I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I selected the book on NetGalley because I liked the cover and thought the description sounded vaguely interesting, but it defied my expectations by quite a lot.

It’s read through three different persepectives. K.J., Becka and Grampa Eli (through his letters). I liked getting to know the two girls properly, I think if it were single perspective I would have struggled to like the other character, which is quite good writing because it shows how much they despised each other, especially at the beginning. Grampa Eli was just the cutest with his love for his family and his passion for his bugs.

Some of the things he had them do sounded terrifying. Going down the Grand Cannon on mules, no thank you, I was with Becka on that one. And the hiking sounded exhausting. But Key West Florida sounded absolutely stunning and so much fun, if it’s actually like that, I’d love to go there someday.

The big twist in the middle wasn’t a surprise, I guessed it probably a hundred pages in. In saying that, I still think it was a decent twist and it helped move the plot along without being forced.

The ending wasn’t revolutionary or even that fresh, but it was nice and it worked for the story that was told. Not everything was magically solved within their family, but you can see the very beginnings of the puzzle pieces being put together. If you want a fun story about reconnecting family, this is the book for you. I loved it and definitely recommend.

My true rating is closer to 3.5. I liked the dynamics between the two main characters - going from disliking to liking each other. I kept having to remind myself, though, that they were high school graduates. Based on the story I felt like they were younger than they were, so at times the fact that they were on these long road trips seemed unrealistic to me. I also liked the injection of the letters from the grandfather into the story. That was an element that was heartwarming.

Not Our Summer slapped me with “You really thought this is going to be an average read, huh?”

We follow K.J. and Becka as they go through different trips because of what their grandfather wrote in his will. BITTERSWEET. It’s the first word that came into my mind after finishing this book. Letters written by a loved one of a main character being read throughout a book always get me. Especially if it’s written by a loved one who’s passed away.

It’s not only the family aspect that’s amazing but the trips themselves!!!! They made me crave and long for travelling and going to beautiful places with family or friends. The thrill of trying out new things even if you’re feeling scared! PLEASE MAKE COVID GO AWAY so our lives could be better and then we could enjoy things like travelling again.

I loved how this book focused on family and never lost its focus. Sure, there were hints of romance but the book just let it happen and then moved back to focusing on the family. The lowkeyness (is that even a word..?) of the romance is actually what made me like it!

Not Our Summer made me feel good and hopeful. It lets you wonder by yourself what could happen in the future. I really like it when a book makes you use your creativity and imagination.

Now here is a story full of love, family, rivalry, history, and infidelity. This book definitely fulfills those feel-good vibes. A good book to pick up when you're out on your patio on a hot summer day, with a glass of lemonade, and just soaking in the afternoon sunshine. I LOVED K.J.'s personality from start to end hahahaaa. She literally does not give a care for what others think of her, and she just does whatever comes to mind. That is a personality that I honestly admire. I love how the author made Becca the total opposite of K.J: a girl who tries to control every step in her life, and has her entire route planned out. The way the two clash because they are so different, yet grow to create a strong friendship and a form of protectiveness for each other was just beautiful. ALSO, I was routing for CARTER AND K.J. right from THE START. Literally, the minute Carter entered the book, I was like OMG LOVE INTEREST RIGHT HERE NEW BOOK CRUSH AHHHHH (I literally act like that with every male lead but who cares). Definitely a wonderful story :)

I don't have very strong feelings for this book one way or another. I liked it, but it didn't have any special spark to it. There were some funny moments in the feud between Becka and K.J., but my favorite moments were in their trip to the Florida Keys. There was a twist I didn't see coming, but it still didn't make me super invested in the story. Reading a book with a character with agoraphobia was very cool though.

I think this is a good book if you want a low stakes read with familial forced proximity and characters having new adventures.

This was a super quick read, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was easy. This YA had a ton of family drama and made me very grateful for my mostly drama free family.  It was fun to go along with these bucket list trips and I enjoy seeing what happened.  ⭐⭐⭐💫 I recommend for fans of You Have A Match.

I received an ARC of Not Our Summer by Casie Bazay thanks to the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Not Our Summer tells the story of two cousins and their mothers who hate each other due to an event in the past unknown to the cousin's. Forced together on a journey, the two uncover the secrets of the past and learn why they have been put together.

The story is interesting. There was enough secrecy that I wanted to keep reading to find out what had happened to make the mother's hate each other and why it had continued into the their daughters. I also love the way the secrets were discovered. It was a unique take that reminded me of 13 Little Blue Envelopes, which I loved.

I really enjoyed that the story focused on the family and did not really involve interactions with others. There was no focus on friendships or dating, it was simply a 'family bonding' experience. It was really refreshing to read. It also is must lighter than some of the other books I have been reading, which was a really enjoyable experience.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. I wish it was a bit longer, with more 'stops', but that is the best kind of complaint I can have.

It's bad enough that estranged cousins KJ and Becka have to see each other at their grandpa's funeral, but when he leaves them a bucket list of places to visit together over the summer to earn their inheritance, it seems like things are going to get much worse. However, with each trip the cousins begin to trust and get to know one another. That is until they discover the truth behind their family's feud and Grandpa's bucket list. Will KJ and Becka find a way to accept each other and mend their divided family?

On one hand this was a fun and quick family story, but on the other I found both KJ and Becka to be unlikable in the beginning. That said, as the story progressed I liked seeing their character development and how they both learned from each other. Casie Bazay managed to pack a lot into the story, however some parts felt a little rushed and I wanted to see more of their travels. I thought the ending was satisfactory and liked that the story ended on a hopeful note. A very solid debut novel!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

it's a sweet fast-paced book with explorations of family and grief. Solid debut. it was definitely an enjoyable read for me

Becka and K.J. didn't really know each other due to the "family feud", but their grandfather had a plan that would hopefully reunite them. Unbeknownst to the family, Grandpa Eli left them an inheritance, however, there was a catch. Becka and K.J. had to take the bucket list trips he planned, but was unable to complete due to his agoraphobia. The question - would Eli's plan work or would it drive them further apart?

I had a great time taking this journey with Becka and K.J. I can't say it wasn't without its bumps, but the forward progress far exceeded the setbacks. It was a pleasure watching the cousins peel back all the years of their mothers animosity to truly see each other. You all know I am alway here for the heartwarming stuff, and Not Our Summer gave me that and more.

The trips were probably one of my favorite parts of this book. I swear COVID has made me appreciate any sort of travel more than I ever have, and Grandpa Eli planned a rather incredible list of destinations and activities for K.J. and Becka. The first trip was to the Grand Canyon, and I was excited to relive my recent visit with them. We then traveled to Yellowstone, rode the rapids in North Carolina, went to Key West for snuba diving, and took some risks at a local rodeo. Each trip was a thrill, and it was wonderful to see these two learn a bit more about each other with each outing.

Then, there were Eli's letters to the girls. Look, I am a total sap, so Eli reaching out with wisdom from beyond the grave made my heart pitter-pat. I was sort of sad, that the girls didn't get to have these conversations with him when he was alive, but I loved that he took the time to write these letters to leave them with some guidance to navigate their complicated family. I have seen this plot device before, but I thought it was utilized really well in this story.

Families can be complicated, and K.J. and Becka's was REALLY complicated. I loved how their grandfather plotted their reunion from beyond the grave, and I had a great time traveling with them. Each trip not only helped them understand each other, they helped them understand themselves. The very end may have left me with a few tears too.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

One of the main things that I loved about this book was that it was so addicting to read. I had only started it and suddenly I'm over 3/4 of the way through and sad to see it coming to an end.

Both characters were well written and I liked reading about the different adventures they went on and how their relationship expanded. There were some interesting twists that I didn't expect but overall enjoyed.

I was never much of a fan of books about family feuds but this was a great read! The adventure/road trip aspect also helps with how quick the book read. This is the perfect book for summer and I definitely recommend that other's read it!!

This was such a fun, entertaining and fast read, that held a lot of sentiment and displayed just how important a family bond truly can be. I really enjoyed getting to join Becka and K.J. on their road trip to completing the bucket list their late-grandfather had created for them, in order to regain a bond their mother's would most likely be unable to revive, after past mistakes and regrets. I especially loved how with every adventure the girls took together, their relationship started to blossom, and change was a lot more obvious between the two and how they were feeling about one another. It was clear that their was a lot of damage between the cousins and their family as a whole, so although the girls had progressed one step forward, I believed that there was also going to be two steps back. I guessed the plot twist quite early on, not because it was predictable, but because I was kind of rooting for that to be the direction, in which the book was leading to - that type of plot twist always has the power to shift dynamics even more and I'll put my hands up, I love that type of family drama in books. I would highly recommend this book to all readers, as it is the perfect light-hearted read for the Spring/Summer days slowly arriving, filled with family, betrayal, adventure, forgiveness and healing.

Complete opposites K. J. and Becka have only seen each other a couple of times in their lives before, never mind the fact that they’re cousins. And due to the feud between their mothers, they’d rather they didn’t have to spend any time together at all. But when their grandfather dies and leaves them a large amount of money with the stipulation that the two estranged cousins must go on five specific trips around the country together first, K. J. and Becka are forced into closer quarters than they’ve ever been before. Yet with every trip they complete—facing daunting tasks like riding mules into the Grand Canyon and white-water rafting on the Chattooga River—they find themselves beginning to grow closer together. That is until the real truth behind their family feud is revealed, changing everything. Will they be able to overcome the past and face the future together? Or will the family divide become deeper than ever before?

Casie Bazay’s debut is perfect for the adventurer in all of us. Bazay’s depiction of the many settings is spot-on and brimming with exquisite details. As I read, I found myself wanting to join the cousins on their trips, albeit without the awkward silences. All of the characters, not only the two protagonists, are well-developed with natural strengths and weaknesses. The dual narration supports the story flawlessly, and I especially enjoyed the seamless addition of the epistolary form as the two girls are presented with several of their grandfather’s letters. My main takeaway? It felt real, like this is a story that two cousins-at-odds might actually experience. Fans of road trip stories and narratives with complex family relationships will love this adventurous and genuine tale.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

honestly i didn’t have many expectations going into this book but i got pretty attached to the characters and didn’t see the major plot twist coming at all which is really good because i feel like it made this book a little less predictable. super cute story though

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Not Our Summer follows K.J. and Becka, two cousins, as they face a series of challenges. When their grandfather died, he left them a sizable inheritance on the condition that they take a series of family vacations. Although this could seem to be a simple task, K.J. and Becka are bitter enemies due to unresolved family issues. They gradually come to understand each other over the course of the journey, all while enjoying the time of their lives.
Not Our Summer does not defy expectations. It's about two girls who are working on a bucket list and going from rivals to frenemies. It's sweet and campy, and it's a simple and enjoyable read. I just wish we had a bit more development into either girl's mother, given that they are the root of the feud, or maybe more flashback scenes between the girls and the people they've lost in their lives. A couple of the beats here sounded like they were going to be dramatic, but they were so unsupported that they ended up sounding empty.
Since the story is so character-driven, it was critical that I liked the characters. I'm pleased to report that I did! Becka and K.J. both had their own distinct voice, and I loved each of them. It was so moving to see them reunited, particularly because it felt so genuine. They didn't just become best friends and forget about their years of animosity. Instead, they'd make some gains but lose them, before making some more. I was cheering for them the whole time due to the sluggish process, and I was really pleased with the outcome!
This was a great book for me! Casie Bazay did an excellent job with this novel's prose. I didn't get annoyed with the story or the characters for the most part, and I was always eager to see what happened next. It was quickly cliché, but I didn't mind because the book was well worth the read.
I'll be on the lookout for them, given how much I loved this! I enjoyed hearing about the wonderful places these girls visited; they were all so lush and lovely. If you enjoy contemporary fiction, you'll enjoy this novel.
Thank you to Perseus Books and Running Press for letting me read an eARC on Net Galley!

I was really craving a moving summertime book and I felt that this book really hit all the boxes for me!

It was such a great story about moving past family history in order to create your own. I loved both Becka and KJ’s growth through out the book. They really grew organically and it didn’t feel forced.

I also loved that this book focused on a cousin relationship and didn’t have any romance in it. This is super rare in this type of summer read but I felt it really helped to not detract from the main storyline (a lot of novels toss a romance in there even when unnecessary so this was super appreciated to me)

I'm not really sure why I was under the impression, for the longest time, that this was a sapphic book. I mean, I've read the synopsis plenty of times. *face palm*

Not Our Summer is the story of two cousins who go on a bucket list adventure for their deceased Grandpa. It's a fun and quick read. And it reminded me of all the adventures my cousins and I planned with our Grandma when we were younger. We didn't actually go on 99 percent of them, but that wasn't really the point now that I look back.

Not Our Summer is perfect for Summer at the beach, by the pool, or on a road trip.

This book tells the story of the two estranged cousins who must work together on a road trip in order to fulfill their late grandfather's dying wish of reuniting them and to gain their inheritance. This was such a fun and engaging summer read! I'm always a sucker for contemporary YA told in dual POVs, and Bazay is masterful at capturing the unique voices of both of her female protagonists, KJ and Becka. The pace is quick, and I was fully immersed in the story. I can't wait to read more of Casie Bazay's work!

This book made me want to go on an adventure! See the Grand Canyon, go white water rafting, scuba dive, it all sounded like so much fun. K.J. and Becka get a chance to do these things and more when their grandpa abruptly dies and leaves them a large sum of money with once catch: they have to travel together to places Eli wished he could have gone. The girls don't get along and aren't sure if they'll survive a summer of trips, but they decide to try anyway.

I would love a chance to go on trips like K.J. and Becka and I'm going to have to plan some things for the summer. The girls have very different personalities and clash a lot at the beginning. We get to see both of their points of view and it was interesting that they both thought the other was the bad guy. With all this forced proximity, the cousins eventually talk and get to know each other's fears and goals. I enjoyed seeing K.J. start to have real ambitions for her future and Becka gain a confidant.

Other than a small part where K.J. made some poor decisions that frustrated me, I really liked both girls. The setting was a lot of fun and the pacing is very quick. I think this is a great road trip book and I look forward to the release!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Running Press Kids for the advanced copy.