Rating 3.5

I enjoyed the mystery with the look alike which Maggie and Josh were investigating. I had my suspicions but the story went a different direction.

Maggie’s mom was an irritating character with all her emotional manipulation and childlike tantrums.

I feel like the reactions of everyone either relationship developments were realistic though it felt a bit dramatic.

The closure the characters were able to obtain was a satisfying conclusion to the story.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

This one made me feel all the feels!

As Maggie Reynolds approaches the fifth anniversary of her husband's death, she is determined to finally move forward with her life. But her summer takes a drastic turn when she spots a man who looks identical to Ethan. Along with her brother-in-law, Josh, she sets off to solve the mystery. As she finds herself drawn to Josh, will the ghost of her husband keep her from finding happiness again?

I love everything that Denise Hunter writes, and this one was no exception.

The setting of Seabrook was beautiful. I loved the relationship that Maggie had with her late husband's family. Zoey, her daughter, was adorable.

My favorite character was Josh, though. He was so sweet and caring for Maggie and Zoe. The love he had for them was present in every interaction.

The mystery man element was so interesting, too. I was fully invested in the story. And I did not see the final twist coming!

If you are looking for a sweet, clean romance with a bit of mystery and a lot of heart, you should check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I just love Denise Hunters books. Her writing is clean, emotional and beautiful all at the same time. This was an emotional story that was filled with hope. It’s going to be a great summer read. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A wonderful story:
I really enjoyed this clean, contemporary romance. I was instantly drawn into the mystery and appreciated the twists and turns that had me guessing right up to the end. I liked how unique and unpredictable it was, which made for a refreshing and inspiring read.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and especially appreciated that 4 year old Zoey was depicted realistically. I liked Maggie and Josh as a couple and was rooting for them all the way.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

5 summery sugary sweet ⭐️’s

at first i was off put by the relationship dynamic but it grew on me and was written very realistically! i appreciated that the protagonists had complicated family dynamics and grief to work through, and that the fmc had a 4 year old daughter! there was just so much i could relate to, where i understand this could be a 3 or 4 star for some, but for me personally i really adored and connected with the fmc that this will become a summer comfort read (just like Novel Proposal by DH was) i adore her writing, she’s really nailed down summery Christian romance that is not cheesy but still gives you butterflies 🦋

thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

The Summer of You and Me is a clean romance that takes place in the Carolinas. I really was hoping I would like this one but it wasn't what I expected. The writing was good but some parts of the story were just not my favorite. I will definitely read Denise Hunter again, but this story was not for me.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It had just about everything you could want in a romance/fiction. Maggie is spending her first summer in Seabrook since her husband died and has to face a lot of really difficult truths while navigating her feelings for her brother-in-law. The characters are super relatable and easy to fall in love with. The twists and turns made it impossible to put down!
There were many laughs, tears, and smiles during this read. There are zero spicy scenes so it is definitely teen friendly. However, some of the themes are mature and may be upsetting or confusing for younger readers. A really lovely read for summer! I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

The characters were likeable and the story was heartfelt and genuine. The chemistry between the main characters felt real and unforced. The touches of mystery mixed in with the romance was a great addition to the almost-summer read and I had a fun time diving into this one. There were some great twists and turns.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is beautifully written and I could not put it down.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

Maggie and Josh’s characters are relatable with all the sweet moments they shared and the twists throughout the story kept on the edge of my seat.

This is my first book by Denise Hunter and I am definitely looking forward to reading more. I loved everything about this book and would highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely voluntary and my own.

Another 5-star read. This was another great read from Denise Hunter. The characters were highly relatable. The pace of the book was excellent. The twist throughout the story kept me reading at the edge of my seat. Maggie and Josh’s story is one that will remain with me for some time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sweet book with a few twists! I read Denise Hunter for the sweet romance and heartwarming characters. So, when I saw a book with a little bit of intrigue and mystery, I jumped at the chance. The main character, Maggie, is ready to move on after years of going through the grief of her husband's passing. She's resilient and easy to like, though it was hard for me to understand why she kept putting up with her mother. She gave her brother-in-law (or ex brother in law?) a chance when he revealed his feelings, but the relationship felt a little vanilla, or cut and dry. The ongoing drama with the boy who looks like her late husband really kept the interest going for a while. Though some elements felt forced for the sake of moving along the plot, I like that there were a few surprises and the epilogue was absolutely heart-warming. A good read.

The Summer of You and Me is such an emotional read. The book follows Maggie, who lost her husband five years ago. One day she sees a man that looks just like her late husband. Maggie and her husband’s brother, Josh, are planning to find the doppelgänger.
It is beautifully written, I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. I loved everything about this book! highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely summer mystery read, I haven't read a book like this before and my first read from Denise Hunter and didn't know what to expect. An interesting romance read with an emotional background. There was an unexpected twist which I didn't see coming!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Denise Hunter is a favorite romance of author of mine this book features the slow-burn, flash romance between a widow and her brother-in-law. Kind of a second-chance romance, but not really. There’s a mysterious man who pulls the past into today with a mystery that has to be confronted, a mother who is awful, a cat of supporting characters that are wonderful, and a path to growth for the hero and heroine that is real and angst laden. It’s a summer romance with heart. ❤️

This was a feel good romance with a bit of intrigue thrown in. I enjoyed the main characters - Maggie, her four year old daughter Zoey, and Josh who was her deceased husband’s brother. I also enjoyed the depiction of a small town with all of the gossip and everyone knowing about everyone else. My heart truly went out to Josh for his unrequited love for Maggie. He was so respectful of her at all times. I appreciated the scene between he and his dad which I found one of the most moving in the book. Zoey added sweetness to this book for sure. The intrigue with Will added another dimension to the story. I liked the way it evolved slowly.
This is a great summer read for the beach. Many thanks to Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of The Summer of You and Me.

I loved this book. Denise Hunter is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine. the complexities of life that were navigated in this book were difficult to say the least. I had an inkling how the end would turn out, but def not from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to my bookish friends.

thank you netgalley for the advanced copy of the book. the review above is entirely my own honest feelings and in no way swayed.

This was the first book I read by Ms. Hunter, and I really enjoyed it. Josh has been in love with Maggie for years but respected the fact that she fell in love with his brother. Years after his brother passed away, he has finally decided to tell her how he feels and let the chips fall where they may. Unfortunately, just as he is about to tell her, she shows him a picture of a person who looks just like his deceased brother. Maggie has always looked at Josh as her brother but has always felt comfortable with him. She tells him about the man she saw because she doesn't want to hurt the rest of the family if she is wrong.

While searching for the look-alike, they grow closer, and she starts having feelings for him. She is surprised because she never looked at him that way before and she feels like she is betraying her husband. Josh is also the only man her daughter has ever known as a father figure. The bond her daughter and Josh share is fantastic and the relationship that develops between Josh and Maggie is just as wonderful.

When the secret is revealed, it has the chance of being great or catastrophic for the family. All of the scenarios they come up with are reasonable and I was so happy with the truth. There were some moments where I felt the characters were being redundant, but I tried to not let that override my enjoyment. I would definitely read more books by this author. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

This was a great story! The characters went on such a journey, and I was riveted from start to finish. I didn't guess the twist either! Highly recommend!

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

I read Denise Hunter’s The Summer of You and Me in a day. I had to know how it was going to end! I’m a long-time fan of Hunter’s books and I’ve read every single one. Of her recent “beach read” books, I think this one might be my favorite. The storyline was so interesting and memorable and had a bit of mystery thrown in. I felt like Josh and Maggie’s relationship was handled well, despite the potential awkwardness of brother and sister-in-law falling in love. Josh dealt with a lot of guilt over his feelings for Maggie, but what won me over was how he handled himself all that time. It speaks pretty highly of his character that she never suspected he felt more than family affection for her until well after her husband’s death.

I didn’t see the twist playing out how it did! The ending is so rewarding and sweet. I’ll admit to being super mad at Maggie and how she handled things at one point, but I give her a lot of credit for really doing some self care and figuring out her issues in order to move forward. As much as I didn’t “like” that part, it did feel authentic in a book where some pretty crazy things happen.

I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was not asked to leave a positive review and my opinions are my own.

Sweet story of a romance that finally got its turn to thrive.

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