The Summer of You and Me is a Christian romance set on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. This is the first book I've read by Denise Hunter, and the cover design and book synopsis made me interested to read the book.

The story surrounds main character Maggie Reynolds, who is a war widow and mother to a preschool age daughter. While visiting her late husband's family one summer, Maggie spots a guy who looks just like her dead husband walking around the town carnival. Maggie enlists the help of her brother-in-law and close friend Josh Reynolds to investigate who this mysterious doppelganger could be. Josh and Maggie work together to solve the mystery, and during the process, end up confessing their developing feelings for one another. With many twists and turns, they are faced with obstacles that could keep them apart or ultimately bring them together.

I won't summarize the second half of the book, as it would give away too many of the twists and create spoilers. But, trust me there is drama and surprises along the way.

I personally found the book to be too dramatic and unbelievable at times. I didn't like some of the feelings that were revealed toward the end, and I had a hard time connecting to the characters. At times, the writing style felt choppy and amateur, and parts of the plot were unbelievable and cheesy. However, I did find myself wanting to know how it all ended and was satisfied that my questions were answered in the end.

This book contains Christian content (prayer, mentions of church, etc.) and does not have alcohol or swearing. Romantically it is kisses only. Themes of parental abandonment are encountered throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my honest opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

3 stars out of 5.

It took me a little bit to get into this book and it just fell a little flat for me. I was not a fan of Maggie falling in love with her brother in law, it just felt a little weird to me. I did like the other part of the story where we get to find Will and find out who he really is. The pacing was a little slow but I absolutely loved the location. It sounded a lot like Carolina Beach to me which is a place that my family loves to visit in the summertime. Overall, this book had really good writing but the plot wasn't there for me.

In The Summer of You and Me, we meet Maggie and her daughter Zoey. Maggie lost her husband Ethan almost 5 years ago and she is finally getting closure. She is staying at her in laws beach house for the summer while they are on a European vacation. Josh is Ethan's younger bother who has been there for Maggie from the beginning. It turns out Josh has had feelings for Maggie for a long time and he is trying to make it work with Maggie.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Denise Hunter’s books never cease to draw me and capture me. This story has heartbreak, mystery, suspense, and love.

It was easy to sympathize with Maggie’s character as she tried to move on from her husband’s death 5 years prior only to have her world rocked by seeing a young version of him. You could feel all the emotions as Maggie tried to process this and get answers. This twist alone to a path I did not see coming.

My only hesitation with this book was the storyline of Josh and Maggie. I struggled to accept this part of the story and get behind it. I think if I read it at face value instead of investing myself in the characters, it would be a little easier to see.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I love this author’s writing style, but this book just really fell short for me. From the look-a-like of Maggie’s husband mystery to the falling in love with her brother in law. It just didn’t sit well with me. I felt like the chapters from Will’s POV were pointless and didn’t add much to the book and he was a random character thrown into the mix of this book.

It took a bit to get into this book. There was a lot of hurry up and wait for the mystery aspect of the book and figuring out why Will looked like Maggie’s husband.

Then I felt like there was no balance of the romance and the mystery aspects. There would be chunks of the book that solely focused on the mystery only to jump into focusing on the romance only for 10 chapters. I just wished there would have been more of a balance. I think with balance the book would not have read so choppy. Both aspects of the book could have been better without splitting them like that.

If I wouldn’t have know Josh was Maggie’s brother in law or he would have just been a good friend of Ethan then the book would have been so much better. I just felt weirded out by the whole thing and even at the end when Maggie says “I was only my full self with you.” It just felt wrong.

Not sure I would recommend this book when it just felt off for me but I would still give it a 3/5 because I enjoy the author’s style of writing. I just preferred her previous book so much more.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperChristian for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer of You and Me is a well written book. I always enjoy Denise Hunter’s book and this was was no exception. I definitely recommend. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

I’m always excited at the opportunity to read one of Denise Hunter’s books. Her small-town stories about love, forgiveness, and second chances are always so uplifting. This time, I loved the invitation to step into Maggie Reynold’s world and walk with her through grief and struggles of taking a chance at love while single parenting.

Widowed Maggie Reynolds has returned to Seabrook, NC for the summer with her tenacious 4-year-old, Zoey. When she sees her deceased husband’s doppelganger at the carnival, her heart stops and her mind races with ‘what ifs’.

I instantly connected to the characters and felt all the emotions as they discovered if love was a risk worth taking. Hunter’s exploration of unrequited love, abandonment, trust, and forgiveness kept me spellbound. I especially loved the examination of where we belong and who we consider ‘home’. Although I didn’t find myself in the book, I came away with a deeper commitment to be more welcoming and understanding. I’m quick to judge and Hunter always reminds us that her characters have more to them than meets the eye.

Maggie and Josh’s quest for the truth made for a compelling read - one that I’ll remember for quite some time!

I was gifted this copy by Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

What a beautiful story about family dynamics!
Hunter is at her best here for sure. I love her stories so this one is no exception. In fact, it will be my favorite by her.
There's a little bit of everything to keep you from putting the book down. From grief to mystery to solving it's an excellent guessing game.
Maggie and Josh's journey was quite the adventure.
I loved figuring out along with them on who the mystery man was. They definitely got the surprise of their lives when they did!
5 stars from me for an exciting adventure. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This is the story of a widow and her deceased husbands brother. They have been friends for years, but that is starting to change to more. There are several complications that pop up, that involve a bit of mystery and difficult family members. I enjoyed the story very much and it has a little surprise in the end that I hadn’t guessed. I was given this book to review and I would recommend it.

I adore everything about summer, so once I saw this cover, it became an automatic must-read! I love how the author pulls you into a mystery that also spans the contemporary romance genre. The pace started a little slow, but after the first 1/3 of the book, I was fully invested in discovering who this man was that looked so much like Maggie's supposedly dead husband. I do wish the main characters were a little more complex, but overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read.

I have always loved Denise Hunter’s books but had not read one in a while. This book reminded me why I have always enjoyed her stories. Maggie is a window with a young daughter who is visiting with her in laws for the summer. They are planning a memorial for the anniversary of her husbands death but before that can happen she sees someone who could be her husbands twin and has all the emotions that comes with that. Her brother in law, Josh, who has loved her since his teens, agrees to help her solve the mystery. I thought that I had the mystery all figured out but then a twist popped up. I really enjoyed reading the book as Maggie and Josh worked to not only figure out the mystery man but work through the feelings they had for each other as well.

The Summer of You and Me, by Denise Hunter, tells of Maggie Reynolds returning to Seabrook, North Carolina. She plans to spend the summer with her young daughter at her in-laws beach house. However, when they visit a local carnival, Maggie catches sight of a man who looks just like her husband Ethan, who died five years ago!

It is interesting to watch Maggie and her former brother-in-law Josh attempt to track down this man who actually may be her former husband. When they discover that this look-a-like is much younger than her husband, they must change the focus of their search!

When Maggie makes contact with the mother of this man, you will be surprised at what she learns. This tale will turn on a dime with this new information!

This is a sweet romantic read with plenty of twists and turns.
A summer of healing and moving on sends Josh and Maddy on an unforeseen path chasing down a look-a-like.
The relationship issues are very genuine and past traumas must be dealt with.
Healing takes time and this read takes that into account.
The characters are well developed.
I received a complimentary copy of the this book. My opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! It was so good, I stayed up late to finish it! I just had to know how it ended! There were so many twists and turns, no wonder Maggie was confused when she saw her deceased husband’s doppelgänger in the crowd at the NC amusement park! Her husband’s brother, Josh, her supporting friend for so long, helps in the search for the mysterious man. There are so many questions and surprises along the way! I never figured it out! There is mystery, grief, angst, faith, romance and so much more! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC of this e-book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Maggie sees a man at a carnival she thinks is her husband who died in the war 5 years ago. She teams up with her brother in law who has always carried a torch for her. They try to determine if he somehow survived the bomb and how he has showed up. They explore every opportunity and fall in love along the way.

Folks, this one was not for me. It started out slow and dragged a lot getting to the big reveal. No spoilers, but there was a bit of an "ick" factor for me in Maggie and Josh's relationship since he was her husband's brother. The Will storyline I also found to be a bit unnerving. Didn't love this story, but I really enjoyed the character of Maggie's daughter, Zoey and her conversations with her mom. It is hard to write kids' dialogue well and this was excellent. I would have loved more Zoey.

Thanks to 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.

Denise Hunter's latest book was a book that was hard to put down. There were elements of mystery, romance, and drama, not to mention plot twists that kept the reader engaged. The drama was well written with some interesting side characters.
It's hard to say too much without spoilers, so I'll settle with it's a book you will want to read. I have put it on the order list for the library and will be recommending it to readers of Christian fiction.

This beautiful book is one that you will find hard to put down. Maggie is processing the loss of her husband 5 years prior while raising their daughter Zoey. While at the fair she is shocked to see a man that looks exactly like him. This story will keep you guessing the entire time!

I loved Maggie, Josh and Zoey! This book definitely kept me guessing. There was the perfect amount of romance, mystery, and emotions surrounding losing a loved one. I think the romance storyline in this book was perfect. It seemed very realistic. I really need to check out other books by Denise Hunter.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a romance book without the spice. Also if you enjoy found family this story is for you.

Thank you to the publisher for letting me receive and ARC copy of this heart warming book.

Really enjoyed reading this book. I was unable to put it down. The family issues covered were so true to life and much I have experienced. A real encouragement to keep walking forward step by step.

Another Denise Hunter 5 star book for me! I loved this sweet story, the raw and flawed characters with normal fears and hesitations. I loved that Denise didn't push characters together unrealistically, but showed an accurate picture of a slow burn, friends to lovers, and where therapy can be needed amongst all that for a strong foundation. The mystery guy and how that plot works out and wasn't predictable was an added touch- I could not put this book down!

Considering the main point was how Josh pined for Maggie since he was a teenager, and Maggie seeing someone who looks eerily similar to her late husband, the book was quite on the underwhelming side.
I expected angst and drama, instead, it was just endless streams of support and hidden feelings from both characters.
The romance was seriously lukewarm, they were both interested and there was really no valid obstacle. Ethan, the dead husband, died 5 years ago, for God's sake!!
What made the book enjoyable was the mystery element of who Maggie saw in the beginning. I can't believe I couldn't guess it from the start, but it really took me by surprise.
Some side characters were pretty infuriating. Maggie's mom was a B, and I really didn't like Josh's father. I don't know why he was left off the hook easily but I hated how he insecure he made Josh feel.
I wanted to love it more, especially with this beautiful cover, but it wasn't meant to be.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I’ll start by saying I love Denise Hunter’s books but this one fell a little short for me. It was very slow in the middle and probably could have cut some of it out. Also, I’m used to her books having more Christian faith in them. I really think there are ways she could have included Him more in the book.

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