Harbor Summer by Katie Prokop

Summer Flings Aren’t So Far Flung in Katie Prokop’s Debut Novel, Harbor Summer

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN— Debut author Katie Prokop is an avid proponent of carving your own path in life.

A University of Michigan graduate (and self-described romantic), Prokop spent a handful of years listening to students’ formative stories in her first career as a campus recruiter. She’s also the mother of three adult children, now in their early 20s, whose respective coming-of-age experiences she witnessed from a front-row seat.

“I know a bit about the struggles they have with finding who they really are,” Prokop said. Perhaps the most ubiquitous of these, she adds, is determining what—and who—we truly want in our lives. This discovery, which she has written through the lens of first love and the growth it inspires, is at the heart of Prokop’s debut novel, Harbor Summer.

Set along the scenic shoreline of Harbor Springs—which is captured whimsically in cover art by Harbor Springs artist, Kevin Barton—the story follows teen protagonists Meggie and Mitchell, who fall for each other after high school. In an instant, the pair embark on a fun-but-fleeting summer romance, but are left heartbroken when the relationship eventually falls apart.

Follow Your Heart

When life brings the pair back together a decade later, however, everything’s changed - or so it seems. They’re older now, wiser, and both have separate lives, but it’s impossible to deny the spark that brought them together hasn’t gone out. Is it just the heat of the sun and northern Michigan’s singular nostalgia they’re feeling, or could Meggie and Mitchell’s lasting connection mean they’re really meant to be?

Inspired by Prokop’s own northern Michigan summers and the natural scenery that makes the region so special, this heartfelt bildungsroman immerses readers in the bittersweet pang of first-time love, the challenge of being true to yourself (even if it means going against society’s grain), and the realization that what we want might be waiting right in front of us.

In other words, it’s a read destined for your beach bag as you make your own Michigan summer memories!

“I hope readers get a sense that it’s important to follow your own path,” Prokop added—“to follow your heart, and follow the person who makes you feel truly like yourself.”

Advance Praise

“This tender summer romance captures the magic of small-town life and second chances. Full of evocative lakefront memories and emotionally rich characters, Harbor Summer unfolds like a warm breeze off the water—gentle, nostalgic, and impossible to resist. Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, with Midwest charm.” — Lane Kizziah, WME Books

“Harbor Summer reads like a beautifully shot film—sunlit shores, effortless moments, and a love story that lingers. With a cast of characters both endearing and complicated, this debut novel brings a small town to life with warmth and authenticity.” — Pete Jones, filmmaker and screenwriter of The Greatest Beer Run Ever and Hall Pass 

The Author

Katie Prokop is a Michigan native who writes heartfelt, lighthearted coming-of-age fiction inspired by the beauty of northern Michigan. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Katie began her career in campus recruiting, where listening to young people share their dreams sparked her fascination with the stories that shape us. After stepping away from her corporate career for twenty-five years to raise her three children, Katie returned to her love of storytelling. Drawing from real life, family, and the unforgettable summers of her own youth, she creates relatable stories filled with humor, heart, and a touch of nostalgia.

When she’s not writing, Katie enjoys traveling with her husband and children to unique destinations around the world—but her heart always leads her back to northern Michigan, where she spends her summers soaking up the lake, the sunsets, and the places that inspire her work.

The Book

Harbor Summer   

Katie Prokop

248 pages, 5.5” x 8.5”, B/W

Fiction/Romance/Second Chances, Clean & Wholesome, Small Town & Rural, Seasonal/Summer, Coming of Age

ISBN: 978-1-968761-66-0, $24.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-968761-66-0, $16.95 (Softcover)

Mission Point Press, July 2, 2026

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org and Amazon. On its July 2, 2026, publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at katieprokop.author@gmail.com.