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.

Courtney Walsh is one of the few contemporary genre writers that I enjoy reading. This is the latest novel in her collection set to release later this year. The book is written from two points of view: Britt and Georgina. Two women who are very similar in their drive for success and who are frankly--workaholics. Putting all else on the back burner. At the expense of relationships and experiences.

What would happen if you chose to say YES to experiences that come in your life? Instead of letting fear drive you to say no...you say yes? How would your life be different?

This is part of the premise of this story of Britt and Georgina. It's also a tale of second chances.

Although this is considered Christian fiction--once again, it's fiction and no Christian. This one is just a clean inspirational read. Moments though could have been even more poignant if characters had God moments along the way.

4 stars because it was a great story. I just wish it had that extra element of faith.

*I received a copy of this book from the publishers and NetGalley. i was not required to write a review and all opinions are 100% my own.

What a cute cover!! The Summer of Yes is about 2 women who also say no pairing up together for a Summer of yes! I was introduced to Courtney Walsh's books a couple months ago and read 2 of them that I loved. I was super excited to see this new one! The Summer of Yes didn't work quite as well for me as those other 2 but it's still a good book. This is a light-hearted and easy summer read. I didn't super connect with the storyline. Maybe because the other 2 I read were romances and while this one had romance, it was more about Georgina & Kelsey and their relationship. The storyline was a bit too far-fetched for my personal liking. This one could work for you if you're looking for a quick summer read.

Thank you NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson Fiction, for a copy in return for my honest review.

An easy breeze of a read for summer but no real connection with the characters, which made it hard to stay invested in what they were doing.

I always appreciate a book about female friendship and the permeation of good vibes, but in this case, it became a little too sugary for me, and I started skimming.

In snacks and life, I lean more toward savory cravings over sugary ones, so for those with a sweet tooth, this will be sure to hit the spot.

Courtney Walsh celebrates friendship, seizing opportunities, and embracing affirmation in her new book The Summer of Yes.

A near-death experience catapults workaholic junior editor Kelsey Worthington into changing her life--one yes at a time. This story centers Kelsey, who has been in an accident, encountering Georgina Tate during her overnight stay at the hospital. Georgina is struggling with her health that has now become a terminal illness. Her impending mortality prompts her to confront her life's regrets. Inspired by Georgina's story, Kelsey reflects on her own list of postponed dreams and aspirations, leading her to ponder a transformative question: "What if I said yes to everything I usually say no to?" Thus, the Yes Plan is born, setting Kelsey on a path of embracing new opportunities and seizing life's possibilities.

While this was a good read, my only conflict is the pacing in which it was told. Other than that it was a great read!

I really liked the premise of this book, but I found it to be a little lackluster. I enjoyed the main characters, Kelsey and Georgina, a lot, but they didn’t have distinct narrative voices, so sometimes I would forget which one I was reading. I also found Kelsey’s internal monologue to be a little repetitive and lacking in subtlety - every single conclusion she reached was thoroughly explained and nothing was left up to the reader’s interpretation (which made this book feel longer than it was). It was also hard to get past the formatting issues (no paragraph breaks for different speakers, randomly skipping lines, etc.).

A fabulous read from start to finish.

When Kelsey Worthington ends up in the hospital after being hit by a car she starts to question her life decisions thus far, and starts to find herself wanting something more out of life, to take a step back from her career and say yes more. While in the hospital she meets famous businesswoman Georgina Tate, suffering with kidney failure and coming to the end of her days this woman also realises how many regrets she has about her life and how different things would be if she made different choices. With a lot of nagging from Kelsey these two woman strike and unlikely friendship and go on an epic adventure of saying YES

I loved this book from the very beginning, the premise was pure genius and the parallels between the two woman at different stages of their lives was poignant and perfect, The unlikely friendship developed into such an important relationship which added so many layers to the overall character development to each individual and the differences between the two woman made their unlikely bond even more beautiful.

The romantic subplot in this story was a wonderful edition and very well crafted. One of the FMC's was finding love for the first time while the other was reigniting an old flame, a beautifully told second chance romance which was made even better by the multiple POV's.
The way the whole book rounded up was heart-warming and overall I think the book was made even more impressive with it being a debut story.

I look forward to seeing what Catherine Walsh brings us in the future.

Courtney Walsh is a master at feel goid books that are clean. The Summer of Yes is a bright light in the literary world. I walked away with all kinds of butterflies and excitement to have been able to explore this book. Thank you to Netgalley for this opportunity.

The sweetest summer story about second chances, found family and a good road trip! All the feel good feels!

This book was so summery and fun. Definitely a great beach or vacation read and my first by the author. My only complaint is that the galley was difficult to read because it had little to no formatting. Thank you for the ARC!

Right from the start you get a glimpse into Kelsey’s mindset. When she awakens in the hospital and finds out about the accident, she immediately thinks “I don’t have time to get hit by a car”. Both characters were so relatable and were well developed. I loved the banter of their grumpy sunshine friendship, and they made me laugh out loud so many times. I loved their journey of self discovery, forgiveness, and healing. The romance was a subplot, but both love interests were so sweet. I loved that this book makes you think and has me wanting to say to more things that will make me happy. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Women’s fiction
✔️Romance subplot
✔️Dual POV
✔️Grumpy/sunshine friendship
✔️Regrets and second chances
✔️Road trips
✔️Clean romance - kissing only

Favorite quote: “I wouldn’t have a problem saying yes to anything that man asked.”

Thank you @thomasnelson, @courtneywalsh, and @NetGalley for the ARC!