Kelsey has an accident, meets Georgiana and then proceeds to re-examine her entire life. Along the way, there are road trips, boat rides, and Hayden.

I loved Hayden! His patience, easy going nature, solid grounding, even his willingness to forgive. I also liked Kelsey and Georgiana's dynamic. The sass between them was pretty fun. I also liked the idea of looking at my decisions and WHY I say no (or could I say yes).

But overall, this was just ok for me. Not sure if it was just my mood - but I had some issues with Georgiana's behavior and POV. (Maybe we were supposed to? but... it didn't mesh well for me.) Also, the constant soapbox/platitudes/in your face message felt a little forced and contrived rather than a natural progression.

I LOVED Happy Life of Isadora so perhaps I was really wanting more of that sort of discovery for the character and maybe it's just that this didn't quite match my expectations.

Again, it's probably a "me" problem because there are a lot of fun elements and a good basis of a story here.

3-3.5 stars

"What if...just, what if...I've been given a second chance here? What if I'm waking up to where I am, and I don't like it?"

The Summer of Yes needs to be on every reader's "YES" list and rushed to the tippity top of their TBRs because this book is an "LC", you know, the life changing kind of book.

Also, it may be important to note that once you pick this book up you'll actually be saying a lot of "No's" to various things like: to-do lists, dinner requests, household chores, sleeping etc.

I love that this book had two storylines that intermixed. We have Kelsey's POV and we have Georgina's POV. Each make this story richer and more all-encompassing. These characters are so different from each other and yet parallel and compliment each other so well.

Overall, having both is an amazing gift from Courtney Walsh.

You'll also be introduced so some amazing side characters (cough-cough...mostly looking at you JP - if there was ever a spin-off for this character, I would be first in line to read it. Just sayin').

The struggles, the victories, the experiences and the romance are all BIG YES's in my opinion.

If you want a book that will entertain you as well as move you and expand your heart...this should be your next read!!!

This read is for sure a top read of the year and on my all-time favorites list!! I give it all of the stars, two thumbs up and if I could give it a million more of each, I'd do that too!

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

Content: near death experience, life threatening condition, estranged mother/husband/son relationship, mild innuendo, friendships, second chances, romance-kisses only.

While picking up coffee, assistant editor Kelsey Worthington gets hit by a car and ends up in the hospital. Kelsey's life revolves around work, and she just wants to get out of the hospital and back to work. Things change when the head of a beauty company Georgina becomes her hospital roommate. Kelsey wants to know if Georgina believes her devotion to work was worth it. Her admission to regrets, leads Kelsey to a summer of saying 'Yes' to life and opportunities and she is going to take Georgina with her. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really like the relationship that builds between Kelsey and Georgina. I love the messages about taking time to reflect and that it's never too late to change. It's not totally realistic, especially with Kelsey's romance, but I enjoyed its positive message and read it all in one day.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Sweet Contemporary Romance, Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction
Spice Level: Kissing!
Format: Dual POV

I feel like *THE SUMMER OF YES* is a very different book from Courtney Walsh.
And I loved it! Sure, it's still a romance, but it's also about friendship between women and different generations.

There are four pivotal relationships in this book.
1. Kelsey and Georgina: the two viewpoint characters, who are mirror images of one another but at different seasons of life. This relationship of a growing friendship is why I would call this romance women's fiction. These women are growing.
2. Kelsey and Hayden: they meet and don't exchange names, then they meet again . . . da, da, dum—they are cute and fun.
3. Georgina and her estranged husband: this is a smaller point in the book, but critical for Georgina's arc. Do they work things out? Well, you'll have to read to find out more.
4. Georgina and her son: again, this isn't the biggest relationship, but he intersects with all the primary actors.

Themes in this book include love, forgiveness, sacrifice, work, friendship, women navigating life, wake-up call.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a feel-good read.

Happy reading!

The Summer of Yes is a story of friendship, family, new beginnings with some romance. Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor, although her dream was to be an author. She is a workaholic, who doesn't like to venture out of her comfort zone. She says "no" more often than she says "yes". After her scare, she decides to shake things up. While she is in the hospital, she shares a room with Georgina Tate, a wildly successful businesswoman. Georgina sacrificed everything to become the woman she is today, including her family. Now she has failing kidneys, with only a transplant to save her life, if a match can be found. Kelsey decides they both need to change their lives and comes up with the idea of a road trip and "The Summer of Yes". What Georgina wasn't expecting was Kelsey surprising her with a visit to the town where her husband and son live. This is the place where both women can start their new beginnings.

This book has such a great message. How much do you want to give up to be successful? Is it worth it all in the end? I really enjoy books with multi-generational friendships and this was another good one. Georgina has so many regrets. All she has is her company, but that isn't enough. I liked that she was willing to take a chance and go on this adventure with Kelsey. Her son Hayden and her ex-husband still loved her, but only wanted her back if she was ready and made the effort. I really liked both of them, their love and loyalty were amazing. Kelsey's journey was a bit different. She has been told before that she doesn't have what it takes to be a published author, so it is a huge step to try again. I liked how the relationship between Kelsey and Hayden developed. He knew who she was, but she didn't realize it at first. He was such a likable character, caring, honest, hard working and forgiving. This is a story that will make you look at your own life and rethink your priorities. It was an emotional story and had my feelings all over the place. This was a great story of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, friendship, priorities, our mortality and more.

This was my first Courtney Walsh book and it will NOT be my last! I have seen her share that she wants to provide lighthearted romances and she did just that with this one. I enjoy a little bit of some spice in books like a lot of people I know, but this was so refreshing to not have that aspect of it and I really enjoyed it.

This book follows Kelsey when she has a near death experience and meets Georgina in the hospital. Georgina is who all girls wants to be in the working world and Kelsey can't believe she's sharing a room with her. When Kelsey realizes they are similar in a lot of aspects and have no visitors she takes a moment to reevaluate her life. That's where the comes up with the Summer of Yes and she hounds Georgina until she agrees to join her.

Both ladies embark on a great summer adventure and it was a joy to read about! Courtney Walsh made this story so inspirational. I loved Georgina's quote "And there's one important thing I forgot about being a young woman with dreams." "We all need someone to believe in us." That's so true even outside of books. I loved the banter between Kelsey and Georgina throughout this story. They had a familiarity about each other because they were so much alike and they were so sarcastic together. They had me giggling so much. There were some heartbreaking moments but then the lighthearted side was brought back. This was such a fun, inspirational, lighthearted read for the summer that I highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Courtney Walsh for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I wanted to like this, and maybe I'm just not in the right headspace to enjoy it right now, but this just felt like I was getting preached at and I was getting annoyed. I definitely want to give Courtney Walsh another shot with a different book (or try this one again another time) because I have heard great things from friends, so I'm excited to read more from her soon!

Kelsey's enthusiasm is infectious, and it's easy to get swept away. After a life-threatening experience, she had a realization that she hadn't truly been living. During a chance encounter with her idol at the hospital, she decided to have a summer with no regrets. From then on, she embraced saying yes and pushing herself outside her comfort zone. Written quite well, The characters in this uplifting and inspiring story serve as a reminder that life is about more than just being consumed by ambition; it's also about finding balance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10 starts

2024 book of the SUMMER! WOW! What a ride.

This was my first Courtney Walsh book, and it didn’t disappoint at all. In fact, I’ll probably go and read ALL her books now.

This story made me laugh, cry, laugh again, and cry. It was full of banter, love, a mean old lady, and a determined MC. Kelsey's growth throughout the book was inspiring. I felt like I knew her personally. Georgina, the other main character, was my favorite—grumpy but wonderfully feisty.

The themes of forgiveness and grace were beautifully integrated. Seriously, you’ll want to read this book when it comes out. You are gonna love it!

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer of Yes is a heartwarming book about second chances. When Kelsey meets Georgina in the hospital after an almost fatal accident, she realizes she wants to stop saying no to things and start saying yes! The two set off on adventures of fun and choosing things they’ve postponed or said no to. Along the way they meet up with Georgina’s past and her need for forgiveness. A cute romance blossoms as Kelsey meets Georgina’s son. I really enjoyed this book! It was exciting and fun while having a meaningful takeaway: we don’t live forever so say yes to what makes you happy. This heartwarming book had me tearing up and wanting to see how things ended. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.
YouTube Review: 07/03/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC of “The Summer of Yes” by Courtney Walsh in exchange for my honest review.

Kelsey was hit by a car walking on the sidewalk outside of Starbucks. She’s a workaholic and always says no to everything. In the hospital, her roommate is the successful businesswoman, Georgina Tate and she gets a glimpse of what life will be like for her if she continues to go down her current path. Kelsey convinces Georgina to agree upon a summer of yes with her. They embark on a journey of forgiveness and a second chance at love and happiness.

What I love most about Courtney Walsh books, is her storylines. They’re always heartwarming with a message and they remind me of a hallmark movie. I throughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend.

The Summer of Yes was such a fun summer read! I loved a good intergenerational friendship. Georgina and Kelsey were such opposites but so great together.

I love that they got each other out of the their comfort zones, the rekindling of family & friend relationships. The ending was so sweet 🥹🥹

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for advance copies.

I loved this book so much! There’s so much great life advice parlayed in these pages alongside the clever writing and relatable characters. Maybe it’s my own near-death experience as a cancer survivor, but this book just hit me in the feels and ticked all the boxes for me. It was light-hearted but big-hearted at the same time, touching on tough topics with gentleness and bite-sized nuggets of wisdom throughout. I can totally see this as a book club book or something to read with your best friend.

I loved Kelsey because she’s so relatable. She’s stuck in her routine and then suddenly, her perspective is turned on its head after miraculously surviving being hit by a car as a pedestrian. I love that she allowed this event to change her, to make her want to shake things up and to start seeing what’s important in life so much more clearly. Moreover, I loved that she saw that this total stranger could use a dose of the same and embraces the providence that landed Georgina as her hospital roommate.

This is a grumpy-sunshine trope but in a female friendship instead of a romantic relationship, and I’m here for it. I loved their banter and sarcasm and repartee, which often made me laugh out loud. I loved how they were able to see themselves in one another, providing the foundation for a strong friendship between two women who otherwise might have nothing in common. The world needs more of that.

The romance aspect was not as central to the story as Kelsey and Georgina’s character arcs, but they were lovely all the same. This is a completely clean romance, some kissing, but nothing more. Again, the romance is not the point of this story, just the icing on the cake.

The Summer of Yes is sweet and funny with a bit of romance, making it the perfect book an easy summer read, but the added layers of female friendship, family, regret, fear and forgiveness gives it that something else to take this story and catapult it to the top of this summer’s beach read releases. If you only read one beach read book this summer, say yes to this one!

The Summer of Yes

4.25 ⭐️

This was such a cute summer romance. I love how Courtney Walsh mixed in some big topics like grief, illness, abandonment, while still keeping some things lighter.

Kelsey is hit by a car and wakes up in the hospital next to a grouchy older lady. Little do they both know, this relationship will change their lives as they begin a summer of saying “yes” to what comes their way.

The dual perspective between Kelsey and Georgina was nice and kept the focus on their friendships for most of the book. This book was maybe slightly less cheesy than Courtney’s other books I read, but still the same beautiful closed door romance. Fun summer roadtrip book!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

I really enjoyed reading The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh. A sweet, heartwarming book at the surface - this book is also thought provoking and touches on so many issues relevant to women at any stage of life. Through the adventures shared by Kelsey and Georgina, each woman (at different life stages) learns about herself and her relationship to many things in life - friendship, forgiveness, work, family, and even what makes her come alive. This book even has some (clean) romance while still letting the female main characters be at the center of the story. This was a wonderful book with a fantastic ending, well developed and quirky characters, and great writing. Don't let the "summer" in the title fool you - this would be a fun read any time of year.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! So much to ponder and soak in and then think about throughout the day and all you want to do it get back to it! It was heart-breaking and yet it was light-hearted and full of delight! I fell in love with the characters! Everyone of them! It didn’t start how it usually does in romance and that was so fabulous!! Almost like a women’s fiction with romance on the side. But so much better!
I will read this again!

Thank you to Net Galley for this book, all opinions are my own!

I had a hard time getting into this one and I think it was because I listened on audio. I didn’t love the narrators but once I got used to them I really enjoyed the book. I loved the characters especially as Georgina and Kelsey finally fall into an odd friendship. I really enjoyed how both evolved throughout the book and how this one was a little romance but really a story about two women becoming who they were meant to be, Friendship and family.

The Summer of Yes follows Kelsey Worthington after she is hit by a car and starts questioning how her life is going. I didn't realize how much I needed this book until I read it. I highlighted 18 passages in this book. EIGHTEEN! I have never highlighted more than four. I have prioritized work to the point of saying no to everything in order to conserve my energy or work insane hours. Looking back on the past few years, I don't see nearly enough memories that I could. So here starts my Summer of Yes.

Perfect for anyone who is stuck in a cycle of saying no to even the little things, anyone who is feeling burnt out or underappreciated at work, or anyone who is struggling with regret of things you've given up to prioritize your job. Even if none of these things apply to you, I still think you would like this book if you enjoy fun contemporary novels with a dash of clean romance.

I received an ARC/ALC from Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

THANK YOU to Courtney Walsh for creating this "disruptor".

This is definitely one of those stories that makes you sit back and stare into space for a long time after finishing. The layers and complexity of the issues in this book, the way the characters handle and process those issues, and the development of the characters make this a rich read that stays with you. So many times within this book I found myself saying "Hey! That's me!" I read in the evenings and would find myself rushing my routine to get to the reading part of my day, staying up way past my bedtime to read "just a little bit more". Amazing book!

Kelsey Worthington’s life hasn’t turned out as she thought it should. Instead of writing her own books, she edits other people’s. Rather than live out her own dreams, she gets stuck picking up coffee for her boss. She never expects a random car to jump the curb and mow her over while carrying said coffee.

When she wakes up in the hospital, she finds she has no broken bones, but she does vow to break out of her current limiting pattern of risk aversion. When Georgina Tate, a renowned businesswoman, shows up in the other hospital bed, Kelsey can’t help but like the curmudgeonly woman. On a whim, she invites Georgina to join her on a summer of saying yes. Georgina’s kidneys could give out at any moment, and her limited life expectancy makes her marginally amenable to Kelsey’s challenge.

Of course, the haughty businesswoman declines at first. But Kelsey persists—she sees her future in Georgina’s present. Loneliness, choosing success over relationships, and striving without rest are fueled by fears of failure. If Kelsey can help Georgina, perhaps she’ll change the trajectory of her own life.

With cajoling, a few shenanigans, and a portable dialysis machine, Kelsey and Georgina start off on a road trip with a hidden agenda. Kelsey knows she must do everything possible to reunite Georgina with her estranged son. She doesn’t expect to find her voice and the love of her life while helping Georgina.

Does she have the courage to say yes to the unexpected? Or will she retreat into her shell and take up her former boring life?

What I Loved About This Book

Walsh has perfected the quirky, loveable protagonist. Readers who struggle with relationships will relate to Kelsey’s fears of saying yes to even ordinary friendships. Those who regret past decisions will relate to Georgina’s attempts to change her ways.

Friendship, love, and adventure help Kelsey and Georgina resolve familial relationships and start on a new course with heartwarming consequences. Emma St. Clair and Melissa Ferguson fans will love The Summer of Yes.