I realized that some of my favorite books are ones that are just people’s stories and this is the perfect example 😍 The Summer Swap follows 3 main characters and is set in cape cod which was perfect for a spring read!

I loved getting to know Cecelia, Lily, and Kirsten and even more so how their stories overlapped and intersected. They all had great character growth throughout the book and honestly, the HEA is exactly what I needed right now 🥰

Not only did I love the main characters, but I loved the secondary characters as well. Sarah Morgan writes her characters in a very relateable way that I love!

She also does a fantastic job writing about real life problems that many people deal with on a daily basis. Her characters processed through loss, grief, anger, and relationships in a wonderful way!

I would highly recommend The Summer Swap if you’re looking for a sweet, feel good, summer read ☀️

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC read!

This was such a great read! This story focuses on a family. Actually, it focuses on three generations of a family. There is, of course, family drama. It ranges from very old secrets, issues in marriages, old promises broken, and new promises that never should have been made.

The character development was so good for all of the characters that each one seemed just as important to the plot as each of the others. Add in a remarkable setting, and Morgan delivers a book that will transport you to a place you never want to leave.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is a great beach read, especially because it's set on Cape Cod. However, it is really a look at three people, of different generations, finding new love as well as getting second chances. The characters are believable and the plot well-paced.

I really really really wanted to like this book, and for the most part it was a typical summer beach read. What had me rate this book 3 stars instead of 4 is that The Summer Swap was 98% dialogue. The Cape is absolutely gorgeous, and while I could visualize it because I am from New England and have visited the cape often, readers elsewhere won't be able to picture the cuteness of the cape because there was very limited scene setting. Saying "the beach and the waves" is such a limiting description and really sells the cape short. The beginning of the novel brought a lot of confusion to me as there were so many characters introduced, most of which in one family. I wish I had had a family tree. Todd/Theo confused me for awhile because of the similar names. I did appreciate how everything wrapped up at the end, I just wish there was more scene setting.

"The Summer Swap" by Sarah Morgan, is a poignant tale of life's complexities, choices, and the pursuit of happiness. Through the intertwined narratives of three women at different stages of life—Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily—the novel delves into themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and second chances.

Morgan skillfully navigates the nuances of each character's journey, portraying their struggles with authenticity and depth. From Cecilia's quest for redemption to Kristen's battle with guilt and Lily's search for love and belonging, the novel offers a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences.

One of the highlights of the book is the exploration of generational differences and the impact of past decisions on present circumstances. As the characters confront their demons and seek resolution, readers are drawn into their world, rooting for their triumphs and empathizing with their setbacks.

The relationships depicted in "The Summer Swap" are both heartwarming and relatable, from Lily and Todd's blossoming romance to Cecilia and Seth's unexpected connection. Morgan's writing is engaging and immersive, drawing readers into the lives of her characters and keeping them invested until the very end.

Overall, "The Summer Swap" is a beautifully crafted story of love, forgiveness, and the power of second chances. Sarah Morgan's adept storytelling and compelling characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This would make a good beach read, set on Cape Cod, muddled lives, and nothing too surprising. I like that the author focused on characters of three different age groups and yet they all were struggling to figure out their lives. This was a good book for the moment, but probably not very memorable. I recommend for those who enjoy reading about characters at a crossroads in their lives.

I absolutely loved The Summer Swap! Sarah Morgan's characters came alive on the page, and their stories were beautifully written. I enjoyed every minute!

Thank you so much net galley and county press for providing me an advanced copy of the summer swap. I really enjoyed this book and the ambience! I gave these 3.5 stars! Full reviews linked below!

The Summer Swap is an fun predictable summer read. While the chapters started off a bit confusing, moving back and forth between a few different characters, once I saw the connection between all of them, it made more sense and kept me engaged to the end.

The Summer Swap is a story about life's choices and challenges, and the guilt and regrets kept inside for fear of hurting, disappointing or betraying someone they love. It was about making amends, standing up for what is best for you and your mental health. But it was also about second chances to find love, happiness and a light in dark times. It is told from 3 POVs of women in different stages of life, a grandmother, a mother and a young adult child, all facing difficult situations. Just like life tends to be sometimes, the story was raw, deep, and complex.

Overall take away–you have to find a healthy balance in order for any relationship to work. Take the time to listen, understand and appreciate each others' thoughts and feelings during the good, the bad and the ugly. Life is tough, but in the end it is how you handle the situations and finding the ones who you can lean on and trust in times of need. It was a good reminder that life is short and we aren’t promised tomorrow so don’t take moments for granted.

I appreciated the premise of the story, it was well written and definitely worth the read, but I feel like it missed the mark as a “summer read.” On the other hand, the beautiful cover of the book screams summer. Her stunning book covers always catch my eye and reel me in!

TW—death, grief, trials of marriage, infidelity

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sarah Morgan for granting me early access to The Summer Swap in exchange for an honest review.

Cecilia Lapthorne's unexpected return to Dune Cottage on Cape Cod marks a pivotal moment in her life, defying her longstanding vow never to revisit the place. "The Summer Swap" offers a compelling narrative, weaving together the perspectives of three women across different generations. This poignant tale delves into themes of family dynamics, love, forgiveness, and the pursuit of happiness.

The intertwining stories of Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily resonate deeply, highlighting the parallels and contrasts in their experiences. Through their journeys, the novel prompts reflection on generational shifts, the influence of marital circumstances on life choices, and the diverse paths to personal fulfillment.

While initially uncertain about the convergence of the three narratives, I found satisfaction in the way their stories ultimately intersected. Though the romances in Cecilia and Lily's lives felt somewhat rushed, the depth and nuance of Kristen's journey captivated me.

In conclusion, "The Summer Swap" offers a rich exploration of interconnected lives and the universal quest for meaning and contentment. My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for providing an eARC of this insightful novel.

Gentle summer read. I'm always appreciative when a book has a mix of ages represented and bonus when there is romance mixed in. Thank you NetGalley for the advance ecopy.

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan is a wonderful sweet touching family-oriented story. The story revolves around three women in different generations, interlinked by family, love, expectations and friendship.

Cecilia Lapthorne knows her daughter, Kristen is throwing her a 75th birthday party, which she is not really happy about; especially having recently lost her husband, Cameron. When she over hears someone discussing a lost portrait of a painting from many years ago; she decides to escape the party, giving herself her own private time. Cecilia returns to the beautiful Dune Cottage on Cape Cod, which she has not been in many years, with none of her family even know about the cottage.

Lily, who is currently living on the Cape, where she dropped out of medical school, because of pressure from her parents and her bff Hannah (Cecilia’s granddaughter), as she wants to be an artist.  Lily left town without telling anyone where she is, and gets hired to clean houses, which gives her peace.  Lily decides to stay at the Dune Cottage, since no one has lived there for a long time; but one night she hears someone open the door, and quickly leaves. The following morning, Lily will hear things in the cottage and will go in to help.  She meets Cecilia, who in a short time they recognize each other, as Lily knows she is Hannah’s grandmother; Cecilia realizes that Lily has no place to stay, and offers her an invitation to stay on as her guest,  with Lily taking care of the house and even shop for her.

Kristen is Cecelia’s grown-up daughter, who is married to Theo, a top surgeon, who is rarely home, as he is a workaholic.  Kristen is unhappy, always feeling alone; with resentment building. Theo is always too busy helping everyone but her.  Kristen and Winston are Cameron’s children, with Hannah and Todd being the grandchildren.

In a short time, Cecilia’s grandson, Todd will find her, and Lily too, since both Lily and Hannah were close, and Todd was always close to them.  Lily was shocked to see Todd, and after learning he broke up with his girlfriend, Lily is thrilled as she has always loved Todd.  Both Lily and Todd work together to fix up the cottage, renovating it to make it look great, especially with Lily adding much of her artistic work.  Cecilia recognizes some of the paintings that Lily created, and goes to visit a gallery that an old-time friend still runs. She discovers Seth is still there, and in a short time, she and Seth (both widowers) will find a renewed relationship between them escalating. Both Seth and Cecilia agree that Lily is talented, and they will convince her she needs to show her work.

What follows is a wonderful emotional story line that was such a fun read. I love the relationship between Cecilia and Lily, even though their age difference was so much older; they both became close and caring for each other. Cecilia was determined to get Lily to show her artistic paintings, as well as wonderful designs for people’s houses. I loved how Lily and Todd found true love.   I also liked how Cecilia and Seth came together. The Summer Swap was a fantastic captivating story of second chances, grief, family, love, forgiveness, and happiness.  The Summer Swap was so very well written by Sarah Morgan.

I enjoyed this Sarah Morgan book about new love, old loves and rekindling past relationships. The characters were well written and the story lines were entertaining.

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan was rich with emotion, thanks to the three strong women in the story. Cecilia, Kristen, and Lily are from three different generations, and the stories are told from their points of view in various chapters. We get to know them a little at a time through the upheavals in their lives and the toll it is taking on each of them and others in their families. There are a lot of memories and reminiscing along with some dissatisfaction in each of their lives as they forge new paths. Many secrets slowly see the light of day, adding layers to the story.

Cecilia and Kristen are mother and daughter but have had a rocky relationship through most of their lives and live in Boston. Lily is best friends with Kristen’s daughter, who is studying to be a doctor. Lily’s path has veered from that career goal, and she is currently cleaning houses on the Cape while painting and trying to figure out what’s next for her. When Cecilia and Lily’s paths cross at a cottage on the Cape, things take quite a turn for both of them as they form a bond and are there for each other, offering support and another perspective. When Cecilia’s grandson tracks her down to make sure she’s okay, the story takes another interesting turn.

Art is woven throughout the story and adds color and another dimension. There are vivid descriptions of the locations, the homes, and the artwork. When romance enters for each of them, their lives veer in unexpected directions and helps give them purpose and a new outlook even though they often second-guess what they are doing. Communication is key to all relationships, and we see what can happen when active listening is used. There is closure and the potential for a happily ever after for the three, but I would have welcomed an epilogue.

The Summer Swap is women’s fiction with layers to the story as the main characters, all strong women in their own right, cross paths and offer support when it’s most needed. As we head towards summer, sit back with a cold drink with your feet in the sand as you feel the sun’s warmth and hear the ocean waves.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

Summer in Cape Cod....the setting for a fantastic beach read.
Three women and three connections with some romance thrown into the mix. There are relationships, family drama, betrayal, and new connections.
Sarah Morgan is always a favorite author and continues to write a great story.
Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Trade for an ARC of this book.

This story was absolutely delightful! I loved the characters, the premise, the growth each character takes, and how they are all threaded together!

A story of healing over loss. Healing & repairing marriages, new relationships, rekindling old ones, plus a journey to find themselves amongst it all.

The character development & story telling is so fluid & well written. While some of the story is told in past terms you don’t get lost in the back and forth. You also don’t get lost in the multiple character stories either as they all flow as one overarching story. It’s one of my favorite ways to read books. I love authors who do foreshadowing & plot development all mixed together in the present part of the story telling. It makes the enjoyment of the story that much deeper!

I had not read anything from Sarah Morgan before but this has truly encouraged me to go look at her other work!

This is a FABULOUS beach read! You will laugh & cry along with these characters. You will most definitely celebrate in their happiness & growth moments. Most of all, if you’re like me, you’ll fall in love with the characters too! I can’t recommend it enough!

Huge thank you to Harlequin Trade & NetGalley for this copy in return for my honest review!

Slow, Character Driven Coastal Tale Featuring Flawed Yet Understandable Characters. Yes, to an extent if you've read one Sarah Morgan non-Christmas tale, you've read every Sarah Morgan non-Christmas tale. (And her Christmas tales are simply a variant on the non-Christmas ones, featuring some extra Christmas emphasis of some form.) This noted, what Sarah Morgan does, she does solidly and has clearly built a fan base for a reason, and this is yet another example of why her formula works so well.

Here, yet again, we get three generations of female leads, with the guys mostly playing romantic foils of some form or another, and each of our female leads has her own dramas and insecurities and, yes, mistakes. Of course, in typical Sarah Morgan fashion... well, let's not give away her endings in this review, shall we? Let's instead say that the Hallmarkie type crowd will generally enjoy these books, even though the Sarah Morgan formula is at least *slightly* different than that one.

Overall a solid tale solidly written, and a perfectly fine, inoffensive, casual "summer" / "beach" read (that, to be clear, can truly be enjoyed any time). Very much recommended.

A summer story about love, grief, and family. Cecilia Lapthorne returns to a cottage that holds painful memories from decades before only to find love and friendship. Told from three different POVs from three different generations, the story unfolds to reveal family secrets and forgiveness. I enjoyed the relationship between Cecilia and her daughter, Kristin, and how their relationship evolved, reminiscing about choices made and how those choices affected their relationship. I also liked Lily's individual story, leaving a career path that she wasn't happy with and finding something she loves. But I felt the relationship between Lily and Todd was rushed with little to no development.

Overall it was a pleasant summer read and a solid 3 stars.

⭐️ 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ⭐️
The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

mᥡ rᥱ᥎іᥱᥕ:
I fell in love with Sarah Morgan’s writing when I read The Book Club Hotel last year and The Summer Swap was just as heartwarming.

This book follows three women who are interconnected though they don’t know it. Dealing with grief, marriage, family, and healing this book explores the strength women have throughout their entire life journey. The depths of emotions this book dives into is truly remarkable and so delicately done. Sarah Morgan can take heavy subjects and make the reader feel so empowered while reading her characters stories.

Great quick read for the summer! Highly recommend this book with the backdrop of Cape Cod.