This book was my introduction to Jill Shalvis, and boy was it a doozie. In a good way.  The Summer Deal (fifth in the Wildstone series) sucked me in from the first page and charmed me until the last.  I love that there was not only one great love story, but two; add to that the “bombshell of a secret” twist promised by the blurb, and I was hooked.  Shalvis writes like the kind of friend you always want to have with you on a vacation – sassy, sweet, and sparkling.  Her characters are people you want to hang out with, flaws and all, because it’s so easy to see a bit of yourself in each of them.  And when the troubles come, you root for them wholeheartedly, all the while smugly smiling to yourself knowing there’s a HEA coming just around the corner.

Meet Brynn and Kinsey, polar opposites and childhood enemies.  Brynn just stumbled her way home to Wildstone after coming off a brutal relationship with a  jerk who not only stole her bank account but also her ability to trust herself and others. Defeated and licking her wounds, she goes back to the one place she feels safe, only to run right into her past – in the form of tall dark and handsome Eli.  She clams up immediately and pretends not to remember him, though she has the stolen kiss they shared as teenagers on replay in her head.  Determined not to get herself tangled up in yet another romantic disaster, she tries to extricate herself from the situation.  Eli doesn’t make it easy for her by dangling in front of her the one thing she desperately needs right now: a place to live that’s cheap and away from her hovering mother. Unfortunately, the deal comes with a slight string attached, in the form of her arch nemesis, Kinsey Davis, who happens to also be a roommate in the house.

Kinsey, a no-nonsense, ice-pick of a woman, whose every comment stings, doesn’t like the situation any more than Brynn does, particularly because she knows something Brynn doesn’t – they are actually half-sisters, and Kinsey has no intention of telling her.  Kinsey has her own Prince Charming, a hulking tatted-up nurse named Deck, but can’t seem to take the final leap and commit to him.  And between the two sisters stands Eli, Kinsey’s best friend and Brynn’s crush. The history the two share is unfolded piece-meal with entries from each of the girls’ Summer Camp journal entries.  We also learn that tough, sarcastic Kinsey has been battling with disasters of her own, and could really use a sister right now.

All of the relationship dynamics here are spot on: Kinsey and Brynn fumbling towards each other while simultaneously wondering which one will scream chicken first.  The immediate attraction/denial between Eli and Brynn sparks like the Fourth of July, and the tender interactions between our heroines and the supporting characters are just the right balance of sappy and meaningful.  By the end, you feel like even if these people weren’t related by blood, they would still be family.  At this time where so much is unknown, and people seem so separated, it was lovely to feel surrounded by their normalcy.

The Summer Deal was pure sunshine to read.  Put it into your beach bag immediately.

~ Jill Cluff

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I’m new to Jill Shalvis’s books, and this is my third of hers so far this year. My first - Almost Just Friends, the fourth book in the Wildstone series of standalones - was an excellent start both to her writing and to the year. I went to Shalvis’s Cedar Ridge next with Nobody But You, and now I’ve returned to Wildstone with The Summer Deal. It's safe to say I'm officially in love with Ms Shalvis’s books, particularly the Wildstone series.

The Summer Deal was about love in all its many messy forms. It was about friendship and family - the ones we’re born into and the ones we choose for ourselves.

I loved the characters in this book. Brynn was always different and was often alienated, but it didn’t stop her from having a big heart. Her moms helped with that; their unconditional love and support, while at times bordering on smothering, taught Brynn to have an open heart and mind. Kinsey masked her pain and fear with a prickly personality, and kept people at arm’s length for their own good since she knew it was only a matter of time before her kidney gave out. She’d been best friends with Eli forever, so she let him love her, along with Eli’s younger brother Max, but other than that, she kept her distance from people, thinking she was saving herself and others a lot of unnecessary pain. She had trouble keeping her distance from Deck, though. The big, sexy nurse and father of an adorable little boy started out as a ‘friend with benefits, minus the friends’, but quickly turned into much more. He was so kind and caring, and he saw beneath Kinsey's tough exterior and fell for her even though he knew she didn’t want any attachments. And finally, there was Eli; he was patient, understanding, easy-going, and incredibly sexy. These characters were perfectly imperfect, relatable, and so much fun to read about.

I wanted to move into the beach house with Eli, Max, Kinsey, Brynn, and their big goofy dog Mini. They were all misfits in a way, they’d all experienced hurt and trauma, but their shared history - even though it left a rift between the girls - created a connection that couldn’t be broken. Their dynamics made for an entertaining, frustrating, hilarious, heart wrenching, heartwarming read. I loved the sibling relationship between Eli and Max, the tentative, budding sibling relationship between Brynn and Kinsey, and I also really loved the platonic friendship between Eli and Kinsey. The book I read immediately before The Summer Deal (Always a Bridesmaid by Cindi Madsen) had a great male-female friendship, and it made me realize how those friendships are lacking in romance. Ms Shalvis did a fantastic job of showing Eli and Kinsey’s bond, their affection for each other, and the deep connection they shared.

The Summer Deal made me laugh out loud, tear up, and swoon. It was such a lovely story about unconditional love, healing and forgiving past hurts, and allowing yourself to love and be loved.

I can't say enough good things about this book, I loved it. It's the 5th book in the Wildstone series, but I think it could be read as a standalone. If you know the characters, you've followed them from their time at summer camp to the present, where they are grown up, falling in love, and creating families.

It is the very definition of a "summer read/beach book", and I couldn't put it down! 5 stars.

Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have not read a Jill Shalvis book yet that I didn't love! She writes with compassion and empathy for her characters and in the end, she tries to make it a happily ever after. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a book that has a little of everything in it. Great beach read! Enjoy! 📚

Brynn went to summer camp as a child with Eli and his best friend Kinsey. Kinsey and Brynn hated each other while Eli and Brynn shared their first kisses together. Many years later, Brynn’s life is in disarray and she finds herself coincidentally renting a room from Eli....and Kinsey lives there too. Kinsey has some major secrets she is keeping.... can Brynn let go of the past to find love in all areas of her life??

Seriously - I can’t think of a cover that screams summer more than this one. This is honestly so much more than a romance - it is a story of family, friendship with some great romance all rolled into one! And it seems like a lot but it’s done so well!! I loved how all of the character’s relationships were so realistic yet loving. Eli was a dream boyfriend, so caring and patient. Brynn and Kinsey definitely had a hate to love relationship, but I loved their growth. You also get a side romance of Kinsey and her “friend with benefits without the friendship” Deck who was super dreamy! This one truly showed that family isn’t always about blood. Highly recommend this one for your summer reading list!

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrow / @harpercollins for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Oh my goodness! The Summer Deal made me sit back and appreciate my family and what I have in my life. Having to create your own “family” can be great, but can also be extremely difficult…as proven in this romance.

The main characters in this book, Brynn, Kinsey, Eli, Deck…they stole my heart. Each of them had such a vital part in this book, and the way author Jill Shalvis wrapped them all together was incredible! There was love, loss, second chances, heartbreak, humor, romance, deceit, hatred...secrets.

I loved the multiple POV writing and the journal entries were such a perfect addition to this storyline! I loved everything about this book! 5 stars.

Love Jill Shalvis books and she has a great one here. Deals with family and friends. Each character has secrets in their lives and coming together to share their lives as friends and become a family and in one instance literally! Issues that are relevant in our lives today. Great read!


Thanks Jill Shalvis and HarperCollins publishers for the change to read the early copy!

This book was so good! It's about a childhood crush and there's another element to it. Kinsey is Brynn's long-time enemy. Kinsey is also best friends with Brynn's crush Eli. When Brynn runs into Eli during an ER visit her interest is renewed. Thus begins a complex story between the three. No, this is not a threesome. I want to say that I loved all of the relationships between the characters in this book, but I don't want to give any major story plots away. It's about Brynn learning to trust a male in her life again. It's about a budding friendship. Brynn learns that friends can be their own kind of family. The Summer Deal is complex, heart-warming, and a great read! 4 stars

This book is a perfect beach read. It is is a book that starts with going home to find your old “frenemy” and if your too old for that stuff anymore...and who or what else might be left here...maybe romance?

Another great book from Jill Shalvis. Old childhood enemies trying to get over old hurts and sharing secrets as they now become friends again. The banter between Brynn and Kinsey is hilarious.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author Jill Shalvis for the ARC of The Summer Deal in return for my honest review.

I was unaware that The Summer Deal was book #5 in the Wildstone series when I first began reading. This ended up being of no concern--I feel this book is a stand-alone read, I did not feel lost by not having read the other four books in this series.

Jill Shalvis has created an interesting take on the path that friends can take to becoming lovers. I particularly liked that there is not a single perfect character in this story. Every person is flawed and concealing things to shield others they care about creating very relatable characters.

This is a slowly revealing story. While you can predict/anticipate how certain aspects of the story will unfold, there are also many other paths of the storyline that are not as clear making it enjoyable.

The Summer Deal is the perfect beach read! I wish the author included the recipes of the dishes described in the book!

Brynn & Kinsey are enemies from their days at camp when they were young. Oftentimes, they were in their cabin together Brynn due to her illnes & Kinsey because she doesn't see well with her glasses. Fast forward, Kinsey moves into a room in a house owned by her childhood crush and Brynn is a roommate. Throw in Kinsey's helicopter mom's, Brynn's need for a transplant and a little secret that Brynn had kept all these years. She & Kinsey share a father. Brynn knows him and hates him, Kinsey is trying to find him to help Brynn.
There are a lot of moving parts which kerps the story moving forward. I loved all of the characters, especially Brynn with her caustic tongue.

Another great story Jill Shalvis. It's a story of the family we're born into and the family we choose to be at our sides. Some chosen families are actually stronger than given families because they want to have your back and be at your side.

When Kinsey and Brynn discover they're half sisters they truly learn what family means. With Eli, Deck, and Max completing their chosen family, they learn what love, determination, and support truly mean.

A great Summer 2020 beach read!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

3.5

After the breakup of a disastrous relationship Brynn Turner is returning home to Wildstone to regroup. She's about had it was her life imploding and wants to focus on getting on track, whatever that means. Basically, she wants to stop blindly trusting people that turn around and take advantage of her. So, she's thrown for a loop when one of the first people she runs into is her childhood crush Eli. Unfortunately Eli was best friends with Brynn's childhood arch-nemisis Kinsey Davis. It looks like not much has changed in that department. Eli and Kinsey are still friends, and Kinsey is as rude as ever.

What Brynn doesn't know is that Kinsey has been battling serious health issues for her entire life, and it makes her keep everyone at arm's length because Kinsey knows her situation could take a turn for the worse sooner rather than later, and she can't bear to think of those she loves and cares about in pain. Because, yes, Kinsey does have quite a few people who fit that bill including Brynn. Although the reason for Kinsey's skewed loyalty towards Brynn comes with secrets of its own. Secrets that everyone but Brynn seems to be aware of, which makes things difficult when Eli and Brynn start falling for one another.

I've really enjoyed Jill Shalvis's Wildstone series. Particularly with The Summer Deal I stopped and paused and ruminated on the different sibling relationships that have been front and center throughout the entire series thus far, and I have to really give it to Jill Shalvis with showing so many different facets of the family dynamic.

The Summer Deal was bit different for me because while I was drawn into the story, and while there are specific individual moments where everything seems to kind of magically fit together in such a way of a perfect read, I didn't feel like I connected with the characters all that well. And I didn't feel the punch of the various revelations experienced throughout the story, mainly on Brynn's part. But I wanted to so badly.

I don't know if there was too much going on between Kinsey, Brynn, and Eli's characters each getting their own points of view throughout that no one could stand out or if it's that fact that readers are aware of what's going on so it's like we're just waiting for Brynn to catch up with everyone else. I think there's no real element of surprise for the readers, instead we're waiting for Brynn's reactions.

Regardless, I still found myself compulsively reading the book. Honestly, I felt like it was one of the more sensual books that's I've read by Jill Shalvis. There's not a lot in the way of sex. It's not completely fade-to-black, but we're not getting minute details, but what we do get, and what is done really well in both of the highlighted romances in the story, is this complete sense of connection.

Kinsey learning that she doesn't have to fear love and attachment just because her future is unknown and Brynn learning that her past mistakes in love don't mean that she should give up on forming attachments. These are the moments of perfection within the story.

Of course there is the bonding between Kinsey and Brynn which I loved seeing develop and, honestly, could have used so much more of because I always love when two characters start out as opposites, but slowly realize they are more alike than previously thought, and that's exactly Kinsey and Brynn.

Overall, not my favorite of the Wildstone series, but also a very enjoyable read. I cannot wait to go back again.

Jill Shalvis is quickly becoming my queen of series! I love a good series. The character development...the way the happy ever after isn't alway over...revisiting my favorite places and characters and familiar feelings... all of these factors work together to make me a happy series reader. *The Summer Deal* is book 5 in the Wildstone series, and can be read as a stand-alone, but NOT for me! Luckily I was all caught up with this series and read for book 5 and it really delivered. I enjoy and recommend all the books Shalvis has written. This book is no exception.

Another Jill Shalvis stunner! Much ugly crying and happy feels from me! Loved the characters and Wildstone setting. Great escapist read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

I think this story is a little bit different to the typical beach read. This one had that light and fun element that I enjoy but there is a little something extra thrown in. It was deep and emotional and I was surprised at how much it made me feel. I think this is a story that many people can relate to with family being at the center of it. It is a story about relationships and how sometimes family is the most complicated one of them all. I really did find all the characters likeable and I was rooting for everyone's happiness. I think that many people will enjoy this read especially if you're looking a heartwarming summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the review copy!

I loved this story about finding and creating family. Brynn and Kinsey go way back to summer camp, where they hated each other. Kinsey has kidney failure and finds out Brynn is her half sister. She is far from charming, in fact she's one of the most unpleasant and contrary people created by Jill Shalvis.
So well done! An intricate and slowly revealing story filled with beauty and love in all the forms that can take. I really recommend it. Couldn't put it down.

Wonderful! Loved the dynamic of the group and how they love and protect each other fiercely! Great read, another hit by Jill Shalvis.

I enjoyed the premise for this book a lot!

Setting up two romances into one book seems like the pattern in Wildstone series. In The Summer Deal, one is set between Brynn and Eli—her long lost childhood camp crush— with a slow burn relationship while the other one revolves around Kinsey (Eli’s best friend and Brynn’s childhood nemesis/secret step sister) and Deck, a male nurse I admit I would have liked to read more about.

Falling into like with Brynn as she navigates through her new life fresh from a bad break-up, having to deal with her nemesis from summer camp, Kinsey, and all the rest of The Summer Deal cast was no hardship! Once again Shalvis does a great job piquing a reader’s interest by developing endearing characters full of quirks and flaws, making them very relatable.

I loved the dichotomy between the two sisters, especially reading their journal entries. I particularly loved Kinsey, I could relate to her prickly behavior while being a big softie inside.

My only issue with the story was the repetitiveness in the pattern Eli and Kinsey keeping secrets from Brynn, up until the very end of the book. I just couldn’t understand why either of them kept another secret from Brynn when the first one had already made her fled and broke the trust she had so tentatively given them. If felt very contrived to use this again to keep the story going.

Reuniting two childhood frenemies around one big secret (disclosed in the blurb), The Summer Deal read like an easy beach read, entertaining throughout, it was lighthearted while still straddling heavier themes. Humor, family drama, romance and steam, is all I needed to get my mind off things this week. Special mention for the “Mini” effect, cute dog alert! The Jill Shalvis Magic lives!