This book is a fun, fresh, happy summer book. Rachel has focused on her studies nonstop through high school all while working and helping out her family at their restaurant. After declining an invitation to a graduation party, she finds a book that suggests she become the type of person to say yes to anything. With Rachel recently graduating from high school, she decides this is the summer for her to say yes to what is asked of her in order to try new things. By doing so, she attracts the attention of her long time crush. However, someone else also has their sights on Rachel and they have for a long time. This book features a love triangle. I truly enjoyed both Miles and Clayton. They were sweet and kind to Rachel even when she led them both on slightly. The summer of "yes" allowed Rachel to break out her shell, experience firsts with two cute boys, and mend a long lost friendship of hers as well. I needed a happy and sweet book and this was one that made me feel like summer was coming.

This was such a cute book and I really loved it. Rachel is a senior in high school who has just graduated as valedictorian. Her whole high school career, she has been focused on doing the best she can in school and has no time for the fun and parties that most kids experience.

As her best friend goes off to summer camp and with the summer stretching in front of her, she finds a self help book about saying yes and decides she will have the summer of saying yes. Rachel does some fun things and gets into some predicaments but by the time she’s ready to leave for college, she’s had experiences she never had in high school.

Well written and engaging, I didn’t want this book to end.

Booksmart meets Sarah Dessen; this book is a sweet romance and coming of age story.
I liked the characters a lot (Miles Vanderberg, I love you) and I’ll never turn down a book set in a beach town in Michigan. This book had great witty banter but the ending wrapped up a bit too quick. A perfect light read for sitting poolside. Thank you @netgalley and @delacortepress for this ARC.

I liked this book. I found the main character of this book very likable and I thought the plot was compelling and fun. I enjoyed the concept of "just saying yes" and it was interesting to see what changes that brought to Rachel's life. A really cute read.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars of cuteness!

Say Yes Summer introduces you to Rachel and her two love interests Miles and Clayton. Both are pretty easy to fall in like with but only one is completely and utterly lovable. I'll let you decide who for yourself.

Now this book was a really cute romcom. Heck I read it one little sitting.. which I thinks was maybe an hour or two? Not quite sure but I definitely flew through this one. After meeting Rachel, I knew she was going to have face a ton of tough decisions. This is her last summer before heading off to college, the real world, and she's trying to break out of her little turtle shell.

It was kind of cute how she thought no one really noticed her at school. It doesn't help that she said no to anything that remotely sounded fun due to being an introvert. She also worked at her family owned restaurant all the time too. So yeah.. she didn't do a whole lot of stuff throughout her high school years. Or any school years really.

This is her one summer to say yes.. to basically everything. Which is why she found herself in a little love triangle and getting in trouble, a lot. Of course, the romance thing didn't last long. It also didn't take long for everyone to find out about it and to be hurt either. Yet, she somehow made amends to everyone because really.. this wasn't her at all and she didn't mean to hurt anyone either.

In the end, things worked out. My ship sailed and it made me all gooey inside. I am very happy with this book and can't wait to jump into my next little romcom!

2.75 tho I really enjoyed the synopsis.
These were my expectations as I kept reading:
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I feel bad giving this rate because I actually enjoyed the last 50 pages and the route it took towards the end and I'd like to say it justify the annoying cliche characters at the beginning and a too predictable start plot but unfortunately it was too slow for me and at the end it didn't paid off

AAAAAHHHH!!!
This book was a DELIGHT!
We have Rachel, a rather apprehensive teen who finds it difficult to step out of her comfort zone.
But she has just one summer to take THAT big step : EXACTLY "SEVENTY SEVEN DAYS, EIGHTEEN HOURS AND TWENTY ONE MINUTES" and so she decides that this summer will be the summer of "YESes"
And thus begins Rachel's quite remarkable summer!

I absolutely enjoyed Rachel's story and being a total introvert, myself I could relate so much with her!
I know how unthinkable it is for myself to put my guard down, and seeing a character going through exactly the same issues made me feel represented (?). Rachel herself is not one without flaws : she is judgmental and often forms opinion without even trying to talk to a person (same as myself) and her learning how toxic and absolutely absurd that is definitely was my highlight of the story(and that also reminded me that I have a lot to work on myself :)

Sure, the story is a bit cliche but in a good way that made my heart flutter. Although I am not huge on love triangles, this one was kinda cute and I didn't mind how the story spun and made Rachel realize some important lessons :)

A sweet and perfect summer rom-com!!!!

Rachel’s life has been all about structure and checking off the items that will help her achieve her goals. Good grades, extracurricular activity at the old folks home, staying in on Friday night to study- check, check, check! When she finds an inspirational book of her Nonna’s she curiously checks it out and before she knows it, her no’s have turned into yes’s. This cute contemporary is all about making small changes, saying yes to new experiences, and living life to the fullest!

Rachel’s life has gone in the direction she’s wanted, yet on the summer before she leaves for college she wonders if she hasn’t missed out on a lot of experiences by being so focused on her grades. Even if high school was a long time ago these feelings of hesitation and second guessing are all totally familiar. Rachel’s decision to say yes to one thing- going to a party a cute boy invites her to- in fact, changes the way she see’s life, and that change is the impetus for her to keep saying yes. Another thing a lot of us can identify with, although for Rachel her yes’s are pretty small time and innocent.

Say Yes Summer is a cute YA contemporary that delivers a pretty impactful message for readers who may be stuck in their homes dreaming of what’s next in their own lives. I enjoyed living vicariously through her decisions, and actually wished it had continued on for a little longer. It was a nostalgic read that struck the right chord and I’d totally recommend it if you are looking for a few hours of light entertainment. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of the ARC through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

Summer books are my favorite and this was no different!! So cute and fun! The characters were great and I loved everything about this one.

This was a cute, light YA story. It's mainly an identity story. Who does Rachel want to be - the driven yet lonely person she has been throughout high school or a person who says yes to new experiences and maybe adds to her social circle along the way? There's also a romance piece with a love triangle. I liked Rachel right from the start, and had my favorite love interest picked out long before that part of the story developed. I enjoyed watching Rachel grow and change over the course of her summer of yes. (Language, drinking)

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children, Delacorte Press and Lindsey Roth Culli for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
For as long as Rachel Brooks can remember, she’s done exactly what she’s supposed to. Now Rachel is about to graduate at the top of her class, her hard work paying off. The only problem? While she was busy striving for perfection, she has said no to all parties, dances, boys... Now with all her goals met, Rachels decides it’s time to make a new goal: Have some fun! Rachel decides the summer before leaving for college will be The Summer of Yes. She has no idea just how much fun she’s about to have.
I was Rachel. I, too, put an immense amount of pressure on myself but I didn’t give myself a yes summer and now I’m thinking I should have! Rachel seemed to have fared through her phase a little better than I had. This book was the perfect mix of fun and light while still leaving you all warm and fuzzy. There’s romance, friendships and a whole lot of growth. If you’re a fan of Sarah Dessen I think you’ll like this read!

For as long as Rachel can remember, she's been an overachiever. She's spent her entire educational career getting straight-A's, never stepping out of line, and definitely not spending her weekends going to parties. While this led to her becoming valedictorian and getting into her dream college, it didn't give her many life experiences. So, that's why when she discovers an old self-help book buried in her room titled Season of Yes!, she decides that whatever comes her way this summer, she's going to say yes.

This little experiment leads Rachel so far out of her comfort zone: to parties, to rekindling old friendships, and the biggest one of all, romance. Rachel soon learns that saying yes to everything has its downsides, like when she starts juggling two guys: one who was the most popular boy in the class and who she's had a massive crush on for years and the other her lifelong annoyingly charming friend/coworker. As the countdown to college begins to creep closer, Rachel must confront her feelings before the risk's she's taken blow up in her face.

This. Was. So. Cute. I really liked this more than I thought I would. I thought the writing style was quick and easy to lose yourself in. I basically read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. I felt a connection towards Rachel since I'm very much a 'No' person as well, so watching her go on this journey of opening herself up to different experiences was lovely. I enjoyed the relationships she made, both old and new, and while I thought her and Clayton were cute together, I absolutely loved her and Miles. The way they bounced off one another and teased each other was adorable. If you're looking for a quick coming of age story, check this out.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from netgalley and the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Say Yes Summer

Author: Lindsey Roth Culli

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: May 12, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 15+ (saying yes to everything, romance, slight language)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 256

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The perfect book to kick off summer! For as long as Rachel Brooks can remember, she's had capital-G Goals: straight As, academic scholarship, college of her dreams. And it's all paid off--after years of following the rules and acing every exam, Rachel is graduating at the top of her class and ready to celebrate by . . . doing absolutely nothing. Because Rachel Brooks has spent most of high school saying no. No to dances, no to parties, and most especially, no to boys.

Now, for the first time in her life, there's nothing stopping Rachel from having a little fun--nothing, that is, except herself. So when she stumbles on a beat up old self-help book--A SEASON OF YES!--a crazy idea pops into her head: What if she just said yes to . . . everything?

And so begins a summer of yes. Yes to new experiences and big mistakes, yes to rekindled friendships and unexpected romances, yes to seeing the world in a whole new way. This book is a fresh and fun take on the coming-of-age novel that explores the quintessential themes of growing up: taking risks, making mistakes, and, of course, love. And who knows? Lindsey Roth Culli's hilarious and heartwarming debut may just inspire your own SAY YES SUMMER.

Review: I thought this book was a quick, sweet book that reminded me a lot of Yes Man with Jim Carrey. The characters were all well developed and the world building was done well. The book is equal parts funny as it is heartwarming and sweet. I loved the plot and the writing was very well done!

However, I did feel like if you aren’t used to a very fast pace in books then this will throw you a curve ball. The book is super fast paced and doesn’t stop running once it’s out of the gate.

Verdict: A well done sweet book!

Such a fun read! A typical YA novel but definitely one that I highly recommend. I’m in my 20s and really enjoyed it! Summer reminded me a bit of myself throughout.

A seemingly driven, maybe uptight girl decides to say yes to almost everything fir the summer after graduation. She figures out what you should and shouldn't say yes to and reunites with old friends and gains new friends.

I ate this book right up. It is the perfect summer romance and comparable with Morgan Matson's contemporary books. It was really cute and although it was kind of cheesy and predictable at times, I couldn't help but smile at all the moments. The character is perfectly imperfect and I enjoy that in a character. She comes to terms with her faults and learns lessons along the way. The perfect summer read filled with ice cream, what more could you ask for honestly?

2.5⭐️

Rachel Brooks is waiting for her life to begin. She realizes after her high school graduation that she has spent her life getting good grades, keeping her head down, and saying no. So when she finds a self-help book belonging to her Nonna, she makes it her summer mission to “say yes”. And this begins a summer of new experiences and romance.

Say Yes Summer is a classic story of a shy girl who pushes herself out of her comfort zone, gets over her head, figures out life is complicated, and has things work out the end. I’m not mad at the formula, I actually really like this trope, but I need good storytelling and characters that feel alive. I’ve read this story before, and I needed something to make it special in its own right, and it just didn’t have anything new to offer.

Story just kinds of meanders. I got over half way through before I realized nothing had really happened yet. And then all of a sudden she is torn between the guy she’s known all her life and the boy she’s had a crush on her whole life. I’m not mad at a love triangle, however this one felt very forced and inauthentic. On one side we have Clayton, the boy who who is patient with her as she struggles to open up because he believes she is worth the effort of getting to know. Compared with Miles, the boy who ha always existed in her world. Somehow Miles goes from being the guy who make her go “ew” to somehow being the one she can’t live without. There was no build up or chemistry. It just didn’t work for me, and frankly was unnecessary.

Overall, it was an easy summer read. Not something memorable, but enjoyable enough to finish.

*I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I feel like I want to like this book more than I do. It was cute, quick, and fun to read. But... it needed a bit more... something?
Rachel suddenly decides she doesn't like how she's been the last 4 years and decides to randomly say yes to things because she saw a book suggesting this. Love the idea and the concept. But Rachel seemed to resist this the whole way. Someone always had to remind her that she agreed to say yes to things. So the push and pull made the idea seem a little inauthentic. More like a plot device than an actual plot. Maybe I missed it, but I also never understood fully WHY she was doing this. Just because she had 1 (really 2) friends throughout high school? To get the cool, handsome, popular boy? To practice the change for when she got to college? Not sure.
BUT.
I loved the characters. Miles and his backstory, her friend who went to Paris, the old middle school friend who she reconnects with. Loved it. I actually really really enjoyed the reconnecting with an old friend storyline. It was wonderful.
But then the big climax/plot twist was just very... out of character. And then not even done well? I don't know; I know I'm a picky reader, but I need a liiiiiiiittle bit more to move from one guy to the next. Give him a bad characteristic. He smokes, he cusses, he likes Auburn football, I DON'T CARE but I need something to make me realize this isn't the guy I'm supposed to be rooting for. Because it just felt like she got what she wanted, freaked out and didn't trust him, but then realized she freaked out and what the truth was and then was like "okay well bye". Just a little bit more. Please.
Overall cute story, and I still rate it highly. I'd recommend it, BUT underaged drinking was portrayed as sort of common so I'm not 100% who I'd recommend it to...

Say Yes Summer has all the perfect elements of the genre: a love triangle, re-discovering friendships, a crappy, yet endearing summer job, a likable young heroine, and young love. It’s perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Morgan Matson!

ay Yes Summer, as the synopsis suggests follows Rachel Brooks, a girl with straight A’s at school but when it comes to normal teenage fun things, she has ZERO experience because when it came to non-academic things all she ever said was “NO.” However, this one summer is going to be the season of “YESes!”

Honestly, when I first read the synopsis I thought this is one of those typical summer stories about a good girl changing her usual monotonous way and finding a guy as the “perfect-ending.” However, I was proved wrong! This book discusses such important themes such as friendships, real meaning of our so called ‘life-goals’ and many other beautiful things that we are missing out on our lives just for the sake of ‘stability’.

The plot was really well planned. I mean, I could hardly notice any flaws because it was so effortlessly smooth! No unnecessary dragging on one theme or one scene, no plot holes and a perfect pacing! A PERFECT PLOT.

The characters were lovely! I mean, it has been quite a long time since I actually felt attached to characters from a contemporary, BUT this book made it happen! All the characters did a really good job at making the story look more relatable and emotionally attracting.

The writing style was quite intriguing and simple. I really think Lindsey could do a little more better to make sure that her words shine more than they do now.