What Is The Setting Of 'This One Summer'?

The setting of 'This One Summer' is this small lakeside town called Awago Beach, where the protagonist Rose goes every summer with her family. It's one of those nostalgic places that feels frozen in time, with the same old cottages, the local convenience store that sells fireworks and candy, and the lake that's always there, shimmering under the sun. The town has this quiet, almost melancholic vibe, especially since Rose's parents are dealing with some heavy stuff, and it seeps into the atmosphere. The woods around the town feel endless, and the beach is where all the local teens hang out, making it a mix of childhood memories and the awkward transition into adolescence. The art really captures the essence of summer—humid, lazy, and full of unspoken tensions.

Awago Beach is the heart of 'This One Summer,' a place that’s both idyllic and tinged with melancholy. It’s where Rose and her parents spend their summers, but this year feels different. The town itself is tiny, with a general store that’s the center of everything—where Rose and her friend Windy buy comics and gossip about the local teens. The lake is always there, a constant backdrop for swimming, late-night dips, and whispered secrets.

The setting isn’t just a place; it’s a character. The woods are dense and slightly ominous, especially at night, mirroring Rose’s growing awareness of adult problems—her parents’ strained marriage, the local girl’s pregnancy scare, and the general unease of growing up. The beach is where the older kids hang out, smoking and joking, and it’s this liminal space between childhood and something more complicated. The art style adds to the mood, with muted colors and detailed backgrounds that make the town feel real and lived-in.

What’s fascinating is how the setting reflects the themes. The lake is both beautiful and dangerous, just like the secrets people keep. The woods are inviting but also isolating, much like adolescence itself. Even the convenience store, with its dusty shelves and bored clerk, feels like a microcosm of small-town life—familiar yet slightly stifling. It’s a masterclass in how setting can drive a story forward without a single word of exposition.

Awago Beach in 'This One Summer' isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a mood. Imagine a place where the air smells like pine and lake water, where the days stretch endlessly, and the nights are filled with fireflies and whispered gossip. Rose’s family has been coming here for years, but this summer, the magic feels fragile. The town is small—think one diner, one store, and a lot of dusty roads. The local teens loiter near the beach, their drama seeping into Rose and Windy’s world like a ripple in the lake.

The lake itself is central, a symbol of both freedom and danger. It’s where kids dare each other to swim at midnight, where Rose overhears conversations she shouldn’t. The woods around it are thick and slightly eerie, perfect for getting lost in, both literally and metaphorically. The convenience store is a gem, stocked with candy and horror movies, a place where Rose and Windy try to piece together the adults’ secrets. The setting does so much heavy lifting—it’s nostalgic but never saccharine, beautiful but never safe. It’s the kind of place that stays with you long after the last page.