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.

I wanted to love this book about Lexie and Fin's love story. The author writes in a very captivating way that makes you want to know more. However, the actual book could have been covered in half the time. The epilogue should have been in the actual book and not an add on. There is so much in the epilogue that it really is not a traditional epilogue. I loved the overall idea of the story, but it needed a faster pace and/or more depth.

This was the most perfect summer beach read for me that I didn’t realize I needed.

SEVEN SUMMERS is an emotional coming-of-age story featuring the romance between Liv and Finn, who both completely stole my heart. With themes of tragedy and loss, and self-discovery, I felt every emotion that the characters were feeling.

*many thanks to Putnam, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Liv and Finn our two characters who will break your heart and then put it back together. They meet and circumstances have bonded them and promise to spend every summer together, but when a new love interest,Tom, arrives for Liv After five years, what will happen on the sixth summer? What secrets are revealed and do you trust your head or your heart. I love Paige Toon!
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Stop this one hurt. I never wanted to put this book down, i loved and hated it for everything it put me through

Another hit! This was such an amazing book! In every way! I love this author and will buy every book she writes! she can write about the carpet and Ill read it!

Seven Summers is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age tale that immerses readers in the transformative journey of its protagonist over the course of several pivotal summers. The author skillfully captures the essence of youth, nostalgia, and the bittersweet nature of growing up, allowing readers to experience the highs and lows alongside the characters. The lush descriptions of the setting serve as a vivid backdrop to the emotional landscape, making it easy to feel the warmth of sun-soaked days and the weight of life’s challenges.

The character development is a standout element, as each summer brings new experiences that shape their identities and relationships. The interplay between friendship, love, and personal growth is explored with sensitivity and depth. While some moments may feel familiar, the author’s heartfelt prose elevates the narrative, resonating with anyone who has navigated the complexities of youth. Overall, Seven Summers is an engaging and poignant read that beautifully encapsulates the fleeting nature of time and the lasting impact of those formative years.

This is my first book by this author and not my last! This book is a stunner. This is my kind of romance. Sweet and all consuming. Liv and Finn will break your heart. Darn, I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the story of Liv and Fin. I liked that this romance had a lot of depth and complex life issues to it . The end of the book really surprised me with the turn it took . Overall this book was really well written with more dimensional characters . I would def recommend!

Beautiful and romantic story about the hardships of love. I loved how complex and multi dimensional this book was. Paige Toon is a great author and this book is no exception!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted eARC.

Grab the tissues, because this one will have you bawling! I loved everything about this book and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

SEVEN SUMMERS • Paige Toon • Pub Date: May 21, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

Abridged Goodreads Synopsis: Liv and Finn meet six summers ago in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline. 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, making a relationship feel impossible—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single, they will spend the summer together. This will surely avoid heartbreak, right? This summer, Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. For the first time, Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. Is she single this summer?

WOW. This book weighs so heavy on my heart. I was utterly captivated by this story, and invested in the characters. After binging this book in a day, I sat with this story for more than a month afterwards, processing the ending and what I would say about the book. Yet I still find myself at a loss for words. Toon's books are always so emotionally rich and complex that boiling the story down to a few sentences cannot truly capture the essence of the story or the mix of emotions that I swam through from the first page to the last. All I can say is that Paige Toon has yet again shown that she is one of the best writers out there.

While this is a book that revolves around summers, it is not a light-hearted summer read. Sure, it's a romance, but it is a romance that packs a punch. Pick this book up when you have time to savor it. And when you're done? Let me know what you think about that ending!

boldly dramatic and cleverly romantic tale that would be perfect as a beach read. or a fireplace read. or a rainy day read.

Seven Summers is an emotional journey that explores love, loss, and the complexity of relationships over time. Centered on Liv and Finn, who meet as young adults working in a bar on the stunning Cornish coast, the novel invites readers into their bittersweet romance, marked by a night of passion and the aftermath of a tragic event that binds them together.

The premise is compelling, with the promise of annual summer reunions setting the stage for tension and anticipation. However, while the emotional moments are impactful, I found certain sections of the story felt a bit slow and, at times, tedious. The pacing occasionally dragged, leading me to moments of disengagement as the narrative explored the intricacies of Liv and Finn's connection and their separate lives.

Liv’s introduction to Tom, a new and mysterious figure in her life, adds an interesting layer to the story. As she navigates her feelings for both men, the theme of choice becomes a central focus. The emotional stakes are high, and there are truly poignant moments that resonate deeply, particularly in how Liv grapples with her past and present.

Yet, despite these emotional highs, the story sometimes felt disconnected. The shifts between the past and present, while necessary to understand Liv and Finn’s bond, occasionally made the flow feel uneven. I wished for deeper exploration of Liv's internal struggles, especially as she contemplates moving on from her first love.

Overall, Seven Summers offers a heartfelt exploration of love and the choices we make. While it may not hold your attention throughout, the emotional core and the exploration of connection and grief make it worth the read. Fans of romantic dramas will likely find value in Liv's journey, though it may leave others wanting a bit more coherence in the storytelling.