I really enjoyed this romantic comedy by author Courtney Walsh. The message of not allowing work to consume your life is timely and needed. It is important to spend time with the ones we love doing what brings us joy. The relationships between Kelsey and Georgina were both hilarious and touching, and the love story between Kelsey and Hayden was both sweet and funny,

**3-Star Review of *The Summer of Yes* by Courtney Walsh**

*The Summer of Yes* by Courtney Walsh is a heartwarming, feel-good read that centers around self-discovery, second chances, and embracing life’s unexpected turns. The protagonist, Meg, is a woman who, after years of playing it safe, decides to step out of her comfort zone and say "yes" to new opportunities during one transformative summer. As she faces personal challenges and new relationships, she learns to confront her fears and rediscover the joy of living fully.

Walsh’s writing is engaging and easy to read, and the small-town setting adds a cozy, charming backdrop to the story. The themes of personal growth and taking risks are uplifting, and Meg’s journey of transformation is relatable and inspiring. The romance that develops alongside her self-discovery is sweet, though a bit predictable, and the pacing is steady but occasionally slow in parts.

While *The Summer of Yes* is enjoyable and offers a nice escape, some of the secondary characters and plot points feel underdeveloped, and the narrative doesn’t dive as deep into emotional complexity as it could. Overall, it’s a pleasant and motivating read, especially for fans of light contemporary fiction, but it lacks the depth and originality that might elevate it from just another feel-good novel to something truly memorable.

This book really made me happy. I loved how Kelsey pushed Georgina to try new things and find happiness, and in doing so pushed herself as well.

I wouldn’t say there was anything groundbreakingly awesome or different about this book, but the way it all came together just made me smile. That’s all you need sometimes.

Okay, so I rarely fall into the chick-lit camp. But The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh got me good. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and just the kind of book you want to read with your feet up and something fruity in hand.

Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor who's all about routines and playing it safe—until she gets smacked by a car and ends up in the hospital. That’s where she meets Georgina Tate, a powerhouse businesswoman with a terminal illness and more regrets than she’ll admit. Kelsey, fresh off her brush with death, pitches a wild idea: say “yes” to life. Georgina rolls her eyes... then goes along for the ride.

Their Yes Plan takes them from being tourists in their own city to impromptu road trips and awkward family reunions. It’s a sweet, feel-good story about second chances, big-hearted change, and a dash of late-in-life romance.

There’s nothing steamy here—think gentle hug instead of bodice-ripper—and it’s a gem. I laughed out loud (Tanya Eby’s audio narration is gold) and loved every poolside minute of it.

4.5 stars. Say yes to this one.

Thanks Netgalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This quirky endearing duo drew a chuckle or two out me with strangely enough a few deep thoughts about my life. It is an e passionate manifesto for living YOUR life to the fullest and making sure you don't let fears rule the day. Reminiscent of the nest Katherine Center or Abby Jimenez, it gives you the expected and much anticipated HEA, but the solution is not facile or at least you've been on a journey with the characters and you consequently cheer them on to their deserved recompense.

This one was so much fun!
Picture Miranda Priestley being dragged along on a bucket list adventure by a bubbly 20-something year old with a newfound determination to say "yes" to all that life has to offer! This book made me laugh, but it also had many heartwarming, emotional moments too.

Read if you love:
🤍 unlikely friendships
🤍 dual POV
🤍 Second chance romance

this book was sooooo slow in the beginning which ruined the experience for me. the romance was also very shallow and i couldn't connect with it at all.

THE SUMMER OF YES features workaholic Kelsey, who is at a point in her life where a drastic change needs to be made. She’s an overworked book editor who gets hit by a car on a coffee run, and wakes in a hospital room.

Read if you like:
-road trips
-relatable characters
-female friendships
-sweet romance

*many thanks to Thomas Nelson, Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sweet, cozy, perfect for someone looking for a lower stakes romance with little to no spicy content and more focus on the major relationships. Ultimately not for me but still an enjoyable read.

~Sometimes you’re so busy writing other people’s stories that you lose the plot of your own.~

When Kelsey survives being hit by a car and finds herself in the same room as Georgina, an older and very successful woman, an idea for a second chance at life is born and I absolutely and utterly loved with every fiber of my being this message–say yes. Say yes to all the things that would normally be a no (within moral reason) and Kelsey is determined to drag Georgina along for the adventure. And what a beautiful and memorable adventure it is.

Although it’s impossible to change one’s past, correcting regrets and forging a new path is always possible and I love where this summer of yes took this unlikely pair. I loved the way it was told through their individual points of view.

Poignant and sweet, with snappy dialogue, this stunning and heartwarming story stole my heart and gave me a new outlook on life–I need to say yes to unknowns and good things more and see where that takes me.

While this is more of a friendship fiction, there are threads of romance that are completely satisfying. Courtney Walsh is a favorite author and this book stuck with me and filled my soul.

Content: mild romance; some talk of death/illness; estranged family

I've tried multiple times to finish this one, and it turns out it's just not for me. From the very start of the book, I found the characters to be lacking and was just looking for more. I wanted more snappy dialogue and less on-the-nose reflection from our main character. I also found the rhythm of the prose just didn't jive with me.

Beautifully written and a touching/encouraging story. So thankful for books that have depth and don't have swearing/explicit content.

Wow! I have so many feelings about this book. It’s been a loooong time since I have read a book that I didn’t want to put down. But I read this on a beach vacation, and I didn’t want to stop reading to get in the ocean…and that’s saying a lot! I love that this has a rom-com feel but not being completely romance centered. It had me from the first page. It reminded me so much of a Katherine Center book but not so focused on the romance. If I act like the character Kelsey for a moment and cast the characters….which I normally do in my reading anyway….i see Helen Murin as Georgina and Bethany Joy Lenz as Kelsey. I’m at a loss for words, honestly. Just read it. I’ll be recommending this one for a loooong time!

What a delightful mix of content types and tropes! There are 2 romances, a self-discovery vein, a road trip, and a "very different people find commonalities and help each other grow" facet. I could break them down further, but this give a flavor of the overall storyline. Two women - Kelsey (youngish and stuck in a ho-hum existence) and Georgina (retirement age, has build a business empire, stuck in old patterns) meet when they share a hospital room. For some reason, Kelsey feels that she and Georgina need to pair up over the summer and change their tradition "no" patterns to saying "yes" to new or engaging things. Despite Georgina's reluctance and some ongoing health problems, the two dive into new experiences, some good and some never to try again. However, one major project the Kelsey wants to tackle and which Georgina is firmly against: getting Georgina to connect with her son, who she hasn't seen since his childhood. When Kelsey surprises Georgina by taking her to the town where her son now lives, Georgina is NOT PLEASED, yet this is where the story really opens up to building relationships, trying new things and recovering lost activities, and truly evolving as individuals and as friends.
I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.

I adored this book. A sweet, fun and funny story that has encouraged me to think about what I say yes to -and to do it more! I loved how two women in two different stages of life were going through very similar things and ended up learning so much from each other. A beautiful story of friendship, love and forgiveness.
I am sad to say bye to these characters! Can’t wait to read more by Courtney Walsh.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this complimentary copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a fun story! After a near death experience Kelsey wants to say yes to all the things she has said no to. And she wants to include Georgina, an older woman who is on dialysis for kidney failure. Georgina is a grumpy lady and Kelsey is sunshine. Reluctantly, Georgina agrees to go on this “Yes” summer. Along the way, opportunities present themselves for healing and forgiveness. And finding love. I loved the interactions between Georgina and Kelsey, it was so funny. It was also heartwarming and heartbreaking when Georgina reconnected with her husband Dylan and her son, Hayden. I also liked the romance between Kelsey and Hayden. There were a couple comments I didn’t prefer but nothing terrible. Very light Christian themes mostly implied. Overall a fun story and I recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Content: kisses, mother abandoning child and husband

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

What a fantastic book. I loved that this book had so much depth and meaning while remaining a light joyful read. Kelsey and Georgina were both solid characters on their own but the two together were something else. I was expecting more romance/rom-com when I went into this book but even with it being different than I expected I was not at all disappointed. There was so much to takeaway from it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh!

Courtney Walsh’s The Summer of Yes is a heartwarming, feel-good novel about embracing change, taking risks, and finding unexpected happiness. The author’s engaging writing and relatable characters create a joyful, uplifting reading experience that will resonate with readers looking for a positive, light-hearted escape. Walsh’s warm storytelling invites readers to fall in love with the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and growth, making it the perfect summer read for anyone in need of a little sunshine in their lives.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Looking for a feel-good summer story??? Look no further because Courtney Walsh has got you COVERED🤩

I’ve been a long-time fan of Courtney’s work, and this sweet inspiring story reminded me exactly why💕 This story left me with a renewed sense of vitality and a desire to make the most of EACH and EVERY day that the Lord grants me on this Earth🙏🏻

Georgina and Kelsey were such an unlikely pairing—they couldn’t be more different from each other upon first glance! Georgina was a high-powered, fierce “girlboss” businesswoman, and Kelsey was a timid, low-level junior editor. However, through this story, these two ladies learned that they were much more similar than they initially seemed—they both shared a deep-seated fear of truly LIVING!! They both let their fears of taking chances and making mistakes rob them of all of the JOY and GOODNESS that can come from going out of your comfort zone!! Together, Kelsey and Georgina embarked on a hope-filled journey together by saying “YES” to things they normally feared…and it was absolutely HEART-WARMING🥰

Although the central focus of the story was on Kelsey & Georgina, the two romance stories woven within the story were sooooo SWEET!!!!! If you’re looking for women’s fiction with light romance and strong inspirational themes, definitely pick this one up😍

🚨TW: a main character has a life-threatening medical condition (DM for more info)
🚨CW: no language & just kisses!

#closeddoorromance #cleanromance #nospice #lowspicebooks #romancebooks #bookrecommendations #sayyes #thesummerofyes #courtneywalsh