Fabulous book. I felt as though I was right there with the characters. Such a broad book, not focusing on just one thing. Yet written so well it flows beautifully.

I don't consider myself to be an overly sentimental person, but every once in a while, I feel the need to get lost in a frothy story where absolutely everything will turn out perfectly. Summer Longing, the latest novel from Jamie Brenner, is just such a book, and though I struggled with certain aspects of the plot, it's still a solidly enjoyable summer read.

The story is set in Provincetown over the course of a single summer, and in it, we follow a group of interconnected characters, each of whom is grappling with difficult circumstances. As is common in books like this, we see things from the perspectives of a few key people, something I really enjoy as I find this narrative style keeps the story moving forward rather than allowing it to drag when one character is experiencing a lull in the action.

We first meet Ruth as she arrives in Provincetown for the summer. She's hoping to live there permanently, but for now, she's rented a house for a couple of months while she searches for a place to live long-term. She's recently sold the company she started nearly thirty years previously, and she's struggling to adapt to a new way of life. Ruth has a daughter who lives in New York City, but the two aren't close. When Olivia was growing up, Ruth was extremely busy getting her business off the ground, and this caused a rift between mother and daughter. Olivia is much closer to her father Ben, who divorced Ruth when Olivia was a teenager.

The house Ruth has rented belongs to Fern and Elise Douglas, who own a teashop in town. Elise isn't nuts about renting her home out to a strange woman all summer, but their shop hasn't been open very long and the extra income will be useful. Fern and Elise have been struggling with infertility. Elise is desperate to have a child, but Fern has grown weary of the constant struggle. She's ready to focus on their shop and hopefully mend their troubled marriage.

When a baby girl is abandoned on the front porch of Ruth's rental home, Elise sees this as the solution to her infertility. She and Fern can simply keep the baby and raise her as their own. This would necessitate moving back into the house Ruth is renting, but Elise is sure she can convince Ruth to go along with it. After all, she's not telling Ruth to move out. Instead, she's suggesting they share the house for the summer.

I was initially put off by Elise and her single-minded focus on motherhood. It's not that I couldn't sympathize with her situation, but her inability to consider anyone else's feelings was hard to deal with. She saw nothing wrong with failing to report the child's abandonment to the proper authorities, and although I could understand her reasoning, I still wanted her to do the right thing. She showed very little regard for Fern's feelings, causing me to wonder why Fern didn't just walk away. Fortunately, as the story progressed, Elise's motivations began to make a bit more sense, and although I didn't end up agreeing with her eventual handling of the situation, she did grow on me as a character.

Ruth's story arc was my favorite thing about this book. She wants to make amends with Ben and Olivia, but she's not sure how to go about it. She starts by convincing Olivia to visit her for a long weekend. Olivia, who is dealing with some professional difficulties, ends up staying longer than expected, and the two begin working on their fractured relationship. Of course, things don't go nearly as smoothly as Ruth would like, due in large part to the drama surrounding Fern, Elise, and the baby.

If you love books with a strong sense of place, you're likely to appreciate Summer Longing. It's clear the author knows Provincetown well, and her vivid descriptions helped me feel I knew it too. It's a quirky, close-knit community, filled with complex, fully-fleshed out characters. I'm not much of a traveler, but reading this book made me want to experience Provincetown for myself.

This novel reminds me quite a bit of a Hallmark movie. Emotions run high, secrets are revealed, and romantic relationships are formed. It's implausible in a lot of ways, but it's strangely charming in spite of itself. I can think of worse ways to spend a summer afternoon, especially if you're in the mood for something sweet.

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*book review* Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.
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{review} I’m so glad I read this right after The Forever Summer. I didn’t want that book to end so seeing some of those characters intertwined within this book and seeing where they ended up 3 years later was so fun to see.Brenner truly has a way of connecting you to each character. I found myself smiling, crying and even celebrating the characters decisions in the end and even throughout the book. Again- anyone looking for a perfect nice weather beach read, this is it! I’m so happy I jumped into @jamiebrennerwrites book this quarantine! Highly recommend her books!.
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Synopsis: Ruth Cooperman comes to Provincetown for her retirement looking to buy her forever home. Upon arrival, and yearning for peace and happiness after years of hard work and making peace with life's compromises, Ruth finds a baby girl abandoned on her doorstep. Ruth turns to her new neighbors for help and is drawn into the drama of the close-knit community. (Drama is an understatement here 😜). This new baby in the community causes an emotional ripple throughout town amongst many of the townspeople. As summer unfolds and friends and family care for the infant, alliances are made, relationships are tested, and secrets are uncovered. But the unconditional love for a child in need just might bring Ruth and the women of Provincetown exactly what they have been longing for themselves. “Another unforgettable tale about motherhood, friendship, and finding your way home”.

Thank you @netgalley for this copy for an honest review

A heartwarming beach read. Jamie Brenner’s vivid storytelling swept me away to Cape Cod and into the lives of these delightful characters. Ruth is in her late 50s and has decided to move and live a quieter life in the small town of Provincetown on Cape Cod.But Ruth’s wished for quiet life is quickly diverted when she finds a newborn baby has been abandoned on her rental homes front porch. Soon the owners of the rental property Elise and Fern Who have been wanting a baby move back in to help Ruth take care of baby girl Mira. Having a baby in the house inspires Ruth to reach out to her daughter Olivia who she has a less than stellar relationship with. Then Olivia joins her mother in Cape Cod and is quickly followed by her father/ Ruth’s ex-husband. Ruth’s new life is no longer quiet, but this just might be the perfect start to new beginnings. A beautiful story of family, friendship, second chances, new beginnings, love, loyalty, and hope.

Loved all the female relationships in the story mothers and daughters, friends, and romantic ties. It was lovely how this little baby girl brought all these unlikely women together. Each of these women were smart, strong, and savvy in their own ways. The setting of this book was so magical, I just adored this small town. Although the bulk of the story was about women and their ties to one another, there also was a bit of sweet romance. An enchanting beach read that warmed my heart.

This book in emojis 🏖 ☕️ 💄 👶🏼 🦪 🐚

*** Big thank you to Little Brown for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Summer Longing is a perfect beach read for those who enjoy stories with a little family drama and about close knit communities. It is for readers who enjoy second chances and new beginnings. A book to sit back and enjoy while dreaming of summer.

I really enjoyed this book. Great summer read that takes place in Provincetown, MA. Ruth Cooperman decides to she wants to stay in Provincetown after she sells her business. It is her second act. The reason she picks this place is because it brings back so many wonderful memories. This story is about family, job loss, second chances, new love and a baby being abandoned. Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley. This is my own opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for my free digital copy!

This is my first Jamie Brenner book (I KNOW) and I want you to know- I'm officially hooked and will be spending the summer reading through her backlist titles. I think she did a great job creating a cast of characters that felt feel and honest with their emotions, especially those surrounding the relationship between mothers and daughters.

I LOVED THIS STORY. It was so easy to get lost in it, right off the bat. The descriptions of Provincetown made me feel like I was actually there and the characters felt familiar after just a few chapters. This would have been the perfect book to grab for a beach vacation if I was going on one this year, but hopefully the next one I can throw a copy in my beach bag to reread. I enjoyed it that much.

I can't wait to read more of Jamie Brenner's books!

What a breath of fresh air a perfect beach read! Grab this book throw it in your beach bag and get ready to get lost in every page. Ruth has decided to sell her cosmetics company and have the perfect retirement in Provincetown, 40 years ago she experienced a summer that changed her life, she’s now looking for quiet and hoping to recapture that summer in a small way. When she arrives she finds that her rental is occupied and the landlord refuses to leave the premises and then she finds a baby that was left on her doorstep! Soon with the help of the rental owners Elise and Fern who also happen to own the store The Tea Shop by the sea, they move back in to help care for the baby. Soon the town comes together to help care for the baby and it brings the realization for Ruth she should reconcile with her own daughter Olivia. Olivia arrives but to Ruth’s surprise she had extended an invitation to her dad who also is Ruth’s ex husband! The summer helps build relationships while also testing them at the same time. It also reveals a secret a secret everyone that summer is wondering whose the baby’s mother! This book had me crying, laughing and gasping from surprise! It shows friendships and motherhood. This was a family drama with so many layers. The diversity of the characters had me loving them even more! Five stars!

I have gotten to where I look forward to Jamie Brenner's spring releases every year the same way I look forward to Elin Hilderbrand's June books: they are signs of summer, freedom, pools, and happiness. Jamie's writing is always engrossing and enjoyable and I love the multifaceted characters and plotlines in each of her novels.
This book was no exception and I found it to be the perfect summer read. Because of the picturesque descriptions and precise attention to detail, we are transported immediately to the Provincetown summer rental. We are meet intriguing characters that you will absolutely love and get immersed in and that is how Jamie Brenner does it - with amazing dialogue, plot twists, and backstories. Ruth has decided to sell her company and retire in this place where she had the summer of her life 40 years ago. She plans carefully, but...When she arrives she finds that her rental is occupied and the landlord refuses to leave the premises and then she finds a baby that was left on her doorstep! Soon with the help of the rental owners Elise and Fern who also happen to own the store The Tea Shop by the sea, they move back in to help care for the baby. Soon the town comes together to help care for the baby and it brings the realization for Ruth she should reconcile with her own daughter Olivia. Nothing is without complications and you should read this for yourself to find out how it turns out. Never boring or fluffy, this is smart beach reading full of heart and also surprise. All the stars.

Perhaps Jamie’s best book yet! I loved returning to Provincetown, seeing some familiar faces, and having a whole new cast of characters to fall in love with. This is truly the perfect summer read- romance, family drama, and a little bit of mystery. There’s something in this book for everyone.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a perfect summer read. I loved that it was set in a beach town and thought the author did a really good job to make it feel like you were right there with the characters all summer long. It was a fun read, perfect to escape the hard times we are in currently. I recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did not like this one. The main characters were unappealing and the story far-fetched and too dramatic Though it features a beach town, it didn't feel like a vacation book. The ending was a little too coincidental as well.

The title of this book describes my mood exactly right now! This book is the very definition of a simmer read!

Thank you #NetGalley and #LittleBrownandCompany for the opportunity to read Summer Longing in exchange for my honest review. Big fan of Jamie Brenner’s work, and this new release is no exception! The depth of her characters made me feel like I was right there in P’town with them. Even though there were many characters, each one felt fully developed. Ruth comes to Provincetown to start a new chapter in her life. Little does she know she will soon be swept up in a drama and become an important part of the town. But she feels unresolved about the life she left behind and mistakes she made along the way. Can her new friends help her find the happiness she longs for? I was engrossed from the first page to the last! Filled with family drama, many “what if’s” and a dreamy summer setting, Summer Longing should be on every best beach reads list of 2020.

Jamie is a must-read author for me! And Summer Longing didn’t disappoint! Lots of great characters, drama, and toss in some romance! It’s the perfect summer read ( or quarantine read!)

You can always count on Jamie Brenner to start off the summer/beach reading season with a great book. that delivers to the town of Provincetown. A remarkable set of characters that pull you into the story from the beginning and keep you interested until The End.

I had a hard time keeping up with this - but the writing and storyline were both super interesting..

If you are a fan of Elin Hilderbrand's books, you need to check our Jamie Brenner. She also writes great stories, set in dreamy summer locations like, in the case of this book, Provincetown. Summer Longing tells the story of a group of women who are brought together when a baby is left on the doorstep of one of their houses. I loved all of the characters and thought they each had their own unique journey. The setting was such an important part of this book, and it's presence was felt all the way through. Summer Longings was a great escape, perfect reading when you're stuck at home with no travel plans for the near future.

Jamie Brenner writes deliciously fun "beach" reads that, especially during this pandemic, are a welcome respite! As usual, the setting is beautiful, but for me,what makes Summer Longing such an enjoyable read is how well Jamie Brenner writes people because that's how real her characters feel--their thoughts, their struggles and joys are all engaging and fascinating. I throughly enjoyed Summer Longing and can't wait for next year's Jamie Brenner novel!

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.


In real life, it's a rainy day with high winds and my feet just cannot get warm. But as soon as I began this novel, I could feel the warm summer sun and the beach sand through my toes. Summer Longing is a heartwarming story about motherhood, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

Ruth Cooperman is all about getting away from the chaos of the business world that has been her focus for most of her adulthood. At 58, Ruth, a divorcee, is looking forward to enjoying her summer in Provincetown on Cape Cod. What Ruth couldn't even anticipate is all the drama that is about to go down. Ruth discovers that a baby has been left on the doorstep of the house she is renting.

Elise Douglas, the house's owner wants nothing more to be a mother. She and her wife, Fern have been trying for a child so long and the arrival of a mysterious infant maybe what they've been waiting all this time for. But will Elise's actions have devastating consequences for their marriage and their tea business?

Soon Ruth finds her summer home filled with two extra housemates and a baby. When Ruth's adult daughter, Olivia arrives to visit, it promises to be a life-changing experience for all the women.

Between Jamie Brenner, Elin Hilderbrand, and Kristy Woodson Harvey, the sales of Aloe vera must skyrocket in the summer as we all get sunburns from lingering at the beach. This unlikely group of women that find themselves thrown together by circumstances kept me turning the pages. Each of the three women that we really get to know-Ruth, Olivia, and Elise were easy to relate to. Even though I would shake my head at with some of their decisions, I found them really endearing. They are all supported by a great cast of memorable secondary characters. Jamie Brenner once again tugs at the heartstrings with another tale of mothers, daughters, and strong female friendships


Goodreads review published 05/05/20
Publication Date. 05/05/20