Denise Hunter is an auto-read author for me. Her books don't disappoint and this one is included in that number. A little mysterious, a little romantic, a little about grieving and moving on, a little about setting boundaries.

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Maggie Reynolds has returned to the coastal town of Seabrook, NC five years after her husband's death. She is at a small town carnival with her daughter Zoey and suddenly sees a man who looks exactly like her husband. With her late husband's brother, Josh, she goes on a search for this mysterious man ... becoming closer to Josh in the process.

I wanted to read The Summer of You and Me because I love Denise Hunter's books. I try to read them all as they are released! I also liked the beach read sound of this book.

This was perhaps my favorite Denise Hunter book so far. It has everything - a small town coastal setting, summer vibes, a compelling mystery, and a slowly unfolding romance. The mystery aspect was especially strong (and kept me up reading late!). I highly recommend this novel for other fans of beach reads and women's fiction.

The Summer of You and Me looks at family ties in times of grief and confusion, while not being heavily emotional.
Five years ago, Maggie lost her husband while he was deployed. She has tried to move on and make a life for herself and their young daughter. She has come to spend the summer at Seabrook, their childhood home. Without a supportive family of her own, she is lucky enough to have a great relationship with her husband, Ethan’s family, including having her sister-in-law as her best friend. But maybe these titles don’t mean so much because she has found herself becoming extremely close to Ethan’s brother. But her summer comes to a complete halt when she suddenly sees a man who is a spitting image of her dead husband.
Denise Hunter creates a story about family. It’s a little different than the traditional family, and that’s what's intriguing here. Hunter looks at the boundaries families set and when they are ok to be broken. This is mixed with family grief and how that affects bonds, especially in the light of having dysfunctional family members. Then there are twists on how family can expand past just those that we first see as family. While it doesn’t get too deep, it still makes you think and feel about everyone involved.
This wasn’t the best, well-written book I’ve read. I had an ARC, so I know there are things that have been fixed by the time it gets to your hands (I hope). But there are long sections of dialogue where there aren’t identifiers about who is talking, and clarity is lost. The other issue is build-up and resolution. For example, there is a huge deal in the book about the anniversary of the husband’s death. It’s a big plot point to the characters, but it gets only one small chapter with very little emotion or insight from most of the characters. This holds true for bigger, spoilery plot points in the book.
An interesting summer read, The Summer of You and Me would have been an emotional journey in the hands of another writer. As it is, Hunter gives you a book for when you need to kick back and not think too hard. And we all need these days.

This story took me by surprise. Not that I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, I certainly was. I've enjoyed every Denise Hunter book I've read. But because of how much I enjoyed it! From page one, I enjoyed every detail of this story. I liked the characters, the setting, the progression, the friendships, all of it! There's a twist in the storyline I hadn't expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed that! The story flows well as we've come to love and rely on from Ms. Hunter. All around an excellent read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

2025 has been the year of trying new to me authors, and reading the synopsis of The Summer of You and Me immediately intrigued me. Small town romance are my current catnip and I was excited at the premise of Maggie thinking she spotted her husband, someone who died in the war five years ago. The thrill of her chasing down this mysterious person with the help of her brother in law, who has been secretly in love with her since before she married his brother.

I enjoyed the story, but it was very slow to start and dragged until about the 75% mark where it suddenly took off like a rocket. I enjoyed the characters, and Maggie's daughter Zoe. The relationship developing between Maggie and Josh didn't feel believable to me, it felt more like she was just relying on his help to solve the mystery of who this person is that looks exactly like her dead husband.

I was invested in the story but there were several things where I had to suspend too much belief. And the ending left me with a lot of unanswered questions that really throws a damper and leaves me not satisfied with the conclusion. It was not a bad first read of this new to me author, and I will look up her other works to see if any of them intrigue me.

After reading Before We Were Us last year I knew I needed to pick up the latest Denise Hunter book! What a great premise...a young widow and her brother-in-law join forces to find out who a man is that looks like her deceased husband. This not-so-new relationship is complicated with a long history, lots of emotions and skepticism, mystery and...a sweet unfolding of faith-filled lives. Hunter has a way with words with lots of great dialogue among her characters. This is a clean, sweet romance, but definitely has some unexpected elements of real life interspersed. The characters are not perfect, making them more relatable. This would be great for you if you enjoy Christian fiction, romance, or even mysteries.
Not sure if this will be continued as a series but I'd love to see what happens to Maggie and Josh next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

I can't even tell you how much I loved this book! You don't even have to wait for the story to start. Before the end of the first chapter, you'll be hooked.
I could not put this book down. It's a sweet story with all the vibes of summer. You'll feel like you're enjoying the carnival, walking along the beach, and eating seafood at a local restaurant. The characters are so well-written and relatable. I loved watching the romance bloom between Josh and Maggie--but I was not prepared for the twists! Yes, more than one!
This is the perfect book for a summer read, but make sure you have some tissues nearby. Denise Hunter is one of my favorite contemporary fiction authors, and this might be my new favorite of her novels!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Second book for me by Denise Hunter and both have left me wanting to leave more than 5 stars. It has the sweetest of clean love stories. But it has depth for the male and female leads. There was loss, learning boundaries with family, healing, and a couple moments that I needed to reach for a tissue in the best of ways. This made me cheer on the main couple that they could face all the obstacles in their paths and get to a happy ever after.

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

I always enjoy reading Denise Hunter’s books. She is a phenomenal author. I adored this book
The characters are great, the storyline flows, the books are easy and quick to read.
This book is beautifully written, well developed characters, and has the ability to evoke very intense emotions while reading it.
The Summer of You and Me was an incredible read and I highly recommend it.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a romantic story of healing, family, and love. Denise Hunter's writing tells the story without forcing readers to read graphic details that most of us can imagine.

This was such an interesting, emotional book with wonderful characters. Maggie and her young daughter have returned to Seabrook for the summer where they will celebrate the fifth anniversary of her husband's death. She was hoping this would give her the closure she needed.

The book had many emotional twists and turns and amazing revelations as Maggie thought she had seen her husband or a man that could be Ethan's twin. She began to question if he could have survived. Her brother in law has always had feelings for her and was planning to let Maggie know since it had been five years but now his plans are derailed.
I could not put the book down! I loved it! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Summer of You and Me" and all opinions expressed are my own. This story kept me interested. Definitely a lot of emotion throughout. I loved getting to know the characters. Overall very good.

It's been awhile since I've read a Denise Hunter book. As I set down and began reading this one it felt different to me. It had a bit of a mystery to the plot and this intrigued me. Honestly, this mystery was what kept me reading.

The characters in this book were just so-so for me. I didn't feel a huge connection to them, but I also didn't dislike them. They fell a little flat and kinda boring.

The plot was ok. The romance was not my favorite part. I didn't have a problem with the dynamics and there was no eww factor for me. I just wasn't into the romance between the two main characters. The mystery held the appeal for me in this book. Who was Will and what was his story? That kept me reading this book. When it was revealed who Will was I was surprised because I hadn't even considered that as an option.

All in all this book was ok. I don't regret reading it but it's also not my favorite by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a deeply emotional and captivating story about love, grief, family, and finding hope again after heartbreak. Maggie Reynolds has spent the last five years mourning her husband Ethan’s death, raising their daughter Zoey, and holding onto the life they once dreamed of. This summer at Seabrook—the place where their love story first began—is supposed to be her moment of closure. Instead, Maggie is thrown into emotional turmoil when she spots a man who could pass for her late husband’s twin.

From the first chapter, the story pulls you in with its emotional intensity and rich characters. Maggie’s journey feels raw and honest. Her grief is layered and complicated, especially when feelings for Josh—her late husband’s brother and her steadfast friend—begin to surface. Josh’s unspoken love for Maggie is tender, patient, and heartbreaking, making him one of the most genuine romantic leads I’ve read in a while.

The mystery of the lookalike adds a tense, page-turning element to the romance. Every time Maggie and Josh think they have answers, new secrets emerge, shifting everything they thought they knew. The suspense is perfectly woven into the emotional core of the story, never overshadowing the real focus: healing, forgiveness, and the courage to choose love again.

Denise Hunter’s writing shines with emotional depth and vivid descriptions. Seabrook feels like a real place—full of sun, ocean breezes, family gatherings, and memories both sweet and painful. She portrays grief with sensitivity and allows Maggie’s journey toward healing to feel realistic, not rushed or simplified.

The supporting characters add warmth and complexity to the story, especially Zoey, who brings so much heart to the narrative. The Reynolds family is beautifully portrayed, showing unconditional love and support, while Maggie’s relationship with her difficult mother adds another layer of emotional realism.

The audiobook, narrated by Kim Churchill, is outstanding. Churchill captures the emotional nuances of Maggie and Josh so well. Her distinct voices for each character, pacing, and emotional delivery make it feel like you’re living inside the story rather than just listening to it. I highly recommend experiencing this one in audio form too—it brings another level of life to an already stunning story.

The ending is heartwarming, satisfying, and absolutely worth every twist and tear along the way. The Summer of You and Me isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about finding your way home after life has shattered your plans, about how grief shapes us, and how love, even after loss, can still bloom in unexpected, beautiful ways.

This book will stay with me for a long time.
5 enthusiastic stars.

Such a great book! Another great one from Denise Hunter!

I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Denise Hunter is one of my favorite feel good authors. I turn to her books after reading something heavy. Always a favorite and her latest book did not disappoint.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter was a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.
Maggie Reynolds and her four-year-old daughter, Zoey, are spending their holiday in Seabrook, North Carolina — a place filled with bittersweet memories of her late husband, Ethan. Ethan’s family (brother, sister and parents) still reside in Seabrook. His sister is her best friend and his brother has been in love with her since they were teens. Together, they’re preparing to scatter Ethan’s ashes on the fifth anniversary of his passing and Maggie sees this as a sign that she should move on with her life.
While at the fair, Maggie spots someone who looks exactly like Ethan in the distance. Could the Army have made a mistake? Could Ethan somehow still be alive? Maggie and Josh quietly set out to uncover the truth, determined to keep their investigation from upsetting the Reynolds family. The emotions they both experience as they go through the journey before them was captivating.
There’s so much more to this story and I don’t want to ruin any of the surprises and twists. Read it soon before someone spoils it for you. As an avid reader I love it when an author can surprise me. We get jaded and think we have seen it all. 😊

Once again another feel good story! That encompasses many emotions. Dealing with grief, first love, betrayal and throw in a mystery. Maggie is coming up to the five year anniversary of her husband’s death. Thank goodness her in-laws have been a wonderful support system for her and her daughter Zoey. Especially Ethan’s brother Josh. When invited to spend the summer in her old hometown of Seabrook, she thinks it will be not only fun for Zoey but to finally let go of her grief. When she takes her daughter out to the carnival she does a double take when she briefly thinks she see her deceased husband.
Josh gets a frantic call from his sister-in-law, she thinks she just seen Ethan and had a partial picture to prove it. And yes he is a dead ringer but looks younger. Of course he will help to find the man and solve the mystery, but his heart might not be able to keep his secret much longer.
This was such a wonderful story. Working out the mystery and opening up theirs hearts overcoming all the insecurities of their past. Thank you #NETGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #TheSummerofYouandMe

This book was great! I have been reading a lot of books by her lately and this one did not disappoint! I loved the character development and the plot twist provided some mystery. It is a great summer read and I highly recommend.

Maggie deserves a second chance at romance after losing her military husband who is killed in action. Just as she feels ready to move on, she sees a man who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband and she becomes obsessed with finding him. She will not be able to move forward until she satisfies her curiosity about this man, and with the help of her brother-in-law they engage in a search to find him and uncover his story.

Maggie’s brother-in-law has been in love with her from the moment they met, and this search effort is a bittersweet chance for him to stay close to her. Together they uncover the mystery behind this man’s past, something that brings them all together and gives them a happily ever after ending.

Though this is a sweet second-chance romance for Maggie, I found myself rooting for the brother-in-law out of everyone in the story. I did find the resolution a bit too pat and farfetched, but it did end on a happy note for readers looking for a book full of hope and promise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.