2.5 stars rounded up.

A fairly hohum romance without much drama only differentiated from the run of the mill by having the protagonist be neurodivergent.

Sam Gale is dyslexic and has ADHD. She’s pretty sure she didn’t get the executive chef’s job at the restaurant she had been working at because of this, so she has resigned and is now going to spend the summer on Nantucket minding her resentful 14 year-old half brother while her Dad and stepmother go on a long vacation. On the ferry over to the island, she meets cute with “hot librarian” Ben Reynolds. Of course they can’t have a relationship because she hates reading and he loves books. Fill in the rest.

There are many romance tropes and I guess this somewhat fits the incompatibility one, but really Sam and Ben are only incompatible for 5 minutes and then the tension is tossed aside. There is some cute stuff with Sam and her half-brother Tyler, but, again, they move from being at odds with each other to lovingly calling each other “Sis” and “Bro” in just a few pages. I feel like my protagonist (and author) should have to work a little harder than this.

The author does a really good job of organically incorporating Sam’s neurodivergence and her feelings about it into the novel. Sam’s cheffing feels nicely authentic - her grandmother was Portuguese and Sam learned from her - and there’s some recipes included in the back. Of course she manages to swing a part-time job on the island - enough that she has a path to future employment but not too much to get in the way of lurve.

As for the lurve object, I’m a librarian and the mere thought of a “hot” librarian makes me snigger. Ben is such a fan girl’s fantasy - he reads romcoms to Sam, he rides a motorbike (embarrassingly described as a “mighty engine”), he has the body of a Greek statue with shoulder length curly hair. Take a look round your local public library and tell me if there’s anyone even remotely like that?

The only real drama in the novel is the search to find Ben’s father: his mother is a famous artist who had a fling back in the 80’s and won’t tell Ben who with. Ben and Sam do a rather perfunctory search of the older restaurants on the island - his mum was a waitress - and meet up with his mother who is gloriously horrid. The question is resolved neatly if not happily and life goes on. There is also some quickly resolved medical drama with Sam’s friend Emily who is the main character in Ms McKinley’s next novel.

This was an entirely easy and pleasant read but left me feeling rather blah at the end. All romcoms are fantasy but this one felt particularly far-removed from reality.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Summer Reading is a delightful romance that’s prefect for, well, summer. Jenn McKinley combines a slow burn romance with a dyslexic FMC, and creates a beach read treat.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Samantha “Sam” Gale and Bennett “Ben” Reynolds seem to have nothing in common when Sam accidentally throws Ben’s book overboard on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Sam is a chef who is between jobs, and headed to the island to stay with her 14 yr old brother while her dad and stepmother travel for the summer. Ben is the temporary director of the library, and the two meet again when Sam drops her brother off for robotics camp. But Sam is dyslexic, and after years of being made to feel bad about it, she doesn’t see how anything could work out between her and the hot librarian who lives for books. As they get to know each other better, though, their simmering attraction can’t be ignored.

Sam and Ben’s relationship follows a very natural progression. I really liked the way they banter with each other as they spend more time together. Their friends and family feel like real people that readers would hang out with too. And as the mom of a neurodivergent kid, I really appreciated the way dyslexia is portrayed in this book. It’s always a struggle, and coping strategies are an integral part of daily life.

Summer Reading has a bit of steam in a couple of open door scenes, which is just the right amount to keep things interesting while being safe enough to read on an airplane. It is also a stand alone story. But, longtime McKinley fans will love the Easter Egg for her book Paris is Always a Good Idea (which you should also read, it’s fantastic).

Summer Reading is a great romance to read on the porch with an icy cocktail. Or poolside or on the beach. This enjoyable slow burn romcom is perfect for all your summertime reading spots!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay! This was such a fun book.

First off, the good...this was such a cute book! I really liked the bright, vibrant cover, the easy writing style, and the overall positive tone of the story. I felt good after reading this one, and even though it had some emotional peaks and valleys, the ending tone was hopeful, which I loved! This story also had amazing representation, and I think that representation will really resonate with readers. I wouldn't classify this one as a rom com, though; it is definitely on the more serious side and deals with some heavy topics. The setting and atmosphere were perfection, and I want to hop a plane to Martha's Vineyard right now!

Second, the bad...I never got invested in the characters in this one, and that made the story drag for me at points. That's my major negative point, which isn't really a criticism...more just how I felt about the characters.

Overall, I still recommend this one!

Rating: 4⭐️

Samantha is spending a summer on Martha’s Vineyard helping to watch her teenage half-brother while her dad and step-mom take the European vacation of their dreams. There she meets Bennett, the interim director of the library, who is incredibly attractive. They end up working together to achieve some big dreams: for Ben it’s finding his father and for Sam it’s writing a cookbook.

I can’t even begin to review this book without first mentioning the incredible author’s note at the beginning of the book. I greatly appreciated learning why Jenn McKinlay wanted to include the dyslexia storyline and the great care she took to ensure this book was as accessible as possible. I thought the way she wrote about Sam’s dyslexia and ADHD and explained it was so well done and seemed to be handled with so much care.

There was so much to love about this book. The food descriptions were incredible and made me want to try Sam’s cooking. I might need to try some of the recipes that were at the end. I loved that Ben was a librarian AND that he read romance novels out loud to Sam. He is what book boyfriend dreams are made of. I also thought the way Sam and her brother’s relationship developed throughout the story was so sweet.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I truly appreciate the authors first few pages, discussing the "why" with the dyslexia storyline. As a mother with a son with this condition, I completely felt for the main character. My son was diagnosed in third grade, and has since graduated form High School and completed his first year of college in engineering. He recognizes his struggles, and works twice as hard to complete the work. He's driven and uplifted by exactly how Ben supported Samantha.

Samantha has returned home to Martha's Vineyard for the summer to help with her step-brother, Tyler. A chef, she's just lost her job so the timing is perfect for her to escape away to regroup. Ben, the local librarian and avid reader, befriends and falls for Sam. While she's said its a summer fling, feelings surface and they must decide how their romance book ends, either heartbroken or a HEA.

This novel is published in dyslexic friendly font which is simply perfect! Great start to a new series, and I look forward to the next installment. Thank you Berkley for the complimentary copy.

This really is a lovely summer reading book set on Martha's Vineyard. And yet the author sneaks in some thought-provoking concepts as well. The heroine, Samantha Gale, is dyslexic and wrestles with how that has impacted her sense of self-worth through her life. She's also a talented chef and the book also includes recipes that are mentioned in the story. The hero, Ben Reynolds, is the interim library director and while it initially seems as though the two protagonists are total opposites, their deep support of each other and physical attraction develops in a completely believable way. Sam's Portuguese family has deep roots on the Vineyard, although her parents divorced when she was a teenager, while Ben was raised by a single mother more interested in her art than in raising a child. So as a result, the value of family also plays a key role as the story unfolds. I loved the characters and found myself staying up way past my bedtime in order to discover how they were able to resolve their challenges and find their way to each other.

The ADHD and dyslexia rep in this book was good. I did get bored a handful of times though. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had just waited and listened to the audiobook after release. Wouldn’t exactly recommend it but I wouldn’t deter someone from it either. Middle of the road.

Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay was a fairly formulaic romance novel. However, the Dyslexia and ADHD visibility alone was worth it to read this book. I highly recommend reading the "Dear Readers" portion of the book at the very beginning. It's evident McKinlay did not take on this book lightly. She did a lot of research to under those who are neurodivergent and the skills people develop to cope with the challenges they face day-to-day. I was particularly excited to see that McKinlay asked for the book to be published in a friendly font for those with dyslexia. Who would've thought right? Made me wonder more about my Kindle and the font I use for reading and what options exist to facilitate reading for those who are neurodivergent.

Let's get to the book, because these topics are covered throughout the book as well. Sam is a chef, who is currently home to watch her younger step-sibling while her dad and step-mom take a trip. The visit home came at a perfect time. Sam has just quit her job and is desperately in need of coming up with a plan. She's certainly not expecting to meet the swoon-worthy Ben who runs the local library. Sam is not a fan of reading. It's been hard her whole life. Unless she has time to dissect the text, reading on the spot is a definite no for her. Sam has learned to work around her dyslexia and ADHD. She has techniques to calm her mind and does a great deal of self-talk. I loved watching Sam's confidence grow throughout the book.

What I didn't love was how quickly their romance happens. It felt inauthentic to me, but I kept reading, because I loved watching Sam's progression. I, who don't easily feel moved by books, was choked up when Ben would read to Sam. It was a genuine act of love for another person and love for reading. Reading was a part of Ben's fiber and sharing it with Sam was important to him.

All in all, I learned so much from this book and am now trying to do more learning that I might be able to implement at work. I just finished a massive deadline- Submitting our professional learning catalog for next school year and I'm wondering if anyone has ever considered the font we use or the spacing and formatting.

A huge thank you to PRH Audio for granting me access to the audiobook and to Berkley Romance for granting me access to the e-book via NetGalley. Partnering with Berkley Romance and PRH Audio this year is a dream come true! I am loving the ability to read so many novels!

I really, really enjoyed this opposites attract, summer romance between a Librarian and a neurodivergent (dyslexia and ADHD) chef who fall in love on Martha's Vineyard!!

Everyone needs to find a man who will read them romance books at the beach. When Samantha comes to stay with her younger brother on Martha's Vineyard while her father and stepmother are away, she never expected to fall for the hot visiting Library administrator. She especially doesn't see any future for them since she hates reading and doesn't plan to stick around.

Life on the island and with Bennett slowly starts to grow on her and he helps her deal with all the negative self-thoughts she's had about her learning disabilities. Full of complicated family relationships, great disability rep and a sweet romance, this book is a top contender for my fav summer beach read!

Great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Kelsey Navarro Foster. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!

A transformative summer for Sam, her brother Tyler, and Ben. Sam, a chef, is out of work (she was passed over for promotion) so going home to Martha's Vineyard and keeping an eye on her 14 year old half brother Tyler is a financial and emotional lifeboat. And then she meets a guy reading a book on the ferry and it turns out he's the temporary Director of the Library. Ben's good looking but it turns out that he's also sensitive, especially to Sam's dyslexia and ADHD. They build a relationship on her cooking and his reading to her. Never one to sit back, Sam gets a gig doing happy hour catering (oh the food- there are recipes), an arrangement which oddly brings her closer to Tyler. I liked this more than I expected - McKinlay does a terrific job with Sam's neurodiversity and coping mechanisms, she's written a good teen in Tyler, a good friend in Emily, and well, good steam. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read. (and there's a teaser at the end for a second book I'm now eager to read.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

I really wanted to like this book based on the premise. It seemed very much an "opposites attract" romance that I would be down to read. However, I just didn't jive with the plot or any of the characters.

The plot was very cookie cutter and generic and there wasn't a whole lot that surprised me. I do understand that, as a whole, the romance genre tends to be very formulaic, but this was formulaic to a fault. As a result, there was nothing about the plot that really drew me in to the story, and I felt myself skimming whole passages because there was nothing really of interest.

The characters also were not great. Sam felt really naïve. She was 28, and had been working as a chef for years before she up and quit her job without any kind of back up plan. And when she met Ben, she went through a whole series of "but does he really like me" moments that felt really inauthentic. She was able to pick up on the subtle changes in her teenage brothers mood, but not able to tell when a man is interested in her while he's actively pursuing her? I don't believe it for a second. Ben also wasn't great. He came on pretty quick and within a few weeks, he was calling Sam his "person." Also, I think I would hate being given the nickname Samwise, even if he is my favorite character from LOTR.

Overall, it was a generic rom-com. A complete fluff piece without much substance, but it wasn't the worse thing that I've ever read. I'm sure plenty of people will find enjoyment in it, just not me.

I received an ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Romance
Spice Level: Medium+ (It's on the page & fairly explicit—I had to skip, because I'm me.)
Representation: Neurodivergent
Language: Some swearing

SUMMER READING is my first book by Jenn McKinlay—I adored her characters!

Samantha has baggage from her childhood (especially high school when she discovered she had dyslexia), her parent's divorce, and stupid boyfriends who have dumped her in the past.

Ben's wounds come from his artistic mother. And let me tell you, that gives him plenty as you can see as the story unfolds.

Here's the rough thing. I can't tell you some of my favorite parts because I don't want to spoil the surprise for you.

So, it's good enough to say that I loved the books, food, growth arc for 3-4 characters. It's impossible for me to read sexy scenes and enjoy them—and that's the only negative for me as a reader. I think this will be a 5 star read for most romance readers.

I recommend this book!

Happy reading!

With a title like Summer Reading, you can bet this romance is going to make you wish you were reading it at the beach. And since Jenn McKinlay was once a librarian, all of us library nerds can rejoice in the way she writes about books and libraries. Cass is a chef who is between jobs and spending the summer on Martha's Vineyard, taking care of her half brother. She's definitely not there to fall in love, but some things are just inevitable.

The MC in Summer Reading is dyslexic and she falls for Ben, an avid reader who is a librarian, certainly not a match made in heaven.

These characters are amazing, so well developed and so likable. This book just made me happy reading it.

I love a good love story, and this was definitely that! I love a good love story even more when there is a little extra sprinkled in. In Summer Reading, the extra is Samantha’s relationship with her brother Tyler. I thought this was a great side story, very emotional and moving.

The book is published in a dyslexic friendly design. With one in ten people being impacted by some form of dyslexia, why aren't all books like this?

There is soooo much to love about this book and I loved everything about it. And I am so glad this is the first in the series, with the next book featuring Sam's BFF Em🩷🩷🩷

I totally enjoyed Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay, a sweet, enjoyable, and heartwarming story that explores relationships, bonds and building connections; family, parental, sibling, friends, or romantic. It’s about growing and becoming who you truly are meant to be; and it’s about taking risks when you have the right support. Woven throughout this story is an insight into the awareness and impact someone with dyslexia experiences in society today and coping techniques to survive with this learning disability.

From the unexpected meet-cute with Ben: a hot guy on the ferry, spending time with her best friend Emily, bonding with her teenage half-brother Tyler, and falling into a cooking job, unemployed chef Sam has an unforgettable summer on the Vineyard. Sam teaching Tyler and Ben how to dance was hysterical. Sam and her bestie Emily are super-entertaining together. Ben is sweet, warm, and endearing, despite his dysfunctional mother. The special way he viewed Sam, recognizing all her accomplishments as they balance each other perfectly. There’s nothing better than the scenes that involve reading “their” book.

Ms. McKinlay wrote a wonderful, humorous, heartwarming, and emotional romance that is both endearing and deeply touching. The bonds and connections made helped the characters grow and reconsider their futures. Lots of good food was described and I am thankful that recipes were provided. I highly recommend Summer Reading to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

5/5 stars

content warnings: death of a parent, bullying, medical content, talks of cancer

I just finished this book and absolutely LOVED it! Everything I love in romance books was in 'Summer Reading' and this book was just what I needed. Jenn McKinlay did a fantastic job writing about a dyslexic main character and the challenges Samantha faced. Ben is book boyfriend material and I loved that he read the books to Sam so she could understand them better. Tyler, Sam's half brother is so quirky and nerdy and I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. I didn't love the rushed ending but the rest of the book, the characters and Sam's best friend Em made up the stars for me! Can't wait to read anything else McKinlay writes.

You'd enjoy this book if you like:
-summer/small town romance setting
-opposites attract
-sibling bonding
-a bit of mystery
-amazing chemistry

This book was a wonderful, funny, heartwarming story with a little romance and mystery. The characters were well-defined and likeable. Summer Reading kept me entertained and engaged. I picked it up to only read a couple of chapters and 4 hours later I had read the whole book, I didn’t want to put it down. I appreciated how this book featured dyslexia and the struggles that can go along with having a disability. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

"Summer Reading" is an ideal poolside pick that can be consumed pretty quickly, while still giving your heart a nudge.

3.5 stars

A little something different from Jenn McKinlay, a romance with a bit of seriousness underneath. Chef Samantha has recently quit her high visibility job after being passed over for a promotion she felt she deserved. She is returning to her childhood home for the summer, housesitting and keeping an eye on her teenage half-brother while her dad and stepmother are travelling.

She meets a hunky guy on the ferry to the island and finds out he is the acting library director in her home town. And here is Sam's challenge: she is dyslexic so the world of reading is foreign to her. She has come up with a lot of coping skills over the years to enable her to function in a world of written instructions, recipes, personnel paperwork, food orders, etc. McKinlay does a great job of allowing the reader to understand how difficult things can be for those who have dyslexia. Even something as simple as the font for a book or sign can make a huge difference.

Sam is sensitive about this because she was labelled stupid and slow as a child and teenager. She feels like this was even a factor in her work life. She is mostly self-confident, but at times she still defaults to thinking of herself as disadvantaged. And so the irony of her falling for a man whose whole world is the written word is painful.

But they are absolutely drawn to each other and Ben has a problem as well: his free-spirited and arrogant artist mother has never told him who his father was. She was not much of a parent in some ways and he was mostly raised by his grandparents and he is on a quest to find his father.

They help each other with their issues while trying to avoid the fact that nothing about their relationship fits into the summer fling mode. Meanwhile, Sam establishes a strong bond with her brother that is valuable to them both. This is a fun love story with a bit of depth to it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Started out strong but overall was meh for me. I liked the relationship with her brother and the Martha's Vineyard setting.

The dyslexia rep and everything the author did was amazing.. I love the font was even made dyslexia friendly and the book reading scenes and that audiobooks were mentioned so frequently!