A feel-good story about finding family in unexpected places and appreciating the one you already have.

Erica and Allison were both dropped into an impossible situation not of their own making. The only thing binding them in any way was Summer, Erica’s daughter and Allison’s stepdaughter. Summer turned out to be quite the tenacious bit of glue. I had mixed feelings about her. She was only 16 with a whole lot of good intentions, but she did manipulate her mother quite a bit without taking her feelings into consideration.

I really liked Erica and Allison. They were very different people. Erica’s steely core was the backbone that kept this whole menagerie of a family together. Allison was forced to develop her own inner strength, it was sink or swim for her. Luckily, she didn’t have to do it on her own. It was very heartwarming to see these two women grow closer and form a stronger new-found family.

The romance between Erica and Killion was like a gentle, meandering river that cut through everything and brought Erica a much-needed safe space. It also wore her defenses down gradually, so that she could see the potential future available to her.

The story started out a bit slow, but it was engaging and I was heavily invested in the outcome for all of these characters. I can recommend this if you like an emotional family drama with strong female characters front and center.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the beginning of the book. The female lead was a position that has not been done to death and seemed interesting. The secondary story about the ex husband and his new wife also caught my attention. The problem was the middle of the book went round and round repeating the same things. All of the characters wore on my nerves and it got to where I truly didn’t care what happened with any of them. This book was a great idea but it needed a lot more refinement and more interesting points in the plot.
Thank you Net Galley for the free copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the synopsis for this book and am happy to say that the it lived up to my expectations.

Erica and Allison are unwillingly bound together through Peter, Erica's ex and Allison's current husband, as well as through Summer, Peter and Erica's big-hearted 16 YO daughter. When Peter is unexpectedly arrested, Allison, 6 mos pregnant, with an 18 mo. old toddler, finds herself in dire straits as Peter was the main breadwinner. Because he was arrested for money laundering among other things, she finds their bank accounts are frozen. On top of that, she's facing eviction in a month because her landlord just sold their rental house. Summer finds her in despair and immediately comes up with a solution, she can move into the large house that Summer lives in with her mom, Erica, an independent business owner of a string of successful hair salons/spas. Allison has heard horror stories of Erica's coldness and vindictiveness from Peter, so she's pretty reluctant but has no other options. As for Erica, the last thing she wants is her ex's current wife moving into her house, but she's smart enough to realize there's no way she can turn down Summer's appeal for help.

From that inauspicious beginning, both women start to see the real person underneath their misconceptions and develop a surprising friendship and the meaning of true family, tied together by their mutual love for Summer. All of the characters in the book were well-drawn and sympathetic. I especially loved Erica, who is initially portrayed as practical, unsentimental, and hard-edged in business but who definitely has a softer side and a yearning for acceptance, and love. The book moved along at an fast pace and I didn't want to put it down. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

For The Love of Summer is the perfect feel good novel and great for the beach! This novel engaged me and I was invested in the characters and their lives. Although, I found it predictable it did not detract from my enjoyment. I can't wait for her next novel!
It is expected to be released on June 4, 2024.

Thank you Net Galley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to preview this title and the opinions shared are my own.

Erica is a success. She has a beautiful, wonderful daughter, Summer. She has an "empire" of 4 salons that thriving and while she is firm, she has been incredibly successful and the staff loves her and their work. She is a very generous employer. She has one major failure in her life and that is her failed marriage. Peter belittled her when he left her and that left her battered and bruised emotionally.

Allison is Peter's second wife. She has a wonderful toddler and is 6 months pregnant with a girl. Summer loves her second family. When Peter is arrested for a number of crimes, and is sitting in prison, Allison becomes worried about quite a number of things, not the least of which is money. Her accounts have been frozen.

Summer convinces Erica to let Allison move in until things reach a more even keel. Erica is not pleased and doesn't want to even look at Allison. But she doesn't see any good options for Allison, with the toddler, her pregnancy, and her low paying jobs.

As Erica, her mother, and Allison come to know each other, they find out truths about themselves, their relationship with Peter, and how they view each other.

This is an interesting story about relationships between women, friendship, and love. Although Erica is more generous that I could ever see me being, I thought it was a great story.

I always look forward to Susan Mallery’s books. She does a great job of capturing female relationships. Erica is Summer’s mom and soon finds herself in an awkward situation with Summer’s step-mom. Summer’s dad is arrested and Summer is worried about her step-mom and younger brother. Can she convince her mom to step up and help out? The relationship that forms between Erica and Allison is fraught with chaos, but they find a way to come together due to their shared love of Summer. Susan Mallery does a wonderful job writing about strong women, who boost up other women. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the early access to this book.

Thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC.

The circumstances in the plot of For the Love of Summer was the definition of once one thing goes wrong, everything goes wrong. This book showed how found family can happen at the most unexpected times. I loved seeing how certain relationships developed and got stronger throughout the book. My favorite character had to be Summer, she always stuck up for what was right and was a voice of reason even though she was younger. The beginning had me so hooked, the middle had me a little bored waiting for things to happen. I wish some events went into more explanation with the background of what happened, but overall it was an okay read!

The summer in the title refers to a teenaged girl, not the season. When her father is jailed, leaving her pregnant step-mom destitute and alone with a young son, Summer begs her successful mother to help them. What follows is a heart-warming, light summer read as the two women and the girl they both love navigate their awkward situation.

I am so sorry to report that I absolutely HATED this book. I was trying to power through a spite read but finally decided to give up at the 70% mark. You know it's bad when you have to abandon ship that late in the game, I couldn't even bring myself to get through the last 30%.

When Allison's husband Peter is arrested for money laundering, wire fraud, and threatening police, she is left suddenly with no access to their bank accounts, a toddler, and a baby on the way. Peter claims the charges are all a misunderstanding and he'll be out soon, but Allison is left to swallow her pride and face it alone. She'd rather do quite literally anything than turn to Peter's ex-wife, Erica, for help, but when her step-daughter gets her mom involved, the two women put aside their differences for the sake of the girl they love: Summer.

It was genuinely shocking to me how literally NOTHING happened in about 300 pages. No plot. Whatsoever. Lots of talk about being "so worried for Allison and the baby" but I really could not tell you what happened in this book otherwise. I mean how many times can we talk about not having enough money to afford fresh vegetables for the toddler - and when money does come we're relieved we can buy fresh vegetables. It was every chapter!!

Not a single character was likeable - they were either selfish or whiney (or both!). And the way the dialogue is written is so incredibly unnatural. Everything felt so forced and weird. If I interacted with people who spoke like this in real life I would be concerned for their wellbeing.

I hate give a book 1 star as much as I hate to DNF (I think this is only my second DNF of the year!). I can power through a lot, but this was not it. I feel like I've read Susan Mallery before and don't remember disliking her writing this much, but this was not for me.

I've read a lot of Susan Mallery's books, essentially all of them, and "The Love of Summer" was a pleasant surprise! 🌟 This book took an unexpected turn with the storyline involving someone's husband being in jail, which added depth and intrigue.

Each of the characters was lovable in their own unique way. What I appreciated most was the theme of finding your people and sticking together to support each other. This book was less about romance and more about the power of friendship and community.

Overall, "The Love of Summer" is a heartfelt and engaging read. If you enjoy stories about strong bonds and resilience, definitely a recommended read!

Interesting turn of events. Being an ex-wife with a high school daughter Erica was the financial support for her family. Her multiple spas and salons were doing well, and her daughter Summer was as well. School was okay and Summer excelled and loved her softball. In Erica’s eyes, she and Summer were a team. Teamwork and schedules were an essential part of their life. Peter, the ex was still in the picture, at least for Summer. Now remarried he and his new wife Allison were expecting their second child. In many ways Allison seems like the polar opposite of Erica. Definitely not ambitious. And now clueless about the legal problems Peter is experiencing.

Peter carefully nurtured the facts about their divorce. He came away as the injured party. Erica let that go so as to lessen the effects on Summer. Even now it’s still poor Peter syndrome. And now it seems Summer is troubled by poor Allison since Peter has been arrested for some security issues. Erica doesn’t see where any of this fall under her umbrella. But the problems just may have a cascading effect on all of them.

Erica had kept it concealed that Peter, as her accountant, had stolen money from her businesses. She had of course moved her businesses out of his firm. And now years later it seems as if Peter’s firm just may have been involved in something less than legal.

Erica has no intention of letting Summer get sucked into the misery that her ex caused.
The path of the storyline in FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER was unexpected. Fabulous of course as literary art by Susan Mallery. This is a testimony to a mother’s love and devotion even at their own expense. You may not be comfortable with the situation that ensues in this life examination. But the relationship between mothers and children is sacrosanct.

Susan Mallery presents us with an experiment. Through the dialog between mother, daughter, and grandmother you are part of the dynamic. The relationship between Erica and the man she is seeing – note not referred to as the boyfriend - Killion is just another example of what talented Susan Mallery can conjure up. In a discussion between Killion and Erica her response is “fine.” Killion’s response to fine is that it isn’t an acceptable answer. Fine either means they don’t want to talk about it or guess what’s bothering me. The exchange between these two characters is very enlightening and once again illustrates the mastery of Susan Mallery.

Suffice it to say be prepared to be swept off your feet by FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER. From start to finish these characters will just blow you away with their witty repartee, sass, and heartfelt chats. Pure Susan Mallery. Sure to make new fans and enthrall her old ones.

I loved this newest book by Susan Mallery because i found it so relatable being a divorced mom myself. I don't find many plots similar to this, and loved how interconnected the characters were. Highly recommend

This was a refreshingly honest and at times comedic depiction of family life when problems arise. Reading about Erica, Mara, Peter, Allison, Killion, and Summer made me feel totally engaged in finding out what was going to happen. Excellent book! Highly recommend!

I was very excited to receive an advance copy of this book as Susan Mallery always delivers on creating an interesting read. This book was no exception. I was thoroughly engrossed from the beginning and loved the uplifting women supporting women message. I would have liked a little more backstory about the past relationship between Erica and Allison and some closure on the husband’s alleged crime as I felt these two storylines could have used more substance; however, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended!

For the Love of Summer" presents a unique premise centered around the dynamics of family and unlikely friendships. Erica, a successful businesswoman, finds herself navigating the complexities of her relationships when her ex-husband's arrest brings his new wife, Allison, into their lives. The story revolves around Erica's daughter, Summer, who initiates the idea of allowing Allison to move in, sparking an unexpected camaraderie between the two women.

While the storyline offers a refreshing twist, the characters fall short in likability. Erica's struggle to balance her personal and professional life feels relatable, yet her character lacks depth, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in her journey. Similarly, Summer's rebellious attitude and lack of respect towards her mother may deter some readers from connecting with her.

Despite the shortcomings in character development, the novel's exploration of complex familial relationships and the growth of unexpected friendships adds layers of depth to the narrative. Readers intrigued by unconventional family dynamics and themes of forgiveness and redemption may find "For the Love of Summer" to be a compelling read.

Overall, "For the Love of Summer" offers a thought-provoking storyline with moments of emotional resonance, but its appeal may be limited by the lack of relatable and likable characters.

A great summer read by one of my favorite author's! I've been reading thrillers for the last couple of months, so this was a breath of fresh air! The plot was deep and the characters complex, but not in a heavy way.

What a breath of fresh air to read about the very premise we often preach but rarely see- women supporting women. For The Love of Summer by Susan Mallery is packed with emotion & written in such a way that you can almost feel it yourself. The characters in this book are extremely well written & very relatable. This book is a testament to the strength & limitlessness of a mother’s love. This was such a good read & I will be reading more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing-MIRA for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hooray for the Sisterhood! Women supporting women, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. I loved watching Erica reluctantly opening her heart and embracing her ex's family for her daughter Summer's sake. As for her boyfriend Killion, oh my gosh. Clone him and send him right over!

I am a huge fan of Susan Mallery's and she does not disappoint with For the Love of Summer, which contains her usual humorous dialogue and relatable characters. Entrepreneur, Erica Sawyer, has her hands full being a divorced mother of a teenage daughter, Summer, running a busy full service salon chain in Seattle, a friends with benefits relationship with businessman Killian, and her mother living in her guest cottage, when her world gets further complicated as her ex-husband gets arrested for money laundering and various other charges. Her ex, Peter, being in jail, causes his second wife, Allison Jenkins, a world of problems since their bank accounts are frozen, she has a toddler to provide for and is pregnant with baby number two. Summer loves her stepmom and would do anything for her, but should this desire to help include Erica? The title refers to what a mother does for the love of her daughter, and this was my only problem with the book, I couldn't buy the idea that Erica would entertain the solution that Summer was proposing. I still enjoyed their stories and would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced ebook copy of this book to review. My review has been posted today to Goodreads.

Early on in the book, I wasn’t sure I would like it but since Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors, I kept reading. The more I read, the more engrossed I was in the story and the characters. Great development of both. Very good book and an enjoyable read.