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

My Grade: B+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Summer of Yes was a wonderful surprise! I wasn't expecting the story to be so heartwarming, funny, and thought provoking.

Spice Level: 🌶️ out of 5. Just some kissing, would have liked a bit more.

The Good:
-The relationship of Georgina and Kelsey was absolutely terrific and was everything beautiful in this book! I loved their grumpy/sunshine banter, they way they helped each other become better people, and reading the way their friendship evolve was such a joy.. Definitely enemies to friends done perfectly!
-Hayden was a perfect match for Kelsey and I loved their chemistry.
-Kelsey's writing ideas! Marvelous!
-The overall message of The Summer of Yes gave me all the feelings and was so inspiring!

The Meh:
-I felt that Dylan and Hayden were a bit too forgiving, and Dylan especially came off as being a bit of a doormat.
-I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. I thought it was a bit long and schmaltzy.
-I wanted a bit more spice, at least a nice make out session. Especially since I thought that Kelsey and Hayden had a great spark.
-There was quite a lot of repetitive dialog and thoughts.

Just say YES to this book! I love anything by Courtney Walsh because I can always count on a fun, uplifting read and this is no exception. I love the friendship between Kelsey and Georgina is sweet and inspiring. This book has a fun romance, but to me the focus on friendships and loving life to the fullest was a nice change of pace.

This is a great read anytime, but really perfect for summer. I can't wait to read again this summer!


Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this arc. All opinions are my own.

This is a good read when you're feeling down and need a feel good story. It had a heart and reminded us sometimes we just need to say yes and take chances it will lead to many amazing roads.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. With that said I loved this book and the two FMCs and their relationship. It took me some time to really get into it but I don’t feel like it was at any fault of its own. As the story progressed I could not put it down. It did have some of the cliche romance tropes and “insta love” themes but the relationship between Kelsey and Georgina warmed my heart. It had me thinking about my own life and all the “no”s I’ve said and ways to broaden my own life with “yes”.

I am beginning to think that Courtney Walsh is able to read minds from a long distance. She’s in Illinois and I’m in California, but once again she’s crafted a story that resonates in my heart and soul.

When I turned 55 I chose to have a year of doing things I’d never done before. Little things like coloring my hair to big things like going to a gun range.

It was freeing and fun and exhilarating. And then I went back into my shell and have been there for the last few years.

So I totally fell in love with Kelsey. And Georgina. And I love a man quite a lot like Dylan, and have a son who has the same kind of heart as Hayden.

I laughed, I cried, and at one point had to stop reading because I couldn’t see through my tears. Just like Isadora Bentley, she’s captured what it is to want to live authentically, with joy, a little risk, and a whole lot of yes.

My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review is honest and has not been solicited.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing this ARC to me.

This was a nice story. I enjoyed reading it. It had some great snarky dialogue, likeable characters, and an interesting plot. I was thinking of rating it as an average 2.5 stars but the satisfying ending definitely bumped it up to 3 stars.

I didn't totally love it like "The Happy LIfe of Isadora Bentley"; a book I devoured, re-read immediately, and then purchased my own copy. However, I do recommend reading "The Summer of Yes" as it's a nice way to spend your reading time.

I look forward to reading future books by this author.

I have read a number of Courtney Walsh books but this one is my favorite. It does take a different tone and slightly different format than her other works. Rather than being a dual POV romance, it’s a dual POV between two women: one a 32 year old woman who is realizing after a near-death experience that she’s been working too much and living too little and the other is a 70-something woman who is dying and has built a very successful career at the cost of her family life. The two form a friendship and challenge each other to say “yes” to things they often have said “no” to. There is a love story for both along the way but this feels more like an “Eat, Pray, Love” book than it does a true romance. Spice level is very low but the chemistry and charm are high. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

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

Thanks to NetGalley for choosing me as Arc I read my first book by Courtney Walsh and I was not disappointed.
It is a little slow in the beginning but eventually picks up and is truly a journey full of life.
It makes you realize that sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone!
This book is definitely a yes, a relaxing summer read that will keep you company at the beach. Beautiful read!

I received this as an ARC from Net Galley. I’ve read several of her other books and was curious about this one. Perfect quick summer read! Brought tears to my eyes at the end. Loved it and it was hard to put down! Definitely needs added to everyone’s summer to be read list.

Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor, leading a life of routine until a near-death experience shakes her to the core. In the hospital, she meets Georgina Tate, a successful businesswoman facing her own mortality. Inspired by Georgina's regrets and determined to live life to the fullest, Kelsey embarks on a journey of saying yes to new experiences. Thus, The Yes Plan is born, leading them on adventures filled with joy, forgiveness, and unexpected connections.

Where do I even begin? This book had me in tears—in the best possible way. It's a story that tugs at your heartstrings, filled with themes of love, forgiveness, and the courage to embrace life's uncertainties. I found myself rooting for Kelsey and Georgina, cheering them on as they navigated their Summer of Yes and discovered the beauty of living fearlessly.

What I loved most about "The Summer of Yes" was its ability to evoke a range of emotions. From moments of joy and hope to instances of love and forgiveness, Courtney Walsh beautifully captures the essence of human connection. The characters were incredibly relatable, and their growth throughout the story was both inspiring and heartwarming.

With a blend of contemporary fiction and romance, "The Summer of Yes" is a book that leaves a lasting impression. It encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and consider the power of saying yes to new adventures. So, if you're looking for a feel-good read that will leave you uplifted and inspired, mark your calendars for its release on 7/2/2024. Trust me—you won't want to miss it!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing my an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Fun, emotional, and romantic, "The Summer of Yes," by Courtney Walsh is a good summer/beach read option. But the pacing, particularly in the beginning, is on the slower side.

When workaholic Kellsey has a near-death experience, she finds herself sharing a hospital room with business tycoon and multimillionaire, Georgina Tate. Kellsey sees Georgina, who has given up so much, including her family, to build her business empire, as a glimpse into her own future. And she is not sure if she likes it. Kellsey decides to turn things around and start saying "yes" to more fun. She convinces Georgina to do the same, and thus begins The Summer of Yes. Kellsey and Georgina start saying yes to everything and living life to the fullest.

I loved the idea of this story. It was a fun read, sprinkled with some emotion, drama, and inspiring lessons about life. But I found that it took too long to get to the meat of the story. Too much of the beginning was leading up to the actual 'Summer of Yes,' and as a reader I was getting impatient.

I also felt that a lot of the book was repetitive. At times, it felt like it was spitting out the same feelings from the characters over and over again.

I did really enjoy the romances that developed. I wished they started earlier in the book, and more time was focused on building those relationships. I think more attention could have been given to this aspect of the story.

This was a cute story, and it can be a great book to read this summer. But it was a tad slower paced than I would have liked.

Yes, yes and more YES.

I love when a book makes me take a look at my own life. In a season where it’s hard to get out of my own comfort zone, am I saying no when I should be saying yes. Spoiler alert: I am.

This whole book is so sweet and I found myself laughing and crying through out the whole thing. Life is short and much like Kelsey, how are you living your life? Are you living it to the fullest? Because I know I could add more yes into my own vocabulary.

This book will be a permanent addition to my bookshelf and one I know I will be revisiting. Say yes to this book and read it, you’ll love it, I know I did.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this arc. All opinions are my own.

I am obsessed with Courtney Walsh. I've not read a book from her that has been less than 5 stars and this was no different.

Kelsey meets her icon Georgina after she lands in the hospital. While both MCs are very different, considering the generational gap, they realize each has something to teach the other. A road trip brings Georgina to her past while helping Kelsey realize a new future. This story was uplifting, wholesome, sweet, and heartwarming. It was a story of second chances for both MCs. I laughed and cried.

You will get witty banter, unexpected friendships, second chances, and encouragement to just say YES. It truly made me think if I was living my life to its fullest potential and not letting anything hold me back.

Say YES to this book on July 2, 2024.

The Summer of Yes by C. Walsh, published by Thomas Nelson Fiction is a gripping, heartwrenching story that gives all the feels.
Kelsey and Georgina have not much in common, but on a second look, they're more like each other than the reader would think.
The navelgazing assistant editor and the accomplished business woman are thrown together in a story of regret, love, forgivness and healing. Second chances do exist.

such a great feel good book about friendship and some hardships. i found myself smiling all throughout this book. excellent work!!!!

This book is total cotton candy goodness if you are in the mood for something quick and sweet. I found the whole concept to be very tender but I did feel like there was very little nuance in the situations that had made the characters and disrupted their lives. I think it's a little bit intense to be so one way or the other but I definitely related to both women at different points. I thought the love story was so tender and that it was a great book about saying YES to new things and to living life.

I absolutely ADORED this book! It had everything that I could ask for in a Courtney Walsh book. The characters were well developed and I found myself staying up way past my bedtime to sneak a few more chapters in. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this amazing book! I will definitely be sharing it with all of my fellow book lovers!

I found this book to be enjoyable with a good flow that captured my attention throughout the story. I typically am more into thrillers; however this fictional novel kept me entertained and was a page turner. It is a positive book about friendship and love. I felt like I was with them in the adventure and enjoyed the ride. Say YES to this read :)

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

This novel was really cute!! I loved the relationship between Kelsey and Georgina, but the relationships for all of the characters were realistic and incredibly well-written!

It is a love story, but it deals with a lot more than that. It talks about finding yourself, the value of relationships, the importance of caring for others and yourself.

It’s also the perfect length. Nothing really dragged, it was all done really well! I would definitely recommend this book!

It was cold and snowy when I requested this book from @netgalley and yes, I judged this one by its cover. As soon as my request was approved, it magically turned 75 degrees and sunny! Signs are everywhere if we stop and take the time to appreciate them. When a serious accident lands Kelsey in the hospital, the universe sends her a roommate notable for her accomplishments. I could absolutely close my eyes and imagine women like Georgina who have come into my life and absolutely inspired me in a life-altering way. Sometimes it takes a little (or big) life shake-up to remind us to take a step back and see the bigger picture. The Summer of Yes is an absolute beautiful and inspiring book that reminds us that instead of a yes day, we need the yes life we are worthy of!

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram later in March!