Loved this book! It was different than I expected in all the best ways. When Kelsey finds herself sharing a hospital room after a near death experience she can’t believe who her roommate is. Georgina Tate is famous, owns her own massive company and is a total icon of Kelsey’s. Kelsey gets a glimpse of what her future might be if she keeps on her current path by hearing about Georgina’s life and regrets. This starts the Summer of Yes and she somehow convinces Georgina to join her in saying yes to things they haven’t let themselves say yes to in a very long time.
There’s so much heart, heartache, forgiveness, and starting new. Life is about living and loving and it’s never too late to make things right. Also, it has an element of kidney disease and donation which is close to my heart so it made it even more special!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy I received!

This was such a sweet story. It’s a good reminder to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and the power of forgiveness.

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲," 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬, "𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞... 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭. (...)"

This book is an intriguing exploration of the complexity of personal relationships. I loved how the characters underwent changes, overcame their fears, and moved towards a better life. The subtle yet charming romance added the perfect touch to this story. At the same time, the everyday adventures served as a poignant reminder that the most extraordinary moments can arise in the simplicity of daily life. Undoubtedly, it is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Este libro es una fascinante exploración de la complejidad de las relaciones personales. Me encantó la forma en que los personajes experimentaron cambios, superaron sus miedos y avanzaron hacia una vida mejor. El romance sutil pero encantador añadió el toque perfecto a esta historia. Mientras que las aventuras cotidianas sirvieron como un recordatorio conmovedor de que los momentos más extraordinarios pueden surgir en la simplicidad de la vida diaria. Sin duda, una de mis lecturas favoritas del año.

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

This was a charming fantasy of a book, with plenty of little chuckle-worthy moments. I call it a fantasy because especially toward the end it was all getting very rose-colored and idyllic, which is something that (in my opinion) can be difficult to pull off in a contemporary setting. Of course, there's a huge call for optimistic stories and happy endings, a la Hallmark, and this story fits excellently into that category. It's about second chances, prioritizing relationships, and rediscovering old enthusiasms.

What sets this author apart for me is the well-played comedic moments and little gags. They're fun.

In a word, this book is delightful! I enjoyed it all. A nice balance of substance and fluff. Highly recommend.

This was a sweet book but not as strong as Isadora Bentley. It felt a little repetitive and the whole concept of “saying yes” a little boring honestly.

I always enjoy Courtney’s books. This one was no exception. I thought it was a cute story. It had all the things I love such as characters finding their path and going to find happiness. I loved the back and forth between Kelsey and Georgina. Reminder me a little of devil wears prada. This had me smiling and teary eyed.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson for my advanced ecopy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: July 2, 2024

Oh my gosh I loved this book so much. It was such a lovely story about life, choices you make, unlikely friendships, love and saying yes. One of my favorites of the year so far.

I love books from Courtney Walsh, because they are a nice fun escape from life without having to read about super heavy stuff. This is definitely one of those books and I am here for it. I love the grumpy Georgina and how her soft side comes out even through her gruffness. The story of forgiveness and grace brought tears to my eyes. Such a cute loving story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An amazing inspirational book. Such a reminder to look at life differently and change perspectives. The ripple effect of our decisions is huge and can be glorious.

I didn’t really vibe with this one. Maybe it was the dual point of view that made it hard to connect? The characters didn’t seem like they were fleshed out enough to care about where they ended up.

This is now the second book I have read from Courtney Walsh and I am absolutely obsessed with her writing. The banter that she can write between her characters is top notch! At first with this book when I got the POV of Georgina I was a little thrown off and up to 30-35% I was very confused on where this book was going to go. THEN once I got to the part where they go on the trip to North Carolina that is where this book started really picking up for me. I absolutely loved the second chance aspect with Georgina and Dylan. Dylan is the epitome of the perfect book husband. The fact that he stuck around all those years, "Welcome home, Georgie", ahhhhhhh makes me want to cry just thinking about it again.

By the end the relationship between Kelsey and Georgina was so beautiful. I love that Kelsey never gave up on her and was determined to help change Georgina. When Georgina went to Kelsey's job at the end and stood up for her was so empowering and I love that she did that for her.

This book displays so many life messages about how you should never be scared to chase your dreams, to always forgive and love unconditionally. There were multiple moments that I started to tear up because the words were so beautifully written and the writing really moved me.

Favorite Quotes:
"It means filling your life with the people you love doing the things that make you feel the most alive."
"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."
"Be fearless... The world needs your voice."

The Summer of Yes is a wholesome read by Courtney Walsh. It is refreshing to see a young and older woman female friendship pairing. In this regard, part of the book had some modern Thelma and Louise vibes meets a Devil Wears Prada dynamic (except Georgina is certainly not as icy as Miranda Priestly). Walsh balances the seriousness of medical scenarios with the small-town romance perfectly. Sometimes changing points of view often can make a read feel more tedious or confusing, but the alternating character perspectives were wonderful for this story. I will be recommending it to the Swoonworthy Magazine audience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Courtney Walsh for the ARC.

I think this is a classic case of a perfectly fine book that’s just not for me. The Summer of Yes is really introspective pretty quickly, but I suppose it has to be for Kelsey to feel inspired to actually embark on the summer of yes. The ideas ended up feeling repetitive, though, and it took a while for things to actually kick off. I enjoyed picturing Georgina as Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada and Ravi as Ravi from iZombie. Overall I like the concept but I may have read too many similar books for this to resonate with me. Don’t let this deter you from reading it. The writing was nice and I think a lot of people will really love it.

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

I absolutely adored this book and finished it in one sitting. It is a heartwarming story about embracing new experiences, being brave when you don’t feel it, taking risks, forgiveness, friendship and mending relationships. Kelsey and Georgina, our two main characters, embark on a journey of self discovery and adventure through a dual POV that captivates you. In fact, this book made me think about my own life and the “no’s” that I say that could be “yes’s.” I highly recommend this inspiring and uplifting book and will now read other books by this author.

Perfect summer read! A book about a workaholic experiencing a near death experience and using that to go on a "Summer of Yes" adventure which leads to reconciliations, learning to love life, and taking more risk when it comes to relationships. Between the banter, and the emotional conversations, Walsh really pulls on heart strings of readers!

Say YES to this one!
I love when a book is both uplifting and funny! Reading should feel good in your soul & that's what Courtney Walsh brings. Her vibe in this book is inspirational, yet light & fun. For me, the characters were wonderful & I especially loved the interactions between Kelsey & Georgina. They drove each other crazy, but ultimately pushed each other out of comfort zones & towards positive changes. The romance was very sweet, as were the family bonds that were so beautifully rekindled after much heartbreak. The writing is clean, witty and creative! Many laugh out loud moments for me as I read. Bravo to Walsh on another wonderful novel!

Prepare to be captivated by the irresistible charm of "The Summer of Yes" by Courtney Walsh. From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was swept away by the allure of the characters and the enchanting storyline.

Walsh has crafted a cast of characters that leap off the page, each one unique and unforgettable. From the determined and relatable Kelsey to the endearing supporting cast, I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, rooting for them every step of the way.

What truly sets this novel apart is its ability to keep readers hooked from start to finish. I found myself unable to set the book down, compelled to uncover the twists and turns of the plot as they unfolded. Kelsey's transformative journey, sparked by a single idea, resonated with me on a profound level, reminding me of the power we each hold to change not only our own lives but the lives of those around us.

In "The Summer of Yes," Courtney Walsh weaves a tale of hope, growth, and the transformative power of saying yes to life's possibilities. This heartwarming story is sure to linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

Kelsey is a busy New Yorker with plans to rise thru the ranks to Editor. As she leaves a coffee shop one day, she is hit by a car and ends up in the hospital. The near death experience causes Kelsey to examine her "life": struggling to be heard at work, a non-existent social life and an apartment with blank walls and cardboard furniture.

Geraldine is standing by the difficult choices she made to focus on her business dreams while setting aside a life with her husband and son. Her goals reached, health issues are now stopping Geraldine in her tracks.

Kelsey and Geraldine end up roommates in the hospital. As Kelsey realizes that she needs some significant changes in her life, she sees that Geraldine has similar needs. Kelsey hatches a plan for a summer of YES in which she and Geraldine will seek connections, heal past wounds and discover love.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This isn’t normally the kind of book I go for but YES! I LOVED IT.

it’s such a feel good story, it makes you think about your life and if you’re living it the best way you should. Full of cute, funny, eye opening moments, I found myself smiling and teary eyed while reading. I especially enjoyed the little romance in there!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a digital ARC copy.