Aimee Agresti's The Summer Set is a delightful summer romp of a book. Charlie returns to the summer theater of her youth in order to perform some community service, but she ends up having the chance to gain more than she ever thought. She's on a downward trajectory, having been a former A-list celebrity. What she finds at her former summer home is a chance to get both her love life and career back on track, but it won't come without challenges.

I am a bit of a theater nerd, so I enjoyed this take on the summer novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I am happy to recommend a wonderfully fun book for your summer beach read titled The Summer Set by Aime Agresti. The book starts with a deep dive into the waters of Boston Harbor when the main character, Charlie Savoy, a former actress drives her car right into the Harbor. She is sentenced to community service working for the Chamberlain Summer Theater which is managed by her former husband, Nick Blunt.



Nick is eager to have Charlier on board, even though she is coming unwillingly to the theater. The community theater is losing money hand over fist and he hopes that she can stop the bleed. The book is full of fun characters, the cast of the theater who are all hoping to get a major part in the play. The book is full of information about what goes on backstage, so those details were very interesting to me, who hasn't performed in this type of production before.

I loved the book, the characters (even ones I didn't mention!) Read the story to laugh, cry and cheer!



Q&A with Aimee Agresti

Q: Please give your elevator pitch for The Summer Set.

A: Gladly! THE SUMMER SET is a romp about a former Hollywood It Girl—Charlie Savoy—who flamed out, left the film world and now is almost 40 and back at the summer Shakespeare theater where she got her start as a teen….and where her ex is the artistic director. Drama and hijinks ensue! But it’s really a universal story about old flames, old friends, old rivals and second acts: having the courage to shake up your life!

Q: Which came first: the characters or plot line?

A: They sort of arrived together! This idea has been with me for a long time: I always had Charlie, my main character, and this sense of wanting her to be embarking on a “second act.” I wanted to tell the story of a bold, wild child kind of star who flamed out early and had to start over and figure out what she truly wanted. I always knew this character would be the type who seemed confident to anyone watching but was actually much more vulnerable deep down. Someone who’s acting as much offstage as onstage!

Q: Why do you love Charlie and why should readers root for her?

A: I really loved writing this character: she’s impulsive and aggressive and tough and uncontrollable. But all of her bravado is covering up how out of place she feels, how nervous she is to be back in the theater world after feeling like she failed in her film career. Anyone who has ever tried to act like they had it all together while actually being unsure on the inside (which I think is all of us, right?!) will understand Charlie and feel she’s a kindred spirit.

Q: We can see from your bio that you have written extensively about entertainment topics. Have you ever been involved in theatre yourself? If so, in which capacities? If not, what fascinates you about the theatre world?

A: As anyone who saw me as Miss Jones in Sherwood High School’s 1994 production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying would know: I am that drama geek who loves theater as much as humanly possible while having no actual talent. ;) I was lucky enough to grow up in a small town with a fantastic theater—the Olney Theatre in Olney, MD—and I volunteered there (offstage!) all through high school. It was an amazing place because the actors were incredible, they were New York-based, and they would come and actually live together at a residence on the theater property. I’ve always had an overactive imagination so I remember wondering what went on there: which ones were friends, which ones weren’t, was anyone hooking up?! I was fascinated. That experience hanging around there definitely sowed the very early seeds of this novel!

Q: Obviously you've interacted with many celebrities. Who were the most fascinating to talk to?

A: Oooh, there were so many fun ones: George Clooney is my all-time favorite (he’s EVERYONE’S favorite!) because he’s just a supernice guy and is that type who seems to always be having a great time. Some more of my favorites who also had that same warm spirit and were so much fun to chat with: Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie, Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Hugh Jackman, Hugh Grant, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the list goes on!

Q: If you could star in a movie or Broadway show, which one would you choose and why?

A: HA! OMG, I love this question! Since THE SUMMER SET is set at a summer theater, I’ll choose Broadway! Wow, there are just. So. Many! I would love to be Angelica in Hamilton and Mimi in Rent and Roxie in Chicago! I assure you I would be absolutely TERRIBLE in all of these roles but it would be tons of fun!

Q: What was your last 5 star read?

A: I just re-read a favorite--THE LOST VINTAGE by the wonderful Ann Mah! It’s an absolute gem of a novel about love, secrets and drama in French wine country. Beautiful writing, fantastic storytelling and it also satisfies the wanderlust we’re all feeling these days.

Q: What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

A: Oh wow, I feel like even five books in, I’m still learning! But I think one thing I never would’ve expected before I published my first novel is that every time a book comes out you feel that HUGE excitement but also that little rush of nerves, like: “OMG this thing that, for years, only lived in my head and on my laptop is now out there!!! Aaaah!” Or maybe that’s just me? ;)

Q: What inspired you to become a writer?

A: A love of reading! My mom is a librarian so I grew up reading everything in sight and I’ve just always loved escaping into books. I went to journalism school and worked in magazines, which I absolutely adored, but I always dreamed of writing novels, so I feel incredibly lucky to get to do this!

Q: What was your journey to get your first book published?

A: Great question! My first novel was ILLUMINATE, the first of my YA Gilded Wings Trilogy. I tend to write the book I most want to read at any given time and I got lucky that when I was in the mood for YA, so were a lot of other people, so that worked out! But I actually wrote another book BEFORE that one—it was a totally different vibe and not YA--that just didn’t hit things right, for whatever reason. I always say that publishing--the fiction world especially--is like falling in love and you need the right person to read the right manuscript on the right day and have the right connection to it in order to get published. I feel very lucky every time a book gets published!

Q: Let’s talk about your writing, what is your writing process like? Do you follow an outline or do you just see where the story leads you?

A: I’m a major outliner! I need to have everything mapped out. I need to know this journey has a destination. I admire writers who can let things unfold as they go—how freeing that must be!—but I’m a planner, it gives me comfort. Although, there are plenty of twists that only present themselves when you’re in the middle of writing so I do always let myself deviate from my outline too, great stuff comes out of that!

Q: Do you share your work along the way or wait until it is complete to have others read?

A: My sister is my beta reader and she is amazing! Sometimes I’ll give her the book as I’m writing it, as I did with THE SUMMER SET, and other times I’ll wait until it’s all finished (like with my previous novel, CAMPAIGN WIDOWS), it mostly depends on how tight the deadline is! She’s incredible and I’m so grateful for her close eye and the time she spends doing this for me. Since she enjoys the same books/films/stories/genres as I do, I know that if there’s something in my novel that isn’t working for her then it’s not going to work for any reader! She’s the best! If you’re reading this: Hi, sis!

Q: What inspired you to write The Summer Set?

A: I’ve always loved the film/TV/theater/music universe. I started out writing for entertainment magazines—Us Weekly, Premiere—and those jobs were incredible and offered me this amazing glimpse into that celebrity world with all of its ups and downs and drama and excitement. I’m an arts girl so I think there’s something magical about the way a great show, whether on stage or screen, can transport you or connect with you or seem to understand you. And I think the people who are able to bring those stories to life are fascinating!

Q: What projects are you currently working on?

A: I’m (slooooowly) at work on the next novel! It’s in those early stages but it’s an idea I’ve had for a long time so I’m excited! Wish me luck!!

Q: What’s your favorite genre?

A: Oooh, that’s tough! I actually will read anything and everything! For me, it just depends on the story. I’m always on board for great writing and the kind of storytelling that keeps me hooked and turning pages!

Q: Who is your favorite author?

A: I could never choose just one! I grew up on the classics (Austen, the Brontes, Hemingway, Salinger, on and on!) and I adore them so much and revisit them often like checking in on old friends! As for contemporary authors, I love Tom Perrotta, Nick Hornby, Emma Straub, Dave Eggers, Elizabeth Gilbert, to name a few! There are so many that I love and admire!

Q: What are your top 3 favorite books of all time

A: Oh man, this is REALLY tough because there are just soooo many. But I’ll go with these:

--Pride and Prejudice: I could read this every day! I’m completely Jane Austen-obsessed so I actually feel that way about all of her books. Even now, I’m thinking: should I choose Emma?! Or Persuasion?! How do you choose?!

--The Catcher in the Rye: I love everything Salinger. But Holden Caulfield was my first literary crush!

--A Moveable Feast: I also love everything Hemingway but I’ll go with this one because I’m pretty sure I belong in Paris in the ‘20s. (Aside from my very bad French.)

Q: How do you decide what kind of journey you want your characters to go on?

A: That’s a fantastic, huge question! Those first flashes I always have of a novel are of the main character in some sort of inner turmoil. So I tend to know the reason I’m going to be telling their story in the first place, but figuring out how to show it all and get from point A to B to C, takes a lot of mapping out!

Q: Would you ever write YA fantasy novels again?

A: I love this question! Absolutely, if the right story sparked! I had so much fun writing the Gilded Wings Trilogy, I miss those characters and still think of them and what adventures they might still be having! And I do miss writing magic and superpowers, it was always exciting to get to dream up those elements. So, you never know, I might just have to get back to that! ;)

A light and enjoyable novel set in the world of theatre, Aimee Agresti’s “The Summer Set” offers a lovely read perfect for the warming weather and Spring sunshine.

With an engaging ensemble of likeable characters, this novel does a superb job rotating through the viewpoints of different main characters and providing a glimpse into life behind the theatre curtain. Readers are sure to become invested in the relationship between actress Charlie and director Nick as well as the burgeoning romance between theatre apprentices Sierra and Ethan.

At times the plot meanders while also offering some sudden shortcuts to reveal character development. However, overall, “The Summer Set” is a worthwhile read that offers a great escape to behind the scenes drama of a summer theatre troupe and the dramatic lives of the actors that present the shows we love to watch.

A fun and juicy read that is sparkling and scintillating, Aimee Agresti’s The Summer Set is a fantastic tale about new beginnings, the twisted paths life takes us down and finding the courage to take chances that sizzles with plenty of backstage shenanigans, humor and heart.

Fame can be a very fickle mistress and nobody knows this better than Charlie Savoy. She had once been the girl whose name had been on everyone’s lips and whose face had been on every magazine and tabloid. But those halcyon days of fame and notoriety are long over. Now pushing forty and with her career in the dumpster, Charlie is more likely to feature in the Where Are They Now? column than on the front page. Exiled from the film world, Charlie is looking forward to kickstart a career that is on life support, but the only job she can get is in the Berkshires at the Shakespeare theatre where the artistic director happens to be none other than her ex, Nick.

Charlie is not exactly overjoyed to be back at the place where she had first launched her career. She was meant to be going forwards, not backwards, but a job is a job and Charlie is not exactly in a position to turn down work at the moment, so she grits her teeth, takes several deep breathes, squares her shoulders and launches herself wholly into her latest gig. Much to everyone’s surprise – especially hers!- Charlie begins to get her groove back. She is enjoying the work, bonding with her fellow actors and even finds herself flirting with her ex again. But Charlie should not get too comfortable because fate has got a nasty surprise in store for her in the shape of her nemesis…

The gloves are well and truly off and Charlie must fight with all of her might not to let anyone or anything destroy her fledgling happiness. With everything to play for and everything to lose, Charlie is determined to put on the show of a lifetime and to emerge victorious in the battle for survival and success. Will Charlie’s second chance end up smashed to smithereens? Or will she finally find that elusive happiness which has been missing
from her life for so long?

I raced through Aimee Agresti’s The Summer Set! Set backstage in the theater world, The Summer Set is a wonderful tale written in a warm and engaging style that grabs readers’ attention from the get go and keeps them entertained, laughing and completely hooked until the last page.

With a delightful cast of characters, behind the scenes mischief, delicious wit and gripping emotional drama, Aimee Agresti’s The Summer Set is a charming page-turner that is a must-read this summer!

I tried reading The Summer Set several times. But I just didn't care. The storyline was annoying to me, and I found I didn't like the characters. IT was a DNF for me.

I enjoyed this book. It was different than what I usually read. It was neat to get an inside look at the theatre.
The characters were okay, but not as well developed or complex as I would of liked. The story was salacoius and surprising at times. I think there was some loose ends left hanging that could of been improved upon.
A light read that will make you want to go to the Theatre.

In all honesty, I was blinded by the setting and missed the descriptors like “salacious”, “Broadway nerds” and “Hollywood gossips.” I’m more small-town, feel-good, bit of mystery, hopeless-romantic kind of girl. I’d rather pick up a home and garden magazine than a gossip rag. I couldn’t tell you anything about the latest romantic entanglements on and off screen because I frankly don’t care. Self-proclaimed gossip mavens and theatre buffs and those who enjoy steamy scandal will absolutely love this book – because it’s not bad, it just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. (Although that cover makes me really, really happy!)

That being said, this story is told with a cast of dynamic characters (that you may love or hate at any given moment) in a beautiful setting. The writing is evocative – I could picture every building and feel the refreshing coldness of the lake and hear the laughter and glasses tinkling in the local bar. The pacing is excellent and easy to read. There’s drama, young love, second chances, betrayal, scandal, and more – plus behind-the-scene glimpses into the glamorous and not-so-glamorous world of acting.

Know going in that it’s not all hearts and roses. It’s got some tawdry elements and coarse language that some readers may object to. Final consensus: I enjoyed the young romance, I enjoyed the triumph of the theatre being revived, and I’m glad that two hearts got a successful second chance at true love. (Plus, that cover….) I still want to make a summer escape to the Berkshires.

My review was originally posted on my blog as part of The Summer Set Blog Tour (May 21.)

If you know me, you know I love live theater — watching it and being part of it as an actor. This was a fun and funny read — Charlie is a bit of a bad girl, but you can’t help but like her and admire her pluckiness. Back with her old flame, Charlie is focused on herself and getting her way (think “diva”). At the same time we get a glimpse into some of the other characters as they share the voice in this story. Underneath it all is the imminent demise of the summer theater unless something or someone makes all the difference and breathes new life into it.

A fun read that is a light romance, this was a great choice for the summer! I will admit to sometime being confused when the point of view switched, but I figured it out!

Thank you for making me part of the blog tour and for my ARC!

(full post at Beth's Book-Nook Blog)

Ten years ago, Charlie Savoy took Hollywood by storm and was touted as the great new star destined for greatness along with her talented director, Nick Blunt. They made it even spicier by beginning a torrid love affair that flamed out after a year in spectacular fashion, along with their careers. She retreated to Boston where she now owns and operates an art house movie theater. Then she drives her car into the river, getting a court ordered community service assignment to work with Nick during the summer at his Chamberlain Summer Theater in the Berkshires where he’s combining three Shakespeare productions with an apprentice program. What could go wrong?

When we first meet Charlie, it’s directly after her mishap in the river and on her way to court. So, we learn about her mostly from others’ accounts of her history and the discussions she has with Nick as they recall their past experiences. I found both of them intriguing and wanted to know much more about them. What really worked about the story, however, was the window into the theater world. I found the inner workings of the backstage production, training and rehearsal elements fascinating. It’s a unique art and environment where it was obvious the author had either experience or done extensive research.

I liked the story, especially how Shakespearean aspects were woven into the plot. That was cleverly executed and made this a much more layered tale. But, Charlie often came across more like a twenty-something instead of the almost 40-years old she was. She was immature and I found her tedious at times. Her “voice” in the dialogue was too young, this feeling more like a story between two young adults. I listened to the book and enjoyed the narration but it was the dialogue that created the disconnect, not the performer. Despite that issue, I enjoyed seeing Charlie and Nick rediscover their love of theater and each other. The secondary characters are really strong and I was equally invested in their outcomes. There’s a lot to like here. 3.5 stars

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I don't typically read a whole lot of contemporary romance but in light of everything going on, I've been gravitating towards some light reads lately and this one was just what I was craving. And I liked that there was more than just romance here.

This was a fun book. It's about second chance love and I'm always up for that. But it was so much more than that. It's about trying to save something that is meaningful and realizing just who you are in the middle of that.

There are a lot of moving parts to this book and at first, it's hard to keep everyone straight, especially the younger set, but eventually everyone stands on their own. Of course, Charlie and Nick are really the stand-outs and while I enjoyed their stories, I do wish the younger set had equal screen time...there was a lot of potential for them.

I loved all the drama that was brought forth over the course of this book. It made for a fun book and again, this was what I needed. It might have been a little over the top at times, but set against the backdrop of the theater, it fit perfectly. This was a good story, filled with well-rounded characters that I was invested in from start to finish. I haven't read anything by this author before, but I would definitely read her again!

This will likely appeal to those that love theater, a bit of drama and a bit of romance. I thought the story was good. I didn’t love it because there were so many characters and not a lot of development. It didn’t capture my full attention the way some books do because of this.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Graydon House Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

So one of the first things that I had to note was that Charlie is considered “washed up” or a has been because she’s almost forty years old, and according to Hollywood standards, that’s too old. Which honestly, I hate because age does not dictate whether someone is beautiful or not, and honestly beauty is not the end-all for someone’s worth! But anyway, that’s just my hot take on that situation. So I feel for Charlie because even though I haven’t hit 30 yet, I already feel old because society has made me feel like being in my 20s is where I want to be for the rest of my life and if I haven’t done anything remarkable by then, then I failed in life. And that’s such a lie, and such an unrealistic standard that hurts people everywhere and will probably make them feel self-deprecating because they weren’t on the news making some sort of history.

But even though Charlie isn’t an A-Lister anymore, she’s still in the world of the acting arts – is that a term? – and she’s spending her time at the Shakespeare Theater where she got her start into acting in the first place. Sometimes it’s good to go back to your roots, remember what made you fall in love with your passion in the first place, and find that flame again when it feels like things aren’t making much sense anymore. I like that she did this, and maybe it didn’t hurt that there’s a potential love interest at play here, even though he is currently an ex lover.

As the synopsis says, and as you’ll be able to see the more you read the novel, Charlie starts to “get her groove back” a la Stella (How Stella Got her Groove Back, anyone?) and that’s exactly what I love about books like this. This makes me want to pull a Stella, pull a Charlie, and find my groove again. It can mean so much, and I feel like it meant so much to Charlie to find that groove and really get back to her love for acting and being in this world again. Away from the politics of Hollywood and all that drama. Having her have that chance to just detox from that life – although maybe there is a little bit of drama in the theater world – was great for her. You can’t have theater without some drama. It is the theater, after all.

When the request to have me read this book The Summer Set came across my email, I was intrigued. It looked interesting and the fact that it was also a romance made it even more so. I again deliberated about it for a few days because once again my to be read pile was calling my name. (My husband swears that they will all fall over and kill me in my sleep. Honestly is that a bad way to go?) In the end, I decided to take it. I can’t turn down the chance to read a new author.

Charlie has made quite the reputation for herself while she was younger. Drinking, jumping off the Tower Bridge in London on a dare, and getting arrested. She has managed to maintain a low profile since she has grown up and bought a cinema in Boston. That all changes when she drives herself into Boston Harbor after taking and Ambien. Her community service? Going to Chamberlain and working at the theater there. The owner….none other than her ex Nicholas Blunt. The events the ensue are interesting, to say the least. Honestly, I was not a huge fan of this book. It was interesting enough to keep my interest and to finish it but I have no ties to the characters what so ever. She could have killed one of them off and I probably wouldn’t have shed a tear for any of them.

While I didn’t want to see the theater fail because who wants to see someone’s lively hood collapse around their ears and feel good about it? I just felt the story was rather forced. I didn’t really like Charlie’s will she won’t she stay and finish out the whole thing. I didn’t like how Nicholas was kind of walked on the whole story. Man up and put your foot down, I understand you need money but don’t let those awful women walk all over you. I thought the romance was very subtle. Yes, the two interns hooked up but that was a long time coming and we knew it was going to happen. I really wanted more romance between the two main characters. The one thing I did like was Charlie taking the initiative and coming up with ways to help and save the theater herself. I was happy that she decided to try and save the place with her ideas since schmoozing for money wasn’t working.

In the end, this book just wasn’t for. I tried to like the book. There were aspects that I like but the ones I didn’t just outweigh them. Would I pick up another book by this author and try her again? Probably but maybe not right away.

Charlie Savoy, was a famous film star, but since her one flop at the box office things have been going down hill ever since. She is now exiled from her career and is being sentenced to community service at Camberlain theater. Charlie has memories of her time there when she was just a young star and she isn’t sure how she will feel being back there again.

Charlie’s ex love interest Nick is now running Camberlain, and he is trying his best to breathe new life and more sponsors to keep the theater alive. Having Charlie along with other stars for the summer, he hopes this will be just the thing he needs. Can he work with Charlie again and keep those long lost feelings at bay?

Soon Charlie starts reuniting with old friends and past co-stars and sees that maybe this is just what she needs. That is until Nick’s ex shows up at the theatre and Charlie can’t help but dredge up those old feelings once again. Can Charlie and Nick work through all these hurdles to breathe new life back into not only the theatre but into their own lives as well?

I really enjoyed this story and all the supporting characters, especially the students at the theatre. It showed the world of acting from both the seasoned pros and the young up and coming stars. The story flowed so seamlessly that you find yourself immersed into their lives and stories. A great read for summer.

Thank you so much to the author Aimee Agresti, Harlequin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

I contributed this review to Really Into This

Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!

Special thanks to Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

I'm a big theater nerd so this book set against a former Hollywood star doing a Summer stay at a community theater sounds right up my alley.

I loved the characters - the Hollywood standouts and the theater kids. The old relationships, secrets, second chances, and idyllic setting. After the first third of the book, my attention waned a bit.

Honestly, I'll chalk it up to my mood and attention span during this pandemic. This is a great poolside read & a great read for summertime.

My Review- The above statement, “The Immensely satisfying read will earn a standing ovation” is highly accurate. Not my typical read, but I loved this so much! This was exactly what I needed as we all experience our new normal. This book was the perfect Rom/Com/Dramatic read that I needed. Like I said, not my normal Genre, but if they are all this good, maybe I need to read more of them.

I really liked the character of Charlie, I found her relatable as I am about to approach my 40’s and there are certain ways I’m feeling with my life, that Charlie did too! The banter/tension between Charlie and the “It Girl” well, in reality, I enjoyed how she interacted with everyone she came in contact with. Loved the pop culture references too!

I really enjoyed this Shakespearean theatrical story. Older couple, younger couple, lots of interesting ancillary characters - it's a bit salacious as well as quite a bit Shakespearean. The modern-day plot echoes the plays of the summer season.

While this book's point of view is not always clear and tends to switch, I'm going to say that's probably due to the fact that I was reading a NetGalley copy on my Kindle. Thus, spacing and font switching, typical visual cues, were not there for me.

Overall, a fun summer read for readers who like lighter reads, or summer theatre, or both.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this “insider look” at a summer Shakespeare camp where teens learn from the pros. Everything about it rang true (and brought back fond memories). The characters were likable (except for the ones I loved to hate), and I liked how the teens (unknowingly) mimicked Charlie and Nick’s experiences. The cycle of the theater world is well-illustrated. It was a good read, and I will be on the lookout for this author’s next book. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book.

DNF at 23%

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I'm going to chalk this one up to it being a review copy, and just hope that the finished product is a little more polished. My main issue with The Summer Set was its formatting. The POV would change in the middle of a chapter, and it was making me crazy! I never knew who was speaking, and it would take me several sentences to figure it out. The story bounced between Charlie, Nick, Ethan, and Sierra, but there were a lot of other characters connected to their individual perspectives (with some interesting and unexpected overlap).

In addition to the formatting, there are time skips that added to my confusion. Characters would reference something that had happened, only we weren't there and didn't experience it with them. For example, Sierra mentions understanding Ethan's family drama, but we weren't privy to whatever those two shared concerning his parents. "Sierra had already witnessed Ethan's frustration with his family and understood how hard he tried to bottle it up."

What did she witness? When? Was this their brief conversation about why he had a job? If so, that was not indicative of bottled up emotions. And then a random character named Tripp pointed out the shirt he was wearing and said something about Ethan designing them for his family's business (apparently they can be bought from Urban Outfitters), which led to Ethan sharing a few words about setting up something profitable for his family, but that's the extent of the information we receive regarding his personal drama (the gist: he made money for his family, yet they're unsupportive). Sierra and Ethan have also developed quite the friendship in a very short amount of time, and we don't really get to see that take shape. One minute they're strangers, and the next they're best buds.

That's not the only gap that I stumbled over, but it was the most recent. At a bonfire, Nick brings Charlie a stick (for s'mores) and the group Sierra and Nick are a part of feel the need to comment on their interaction. Someone claims it's an olive branch because Nick got upset when Charlie kissed Chase during rehearsals, even though the two are playing Romeo and Juliet. It wasn't a stolen kiss in a dark corner somewhere, but one that was planned in the script. Are you confused yet? I am! Why? Because whatever they're talking about wasn't something that was witnessed by readers. After the group dissects a conversation they can't hear and are not involved in, someone else divulges Nick and Charlie's shared past, although no one knows why the two split when they did. It's a mystery!

Additionally, the characters in this book, at least where Charlie and Nick are concerned, are in their 40's! They're acting like angsty teenagers, and it's all because of something that happened YEARS and YEARS ago that we're𑁋again𑁋not privy to. I'm sure those details would have been shared eventually, but I don't have that kind of patience. Here's an idea... TALK TO EACH OTHER. If they had simply had an open and honest conversation, a lot of the conflict could have been resolved. Instead, they dance around each other, neither of them wanting to address the bees in their bonnets.

The story itself wasn't bad, and I didn't hate the characters, but I disliked how disorganized the book felt. Every time the perspective changed, I would have to readjust and find my flow again. It didn't help that after discerning who was speaking, I then had to figure out how much time had passed, and what I didn't know I'd missed. I wouldn't cross this one off your list completely, but definitely see if the published version has been cleaned up a bit before diving in.

A former actress drives her car into Boston Harbor - and is sentenced to 60 days of community service at a summer theater - which, as an actress shouldn't be a bad thing, except the theater is led by her former director/lover.

This is a fun read for theater fans. The backstage tension and opening night jitters are familiar feelings and this book helps bring them back.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.