Once again, another wonderful book by Sarah Morgan. “The Summer Swap” is a multigenerational story based in Boston & the Cape. It is an easy read that has you cheering on all the characters as they revolve on their journeys of self discovery. Sarah Morgan’s descriptive writing style has you visualizing the scenes to the point you can smell the salt air & the butter of the lobster rolls. This is a must for your beach bag this summer. Thank you to Net Galley and Canary Street Press for this advance read!

Yes, I'm reading this in the winter, but with that, I can absolutely tell you this is a summer book, and it's one you need to have in your life in that season - or any season. Cecilia is 70, and she's tired for a myriad of reasons. She sneaks out of the birthday party thrown by her daughter to escape to a beach cottage. When there, she finds Lily who's been taking care of the property as she's trying to figure out what's next in her life. Cecilia tells Lily she wants her to stay. Oh, and Lily's estranged best friend is Cecilia's niece, and Lily's unrequited love is her grandson Todd. And then, AND THEN, as the story goes, Todd shows up. What I loved about this was that the story was about three women (Cecilia's daughter Kristen is also involved) trying to figure out life at different ages, and that's not always easy. And I loved how the story intersected, and there was also some twists along the way. This was just a wonderful read. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this May 2024 release!

I try to read beachy reads in Cape Cod since it's familiar to me. This title was a good story with three points of view. It couldn't get my attention for some reason, but I loved the cover and the setting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Told from the perspectives of three different women in three different age generations, The Summer Swap was a poignant and touching story about family, expectations, love, forgiveness after mistakes, and choosing a life that makes you happy.

I’m not sure how to summarize the book in a more concise way than the official blurb, so I will say refer to that before I jump into my full review.

All three women in this book are at different places in their lives but they each have experiences that relate to the others, whether in the past or in their present. It provided many thoughtful moments to consider generational choices and how they’ve changed, how different circumstances in different marriages can influence decisions made in mirrored situations, and how moving forward can look different for everyone.

There were times that I was unsure how the three threads of Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily’s lives would fully come together in terms of the particular stories being told, despite the fact that they were already connected to each other. That said, I really enjoyed how it all did work out in the end. The romances in Cecilia and Lily’s lives were somewhat abrupt for me despite the history involved in both, but I felt the nuance of all aspects of Kristen’s was so incredibly well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fabulous beach read! Any book that is set on Cape Cod immediately pulls me in. The story explores tragedy and loss, as well as takes a look a multigenerations. Definitely recommend for your summer list!

When I think about what makes me engage with a book, the answer is generally the characters. Setting, plot and other elements of novels are also important but what I most seek is to spend time with the people and to care about them. Sarah Morgan gave me exactly what i wanted in The Summer Swap, a book that I recommend for an engaging spring/summer read.

Who is in the novel? Here are some of the people.

Cameron is an artist who is no longer alive but whose reputation and reach continue following his death.

Cecilia generally became known as Cameron’s wife but she was/is her own person. It was not always easy to be subsumed by her husband and their marriage was complicated. She is now trying to figure out what she wants (as are all the characters).

Kristen and Winston are Cameron and Cecilia’s middle aged children. Kristen is rather controlling, married to a surgeon and flirting with a possible dalliance as the book opens. Winston has a more laidback personality than the tense Kristen. Both Winston and Kristen have young adult children who also feature in the story.

Lily has had the hopes of her family placed on her shoulders. It is difficult when she realizes that she needs to find her own path in life, not do only what is expected. She has connections with Kristen’s daughter and has been in love with Winston’s son.

Watch out too for the journalist who flirts with Kristen. He may have ulterion motives.

As the story opens, readers learn that Lily is finding her way on the Cape. The Cape is also a place to which Cecilia travels when she escapes from the family party she did not want to attend. It is a place with some painful memories. Readers can expect that Lily and Cecilia will meet.

What happens to each of these characters makes up the essence of this very readable story. I enjoyed it so much and now will keep an eye out for a new book by this author. (I also liked her last novel The Book Club a great deal.)

Those who enjoy women’s fiction will, I am certain want to read The Summer Swap. Mark the calendar for its release date.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

In Sarah Morgan's poignant and heartwarming novel, "The Summer Swap," two women from different generations find solace and unexpected connections at Dune Cottage, a place steeped in memories and the promise of new beginnings. Cecilia Lapthorne, a septuagenarian seeking refuge from her mundane life, returns to the remote cottage on Cape Cod, a place she vowed never to revisit. Haunted by memories of her volatile marriage to renowned artist Cameron and the secrets she has kept from her daughter, Kristen, Cecilia embarks on a journey of self-discovery and reconciliation. Meanwhile, Lily, an aspiring artist grappling with guilt and disappointment, finds solace in Dune Cottage, an illicit refuge where she can hide away and heal her wounds. When Cecilia unexpectedly arrives, an unlikely friendship blossoms between the two women, each carrying their own burdens and dreams. The arrival of Cecilia's grandson, Todd, ignites a spark of desire in Lily, sending ripples through their newfound bond. As the summer unfolds, Cecilia and Lily find themselves at a crossroads, confronted with choices that will shape their futures. Will Lily find the courage to pursue her artistic dreams and break free from the expectations of her family? Can Cecilia let go of the past and embrace the possibility of a new beginning? With its evocative prose, relatable characters, and exploration of themes like family, forgiveness, and second chances, "The Summer Swap" is a captivating read that will resonate with readers long after they finish the last page. Sarah Morgan deftly weaves together the stories of Cecilia and Lily, creating a poignant and uplifting tale about the power of friendship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative nature of love.

Sarah Morgan’s writing gets better with each book she writes — This book is an excellent summer beach read , cozy and light — and this book reminded me a bit of Elin Hilderbrand style. This would be a great beach read — the book is more than the romance aspect — it explores the different generations of a family and their experiences in love and life. The book also looks at the relationship between family members as well as their marriages exploring tragedy, loss and grief as well it is a book about women discovering who they want to be at any age. Recommended !


Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC -- This is my honest review.

This is the ideal beach read -- romantic, relationship-driven, and heartfelt, along with a picturesque Cape Cod setting in summertime. Cecilia is the elderly widow of a world-famous artist. She is an artist herself, and he always overshadowed her. After his death, she feels overwhelmed and leaves her estate for a tiny Cape cottage. There, she encounters Lily, a family friend who has just dropped out of medical school and harbors a wish to become an artist. The two women bond, and lots of great things grow from their friendship, particularly when Cecilia's grandson enters the picture and he and Lily become close. I truly look forward to recommending this story.

This is such a heartwarming story of growth and healing. I loved the characters and the genuine way the author displayed their character flaws and strengths. I loved reading this multi-generational story that showed how the past affects the present and future generations. This is my second book by this author and she does a great job making you feel like you know the characters and their feelings!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was pleased to be able to read this book ahead of its release date in exchange for an honest review, and I can honestly say it was a lot of fun to read! I am in the same generation as Cecilia’s and I was able to relate to many of the feelings she experienced during the story’s timeline. There are two younger generation’s points of view as well and each character learned valuable life lessons with the help of the others.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance

This is the second Sarah Morgan book I have read, and I have found that she is quickly becoming a favorite! I LOVED following the stories of the three central characters: a medical school drop out who wants to follow her dreams of becoming an artist, an empty-nester who is trying to figure out how to save her marriage, and a grandmother whose famous husband has just passed away.

I enjoyed seeing the character analysis & growth, and the romances were all so sweet! The setting of this book was also so artfully written, and I truly felt that I was transported to the Cape.

Definitely would recommend though and hope you read this book upon its release on May 7, 2024. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read in advance of publication!

Read this one really quickly while traveling, it was lovely and fun and had excellent pacing. One of my favorites so far this year. Five stars.

You know, sometimes you need those "reassuring", fun, heartwarming reads that you know will give you a few hours of lightness.
When these moments happen to me, I can't help but open a book by Sarah Morgan. Her stories have something bewitching about them,
they make you feel good. Romance is not the main theme in this story, but we get to know three women, three generations of women,
with their flaws and their insecurities and their problems. Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily are the protagonists of this book, the only thing they are
looking for is to find themselves, but will that be the only thing they find?
Thank so much to the author, to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this Arc, in exchange of my honest opinion.

Three generations of women are faced with decisions on how to spend their lives. A quick read (Maybe a beach read for the summer?), I read this book quickly just to get to the end. I wasn't wild about the characters but I did enjoy the descriptions of the Cape.. I probably would not recommend it.

I enjoyed this book! The little mystery kept me coming back, and I felt like I was at the Cape. Sarah Morgan is a great author!

Three women at a crossroads. Different ages, different stages, feeling that they are not enough. Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily, all trying to find themselves. Add in the ocean, a passion for art and the love of family and you have a perfect book. A book of women being true to self, and to their beliefs. The Summer Swap is a wonderful book. Thank you NetGalley for a ARC of this book, I cannot wait to purchase a copy of my own. Five stars.

The novel is about three generations of a family and their trials and secrets. Cecilia, the matriarch, has kept secrets from her children and grandchildren for years. After her husband, a famous artist, passes away she learns that her husband had never sold a beach house that had both good and bad memories. Cecilia has a secret to protect to she heads to the beach house without letting her daughter or grandchildren know where she is going. Meanwhile, her daughter's marriage could be in trouble and her grandson has become engaged to the wrong person. Sarah Morgan takes the reader through a few twists and turns, but all the secrets are finally revealed by the end of the novel. I read this in one sitting because I could not wait to discover the outcome. You will have to read the book to find out if Cecilia can move on? Can her daughter's marriage be saved? Will her grandson find true happiness with the right woman?

I've recently discovered Sarah Morgan books and have been enjoying making my way through her list. I was pleased to be able to have an ARC for this new summer read. I could feel the sunshine and hear the waves at the beach while reading this!
The story is has some romance but it is much more than romance. It shows us how, no matter what age or where we are in our lives, there is always time and room for us to become true to ourselves. To explore what makes us happy now and for our future, without having regrets about our choices in the past.
I love that there are many generations focused on in the plot, as well as including some men, although not shown from the viewpoint but their thoughts and feelings are seen. I felt many different emotions through the story, including some genuine tears. The relationship between Lily and Cecilia I absolutely loved! The respect and care they showed each other, even though their ages were 50 years apart, was extremely well done!
There were just a couple of things that stopped me from giving a full 5 stars.... One - the timelines moved unrealistically fast. The redecorating the cottage in just a couple of days didn't feel doable and how fast relationships moved to the "living together" stage. Two - when Theo was trying to win back Kristen he focused completely on not supporting her when her father died and there was no mention about the previous years when he was not there or supportive. And Kristen didn't call him on this. She should have!! And Three - I didn't get how this was a "Summer Swap".

I loved this book, would definitely recommend it and grateful to have had this chance to read it!! Thanks so much!

A really cute summery read. This is the perfect beach read or sit by the pool read. It was really quick and easy to get through.