The Summer of Yes is a wholesome, feel good and somewhat predictable story about embracing life. There were a lot of cliché story lines in this book and it was an easy and enjoyable read but didn't feel fresh or exciting.

This is a dual POV story and I love that the audiobook had different narrators for both Kelsey and Georgina. Georgina's voice was spot on for me, but Kelsey's wasn't my favorite. I found that the audio leaned really cheesy, like a Hallmark movie. There is even the big city girl (I never got the feeling Kelsey fit in the city) and small town boy romance.

This was such a sweet story! I love the idea of saying yes to things you don't normally want to agree to, and this was so well written! It tugged at my heartstrings way more than I expected for a "summery" book in the BEST way. The characters had great development and stories, the romance was fun (both of them!) and I love the relationship between Kelsey and Georgina. This was a great summer read that still had substance!

A definite feel good read that has you questioning why you don’t say yes (or no) more often. Characters are relatable as well as the daily grind we have all gotten to know. A must read for sure

'The Summer of Yes' is fun and easy read about friendship, forgiveness, second chances and confronting your fears to live a more fulfilling life.

Kelsey Worthington has been grinding as an assistant editor at the expense of her personal life. When she's hit by a car while running errands for her unappreciative boss, she ends up sharing a hospital room with formidible businesswoman Georgina Tate, who has failing kidneys and is estranged from her son. Kelsey becomes determined to make up for lost time, and convince Georgina to join her.

Dual narrated, with Tanya Eby voicing Kelsey's chapters, and Cathi Colas voiceing Georgina, this book was a fun, easy listen. At times, however I'd have liked more Georgina and Kelsey's chapters condensed. Cathi Colas was perfectly cast as Georgina and while Tanya Eby has an engaging voice, she sounded like she was in her 40s and not a 32-year-old which detracted a Kelsey's chapters for me.

I did have a bit of an ick at the slut shamy response by Kelsey's to Georgina asking her if her summer of yes included going home with men. To be fair the book is written by a Christian author for a Christian publisher, and for the most part its not overtly religious, but I that judgy and moralistic comment should've been left out.

Overall this was a charming read with a good reminder that we should confront our fears and start opening ourselves to new experiences and people. I look forward to what Courtney Walsh writes next.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ALC

The Summer of Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my Goodness this book was soooo fun. You will fall in love with the characters. You will smile & laugh out loud tons. It was the best Summer read! A feel good fun read Life is short. Be brave & just Say Yes!!!
Thank you NetGalley!!

I loved this book so much! Loved the characters and how I made me think. However I didn’t love the audio readers on this. They were fine but not my favorite.

I loved this book. While it has romance, really there is so much more to the story. This is really about two women who must decide how they really want to spend the rest of their lives. They learn to recognize how their own decisions effect not just their now but their futures. And they get to choose what future they want. I'm pretty much a say no person and honestly, I'm pretty happily contented in my choices but even so, this book makes me think about what my choices mean. I think it is thought provoking.
The narration was great so that enhanced the story for me as well.
I might have enjoyed seeing a few more "yes" moments before reaching the crux of the story but obviously they did step out of their comfort zones.
So, I'd say read or listen to the book, (like I said, the audio was great), and then sit for a bit and ponder your own yes and no moments. But no matter which choices you make, remember that relationships are important.

Sex: a little innuendo
Language: I honestly can't remember, which likely means no
Violence: no
*I received a complimentary audiobook through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I freaking love Kelsey and Georgina and their friendship they have together. Both workaholics coming together for a road trip was perfect. This whole saying yes to just about everything is something i think everyone needs to do once in awhile in life.

💙 Multigenerational Friendship
💛 Happy Ending!
💙 Romance
💛 Road Trip
💙 Girl Power
💛 Saying YES!
💙 Celebrating Being Alive

The only thing i have a hard time with was the love at first sight moment but i can by past it for the meaning of this book. I think i will look into reading some more of Courtney’s books as this one was really well written AND the authors note the end indeed has spoken to me deeply.

4.5 ⭐

Holy Moly! This one started slow and picked up steam.

Kelsey is a workaholic, early 30s, and says no to everything as she moves up the ladder in her publishing house. Kelsey randomly gets hit by a car. Her hospital roommate is none other than girl boss, cosmetics empire czar Georgina Tate. Georgina is elderly, salty and not amenable to friendship.

Kelsey's workaholism doesn't sit right after her life altering injury. After speaking more with Georgina, she realizes that G has huge regrets. She needs a kidney transplant to survive and she has an estranged husband and son. Kelsey pokes her nose where it isn't welcomed!

Calamity ensues. Suffice to say, saying, "Yes," as a default leads Kelcey down a different road. It leads Kelcey to a more sustainable and alluring, creative future with people that love her.

Walsh's book reminds me that we shouldn't focus on the negative always, the "right" thing, the expected thing. Walsh's book reminds us that life is all part of the messy in between things. And, our life is better because of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Enjoyable read about two women embracing change for the summer. Kelsey was hit by a car and ended up sharing a hospital room with a world renowned businesswoman Georgina Tate. Together they go on an adventure.

Great narration by Tanya Eby & Cathi Colas. Loved Georgina Tate's voice!

This was heartwarming and sweet, and I found myself invested in both characters’ stories. A perfect lighthearted beach read with a little bit of hidden depth to it.

4 stars

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute story. The main character wants to spend her summer saying yes, and when she meets an elderly woman who has pushed her family away and has obvious regrets, they decide to go on a roadtrip and discover a lot about themselves and each other. It’s heartwarming and makes you want to make the most of every day.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF

This one had promise but unfortunately it wasn't for me. All the character interactions felt very forced and lots of jarring comments were made to hand-hold the reader into realising "wow we are so different!" "we likely never would have crossed paths if it wasn't for meeting them like this" and the like. Like we GET it, they are from very different circumstances coming together, it's not something that needs to be spoon-fed to the reader so heavy-handedly.

Also, the stereotypical "loud" and “heavy-set” sassy black woman nurse trope appeared within the first like 5 chapters. It was so uncomfortably weird, like WHY!!! Get some sensitivity readers for the love of god it just gives the ick. Even if you are going to relegate them to side characters, maybe don't write them as caricatures of black women instead of fleshed out normal people.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for my ARC audiobook 🎧

This was a sweet, uplifting and heartwarming story about a terminally-ill workaholic boss lady (I vote for Jane Fonda to play her!) and a plucky thirty-something set on charting a new path (I was picturing Anna Kendrick) after a near death experience. The two cross paths serendipitously and both impact the other.

I loved the message of this — what would life look like if you stopped living in fear, and started saying yes? This is a warm hug and I really enjoyed the narration in the audiobook.

3.5 Stars

If you’re looking for a light and cute, chic-lit/romcom that is pretty predictable but a fun ride- this is the book for you.

It’s a little outlandish, but if you put aside the “that would never happen in real life” thoughts- it’s a cute story and I did enjoy reading (listening to) this book.

Kelsey gets hit by a car and lands herself in the hospital. She has to share a room with an older woman named Georgina Tate. Georgina is a bulldog of a business woman and everyone in the industry knows who she is. Kelsey is just trying to get noticed professionally and is struggling to make her mark.

Georgina discloses she has regrets in life, and Kelsey sees this “second chance” and decides to embark on The Summer of Yes. She wants to do all the things she’s been saying “no” to. She takes ALL her vacation time, somehow gets grumpy Georgina to agree to join her- and off they go.

Is there an ulterior motive at play? Can Kelsey stick with her plan to say “yes”? Where do they land?

This is a cute book about love, friendship, family, regret and facing fears. It’s fun to see where this unlikely pair winds up.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for an audio copy of this book.

A great “feel good” book! Fun characters, and a little bit of romance! Highly recommend. Good beach read!

Courtney Walsh writes some truly lovely stories about life and love. the idea of saying yes to things you normally wouldn’t after getting a second chance at life was so fun and special to read. I loved Georgina and Kelsey’s first meet, banter, and beautiful friendship. I love the underlying romance between Kelsey and Hayden, he’s just the sweetest and I love everything about his character. The overall themes of letting go of fear, learning to forgive, saying yes in the face of the unknown all for a chance to have some life-changing positive experiences were perfect in every way. I just loved this story so much, and think it’s perfect for a summer read by the pool or beach to feel hopeful, excited, and grateful.

thank you for the alc!

I loved this book so much. Kelsey and Georgina end up sharing a hospital room after Kelsey got hit by a car. After their stay Kelsey decided to have a summer of saying yes to things she wouldn’t normally do. She decided to get Georgina to go along with her. Not without some complaints from Georgina. I loved the banter between the two. The Audio for this book was perfect!!!

I am fairly new to this author, but I've learned that I can count on Courtney Walsh for squeaky clean romance books. This is not my favorite genre, but I love to use her books as a palate cleanser between heavier books.

The grumpy sunshine trope was cute and there was plenty of witty banter. If you like rom-coms that also explore deeper topics like forgiveness and intentional living, give this book a try!

The narrator was good 👍

4.5 stars ✨

“A young woman barreled into my life recently-a nosy. presumptuous young woman who may or may not be a
criminal... the jury's still out on that one... but a girl who single-handely
changed my life”

Clean Rom-Com

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me an audio ARC in return for my honest review.

Audio Version 🎧
Narrator 5/5

This was my first Courtney Walsh book and I don’t know why! Loved her writing but most of all this book stole my heart. It’s a beautiful book . It starts with a woman Kelsey, who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident, and says “ I don’t have time for this”. How many women today, sadly have to say this? I feel with the rise of “girl power” and the feminist agenda being pushed so hard- this is a book that needs to be read.

The Summer of Yes makes the reader look and examine their life in a whole new way. It’s about overcoming fears, ones past, and a hard dose of forgiveness. Also about finding joy in life and what makes one truly happy. I just loved how the author handled the whole family drama. So much grace was given . Kelsey and Georgina had such a devil wears Prada relationship and I absolutely loved it. It was clean and refreshing. There are also hard emotional moments- but are always followed with laughter and joy. The romance was sweet and not forced- it felt so natural. Overall, this was an awesome summer read- one I will be thinking about for a while.
Highly recommend !