If you’re craving a perfect summer read that combines the charm of seaside towns with rich, emotional storytelling, look no further than Jamie Brenner's "A Novel Summer." This book effortlessly blends family drama, romance, and personal growth into a delightful package that will keep you turning pages well into those warm, sunny afternoons.

"A Novel Summer" introduces us to Julia Greene, a bestselling author grappling with writer's block and a crumbling marriage. Desperate for a change of scenery and some inspiration, she retreats to the idyllic coastal town of Sag Harbor. What she finds there is more than just a picturesque backdrop for her next novel; it's a community filled with intriguing characters and untold stories waiting to be uncovered.

Julia's journey is one of self-discovery and reinvention. As she navigates her own personal upheavals, she encounters locals who are dealing with their own challenges and secrets. There's Olivia, the fiercely independent bookstore owner with a hidden past, and Nick, the charming carpenter who’s more than meets the eye. These characters add depth and warmth to the narrative, making Sag Harbor feel like a place you’d want to visit.

Jamie Brenner’s writing is evocative and immersive. She has a gift for creating settings that come alive with vivid descriptions, making you feel the salty breeze and hear the waves crashing against the shore. Her characters are well-drawn and relatable, each with their own distinct voice and story arc. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, reflecting the complexities of real-life relationships and personal struggles.

At its core, "A Novel Summer" is about finding one's true self amidst the chaos of life. It explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the healing power of community. Julia’s growth from a woman on the brink of despair to someone who rediscovers her passion and purpose is both inspiring and heartwarming.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about personal transformation and the magic of new beginnings. Jamie Brenner has crafted a tale that is both poignant and uplifting, perfect for those lazy days by the beach or cozy evenings at home. Whether you’re in need of a little escape or some heartfelt inspiration, "A Novel Summer" delivers on all fronts.

In conclusion, "A Novel Summer" is a beautifully told story that captures the essence of starting over and the unexpected places where we find ourselves again. Jamie Brenner's ability to weave together love, loss, and redemption in a picturesque setting makes this book a standout in contemporary fiction. So grab your sunhat, find a comfy spot, and get ready to lose yourself in a novel that truly celebrates the spirit of summer.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book.

Shelby, Hunter, and Colleen are best friends who spend summers in Provincetown, Cape Cod while they are in college. Upon graduation, all three work in the publishing industry in some form or other. Colleen manages a bookstore, Hunter works as an editor, and Shelby, only three years after graduation, becomes a best selling author. This is when the trouble starts. Shelby, in her best seller, has based her characters on her friends and her life in Provincetown. Hunter is especially upset.

I just found the characters of Shelby and Hunter so frustrating. Shelby was clueless. Why would her friends be upset she based characters on them without their permission? As for Hunter, she just needed to get over herself and out of her own way. Perhaps I found the characters so frustrating because they were so young. Three years out of college with a best seller. Really? Perhaps it was their immature reactions to everything?

Regardless, everything works out in the end for the three women. Plus, there are lovely, summery descriptions of life on the island with lots and lots of books.

𝐀 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★★

This was a fun and easy summer read! The story was set on Cape Cod and revolved all around everything to do with books and a group of three friends coming back together after many years apart. From running the local book store, to being a publisher, to writing a book, and going on book tour. They were a fun group of friends to follow on this bookish journey of theirs.

The drama and tension was high between the three of them which made the story intriguing. I enjoyed the little sprinkle of romance amongst it all, but I did wish there was more of it and more details into the romance that was present. Overall though, this was a great summer beach read!

This centers around a book shop in a small town.. When Shelby writes a book her friend Hunter thinks she based it on her life. Being away for years has pushed her away from her friends, can she reconcile with the friends she left behind.
Thanks to the publisher Park Row Books and to net galley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Novel Summer checks all the boxes for a summertime coastal read. There’s a little bit of something for everyone here. It covers romance, friendships, life challenges and transitions, and escapism. The story drew me in quickly and it was difficult to put down. The pacing is where the book fell short for me, especially in one section about 3/4 of the way through. There were also numerous grammatical and spelling errors, but I chalked that up to this being an ARC version, or potentially an issue with the format sent to Kindle readers.

Light, breezy, summer read. I enjoyed the setting and conflict of the novel and I found myself entertained. This was just the thing for a summer beach read. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is totally a beach/pool side read! This book was messy and stressful with lots of mini plot twists - kind of like life. Nothing really fit into a neat little box and that’s the best part. I loved how the focus was on the friendships and growth of Hunter, Shelby, and Collen versus just being another romance book. Honestly I wish there was a little more romance, I didn’t really feel that any of the characters had romantic attachments to any of their potential love interests. I do think if we had flashbacks or more context of their college friendships I would better understand their adult friendship. I wanted to feel their friendship rather than be told about their friendship. I loved the third person pov but I do think we didn’t necessarily need povs for certain people. Overall, this was a good and easy read!!

Thank you Harlequin for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

A beach read escape to Provincetown is such a perfect idea, but it was a bit disappointing. While multiple POVs can help to provide a more cohesive story, the abrupt perspective changes in this novel had little structure and often times felt rushed – making it difficult to get to know (and relate to) the characters. The story offers charm and an overall cute plot line, just definitely not at the top of this summer's beach reads.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the opportunity to read an E-ARC of A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner.

This a cute summer read. Three friends go astray when one moves to follow her dream of being an author. After Shelby accomplishes her dream, she finds herself back to her old hometown. Past friendships and an ex wait for her. Charming story of friendships rebuilt and second chances to fall back in love, all while saving a beloved family owned bookstore.

When I think of fun summer beach reads this is the type of book I’d grab.
I loved the friendships and relationships explored throughout the book. The ups and downs of long term friendships and navigating those times to come back together better than ever with all new perspective.

This was the first novel I’ve read by Jamie Brenner and I will be exploring more of her writing. I really enjoyed the book and it was a fast read overall.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A breezy light summer beach read! The book follows three friends dealing with some issues and how they over come. I would recommend this book is was a quick read and I always love a good book where it’s quick and not too much to think about!

Ahhhh! ⁣
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I needed a little reprieve my normal edge of the seat thriller reads! I’ve been diving into my NetGalley books knocking a few of those off my list before they get published! I’ve enjoyed getting to read books before they are out to the public. Thank you NetGalley and Park row books for the advanced copy. ⁣
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This one was a light hearted read, perfect for sweet summertime! ⁣
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Friendships, a beach town, a local bookstore…Jamie does a great job at painting a picture with her words! This was an easy to follow read with compelling characters! I felt like I was in a small little ocean town right among with the characters! Loved this one! ⁣
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I suggest if you’re looking for a light hearted summer read, you grab this one as soon as it’s out! ⁣
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I def was team Shelby the whole way through!

#books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #anovelsummer #netgalley

If you had to choose between building the career of your dreams or staying with who could be the “one” which would you choose?

Shelby leaves both her friends and boyfriend behind to establish roots of her own. She becomes a successful NYT Bestseller right out of the gate. When Shelby returns to help a friend in need, she is forced to reflect on some of her past choices including those she’s hurt in the process of finding success. As she makes amends with her past, Shelby finds herself questioning everything she was once so sure of.

I enjoyed reading A Novel Summer. It was good but could be great. I found the transitions between characters weren’t the smoothest and some of the character development to be lacking. A lot of tropes but the romance weren’t swoon worthy. There was just a lot being crammed into the novel that took away from the story at times, as if the author had a checklist of what must be included. This novel has so much potential to be the perfect beach read.

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

Thank you to NetGalley, Jamie Brenner & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A summer in Cape Cod, competing bookstores, old friends and a second chance romance? This had all the potential to be a great summer beach read. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. I found Shelby’s character unlikeable throughout. None of the characters had much depth. The story being told from different points of view was confusing, particularly when it would happen within the same chapter. The romance was non-existent.

Overall, it felt like there were too many characters without enough development in any of the story lines and as a result, it fell flat for me.

As a side note, I did not see any disclosures on the ARC that it was an unedited copy, which concerns me as the amount of spelling and grammatical errors in this book was off-putting.

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 making 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 bestselling 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!

A Novel Summer is basically about the life I wish I lead! The setting is in a little bookstore in a coastal town in the North East. The main character, Sydney, is an author who just published a New York Times best seller, but was asked back to Land’s End to run her friend’s bookstore while she was on bedrest. I loved that the story was focused on the friendship of these three ladies. As we grow up and move on with our own lives after college, it’s easy to lose track of our friends. I liked that this story focused on these ladies finding their friendship again. There was a dash of romance thrown in as well which I enjoyed. This was a quick read and makes you want to jump on the first plane to Land’s End!

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Paperback for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story sounded like a great beach read. Three friends who drift apart after college, meet up 3 years later. Shelby has published her first book. It is fiction- but the characters are loosely based on her friends from college- Hunter and Colleen. Colleen owns a bookstore in Providence, so that is where Shelby kicks off her book tour.

This sounded like it would be the perfect read. However, I could not connect with any of the main characters. The interaction and dialogue was not very deep. By the end of the book I felt that I didn’t know them any better than I had at the beginning.

There were a lot of characters introduced. I also felt like every trope was used and it was too much. The romance is very abrupt with very little build up.

The other issue was how disjointed the book was- there are no transitions in this book. Between the story being told by multiple POV’s with no distinction between them, and even jumping around to what is happening at the moment- it all just felt forced and jarring. There is a glaring lack of communication between any of the characters! This could have been a much deeper, relatable story if they communicated! (And also shorter!)

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The synopsis and location of this book convinced me to request the arc but sadly it fell flat for me. There are 3 Points of view from the 3 main characters throughout this book. The povs jump around so much just in 1 chapter that I had to go back and reread quite a bit to see whose pov it was. It’s so strange to have a sentence as one persons pov and then the next sentence is someone else’s. That was super frustrating and slowed down any chance of this being an easy fun summer beach read. I really really wanted to enjoy it because it had so much potential, but that wasn’t the case. I seriously thought about not finishing this but because it’s an arc I always finish those.

If you like books with multiple pics all in one chapter and tons of small stories to keep track of, you might very well like this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book!

A Novel Summer is a nice summer read that explores three young women's relationships as they grow into adults. The story also shows a bit of how a small town that receives a lot of summer tourists struggles to survive while not losing their history. I like the overall theme of someone ending up in life not where they have planned but where they are most needed. The relationships in the story felt real and warm. Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC to review.

“A Novel Summer” by Jamie Brenner
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 7/16
Genre: Literary Fiction

Brenner is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This book lived up to my expectations! I can’t wait for her next book to come out!

Shelby Archer just published her first book and it quickly becomes a success. The inspiration for the book was her summers spent on the Cape with her two friends while she worked for her friends family owned bookstore. What she wasn’t expecting is her friend Hunter being so upset about what she wrote. She decides she is going to try to make amends to her friend while starting her second book. She is going to do that while she spends her summer on the cape.
Her friend Colleen is pregnant with twins and has to go in bed rest. She asks Shelby to run her bookstore while she is in town. Shelby reunites with her ex boyfriend and his family. She keeps thinking he was the one that got away, but it’s her own fault since she moved to NY to conquer her dreams of being a writer.
Will Shelby be able to write her second book, run her friends store, and find true love?