlia Adler’s latest book!
The bestselling author and LGBTQReads founder will publish a new summer rom-com next year. PEOPLE has a first look at Summer Camp Romance, and can exclusively reveal its cover.
Described by publisher St. Martin’s Griffin as “Beach Read meets Wet Hot American Summer,” the novel centers on Dana Becker, a woman who’s newly out of a long-term relationship and is looking to find happiness again. As such, Dana heads back to the one place where she can always count on a good time: her childhood summer camp, this time as an employee.
Credit: St. Martin’s Griffin
It’s there that Dana meets Zeke, who is reeling from a complicated upbringing and a past mistake in his 20s. As the two of them get caught up in a new relationship against the backdrop of the chaotic Camp Moriah, and their respective pasts coming calling, Dana and Zeke are forced to question what they’ll do once summer ends.
Adler, the bestselling author of novels for young adults and adults, says her latest publication was inspired by elements of her own childhood summer experiences.
“I went to sleepaway camp for over a decade, and I love the way it’s its own little world with customs and landmarks and traditions,” the author says. “It’s such a special place to fall in love, while also feeling a bit like a fantasy situation, and I really wanted to explore what that meant for two people trying to get some space from their lives and mistakes in the ‘real world.’”
Summer Camp Romance also brings back a character from one of Adler’s previous books.
Credit: Maggie Hall
“The female lead first appears in my debut adult romance, Soon By You, where she’s in this terrible relationship that’s changed who she is as a person,” the author says. “Summer Camp Romance is about finding your way back to yourself when you’re no longer even sure who you are or what you want.”
“So much of what defines Dana is being an eldest daughter, and despite coming from a very different family, Zeke’s intrinsic understanding of what that means she needs is why they work so well.”
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But going a new route with Summer Camp Romance was also a pleasant surprise, the author says.
“You don’t see a ton of romances with both characters in their mid-thirties, and it was really fun to play with the contrast of Zeke and Dana’s hard-won love story against the backdrop of all these teenagers who’ve barely scratched the surface of their futures,” Adler says. “As someone who’s also written a lot of YA, it was cool to write from the reverse lens this time.”
Summer Camp Romance will be published on July 6, 2027 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
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