The Dockporter

SUMMER NEVER ENDS ON MACKINAC ISLAND!

Michigan Notable Books Selection - 2021

Step back to the summer of 1989 on Mackinac Island, Michigan-a magical place where cars are banned, bikes rule, and the only things sweeter than the island's famous fudge are its endless summer days. Jack McGuinn is a dockporter, hauling towering piles of luggage in his bike basket for the wealthy tourists of this quirky resort town. With a dream job, a cottage on the bluff, and a tight-knit crew of tip-hustling friends, Jack's got his summer wired. But when a rivalry from his past re-emerges, challenging him to take on a record-breaking load, he soon realizes he's pedaling more than just suitcases. Jack is riding straight into the heart of a battle for the island's future.

Behind the charm of horse-drawn carriages and the grandeur of the Grand Hotel, developers are plotting to pave over the island's soul for profit. Jack and his friends must team up to protect the spirit of Mackinac before it's lost forever. Along the way, he's helped by Erin, a spirited Irish cellist who's new to the island and catches Jack's eye with her free-spirited ways and love of adventure. Together, they navigate the highs and lows of young love, the pressures of growing up, and the bittersweet nostalgia of knowing some summers change you forever.

The Dockporter is an uproarious, heartfelt coming-of-age adventure perfect for fans of John Green and Nick Hornby. It's a quirky summer romance set in the unforgettable backdrop of a Midwest resort town where friendships are tested, romance blossoms, and life lessons are learned-all against the charming, slightly eccentric setting of an island with no cars, just bikes and horses.

A mashup of Footloose rebellion, Caddyshack humor, and Wes Anderson quirk, this hilarious, nostalgia-packed novel is for anyone who's ever had a summer job, fallen in love on vacation, or fought to protect the places and people they care about. The Dockporter transports readers to a time when life was simpler, friendships were forever, and summer romance felt like it could last forever.