Kathy Joy La Plante Writing what others won’t say out loud

The Summons: A Call to Love is a rare and beautiful novel that lingers in your heart long after you close the last page. From the very first scene—where Noel De la Mare’s life unravels in a small-town newsroom—to the sweeping landscapes of France where she meets her mysterious great-aunt Catherine and her partner Colette, this story unfolds like an emotional symphony.

Kathy La Plante writes with cinematic precision and emotional honesty. Every sentence feels alive—with history, pain, humor, and hope. The dialogue sparkles with wit, the relationships are drawn with exquisite tenderness, and the emotional stakes are achingly real. What begins as a story of loss and self-destruction becomes a radiant exploration of family secrets, queer identity, and second chances.

The novel’s settings from small-town Indiana to the sun-drenched French countryside are rendered with painterly beauty. The author doesn’t just describe places; she lets you feel them—the scent of lavender in Laleu, the weight of shame in Sydney, the taste of red wine and forgiveness shared across generations.

But what truly elevates The Summons is its emotional truth. Noel’s journey from despair to self-acceptance is deeply moving, made even more powerful by Catherine and Colette, two women whose love defied time, war, and convention. Together, they teach Noel (and us) that healing doesn’t erase the past it transforms it.

This is more than a novel; it’s a call to love in all its forms, messy, redemptive, and brave. An unforgettable debut. I didn’t want it to end.