I thought this was such a good summer read! The best release to start your July with! The Summer of Yes is your reminder to live your life, say yes to what matters, and to make sure you always know exactly what it is that matters to you!

Definitely a book that will be in many people’s beach bags this summer and for good reason - a great beach read with the cutest cover!

I came for a summer of "yeses" but stayed for the sassy old lady.

Thank you Harper Collins Christian Publishing and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the gifted copy of "The Summer of Yes." Courtney Walsh's latest is out tomorrow, July 2nd.

Who knew saying yes could be so powerful. Kelsey's whole world changed just from a summer of adopting yes into her vocabulary. It brings her a new friend, confidence and love. I am sitting here smiling just thinking about everything that "yes" brought her and I am so happy this book fell into my life.

Stories that have a beautiful message are a breath of fresh air. "The Summer of Yes" was that first breath you take in the morning of a day you know you're excited for. This story is filled with all the sparkly happiness of finding your purpose.

I loved the premise of changing your life to find yourself but I really fell in love when I met Georgina. Once this sassy elderly woman entered the chat, I knew I was a goner. The relationship between Kelsey and Georgina. It was giving me "The Princess Diaries" vibes where Mia and her grandmother explore New York City. We literally get a hilariously iconic scene very similar in this story and I could live in it forever.

Trust me when I say if you're looking for a fun summer read with unlikely friendships, hilarious dialogue and will open your eyes to the good that is life. Courtney Walsh wrote the book for you!

☀️ New York City & North Carolina
☀️ Unlikely Friendships
☀️ Multiple POV
☀️ Hilarious Banter
☀️ Sassy Old Lady
☀️ The Power of Saying Yes
☀️ Living Your Life to the Fullest
☀️ Summer Vibes
☀️ Road Trip

Say yes to The Summer of Yes.

This was a sweet story about an unlikely intergenerational friendship between two women who randomly meet while roommates in the hospital. Georgina is a well-known CEO of her own highly successful cosmetics company who is battling health problems and Kelsey is a 32-year-old book editor whose close call with death gives her the idea to step back and actively choose to say 'yes' to the many, many things she's been afraid of or too busy to do.

The story focuses on the bond between curmudgeonly, set-in-her-ways Georgina and unsure-of-herself Kelsey who pulls Georgina (begrudgingly) into her project to 'say yes' as she butts her nose into Georgina's life.

I loved the themes in this story that centres around women mentoring and lifting up other women and how we could all use the reminder to focus on what's truly important in life. We get the POVs of both women and their internal struggles felt authentic (if a bit repetitive), but delightful snarky quips from Georgina, the light romance and hunky and oh-so-forgiving menfolk were added bonuses.

The Summer of Yes balances poignant moments with humour and great messages about living a good life, what success truly means, and getting out of your own way so you can live life to its absolute fullest.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Thomas Nelson for the advanced digital copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks NetGalley for the early copy! It was great book. I laughed, I cried, it was a light read. It reminded me of the movie “The Bucket List” but with two women leading and a happier ending. #TheSummerofYes #NetGalley

WOW! This book was absolutely beautiful! It was a beautiful story of friendship and forgiveness and love. It was challenging and thought provoking in the most gentle and heartfelt ways!

The theme of “don’t waste your life” encourages you to evaluate your own life in some ways. What are the things to say YES to, but also what does that mean I need to say “no” to? In our world where everything seems to be about the next “best thing” or the quick way to make money….this was a book that encouraged me to pause and evaluate what’s most worth it?

I loved it! Once again, well done, Courtney Walsh! Forever a favorite!

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is a feel-good, summer read. It accomplishes what it sets out to do. The book encourages you to take a look at your life and choices, as to live for the YES!

Kelsey and Georgia are an interesting and fun duo! I enjoyed their banter and their journey together. The multi-generational friendship here is really lovely.

If you are looking for a fun, easy read, this is it.

This was the first book that I've read by Courtney Walsh, and I know it won't be the last. I really liked this story and how it wove together themes of friendship, positivity, love and strength. Romance was there, but it wasn't the driving theme of the story. Self-love and self-growth played into the tale in a much greater way.

The story begins with a bang - Kelsey is accidentally hit by a car and wakes to find herself in the hospital. While trying to collect herself and her rattled memories of the accident, she also meets an older woman named Georgina, who is her roommate in the hospital. Georgina is a well=known, wildly successful businesswoman. Georgina sacrificed everything to become the woman she is today, but now, with a pair of failing kidneys and only a handful of months left to live, Georgina is looking back at all she accomplished and at what cost.

Kelsey always dreamed of being a writer, but she has settled for her job as a junior editor. She doesn't go outside of her comfort zone. Her relationships are safe. Her job is secure. Her existence is stable. After the accident and in talking to Georgina, Kelsey is forced to reckon with her own list of "things I'll do someday," and she starts to ask a simple but life-changing question. What if I said yes to all the things I normally say no to? And The Yes Plan is born.

It takes some convincing, but Georgina finally agrees to go along with Kelsey on her Summer of Yes adventures. The two of them set off to see what might be out there waiting for them if they simply open themselves up to it. But when they take a road trip that leads into stories from Georgina's past, this is where the true journey begins.

Two stories of love, forgiveness, regret, romance, and finding a way to live a fearless life intertwine as these two women make an indelible impression on each other. And it all starts with a simple "yes."

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and NetGally for this Advanced Release copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What would happen if you said “Yes” to things you would typically say “no” to? Are you brave enough?
This sweet story is about what happens to a young woman who takes on that challenge and how her life and the lives around her change.
I’ve not read many books by Courtney Walsh, but I truly enjoyed this one. I think I’ll start picking up more of her books. She has a smooth, flowing writing style. The story seemed to move along, and before I knew it, I was finished.
It was so full of crazy events. It started at the very beginning and kept going all the way through to the end. WOW!
This book flows so well that you really feel you know these characters and understand what they are struggling with. There were a couple of times I wanted to knock some sense into them, yet they touched my life with their stories.
I’ve always loved reading books that draw out emotions and feelings and give me a life lesson to walk away with. This book does that, and I highly recommend you pick it up.
The publisher gave me this book, but this did not influence my review in any way; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kelsey was picking up Starbucks for her smarmy boss when she got hit by a car that jumped the curb. She woke up in a hospital rook next to Georgina Tate, the legendary matriarch of New York City businesswomen. They couldn't be more opposite, but they each had regrets about their lives that they needed to confront.

Kelsey decided on a summer of saying yes to things she'd normally decline to do, and she managed to rope Georgina into it. I loved seeing them come out of their comfort zones and live life differently. The romance subplots were a nice treat in the midst of their adventures.

This was a lighthearted read full of encouragement to not be afraid to experience life boldly. I loved the audio. Both narrators did an awesome job.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

When Kelsey has a near death experience and shares the same hospital room with a well known business women who is dying but has regrets she won't admit, Kelsey decides they are going on a Summer of Yes. Doing all the things they would have previously turned down before of work or fears holding them back.

I thought this was going to be a light fluffy read but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the story, the characters and their development, and the emotional components. I don't often cry or tear up at books but this one did it for me. It made you think about life and what you want from it.

I love how it was focused on the women and their own individual stories but there were also side aspects of romance and overarching family themes. This book also made me laugh and I found myself cheesing often. The banter was pretty good. I would definitely recommend this book and gave it 4.5/5 stars!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Courtney Walsh, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer of Yes was such a delightful read!!

I will say that the first 15-20% of this did seem a bit slow for me, but I was still engaged with the story and what was going to happen. It picked up and I just got even more wrapped up in it.

This was also my first Courtney Walsh novel & I really enjoyed her writing style in this. I read that she is also a theatre director who owns & runs a youth theatre, which I grew up in theatre and felt like I could really see those glimpses of that theatrical side throughout her writing, which I personally really loved.

I enjoyed the characters, enjoyed the story, enjoyed the themes throughout it. I really loved the concept of a summer of yes and not letting things hold you back from doing what you want. The forgiveness and hope shown in this story was very nicely done and sweet also.

* I will say that this is a clean no sexual content women’s fiction with some romance. It did have a few jokes or innuendo talks about sex but nothing graphic or too much for me personally at all.

All in all I would definitely recommend you check out this book, it was a really fun read for me & I will definitely be checking out more of Courtney Walsh’s books in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Publishing & Courtney Walsh for allowing me to read & review an arc of this book! All opinions are my own :)

Right from the start, this one drew me in... what could be a better incentive to start looking at the way you are living your life than getting hit by a car!? That is exactly what happens to Kelsey, finding herself waking up in a hospital room, lucky to be alive. She finds herself sharing a room with Georgina Tate--- a successful and well-known older businesswoman who has made many sacrifices to reach her success. When Kelsey sees the similarities in their lives, she decides to embark on a summer of yes... and to take Georgina along for the ride.

Courtney Walsh is best known for her romance stories, and while there is definitely romance in this story too (with two love stories in fact!), it definitely feels more like a women's fiction read than your typical romance. For starters, the romance threads don't pick up until maybe a quarter of the way or more through the story and focused more on this unlikely friendship between the two women. I loved seeing the banter between the two of them, and while Georgina is a little rough to like upon meeting, she certainly grows on you throughout, especially as we get to see more of her POV. I adored both of these characters and found myself very much rooting for both. But when we get to that romance? Oh yes, I adored that too. There was so much to love about this story... and I absolutely couldn't get enough. If you're looking for a book to say yes to, this is it!

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Reading Summer of Yes was a slow story, but it had a good vibe. It was so good to read about two women at different stages of their lives becoming friends and teaching each other that it is Ok to let go and step into situations of life that help you learn more about yourself.
Kelsey and Georgina met while both were in the hospital. Kelsey had been hit by a car. Georgina needed a new kidney.
Being in the same hospital room gave them time to get to know each other and this is how their summer of YES happened. They knew changes needed to be made in their lives so they set off on an adventure to say yes to things they normally would not.
Thank you NetGalley, Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of The Summer of Yes. This is my personal review.

Is Kelsey's accident a wake-up call, or just a minor disruption to her well-planned life? Ending up in hospital, sharing a room with Georgina Tate, makes Kelsey begin to question her priorities in life - not least because Georgina is a highly successful woman who's managed to get where Kelsey has so far only aimed, and it doesn't seem to have made her happy. One day back at work convinces her that it's time to take the summer off and start saying 'yes' to everything she's always rejected in favour of her career - a career that's gone nowhere. And she's going to take Georgina with her, even if she comes kicking and screaming. As each faces her priorities in life and what that has brought her, can they learn to embrace change? Not everything in life needs a 'yes' answer, but an openness to possibilities can achieve more than Kelsey has ever dreamed...

A deeply touching and heart-warming story - which is a little odd given how unlikeable Georgina does her best to be for almost the entire book. Career has never been a particularly high priority for me, so I guess I'm coming at it from the complete opposite perspective to either Kelsey or Georgina, but I loved watching them each learn that people are what really matter in life, and that sometimes one just needs to be willing to give something a try. I was impressed by Kelsey's stubbornness in her attempts to help and encourage Georgina - I'm not sure I could have done it! But I also appreciated the way that she was willing to step back when it became clear she'd gone too far. Georgina is expertly drawn to attract the reader's sympathy despite her best efforts to make everyone hate her, which is impressive - and ensured that I was rooting for the happy ending she seemed so reluctant to accept. An inspiring read for anyone later in life who regrets past choices equally with those making decisions about their future. Recommended.

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

I’m starting my summer of yes by saying YES YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

This is a super sweet & wholesome read. While there are two romantic storylines, I appreciated that the main focus of the book was the unlikely friendship between the two female main characters.
Despite being light-hearted it touch on some deeper themes that prompted me to pause and reflect.
The only reason this wasn’t a five star for me is because I found the start to be slow and towards the end things got repetitive.

★★★★
———————
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to review this book.

This book was just a heartwarming and a cute read. I really enjoyed the concept of this book, with two females in different ages and different positions in their lives figuring out how to live their lives to the fullest. To stop saying no to everything and start saying yes. I found it at times being kind of boring, repeating itself all over again why they are having the summer of yes. I thought it would be more spontaneous and more adventures but unfortunately the book didn't delivered that... And the romance in this book didn't convince me at all... But overall a fun and a cute read.

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh was a delight to read from start to finish. It tells the story of two women who find themselves in the same hospital room and facing the same life crisis, one at the beginning of her career and one at the end of her career. This is fun, uplifting story that deals with the heavy truths of forgiveness, family struggles, love and fear of failure without being dark and gloomy. This book will encourage its reader to get out of their comfort zone and learn happiness in life by saying yes to life’s opportunities and not hiding in fear.

A lovely story about saying yes to the hard things, to change. I enjoyed how the book was about all the main characters needing to say yes. A sweet romance. A very enjoyable read.

Yes! Definitely pick up The Summer of Yes!

I can’t praise this one enough! Are you looking for a beach read? A get-out-of-a-reading-slump read? Well here it is! The Summer of yes starts with a bang and doesn’t let up.

Funny and magnetic, this book will keep your interest for the entire ride. Filled with two love stories and life lessons, this book unleashed so many emotions about life, love, regret and forgiveness.

Kelsey Worthington forgets her best friend’s birthday. She’s a workaholic at a publishing firm and is paving her way to notability. There’s no time for friends or family or fun nights out as a single eligible bachelorette. That is until she is unexpectedly hit by a car getting her morning coffee. An unlikely older woman is suddenly her roommate in the hospital and the irresistible urge Kelsey has to befriend her just won’t go away. Kelsey impulsively takes a leave from her job, using her extensively saved up vacation time, and embarks on the summer of yes.

I loved each character and the story so much. This is a summer must read. I’ll definitely be adding more titles by this author.

Thank you to the publisher-Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and the author, Courtney Walsh, for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.
*Publishing on 7/2/2024*

This book was slow to start, it felt like nothing really happened in the first 45% of it. And even when it did get interesting it became very repetitive. I was hoping for an adventure of two women with lots of regrets and what I got was two women who have unrealistic romances. It was too sickly sweet and cheesy for my tastes and I wish the romantic relationships were built up to a little more… They felt very rushed.

Our main characters are at a crossroads in their lives. Kelsey was hit by a car and Georgina is very ill. I did like that Kelsey learned to love herself and got some confidence in her abilities along the way. She takes a chance on herself and learns to have some fun. Georgina also learns to have some fun but also to let love in because she deserves it. Both women are pretty work-orientated and realize they must put themselves and their friends and family first.

The romance parts felt very shallow to me, it was insta love in one case and one hundred percent forgive and forget in another. I found both really hard to believe. Maybe I am a cynic? The whole plot is very predictable and the health issues didn’t fly with me. I have been hit by a car and more than seven years later I am still suffering the effects of it. The ladies met in the hospital and Georgia’s outcome was just too convenient. There weren’t enough troubles or issues or drama for me. The whole thing was just saccharine and it gave me a toothache.

I did like that we get both character’s points of view in differing chapters. They are two women who have a lot in common despite being decades apart in age. I didn’t like how much Kelsey butted into Georiga’s life uninvited. She was really naive but smarmy at the same time. She is a complete stranger to this family and doing what she did was not okay no matter how you look at it.

A lot of people have loved this book and this author. I don’t think she is for me. I like happy ever afters as much as the next person but I like things to happen along the way to getting there.