Summer was supposed to be simple. Fun. Predictable.But for Lena, Kayla, Theo, Malik, and Cam, their eighth-grade summer turns out to be anything but.In The Summer We Got Played, a contemporary middle-grade novel full of heart, humor, and honest moments, perfect for readers ages 9-13, five friends step into a summer packed with unexpected twists-and a few mistakes they never saw coming.Old friendships shift.New challenges arise.And the group must figure out who they are, and where they stand, when the easy answers disappear.As secrets surface, feelings get complicated, and summer drama threatens to pull them apart, they're forced to rely on the one thing that's always mattered most: each other. Because this time, they've learned enough to know better... even when knowing better still hurts.This relatable story explores friendship, growing up, summer adventures, and the messy, funny, unforgettable moments of middle school life-reminding us that real friendships aren't perfect, but they're worth fighting for.