⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
this is a beautiful story, following generations of a family and their love stories, but mainly follows cris and ellie. it is truly heart warming. it is a second-chance romance with an italian backdrop, what more could a romance reader want!

Despite its promising Italian coastal setting, "The Summer You Were Mine" unfortunately falls flat as a second-chance romance. The premise that two people would remain emotionally frozen for over a decade after a single teenage kiss stretched credibility too far. The characters' inability to communicate effectively made it difficult to root for their relationship, and Ellie's reactions often felt disproportionate even considering her autism diagnosis. The writing itself presented challenges with disjointed narrative flow and delayed important information. Add in the unlikely coincidence of multiple romantic pairings across the same families, and the story ultimately sacrificed authenticity for convenience. While I wanted to get lost in this summer romance, I found myself struggling to finish instead.

title: The Summer You Were Mine

author: Jill Francis

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: July 1, 2025

pages: 352

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: parental death in distant past

summary: Just before Emmie will leave NYC for Italy to attend her grandmother's wedding, she accidentally tells the brutal truth on the air at her podcast. Even worse, her childhood friend turned first love Cris will be there, too. It turns out, that Cris is going through a work-related crisis of his own. They wonder if he makes an appearance on her podcast, could it help revive both of their images?

tropes:

second-chance romance
family friends
professional athlete
neurodivergence
parents' marriage on the rocks

what I liked:

the family scenes and scenes of Italy
both main characters' professional ordeals
Cris's water-polo-playing/ playboy/ reality tv star twin brothers
Emmie's relationship with her brother
representation of autism

what I didn’t like: too quick to believe the worst without talking

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

this was a good book! I felt like I was there in Italy on the coast, enjoying the perfect beaches. I do like the themes of family, relationships, and growth, plus all of the familial drama that came along with it all. Over all it was a great read!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I really thought I was going to love this book. It encompasses athletes and second chances, both of which I am usually all for. While I didn’t HATE it, I found it very hard to get into the storyline here. The beginning was slow and fast at the same time, almost as though there was too much information and not enough simultaneously. The writing wasn’t bad at all and character development was decent. Overall I just found it lacklustre and wish it had had just a little more drama and excitement.

I rarely DNF books, but The Summer You Were Mine just didn’t work for me. I went in excited for a second-chance romance, but unfortunately, it fell flat on several fronts.
From the start, I found myself confused. Key details about the characters and their relationships were often left out until sentences later, which made it hard to stay grounded in the story. I understand this was an ARC, and I expect some rough edges, but the number of grammatical errors and run-on sentences made the pacing difficult. There were also moments when dialogue wasn’t set apart with quotation marks, which pulled me out of the narrative more times than I can count.
As for the plot, I struggled to buy into the premise. The idea that a kiss from their teenage years could cause two people to spend ten years in emotional turmoil and complete silence just didn’t feel believable to me. I wanted to root for these characters, but their motivations and reactions didn’t resonate.
I hope future editing rounds can smooth out some of the issues, but ultimately, this story didn’t capture me the way I’d hoped.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

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, I felt the entire premise unbelievable - breaking up over 1 kiss as teens and never talking for 10+ years but then getting too scared to run into each other again. 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.

Also their families seem a little too incestuous with the grandparents, the main couple, and the main couples' brothers all getting together?

This felt very much like a Carley Fortune summer novel and I loved that. The characters were very well developed. The story itself was steady in pace and written in a very heartfelt manner. A very cozy read that had me craving summer!

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Frances

This is the perfect book for you if you're looking for:

✔️ Second chance romance
✔️ Italian setting
✔️ Neurospicy main character
✔️ Work scandals
✔️ The one that got away
✔️ 3rd person POV

"Nostalgia was the worst. It was the Instagram of memories."

The Summer You Were Mine tells the story of Ellie and Cris. Childhood friends, interconnected family, a shared kiss in the past ... All coming back together for a wedding in Italy. There is a whole host of characters for you to get attached too.

“Lord Jesus and Dolly Parton" I'm ready for a trip to Italy!

That being said I wasn't able to connect to the characters (at no fault of the author or the characters).. I will give this book a second chance this summer 🤞

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this book.

If you love second-chance romances, messy emotions, and the ultimate Italian summer vibes *The Summer You Were Mine* is about to be your next obsession. Ellie and Cris had that “almost something” fourteen summers ago—before life pulled them in completely different directions. Ellie is navigating a world that doesn’t always get her, and Cris is the broody, secretly-soft athlete who never quite let her go. This book is peak *enemies-to-lovers* meets *forced proximity*, with all the drama, longing, and sun-soaked tension you could want. The romance? Slow-burn perfection. The banter? Top-tier. The Italian setting? So vivid you’ll practically feel the ocean breeze, making this the ultimate beach read. If you’re into Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan, or anything that makes your heart ache in the best way—grab this one. *The Summer You Were Mine* is out July 1, 2025, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it. Thank you to NetGalley and Jill Francis!

An absolutely delightful book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it in advance.
The author captivated me from the very first words, and as the story unfolded, I found myself so engrossed that I couldn't put the book down for even a second. I'm obsessed!!!

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis, is a rom com set in the Italian Riviera. Navigating a diagnosis with ASD, Ellie, a media host coming off a career destroying moment, reunites with her former flame, a retired Olympic athlete at their grandparents wedding in Italy. What follows is a second change romance set in one of the world most beautiful settings. This was an enjoyable read, albeit a bit predictable, but fans of the slow burn and second chance romance will love this one! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Years after a falling out and a missed chance at love, childhood friends Ellie and Cris reconnect at a summer wedding in Italy in the wake of both of their careers falling apart. As they work together to fix their careers, they rediscover their connection and work to overcome their many differences.

I really loved the scenery in this book! Italy makes for the perfect romantic summer setting and everything is described perfectly. I really loved both Ellie and Cris and loved seeing them get a second chance. Their tension and chemistry from the beginning was really enjoyable, especially when they went to pick up the wine.

I'm so glad I read this on my Kindle because a lot of the Italian dialogue didn't have translations, but it could be inferred what they're saying if needed. I also found Ellie and Cris to be a little too dramatic with their conflicts and felt like they made a bigger deal about them then needed. Overall, it was a cute book though!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy of this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for making this ARC available on NetGalley! The Summer You Were Mine is a debut novel from Jill Francis. While I loved the dreamy backdrop of the Italian coast and the memories of both Cris and Ellie's summers there, I found the impact of their breakup from when they were young was hard for me to grasp. It was a very long time ago, and since the connection in the present day wasn't there for me, the believability of their connection in the past was a struggle for me as well. I adored the backdrop of this being their grandparent's wedding that forced them to see each other again and found it to be a sweet second chance romance.

The things I loved about this book were:
-the backdrop of Italy
-the scenery
-the Italian Dialogue sprinkled throughout

Where it lacked:
-the chemistry between the two main characters
-the breakup when they were younger.

This was still a fun beachy read, that had me aching for summer while looking out at the barren winter of my bedroom window.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

I received an ARC of The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Frances from NetGalley in return for an honest review. Newly diagnosed with Autism, Ellie Beltrami, implodes her career after leaving her microphone on and trashing the guest she just finished interviewing. Hours later, she hops on a plane to her home away from home in picturesque coastal town Chiavari, Italy to see her grandmother get married. After a decade of intentional separation, Ellie encounters her childhood best friend, former Olympic swimmer Cris, who also happens to be her biggest heartbreak to date. But wait, there’s more, Ellie’s grandmother is marrying Cris’ grandfather!
As the drama and heartbreak unfolds, the descriptions of the ivy-covered trellises make a perfect backdrop for a summer romance. My only critique is that the action was slow and dramatized much like the descriptions of summer heat in Italy.
Overall, I enjoyed this summer read and big kudos to Frances for creating a neurodiverse main character.

I couldn’t buy into this book. The setting was beautiful and the author did a wonderful job making you feel like you were visiting Italy. However, I could not buy into the romance and I did not feel a major connection with the main characters. This one just fell flat for me. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my eARC.

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis is a second-chance romance set in the Italian Riviera. Ellie, a media personality navigating a recent autism diagnosis, reunites with Cristiano, a retired Olympic swimmer, at their grandparents’ wedding. Their rekindled connection is heartfelt, and the setting is beautifully described.

While the neurodiversity representation adds depth, the story felt predictable at times, and the use of untranslated Italian phrases was distracting. Overall, it’s an enjoyable but not particularly memorable read—good for fans of slow-burn romances in scenic settings.

I loved the premise of this book, but the execution fell a bit flat for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the FMC and I had a hard time rooting for her. I feel like she overreacts to every single thing and I just got sick of it. I did enjoy the Italian setting and how it was described. It really transported me to Italy. Even though this book wasn’t my favorite, I would still give this author another shot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jill Francis delivers a beautifully nostalgic, deeply emotional second-chance romance in The Summer You Were Mine. Set against the dreamy backdrop of the Italian Riviera, this novel captures the complexities of rekindled love, personal growth, and finding home in both a place and a person.

Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have been tied together since childhood—their families are deeply intertwined, their summers in Chiavari filled with shared history. But after a falling out fourteen years ago, their connection was left in the past. Now, they’re returning for the marriage of their grandparents, both carrying wounds from recent public downfalls—Ellie, a once-successful sports talk show host whose career imploded, and Cris, an elite swimmer forced into early retirement under the shadow of a doping accusation.

A mutual deal brings them together again—an exclusive interview that could resurrect Ellie’s career and help Cris clear his name. But as old sparks reignite, they’re forced to confront the past that tore them apart and the lingering question: Is this summer just a fleeting moment, or a chance to rewrite their story?

What Worked:

✔ A Vivid and Evocative Setting – The Italian Riviera comes alive in this book. From the sun-soaked beaches to intimate family gatherings, the atmosphere enhances every moment.
✔ Mature Second-Chance Romance – The chemistry between Ellie and Cris is both longing-filled and tentative, shaped by regret, nostalgia, and unresolved feelings. Their history feels real, and their journey back to each other is earned, not rushed.
✔ Authentic Character Growth – Ellie’s neurodivergent diagnosis adds an important layer to her self-discovery, and Cris’s struggle with his tarnished reputation is handled with depth. Both are at crossroads in life, making their connection feel even more meaningful.
✔ Emotional, But Not Overly Dramatic – While past wounds exist, the angst never feels excessive. Instead, it’s grounded in real emotions, making their love story compelling and rewarding.

What Could Have Been Stronger:

✖ Pacing Slows in the Middle – While the story is beautifully written, there are moments where the narrative lingers too long in introspection, slightly dragging the momentum.
✖ More Closure on the Past Conflict – While their past falling out is revealed gradually, I would have loved a deeper dive into how it truly shaped them beyond just their romance.

Final Thoughts:

The Summer You Were Mine is a deeply romantic, sun-drenched love story about second chances, self-discovery, and healing. Jill Francis captures the magic of summer, the ache of missed opportunities, and the hope that love can still find its way back. If you love slow-burn, emotional contemporary romances with rich settings and compelling characters, this one is a must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5