Falling in love after years of longing. Kisses with lots of swoon factor. A really cute kid. A mystery to solve. Family complications. Surprises. All of these things combined to take me on a riveting and entertaining rollercoaster ride with highs and lows and twists and turns that ended in a happily ever after. Just like in real life there were hurtful people, messy feelings, mistakes made, forgiveness given, and moments of wonderful connection and unexpected joy. This book had it all and I read it in one sitting, just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

It has been five years since schoolteacher Maggie Reynolds lost her husband, Ethan. It seems to be time to move forward with her daughter, four-year-old Zoey. It's time to live life again. A trip to Seabrook, facing memories of their love and time with her in-laws will help. When she sees a man in the crowd at a carnival, a man identical to Ethan, her world turns upside down once again.
Captain Josh Reynolds has loved Maggie since before her heart was won by his brother Ethan. He has not been able to get her out of his mind or heart. After five years he is ready to share the truth with her. When she sees a person who she is convinced is Ethan he supports and helps her search for this individual.
I received this novel from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I love the work of Denise Hunter, and this is one of her best stories in my opinion. There is so much going on here. Grief, loss, hope and a serious mystery with incredible results. The author makes it work with very interesting twists.
This is so good I happily give it five stars! The characters are believable. The feelings intense. I don't want to ruin a thing and say more.
If you love a good mystery and a sweet love story this should satisfy you.
There is a bit of negative toward a man being in love with his brother's widow and the two moving forward in a relationship. To me this is not against God's word at all. The interest in each other was fine and natural with me.
A great summertime read.

Wow! I just finished THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter. It’s the best romance I’ve read in some time! She does a fantastic job of writing a believable, sweet romance with deep characters, and a plot twist I didn’t see coming.
Maggie brings her daughter Zoey to the beach town where she met her husband to spend the summer near his family. He was killed in the military five years earlier, and the extended family plans to scatter his ashes over the ocean in the late summer. Maggie's brother-in-law Josh hopes this summer is the right time to finally express his love for her. It gets more complicated when they see a man at the beachside carnival who looks like her deceased husband/his brother. Who is he? Is he somehow related?
Romance with a touch of mystery in a beachside town—What more could I ask for? Definitely put this book on your summer reading list! Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

The Summer of You and Me
Denise Hunter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maggie Reynolds tragically lost her husband five years ago. She returns to the town of Seabrook for the summer hoping that time with Ethan's family will allow her to finally let him go.

Ethan's brother, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with Maggie since she first came home with his sister when they were kids. His older brother quickly won Maggie's attention, and Josh kept quiet about his own broken heart. He's hopeful that if Maggie is ready to move on, that he can finally tell her about his true feelings.

While visiting the local amusement park, Maggie runs into a man who looks exactly like Ethan. The man disappears into the crowd before she can get to him, so she enlists Josh to help her discover the man's identity.

This story drew us in with intrigue and just when we thought we had uncovered the plot twist, Hunter delivered another surprise. She crafted complex relationships filled with sacrifice and real-world struggles. We enjoyed this new novel and the way Hunter illustrated God is always at work even when it is unknown to us.

We received an advance copy from NetGalley. This is our honest review.

This story gripped me but made me sad, because it dealt so much with the death of Ethan and his brother Josh's unrequited feelings for Ethan's wife, Maggie. It was a lot of sadness for a romance, and more than I'm used to from Denise Hunter.

It kind of brought me down at first, but the mystery of the man Maggie sees who looks exactly like her dead husband made me want to keep reading and not stop. I finished the book in two days, which is not normal for me right now because of some really busy circumstances.

In the end, I really enjoyed the book and was able to put a lot of the sadness to rest, just as the characters had been trying to do. There were some great plot twists that elevated it beyond many of the romances I have read.

I liked the positive characterization of therapy in the book and how it helped Maggie sort through some complicated past traumas and find healthier ways to approach her life.

Denise Hunter is always a good read, and this one was no exception. It is a great summer read to get you dreaming of idyllic locales and fun in the sun, too.

Thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Ficton for this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I would give The Summer of You and Me a 3.5 star rating. I was looking forward to this book, because I loved Denise Hunter's Before We Were Us. This one fell a little flat for me. I enjoy Christian novels but this one felt a little forced. I did not like the way Josh called Maggie honey. Something just felt off about it to me. The romance between the main characters had good development & tension. It did not bother me that the brother in law was in love with Maggie. I thought that was probably more common than people acknowledge. I also liked the mystery aspect. There was definitely a plot twist I did not see coming. Overall I enjoyed the read but I did not like it as much as her previous novel. This was a clean romance, suitable for younger readers.

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a story like this before, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The story grabbed me from the start. Maggie and Josh are sympathetic characters that I cared about and wanted to see get a happy ending. I liked the secondary characters and adored Maggie’s little girl, Zoey. Hunter does a fabulous job with the mystery. I was certain I knew how it was all going to turn out, but I got a surprise. A pleasant surprise and that’s all I’m saying. The Summer of You and Me is a standalone novel that will leave you with all the right feels. The writing is excellent and the story so very clever.

Denise Hunter never disappoints. Her latest, The Summer of You and Me was a sweet love story that captured my full attention. Tender, poignant, and, at times, heart breaking, this story contained every element of the perfect romance. I fully enjoyed the interplay between the characters as perfectly timed tension dodged their every move. The struggles of the cast were all too relatable, complete with moments of pain and of hope. I could not get enough of this story! Denise Hunter knows how to craft a novel that will embed itself into you heart.

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a lovely romance book with a tiny bit of mystery thrown in--how does the main character Maggie see a man who looks exactly like her dead husband? As she and her brother in law track down the story, they sweetly fall in love. An emotional story written from an inspirational viewpoint.

This book was deeply emotional, heart stirring and, at times, heart-wrenching. You can always count on Denise Hunter providing a story that will stay with you, even after you finish the book.

Maggie Reynolds' husband, Ethan, was killed in combat five years ago. The debilitating grief has weighed her down. Her only joy in life, for the most part, is her daughter, who is a living piece of her husband. She leaned heavily on her faith, but there were times when the crushing loss was just too much for her.

Josh Reynolds is Maggie's brother-in-law. He stepped in to care for Maggie and her daughter after his brother's untimely death. Taking care of them is not hard for Josh because he has been secretly in love with Maggie for a long time. However, he keeps his feelings to himself.

Maggie has returned to Seabrook for the summer. When she sees a young man at the amusement park, who could be Ethan's twin, she is shocked beyond belief. Could her husband still be alive?

As Maggie and Josh investigate this little mystery, their bond with one another grows deeper, but the ghost of Ethan is still very present in everything they do or say. I was experiencing so many emotions while reading this book that I felt like a basket case. Denise Hunter is an expert at creating characters that you, as the reader, can relate to. They have real world problems. I loved that there was a little mystery built into this one. I had no clue where it would end up and how there be a happily ever after in this story. Faith plays a big part of this story, as I realized that this family's anchor was not of this world, but their faith in God helped them get through the difficult times. I fell a little bit in love with each member of the Reynolds family. I could write a book about so many things that I loved about this story, but I will just say that you do not want to miss reading this book. This would make a great beach read to start your summer off right.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First, I just want to say how much I admire Denise Hunter’s ability to dream up heartfelt, romantic storylines. The Summer of You and Me had such a great premise, and I could really see the potential for a sweet and moving summer love story. I was excited to dive in!

That said, as I was reading, I found myself feeling a little lost and not as connected to the characters as I’d hoped. Sometimes a book just doesn’t click at the right moment, and I think this might be one of those times for me. It’s not that the story wasn’t good—it really was!—but I think I personally just wasn’t in the right headspace to fully enjoy it.

I absolutely want to support Denise Hunter’s work and voice, and I’m grateful for the heart she clearly pours into her books. I’m planning to give this one another try in the future, maybe when it feels like the right season for it—literally and emotionally!

Thank you for sharing your stories with the world. I look forward to reading more from you down the line!

This is a romance about a woman who is widowed and her dead husband's brother. I enjoyed the romance between the two. It had been in the works for Josh for a long time, but Maggie was oblivious to his feelings. It was nice and slow, which I think the situation called for. This clean romance makes you feel that starting over with love is possible.

It had a little mystery in it, which I was actually hoping would have been a little more intense, but it added to the story.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.

Maggie has been struggling since her husband Ethan's death, but it's time to make her peace with the past - and Seabrook, where they made so many memories together, is the place to do it. So she's visiting for the summer. Josh fell in love with Maggie before his brother Ethan ever met her, but being just that bit younger, he was never on her radar in that way. He fought the attraction throughout their marriage, but now that Ethan is gone and she's moving on, it's time to let her know how he feels. At least, that's the plan, but it's derailed when she spots a man who might be Ethan's twin - or maybe somehow, miraculously, he didn't die as the army told her? Josh has always been there for Maggie, and this hunt for truth is no exception - but will they find the answers she needs? And if they do, will his love need to be tabled again?

A delightful read, with a couple I really enjoyed getting to know, a mystery to solve and unexpected but beautiful answers - not to mention a welcoming family (his - let's not mention hers!), a cute daughter, and an inspiring message. I loved the way that Josh kept things completely honourable while Maggie was married, despite his feelings, even if I didn't always appreciate the way he tried to overcome those feelings. I also loved the way that he was always there for her, even when it was hard for him. Maggie had other things to overcome, and I enjoyed watching her gradually take those steps to get to a point where she could really accept Josh's love. And I really loved the answer to their mystery - I didn't see it coming but it worked beautifully. An inspiring and heart-warming story. Recommended.

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

This was an emotional roller coaster of a book, which had me guessing from the instant the mystery unfolded.

It follows the story of Maggie who found her late husband’s lookalike at a carnival. Throw in her brother in law, Josh, who has always had feelings for her and the mysterious lookalike- it is a busy summer.

I enjoyed this- the budding romance and the mystery aspect of the book. I had different theories but I was proved wrong.

The author’s storytelling is beautiful and she has a way of explaining and describing things that make you connect with the characters.

There were twists, turns and I loved how the author dealt with the grief aspect of the story. Also, the characters delivered exactly what was expected of them.

If you love clean romance with a little bit of everything then you will enjoy this.

Another great story from Denise Hunter that is a genuine delight! It deals with a family who lost a husband, son, and father. Moving through the quagmire after Ethan dies while on deployment, is challenging. After her daughter is born, her brother-in-law, Josh, is by her side for all the milestones and their friendship grows.

Flash ahead five years and she and her daughter are spending the summer back in her hometown at her in-laws house on the beach while they travel in Europe. At the end of the summer they'll spread Ethan's ashes in the ocean as a family.

Josh has had feelings for Maggie since he first met her as his sister Erin's best friend in his teenage years. He decides to approach her about bringing their relationship to the next level. When a chance encounter with a young man who is her husbands twin leaves she and Just reeling, a summer if discovery awaits.

The twists and turns in uncovering the relationship of the young msn lead Josh and Maggie on a journey of surprisingly results.. Along the way their relationship is challenged. But the story is one of resilience, second chances , and the love of family. A five star read you don't want to miss!

I enjoyed reading The Summer of You and Me, a contemporary romance summer vacation novel set in coastal North Carolina. Maggie is a widow with an adorable four-year-old daughter, Zoey. Her husband, Ethan, served in the military and passed away during an overseas tour when Maggie was pregnant with Zoey.

Maggie’s narcissistic mother is difficult to manage, and Maggie has remained close with Ethan’s family. Ethan’s younger sister is Maggie’s best friend from high school. Their younger brother, Josh, stepped up and provided practical help and emotional support for Maggie and Zoey.

Josh is divorced and lives in the beach town where he owns and operates a river boat tour company. Josh has also secretly loved Maggie for years. He’s happy that Maggie and Zoey will spend the summer house-sitting at his parent’s beach home in his town while they’re away and traveling in Europe.

This summer, five years after his brother’s passing, Josh plans to reveal his feelings for Maggie. His plan hits a major hurdle when Maggie spots a man at the town carnival who looks exactly like Ethan. Maggie and Josh want answers and start searching for the man who couldn’t possibly be Ethan, but somehow looks so much like him.

Maggie and Josh’s strong friendship faces challenges when they consider navigating romantic feelings that have ramifications for relationships with other family members. I loved how Josh cared for Maggie and was a doting uncle to Zoey. Josh and Maggie had shared grief and emotional baggage to unpack and process during the story.

I didn’t guess how the intriguing mystery would pan out and I loved the satisfying story resolution. I recommend The Summer of You and Me to contemporary romance readers who like single parent friends-to-more romances with unrequited love, family drama, a fascinating mystery and relevant faith elements in the story.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received a complimentary of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a terrific story of a young widow, Maggie, who has finally returned home in order to release her husband’s ashes on the fifth anniversary of his death. While at a carnival with her four year old daughter, she sees the impossible - a man who is the spitting image of her husband. She recruits her husband’s brother, Josh who has been secretly in love with her since they were kids, to help her uncover the truth about who this man is.

While this is not romantic suspense, this has a lively mystery in the middle of a forbidden love story. Maggie has some deep-seated trust issues, and it is a battle for her to open her heart. Josh has to constantly put the welfare of others before himself. They both have parent issues to deal with on top of grief.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and some discussions of faith.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to romance lovers looking for depth to the characters.

Family friendly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Almost five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to move on. She'll spend the summer near his family, and make a plan for the future. Little does she know her brother-in-law, Josh, is hoping her decision to move on might include him! When she catches a glimpse of her husband's doppelganger, her summer plans change and she goes on a quest to find out who this stranger is. With Josh by her side they try to find answers. Will he be able to let her know how he feels? Will she be able to move on after this encounter? Who is the stranger that looks exactly like her husband?
This one took me a while to get into. We jump pretty quickly into the action and quest for answers, but not yet knowing the characters I struggled to connect. I eventually got there and by the end was invested in the outcome. It is a pretty different concept, and I considered many of the same questions the characters did along the way. Is it weird for a brother-in-law to have feelings for/be in a relationship with his brothers widow? 🤷🏻‍♀️
This was a romance book with only kissing. There was also a small faith aspect to the story, but seemed to be mostly just mentioned here and there with attending church, or a thrown out, "Help me" prayer and not a big part of the characters lives.
Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review. It will be published tomorrow, so if it sounds interesting, go ahead and get it!
#NetGalley #TheSummerOfYouAndMe

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter has Maggie Reynolds and her daughter returning to Seabrook Island, South Carolina for the summer. I found the premise for The Summer of You and Me interesting, but the book failed to draw me in. The story was overly dramatic in places and unbelievable in others (I rolled my eyes more than once). It is an emotional story. Maggie’s feelings ran the gamut as she deals with the grief over her husband’s death (he has been dead for five years) and the new feelings for Josh, her brother-in-law and friend. I wanted to tell her to pull it together (she has a daughter who needs her and knows when her mother is upset). I felt the drama with Maggie’s mother was unneeded (there was enough going on). Maggie’s mother behaved like a child, and I do not know why Maggie fell for her mother’s schemes each time. The storyline with the deceased husband’s double was predictable thanks to a tidbit the author tossed in that did not flow with the rest of the story. I tried but I was unable to connect with the characters and it did not help that the story moved at a leisurely pace. The Summer of You and Me is a clean, Christian story (attending church, prayer, no swearing or intimate situations). I did not feel that the title fit the story because it was not just Maggie and Josh. There was Maggie’s daughter and Josh’s family (Maggie is staying in her in-law’s home). I have been branching out to try different authors and genres to get me out of my reading rut. Unfortunately, The Summer of You and Me was not my cup of tea. While it did not suit me, if the premise appeals to you, I encourage you to download a sample to check it out for yourself.

Denise Hunter’s books are as warm and comforting as coming home. She writes small-town stories about the real things in life: about living through hard times, about forgiving, and about loving again.

Maggie Reynold’s world fell apart when her husband died, and we walk beside her through the struggles of her grief and loneliness. This summer, she returns to Seabrook, North Carolina, with her 4-year-old, Zoey. At the local carnival one night, she is positive that she sees her late husband. She convinces her husband’s brother, Josh, to help her find the lookalike.

The rest of the book follows Maggie and Josh’s search for answers, and it’s no surprise that a spark of romance is flamed into so much more.