Book Review: The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis
🌅 Expected Publication: July 1, 2025 | St. Martin’s Griffin
⭐️ 4/5 stars
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Summer You Were Mine is a wistful, slow-burn second-chance romance that pairs emotional depth with sun-drenched escapism. It’s everything a great summer read should be—tender, introspective, a little messy, and totally transportive.

Jill Francis brings us into the lives of two childhood friends-turned-almost-lovers who reunite under complicated circumstances on the Italian Riviera. Ellie Beltrami is licking her wounds after a spectacular on-air implosion tanks her career as a sports talk show host. Cristiano Conte is a recently retired Olympic swimmer, still reeling from a doping accusation and unsure of who he is without a pool beneath his feet. They’re both at crossroads—personally and professionally—when their grandparents (hers and his) announce they’re getting married and invite both fractured families to Chiavari for the wedding.

Cue awkward family dinners, long-buried feelings, and the kind of “I remember when” moments that make you ache with nostalgia. Fourteen years ago, Ellie and Cris shared a kiss that could have changed everything. Instead, life intervened, and both walked away with more baggage than closure. Now, forced into proximity by familial duty and emotional inertia, they strike a deal: an exclusive interview to resurrect Ellie’s career in exchange for a platform where Cris can tell his side of the story. Naturally, that’s just the beginning.

Francis doesn’t rely on melodrama or insta-love. She builds the tension slowly, letting the reader sit with the characters in their discomfort. Ellie and Cris are not perfect. They’re stubborn, guarded, and sometimes frustrating. But they’re also vulnerable in ways that feel deeply human. The novel isn’t just about love—it’s about shame, regret, self-discovery, and the scary, liberating act of owning your truth.

One of the most powerful threads is Ellie’s recent autism diagnosis. It’s not shoehorned in or used for emotional manipulation. Instead, it’s part of who she is—quietly shaping her worldview, her interactions, and her relationship with Cris. The narrative respects her interiority. Her realization that her brain works differently isn’t a twist; it’s a lens. And Cris, to his credit, doesn’t flinch. His steady, unflinching acceptance of her is one of the most heartwarming aspects of the book.

Chiavari, with its lemon trees, sun-soaked terraces, and late-night gelato runs, is more than a backdrop—it’s a mood. Francis’ descriptions of the Italian coast are vivid without being overwrought. You can feel the heat rising off the pavement, taste the espresso, and smell the sea air. Whether she’s writing about family dinners under string lights or the quiet intimacy of an early morning swim, Francis knows how to place the reader in the scene.

This isn’t just Ellie and Cris’s story. Their families—complicated, loud, loving, dysfunctional—bring layers of drama and warmth. The upcoming wedding between Ellie’s grandmother and Cris’s grandfather is more than a quirky plot point; it’s a catalyst that pushes every character to reflect on what it means to love again after heartbreak. The generational dynamics are rich and grounded, adding depth to the central romance.

The pacing does sag slightly in the middle, and the frequent use of untranslated Italian phrases may frustrate readers not fluent in the language. While it adds authenticity, a few in-text translations or subtle cues would have been helpful. The reason Ellie and Cris fell apart all those years ago might also feel underwhelming to some—it’s more emotional miscommunication than betrayal. Realistic, yes. Explosive, not quite.

The Summer You Were Mine is more than a romance—it’s a story about timing, identity, and the fragility of human connection. It doesn’t rely on tropes or contrived obstacles. Instead, it lets its characters grow slowly, painfully, and authentically toward each other. The love story between Ellie and Cris is tender, rooted in shared history and hard-won forgiveness.

This book is ideal for readers who love second-chance romances with emotional payoff, neurodivergent representation that feels honest and grounded, character-driven stories about healing and connection, and a transportive setting that makes you feel like you’re walking the sunlit streets of Italy. If you gravitate toward sports elements that don’t dominate the plot and appreciate family dynamics woven into romance, this one will hit the mark.

Rating: 4/5 – Recommended
Read this book with a spritz in one hand and a little patience for the pace. It’s worth it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

I received a DRC of this book through Netgalley. Romance is not my go-to genre so I was probably the wrong audience for it. I was interested in what the blurb said about the main character being recently diagnosed with autism, but the focus of the book is 99% on romance. The descriptions of Italy were well-written. There was a lot of Italian without knowing all of what was being said which probably helped set the scenery of the book, but left me feeling a little lost. If you like romances, then this second chance romance could be the right book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

DNF
This sounded great and I love a second chance romance., unfortunately I gave up. I didn't care about any character, I didn't particularly like the writing style, and there was too much untranslated Italian for me to figure out what it meant. Never a good sign when I have to re=read fairly early on to try to comprehend what's going on.

Based on the synopsis, I was thinking I’d get maybe a deeper kind of romance, but this was a bit lighter than I was expecting.

The setting for this book was so dreamy. Who doesn’t want to read about the Italian coast in the summer? I was transported to this beautiful place, and could so easily picture all the food and scenery. I also really liked the neurodivergent representation with Ellie, and enjoyed that being explored in an MC role.

As for the romance, it was just ok for me. Both Ellie and Cris felt a little immature at points, and for people who are adults, their behavior got on my nerves at times. The history they had together and the miscommunication with their breakup as teenagers drove me crazy and seemed unrealistic, especially given how close their families are. I was left wanting more from their chemistry.

This one didn’t work out for me, but I can see others enjoying it.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I tried. Really tried. This was one of my most anticipated reads too :(

A beachy, summer Italian wedding with a second-chance romance and cute family dynamics.

This book delivered some very infamous stereotypical lines found in mediocre YA romances, and a specific question comes to mind. Yeah, I just don't love the phrasing the author chose in this supposedly romantic exchange. The writing only contributed to their connection coming across as juvenile and, perhaps, more nostalgic than anything.

The vibes are there, the setup, the backdrop, the supporting characters, but it's still lacking great banter and chemistry to serve a 5 star romance.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a sweet second chance romance on the Italian riviera!

Liked
- Autism representation
- Both main characters actually being adults with careers, not 18-21 year olds with superpowers, ridiculous good looks, and giant dongs
- The bits of Italian scattered throughout the story made it feel more believable. Plus they were almost immediately translated or understandable through context so nothing was missed
- The themes of second chances throughout all the romances in the book (Ellie and Cris, Ellie’s parents, the grandparents)

Meh
- I found it hard to believe someone as abrasive as Ellie who visibly hated sports could ever run a successful podcast about sports. Especially for as long as she did
- It would have been nice to have more insight into Ellie and Cris as children and the blowup that ruined their relationship. It felt like a lot of drama around a kiss


Disliked
- Ellie was hard to like. It felt like in the author’s attempt to show her autism, she just became a jerk
- There were more typos than I usually see in an ARC. Hoping they are fixed before publication!

Overall this was a sweet romance meant for reading on a beach with aperol spritz in hand!

This one was hard for me to follow. Chapters should have whose perspective it’s coming from noted. The families were extremely intertwined and the storyline of the main characters was a bit more far fetched than was believable to me. Love a second chance, but this felt more forced. The mix-in of Italian was sometimes hard to understand what was meant by it. Overall, not something I’d recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

This book could make for a cute summer vacation read. It’s low stakes and sweet romance. It’s a second chance romance, and my only big complaint is that I wish we saw more from their childhood and adolescence that laid the groundwork for a relationship. It does primarily take place in Italy and has a lot of dialogue in Italian that can get confusing at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Summer You Were Mine is a complex story . At every turn, you are thrown a different emotion. And I loved every part of it.

Ellie is really going through it. She is struggling personally and professionally. A recent diagnosis has helped clear up some of her internal struggles .She is not fulfilled at her job, which seems to be her whole life. Her parents are separating, and this trip to Italy for her grandmothers wedding couldn't have come at a worse time. She now has to face the guy who broke her heart 14 years ago.

Cris is a former athlete who is trying to find life after retirement. He seems to have figured out his calling, but doubt from the people in his life and within himself has him second guessing what to do next. After a doping scandle hits the papers, his future is more up in the air than before.

Ella and Cris have known each other their whole lives, and at one point, we're more than friends. Then Cris world got turned upside down, and Ellie was lost in that. They are both dealing with work/life crises and try to use each other to sort that out.

I really did love this book. I'm glad I read it on my Kindle because I used Italian dictionary translation a lot 😄 . I think the ending was perfect, and I got everything out of it that I would have wanted. Im also grateful that Ellie diagnosis wasn't her whole personality and overshadowed her. And I appreciate the growth in both Ellie and Cris.

Thank you, St Martin's Press for the ARC

First of all, the cover is gorgeous. Kudos to the artist. I wish more contemporary romance novels had covers like these instead of the standard two faceless characters flatly on the cover. The setting is one I really enjoyed. The Italian Coast! Nothing could be more romantic. However, with the slow build in the story, I found myself drifting in attention. I also found it difficult to follow closely along when the Italian dialogue was not accompanied by the translation. I looked up the meaning a couple of times and then just lost interest. I liked the characters Ellie and Cris, along with the plot. But somehow I wasn't grabbed by the totality of it all. I might at some point try and give it a reread and see if maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace, but my initial review is one of 2.5 stars. I thank Jill Francis, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

I loved this book. I will admit it started a bit slow but the second half I was invested and was a page turner! I love the chemistry between Cris and Ellie, the dreamy location and food envy. It was sweet, emotional with a dash of healing and embracing change.

Second Chance Romance
Stunning Italian Scenery
Neurodivergent Representation
Family Ties
Forced Proximity
Friends To Lovers

This was a good summer read! I liked following El and Cris, and seeing how their lives separate and come back together, and how a wedding ties it all together.

I did find that the book dragged at times. I loved the idea of the book, but it was a little bit slow. I did fully enjoy all of the beautiful Riviera scenery, that was so well done.

All in all, I liked this book.

I wanted to love this, but I never really got into it. This is a slow story - made slower by my need to go look up the translations of Italian dialogue that goes largely undefined. (It isn’t necessary dialogue, but I still wanted to know). Also, this book didn’t really feel like a love story to me. I’d define it as Ellie’s journey of self-discovery and growth in a gorgeous Italian setting. She does also find love [a second chance romance], but that plotline was less interesting and important than the more monumental issues thrown at her [her job/career uncertainty, her parents’ divorce announcement, and her recent autism diagnosis]. Maybe it’s because the characters and their relationship lacked depth and relatability. I was not particularly vested in their relationship. I was, however, satisfied with the growth and direction the characters found for themselves by the end of the novel. That, along with the wonderful descriptions of Chiavari and the vibrant people of that town, made this, ultimately, a satisfying read.

Ellie and Cristiano have known each other their entire life. Their families are friends and they come from Chiavari, a small city on the Italian Riviera.
When they were young they had a brief encounter, but each went their separatee ways. They are brought together years later when their family attends a marriage of their respective grandparents. They each are feeling a ‘little lost” to what is next in their lives.
Is it possible they might get a chance of love? I enjoyed that this book dealt with a someone who has autism and how that might affect their relationship. Understanding someone and all their needs is important in any relationship.
Thank you St. Martins Press for this copy. This was my first novel by this author.

3.5 ⭐️

A second-chance romance set in Italy, yes, please! El and Cris have known each other since they were kids, but a kiss gone wrong when they were teens led them to not talk for 12 years. They end up reconnecting at their grandparents' wedding. This was a very heartfelt, emotional journal between these two friends. We have loss, an autistic rep, divorcing parents, second chances, and a career in jeopardy, told seamlessly with beautiful Italy as the background.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc.

Sorry to say it wasn’t for me. I don’t speak Italian and there’s no translation or indicator to the large amounts of Italian throughout the book.

The banter didn’t get me between the two love interests and the main character is thoroughly judgemental and unliveable. I think being bitter for ten years over a kiss means she would need to grow up (i understand they’re just characters but still…)

I appreciate the opportunity to read and hope the book finds the audience who enjoys it!

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 ⭐️