5/5⭐️
This book was fun and inspiring and just what I wanted. A perfect summer read that just leaves you feeling happier. I loved the conversations and banter between Georgina and Kelsey. Haydn and Dylan were absolutely fantastic, too.

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

"The Summer of Yes is great for trying new things and discovering new places, but can it answer the question: Can you stop worrying about what others think?"

"It's a wild and precious life Kelsey. If you have something that sets your soul on fire, you have a responsibility to chase that thing."

This was my first time reading a book from this author and it did not disappoint. This was the most "feel good" novel, and left me smiling and glad to have gone on this journey with Kelsey and Georgina. Grab this book for all the women in your life that you love and enjoy this sweet story that will stay with you for the long haul.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review!

I adore Courtney Walsh's books, and am absolutely thrilled she's released a new one!

_The Summer of Yes_ has all sorts of _The Devil Wears Prada_ vibes--without all the things I didn't like about TDWP, lol. It's a clean version, set in book publishing rather than fashion, and I love it!

Watching Kelsey and Georgina both grow as characters was fantastic. They're both flawed, and watching them face those flaws head-on (sometimes more willingly than others--just like me? LOL) entertained, amused, and challenged me in turn. It prompted me to think about what I say yes (or no) to, and why, and what it might look like to "flip the script" a bit, to say the opposite of my knee-jerk reaction.

Faith plays a smaller role than I expected/hoped, but it was more present than in The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. I was also pleased that some of the things I disliked about _Isadora Bentley_ weren't present here. Win!

A great beach read that will make you chuckle and reflect/think in turn.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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

A runaway car, a failing kidney and an overcrowded hospital bring Kelsey and Georgina together; but what keeps them together, much to Georgina's dismay, is the summer of yes!

This quirky take on a road trip (of sorts) is a delight. Kelsey needs to make changes to her life. When did she become the person that says no to everything except work? And Georgina; who has given up everything to build a multimillion dollar company…with no one to share it with or leave it to when her kidneys finally fail, needs to stop and reevaluate some of her life choices. These two spend the novel saying yes to things that scare them, and ultimately change each other's lives for the better.

I loved this book. It had everything I needed: backstabbing coworkers, a love note to New York City, epiphanies, lost (and new) loves, and a classic mustang convertible. Add in some of our favorite tropes: mutual pining, second chances and a hilarious cast of secondary characters and you have a fun read with a satisfying HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I was expecting a light and fluffy read, perfect for the beach. However, it was also more than just that. It was a look at the things we take for granted every day in this crazy journey called life. I was lucky enough to be able to read the ebook and listen to the audiobook at the same time. The audiobook was narrated by Tanya Elby and Cathi Colas. I was familiar with Tanya's narration, but not Cathi's. I thought both narrators were pleasant. This book reminded me a lot of Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler, and if you are looking for a sweet book, that will also make you stop and consider life (and might make you tear up in the process), this is the perfect book for you. I highly recommend this one!!!



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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a delightful book that I really enjoyed. The characters were interesting and fun though it took a while to get Georgina there. None of the "yes" choices they make are particularly outlandish. This is about facing some fears and learning to live more in the moment than according to a strict plan. It's a good lesson for everyone and really grounds the story in reality.

This is Christian fiction and has an occasional reference to God and faith.

Family friendly.

The Summer of Yes is a delightful read about Kelsey and Georgina who both are leading lives that aren't getting them everything they want. After an accident, Kelsey decides to make it "a summer of yes" and commits to getting out of her comfort zone and she gets Georgina to join her and the story runs from there. The author writes an engaging story and though there are few surprises it's just a good beach read where I found myself rooting for both main characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Summer of Yes in exchange for an honest opinion.

Started today, almost to 25%. When I’m really enjoying a book I like to provide updates as I’m reading. Really enjoying The Summer of Yes so far! When a major accident changes your perspective and you realize your priorities have been flawed. Reading this book just makes me feel happy! Sigh … heart emoji … smile. :)

At 68% … a perfectly lovely book.

Finished! Loved it!

Many thanks to the author, NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction for approving my request to read the advance review copy of The Summer of Yes in exchange for an honest review. My second Courtney Walsh book; I also really enjoyed The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. Publication date is July 02, 2024. Approx 350 pages.

I did not notice that The Summer of Yes was listed as "Christian" in addition to General Fiction and Womens Fiction. I did notice the lack of swearing and that it was just a wonderful book. Every once in a while folks (especially on Friends & Fiction Facebook group) are looking for a good book for their mother or grandmother; this book will be my recommendation! The book was great, but not "preach-y". Highly recommended!

I've recently become a fan of Courtney Walsh's romcom books. I love that she her books are lighthearted and fun without spicy sex scenes. She includes witty banter and joy. I kept reminding myself of those things as I read this book.

This is not a romcom. It has more women's fiction vibes with some romance. To be honest, I prefer romance to women's fiction, mostly because women's fiction get seem to get heavy at times. But I kept reminding myself that this was Courtney Walsh and she didn't let me down!

Just as her book about Isadora Bently made the reader think, this one did as well. But with lots of humor and lighthearted moments. Granted I felt that the stroy took a little while to get going, but I stick with it and was happy I did.

I follow Courtney Walsh on Instagram and as I was reading this book, I kept thinking that it sounded very personal. Then I read the author's note at the end and my suspicion was confirmed.

Many thanks to Zondervan Audio, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was an EXCELLENT read. I was engaged from start to finish. All readers will relate to the characters. In fact, I saw Janet throughout the book. How did this author know me so well?!? I expect this to be a best seller. Thank you for all the laughs, Ms. Walsh! Can't wait for the next one.

I am a really big fan of Courtney Walsh's other publications, so I was really excited to see this new Women's Fiction release coming out this summer.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to get into this story until about the 50% mark. I didn't find myself as invested as I wanted to be.
After halfway, I really enjoyed the storylines of these two women.

I enjoyed the character growth throughout this book, and loved seeing Kelsey find herself. The romantic relationships were perfect, though Kelsey's moved rather quickly.

Overall, I would rank this lower among others by this author. I didn't get the same magic I usually find in her books.

Still a solid read, I just wish I connected to the characters a bit more earlier on.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Courtney Walsh for advanced access to the book and audio in exchange for my honest review!
Courtney Walsh is a new to me author. I absolutely adored The Summer of Yes and have already added some of her other books to my Amazon/Audible cart.
This is a perfect summer read. You'll be inspired to step out of your comfort zone and embrace new experiences. Say "Yes" to adventure and discover a whole new side of yourself.

I went into this book completely blind - I assumed it was about a summer road trip just based on the cover. I was SO pleasantly surprised by this book. It has Walsh's witty humor, but it also has the most relatable, deep feelings as well. It's really had me asking myself some introspective questions about my own ability to say "yes."

This is the perfect summertime read - the perfect combination of fun with a lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Courtney Walsh for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

A sweet summertime read. A story about learning to lean into life and not settling out of fear. When Kelsey has a near death experience her life takes a new trajectory. She meets a formidable businesswoman and together they explore saying yes to new experiences. An enjoyable read with romance, wit and friendship.

What a fantastic book! I loved the characters, the storyline, the settings, and the beautiful life lessons included throughout.

Courtney Walsh has a gift for making us feel what the characters are feeling and even somehow experience what they are experiencing.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Normally this would be terrifying...but it's not so much.
Normally I would never be in this situation...but here I am."

This is SUCH a great story. Kelsey is a hard working junior editor who finds herself sharing a hospital room with none other than Georgina Tate, an insanely successful older business woman who is the girl boss to rule all girl bosses. The two have something in common: they both chronically reject any experiences or people in their lives that don't directly impact the success of their careers. Thus the Summer of YES is born.

The story moves a little slowly at the start, but once the adventure begins, I could not put it down!

Kelsey is so relatable. Her worries about being invited to dinner with Ravi's big family is SO ME. Who's going to be there? Tell me everything I need to know about each of them. What's the parking situation? Will there be enough chairs? Should I eat beforehand? SO. ME. Georgina is borderline unlikable for a while. I would totally fear and respect her in real life...but would I like her? Probably not. By the end of the book, though, she had me changing my tune!

There is some romance in the story, which is a total delight, but the real front runner is the numerous life lessons that can be taken away. You guys...the number of screenshots I have on my phone now from quotes I loved or scenes I wanted to remember is a little insane.

I loved seeing how both Kelsey and Georgina grow throughout the story. Their approaches and journeys differ, but they learn a similar lesson: "...that life...is good. And wonderful. And horrible, and beautiful, and messy, and everything all at once. And that's the beauty of it. It's overwhelming, but it's never boring. And it should be lived to the fullest."

I'm so glad I read this book - saying "yes" to more things that I might normally shy away from out of fear is something I've been working on lately, so this reminder came at a perfect time! I could keep going, but this review would get so long that you might as well just go read the book for yourself! 😉 Which you really should do, by the way. Say YES to reading The Summer of Yes!

I received an electronic ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Kelsey is a workaholic, she’s been saying no to family, friends, fun, and her dreams for years. Georgina is a trailblazing superwoman that is wildly successful in business, but she’s not so successful when it comes to relationships and family. Kelsey gets hit by a car and winds up in a hospital room with the dying Georgia, where she asks “was it worth it?”

Nothing like a near death experience and a fatal prognosis to make you upend your life and embark on a summer of yes with a total stranger.

What I loved…
- cute concept - I love the idea of saying YES for a whole summer
- dual POV and getting a look into Georgia’s head

What I did not love…
- insanely predictable
- slow and repetitive
- rushed relationships that felt shallow
- the “meta” style references felt forced and did not work

This book started really slow, then just repeated itself over and over until it decided to throw some instalove at us.

This was a major miss for me and it was torture to finish.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

4.5 🌟
Characters: 3
Connection to the book/Enjoyment: 4
Setting: 4
Plot/Overall Story: 4
Writing: 3

Every point= 0.25 stars, max per category 4 points

I really enjoyed this story! The character growth was so endearing and seeing some great Christian values (ex. Forgiveness, restoration, grace, etc.) on display without being an in your face Christian fiction was refreshing, even though I would have liked to see God directly mentioned. The characters annoyed me at times but I really enjoyed the story overall. I loved how this story was as unique with how it had two main female characters- definitely more of a women’s fiction feel but also a good touch of romance. It did feel more emotional at times that I expected because I got so connected to the story, but it is heartwarming and an encouraging story. Definitely one I will recommend to many! The audiobook was very well done with the two characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the ebook and audiobook.

I have read all of Courtney Walsh's books and I have to say this might be my favorite. This book was absolutely beautiful! When Kelsey has a near death experience she ends up recovering in the hospital with Georgina Tate. Kelsey decides she needs to change her life and start saying yes. I loved the banter between Kelsey and Georgina. Georgina is a strong headed woman and she has a past she's not to proud of. Kelsey and Georgina will help each other say YES to things they would normally say no too. They will start learning how to heal and become the people they were meant to be. All the characters in this book are relatable and enjoyable. Courtney did such an amazing job writing this story and definitely makes me want to say yes more myself. I truly can't recommend this book enough. I would also recommend any book by Courtney Walsh as well!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

In a split second, Kelsey’s life is changed when she wakes up in a hospital after being hit by a hit-and-run driver. Her hospital roommate is a well-known older business mogul, Georgina, who is dying. Somehow, they see themselves in each other. Kelsey is at the beginning of her career and trying to work her way up, though sometimes at the abandonment of a life and being there for loved ones. Once released, they embark on a “summer of yes” road trip, taking chances and living out any regrets. Neither realizes just how much they’re changing each other’s lives, one mile at a time.
This is a fun and light hearted story that is empowering, especially for anyone who has chased a career. It’s a reminder that there is so much to life and sometimes you have to let yourself be in the moment.
Thank you to NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.