I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Seven Summers from NetGalley and the Putnam books team.

Paige Toon is a master of unconventional romances, and Seven Summers truly did not disappoint. Set along a coastal town, this book follows Liv and Finn as their live’s become intricately linked by shared experiences—and an unbreakable invisible string.

With careers and futures that are worlds apart from one another, Seven Summers explores the whirlwind experience of first loves and second chances. With themes of heartache, grief, and unconditional love, this story was devastatingly beautiful in its delivery and one you won’t want to miss next year!

This was my first time reading this author. What got my attention was how beautiful the cover is. Then I started reading and I was blown away. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions. In the best way possible. I couldn't put the book down. I was pulled into a world I wanted to live in. This book will be in my top 5 books for 2023. Reading books like this brings me so much joy. I am definitely going to be reading her other books. I feel I have been missing out.

Paige Toon does it again. Will be sharing my full review and thoughts to come very soon. What a beautiful cover and love story. Her novels never disappoint. I loved the characters, storyline, and bit of mystery.

I wanted so badly to love Seven Summers, especially after reading and really enjoying Only Love Can Hurt Like This, but I had a hard time connecting with the book.

We'll start with the positives:
1. I personally love a dual timeline read. It gives the characters more depth when you're able to witness the highs and lows that shaped them.
2. The chapter lengths were great. They didn't drag on too long, and as a stand-alone they don't repeat information too much (it's not 4 pages of the same statement repeated over and over).
3. The real-time major plot twist BROKE me. I just did not want that to happen. I got sucked into the plot line and did not see this coming

The things I didn't love as much:
1. The overall pacing felt quite slow. I was really itching for something to come along that would just shock me, or make me FEEL something, but it took a while before we got to that point.
2. The choice that Olive made re: summer communication seemed unwarranted. So much time was spent sharing how she didn't like the decision she made, but then repeating that decision summer after summer. After a few summers in, it just felt it needed to stop.
3. The first act plot twist felt hugely low stakes! Immediately after this event occurs, we're given all of the ways that the characters will be secure and stable. Was it a life-changing event? Absolutely. But it felt like it could have been more authentic to see a deep physical struggle as a result.

TLDR: This book was an okay read for me. I think the heavier plot points could have been explored more deeply, and really caused the reader to feel the weight of this story! I would have preferred some of this exploration over the repetitiveness of each summer.

Thank you to NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

This was a stunning story about love, friendship, romance, grief, and life. I loved Paige Toon's writing style, and the world she created was gorgeous. This was an emotional read, but Paige crafted the story beautifully. I will definitely check out more work from her.

Seven years ago, Liv is fresh out of college and home for the summer in Cornwall. An aspiring sculptor, she has big plans and they’re not in her small town. She soon gets romantically involved with Finn, the alluring lead singer at the local bar’s band. Their happiness is short-lived when it's abruptly shattered by a tragic event, rooting her to her town and forcing her to give up her dreams to go to London to pursue her artistic ambitions. She also has to bid farewell to Finn who is returning home to L.A. But before he leaves they make a pact- that he will visit every summer and if they’re both single, they’ll be together for the season. Every summer, Liv and Finn spend a couple of months of bliss marred each time by separation. Now in the present, brokenhearted and tired of putting her life on hold for Finn, she meets Tom, a tourist with an obscure background. As the summer approaches, she falls in love with Tom and has to decide which of the two men she wants to make her life with- should she choose Finn, with whom she shares a profound and complex history, or should she embrace the uncomplicated love and fresh start offered by sweet Tom? Set against the stunning backdrop of the Cornish coastline, this atmospheric romance full of longing, mourning, and growing up, will appeal to fans of slowburn novels set in scenic coastal UK.

Beautiful tale of two important love stories. I loved this one. It explores, grief, timing, love and sadness all encapsulated in one heartbreaking and heartfelt story.

Wow this book was not what I was expecting at all! I read this in one day and had all the feels, the ending was bittersweet and perfect. Unlike other love triangle stories in this one I loved and rooted for all the characters. This story covers the topics of grief, growth, and love beautifully. Thank you Paige Toon for creating Liv, Tom, and Finn I will carry this story with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Peguin Group Putnam for early access to this beautiful story.

This is my first Paige Toon novel, and I'm happy to say it won't be my last! In SEVEN SUMMERS, Liv meets Finn six summers ago and becomes enraptured with him. On one night Liv and Finn share an exquisite evening, but tragedy also befalls her family. That creates the inextricable linking of good with bad.

Unfortunately for her but fortunately for him, Finn's music career takes off, and he leaves England for the United States after that summer. But he promises to come back next summer...

It is now their seventh summer. Liv meets devastatingly handsome Tom when he's producing local sand art and is also coincidentally renting the lower floor of her cottage, and in the back of her mind she's wondering if Finn will come back for their seventh summer together.

I loved how Toon wrote Liv's older brother Michael. He has Down syndrome, and I always appreciate good disability representation.

The author took her time laying the foundation of this novel. Some may say it's slow. I enjoyed the foundation laying for the most part. I enjoyed meeting the characters, including Liv's friends - although most didn't get much to do. That's okay, though, because I wanted to spend the most time with Liv, Finn, Tom, and Michael.

What I am taking a star away for is all the epilogues. I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say I wasn't a fan. Unfortunately, I can't even say WHY I wasn't a fan because that will spoil it. I am curious to find out if other readers will feel the same as I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liv and Finn were forever bonded by tragedy their first summer together. Finn continues to come back every summer. The rule is, if they’re both single, they rekindle their romance while Finn is in town. But it doesn’t go past that-Liv’s life is in Cornwall and Finn’s is in LA. They can’t seem to get over each other, until one summer when Liv meets Tom.

I loved this book. Liv had so much chemistry with both Finn and Tom-I genuinely believed in both love stories. It was an emotional rollercoaster-it had me in both happy and sad tears. I liked the choices Liv eventually made.

I loved this book!!! It goes back and forth between now and all the summers so each chapter leaves you wanting more! I was not able to put the book down because I just needed to know what happened! There's a couple twists I wasn't expecting but a great love story! Breaks your heart a couple times to piece you back together! I also adored the characters! This was my first Paige Toon book and I can't wait to read more!

I am so heartbroken and filled with joy at the same time. Finn Finnegan, you stole my heart. This book made me laugh. This book made me cry, and cry some more. It also made me feel so much love and joy. Truly amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Paige Toon experience and it will definitely not be my last. The writing kept me engaged, but the characters and the story took me on an unputdownable heart wrenching journey.

Liv and FInn met 7 summers ago. The problem? They don't live in the same country. The agreement? He'll come back every summer and if they're single they'll enjoy their time together. After 6 summers they realize maybe love isn't enough.

This isn't your typical romance and will leave you sobbing and wanting more. Cannot wait to read more from her!

oh. my GOD. this was a gut punch that’ll leave you with an emotional bruise. as the title suggests, this takes place over multiple summers and BOY lemme tell you, it immediately captivates you and the writing makes for such an emotional experience. i hung onto every word and finished this book with a happy but sore heart

This is the first Paige Toon novel that I have read, but it will not be my last.

I am generally more of a fan of open-door romance, but I genuinely had a hard time pulling myself away from this book. No lie -- I started reading on a Tuesday night, fell asleep while reading (not from boredom, but from exhaustion), and then woke up at 0430 because I was dreaming of the main characters. 😍

Once I returned to the story, I was entranced. I love the way the author played with the timeframe and also didn't let the "typical" beats of a romance influence how she wanted to tell the story. A sign of a good book to me is how much I want the MCs to have a HEA or HFN.

We got those here in a remarkable fashion, and I will definitely be reading more from Paige Toon.

* In my head, Finn was Harry Styles. I'm just saying.🤷🏼‍♀️*

This book was quite the rollercoaster.

Our main characters find themselves in quite a situation. After meeting and sparking tragedy strikes, they know they have to separate. But a year will go by and if they’re still single they’ll pick up where they left off. This repeats. Both of them feeling the pain of their situation but neither knowing how to get off the ride.

I thought this book was very well written. It had all the feels and more. If you like your romance with a little bit of tears you’ll like this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Seven Summers by @paigetoonauthor

Unable. To. Form. Words. About. How. Much. I. Loved. This. Book. 🥹🥹🥹🥹

First of all, when I saw @paigetoonauthor literally bawling on video as she wrote these characters, I knew I was in trouble. The passion and care that is shown in this book is what gets me.

Finn and Liv meet while working in a Cornish beach bar. Liv is bartending and Finn is filling in for a local band as lead singer. There’s an undeniable spark between them and they spend the next weeks getting to know each other. After a great night together, a tragedy occurs and Liv’s life is turned upside down. Finn and Liv are forever bonded through this unimaginable event but Finn’s life is back in LA trying to make it big with his own band. The two agree to not communicate that year apart, but if they’re both single the next summer when he returns, they will pick up right where they left off and spend the summer as a couple. This continues to happen year after year and y’all I was obsessed with their epic love story. While unconventional, it was full of passion and pining and longing and tension and it was EVERYTHING 💕

Then, one summer, Liv meets Tom. And I’m getting choked up just writing this. But Liv sees for the first time that she may not have to live her life completely heartbroken every year.

Y’all, Toon outdid herself with this one. I didn’t think I could love one more than “Something I Used to Know” but this one takes the lead. It was so, so emotional and these characters will forever stick with me. I cried, I swooned, I fell in love with the setting, these characters, and their story. I will re-read this one forever!

Read if you love:
🐚 Toon’s classic writing style
🐚 a book that’ll make you cry
🐚 Cornwall setting
🐚 art & music
🐚 love stories you’ll want to remember forever

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ infinite stars

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader for one of my favorite author’s ever!! This one is out March 28! ☺️

I was drawn to this book after reading the synopsis because I love love triangles, especially when they're done well. This book includes two interconnected timelines which usually isn’t my favorite but Paige toon was able to smoothly transition them that I didn’t even care! If you love emotional reads that’s going to leave you sobbing on the bed read this book!

I only discovered the magic of Paige Toon's writing earlier this year and I am quickly devouring every book she has gifted to the world. There is something about her style that is just so uniquely Paige Toon. I like to think of it as bittersweet; one minute my heart is broken, just absolutely shattered and a few pages later, it is being mended back together piece by piece. In the end, I'm whole again and completely satisfied by the story.

This book is gorgeous. It tackles the hardest of subjects to capture - incredible trauma, grief, guilt, friendship, love...

Liv is a young artist living in England and we experience her go from being a carefree college student to a grown woman handling unspeakable loss(es) and unintended responsibilities. We see her fall in love and put her dreams on hold for everyone else. We get to watch her relationship with her brother who has an extra chromosome develop and change (he is one of my favorite characters). Over time, she finally puts herself first and gets (almost) everything she imagined. Of course, there is unfinished business so we go on a roller coaster of emotions (mind your heart, grab your tissues). The end, though? Chef's kiss. I highly recommend you pick this book up if you are even hesitating a little bit; it's worth it.

I accepted an eARC of this book via NetGalley in for my honest opinion.

I could not get into this book. I tried reading it two separate times and maybe it was just me but nothing grabbed me at all. I had no interest in the story or characters.