This story excels in building suspense through a tightly crafted mystery. The plot revolves around secrets from the protagonist’s late ex-husband, and as the truth slowly comes to light, the tension never lets up. Each revelation raises the stakes, keeping the reader on edge as characters dig deeper into the past.

The pacing is deliberate, with each twist adding complexity to the mystery and revealing new layers of betrayal. The characters are well-developed, and their reactions to the secrets they uncover feel grounded and authentic. The emotional weight of the story is carefully balanced with the growing suspense, making the discoveries all the more impactful.

The mystery is what drives the story forward, and the way it unfolds keeps you engaged, with enough surprises to keep you guessing until the very end.

I just love Denise Hunter's writing and this is another memorable book.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is back in their hometown to let him go. There is an ash spreading ceremony set for later in the summer and she's ready to start moving on. Until she swears she sees him at the town fair - and talks his brother, Josh, into helping her find out what's going on. They spend the next few weeks together getting closer and trying to track down the guy she saw. It's a really sweet story, with some twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

A summer in Seabrook is just what Maggie needs to find closure five years after the death of her husband. With brother-in-law Josh by her side, Maggie sets out to share a summer of lazing in the pool with her daughter and possibly letting herself find love.

But when she runs into a man that could pass for her late husband, she’s set on a crash course to answer impossible questions. With Josh’s help, Maggie’s search leads to more questions than answers … and possibly more than she can handle.

I enjoyed this read. It was my first by the author and she did a great job of building suspense around the mysterious Ethan-look-alike. Honestly, that was what kept me turning pages. At times, I felt like I was getting bogged down in the details of the setting around the characters, and skimmed a bit here and there to get to the conclusion. Overall, this was an enjoyable escape and I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for a gifted digital advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely, complex, sweet, and angst-laden, second chance at love novel this was, and with plenty of twists and turns I didn't see coming. I haven't yet read many books by its author, Denise Hunter, but that's about to change because this excellent novel was most definitely a 5-star read.

The Summer of You and Me touched on so many deeply-felt emotions--Maggie's grief at the wartime loss of a loved one--her husband, Ethan, a now widowed, single mother raising her adorable daughter, Zoey, alone, her close friendship with her brother-in-law, Josh, a brother-in-law who seemingly had forever wanted more than just a close friendship with his sister-in-law, Maggie's manipulative single mother, the reaction of family and friends, all too ready to judge the slowly building relationship between Maggie and Josh, and if that wasn't enough, spotting someone at a carnival bearing a very striking resemblance to Maggie's dead husband, followed by the doubts, fears and questions the sight of this young man, Will, raised about his parentage, the hunt for answers, and the surprise ending I never saw coming. As heart-wrenching romances go, this novel hit the mark at every turn.

All in all, the complexity of the relationships between all of these well-drawn characters, the depth of their emotions, and all the doubts and twists and turns, kept me glued to this novel until the wee hours of the morning. Ms. Hunter now has a new fan among her readers.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. I really had higher hopes for this book. The concept was great the execution just seemed to fall flat. This is the first book by Denise Hunter that I have tried. I will definitely give one of her other books a try before I make a judgement on her as an author.

I really enjoyed this book especially the further it got along. It was funny to me that Josh kept calling Maggie honey over and over again, even before she realized he liked her. Just something random that distracted me from what was actually going on. The theme of them trying to find Maggie's late husband's doppelgänger was a little stalkerish to me for a while but improved further in the book. There was so much to love in this book though. There were deep issues of grief, abandonment issues, childhood illness, parental narcissism, along with a mystery that didn't get solved til the end of the book. I loved that what happened wasn't at all what I expected. All in all, I enjoyed this book and am glad I read it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

BOOK REVIEW:

Wow! Where to even begin! This story! Oh this story! I felt such a wide gamut of emotions as I read this one... love, anger, hurt, sadness, laughter, tears, protectiveness, pain, bewilderment, confusion, joy... truly an emotional rollercoaster and so worth every bit of it.

Denise Hunter has crafted a unique and complex story that grabbed hold of me from the start. I loved the relationship Josh has with his widowed sister-in-law, Maggie and her daughter, Zoey. I truly love how unselfish Josh is, though he struggles with feeling he is very selfish. He truly lives out Phil 2:3-4 that tells us to consider others above ourselves. My heart hurts for him as he keeps his feelings tucked in to protect and honor Maggie and Ethan. I wanted so much for Josh and was overjoyed with what Hunter had in store for him.

I loved the bit of mystery and all the twists and turns and what ifs that played out. And the revelation! Oh my! I had considered parts of the outcome, but wasn't sure how it would have happened. The explanation was absolutely realistic and plausible. For that, I am thankful.

I loved the various emotions and reactions from Josh's family as things played out. Again, I felt they were realistic and true to character.. not contrived and forced.

I loved Zoey. How could you not! She is too cute and fun and just delightful.. and honestly so needed as parts of this story are a bit heavy at times and she adds just the right amount of glee to lighten the load.

Denise Hunter has long been an author whose works I enjoy. This one and her last book are both 5 star reads for me. She's always been a great writer, but it is as if she's leveled up to a higher standard and I, for one, love it!

Readers who like small town fiction will enjoy this cozy story. When Maggie sees someone that appears to be her dead husband is thrown into turmoil. Her relaxing summer becomes a hunt for the truth. This emotional story about Maggie trying to move on and brother-in-law hidden attraction to her keeps readers engaged. When the truth comes out about the mystery man it is quite a twist. For me, the twist was unbelievable and unlikely. Enjoyable story.

A sweet, heartwarming story. There are some heartbreaking moments along the way. Family is at the heart of this story. Likeable characters. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

DNF this one. It wasn’t catching my interest as much as I hoped. Maybe if I tried to read this at a different time I could have liked it but unfortunately it never clicked for me.

The Summer of You and Me is a heartfelt and layered story that took me by surprise in the best way. While it delivers all the emotional depth and romantic connection you’d hope for in a summer read, it never crosses into overly cheesy or one-dimensional territory. Denise Hunter strikes a perfect balance between warmth and weight, making this book stand out in the contemporary romance genre.

Maggie and Josh's shared grief over losing Ethan adds a profound emotional core to the story. Their journey felt authentic, and their pain was portrayed with such care that it gave the book a rich, resonant undercurrent. This grief made the characters feel real and gave the romance more depth—it wasn't just about sparks, but about healing, growth, and second chances.

One of my favorite elements was the mystery surrounding Will and his uncanny resemblance to Ethan. It added an unexpected and gripping twist that kept me flipping pages. The plot twists—especially toward the end—completely caught me off guard in the best way. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another curveball was thrown. I genuinely stayed on my toes the whole time.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has that perfect summer beach vibe, making it an ideal companion for a day of relaxing in the sun. With its heartfelt storytelling, surprising twists, and emotional depth, The Summer of You and Me is more than just a beach read—it's a story that stays with you long after the final page.

A heart-rendering second chance romance.

Although I've heard lots of great things about Denise Hunter, I've not read any of her books... until this week.

I enjoyed Maggie and Josh's story, especially with all the complicated layers within their relationship. Shared grief, familial challenges, physical distance, unrequited love and guilt... there was plenty to fill the page with! Whether the moment dealt with angst or anxiety, hope warring with fear, there was plenty to keep the story rolling along.

I loved Josh and his selfless heart, and I felt for Maggie and the huge things she overcame and still had to hurdle. Both dealt with things in a believable way. Their interactions with friends and family amused and endeared me, especially the times spent with Zoey.

An emotional read.

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

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 twist and turns that this triggers work their way through the rest of the story, as both Maggie and Josh must reflect on their relationships and the past before they can face their future head-on.

I really enjoyed this book and liked the warmth and relatability of the relationships between the characters. There were times that I found myself frustrated with Magige because of her thinking, but at the same time, given all that she had been through, it was probably very realistic. In the end, it was a wonderful story and I was very happy with how it turned out.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

What to expect in The Summer of You and Me:
- a slow-burn summer romance between our FMC and her late husband's brother.
- a single mom with a cute kid!
- a realistic widow's grief journey, and the ongoing struggles.
- a mystery element, where they work together to learn more about her husband's passing five years ago (while overseas in the military) and what really happened. Expect fun twists and turns!
- a cast of great supporting characters, in the form of her late husband's extended family.
- single, third-person POV

This was such a great story line. When I first met Maggie and Josh I really loved how they interacted, how they related to each other was a great interaction. Them finding a man who looked like Maggie’s deceased husband really grabbed my attention and did not let me go until the very end of this book. I could not put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen. I was not disappointed with this story. I really enjoyed every word of this book. It’s been a long time since a book hooked me like this.

I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

Now that was a stay-up-late-to-finish book! I believe this is my first Denise Hunter book even though I am familiar with the name, but it won't be the last! I loved the mystery arc of this book. It created increased depth and excitement. I loved the setting and overall atmosphere of the island summer vacation feel. There are no swears or alcohol and level 2 kisses only. Present tense, Dual POV with a few chapters in a third person's POV that created further depth and understanding on the readers part.

This was another really good book by this author.
It was emotional and heartfelt. There were a few surprises too. It’s an easy to read book that was hard to put down.

Denise Hunter's The Summer of You and Me audiobook offers a poignant and intriguing blend of second-chance romance and suspenseful mystery, all set against the charming backdrop of Seabrook. The narration beautifully captures Maggie's emotional journey as she returns to her late husband's hometown, hoping to find closure five years after his death.

The introduction of Josh, her brother-in-law who has harbored a long-standing, unrequited love for her, adds a layer of heartwarming potential for a new beginning. However, Hunter cleverly throws a compelling curveball into the mix when Maggie encounters a man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her deceased husband. This unsettling event propels Maggie and Josh on a quest for answers that quickly becomes more complex and emotionally charged than either of them anticipated.

The audiobook effectively builds suspense as Maggie grapples with the impossible possibility of her past returning, while simultaneously navigating her growing feelings for Josh. The mystery surrounding the look-alike keeps the listener engaged, raising questions about identity, loss, and the secrets that might be lurking beneath the surface of their small town.

The Summer of You and Me is a captivating listen that beautifully balances the delicate emotions of grief and the tentative hope of new love with a compelling undercurrent of mystery. Hunter crafts a story that explores the complexities of the heart and the unexpected ways the past can resurface, leaving the listener eager to uncover the truth alongside Maggie and Josh.

This is my first novel by this author, and it was a very well written storyline that captures you and draws you into the pages. This novel is a contemporary fiction, and it displays a lot of emotions with moving on after a loss of a loved one.

Maggie Reynolds and her four-year-old daughter Zoey are on holiday in Seabrook, North Carolina, a place which is full of bittersweet memories of her late husband, Ethan, the love of her life. Her best friend Erin, Ethan’s sister and his younger brother Josh live there, and, together with his parents Becky and Brad, they are planning to scatter his ashes on the fifth anniversary of his death, when the unthinkable happens! While at the fair Maggie sees Ethan’s double in the distance. Did the army make a mistake? Could her husband possibly still be alive? Maggie and Josh set out to find the truth without involving the rest of the Reynolds family.

Maggie and Josh have undeniable chemistry. Their relationship was truly heartwarming. I love how they were so comfortable and always gravitated towards one another. I was rooting for them from the beginning because they balance each other out so well.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! There were so many twists and turns that I was not expecting. I honestly couldn’t put it down!

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go. Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her for years and wants to confess. 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.

What carried the story for me was the mystery of the man's identity. Maggie and Josh explored all the possibilities and ended up with more questions than answers. It brought quite the plot twist.

Aside from that, I didn't buy into their own romance. The pacing felt off and had a quick resolution. Listening on audio made it easier for me to complete the book. The narrator, while a bit sharp, did a good job.

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

Rating: 3⭐
Steam level: 1🌶️ Kissing only