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.

As promised, this was a sweet romance. I read the book but mostly listened to the audiobook on a train ride from Washington D.C. to NYC and it fit the bill perfectly. I am not usually one for romance novels but the characters were well developed and appealing and the plot was sufficiently interesting to keep me engaged the whole way through. There was a moment where I wondered if the novel was going to veer into the supernatural, which would have not worked as well from my perspective, but it didn't. At the beginning, I was afraid it was going to be sad because, well, it was about a young woman whose husband had died, leaving her with a child to raise. But, as often is the case with these kinds of books, it was uplifting.
The narrator was good, though I think her delivery of the child's lines bordered on annoying.
I would give this 4.25 stars. There were moments when the novel veered into the "trite" category, particularly in dialogue when I cringed at the predictability of a few lines and the actions of a few characters. However, it was a good read and I do want to check out the writers other work.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for providing me with copies of the book and audiobook in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

The Summer of You and Me is emotional, romantic, and laced with just the right amount of mystery. So pretty much everything I'm looking for in a wholesome sweet romance novel.

I like a story featuring a single parent, and I live in North Carolina, so I was drawn to the beachy setting. Complicated family dynamics, the slow-burn romance, and Josh’s unrequited love for Maggie definitely kept the pages turning as well.

The mysterious lookalike to Maggie's deceased husband is quite the clever subplot. I couldn't figure out who he was exactly, so the resolution really threw me for a loop (but in the best way)! If you love second chances, unresolved feelings, and a touch of suspense woven into a clean, deeply romantic story, this one’s for you.

Absolutely adored The Summer of You and Me!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I like my contemporary novels to be realistic, and The Summer of You and Me had more coincidence and unexpected moments than I could handle.

My favorite part (that some readers hated) was the romance. Though how long the MMC had liked (loved?) the FMC was unrealistic to me.

What I really disliked (no spoilers here!) was the mystery, which is a huge part of the plot. I kept reading and considering all the options, and it was uncomfortable and stressful. Some of the options were sinful or controversial for Christians. I couldn't enjoy the book. I am also concerned for younger readers because I don't think they will understand what's going on. I asked my 19yo daughter to please come to me with questions and not to Google anything!

I'm sorry to say, but I do not recommend this book to Christian fiction readers.

Romance with a side of mystery! I loved Before We Were Us, so I came into this one with high expectations. It was a cute romance and I instantly connected to the characters. She really explored the complexities of family dynamics in this heartwarming story. However, some of the mystery fell a little flat to me. But overall, an enjoyable summer beach read!

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

"It couldn't be Ethan. It absolutely couldn't be her high school sweetheart, the only man she'd ever loved, the man she'd married and conceived a child with. Because he was killed five years ago at his military post in Pakistan" (location 117). When Maggie thinks she sees her dead husband at a carnival, she turns to her brother-in-law Josh for help. This starts them on a quest to figure out just who this person could be.

I really liked this book. It was interesting and different. It caught me off guard a few times with its twists and turns. I enjoyed the hunt of trying to figure out who the mystery man was. I liked both Josh and Maggie and Josh's family, imperfect as it is. They were a great picture of how family comes together for you in your trials. Maggie's mom....not so much.

This was a fast read with a great pace. I'd recommend it. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I did a combination of e-book and
audiobook for this one and enjoyed both.
The narrator was excellent.

This family drama had just enough romance thrown in. I really liked the two main characters and the way their characters were written.

I did not care for the main character’s mother, but I know her character was written that way to deepen the plot and shape the way the main character related to events in her life.


I found the “twist “ and ending of book satisfying.

The Summer of You and Me is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

What’s the protocol for seeing your dead husband in the crowd at a carnival? That’s the question facing Maggie Reynolds, not long after she arrives in his hometown for the summer. She’s returned to mark five years since his death, and hopefully, find the strength to start moving on with their daughter. After the shock sighting, Maggie turns to her former brother in law Josh for help, not realizing Josh has loved her since they first met.

The two begin a journey of investigation, discovery and shock, while navigating grief and romance. But there are many sets of baggage when you fall for your dead husband’s brother and the pair must unpack all of them or run the risk of broken hearts all over again.

While I did struggle with the idea of romance between former in laws, this story is sensitively handled and contains and excellent plot twist that made me gasp and smile. Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of The Summer of You and Me from the publisher, via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

Maggie Reynolds lost her husband five years ago in a military related accident and she is finally ready to move on and find love again. She is thrown for a loop when she sees a look-alike of her deceased husband while at a carnival with her young daughter. She enlists her husband's brother Josh to help her track down the man she saw. What Maggie doesn't know is that Josh is in love with her and has been in love with her since the moment they met years before.
The Summer of You and Me is a sweet and clean romance. The mystery aspect of who the man is and why he looks like Maggie's deceased husband is exciting and the results of that were interesting. I had to suspend belief for a few minutes on the conclusion to that arc of the book but since it's a fiction it was fine. The budding romance between Maggie and Josh was lovely but I did find some issue with the fact that Josh married and divorced another woman while being in love with Maggie. Maggie was also married during this time but it still didn't seem quite fair to the other woman. Maggie's daughter was cute and the interactions between her and Josh were nice. Overall I enjoyed this book but did find some morality issues with the divorce especially considering this is supposed to be Christian Fiction.

Denise Hunter's books are those I can rely on for sweet, light reads between heavier ones and The Summer of You and Me is no exception. This story is a little mystery and alot of clean, only kissing romance. I prefer more mystery than romance but the mystery kept me reading.
I would assume that previously married people would be a bit more mature the second time around and this was not the case with these characters, it read more like YA.
If you are looking for a story like one Karen Kingsbury would write but want less faith content or enjoy a Hallmark movie or two, you will enjoy this story.

Such an amazing second chance story and with twists I wasn't expecting! This book was so well written, entertaining, emotional and heartfelt. A wonderful and clever storyline that's interesting, suspenseful and yet was sweet as well. The characters journey through grief then hope is inspiring and real. Definitely a page turner with enough depth and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. A wonderful story from start to finish.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wooow! I was not expecting this book to be such a page turner but it had me locked in!! The summery setting & the plot got me hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed the mystery too. The family dynamics, personal growth and the emotion written throughout this novel really is something special. This book is such a feel good romance. I will definitely be reading more Denise Hunter in the future!!

The Summer of You and Me: ★★★★☆ (4)

Pub date: available now!!

Maggie has been a widow and single mother to a sweet little girl after her husband was killed in Pakistan five years ago. Now, she and her young daughter are back in Seabrook for the summer where it all began as children with her and Ethan. She is still very close to his family. Unbeknownst to her, Ethan's younger brother, Josh, has been in love with her since the first time he saw her at the family table with his sister. It was most difficult for Josh to watch as she fell for his brother instead and married him. Although, Josh dated many women, and even married one, none of the relationships worked for he only loved one woman.
Maggie is back in Seabrook to release Ethan's ashes with the family. She wants to move forward, but Ethan was her one and only true love. Josh is secretly hoping she truly is ready to move on and just maybe he will have a chance with her.
While spending an evening at the local amusement park, Maggie sees a man up ahead in the crowd that looks just like her deceased husband, Ethan. She takes chase, but loses him in the crowd. Ethan thinks it is her imagination, until she shows him a picture on her phone that she took of her daughter on the carousel. The mystery man was in the background of the picture. Now, Josh doesn't know what to think.
This sends them on a trail of trying to locate the man. In the process, they make several very wrong assumptions. I found it a bit unbelievable how Maggie would cling to and hug on Josh and spend so much time with him. They behaved more like a couple than a sister and brother-in-law. Thus, my four star review. However, it was an enjoyable read.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

I really enjoyed reading this sweet, emotional story. I loved how supportive Maggie’s in-laws were of her. Most of the time, they completely rallied around her. Maggie was finally ready to move on after her husband’s unexpected death, when she thinks she sees him in the distance. Josh has had feelings for Maggie since they were in high school and had kept it to himself the entire time because she was his brother’s girlfriend and then wife. They team up to try to find out who she had seen and it leads to drama at every turn. Josh was the perfect match for Maggie, as a friend and in love. This story was such a fun, easy read. It had me hooked from page one and there were a lot of fun surprises. It was my first Denise Hunter book and it will definitely not be my last!

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter is a heartfelt, and sometimes bittersweet story. Maggie Reynolds is spending the summer at Seabrook where she and her late husband were first sweethearts. They say everyone has someone somewhere who could pass as a twin or doppelganger. While there Maggie sees her late husband’s. The chase is on to find him when he is lost in a crowd. Josh Reynolds, her brother-in-law, joins her in the search.

What a wild believable story with so many possibilities and speculations. Along the way Maggie confronts her doubts about herself, finds she can love again and makes changes in her life. There are surprises in the twists and turns, but God is in control of all. The characters are alive, warm, real with the kind of doubts that can plague us all.

I can highly recommend The Summer of You and Me to all who enjoy women’s fiction with a dose of romance. The fact that it is written from a Christian perspective just serves to make it more awesome.