oh to have been living in New York in 1999 with no social media and just AOL and email.

I broke my "no technology in bed before sleep" rule to finish this, so you know that means I was absolutely enthralled and invested in this story.

Summer Fridays is a really fun, story that is unique in its premise of being in New York before the age of social media and modern technology. I'm super picky about the romance I read nowadays as I get older but this is one I can 100% get behind and recommend. I will say it will not be for everyone due to a certain trope, but if you can look past it I think it delves into questioning the ethics of what is morally right and just how far something can go before it's justifiable. I'm kiiiiind of ranting here. This book is also told in third person, which some people will not enjoy, but for the type of story it is it makes a lot of sense and is extremely well-written.

Suzanne Rindell encapsulates the essence of New York in this time, before 9/11, in a beautiful light. Carefree, young, nostalgic, before the world was changed. This juxtaposes to the final chapters set not long after 9/11 in 2001, and how those events intertwine with the lives of two of these characters to conclude their story.

A story of unexpected love and connection, this is a wonderful, light-hearted summer read that will make you appreciate a time before modern technology in a beautiful love story to New York.

Thank you NetGalley & Dutton/Penguin Group for the ARC!

Besides the cheating aspect of the story, I enjoyed Summer Fridays. I liked the old school AOL messaging and the summer Friday's concept. Out of the two main characters, Nick was my favorite. I liked that he was supportive and honest about his feelings. I wasn't the biggest fan of Sawyer. She was very wishy-washy and I did not agree with her choices. It frustrated me that she stayed with Charlie for as long as she did. I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed Suzanne Rindell's writing. I normally don't like third person books as much as I did with this one. Although the unexpected cheating trope put this book down a notch, this was still a solid read. Thank you to Dutton for the ARC.

It is 1999, a hot and humid summer in Manhattan. Sawyer, a downtrodden editorial assistant who writes poetry in her spare time is lonely. Charlie her college boyfriend now lawyer fiancée is distant and always at work. Nick, the snarky boyfriend of one of Charlie's colleagues Kendra hints that Charlie and Kendra are having an affair.
Sawyer and Nick spend a summer of Fridays not talking about their other halves but discovering New York and each other. Despite this somewhat unoriginal tale, it is well written and an enjoyable and engaging summer read.

Suzanne Rindell's Summer Friday is a smart and deeply rewarding novel that offers particular delights to anyone who loves the romance of the New York publishing world has been burned by it, while at the same time continuing to hope. It also offers a more conventional romance between a young female editor and a guy whom she really, really doesn't like -- at first. I particularly enjoyed that the guy she has such a passionate connection with is an immigrant from the former Soviet Union. His social skills definitely need work, and yet I totally fall for the charm! Salat Olivier also makes an appearance.

Sweet, escapist, and nicely nostalgic. A recommended purchase for collections where bookish romances are popular.

Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell is about Sawyer, a determined editorial assistant with dreams of writing, navigates a challenging summer as her fiancé becomes engrossed in work with a suspicious colleague named Kendra. Unexpectedly, she forms a connection with Kendra's boyfriend, Nick, through online exchanges, leading to a series of summer Fridays exploring New York City. The author beautifully captures the essence of young adulthood and the uncertainty that comes with it, with a nostalgic ode to the 90’s. The novel serves as a love letter to New York City, resonating with readers who recall the early days of online communication and the thrill of finding a certain someone's name in their inbox. Summer Fridays is a charming and relatable tale that captures the magic of youthful beginnings and the timeless joy of unexpected connections.

I will always want to read anything that is pitched as being anything like "You've Got Mail" so I right away requested an ARC of Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell since it said that it's 'You've Got Mail for a new generation'. I'm not sure if marketing it that way will be a hinderance to the book because I did enjoy reading it but I didn't think it felt like the movie.

I liked the plot, I thought the characters were somewhat interesting and I wanted to know how it all wrapped up by the end. My only gripe with this book was the dialogue. It felt stilted, which didn't help because a majority of the book is the two main characters walking around/exploring NYC and talking.

If you can get past the dialogue, I think this book will be very enjoyable for you.