Jill Shalvis is my go to for all things romance. However, lately I’ve absolutely loved her women’s fiction novels. Heart. Friendship. Heat. And so many wonderful things wrapped into one great package. The Summer Deal is exactly that. I love this one as much as I loved her first women’s fiction novel. I’m so lucky I got to read an advanced reading copy. Thank you Netgalley!! The only downside is that I’m hungry for more books written by this author. If you love Jill Shalvis, this is a must read.

I enjoyed this book, not what I'm used to from the author but I did like it! 4 stars for this!
We follow a few people in this story, but our main characters are Brynn, Kinsey & Eli, and a bit of Kinsey's not friend but with benefits Deck.
Kinsey has a secret, Eli knows it, and it has to do with Brynn. Kinsey has been a thorn in Brynn's side for years every summer at camp. When you find out the secret you will be shocked! But there is other things going on with these two and the other characters that will hold your attention throughout the book. Will the woman be able to let love into their fragile lives? You'll have to read and find out!

Jill Shalvis never disappoints. She spins a tale of friendemies turned best friends in this summer’s go to beach read. I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Cute beach read- I did not know this book was a part of a series, I read it as a stand alone and it was good but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read the first four.

I found out after I read this, that this is actually part of a series. I read it as a stand-alone and I was not lost. I enjoyed this book. Fans of Jill Shalvis will also.

I usually love Jill Shalvis’s book but found myself bored at the end. A story of two women who did not like each other since childhood and found out they were half sisters. Just didn’t hold my interest. I appreciate Netgalley and William Morrow publisher’s for the chance to read and review this.

THE SUMMER DEAL is book five in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis, but I find that you can really read these books as a standalone. I didn’t have very much expectation about this book, so I went in with a very open mind.

One thing I liked about this book is the fact that Shalvis can make light out of every situation. Whether it’s something grim or just the characters hanging out, she manages to infuse the scene with her trademark humor.

However, I just don’t think I was a huge fan of the concept of this particular story. This book has three main characters. There’s Brynn who suffers from panic attacks. Then there’s Kinsey whose body is rejecting the organ she’d just had transplanted. And there’s Eli who has been best friends with Kinsey for his entire life. There is a romance that occurs in this book, but the relationship between Kinsey and Brynn is also quite important to the storyline.

In theory, I liked the sound of it. However while I was reading the book, I just thought that it was a bit grim. There were some parts I would have liked to see more of and other parts that I would’ve liked to skip over completely, so with that being said, I didn’t love all aspects of this book.

I do think that Shalvis is making a bigger effort to make her books less of just a romance and a put more Women’s Fiction elements into it. I just don’t know if I’m always going to be in the mood for this kind of writing all the time.

Brynn does not have her life together. Things just seem to keep crashing down around her. Kinsey has been pushing through obstacles her whole life, and now she is just marking time, or so she tells herself. Eli just wants those he loves to be happy and safe, and now he has a chance to make that happen, and to maybe find a little of that for himself, too. One summer. 3 people who were once all connected at camp, and now have a chance to re-connect on a different level, and maybe make a difference. Shalvis once again hits the mark with a book that incorporates humor and love in all of its forms, and characters that feel as though they could walk right off of the pages.

Little bit coming of age, little bit family drama, little bit romance. Excellent writing, solid and snappy dialogue, relatable-ish cast of characters... though I had to remember back a million years ago to my 20s! Enjoyable read for sure.

Kinsey and Brynn meet up as adults after suffering through the same summer camp for years. Each girl has memories of the other being a bully at camp and can’t stand the thought of a happy reunion when it unexpectedly happens.

When Brynn comes home after her boyfriend dumps her - she is afraid to let anyone in again.

Kinsey has had a life of disappointments with medical problems, family drama and has a wall built around her miles high.

Can either girl let love in when it comes crashing in? What happens when friends will do just about anything for you?

I absolutely love and adore Jill Shalvis. Her writing style is amazing!

That being said, this book was no different. I absolutely loved it! The characters were precious, and made the story that much better.

All in all, I thought this book was great, and was a nice light read.

I’m in the minority with my 2 star rating but I’m sad to say I just cannot connect to any of the characters! I was hoping it would get better but the more I read, I found myself skimming pages and just not enjoying it at all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

It absolutely pains me to say that I didn't like this book. I am a long-time Jill Shalvis reader and never thought I'd find a story of hers that didn't, at the very least, entertain. I guess it's not fair to say that I wasn't entertained, because I did keep coming back and reading more, I just wasn't happy when I was through with it.

I will start by saying that I didn't hate everything about it. I don't want to mislead you. I did enjoy the periphery characters, but the main characters did not do anything for me...at all. I really loved Deck. He was an incredible character. He made limited appearances, but he stole the show for me for real. I adored his and Kenzie's relationship.

Now for what I didn't like...

I feel like Brynn accepted the fact that Kinsey was her sister WAY too readily. She didn't ask for proof or even time to accept it. It didn't match with all of the previous interactions between the two.

Also, Brynn was definitely a hypocrite. She went around telling everyone that they had to be honest and there could be no more secrets, no more lies, blah, blah, blah. Then when she was looking for their dad, she say, "Sometimes people keep secrets because it's easier than the hurt and disappointment that knowing those secrets will lead to." She was quick to judge everyone around her, but then ran to hide when people turned the table on her.

And then there was Eli... he was a bit stale to me. He was very complacent and just a drab character and I didn't connect with him at all.

Overall, it just wasn't what I'm used to from this author.

Brynn just moved home after being dumped by her boyfriend. She doesn't know what she wants to do, but when her moms call an ambulance for her because they think she's having a heart attack, its only a panic attack, her life changes.

Kinsey is at the hospital because she needs a kidney transplant and she was informed one was on the way. Her best friend Eli is there as well, worried. He decides to go to the vending machine for snacks and runs into Brynn. They are surprised to see each other, she pretends to not remember him.

These three went to summer camp together when they were kids. What Brynn doesn't know is a family secret that her and Kinsey share. While Eli is still as sexy as he was when they were younger.

Kinsey thinks she is a walking expiation date and doesn't want anyone to get close. She's is seeing Deck but she won't let him stay over. Deck is head over heels, and is always there for her. It takes Kinsey awhile to realize that being loved is a gift and to enjoy and cherish it while she has it. In the end everything works out for everyone and the girls are more than they seem.

I loved these characters they were going through a hard time and did the best they could. Brynn irritated me, everytime someone screwed up, kept something from her even when she was doing the same, she bailed. Kinsey keeps something from Brynn, and because Eli knows, Brynn takes her anger out on him too. Brynn cannot have it both ways and needs to work on that. I highly recommend this book, and a box of tissues, i have no idea how many times I cried. Are they able to forgive each other about the past and be the family they all need?

This is about Kinsey and Brynn. They went to summer camp together all their childhood, but didn’t get along. Kinsey had fought health problems all her life, and that led her to not wanting to let anyone get close. Brynn, grew up being bullied. When Brynn returns home, to get over a bad relationship she meets Eli, who was the first boy she ever kissed, years ago at summer camp. And this leads to her moving in with him, Kinsey, and Eli’s brother Max. Each one of them have their own issues and insecurities. Kinsey and Brynn discover they are more connected than just going to camp.
I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and funny. The characters were all so real, and you could really get their personalities and what made them. This was very well written, and the story came alive on the page. It definitely kept me interested.

Brynn and Kinsey spent summer camp together throughout most of their childhoods. They were not friends and now as adults, they find themselves roommates. ARC from NetGalley.

Brynn Turner's moving home at almost 30, not exactly the plan she had for her life. After her latest boyfriend scammed her and took off with almost everything, the contents of her bank accounts included, she needs some time to reset and get her life in order. When a panic attack lands her in the ER the last thing she needs is to bump into Eli, her childhood summer camp crush and friend of Kinsey Davis, summer camp mean girl. Kinsey Davis has spent her entire life in and out of the hospital, most of that time with her best friend Eli by her side. Kinsey's had a rough life and has learned to not get her hopes up or attached to people. Eli couldn't be more thrilled to see Brynn, realizing that time hasn't dulled his affections for her, he offers her a room for rent in his house. When secrets start to come out, Brynn questions everything she thought she knew about her new roommates.

This is such a wonderfully written story. It's about much so more than just Brynn and Eli's relationship, we get a bit of Kinsey and Deck, and see all the characters work through some pretty tough issues. I really enjoyed that it was about more than one relationship, the plot wasn't confusing or overwhelming. Each character's voice and distinct personality stayed true to them until the end, which I feel not all authors do well. Despite her prickly exterior, I adored Kinsey, and the amount of love and fierce protectiveness she had for the people that she did let in. Brynn was so relatable to me, feeling like an all-around train wreck most of the time, I'm so glad she learned to fight for the important people in her life. Despite the heavier plot, there was definitely comic relief in the form of Brynn's moms, they brought some much-needed levity and had me cackling. This is such a great read about so much more than just romantic love, it's about found family, forgiveness, patience, honesty and fighting for those you love. Highly recommend

I could not put this book down. Jill Shalvis just gets better with every story she writes. The Summer Deal features Brynn, who is back in town after a bad breakup, Kinsey, a childhood frenemy of Brynn's from camp and Eli...another camp friend and Brynn's first kiss. As the three come together, new and past relationships are revealed and, as the story got deeper, i found myself warmed by the idea that friends can really be the family you choose.

Brynn is the girl who is just trying to find her home and her way after various jobs and choices she's made. Kinsey is battling a failing liver transplant and, while she comes across as cranky and mean, is really one of the strongest people in this story. Eli....a sexy, nerdy marine biologist, is the calming presence despite having demons of his own. Add in fun, spirited brother Max and...possibly my favorite....Kinsey's friend-with-benefits, Deck, and this group just got to me. I loved watching them interact with one another and how they all really become a family by the end.

The Summer Deal is part of Shalvis's Wildstone women's fiction series. She has always been a top favorite of mine and this book truly continues that trend. I loved everything about this read and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a warm, funny, uplifting read.

Brynn has returned home with her tail between her legs. After a bad breakup, she flees to Wildstone to her two loving but smothering moms. A chance meeting with an old friend, Eli, brings her nemesis Kinsey back into her life; Kinsey and Brynn were bunk-mates at camp and notoriously disliked each other. But now Brynn is roommates with her crush Eli, his brother Max, and Kinsey.

Kinsey is hiding a few secrets from Brynn, and it's hard to tell which is worse: that Kinsey in renal failure or that they're half sisters. Kinsey is prickly and likes to keep people at a distance. She'll have to fight her impulse to push everyone away if she wants to keep her sister, her best friend, and her not-boyfriend.

This book is another winner from Jill Shalvis. I'm a fan of her work, but this book felt different from some of her other novels. Perhaps it was the alternating POVs of Kinsey and Brynn, or the fact that Kinsey was an asshole (but a lovable asshole) when many of her characters are similar to Brynn, in that they are overly nice. This may be one of my favorite Jill Shalvis novels - kidney transplants are near and dear to my family, and while there was a lot of romance, which I love, there was also a lot of story and drama.

Brynn, Kinsey and Eli went to summer camp together for baby years. Brynn and Eli were each other’s first kiss. Kinsey and Eli are like brother and sister. But Kinsey and Brynn actually are sisters and Brynn doesn’t know.

Brynn just got out of a bad relationship and goes back to her hometown. She winds up in the hospital after a panic attack which causes her to run into Eli. She hasn’t seen Eli in 14 years.
Eli is at the hospital with Kinsey. Kinsey and Brynn were frenemies at best and they haven’t seen each other in 14 years either. Eli wants Kinsey to finally tell Brynn that they are half sisters. He convinces Brynn to come see the room he has for rent. His other roommates are Kinsey and his brother Max.

Kinsey keeps everyone at a distance because she’s afraid she won’t live long. She has a great guy in her life named Deck but she keeps him at a distance. She keeps everyone but Eli at a distance.

Eli decides to force Kinsey and Brynn into spending time together. In the process, he falls for Brynn.

I think the characters in the book are quite likable, especially Eli, Deck and Brynn. The dramas in the story are interesting but not over the top.

This was a light, easy read.
I didn’t realize it was a series book but it seems to work well as a stand alone too.

I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thanks!