The Summer You Were Mine is a lighthearted romance that is based in Italy (amazing) that features past Olympians (sign me up). It's a second-chance, friends to strangers to lovers story that follows Ellie and Cris.

I was really excited to read this when I read the premise! It sounded so promising. Unfortunately, a lot of the book fell flat for me. The things that worked - representation! I always enjoy reading about characters who have autism and other neurodivergent disorders. Another positive for me was the setting. Italy makes such a romantic backdrop. I also appreciated the attempt to include Italian in the dialogue.

The things I didn't like - the relationship. Their relationship felt so unnatural and forced. I didn't feel the chemistry and thought their reason for falling out when they were younger was extremely over-dramatic. I also didn't enjoy having to translate large conversations in Italian without much context. This might just be me though. I appreciated what she tried to do, but it was too much for my personal preferences. There ultimately just wasn't a lot that made me want to pick this one up.

Ultimately, this fell flat for me, but those looking for a lighthearted romance with a gorgeous setting, this might be for a you!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to review this book.

The Summer You Were Mine
by Jill Francis
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A beachy, second-chance romance set on the stunning Italian coast, where messy emotions and life challenges collide in this poignant and enthralling novel.
I was so excited to pretend I was falling in love along the Italian coast, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. While I'm usually a huge sucker for second-chance romance, this book was a miss for me.
It just felt unrealistic to harbor such STRONG feelings over a teen romance for someone you have had no interaction with.. people change, they've grown up & been in other relationships - yet the feelings immediately return in full force.

The characters definitely fell into the trope of miscommunication / lack of communication. While I understand that our heroine Ellie has been diagnosed with autism, her feelings about every situation felt too sensitive and dramatic. I just couldn't fall in love with the couple and their romance.

I liked the premise of this book as it is a love story that takes place in Italy! Sign me up! The setting, the story line, the journey and lessons learned...these were all fantastic. I love a book that gets me reflecting on my own mindsets and behaviors. I even was cheering for Ellie and Cris! The writing was beautiful and I want to summer in Italy now but I do feel like there was a bit of some blanks with the character development and growth due to some frustrating lack of communication. A lot was riding on their past and while I enjoyed the book as a whole, I felt like in order for this relationship to work, there needed to be more growth in that area rather than a dependance on the shared past and a current physical attraction. Overall, great read and I am ready for summer!!

I received an arc from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Much like the cover; this book promises to be perfect for a beach blanket. Whole at times slow/draggy and nothing super memorable; it is an easy read perfect for sunny days

A fun beach read. Though at times the storyline dragged but overall an entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Second chances, autism representation, sports-y, and the idyllic backdrop of an Italian summer? Count me in. Jill Francis' The Summer You Were Mine just might be the escape you need this summer.

Ellie and Cris grew up together over summers with their families in Italy. Now returning for a wedding will be their first time seeing one another in years, and they didn't part on the best terms. And both of them are in a bind. Ellie is in deep water at work on a sports talk show, and Cris is accused of doping just as he's wrapping up his career as a water polo Olympian. Maybe if they can set aside the awkwardness, they can help each other.

The setting really shines in this novel. You can almost feel the sea breeze and sunshine through the pages as you read. For that reason alone you should pick this up - especially if you're having a staycation instead of an international getaway. You'll get the secondhand atmosphere!

I really enjoyed Ellie and Cris' story. Their families have been close for generations and they have a lot of history. They both also have very successful careers. It didn't take much for them to get past the hurdle of their past, this book is more about each of them realizing they have deeper feelings and what that might mean in the 'real world' once the Italian getaway ends.

I appreciated the representation of autism in this novel. Ellie was only diagnosed recently with a high-functioning form, and though it doesn't change anything for her day to day life, it does help her come to terms with the differences she's always had in social situations. Sharing that piece of herself with Cris was a big deal for her, and his reaction is absolutely perfect.

I really enjoyed this novel. It's a great choice for a beach read. None of the conflicts are too deep and I never felt stressed reading it. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read it!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Summer You Were Mine is a second-chance romance for two life-long family friends as they reunite in Italy for their grandparent’s wedding, both dealing with personal issues of their own back in the US.

I’m a sucker for any romance set in Italy and this did not disappoint! I loved the storylines of both main characters, the dreamy Italian setting, and their love story back to each other. The supporting cast in this book was easy to love and reminded me at times of my crazy Italian family. Perfect beach read for the summer!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Felt the book was good and I liked the plot line and the characters but it dragged on a bit more than it needed to

This book took a while for me to get into. I love stories based in Italy. The main characters, Ellie and Cris, were childhood friends when life took them in different directions. When they reunite for their grandparents wedding, all the memories of their past came to light. The story develops when the two realize their connection is still strong. A nice beach read but not one of my favorites.

The Summer You Were Mine is the perfect beach read that just happens to be set in Italy. After years apart, Cris and Ellie return to Italy for the wedding of their grandparents to each other. Reeling from her past history with Cris, a recent breakup, and her new autism diagnosis, can Ellie let her guard down with Cris? Will they find love like their grandparents? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I thought the storyline was sweet and I liked the main characters and supporting characters alike. The book has potential. It needs a really good edit. The typos and grammatical errors made for a somewhat choppy reading experience.

If you're looking for a summer/beach read set in beautiful Italy following a slow-burn second-chance romance, then you might like this book!

Ellie and Cris are childhood friends that reconnect while going through their own personal struggles and growth. In the second half, I found myself wanting to root for them, individually and as a couple, as you learn about their past mistakes and imperfections. It's not overly deep while still taking you through an emotional journey.

I loved the beautiful descriptions of the Italian setting but also found myself struggling with the amount of Italian phrases/dialogue that often left out context or translation on what it meant. I think these phrases were meant to immerse you within the setting or be cute in a contemporary romance sense, however, I think clarification and/or less frequent use would be helpful.

Overall, I was really looking forward to a second-chance romance, but it felt like it never truly captured my full attention. Some scenes were difficult to follow, and I found myself rereading sections to grasp what was happening. I think this book has great potential and may be popular with some readers; it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to review this book.

NetGalley Review: Published review on Goodreads - Posted on 04/20/2025

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ellie & Cris are a sweet duo. They have a rocky history and not a great track record when it comes to communication. Despite not having seen each other in years, they decide to team up for the benefit of them both, and spend the summer together.
I thought this was a cute sweet story for these two, and I enjoyed the representation of autism as well as making mistakes and owning them, on all parties. I also really loved the 3 generations of love stories that we got to see throughout.
However, I gave it 3 stars because I didn’t feel invested in the first half of the book. The flipping of narration wasn’t really clear which made it at times confusing for me. Maybe the amount of character names that weren’t vital to the story was also a bit much as well. The last half of the book I didn’t want to put down, it felt much more fast paced and exciting and I wanted to know what happened next. It just took awhile to reach that point.

2.5 stars - rounded up to 3!
This book sounded like my dream. A second chance romance on the Amalfi Coast? Immediately sold. It sounded idilic. I think this book had a lot of promise and potential but that it sort of fell flat in the execution. The writing felt all over the place and a little chaotic to me, and I struggled to like the main characters.
The miscommunication of it all had me going a little crazy as well. And I felt there were just too many familial relationships happening to make it normal. Not only the main couple, but the grandparents and the brothers? Idk about that one.
However, I thought she did a great job of writing an emotional, compelling narrative that drew me in and I liked enough to finish and not DNF.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, & Jill Francis for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

"The Summer You Were Mine" by Jill Francis is a romantic novel set on the stunning Italian coast, where Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte, known as Cris, find themselves reunited after years apart. Their families have been close for generations, and Ellie and Cris were once friends, even sharing a brief romantic moment fourteen summers ago. Now, they are both facing challenges in their lives. Ellie's career as a sports talk show host has crumbled, and she is struggling to come to terms with her recent diagnosis of being neurodivergent. Cris, a retired elite swimmer, is dealing with accusations of using a banned substance.

As Ellie and Cris find themselves back in Chiavari for their grandparents' wedding, they make a deal: Ellie will interview Cris for her show to help clear his name, and Cris will appear on Ellie's show to help her career. This agreement brings them closer, and they begin to rekindle the romance they shared as teenagers. However, their past relationship was cut short by a misunderstanding, and they must confront those unresolved issues if they want to make their second chance work.

The novel explores the complexities of second-chance romance, with Ellie and Cris navigating their past and present feelings for each other. The Italian setting adds a romantic and nostalgic backdrop to their story, with descriptions of the beautiful beaches, delicious food, and vibrant culture. The book also delves into themes of self-discovery and acceptance, as Ellie grapples with her neurodiversity and Cris confronts the accusations against him.

Some readers have praised the book for its relatable characters, particularly Ellie's portrayal of a neurodivergent individual. The Italian setting is also a popular aspect, with many readers enjoying the descriptions of the food, fashion, and atmosphere. However, some readers found the romance to be a bit unbelievable and the plot to be slow and contrived. They also criticized the overuse of Italian phrases, which they felt made the book difficult to follow.

Despite these criticisms, "The Summer You Were Mine" is a charming and heartwarming read that offers a glimpse into the complexities of love, second chances, and self-discovery. The novel is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy romantic stories set in beautiful locations, with characters who are flawed but ultimately lovable.

The Sumer You Were Mine was definitely a cute summer romance book but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. My main problem was the amount of Italian phrases - which wouldn’t have been a problem if I knew what they meant. I just don’t want to be googling every few minutes while reading.

I did love how relatable Ellie was though and love how the author represented neurodivergents!

The Italian setting makes this the perfect summer beach read. A fun debut second chance romance. Check it out! You don’t want to miss out@

I personally think this story was to made specifically as a beach read. The endless mentioning of fashions and the atmospheric
scent of foods as well as nature, give the vibe of vacation mode. I would definitely recommend this to a friend who needs a poolside read the doesn’t require you to have to fully commit to the characters.

Review: The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis

This book gave me all the nostalgic, bittersweet summer romance vibes I didn’t know I was craving. I absolutely love second chance romances and this was no exception!
Jill Francis does such a great job capturing the push and pull of old feelings. She also makes me want to travel to Italian which I have never been!