Cute, fast read. The main character is Erica, a smart, independent business owner of multiple salons in the Seattle area. Erica lives in a huge house with her daughter Summer and her mother. Erica’s ex husband, Peter, lives in a separate rental home with his pregnant wife Allison and toddler son. Peter is arrested for embezzlement, wire fraud and other crimes. Allison is a sweet, small town woman who is terrified and distraught when her funds are frozen, she is about to be homeless and she is due to give birth. Summer adores her stepmother and brother and begs her mom to let them move in. The story proceeds from there. Topics of being able to be financially independent and not allowing past hurts to influence future loves are handled. It is not a graphic, romance novel, but a sweet story of an unlikely friendship and moving forward.

I received this ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this novel by Susan Mallery. The story focused on the relationship between two women who should have never gotten along but somehow really do! Erica and Allison share a common bond. Allison is married to Erica's ex-husband Peter. When Erica finds herself alone and pregnant after Peter is arrested, her stepdaughter, Summer, is concerned for her well-being. Peter has left Allson in a dire economic situation which isn't easily remedied. Erica who is a very successful business owner finds herself taking in Allison and slowly a beautiful friendship develops. Allison starts to allow herself to become a more independent woman while Erica might just let herself open up to love. This is definitely a feel-good novel which grabs your attention from the very beginning!

I absolutely loved this book. This was such a great story about humility, growth, and unconditional love. Instead of being the conventional love story it was a story about the love that a mother has for her daughter and the lengths that she will go to, in order to make her happy. “For the love of Summer” was a perfect description of this book, I could not think of a better title.
This story is told from dual points of view of Erica and Allison. Erica is a very successful owner of a chain of luxury spas. She is a single mother raising her 16-year-old daughter Summer. Allison is married to Peter, Erica’s ex-husband, they have a 20-month-old son and a daughter on the way. Summer is very close with her dad and his new family. Erica struggles with this relationship and how to deal with a daughter that does not have the same interests as her. Their lives are turned upside down when Peter is arrested leaving Allison alone with no money or resources. Summer is determined to help any way that she can, so she comes up with a plan for Allison and her son to move in with Erica and Summer. What follows is a lesson in compassion, forgiveness, and love. The title really sums this story up perfectly. There love for Summer brought them together and allowed them to form a relationship.
The character development was great, you get to witness the internal struggles of both women. As you can imagine this was difficult for both of them. Erica’s mother Mara was quirky and added humor to the book and we cannot forget about Killian. He was the rock for everyone really.
I highly recommend this book; I think this would be a great read to share between mother and daughter. I could easily have read more, I didn’t want the story to end!!

"For Love of Summer" by Susan Mallery is a delightful blend of comedy and drama, reminiscent of a comedic Danielle Steele novel. The story is filled with moments of anger, sadness, kindness, and happiness, making it a rollercoaster of emotions. The ex-wife's ownership of her salon showcases her mercy towards a young hairdresser's mistake, highlighting themes of forgiveness and second chances. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by the second wife, with a son and a baby on the way, add depth to the narrative, especially as money becomes an issue. The tensions between the ex-wife and the second wife intensify as financial troubles surface, leading to frozen bank accounts due to illegal activities. The downfall of the husband, charged with criminal activity and leaving the second wife alone, underscores the consequences of his actions and the impact on those around him. Overall, "For Love of Summer" captivates with its engaging plot, compelling characters, and exploration of complex relationships.

I enjoy a great love story and love Susan Mallery. This title was a great weekend read, however, I think the ending was a little too fast. But would totally recommend this to be read if you like this genre. Thank you Net Galley for the advance read! #FortheLoveofSummer #NetGalley#SusanMallery

LOVED this book. What a great rollercoaster of emotions and viewpoints. I didn't expect to feel about it how I felt at the end, I never saw it all coming.
I also couldn't put it down - it was written so well and with such a great flow, I didn't want to do anything but read it.

5 stars!!!

Susan Mallery has always been one of my favorite authors, and i’ve always given her books high marks. . But not this book. It was painful reading it. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters, and I didn’t think the way the characters acted was realistic. A successful woman entrepreneur is thrown over by her husband who no longer finds her desirable. He quickly remarries only to leave his unbelievably pregnant wife clueless and penniless. The teenage daughter strong-arms her mother into helping wife #2. Without giving away the rest of the plot, i’ll just say I found the pace agonizingly slow and the HEA ending rushed. Clearly this book wasn’t my cup of tea. I think Susan Mallery is an excellent writer and look forward to her next book being more enjoyable.

This book is a VERY GOOD READ. This story is about Erica, Summer, Ali and her child and one on the way. Erica is divorced from Peter who has a daughter Summer with Erica. Hde marries Allison and they have a son Jackson and a daughter on the way. Summer spends time with Ali and Jackson and when Peter is arrested on several charges and can't make bail Ali is a mess and all Summer wants to do is help. Peyer is hunting for the right attorney but that isn't happening. Allison loses her job at daycare and only works part time and even her checks are frozen in their account. To make a long story short. Allison and Jackson end up moving in with Erica and Summer. Allison is so upset over all the lies peter has told her that she just doesn't know what to do.

Susan Mallery never disappoints, and this novel encompasses so many issues - love, divorce, success, dealing with the consequences of the actions of others, growing up / working out complicated family connections, and unexpectedly finding new friends. The character development, as always, is one of the strengths of this book. Recommended.

Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinnooks for the eARC of For the Love of Summer by @susanmallery in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 For the Love of Summer Is a beautifully written, compelling tale of heartbreak and family ties. Allison’s life is going pretty swimmingly lately. Money is tight but she’s got a loving husband, an adorable toddler, a baby in the way, and a stepdaughter, Summer, who actually wants to have a relationship with her. Suddenly, her world crashes around her when the bank accounts are frozen and a collect call comes from jail. The perhaps not so evil ex-wife Erica has a tough choice to make when it comes to stepping up to help. The women of this book are the personification of being the woman who fixes another woman’s crown without telling the world it is crooked. A beautiful reminder that we can feel the ugly deep emotions and still rise to the occasion with dignity, grace, and compassion…especially when it comes to a mother’s love.

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

I really enjoy Susan Mallery's books. They're light with just enough drama to keep them interesting. For the Love of Summer was no exception. While the story line was a little bit unbelievable to me I did enjoy how Erika was a hard working business woman and how she cared enough about her daughter do get involved with her ex's new wife. Overall it was a nice light read.

It sucks being the teenage child of divorce. But it’s REALLY bad when your dad is arrested, in jail, all the bank accounts are frozen, and your stepmom is very pregnant and being evicted from their family’s home. But your MOM has plenty of money, a big house, and a successful business, so what’s a daughter to do? Think outside the box, for starters! Using her heart and her brain as her guide, Summer works through some pretty intense emotions to try and keep everyone in all of her families safe. This is a wonderful story of love and understanding.

Loved this book! Susan Mallery never disappoints. This is about love, divorce, and finding friends in the most unexpected way.

Not one of my favorite Susan Mallery books. When Peter, Allison's husband is arrested she is pregnant and has a 18 month old and they go to live with Peter's ex-wife Erica and her daughter, Summer and the story evolves from there. I found the premise to be very far fetched but that being said I was thrilled by the strong women even Allison as the book progressed.

A twisted story of family and love gone wrong. The characters, mostly women, are amazing. So well written. I absolutely loved this book. Read it in a day and a half ....skipping meals and housework. Seriously entertaining and quite surprising. Definitely not a story you've read before. I'll be rereading this one...more than once.

I just reviewed For the Love of Summer by Susan Mallery. #FortheLoveofSummer #NetGalley First I want to say that I am a big Susan Mallery fan, read all her books. When I started reading this one, I hated it. I couldn't find it relatable because I don't know any divorce women would would take in and support their ex-husband new wife and children. At the end of the book, I like the friendship and sisterhood that these two women form. They helped each other grow, Allison becoming more independent and Erica allowing herself to love again.

Oh my gosh! I LOVED this book and just could not put it down. Susan Mallery has always been a must read author to me, but this book has got to be my favorite of hers! It’s a story of how women helping women, even those we don’t especially like or care for, can make a difference in the lives of others. I found the story so believable and relatable even though I’m not in the demographics for which it was written. Honestly, I sat back and followed their paths of self discovery and wondered if could have done the same. Kuddos to the author!

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read “For the Love of Summer” and I loved everything about this emotional and uplifting story! Erica is a no-nonsense, savvy business owner who loves her daughter, Summer, is proud of all that she has accomplished and doesn’t need a man to make her life complete. She does have a handsome, and equally successful man in her life who is the perfect plus one when either of them needs a date for an event. Erica is her own person who makes her own decisions and is happy with how her life is now! I loved all the characters in the book, but Erica was definitely my favorite because of her strength, creativity and her quick-on-her feet decision making. She assesses the facts, offers a solution and implements a successful plan. Allowing Allison to move into her house showed Erica’s kind, generous and loving side because most people would never have agreed to the unusual living arrangements. This is what fascinated me most about this unique storyline! Co-existing with your ex-husband's new wife and her son is unheard of but I can understand why Erica would agree to her daughter's heartfelt request. Summer is a caring and kindhearted teenager whose wide-eyed enthusiasm about the living arrangements was refreshing to see in someone so young. I was eager to see how they would all get along and if being together would become too much for all of them to deal with but with Erica in charge, I am sure everyone would have the happy ending that they deserved!

Susan Mallery doesn't disappoint in this new novel. She keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book.

Wow, Susan Mallery's latest novel, For the Love of Summer is a total 5++ star novel. As a huge fan of Susan, I must say that this book has surpassed all my expectations and has become my all-time favorite. At its core, For the Love of Summer is a novel that explores various relationships, including those between a mother and daughter, friends, and romantic partners. The story is a refreshing blend of originality and relatability, which makes it an instant hit for everyone who loves women’s fiction novels (like I do).

Susan Mallery has a unique talent for creating characters that connect with readers on an emotional level, and For the Love of Summer is no exception. Although I have never experienced the situations depicted in the novel, I felt an instant connection with the characters and their struggles. The storyline is gripping, and the characters are so well-developed that they feel like old friends by the end of the book. If you're looking for a must read book this summer, then For the Love of Summer should be at the top of your list.