Ooh, I wanted to like this so badly. I think remarriage as a Christian is definitely a touchy subject, and I feel like this story was not the best example of it, unfortunately. I loved both of the characters individually, but their relationship lacked a lot of depth and felt very circumstantial and immature. The mystery kept me reading, but once it was revealed, it weirded me out more than anything, so was unfortunately disappointed in that regard. I love most of Hunter's books. but sadly this one was a miss for me.

3.5 stars but rounding up to 4⭐️
I have liked this author’s other books, but this one didn’t quite work for me. It’s not a bad book, but something about the writing was off putting. For example, the term of affection “honey” was used way too often and seemed unnatural for the relationship between a brother-in-law to his late brother’s wife. It didn’t work. I also realize this is an arc, but the amount of typos took me away from the story.
With all that said, I still liked the story of a woman trying to find out what really happened to her husband and searching for love again. I did not like the conclusion to the “suspense”, but it could have been worse.
I will continue to read this author’s future books, but would like to see her write in 1st person next time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I was unable to read this book. The PDF format with production marks and text that I was unable to adjust was very difficult to read, and it kept failing to download to my mobile device (was only able to access it via desktop browser). But because I could not adjust the text to be larger, it was too small for me to read on desktop.

The writing was beautiful. But the characters were awful. The book came to a screeching stop when I realized Maggie was in love with her husband's brother. It kinda felt like it came out of left field.

All in all, it was just ok.

I think I struggled with this one because I had trouble relating to Maggie. The book started off with a mystery - which I love. Did Maggie see her husband, who died 5 years ago, at an amusement park? Immediately, I’m invested. Loved the setting, loved the characters. Loved that Maggie is going to spend time in Seabrook with her husband’s family and with her daughter and explore her feelings, trying to get some closure. Then it got weird for me. The more the story evolved, the more you begin to see that Maggie is in love with her husband Ethan’s brother, Josh.

I think I felt bad for Ethan throughout this novel. His wife was always in love with his brother? His brother was always in love with his wife? Just didn’t feel right. Felt like a real betrayal, so I had a hard time rooting for this romance.

I still give credit to the author - it’s well written. Just the storyline hit me wrong.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

The Summer of You and Me did NOT disappoint. I have always enjoyed Hunter's works, but this one shined. Masterful plot twists, an unexpected ending, dealing with grief and forgiveness, and looking toward a hopeful, joyful future. So much packed into this novel.

Releases Apr 22nd. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheSummerofYouandMe #NetGalley.

Title: The Summer of You and Me
Author: Denise Hunter         
Genre: Christian, romance   
Rating: 4 out of 5

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 of 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.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers--and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers at all.

Like most of Denise Hunter’s books, this was a sweet, quick read. Maggie’s daughter was actually my favorite character, but I liked all of them. Except Maggie’s mom, of course. She was pretty horrible. I liked the mystery over the Ethan-lookalike, and the resolution was unexpected. This was a solid read, and I do recommend it.

Denise Hunter is an award-winning author. The Summer of You and Me is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/17).

I was completely engrossed in this story of family and friendship, lost and found, loss and love.
It's a unique story line and I couldn't figure it out until Denise's story unfolded the truth before my eyes. I loved every moment of reading this lovely romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I found the premise of this book to be highly triggering and had to put it down.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a heartwarming romance about Bailey, who returns to her family’s beach house and reconnects with her first love, Austin. As they face their past, they must navigate old wounds and second chances. Hunter’s writing is engaging, and the beach setting adds charm to the story. While the plot is familiar, the emotional depth of the characters makes it a sweet, feel-good read for fans of second-chance romances.

Maggie is a widow with a young daughter. Her former brother-in-law Josh is very involved in her life. Maggie has an overbearing and narcissist mother who verbally abuses her. When Maggie and Josh (who has carried a torch for Maggie for years) are at a carnival with her daughter, she sees a man from afar who looks exactly like her dead husband, Ethan. From this point the story unfolds as the author draws us into the mystery of who this man might be. Some of the mystery seemed just a bit too “out there” for me, but overall I enjoyed the twists and turns.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own

Maggie and her daughter Zoey are retiring to Seabrook for the whole summer, for the first time since Maggie’s husband Ethan passed almost five years ago. Maggie is already nervous with anticipation of what the summer holds, but one their first night back her world goes through a tail spin of grief, wonder, mystery and adventure. What do you do when you see a man in your dead husbands home town that looks exactly like him, but then he disappears. Maggie and her brother-in- law that who has been secretly in love with her since they were teenagers set off to find this man and get answers. In the end they will be surprised what they find out. I was truly surprised myself.

This was my third Denise Hunter book and it was just as good as the other two I read. Denise has a way of writing that makes you able to feel all of the characters emotions. I love the romance, the mystery and the ending of this book. I can’t wait to continue to dive into her expanse library of title and n the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction in trusting me with this eARC in return for my genuine review.

I loved it! Read it in less than 24 hours. The Summer of You and Me is beautiful story of love, loss, a mystery that kept me turning pages, a sweet romance, family, and a twist I did not see coming!

This is one of my favorite stories by author Denise Hunter. She deftly works through abandonment and trust issues, and family dynamics in this story, and her characters are real, relatable and add so much to the story.

From Maggie Reynolds coming up on the five year anniversary of her husband Ethan's death, their precocious 4 year old daughter Zoey, and Ethan's family who is more of a family to Maggie than her own. I was hooked! Josh Reynolds has loved Maggie since she came home from school with his sister and her best friend Erin all those years ago. He has been a best friend to Maggie too, for years. Even when she married his brother.

Maggie is finally getting ready to move on when she sees her deceased husband's doppleganger. Which leads Maggie and Josh on a wild goose chase to find him and figure out who he is. This quest for the truth kept me turning pages. What a compelling story!

I highly recommend The Summer of You and Me!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

The Summer of You and Me was an unexpected pleasant surprise. This was my first Denise Hunter book and I can see why she has been so successful with over 40 books to her name. This story is about a young single mother who has to grapple with what it means when she all of a sudden sees her late husband in her hometown. At first I thought the answer was pretty obvious but it actually took me by surprise. Along her journey of discovery she also has to deal with the revelation that her brother in law has been in love with her since they were teenagers. I know that may sound strange but this was done so beautifully. I was really rooting for Maggie and Josh throughout the whole story. Denise Hunter was able to capture me within the first chapter and had me excited to keep going. I will definitely be reading more from her.

Enjoy!

Clean, Christian romance with a bit of mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publising for an eARC of this story. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed this story. But It didn’t draw me really into it like I was hoping. If you love a good love story you will enjoy this one. To me it was a bit slow tho. A woman who has been a tragedy of loosing her husband but has had his family to help thru the past 5 years. His brother especially who has always loved her since the moment he first laid eyes on her. But always from the shadows. Well he feels the time has come and he wants her to know. Then she swears she sees her dead husband’s younger twin. Together they figure out the mystery of who this young man is. But it’s almost more than she can handle. But fans of romance will enjoy this story.

2.5 ✨
Y’all this was… interesting…
I really don’t know what to make of it. It was just interesting. The storyline, the plot, the characters… interesting. And not necessarily in a good way. It felt very odd, and not something I really enjoyed.
The writing was superb though. It sucked me in, and I loved reading the words written, just not the story. It’s really hard to write good, realistic young children, and this author definitely did that well.
I just sadly found everything else in the story very odd. The family relationships at the end of the book are *complicated* to say the least. How on earth do they keep everything straight???
It was sadly just a miss for me.

What a perfect read for a rainy weekend! Denise Hunter has a beautiful way of bringing a story to life and her characters feel like friends. Highly recommend this one.

this story was interesting. I went into it blind and from the cover, I expected it to be a full on romance. I wasn't expecting the mystery of who Will was. I liked that we had a few chapters with Will's perspective, but I wish we had more of his thoughts about how knowing his father and less about dating addison. like it was sweet that he found a girl he liked, but it was such a minor piece it wasn't needed for the story. I also would have liked to see the family bring in Robyn and see her be included since she also doesn't have family.

I plan to share this title on my instagram on Tuesday, April 22nd at www.instagram.com/robinashleyreads

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

This one is 5⭐️ for me since I really didn’t know where it was going and I really enjoyed the ride!

Maggie is a single mom and widow and lost her husband in the military, though his body was never recovered. Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother in law, Josh, has been in love with her for years.

One day Maggie is at a carnival in her husband’s hometown and she sees a man who looks just like her missing/deceased husband.

Come for the mystery and stay for some romance!

BOOK REVIEW: “The Summer of You and Me” by Denise Hunter

Maggie is finally heading back to Seabrook in hopes of closure. It’s been five long years since Maggie lost her husband Ethan, the father to their sweet Zoey. All of Maggie’s in-laws live in Seabrook, including her best friend, Erin, and her closest confidant, Josh, who are both Ethan’s siblings.

Maggie is barely in town for a day when she stumbles upon a man at the pier who looks exactly like Ethan. Maybe a little younger than she remembered him, but a definite resemblance. Even though she knows it’s impossible that it could be Ethan, she has to get to the bottom of it and find out who this man is. She enlists the help of Josh, the one person who has been there for her through it all. Her best friend. What she doesn’t know is that Josh has been in love with her for all these years. Is he ready to tell Maggie how he feels? And is it even the right time with this new mystery to solve?

When I say I will read anything by Denise Hunter, I mean I will read ANYTHING by her! I was first introduced to her books many years ago with her Chapel Springs series, and I instantly fell in love with her writing. This book was like coming back home to those first books!

“The Summer of You and Me” is one of those cozy, feel-good reads that you don’t want to put down! I read it in a matter of just 2 days because I had to know how it ended! Readers will instantly fall in love with Josh, Maggie and Zoey, and become invested in their story! I love that it’s a low spice, clean romance and that I can share it with my teenage girls! I highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next @deniseahunter novel!

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest unbiased opinion. I rate this book as 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️