Like the title of the book suggests, “A Novel Summer” by Jamie Brenner makes for good beach reading. Three best friends come together after they’d parted ways in their quaint beach town where they’d spent summers upon college graduation. One went on to become a best-selling novelist. One stayed in town to run her family’s bookstore. And the other, returned to her parents’ summer estate when her career as a book editor didn’t pan out. Of course, there was a guy left behind, who had been devastated when what he had believed to be the love of his life had walked away.

I really wanted to love this book, but I can’t say I did. It had all of the makings of the perfect escape novel, but to be honest, I didn’t like the characters all that much. Two of them seemed selfish (or clueless about the feelings of others) and one of them had been barely fleshed out.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC of this novel. My opinion is my own.

A Novel Summer is the perfect beachy, summer read!! This will be a quick, easy ready while you work on your tan. I will definitely check out more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing|Park Row for an ARC copy of this book.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

A Novel Summer is sure to be a popular beach read this summer. However, while I think this book is interesting and well written I would classify it as New Adult rather than Women’s Fiction since the main characters are 25. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

Shelby Archer used her summers in Provincetown with her two best friends as inspiration for her novel; what she didn’t realize is how much her friends and some of the neighbors would not appreciate their contribution as her inspiration. Now, as a bestselling author, she is coming back for another summer to help with the local bookstore when her friend is on bed rest, and she is getting the cold shoulder from those who felt taken advantage of and from her ex boyfriend who she coldly left behind. After being back for a while, Shelby is realizing how much she loves the Cape and begins to wonder whether her success is worth the sacrifices she has been making.

This is a great book to throw in your bag and take to the beach, it’s fun and has all the feels you need for a great read while sitting in a lounge chair (maybe with a glass of rose?) under an umbrella. I love going back to Provincetown with Jamie Brenner and visiting with the new characters she creates, her books are like a warm blanket on your legs while sitting on a chair by a bonfire. I still have some of her backlist to read, and plan on doing it this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Row for the Arc to review

The story line was enjoyable but I had a hard time emotionally connecting with the characters. It was frustrating to watch the main character repeat her big mistake from the beginning of the book all over again and not realize what she was doing.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into "A Novel Summer," and what a delightful read it was! Set in a quaint beach town, the story follows three friends entrenched in the book industry. The vivid descriptions transported me to the idyllic coastal setting, where I could almost feel the sand between my toes. As the characters navigate heartbreak and new beginnings, their growth throughout the novel felt authentic and relatable. With its charming narrative and compelling characters, "A Novel Summer" is the perfect companion for a lazy day at the beach. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!

Great summer read, perfect for your beach getaway or staycation! Brenner has a knack for transporting her readers to Cape Cod and we vicariously enjoy every bit of it!

A trio of college friends must overcome their past frustrations with each other and life in order to grow their friendships into adulthood.

Shelby, a debut author, has found success writing what she knows, yet risks losing her friends because of that. Colleen and her bookshop are at a crossroads in life vs. career. Hunter must come to terms with her family wealth and phobias about relationships. Add in a host of interesting characters and relationships and you have the ingredients for a binge read!

Pack this book and you are set for a good time!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This was my second time giving a Jamie Brenner novel a shot and I don't think I'll be returning as a reader. The premise for this novel--of three young women tied together by their time on Cape Cod each summer, one of whom writes a bestselling novel that's based on one of the other's life--was appealing and I was hoping for a fun, breezy read. I had the same feeling reading this book as Blush, one of Brenner's other books. The flow of information felt uneven and I didn't understand the characters' reactions to things. At times this felt more like an outline of a novel than a fully fleshed out narrative. I'm disappointed because I was hopeful on this one.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Novel Summer has all of the components of a perfect beach read with substance. The story is set in a quintessential beach town with a fitting cast of characters with a plot inclusive of second chance romance, friendship drama and a community supporting one another.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy. What a great beach read! Old friends who have gone their separate ways reunite for the summer that brings changes to their lives that they never imagined.

I loved that the book was set in ptown and used actual locations. I thought the story was familiar in that it’s been done before and the book felt too young for me.

I loved this book. It was a great feel good book about three friends. It covered all of their ups and downs and how friendship is one of the most important things in our lives. A fun read.

There is a lot going on in this book and a lot of characters to keep track of but the most frustrating is the switch between character voices at each new chapter. I think if the chapters had titles with the characters names, perhaps that would help. The plot involves 3 friends that have drifted apart when they move away from each other. It feels like their friendship was not really built on anything substantial when each one describes the other friends. They seem almost oblivious to the other's feelings. The boyfriends (ex or otherwise) serve as characters to move the plot along without really any real meaning. I didn't feel their connections.
This book was okay but I am not sure if this author's writing is for me.

I enjoyed Jamie Brenner’s previous novels Blush and Gilt, and was hoping for more of the same here, but unfortunately, I found A Novel Summer to be a bit disappointing. The book felt rushed—the perspective switches between characters were often abrupt, which made it hard to follow at times, and it felt difficult to relate to any of the characters. I also finished the book feeling like I didn’t really get to know any of them, even with all the perspective changes. The lack of communication between every single person in this book was frustrating and, at times, unbelievable; the only person who pulled it off was the high school-aged character, and for everyone else it felt wildly immature.

Additionally, Provincetown is renowned for its community of queer artists and for its place in queer history, but that’s barely even mentioned as a backdrop to the drama of the book’s all-straight cast of main characters.

I wanted to like this—a story about a beach town bookstore sounds right up my alley—but this just wasn’t the one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This is a story about a group of friend who parted ways after graduating and have found themselves together again for the summer.
I did like the concept of this book, especially with seeing the development of each character from beginning to end. However, there was a ton of things going on that made it overwhelming. One of which was how the chapters would switch between characters. I found myself often getting confused on who the story was following because it was so frequent and abrupt.
Overall, it was a sweet book and if you love a lot of drama and seeing multiple POV you should definitely check this book out.

Book Review
A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner

Tropes
Second chance romance
Small town
Friends
Summers are the beach
Bookstores/publishing/writing
Friend drama

Characters
Shelby - a newly published author
Hunter - in publishing, on her own, enjoys companionship on her terms
Colleen- bookstore owner , pregnant, in a committed relationship

Thoughts
I really enjoy books that explore female friendships. We can be the most supportive of each other and each others worst critics. Not all friendships can endure time, distance, and honesty. The evolution of friendship can be difficult but true friends are well worth weathering the storm.
This was my first by this author and overall a solid, light beach read and the perfect palate
Cleanser for the summer.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harlequintradepib for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Add Jamie Brenners new novel A Novel Summer to your TBR! It comes out July 15th, and it’s such a great summer book. Made me miss the beach from our vacation.

Three friends all went separate ways, but when desperate times call for help, they reunite. Colleen is struggling to keep her bookstore open, Shelby wrote her first book and is on a book tour, and Hunter is working through trying to find her course in life getting away from her families money. There’s past hurts that have to be sorted through, but the island is small and someone runs into their ex, and realizes maybe it wasn’t such a closed chapter. Theres a flood, a breakup, an accidental affair, the small town coming together- this book has it all! There’s so many sweet, funny, and adorable moments in this book! I am always a sucker for a beach love story, and I love a good book full of friendships. I loved the main characters love story and honesty with her feelings. It felt like I was on Cape Cod and apart of this story. I love all the detail used to explain the island, the bookstore, the book parties, and the atmosphere in each scene. Jamie Brenner takes you away to the beach and captures you with these characters and their life situations. Such a great book! Highly recommend. Thank you @netgalley @jamiebrennerwrites @harlequintradepublishing for this advance copy. #netgalley #jamiebrenner #anovelsummer

I love how Jamie Brenner can take a setting and make it feel like its own character. That, in combination with her ability to craft strong, nuanced female relationships, makes A Novel Summer another heartwarming and entertaining summer read. Jamie Brenner's books are always a highlight of my summer reading!

This is a story of three college friends as close as can be who move on with their lives, grow apart, find different paths and ideas of success. That’s not unique or uncommon. When one writes a book inspired on another’s life, on another’s community…now that’s something different entirely. How do we reconcile with the people we love, what are we willing to give up to make space for a relationship to heal?

Come with me to Provincetown, a small town on Cape Cod. Here a local bookstore held the hopes and dreams of three friends each summer throughout college. Shelby, Hunter, and Colleen’s shared love of books had been their binding force, and now their undoing. When they graduate Shelby is determined she won’t return until she’s met her goals of becoming a writer. Three years later she’s got a best selling book and is stuck trying to write her second when Colleen asks her to come back and help run the bookstore. Reluctantly Shelby agrees, but knows she’s not going to be welcomed with open arms, especially by Hunter.

I’m an unapologetic Jamie Brenner fan. I have (and have gifted) her books in print, ebook, and audio. We are immersed in Provincetown, the bookstore, the cultural, and surrounding community. It’s a hallmark of her writing that I look forward to! The literary theme throughout is so lovely. I felt that Hunter’s relationship with Shelby (and resentment towards her) was affected by Hunter’s own struggles, making it slightly messy.

I highly recommend for those that love immersive summer romance with a strong sense of place. Readers that love books about women’s friendships will especially love this. Perfect for your beach bag and poolside reading! For those of us who are landlocked, it is a much needed escape to a breezy, costal location!

I received an early copy from my friends at HTP Books and Park Row Books via Netgalley.