The Summer of Yes is such a beautifully written story about two strong women learning to live life for themselves and their loved ones and allow themselves to enjoy it. This book has so many parts that were hitting really close to home and some parts that had me also contemplating my own life. Yes, there is a bit of romance towards the middle-end that had me giggling and felt so sweet and so wholesome in it’s own way, but it never took away from the story of Georgina and Kelsey. Those two are my absolute favorite humans and I loved watching them and their bond grow. I was so invested in their journey from the beginning and I loved how the dual POVs always gave just enough information to still keep things suspenseful and interesting for when it switched back and things escalated. This was my first book by this author and I feel like this book was a bit different from what I am used to reading, but I mean that in the absolute best way because I am obsessed with it. This was a 5 star read for sure!

“Just say yes.”

The Summer of Yes was such an uplifting, inspirational read! Courtney Walsh knows how to write endearing characters with depth. I thoroughly enjoyed Kelsey & Georgina. Told from dual points of view, this heartwarming story shares the adventures of these two unlikely friends who meet in the hospital & decide to say “yes” to life, love, and second chances. This is one story you don’t want to miss!

When Kelsey Worthington wakes up in the hospital after surviving being hit by a car, she starts questioning her life choices, especially after being placed in the same room as the successful businesswoman Georgina Tate. Kelsey’s an editor but secretly longs to be a writer. Her day consists of working, going home to an empty apartment, and waking up to do it all over again. Meeting Georgina in the hospital and realizing her brush with death makes her question if the daily grind is all worth it. She poses that question to the acerbic Georgina who though successful seems to have a lonely life.

Georgina Tate’s the successful business owner of Tate’s Cosmetics. She’s worked hard to get where she is, but her rise to the top comes with regrets. She’s lost contact with her husband and son due to her neglect. Now dying and in need of a kidney transplant, Georgina finds herself alone until her interfering hospital roommate suggests an outrageous plan.

Determined to quit saying “no” to family, friends, and new opportunities, Kelsey proposes that she and Georgina embark on a summer of saying “yes.” Yes to new experiences like seeing the top of the Empire State Building, eating pretzels from a street vendor, and a road trip adventure. Kelsey also wants to see Georgina reunited with her son & husband. As her plan unfolds, Kelsey finds an ally in Georgina’s handsome son and a chance to fulfill her own dreams as well as Georgina’s.

I loved the message of saying “yes” to family, friends, & experiences that provide growth instead of choosing fear & saying “no.” I loved both characters and their grumpy/sunshine friendship. The romance between Kelsey and Georgina’s son was the cherry on top. It’s such a fun, lovely story that left me feeling empowered to say yes more often in my own life.

Definitely add this to your must read list! Highly recommend to women’s fiction, and inspirational fiction lovers. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

This book was a challenging albeit utter delight to read. Going in between the perspectives of a strong business woman in her 70's dying with regrets and a driven woman in her early 30's, I found myself both questioning my own life and wondering if it's time I start saying yes to more.

You know it's a unique book when it can get you to think about your own choices and want to make changes to live your life more fully. Great book, great writing.

The only thing I didn't particularly love was Kelsey's random fake scenes she came up with on the spot to showcase that her creative mind was working again. Like I understand it... but every time it happened, it pulled me out of the story and felt a bit like whiplash.

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was looking for a fun light novel after two dark heavy weighty historical fiction books depicting tragic times. This was exactly what I was looking for. This author is known for her sweet romance novels.

What I liked:
•While romance was one storyline, the main story was that of two women who were brought together by coincidence, but found themselves, and a kindred friendship in the end.
•I think I prefer a story of self love & exploration over romance! Or maybe equally.
•I think the premise of this book was clever and unique
•I’ve struggled with saying “yes” especially since the pandemic. I developed social anxiety while comfortably existing in my home bubble. Anxiety became crippling at times. I began anxiety medication in recent months and it’s opening up my world! And prior to even picking up this book, I promised myself I’d say “yes!” more often!

What I didn’t like:
•a little too much lack of self confidence in our two female characters
•a few unnecessary references to diet and disordered eating.

This book hit the spot for me, a perfect summer read ~ mostly read outdoors on my porch! Would be a fun vacation read! Thank you to @courtneywalsh and @netgalley for the digital arc! This book is now available having published July 2!

Book 35 of 2024
Read June 29-July 6

Finding a closed door romance that you love and an author that never disappoints is so difficult but that is Courtney Walsh for me. This is the perfect summer read! I love the adventure of this book.

When junior editor Kelsey is hit by a delivery truck on her way back to the office from picking up her boss’s coffee, she winds up in a hospital room next to publishing magnate Georgina Tate, who has a big secret: she’s dying. Georgina (who could be the inspiration for the title character in The Devil Wears Prada) is clearly facing some regrets, and Kelsey has regrets of her own, and big dreams besides. Kelsey decides to say yes to all the things she’s said no to before — particularly spending time with friends and family she’s ignored in the name of getting ahead at work, which hasn’t worked out very well for her. After convincing Georgina to join her in this summer-long adventure, Kelsey makes it her business to track down Georgina’s estranged family and reunite them. This is a fun read and would be perfect to take along on your summer vacation!

I have been a fan of Courtney Walsh for quite some time now, and I have to say, I feel like her books just keep getting better and better! Every time I read one of her books, I think I can't possibly love the next one as much, and then I end up loving it more. The Summer of Yes is out now, and is no exception to this. It definitely gave me all the feels. Walsh has the ability to make you feel all the emotions throughout the course of her books- I laughed, I got teary-eyed, I got the tinglies from the romance, and it definitely made me think about my own life. Kelsey Worthington has turned into a workaholic. She spends her days at a dead end job and she has somehow isolated herself from her family and friends. One day while getting coffee for work, she gets hit by a car. This accident definitely makes her start questioning her own life and how she has been living. She feels like she has been given a second chance, and she doesn't intend on wasting it. While she is in her hospital room, who should she share a room with other than Georgina Tate, one of the wealthiest and most famous women in the country. Tate is secretly hiding a big secret about her health; and that is she has advanced kidney disease that is terminal. Kelsey hatches a plan and decides to get Georgina in on it so she can also have a summer of yes. Ultimately, this is a story about LIVING life to the fullest and saying yes to the people that matter. The last three books that I have read by Courtney Walsh, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, My Phone Valentine, and My Lucky Charm, have all been 5 star reads, and this one is joining that the Courtney Walsh Five Star Read Club! I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone! Thank you Courtney Walsh for sending me a copy of your book, I love your writing!

Have you ever felt like you said no too much? I found myself thinking about that throughout this read. This story was inspirational in some aspects. As Kelsey looks out over her life it made me think of my own. Courtney Walsh is an autoread for me, and I encourage you to give her a try to.
I laughed so hard I cried at moments, the love was precious, and the characters were easy to love. This was the cutest story!

I. Adore. This. Book.

This is my new comfort read. I loved how I felt while reading this book. It was sweet and good and low angst and just one of those books that makes you happy and feel good.

Kelsey and Georgina were so fun! Their banter had me cracking up constantly. Kelsey’s goofiness and awarkedness was refreshing for a character like hers-I feel like most of the girl trying to climb the ladder and make it big at her corporate job is so put together and intimidating but Kelsey had a quirkiness about her that was so endearing. And while Georgina could appear rude and condescending (yes she was that sometimes) you could tell how thankful she was for Kelsey.

This book has so many good lessons. While the book is about saying yes more-not neglecting the things or people that make us happy and are important on our lives-there were other lessons I found just as important. The biggest lessons? On forgiveness and grace. I loved the mentality Hayden and Dylan both had regarding this. Life is short and forgiveness and grace are both so powerful.

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I think it’s best to go in relatively blind. But I loved this story so much. This story has movie written all over it. Like someone put this on the big screen ASAP. This is my first Courtney Walsh read but it will not be my last! If you’re looking for a fun and inspiring read for the summer I highly recommend this one!

This is a closed door contemporary fiction novel with a dash of romance. This book has no language and minimal innuendo.

This book was exactly the fun summery book I needed to get out of a reading slump. It was a feel-good summer read with all the heart and fun I’ve come to expect from Courtney’s books.

In The Summer of Yes, we find Kelsey and Georgina opening the story sharing a hospital room, one was put there from an accident and the other a serious illness. Kelsey finds a kinship with the very successful, yet lonely, Georgina, even if she is met with resistance at every turn. After much coaxing, the two find themselves on an adventure seeking out their summer of yes. I loved the banter and character growth of both of the two women as they each come to a crossroads in their lives. They each learn a lot about what their true priorities are.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and the author for giving me an eARC of this book to honestly read and review.

After a near-death experience, workaholic Kelsey decides it’s time to change her life, and take some time off work to say “yes” to the things she often misses out on. She meets Georgina Tate, a famous businesswoman, in the hospital, and after much persuasion she agrees to partner up on this “summer of yes” adventure. Together their journey begins, from tourist attractions in New York City to small beach towns with some familiar residents, and life changing experiences.

This is such a feel-good novel, and the ultimate summer read! Partially set in New York City and partially set in a small beach town, this book perfectly pairs with Taylor Swift’s 1989 album! I absolutely loved the beach/city combo setting, the age-gap friendship, low-spice romance, and just the overall uplifting plot. I loved the bantering friendship between Kelsey and Georgina, and the inspiration to live your life to the fullest—I’d highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my gifted e-copy!

This is such a fantastic light hearted story with moments of depth and faith.
I loved the character dynamics between Kelsey and Georgiana and how they brought such humor to the book.
This story weaves a beautiful tale of regrets, forgiveness, and giving life a second chance.
I highly recommend this wonderful story.

TOP SUMMER PICK OF 2024 📚

The Summer of Yes released this week (July 1) and it is an absolutely amazing book, I cannot recommend this one enough! This incredible story will make you laugh, blush, hold your breath hoping it keeps the character from saying what you KNOW they are about to say/do, cry, and ultimately leave you feeling completely seen, understood, and accepted.

I won't take the time to rehash the plot (you can read the blurb when you buy the book 😉) but I will say that these main characters, Kelsey and Georgina, are pieces of us all. Kelsey struggles with the weight of others' opinions and words, while Georgina struggles with forgiveness of self. This unlikely friendship blossoms in the most incredible of ways throughout the story, leaving you grinning like a fool upon the turning of the last page.

Now for the romance. You get all those giddy, butterfly moments that come from watching Kelsey fall in love. (Because we are romance readers... we LOVE characters falling in love!) BUTTTTTTTTTTTT, what takes the cake is Georgina's love story! Oh, I don't want to spoil anything for you but her love story will make you FEEL DEEPLY! There are several moments that will make you weepy, in the best of ways.

What are you doing still reading this review?! GO READ THE SUMMER OF YES NOWWWWWWWWWW!

I cannot thank NetGalley enough for an electronic ARC copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

☀️THE SUMMER OF YES☀️ ARC REVIEW

The Summer of Yes was my first Courtney Walsh read, and I found it to be everything I love in a romcom… funny, inspiring, relatable, bittersweet, and wholesome.

I especially enjoyed reading about the unlikely friendship between Kelsey - a burnt-out young editor - and Georgina - a grumpy 😒 but successful business woman with regrets. I love how Kelsey slowly broke down Georgina’s walls 🧱. They had wonderful character chemistry 🧪 and they leaped right off the page. Most of the time, I didn’t even feel like I was reading because the characters felt so real, and the dialogue flowed with ease. It was like watching a movie! 🎬

The characterization of Kelsey was really well done, too. I could completely relate to the way Kelsey sees the world 🌎; making up stories about the people she meets and even casting them as characters in a movie… which is exactly what I did for this book 🤭. I could see the characters in my head so vividly. I made a fan cast that I'll be sharing later. 😉

The romantic subplots between Kelsey and Hayden, and Georgina and Dylan, were super wholesome and clean, and it gave me just enough swoon 🫠. It added another layer to the story and played a big part in both Kelsey and Georgina’s character development. Also, the parallel romance story in tandem with the summery beach ⛱️ setting really hit me with Mamma Mia vibes.

Ultimately, this book was a multi-dimensional work of fiction written with so much heart 💖. This is definitely one of my new favorite rom coms, and I want someone to make it into a movie. I can’t wait to read more of Courtney Walsh’s books. I’m so glad I said YES to this book, and I hope you choose to say YES to it, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced e-copy so I could read and review this book.

Thanks to @netgalley @thomasnelson and @tnzfiction for the #gifted copies of this book and the audio. All opinions on this book are my own.

"Don't wait to love the people you love. We aren't guaranteed a second chance-we're only lucky enough to seize one when it comes."

Summary: After waking up in the hospital after a near-death experience, Kelsey Worthington has decided that some things in her life need to change. She's decided to do that one "yes" at a time. With an unlikely friendship brewing, Kelsey and Georgina Tate, a famous businesswoman, set off on a summer adventure that will change both of their lives.

Thoughts: Courtney Walsh has done it again! I love a good book with a message inside and this one made me take a look at my own life. Am I saying "yes" to things in life or am I backing out due to my fears? I loved that Kelsey kept pushing Georgina to go along with her plan for a summer of yes, and surprisingly Georgina said "yes"! Kelsey brought a family together and in turn, changed her own life in a great way. Both Kelsey and Georgina have regrets about their choices throughout their lives, but it was also so wonderful to see those closest to them forgive them for those choices.

This is a perfect book for those who love clean books with wholesome lessons, even with a few perfect kisses along the way.

Courtney Walsh has done it again with her sweet and no-spice story! While this is in the rom-com genre, it is more of a story of overcoming our limitations, forgiveness, and unlikely friendships. I frequently pondered many of the MC's challenges, (which makes the best books IMHO).

I loved the dual-POV narration. However, Kelsey's narration (while nice) sometimes reminded me of a kindergarten teacher speaking to her class (it likely didn't help that I listened at 2x speed).

Excellent book!!

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

This will probably be one of my favorite books of the YEAR. Yes the year!! I'm not sure if I just found this book at the perfect time in my life, or if I would've loved it regardless of the time in my life I read it, but I absolutely adored this novel. It follows Georgina and Kelsey after they meet in the hospital - Kelsey for getting hit by a car, Georgina for kidney failure. The two form an unlikely friendship after they realize they've been telling themselves "no" to different things, which has impacted their lives in negative ways. The set off on the summer of "yes," and that's where this story takes off!

I gobbled up this book the whole time I was reading it. It was like receiving a warm hug from an old friend, and it was SO inspiring. I enjoyed every single second, and this solidified Courtney Walsh being an auto-buy author.

Excellent story! I thoroughly enjoyed The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh. This amazing story touches on the importance of really living, and to do that, these two women, these acquaintances, these "peas in a pod" have to learn how to say yes and try new things more often. It's risky, and uncomfortable at times but rewarding. What a good lesson for all of us! I really enjoyed the journey from regrets to forgiveness and second chances, being open to change and trying new things, the snarkiness, the humor, the relationships, both friendship and romantic, and the movie references.

This unlikely friendship is delightful! It's simply a wonderful, meaningful, introspective, and hopeful story, I loved it! Highly recommend this captivating story.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read a copy. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis in a sentence (or two):
Kelsey wakes up in a hospital after a near-death experience, realizing that she is potentially wasting her life away by saying no to everything. Her hospital roommate, Georgina, feels similarly, yet she has very little time to change course due to kidney failure. Against all odds, the two strangers embark on a Summer of Yes.

Overall thoughts:
For some reason, the first few chapters of Summer of Yes immediately reminded me of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, one of my favorite reads of 2021. The relationship between Georgina and Kelsey was full of the same funny banter with a bit less sentimentality. Of course, the story took a very different turn from Lenni & Margot’s.

The Summer of Yes is a quick read with a heartwarming theme. It’s a family and friendship-centered drama that manages to be lighthearted while also commenting on the fragility of life. I loved how Courtney Walsh used dual POVs to show the difference between two women who carried so many similarities. Georgina and Kelsey openly choose their careers over friends and family, yet Georgina is much older and has the wisdom that hindsight brings, whereas Kelsey does not. The romance between Kelsey and Hayden seems like an afterthought in this novel, and the focus is much more on taking life’s second chances. I didn’t mind this at all, but I found myself missing some profound moments I expect in a story centered around themes of life and death. Read this if you’re looking for a summery women’s fiction storyline vs. a beach-read romance.

I recommend this one to readers who love:
-grumpy/sunshine friendship tropes
-second chances at life tropes
-Clean, escape fiction

Rating: 3.5

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the Digital Review Copy of The Summer of Yes. All opinions are my own.

Review will be posted on @inkedupmargins blog & IG on publication day.

Providence brings Kelsey and Georgina together in a totally unexpected way. The near-death experience of one and the imminent death of the other helps them forge an unusual relationship as they both contemplate all of the things they have missed in life by saying no. Walsh helps her readers understand the importance of saying yes when it means living life to its fullest. She also urges them to examine and adjust their priorities.

This story wasn't my typical read. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't say I was passionate about it. I did appreciate the themes of the story. The writing was crisp and flowed smoothly. I feel comfortable recommending it to readers who enjoy contemporary women's fiction. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Summer of Yes from Thomas Nelson without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.