hoping for more summer adventures. starting pretty slow and i don't like the insta love. but the writing style make it out for me, would check out more from this author

Kelsey experiences a life-changing moment when she's hit in a freak car accident and ends up in the hospital. There, she meets Georgina, a famous but lonely and cold woman who owns a cosmetic company. Realising how close she came to losing her life, Kelsey decides their meeting was fate. Determined to make the most of her life, she vows to start saying "yes" instead of "no." This new outlook includes Georgina in her journey, leading them on a road trip from NYC to the coast of North Carolina.
Two intertwined stories of love, forgiveness, regret, and romance unfold as two women profoundly impact each other's lives. Their journey towards living fearlessly begins with a simple "yes."

From the beginning of the book, I was intrigued by all the secrets Kelsey and Georgina were hiding, each interesting in their own way. It's great how the two characters are completely different: Kelsey is fun, more willing to accept consequences, face fears, and simply go with the flow, while Georgina is stubborn, bossy, and somewhat self-sufficient. The book is dual POV, although I would have liked to see a bit more of Georgina's story because Kelsey is actually drawn to her life story. At times, the book becomes a bit predictable since we know the characters' traits from the start, making the plot easier to follow. I think everyone could benefit from reading this book, whether they're climbing the business ladder, in need of a break, or looking for a different perspective on life.
This heartwarming tale of self-discovery and unexpected friendships is a must-read for anyone looking for a feel-good story this summer.

he Summer of Yes
By @courtneywalsh
Rating: 4 stars

You’ll love this book if you like:
Multi generational friendship
Road trips
Second chance romance
Smart independent women

Favorite parts:
Kelsey explaining the synopsis of her boat restoration romcom 🤣🤣🤣
Kelsey and JPs texts
Hayden and Kelsey’s “official” meet cute starting at The Grotto

Courtney Walsh books are some of my favorites and The Summer of Yes is another to add to that pile!

Kelsey is an assistant editor that ends up in the hospital after a car hits her. It’s after this time in the hospital, where she shares a room with Georgina Tate, a famous business woman, that she realizes she isn’t happy with her life. So she decides to have a summer of yes and say yes to things she normally wouldn’t.

Both Kelsey and Georgina set off on a road trip and their lives intertwine in ways they never could have expected and find happiness in the humblest of places.

This book, while it has elements of two love stories, isn’t a heavy romance. If you’ve read Courtney’s The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, it has a similar feel. (I personally would rate The Happy Life slightly higher Summer of Yes but both are great books in my opinion!)

Also, I thought the road trip would be a bigger part of the story but it’s not. So if you’re expecting it to be about how the women’s lives change through the course of a trip across the US (like I thought), it isn’t really like that! 😁

Lastly, received a copy of the audiobook and ebook through NetGalley so I was able to listen as I read along (which was fantastic!) and thought the narration for both Kelsey and Georgina was spot on. I loved the narrator for Georgina especially! She had just the right amount of righteous indignation needed for the role. If you like light romcom audiobooks, I’d highly recommend picking this one up! 👍🏻

* I received a complimentary copy of this book and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#thesummerofyes #courtneywalsh #courtneywalshbooks #closeddoorromance #roadtrip

This was unfortunately a miss for me.. I had to dnf, the main character was a bit repetitive and over the top. Maybe it just wasn’t the right timing for me to read this.

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book, and it was truly better than I could have hoped. I knew there was a chance this would be filled with cliche and be another "Eat, Pray, Love" as the character Georgina even suggests it could be. While this is a story of self-reflection and self-discovery, Courtney Walsh managed to avoid the cliche and to write a heartwarming and insightful story.

Uniquely, this is a two POV novel following the stories of two women: Kelsey and Georgina. Kelsey has a "disrupter" as her mother would call it and ends up in the hospital sharing a room with Georgina Tate, one of her career idols. Kelsey makes it her mission to find out "What if there is something more for [her] out there?" while also trying to learn from and encourage Georgina to go on a similar journey of self-discovery.

Reading Kelsey's journey of overcoming fear and determining what she wants out of life was captivating. She asks many of the questions I myself, and I think many other adults, have asked in the pursuit of finding out what would build a life fully lived.

I related so much with Kelsey's journey in finding out how to become an active participant in her own life. I loved her dynamic with Georgina and her unending perseverance in the midst of having to face hard truths. She has the humility to acknowledge her mistakes, the courage to face her fears, and the strength to know doing the hard work is worth it to build a full life. Her giant heart and unflappable pursuit were endearing which only drew me into her story more.
Georgina's stubbornness was incredibly frustrating for both me and the characters in the book, but I appreciated her POV throughout the story. Her stubborn pride was consistent and relatable. I loved having a peak into her mind and seeing the same questions asked in a different stage of life. While Kelsey was trying to determine how to live a life without regret, Georgina gave the perspective of how to move forward after a life with regrets and how to reconcile who she has become with who she once was and wishes to be again.

Overall, the message was so well done. There were moments when the writing got clunky, the plot was predictable, or the dialogue got a bit cheesy, but I was never torn out of the story for more than a moment. The story beautifully portrays some of the most important messages I've learned in my short life thus far, and I encourage anyone interested to give this book a chance. The banter was fun, the romance was sweet (though definitely a subplot), and the journey to the lesson was worthwhile. This is a definite win for me!

"It's a wild and precious life, Kelsey. If you have something that sets your soul on fire, you have a responsibility to chase that thing."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read such a delightful book.

This is only the second book I have read of Courtney Walsh, but both have proved to be testimonies of her creative ability. This book, like Walsh’s other book”The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley” was an inspirational story about what your life can be if you let go of fear and/or bitterness, stop saying no to new things and instead make your life meaningful in a career you love and with people you care about. The main character is also a writer/ editor, which made it an even better and more personal reading experience for me.

One element of the story also reminded me of the Bible story of Hosea and Gomer. This part of the plot line was my favorite, because it speaks so loudly of the power of forgiveness, grace, and second chances.

The main character Kelsey was immature at times. Also the romance felt rushed, in that they’d only known each other for about a week before the relationship started. If it weren’t for this, my rating would have been a straight four star.

There is clean humor throughout; I was laughing several times. This would make a great movie, I think. Will definitely be reading more of Courtney Walsh’s books.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book before its publication date.


“Life is good. And wonderful. And horrible and beautiful and messy, and everything all at once. And that’s the beauty of it. It’s overwhelming, but it’s never boring. And it should be lived to the fullest. And no, that doesn’t mean the biggest car or the biggest condo…It means filling your life with the people you love, doing the things that make you feel the most alive.”

“ The world is going to tell you all kinds of things about yourself. You’re not good enough or smart enough or strong enough or thin enough or rich enough or talented enough. They’ll come up with a million different reasons why you can’t do the thing you want to do. The thing you were born to do. They’ll tell you “No Kelsey or not at this time, Kelsey or You’re not good enough.” So what do you do?” You tell them yes.”

DELIGHTFUL, HEARTWARMING, & ENJOYABLE!

Best-selling author Courtney Walsh brings readers one of this summer's most delightful, heartwarming, and enjoyable reads! Courtney’s brilliant plot is so unconventional, but when you stop and think about it, you realize it is a summer everyone wishes they could have.
Two unlikely women from two generations apart share a hospital room. Kelsey is young and stuck in her job and life. Georgina is a legendary NY businesswoman. Georgina is stuck, too, because her kidneys are failing, and she requires dialysis. While Georginia has been a business success, her personal life is full of regrets. Kelsey comes up with a way to bring a significant change in both their lives. She proposes “The Summer of Yes.” The premise is: What if they say YES to everything I've always said no to?

What follows is a delightful, heartwarming, and enjoyable journey of self-discovery for both women. Each of them learns to say “Yes” to things they never thought possible, and their lives change forever. New friendships become like family, and old relationships slowly find their way to restoration. The biggest surprise is an overabundance of love waiting for both women.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. However, I have no influence over the opinions expressed here.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || SUMMER OF YES [thank you to @thomasnelson and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Summer of Yes by @courtneywalsh
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Kelsey Worthington, a junior editor living a safe, predictable life, meets Georgina Tate, a trailblazing businesswoman facing her final months, in the hospital. Inspired by Georgina's regrets, Kelsey creates "The Yes Plan," vowing to embrace life fully. Convincing Georgina to join her, they embark on a transformative summer adventure, saying yes to new experiences—from city tours to convertible rides. Their journey takes a deeper turn with an impromptu visit to Georgina's estranged family. As they navigate love, forgiveness, and second chances, these two women discover the power of saying yes to life.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
If you’re into books about people taking life into their own hands and making changes, then you’re in for a treat! I loved seeing both Kelsey and Georgina take a hard look at their life and where they ended up…and realizing that what they thought they wanted wasn’t actually making them happy. Plus - I am a sucker for cranky senior citizens in my romance novels…and let me tell you, even a happy Georgina is still SNIPPY and I am HERE FOR IT.

I laughed, I cried, I was inspired, I wanted to hop in a canoe - this was a perfect summer read and I highly recommend it if you’re just looking for an uplifting and fun romance!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Second Chance Romance
Closed Door Romance
Road Trips
Unlikely Duos
Cranky Old People
Bucket Lists

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 4.14 ⭐️
# of Pages: 384
Pub Date: July 2, 2024

*The Summer of Yes* by Courtney Walsh is a heartwarming tale about embracing life and stepping out of comfort zones. After a near-death experience, Kelsey Worthington, a workaholic junior editor, embarks on a life-changing journey of saying "yes" to new experiences. Alongside Georgina Tate, an older woman grappling with her own regrets, Kelsey learns to live fearlessly. Their adventures lead to unexpected bonds and a deeper understanding of love, forgiveness, and seizing the moment. Walsh's engaging storytelling and relatable characters make this a delightful read about transformation and the power of taking risks.

This was surprisingly cute!! I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from it. I know Walsh does clean romances and those can sometimes get a little boring for me but I was so invested in this! I kept picturing Anna Kendrick and Meryl Streep as the two main characters!

I love courtney walsh and her books are always such a source of comfort for me. This was such a nice change and self discovery book. I am looking forward to her next books.

3.5⭐ ARC from NetGalley, thanks for the advanced copy!

This was a cute listen! I don't think it was exactly what I was expecting, but I still enjoyed it. The FMC Kelsey is struggling to get recognition in her position in publishing. In a freak accident, she ends up hospitalized with none other than Georginia Tate, a wildly successful businesswoman. In her efforts to make a name for herself, she approaches Georginia about writing her memoir. When she's told no, she convinces Georginia to have a summer of Yeses to experience life in a way she hasn't been able to while working to build her business. This book is cute & full of quirks and a romance subplot, a perfect poolside read.

"Yes. It's risky to feel things. And it's risky to hope for good. And it's hard to say yes to the unknown. And it doesn't always result in wonderful memories. But that's what it means to be alive."

A beautiful story about what matters most in life & to learning to say YES!

This was such a fun book. What a super adorable closed door romance with a touch of adventure teaching the true meaning of life.

It was like a touch of Devil Weara Prada, a touch of Yes Man, and a little originality. Love love love.

I really loved this story! The characters were absolutely wonderful, and their literal and figurative journeys were a joy to read. It was nice to see the main character be a woman in her 30s. I have been a long time fan of Courtney Walsh, and this one is probably my new favorite. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Courtney Walsh for the digital ARC of The Summer of Yes.

Kelsey Worthington and Georgina Tate meet through an unfortunate situation and form an unlikely friendship. They are placed in each others path and Kelsey makes it her mission to turn their summer into a summer of YES! They depart on a road trip that is destined to change both of their lives.

This book has everything I could want in a summer read. It was light-hearted, and fun while also looking at topics such as regret and second chances.

ARC READ THROUGH NETGALLEY. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.
I really enjoyed this book. I did expect it to be more romance than it was, but that's okay, I still think it was great. A charming story of evaluating the choices you have made and are making in your life with prickly but lovable characters and a happy ending. It had the right blend of seriousness while also being lighthearted.

This book started out well but petered out for me at the end. The message of the book was extremely repetitive and eventually felt so watered down by its characters incessant mentions of it. I found the main character to be really frustrating and flaky; her personality was determined by whatever situation she found herself in and there was a noticeable lack of consistency in her. Everything also felt very rushed, as the book takes place over a few days. If you don't like insta-love, you won't enjoy this. While I appreciate the aim of the book and I see what the author was going for, I felt that the book was lacking in many ways. I would still probably recommend to readers of this kind of fiction, just maybe with a few caveats.

This is my second book by Courtney Walsh. The first one was a fall book in an author anthology.
This book was super cute, quirky and sweet! Courtney tells the story of two polar opposite traveling companions and
how they each are able to teach each something about allowing themselves to put themselves first, fall in love and say Yes!

This heartwarming novel is a delightful journey of self-discovery, filled with humor and touching moments. Kelsey and Georgina's unlikely friendship provides a perfect blend of laughter and life lessons. While some may find the plot predictable, the witty banter and relatable themes make it a charming and uplifting read. I will say yes to this story!