Quite an emotional read, but an enjoyable narrative. Fans of Carley Fortune and Abbi Jimenez will like this one!

This was my first Toon story and now I want to go read more by her. At times I got confused as to which summer I was up to, past or present. Liv was a heartwarming character that finally came into her own with her sculpting. I’m not sure I found Finn that nice of a guy but in the end he warmed up to me. I felt the ending wrapped up nicely but was too quick, short paragraphs instead of chapters. A good book club selection.

This was a really enjoyable book. It goes back and forth from past to present. It goes from the first summer that Finn and Liv met and how their story unfolds as time goes on and the bumps along the way.

Book Name: Seven Summers
Author: Paige Toon

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons

Stars: 3

- Thoughts.
- ANGSTY
I thought this was a Rom-Com
- NOT A ROM COM
- Greif Trauma and Lost Expectations
- Not my style but Great Book

Format: Kindle (ARC)/Audio
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really liked it, read it!
🌶️ Rating: 0

"Seven Summers" by Paige Toon tore my heart to pieces in the best way. This a closed door romance and I rated it 3.5 stars. This isn't your typical summer romance. It weaves through the lives of Liv, Finn, and Tom, bouncing between the past and present, and it's filled with so many twists and turns that my emotions didn't know who to root for.

Liv's character development, shaped by a tragic accident, is truly inspiring, while the slow-burn romance between her and Finn is so palpable that you can't help but cheer them on, despite all the hurdles. Tom's arrival complicates things, but it adds depth and realism to the story, making it impossible to put down.

This is my first time reading/listening to Toon’s writing, and it is such a great experience. She perfectly captures the rugged beauty of the Cornish coastline and her characters’ emotional turmoil. The portrayal of disabilities is done with such authenticity and care. The alternating timelines kept me engaged and made the story all the more compelling. Liv's growth over seven summers is beautifully portrayed, making this more than just a love story—it's a tale of self-discovery and resilience.

Absolutley wrecked my emotions and I ain't even mad about it, because it was a good therapeutic cry. Thank you Paige for this novel! It is an unforgettable read.

Pulled on every heart string I have!

Rollercoaster, heart wrenching, tumultuous… I could go on & on with what a ride this was!! I’m always here for a love triangle because it creates angst & frustration which makes for a great book! & I personally loved the outcome of course!

seven summers is the emotional story of a girl and boy who fall in love over seven summers but are thwarted by every possible obstacle. as time progresses and stages of life change, the question becomes if liv and finn's love is strong enough to weather any storm. paige toon writes grief in such an artful and thought invoking way, truly making the reader think outside of the context of the book and into that of their own life. to me, this book was a message to be grateful for every moment. it's easy to get caught up in the what ifs or what could have been or what might be -- what we NEED to do is live. i feel such an urge to express my gratitude for the people and opportunities in my life, and how powerful that a fictional story is what inspire this so fiercely. i adored this novel, even when i was deeply upset, and will likely think about this story for an age to come.

my only quarrel with this book is the epilogue. i felt like for all that the book did building characters and events out, the epilogue was far too rushed. i think if it had been an extended epilogue with time to flesh everything out, the conclusion would have made sense. there's almost a lack of closure to a certain character's story and too quick a jump into something intense. this is my only reason for not giving this book five stars as it unfortunately left me without the rush and the intense emotion i had felt for the rest of the story.

I am a big fan of Paige Toon and Seven Summers reminded me why. I loved the way the story unfolded between the past and present. Without spoiling anything there were definitely some twists I didn’t see coming. This story was both heart wrenching and beautiful. I enjoyed reading it.

All I could think about during this book was how extraordinarily lucky Liv was to have not one but two men love her. Especially one who waited in her.
Mostly I’ve not been envious of fictional Characters I encounter but I was very envious of Liv.
Many people never find that great love even once and Liv had it twice. Lucky Liv.

A must read this summer! I will be adding this to my bookshelf. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I loved this book so much! Honestly I have mixed feelings when it comes to books about love triangles and first loves, but wow was this written so well! The author did a wonderful job in making you love all the characters. I loved Liv and Finn together, yet I loved Tom too and at times I truly didn’t know who to root for in the end to be with Liv. I also loved all the other characters….Michael made me laugh, he was one of my favorites.

Bottom line, I loved everything about this book. Well okay, I didn’t LOVE the sad parts but they were the parts of the story that made it so emotional and really made you feel connected to the characters.

This is my first book by Paige Toon and it will definitely not be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and G.P Putnam’s Sons for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, check out my Instagram and Goodreads pages.
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808
*Goodreads - Cherihy808

Thank you Penguin Group Putman for the ARC. Very pretty cover and premise. 5 stars for a DNF as I cannot comment on the overall quality of the book.

I gave this book a good effort and even came back to it a few times. I just couldn’t get into the plot or characters enough and reading became like a chore. Unfortunately, I did not finish this book.

Paige Toon is quite the accomplished author. I have loved the ones I have read, but I have yet to read them all.
I first became aware of the book Seven Summers when I saw the author post a live video of herself one night in March this year. She had just finished writing it and was in floods of tears, barely able to talk. I felt such emotion watching it, and the raw connection she has to her books was laid bare for us all to see. If you can, take a look. It really shows how much writers feel about the characters and stories they share.
I was so, so excited for it, and of course a little trepidatious.
It took me a while to grasp the format of the book. The chapters are divided into 'This Summer', where the protaganist has a new love interest and then chapters from Seven Summers Ago, where her relationship with her previous love develops when they are reunited for the summer, then moving forward in time to This Summer, when her worlds collide.

I liked the story and this was semi-engrossing, but there was too much extraneous stuff that I thought slowed the pace. Also frustrated by the characters - like do you like each other or not why is this complicated. This reminded me of Carly Fortune novels with the same complaints on my end so it's surely meeeeeeeee, hi, I'm the problem, it's me. Free advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paige Toon invites readers into a nostalgic and deeply emotional journey with her novel "Seven Summers". Through the lens of her protagonist, Ella, Toon crafts a narrative that explores the transformative power of love, friendship, and the passage of time.

At the heart of the story is Ella's enduring connection with her childhood best friend, Matt. From their idyllic summers spent together in Cornwall to the complexities of adulthood, their bond weathers the highs and lows of life's journey. Toon skillfully navigates through seven pivotal summers in Ella's life, each marked by significant milestones, heartaches, and moments of profound growth.

Toon's strength lies in her ability to create authentic and relatable characters. Ella is portrayed with depth and vulnerability, making her evolution from carefree youth to a woman navigating career choices, relationships, and personal challenges all the more compelling. Matt, with his charismatic presence and unwavering support, serves as both a source of stability and a catalyst for Ella's self-discovery.

The narrative unfolds with a seamless blend of humor, warmth, and poignancy. Toon's prose is evocative, capturing the essence of each summer setting—from sun-drenched beaches to quaint Cornish villages—while delving into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. The pacing is adeptly managed, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in Ella's world and the nostalgic pull of summers past.

"Seven Summers" is more than a love story; it's a meditation on the enduring power of friendships and the defining moments that shape our lives. Toon navigates themes of loyalty, forgiveness, and the bittersweet nature of growing up with sensitivity and insight.

In conclusion, "Seven Summers" is a poignant and heartfelt novel that showcases Paige Toon's talent for storytelling. With its rich characterization, evocative settings, and emotional depth, this book is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and anyone who appreciates a story that captures the complexities of love and friendship across the years.

Roller coaster ride of emotion.

Finn left St. Augustine years ago after tragedy struck his family. He now lives in Los Angeles with his father, but he comes back every summer to visit his brothers, his grandparents and the friends he left behind.

Liv left St. Augustine to pursue her degree i at university. She has dreams of making her mark as a successful sculptor. She never imagined she'd stay in St. Augustine, but events conspire to keep her there.

Having known each other as children, Finn and Liv are friends. Then, seven summers ago, it became something more. Their summer romance was hot and heavy. But Finn's life and his dreams in music are in LA. And Liv's home and her life is in St. Augustine.

Finn returns each summer. Though it gets harder each summer to say good bye when he leaves again, Liv doesn't have the strength to stay away from him. Until the summer she meets Tom.

As the years pass, Liv seems to mature much faster than Finn. He comes off as selfish and self centered. He comes back each summer knowing he has no plans to stay. And the time he spends each summer seems to get shorter. But he fully expects Liv to be there for him.

While the story starts in the present summer, it spends most of the time in the past, starting with the summer it all started between Liv and Finn. I think the repetition of what occurs between Finn and Liv each summer becomes a bit boring. The time was useful to watch Liv maturing. She is a much stronger character than Finn, able to stand up for what she needs, to do what's best for her even though it hurts her to do so. And, she's willing to take a chance, to reach for what she truly wants. Finn's expectations for of Liv were rooted in his selfishness without thought for her feelings.

Though, at times I felt like I was just slogging through the same scenes again and again, in the end it was worth the time. The last few chapters, and most definitely the epilogue are the most emotional and meaningful part of the story.

Paige Toon knows how to write a story that hits you right in the feels and tugs at your heartstrings. Seven Summers is a classic tale of the right person wrong time love story between Liv and Finn taking place over a seven years timeframe. It only took them one look to find themselves instantly drawn to each other knowing that they found their person but it took them through a lot of highs and a lot of lows to get to the right place in time to be together.


Thank you @paigetoonauthor publishers and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book was a little longer then necessary for my taste however I felt like it really tugged at my heart strings. What a wide feeling of emotions while reading and I felt all the feels! I gave myself a break from Toon for awhile but this book convinced me to come back.