This was a great romance read that has depth and character development! It was a very raw and emotional read that breaks your heart then puts it back together. I enjoyed the authors writing style and ability to write characters and their development. I also enjoyed the pacing of the book!

**Review of *Seven Summers* by Paige Toon**

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

*Seven Summers* by Paige Toon is a heartwarming, yet bittersweet romance that spans years of love, heartbreak, and personal growth. The story follows a woman as she reflects on her past relationships over seven summers, each marking a significant turning point in her life. Toon’s writing is engaging and emotional, making it easy to connect with the protagonist and her journey.

However, while the premise is compelling, the pacing of the book feels uneven at times, with some sections dragging on longer than necessary. The romantic elements are sweet, but the plot can feel somewhat predictable, and I found myself wanting more depth in the character development. The themes of love and loss are explored, but the emotional payoff didn’t fully resonate with me.

Overall, *Seven Summers* is an enjoyable read with some emotional moments, but it lacks the intensity or unpredictability that could elevate it further. It’s a good option for fans of contemporary romance, but it may not leave a lasting impression for those seeking a more complex or unique story.

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

THis story takes us through Liv and Finns releationp for seven Summers. It is an ok story. I had a hard time associating with the carachters,

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I was glad to give it a try. I love summer romances because they remind me of my younger days. I really enjoyed the pace of this book at the beginning, but around the 70% mark, I started to want it to pick up. It did end up picking up. Spoiler Alert: I was worried that Tom was going to be the driver that caused her parent's car accident, or I thought he was going to be Finn's long lost half brother, but none of those were true. I feel like the epilogue was super long, and it felt rushed. I was actually ok with the epilogue being rushed because I was ready to wrap up this story. I think we could have gotten the same story if this was called Five Summers, but of course, that doesn't roll off the tongue the way Seven Summers does. I think Tom was the best character in the book, and I found myself being annoyed with Liv's self centered-ness. All these descriptions make it seem like I didn't like the book, but I do give it 4 stars and would recommend it to my friends.

#SevenSummers #NetGalley

This was such a beautifully bittersweet read. This story captured the true essence of love and the journey we go on when we fall. I would be lying if I said this book didn't tear me up but I loved it all the same—heartbreaking as it was at times.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

Seven Summers by Paige Toon is pure magic—filled with nostalgia, heartfelt emotions, and a romance that tugs at all the heartstrings. If you’re a sucker for second chances and sun-soaked vibes, this one’s a must-read!

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

If you need a great book for the new year to help you get ready for light reading and a summer coming up in a few months this is the book to read. I highly recommend it. I love the character development and how the author wrote about each character.

Seven Summers is an emotional and heartfelt novel that explores love, loss, and personal growth over time. The story follows Liv and Finn, who meet six summers ago while working at a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline. Their connection is immediate, but a night of passion leads to a devastating tragedy, binding them together inextricably. Despite living separate lives—Finn in Los Angeles with his band and Liv in Cornwall with her family—they make a pact to reunite every summer if they are both single. As the years pass, their annual meetings are filled with passion and heartbreak, forcing them to confront their feelings and the complexities of their relationship.

Toon's writing is rich and intimate, capturing the beauty of the Cornish landscape and the depth of her characters' emotions. The novel skillfully navigates themes of commitment, choice, and the courage to follow one's heart amidst life's unexpected twists and turns.

This book is recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary romance novels that delve into complex relationships and personal growth.

The way I simultaneously loved and hated this book as it literally ripped out all my emotions and stomped on them in the very best way still has me reeling. It is so very easy to fall in love with the characters of Liv and Finn, not to mention Michael, and just as I imagined where the story might be taking me, a sudden twist has me veering off in a totally unforeseen direction, which is one of the best attributes to a fabulous book. This was my first read from Paige Toon and I am so very thankful to have had the opportunity to read this e-arc. Full of heart, emotions, trauma, tragedy, love, passion, friendship, loyalty, and devotion, this is one of those stories that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Definitely recommend, and I've already included it in my list of best books of 2024. I look forward to reading more from Paige! Thank you to Paige, Random House UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-arc!

This story had my emotions all over the place. I loved the time jumps and that fact that I cared about all the characters. Great read!

This book got me in my feels more than once. It’s so good. I loved Michael. It’s a must read for sure.

I LOVE PAIGE TOON!! I enjoyed her first book so much that the second she dropped her second book, Seven Summers. I knew I had to have it, I am so glad to be receiving this book to read before it was published because I devoured it on my Kindle. She always has a touch for a making her readers FEEL, her books always came with hardships that make you feel throughout the book. AND THIS BOOK DID THAT. We have Finn and Liv who are our characters and let me tell you, the character development in Only love can hurt like this prepared us for this one. Because we already know the relationship between them two but you have another character, Tom who basically stirs the pot. And it was a connection Liv knew she had to explore. But with personal growth and love, and grief we knew that Paige was going to take us on a rollercoaster. This book was everything from captivating you, endearing, and tons of emotions!

Thank you Paige Toon!

Too long and not enough was happening to keep me interested. I don’t think this author is for me. I didn’t enjoy the story or writing style.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was a quick and easy read, and it kept me constantly engaged. I found myself eager to pick it up (which is always a good sign that I'm enjoying a book). I was eager to see where the story was going, and anytime I picked it up to read, it was hard to put down.

However, I somehow felt a bit let down by this one. I think it could have been deeply emotional, but something about it didn't cause me to really feel anything for the characters. Things reach a point where the main character, Liv, has to make a devastating and extremely difficult decision. There is build up to this, and as the reader, you can't help but feel anxious about how it will play out. No matter what she decides, there will be sadness, pain, repercussions. And given everything that led up to that point, you know the MC will be anguished about this decision. But...nope. Instead, she makes the decision seem fairly easy. It happens swiftly without any real depth and without much insight into what the character was feeling internally.

Which leads me to my next point. This is my first book from Ms. Toon, so I don't know if this is typical for her, but I found myself getting a bit annoyed/distracted by how often someone in the book would ask the MC a question, she would answer them, and then the next several paragraphs would be her internal stream of consciousness, which was a much longer, more involved answer to the question. I think the intended purpose was to give the reader backstory, and while this was a fairly succinct way of doing so, it became a bit annoying. I would find myself going back to make sure that section wasn't in quote, as it sounded as if she was still answering the question. But nope, we were just getting the super extended answer that was only happening inside her head. But that made it even more frustrating, when at the point in the book where she should have been MOST in her head, we got little to nothing of that internal struggle or dialogue. It just felt like a missed opportunity at a crucial point in the book.

Lastly, it read like a YA book to me, and I'm not a huge YA fan, so that took a bit of getting used to. If I wanted to read YA, I'd pick up a YA book. The voices of the characters felt very young, to the point that I had to keep reminding myself (early on) that they aren't in high school. But I do see now that this is considered "new adult", so the issue I have with the writing tone might just be my issue. Meaning you should take that with a grain of salt, as it may just be that new adult books aren't great options for me.

That all being said, it was still an interesting read. I was interested the entire time and wanted to see where the story went. I like the premise of the book and when done well, I really enjoy a difficult love story. I also loved the placement of the epilogue and thought that was a fun and unique way to write the book. My rating is a solid 3 stars, which means I liked the book but didn't love it. But three stars is NOT a bad rating!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

PAIGE TOON!!!! 10/5 stars!!! I absolutely ate this book up so fast. I was fully invested the entire time and went through all the emotions. I laughed and cried in such a short amount of time. I loved the grief aspect of this book so much and how weird and messy it can all get.

3.5 Stars. Heartfelt and easy to read. Felt a bit long toward the end, but I enjoyed all of the characters and the story that spanned over so many years.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for my advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC of this book.

Liv, who lives in Cornwall, and Finn, who lives in the US, become bonded together and promise each other that as long as they're both single, they will spend every summer together. But how many summers can this go on before they're forced to move on? When Liv meets Tom and can finally imagine a realistic life and future for herself, she's forced to make a difficult decision. Does she continue getting her heart broken every fall when Finn returns home? Or move on from Finn and start a life with Tom?

I hate myself for taking so long to get this one finished. This book will break your heart and put it right back together. Then do it all over again.
This book is goes back and forth between past and present which got a little confusing at times trying to keep up, but I still loved the way this was written.