Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Chiavari on the Italian Riviera, The Summer You Were Mine is a second chance romance that blends family, heartache, and self-discovery in a heartfelt and enjoyable read.

Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have known each other forever—their grandparents and parents are lifelong friends, and they too once shared a close bond. But a romantic encounter fourteen summers ago changed everything, leaving a silence that stretched into adulthood. Now, they’re reunited in Chiavari for the unexpected (and charming!) wedding of Ellie’s grandmother and Cris’s grandfather.

Both Ellie and Cris arrive in town carrying heavy emotional baggage—she’s dealing with the public fallout of her sports talk show implosion, while he’s facing retirement and a doping scandal that’s damaged his once-pristine reputation as an elite swimmer. When they strike a deal to help restore each other’s careers, it’s only a matter of time before sparks fly and old feelings resurface.

I really enjoyed the setting and family dynamics in this novel. Chiavari, with its seaside charm and winding streets, comes alive on the page. I also loved the extended family characters, especially the sweet subplot between the grandparents. It added a lovely layer to the main story and gave the book even more heart.

While Ellie’s recent discovery that she is neurodivergent is mentioned, I found that aspect wasn’t explored in depth. I appreciate when stories include neurodivergent characters to help normalize the experience, but in this case, it wasn’t entirely clear how it influenced Ellie’s journey beyond her own introspection.

As for the romance, it delivers what fans of second chance love stories will expect—playful banter, emotional misunderstandings, and ultimately, healing. There’s also a subplot involving Ellie’s parents, who are pretending their marriage is fine for the sake of the wedding, which neither added nor detracted much for me, but it did help explain some of Ellie’s feelings about love and commitment.

Final Thoughts:

The Summer You Were Mine is a heartfelt story of finding yourself, letting go of the past, and taking a chance on love—again. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven romance set in vivid, sun-soaked locations.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Meet Ellie & Cris. He's a retired Olympic swimmer that's been defamed; she’s the modern-day Dr. Phil for athletes… and she just majorly F’ed up live on-air. Returning to their childhood stomping grounds in a beachside Italian town for a family wedding, the two are forced to confront one another after years apart while simultaneously facing the implosion of their reputation and livelihood.

As an Italy aficionado, I love the spot-on descriptions of the Italian Riviera and its culture as well as the splattering of Italian words and phrases.

My one and only critique would be that the two adults, who are well-versed in therapy / psychology, and generally communicate their feelings well... just not at all with each other. It was a bit frustrating, although that also seems intentional for the purpose of the story. Especially as it relates to Ellie's parents and how she was raised.

This was such a sweet story, perfect for the summer, with a hint of spice but nothing too graphic.

Read if you love:
-Friends to Lovers
-Second Chance Romances
-Forced Proximity
-Dreamy Italian Setting
-Autism-Rep

OVERALL: 3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC! Unfortunately, this book was Meh to me. I was drawn in for the description of italian-coast summer, but felt that the book fell slightly flat. Resolution of the story- line at the end was good, but still found myself struggling to get there.

I feel like this book was written as a long love letter to the Italian coast. In that, it was basically a lot of descriptions of the Italian coast and different restaurants and beaches and vineyards being described for pages and pages. I felt that maybe the plot was lost at a couple of points throughout the book and that took me out of the world a couple of times. The FMC was also really annoying, and I could not care about any of her problems for some reason. The MMC was also so nonchalant about the FMC that if they had not met up coincidentally again after all these years apart, he probably never would have reached out to her. We hate a man that does not TRY.

I was very excited about this book. The trope! The Amalfi Coast of Italy-grab me an Aperol Spritz, please and thank. Having Autism representation and chronic pain representation? That made the book so appealing. The whole premise of the story sounded lovely. Sounded. In the execution? It didn’t work for me. And I hate to say that. I wanted this to work.

Ellie and Cris separately are interesting characters. Together, they are boring as paste. I got to the point where I just wanted to know what was going on with the grandparents. In fact, the book might have been more interesting if it was about the grandparents. I thought it was incredibly rude of Gio and Peggy to dump on Ellie that they were divorcing.

Many books these days use pop up footnotes and this book would have benefited from it for the Italian phrases and words. The onus should not be on the reader to use a translation program in order to understand what is written in the book.

Again, I really was looking forward to reading this book and I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good second-chance romance, and The Summer You Were Mine delivered in the best way. Ellie and Cris grew up spending summers together in Italy, their families completely intertwined. But things fell apart years ago, and now they’re back in their hometown for their grandparents’ wedding—both dealing with careers that just blew up in very public ways. Ellie, a sports talk show host, is trying to recover from a major on-air disaster, and Cris, a retired Olympic swimmer, is fighting to clear his name after a doping scandal.
They strike a deal—Ellie gets an exclusive interview to help her career, and Cris gets a chance to tell his side of the story. Easy enough, right? Except the chemistry between them never really went away, and spending time together again forces them to face the feelings (and the heartbreak) they never dealt with.
This book has everything—forced proximity, childhood crushes turning into something more, family drama, and a gorgeous Italian setting. Ellie’s neurodivergence is written in such a real and relatable way, and Cris is the perfect mix of broody and sweet. Their banter is fun, their emotional moments hit hard, and their second chance feels so earned.
The family dynamic was one of my favorite parts. It’s messy, but it’s also warm and full of love, and I loved how their families played such a big role in their story. The conflict at the end made sense (no unnecessary drama, thank you), and the ending was so satisfying. If you love second-chance romances with all the emotions, this one’s worth picking up!

᪥ Second Chance
᪥ Childhood Friends
᪥ Italian Riviera
᪥ 3rd Person POV

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis is a sun-soaked whirlwind of love, secrets, and second chances that had me hooked from page one. With heartfelt moments and irresistible chemistry, it’s the perfect beach read for anyone craving a little romance and a lot of feels. Jill Francis captures the magic of summer—and the ache of what might have been—with pitch-perfect charm.

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.

I was kindly provided with the arc of this book by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange of an honest review, thank you. ✨

4 ⭐️

Oh my, we’re so close to summer and now I need to go to the Italian riviera and find the love of my life please!! I enjoyed this book and all their characters, and I might discovered that I have a weakness for Italian characters 🙂‍↔️ I really enjoyed all the family dynamics and the settings, and of course Cris and Ellie, I loved how they did found their happily ever after even with all the time that passed and all the things that seemed to be happening against them to find their second chance ✨

The Summer You Were Mine is a sweet second-chance romance set against the dreamy backdrop of Italy. Two childhood friends reunite at a wedding and must confront their lingering feelings. While the setting is stunning and perfect for a poolside read, the story moves slowly at times, and I wanted more depth and backstory from the characters. Still, it’s a light, enjoyable escape.

This is a childhood-friends-to-almost-lovers, to second-chance in adulthood trope. Ellie & Cris grew up spending every childhood summer together in Italy with their families. They shared a kiss (once) as teens, and then lost touch for 14 years. Now, they’re in forced proximity for a family wedding. They’re both experiencing career crises and decide to do a project together to try and redeem both of their professional reputations.

Let’s start with what I liked: The setting. I want to go eat and drink on the Italian coast. I also liked the ASD representation. Ellie was recently diagnosed and is reexamining a lot of her past experiences in light of this new information. She’s on a self-discovery journey about this and other aspects of her identity.

I have a weakness for second chance romances. I love being pulled into the early chemistry and love the build-up to the eventual reconnection. That’s what I was hoping for but I just never felt much. I couldn’t connect with the characters, their problems, or the romance plot. It’s a bummer, because I think it’s generally well-written but lacks emotional impact.

Thanks to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press) & NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 7/1/25

This was a slow read for me and I struggled to get through it. I just didn’t care about the story or the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie returns to Italy for her grandparents' wedding and unexpectedly reunites with Cris—her childhood love who broke her heart. As they spend the summer together, navigating personal struggles and undeniable chemistry, they must decide if they can overcome the past and embrace a future together.

The Summer You Were Mine is a heartfelt romance about rediscovery, forgiveness, and the power of love.

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.

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.