This had the potential to be cute, but it was just too much. The random jumps to side character POVs, the obnoxious amount of self-doubt and inability to make a choice by the main character made it just meh. It was all surface level emotions and the indecision was annoying. The tie-ins to classic movies also fell flat. There is just too much happening to make this a good read.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this book at first. Christmas in the middle of summer? I’m not one of those crazy Christmas people so I wasn’t sure it was going to work. Thankfully, there weren’t too many Christmas carols.

Ivy is a screen writer just trying to make a name for herself. Nick is her long time boyfriend who is ready to take over the family business. Like so many relationships that start early in life it seems their futures are going different directions and they break up.

When the movie that Ivy writes about their relationship is being produced it forces Ivy back to her hometown to confront the past. She’s forced to make decisions about what she truly wants in life and how she wants to get it.

Personally, one of my favorite plots is the long time romance. It’s the ones that have been together since they were kids and finally make it that get me so I really loved the romance part.

I would not say that I am a huge fan of this book. It was a little bit hard to follow at times and the plot just wasn't enough to keep me fully engaged. I did finish the book but it was a bit of a struggle. I probably would not pick this one up again.

CRINGE!
I gave up on this audiobook 60% of the way through because I could not deal with the vapid, dumb characters or the HUGE lack of romance. The main couple still hadn't gotten together by the time I tapped out and I didn't care if either one got a HEA (they were that unlikeable).
Everything about this book was just so cheesy. I struggled to find any characters I liked in this D- Hallmark Christmas flick wannabe at all. Everyone was one dimensional and the dialogue/plot was sooo slow, dumb and boring I just couldn't hang in there anymore. I requested this ARC audiobook because I had a hankering for some Christmas in July and this book turned me into the Grinch.
The narrator did great, the material was the problem. Rarely do I pick a book that I can't force myself to finish, so this negative reaction surprised me too. If you're looking for characters to root for, steamy contemporary romance and a few laughs - Skip this one and read an Abby Jimenez book instead.

The Summer of Chritmas, by Juliet Giglio and Keoth Giglio(Publication Date: 07/05/22) was cute.

I was drawn to this book/audiobook because of the cover. It looked like a fun and sassy romcom taking place during the Christmas season.

I liked that the character have known eachother for a long time and the romance was not instalove. I also liked the idea of rewriting your history to go a way you wanted or a diabolical way you thought of during a hard time.

However, the writing felt disjointed and very clipped. At times I found my having to go back and read things over because I thought I was either missing something or not understanding.
While this was the sassy romcom I anticipated, it was a little too cheesey and surface level than I prefer

Thank you to @netgalley and dreamscape media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sweet lovers to enemies to lovers story all wrapped up with a Christmas bow. Ivy is living her dreams in Los Angeles writing movies when she is summarily dumped at Christmas. She takes that heartbreak and pours it into a very reality based movie of their meet cute, relationship and very made up death set during ,of course, Christmas. While getting much praise she can't make the movie and moves on...During a film festival she meets and and begins dating a producer, who wants to make her movie!. Her movie is greenlit and even better is being made in her hometown. She returns home and has to come face to face with her ex with the new boy. The drama ensues with movie stars, her family and her town and the drama that goes along with making the movies. There is a Hallmark HEA ending that is sweet. The whole book is very sweet. If this is your kind of story and you just want something to make you feel good, this is your Christmas story.

Single star for the single interesting character/plotline of former child actor Griffin.

The authors are scriptwriters and it shows. They are constantly writing things about the movie industry with a pretentious way that tells you they think they are imparting some insider knowledge to the poor, uneducated masses. But anybody with even a passing knowledge of films knows what IMDB, dailies, and craft services are. People who read also watch movies. Some of us read books about the industry. You're not as uniquely knowledgeable as you seem to think you are.

Unfortunately I would hate this story in movie format too. The leads are terrible together and I have never in my life rooted so hard for a romance NOT to have AN HEA. I had a moment of glee when I thought the authors were going to do something interesting with the end, but it was a short-lived false hope.

On top of the predictable story and terrible characters, the writing is an absolute mess. The POV bounces willy nilly from one character to another with random abandon. The authors should stick to writing made-for-tv Christmas movies and leave books alone.

I'm mad that I wasted my time on this nonsense but I guess thanks for the ARC Netgalley 🙃

The Summer of Christmas by Juliet Giglio

Ivy writes a story about herself and her ex-boyfriend Nick and this story was picked up by a producer to make it into a movie. She is excited that her story will become a movie. The movie will be filmed in her hometown where she grew up. Things go from there she sees Nick again and the sparks start to fly again between the two.

The story would have been much better without the constant I like him I like him not and for Nick I like her and I like her not. The back and forth was not swoon worth until near the end the back and forth after awhile got annoying. Some of the characters in the story where not developed that well like they could of made the story shine more. Griffin part of the story would have been a much better story.

This was still well worth the read it is about Christmas and its in the summer this in itself would make you feel happy. The angst between Ivy and Nick towards the end makes it also well worth the read what develops between the two. I just wish it didn't have so much back in forth with feelings.

Also, some characters where under developed they could of enhanced the story more her sister and parents I felt like there parts of the story could have had more of a voice to the story. I did like that the story was about an author's first novel being turned into a movie. I also thought with some rework this story could find a nice place on the hallmark channel.

Elizabeth Cottle narrated this story and did a good job giving each character their own voice. This is a 3 star read for me.

Thank Y0u to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a free copy of this audio book for an honest review.

I'd say 3.25-3.5 stars.

This book was cute. It gives off Hallmark vibes with a punch.
I enjoyed the story overall. I just felt there was a lot going on. It gave many different people perspectives and story lines throughout the book. I tend to enjoy a 1-3 POV not most of the characters.

A fun one time car trip read though.

I really wanted to like this book. The description was so cute and I loved the unique idea of the story, but the execution was pretty lackluster. At around 50%, I wanted to DNF.

My first issue with the book was that it talked about the pandemic...consistently. When I read, I want to escape from reality, so a book that mentions those tumultuous years is an instant turn off. If it had said something once or twice, I probably could have gotten past that, but it kept reminding us throughout the book that businesses took hits, people didn't shake hands, etc. No one needs a reminder; we all remember.

I liked Ivy in the beginning, but her rapid, insta-lovish commitment to Drew was off-putting, and their relationship in general was just very stiff to me. It was more of convenience than genuine feelings. I loved Ivy and Nick's beautiful life together before the big split. I am a sucker for friends to lovers, and the fact that they fell in love as kids, grew up together, and grew closer together was extremely touching. I absolutely adored seeing their flashbacks and childhood memories throughout the book, and I kind of just wish we could have had a book all about their lives from age 8 to present. I did NOT appreciate Nick's reasoning behind ending things. That was selfish and stupid and just completely took Ivy's choices and opinions out of the equation.

I'm wasn't the biggest fan of the omnipresent narrator aspect either. There were way too many character perspectives and the story jumped from one to the other with no transition in most places. In some places, it was difficult to keep track of whose POV we were in, and it honestly made me not care as much about the story as a whole because my attention was split between too many people.

The actual story writing was done well for the most part, but almost all of the dialogue was awkward, cringey, or just plain clunky. The flow of the story would be disrupted almost every time someone spoke. There were also a lot of just random things thrown into the story that came out of nowhere and either didn't serve the plot at all or were only used as a convenient plot device.

I adored Linda and Mitch! They were such fun and sweet characters, and I could easily picture them as the quintessential Christmas movie parents next door. I wouldn't have minded more from them.

I thought the narrator did a great job as a whole, but her voice for young Ivy toward the end was extremely annoying. And the name of Nick's boat? Why? Just why? *eye roll* The final scene in the church also had me rolling my eyes. I get that it was the epitome of rom-com cheesy moments, but it was way too over the top for me.

This is basically a Lifetime movie in book form! There's sweetness, drama, charm, and some cheesy-ness, and I'm here for it! It's a quick read and not difficult to keep up with. I enjoyed the whole premise of the book - I mean, Christmas wins all year for me! I would actually like to watch this made into a movie. I can't give partial stars, but this was a 3.5 for me.

Second chance romance
Ivy and Nick met at the age of 8, grew up together and fell in love. When it was time for college Ivy wanted to write movies and Nick was learning to take over the family winery. When nick is visiting Ivy for Christmas, her agent calls to say her script would become a movie one day. Nick is thrilled for her and tells her he is cheating on her only to find out later he only said that so he wouldn’t hold her back from her dreams. Ivy is heart broken and decides to write a script about their love story but kill Nick in the end of the story because she is heart broken. Years later, her script finally becomes a movie and is filmed in her home town where Nick still lives. Spoiler alert- spending so much time together they fall back in love for a happy ever after.

This story was cute, by the middle of the story I was hooked and wanted to see who she would choose - nick or her current boyfriend. The narration was a little choppy and sounded like the narrator should read for children’s books instead. I truly think if I had read it as an ebook I would have rated it higher because the narration just threw me off a little. I will recommend the book because I did enjoy it and actually would like to see it as a movie. The side character storylines were pretty interesting as well.

Thanks to netgalley and Dreamscape media for this audio arc in return for an honest review.

I received The Summer of Christmas just in time for a Christmas in July reading spree! All of the Christmas ARCs are starting to roll in, and I can't wait to read them. This cover had me absolutely hooked!

The premise of The Summer Of Christmas was great. I read it shortly after reading Nora Goes Off Script, and both are about screenwriters that write a movie script based on their own life. In this book, Ivy wrote her screenplay in a fit of rage after getting dumped by her childhood boyfriend. When the movie rights were sold, the director decided to film it in Ivy's hometown...where said boyfriend still lived.

I loved the setting: a combination of a movie set and a Christmas-loving small town.

My favorite character was Griffin, the actor hired to play Nick's character in Ivy's movie. I would love to see a book about him! Unfortunately, I didn't feel any particular connection to either of the main characters, Ivy and Nick.

The prose was a little jarring at times. Some sentences were choppy, short, and just described each action instead of "showing" the reader the scene. The POV would inexplicably skip from one character's feelings to another in the same paragraph. The authors would just go around the room telling each character's reaction to the situation, which didn't make for a smooth reading experience. Some of the dialogue also felt somewhat unnatural.

Overall, this was a fun story, but the writing style wasn't for me.

Audio Review: The narrator did not do kids' voices well... oof! The scenes from the past with "young Ivy" and "young Nick" were a little bit painful. Otherwise, the audiobook production was good.

A sweet, light back together again romance with an expected HEA that will surely be a Hallmark movie shortly. Nice storyline with a few caveats. Every moment of this listen was expected, not surprises, which might have added to the experience. Additionally, I found most of the characters, both main and secondary were immature. Overall, if you looking for a clean light wholesome light summer listen, this is for you. I mostly enjoyed the listen, just was hoping for something…less obvious. The narration was great.

Summer of Christmas
by Juliet Giglio & Keith Giglio

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Blurb]July is a great time to celebrate Christmas! In the wild world of making a TV Christmas movie, a hot and sunny upstate New York summer becomes a winter wonderland, overnight. But as cool as the fake snow is, when the real life hero gets tangled up with the movie star, the screenwriter grapples for control of the story, and the fans become a hazard to life and limb, it'll take a Christmas miracle to pull everyone together.

[Review] This is such a lovely and fun summer beach read! Honestly! I love a cozy read. I love a cozy mystery. I love a cozy romance. And this hits them all!! I love it!

This is a lovely book about a childhood sweetheart story. A girl leaves home for school. She grows up and as one does, she changes. And they break up. She writes a movie about him. He makes a wine about her. It's a tale as old as time. No, honestly, it's a new twist on an old classic. I love the strong female who allows her self time to wallow for a bit. But still pulls her self up.

This is a perfect beach read. It's perfect for everyone who loves romance. A great and easy summer read!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book and thank you, Juliet & Keith Giglio for writing this book! It was a wonderful book to read!

Quick Summary: An unexpected tearjerker

My Review: The Summer of Christmas by Juliet and Keith Giglio was a special box of Cracker Jacks. What I mean to say is that it was a sweet treat with an unexpected prize inside.

This clean romance was a friends to lovers to enemies to lovers story. It was a second-third chance true love conquers all piece that evoked a lot of emotions. I was a goner before I knew it.

What I Loved About the Story:

- The title of this book was brilliant! It certainly captured my attention.

- Although the story was about one main couple, there were so many other characters who made strong appearances. These characters, in truth, were so interesting that I had to check to make sure that this wasn't a series kickoff. There is a lot of room to build on this community.

- The initial meet-cute that I and N had was sweet. The fact that their friendship blossomed from something so innocent was notable. Being able to see how their relationship further developed from that was part of the charm of this story.

- The conflict that I and N initially had took their lives on such different trajectories. It was hard to witness. As a reader, I was totally Team I. I mean! I was devastated right alongside I.

- N's intentions at the time of the great conflict were not so clear. What he said warranted suspicion. The phone calls. The change in behavior. In my opinion, the authors did a spot on job with building that scene up. There was so much tension.

- The catty claws that came out between I and A. The battle on stage and off stage was palpable.

- I loved how N's family still had a heart for I. I also appreciated how they loved N enough to tell him the truth about their feelings on what he had done to I.

- l loved the final rewrite, as well as everything that came before its realization. Being faced with one's own mortality can make things real quicker than anything else. I'm glad that I got my HEA, but I was on pins and needles the whole time.

What I Was Not Feeling About the Story:

- The nod to A Christmas Carol was hard to digest. The N situation was somewhat believable. The I situation was too strange. The whole sequence did not go with the rest of the story. It squeaked by, for me. Some readers may like this acknowledgement, but I could not get with it, as it relates to this story. I understood what was happening, however, I felt that it was not necessary to bring about spirits or ghosts or whatever that was.

- The lack of boundaries, particularly evidenced where A was concerned, was like a pulling of the leg. I found it odd that I's family and friends would allow her to steal their daughter's/friend's things, not to mention her life. That was creepy. I know some may refer to what A was doing as method acting, but I have to say that it didn't jive well. Also, I found it peculiar how A was able to get back in the good graces of I and her loved ones so quickly.

My Final Say: The Summer of Christmas is a recommended read for those looking for a clean romance with a twist. Guaranteed, this story will make you laugh, cry, get mad, and toss away your pillow. It is a sweet treat with a secret prize on the inside that I am certain you will enjoy.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

If you Love Hallmark Christmas Movies than The Summer of Christmas by Juliet and Keith Giglio is for you!
I felt it was predictable and annoying at times, but it was cute and worth the read.
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Ivy is an up-and-coming screenwriter, back in her hometown to shoot, in July, a Christmas movie she scripted. Thing is: she scripted it from her own story of heartbreak with Nick, who is still in their hometown. She is now forced to deal with him, and he is as unhappy as she is about having to face her.
I. Loved. This! I listened to the audio book, and it was a bit over-the-top (both authors wrote movies for the Lifetime channel, and it did read as a Hallmark movie, with the big "happy ever after" ending), bit I was swooned. I loved the behind the scenes of the filming industry. The characters and their relationships are gread, except I did find Nick to be a little immature about his mother's new relationship. But it's a sweet rom-com, fluffy, funny and quick read.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ivy & Nick fell in love when they were eight years old. Until he dumped her after college and broke her heart. Ivy, a screenwriter, coped by telling their story.... and killing him off in the end. Years later, Ivy's screenplay has been purchased and they decide to film it in her hometown. Suddenly, Ivy has to come face to face with Nick for the first time since he dumped her. Being back home, and near Nick, has brought all kinds of feelings to the surface.

It was hard for me to enjoy this book because from a technical standpoint, it was pretty bad. The prose was AWFUL. You switched POVs randomly mid-scene without any transition. Plus, I felt like I was having a vocabulary lesson at times (specifically when it came to movie terminology).

I listened to the audiobook. Elizabeth Cottle narrates. While I did speed it up to 1.5, I had no complaints until near the end when there was dialogue amongst children. The voices she used made me cringe. It was bad. Thankfully it doesn't last long.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It is Christmas in July in the New York town when movie making comes to town for the screenwriter who grew up there when her movie is optioned and they decide to take it to the source. When her boyfriend since childhood broke up with her she put her feelings into her craft and after many years it is finally getting made. Ivy and Nick were the perfect couple until Nick broke up with her in front of Santa and left her heartbroken. Now Ivy is coming back to Geneva, New York, along with her producer boyfriend and the rest of the cast to make her movie. Will Nick still die at the end of the movie or will rewrites win out along with the beating of the crew. Team Nick or Team Drew...who has your vote. This was one quirky story and I had fun listening to it.