What a wonderful beach read!! I loved the way this book was written and I loved all of the characters. The book held my interest throughout and I couldn’t put it down!

A light-hearted and fun novel perfect for fans of breezy women's fiction.

We follow 3 friends in Provincetown, Cape Cod. We get to know Hunter and Shelby the most. Colleen is also a character but a bit of an afterthought. The women are realistic in terms of their flaws, which I appreciated. Even though Shelby can be frustrating at times, I prefer when novels have multi-dimensional, realistic characters versus cardboard cut-outs. This is a light, enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy; all opinions are completely my own.

Shelby's debut book is a best selling beach novel set in her old stomping grounds of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Though she spent unforgettable sumers in Ptown with friends Hunter and Colleen during college, her first trip back after three years for the reading of her novel is not the love fest she imagined it would be.

Hunter, who was recently laid off from her publishing job in Boston, is angry at Shelby for including a character in the book who resembles her a bit too closely. And Colleen struggles to get her parents to see the value in maintaining 'Lands End', the island's only bookstore that has been in her family for 80 years.

When Colleen asks Shelby to return to Ptown for the summer to help run the bookstore, Shelby returns to help her friend, reacquaint herself with a town that is the most like home she's ever known, and to get started on the follow-up novel her agent is eager to read. While in Provincetown, Shelby and her friends make a number of missteps, self-discoveries, and face new challenges together.

This is a delightful beach read! There is just enough tension to keep the reader hooked but no super heavy plot lines that distract from the lightness of the story. Despite the lead characters all being 20-somethings, this story has appeal for older readers. For those concerned, there is no swearing in the narration and few instances of such language in the dialogue, and there is no sex on the page.

Shelby's debut book is a best selling beach novel set in her old stomping grounds of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Though she spent unforgettable sumers in Ptown with friends Hunter and Colleen during college, her first trip back after three years for the reading of her novel is not the love fest she imagined it would be.

Hunter, who was recently laid off from her publishing job in Boston, is angry at Shelby for including a character in the book who resembles her a bit too closely. And Colleen struggles to get her parents to see the value in maintaining 'Lands End', the island's only bookstore that has been in her family for 80 years.

When Colleen asks Shelby to return to Ptown for the summer to help run the bookstore, Shelby returns to help her friend, reacquaint herself with a town that is the most like home she's ever known, and to get started on the follow-up novel her agent is eager to read. While in Provincetown, Shelby and her friends make a number of missteps, self-discoveries, and face new challenges together.

This is a delightful beach read! There is just enough tension to keep the reader hooked but no super heavy plot lines that distract from the lightness of the story. Despite the lead characters all being 20-somethings, this story has appeal for older readers. For those concerned, there is no swearing in the narration and few instances of such language in the dialogue, and there is no sex on the page.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The setting of Novel Summer is set in Provincetown. This is a tight knit community in both the text and in real life. The novel is told through multiple perspectives which allows the reader to truly get to know the characters. Throughout the novel, the characters continue to grow and be flexible with different challenges. The end was a great resolution! I enjoyed reading it!

Overall it was a cute story. I was a little annoyed the main character was completely clueless that not running her storyline past her friends the first time was a bad idea the second go-round. I also felt like the whole time that I had read a book about a bookstore on the Cape or Nantucket that had water damage due to flooding, But maybe not.

I flew right through this light hearted beach read. What’s not to love when you have a book store and a beach town. Former college roommates Shelby, and author, Colleen, a book seller, and Hunter, a publicist, lead separate lives but have come back to town with a little tension between them. Shelby steps in to help Colleen at her book store for the summer and Hunter is town because of a little blip in her career. I love watching these characters mess up, grow and intimately reconnect. Jamie Brenner is a must read for me….with Blush being one of my all time favorites. Make sure you add this book to your “must read” list so when summer comes along you remember to add it to your beach bag. Thank to NetGalley for the ARC.

A Novel Summer was a wonderful story of friendship and the choices we make and how those choices impact our friendships.

Jamie Brenner is one of my favorite authors And this was her best book yet multi faceted, each voice strong and unique Loved the premise, the love given to book sellers and the vibe!

Jamie Brenner is a must-read for me, and this book was no exception. She brings us a story of three best friends involved in the exciting world of book publishing and selling. Set in summer in Provincetown, you'll recognize some character names from previous books. While her books usually expertly weave together three women's stories, this one was more of an omniscient narrator. We do get to know Hunter and Shelby quite well; I would have liked more from Colleen's perspective as well.

Jamie Brenner never disappoints her readers, and you'll definitely want to snag this one for the beach this summer! As others have mentioned, Jamie truly appreciates her readers. I have had an opportunity to meet her as well, and I concur!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

While at times this book seemed to be a bit more predictable than I typically choose to read it still had the easy charm that kept me reading. Great book was to take on vacation or to the beach if you are looking for and easy read.

I flew right through this adorable book! The perfect light hearted beach read with characters you will fall in love with.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

This was a really cute summer beach read that follows three friends in Provincetown, a local who runs a her family bookstore, a wealthy summer resident, and their novelist friend who found a home with them on Cape Cod. As they reunite a few years after college to save the bookstore, they confront harsh truths about success, friendships and cultivating a found family. I admittedly found the characters a bit frustrating at times, especially Shelby, but ultimately it was a fun, quick read that was engaging throughout.

The perfect beach read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book has romance, friendship, and an inside look into the world of publishing all nestled on the beach in Cape Cod.

I really loved this book it was such a sweet fun read it was very light!!! I can’t wait to discover more by this writer.

A NOVEL SUMMER will be published July 16, 2024

Three best friends from college are spending their summer in Provincetown, Cape Cod, but soon things will change. Shelby is headed to New York to pursue her dream, be a full time author; Hunter is headed back to her hometown of Boston to work at a publishing house there and Colleen will stay in “P-Town” to run her parents bookstore, Land’s End Books.

Now Colleen reaches out to newly bestselling author, Shelby. She needs Shelby to come back to P-Town to spend the summer running the bookstore because of a health issue. Shelby, left after ending a relationship with her boyfriend, Justin and is very nervous about seeing him, his family that loved her as their own, and facing her two best friends, whom she used as inspiration for her bestselling book which hit the New York Times Bestselling list.

I read this by the pool while sitting in Florida while my home was experiencing winter, but this will come out in sunny, warm July for everyone to enjoy,

I have loved all of Brenner's other books, and it's not that I didn't like A Novel Summer, but there was just something that felt a bit off to me. I think everything was a bit predictable and formulaic, and it was difficult for me to fully embrace all of the main characters. It was still thoroughly readable and enjoyable - just not my favorite.

This was too amateur compared to what I’m used to and love reading. Unfortunately this fell flat for me, too many plates spinning yet again, and way too predictable. I powered through this, as it was a quick enough read, but not for me.

I appreciate the chance to read this ARC, Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing!

Definitely stirs up the senses, and will blow you away with its intense plot, heated passion. Undoubtedly, a well written read that for sure leaves one fully enthralled by the end.

This was an easy book to get into. What’s better than I story about books, small town bookstore and friendships. Oh and second chance friendships.