Kristy Woodson Harvey is the queen of crafting engaging storylines and rich character development, culminating in a unique story that you could actually picture jumping off the pages. THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS is no different.

This book has everything: complex family dynamics, navigating tough topics, the deep bonds of friendship, second chance romance, and that nostalgic yearning for summer. As someone who went to summer camp as a kid (and worked at that summer camp after high school), I felt this one to my core and pictured myself at my summer camp while reading. Anyone who spent their summer days at a camp will feel the same way.

I loved and rooted for Daphne whole-heartedly throughout the entirety of the book. She is everything you want in a heroine: she isn't perfect, but she is smart, strong-willed, loyal to a fault, and REAL, someone that we can all connect to in some way. I loved the cast of side characters, too, from Lanier's parents, to Steven, to Finn. They all added something special to the story — couldn't have pictured the story without them.

This will be a favorite of the summer, I just know it. Thanks so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a copy of this one to read early!

It’s hard to come down from the euphoria of reading this awesome Southern Women’s Fiction story. It’s simply the best Women’s Fiction I’ve read this year. The completeness of the characterization of each of the cast members; the rich, descriptive narrative that took me there alongside them; the emotional buildup I felt as the reader in each person’s life because they seemed so real to me; and the way that realness of the words touched all my emotions. That’s everything I look for in an extraordinary book. I finished the story feeling like the author left no stone unturned. The circle of life is clearly portrayed in this marvelous summer story that I highly recommend to readers of Southern Women’s Fiction and to everyone who simply enjoys a fantastic read! If I could give this story 10 Stars, I would.

“The Summer of Songbirds” is a must-read. It’s amazing. Author Krista Woodson Harvey is clearly a gifted storyteller. “Fair winds and following seas!”

Great summer read and exactly what I would expect from the author. A little predictable but with a lot of heart.

This was a sweet summertime read full of friendship and new love vibes. I liked it, but it just didn’t wow me like I wanted it to. A perfect beach read, though!

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the Elin Hilderbrand of the south and for good reason. She knows her craft, and The Summer of Songbirds is one of her best books yet.

When their beloved summer camp, Camp Holly Springs, is in danger of going out of business, Daphne, Lanier and Mary Stuart band together with camp owner June to save it. The three best friends, now in their thirties, met at the camp when they were six and dubbed themselves the Songbirds.

Like the author’s other novels, this one touches on real-life issues in a gentle way, including substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy and abandonment. I enjoyed each of the women’s storylines and the alternating points of view added more depth to the novel.

This nostalgia-filled book will be the perfect addition to anyone’s summer reading list and has me yearning for an adult camping retreat.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Kristy Woodson Harvey for an advance copy of this book.

5 stars all the way!

What a beautiful tale of friendship and love and secrets and forgiveness! I've read most of Kristy Woodson Harvey's books and this is by far my favorite!

The story focuses on four women. Mary Stuart, Lanier, and Daphne, who met in the Songbird Cabin at Camp Holly Springs camp 24 years ago, their lives intertwined ever since, June, Daphne''s aunt, is the camp owner. . She might lose the camp they all love so well. June also has to come to terms with her past mistakes and figure out how to move forward.

Together they navigate the "hard things" life throws in their way. Sometimes, those hard things are their relationships with each other. But, no matter the struggle, they know that down deep they will forever be bound together as Songbirds, and it will all come together in the end.

This book is so beautifully written. It's a testimony to love, not just romantic love but also the love between friends and familial love - whether it's your biological family or your chosen family.

I actually just got back from a weekend in Asheville, inspired to revisit the Biltmore Estate after reading KWH's The Wedding Veil last year. Too bad Cape Carolina is a fictional town, or that might be my next vacation destination!

Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the honor of reading this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey. The storyline just didn't grab me could have been my mood. i was glad for the chance to read it. Good setting, likable characters and good dialogue. I think I would give it a 3 1/2 rating.

“Maybe when you finally find where you’re meant to be, summer never ends.”

Well if this isn’t the perfect summer read, then I don’t know what is. Kristy Woodson Harvey hit me with all of the emotions in this nostalgic and heartfelt read.

I’m a sucker for a story about lifelong friends who are going through the roller coaster of life together. I really enjoyed the girls friendship (past and present), even despite their differences and road bumps along the way. I connected most with Daphne’s character, understanding some of the hardships she was going through. And who doesn’t love second chance romances with some drama and scandal mixed in?! I enjoyed the multiple POV with flashbacks, although the flashbacks did get confusing at times. I’m definitely recommending that everyone add this one to their beach read list asap! 3.5 (rounded to 4)

A HUGE thank you to Gallery Books and Kristy Woodson Harvey for this gifted ARC. Check out The Summer of Songbirds on its pub date 7/11!

Thank you to UpLit Reads and Netgalley for my complimentary e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

This book has really good reviews so I was hopeful that this would be a great summer read for me. I was totally surprised by the vague open door scene at 18% that had zero build up and barely any tension beforehand whatsoever. I felt like this book wasn't sure who's story this was supposed to be. Is it Daphne's? June's? Lanier's? This made it so challenging to connect with any of the characters. Ultimately, this wasn't the book for me.

What a fun read! Three grown women, Daphne, Lanier, and Mary Stuart, have been friends since attending Camp Holly Springs as little girls. They are there for each other through the hard things and good times. When things get really challenging, they find a way to support each other and the people they love to accomplish what needs to be done. I loved the feeling of friendship and family throughout the book. The characters were developed so that you were pulling for them to make good decisions, sad when things went wrong, and cheered when there were triumphs. The story focuses on camp experiences, but even if you never attended a summer camp, you feel the connection between the friends and families. If you are looking for a perfect summer/beach read, I recommend this book.

Thank you Gallery Books and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 🌟 rounded

Can Kristy Woodson Harvey do any wrong?

This book is such a perfect summer read. Three girlfriends who met at summer camp working together years later to save the camp that brought them together? Yes please.

Of course there are love interests in this book but that wasn't what drew me in. It was the beautiful friendships.

This book had me ready to pack my bags and head off to {adult} summer camp!

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Who doesn’t love a book about summer, friendship, and love! This story about 3 friends who meet at summer camp and embark on lifelong friendships is a feel good summer read! The author does such a wonderful job of giving the characters depth and making them relatable in a lot of ways. I imagine many readers have been in circumstances very close to those of these characters. A definite recommendation for a good summertime, beach read! #TheSummerofSongbirds #KristyWoodsonHarvey #NetGalley

What a lovely summer themed nostalgic read. The first half of this one was a little hard to trudge through but once it picked up it was enjoyable. I really despised Lanier’s character and that is where this story fell short of 5 stars for me. Her character didn’t seem worthy of the friendship she withheld and the happy ending she got. I truly loved Daphne and Huff and Daphne’s strong and committed character.

One of my top reads of the summer! The stories and characters she crafts are always perfection and The Summer of Songbirds was no different. I wholeheartedly loved this book so much and could not put it down. The friendships, the found family, the romance, the emotions. All perfectly executed. The setting and memories of summer camp and secrets shared around the campfire make this the perfect summer escape and with a full cast of characters and told from multiple POV's. I even enjoyed the email exchanges between the ladies and the fact that they shared in each others "hard stuff". We would all be so lucky to find a friendship like that.

In the mood for a book to take you back to one of your favorite places as a child? This is the perfect summer read that is full of nostalgia, great friends, family, and love.
There were a couple scenes that were a little eye roll worthy but for the most part this was an enjoyable light read.

The Summer of Songbirds is a good summer read. Friendships and family are key in this book. The main characters are developed well. The overnight camp setting was intriguing and central to the story. This is a good and quick beach book.

I love when Elin Hilderbrand mentions a book on IG because it is usually great and this one was no exception. I did find the multiple female characters a bit confusing at first but after the first few chapters things became a bit clearer. Anyone with summer camp memories (or missed opportunity like me) will find this enjoyable.

An engaging novel about friendships that last forever with a location of summer camp creates a perfect addition to your summer reading list.

When their favorite summer camp, Camp Holly Springs, is threatening to go out of business, best friends Daphne, Lanier and Mary Stuart come together to try to save it. Now in their thirties, the three friends met in their first year at Camp Holly Springs. Dubbed the Songbirds, the women’s bonds that began at age six are tested over time as they endure lifes ups and downs together.

The Summer of Songbirds touches on real life issues like unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse and the loyalty of friends. Combined with lyrical prose about heartache, drama and romance, Kristy Woodson Harvey has created a moving story about enduring friendships and the lengths we go to help each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review this title before its release.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is the first book I have read by Kristy Woodson Harvey and it won't be my last. What a wonderful story of friendship! It reminded me of my summers growing up, going to camp, and those summer friends that I would just see at camp. Interwoven in this story of friendship is the them of forgiveness, overcoming addiction, and love that lasts. I highly recommend this book to read this summer, to escape to Camp Holly Springs and feel like a Songbird yourself.

Thank you for the NetGalley and for the audiobook! I loved having multiple narrators in the audiobook, and it made for an enjoyable read. I did not appreciate the open door romance, and I was surprised to see that in Harvey's writings. (Perhaps it was in her prior books, but somehow, listening to it, made it more graphic). I am a known mood reader, so perhaps I wasn't in the mood for this particular read. I gave it 3 stars, as it wasn't my favorite of hers. But it is a fun summer read about camp!