Who is Laurel Conklin from It's Not Summer Without You and what is their importance?

Laurel is Isabel's mother. She and Susannah had been best friends since they were children and continue to be best friends into adulthood. Traditionally, the two women have spent summers together as Susannah's beach house, something that has also come to be seen as tradition by their children, who are now young adults. Laurel grieves deeply after her friends death and doesn't snap out of it until she receives an emotional phone call from her daughter.