I have a strong affinity for Ireland, though I’ve never been there, and I think the part of this book I enjoyed the most was the descriptions of the country and the fairy stories the love interest told. That made this contemporary romance just different enough from others, that I think I’ll remember this one for a while. The characters, though not very complex, were interesting and somewhat diverse. I also enjoyed that the plot line didn’t include all the other typical tropes like a long time apart before they come to their senses and realize they are in love. They started dating, seemed to fall for each other, had a small hiccup, but overcame that quickly. It was a refreshing take!

I enjoyed this one a lot! very cute and heart warming. I liked how it was written and the characters and the setting.
While I didn't find the MMC physical attracting (I'm not a tattoo fan, but I know others love that), emotionally and his actions checked all the right boxes. The side characters were fun and the FMC was very relatable.
The entire time, I wanted to keep reading! and I loved it ended with no getting married/engaged/whatever epilogue (obviously it's a HEA tho). I def think this is a good St Pattys read. very heartwarming and makes me want to go to Ireland.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all views and opinions are my own.

Big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC—I really enjoyed this one!

An Irish Summer is a light, feel-good romance that follows Chelsea, a woman whose carefully planned life takes an unexpected turn when she loses her job in Boston. Stepping far outside her comfort zone, she takes a summer job at a hostel in Ireland, where new experiences—and maybe even love—await. From the very beginning, I felt connected to Chelsea. The book does a great job of introducing her in a way that makes her journey engaging right away. The Irish setting was beautifully described, so much so that I felt transported despite never having been there myself. The romance was sweet, and I really appreciated how respectful the love interest was—something I always look for in contemporary romance.

One of the most compelling aspects of the story was Chelsea’s internal struggle—was she holding onto old dreams just because they were familiar, or was it time to forge a new path? While her indecisiveness was frustrating at times, it ultimately played a meaningful role in her character development. If you’re in the mood for a charming, rom-com set against the backdrop of a dreamy Irish summer, this is a great pick!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It was a fun, quick read. It's the perfect summer romance book. I visited Ireland several years ago and this book brought me right back into the magic of that county. It really is a place like no other and the book captured that. It wrapped up nicely in a happy ending.

once again, I find myself yearning for Ireland. This book has convinced me even more that it’s time for me to MOVE.

The B&B that Chelsea works at is closing, so she reluctantly takes the opportunity to move to Galway for the summer to work at the owner’s sister’s hostel. She gets there thinking that this is just a pit stop in the greater plan she has for her life - cushy job, married by 35, white picket fence, the whole lot. But once she meets Collin, the hostel’s tour guide and Jack of all trades, cracks start to form in her plan. Collin is intent to get the cynical Chelsea to fall in love with Ireland, and as her feelings for Ireland and Collin become intertwined, Chelsea starts to doubt what she really wants in life, and what will really make her happy.

Chelsea’s plight is so relatable - American girl who’s been told all her life that success and happiness will come only after you’ve achieved the American dream. But this book challenges that, and asks the reader the question - what if happiness could come first? What does “success” really look like, and are the things you thought you needed really necessary?

Separate from the existential ponderings, this book was FUNNY. Chelsea and Collin had fantastic chemistry and banter. That man had me giggling and kicking my feet like no other. I would go ANYWHERE with Collin 😭 their romance felt realistic and well paced. I just felt like her friend back home and Florence really only existed as a sounding board for Chelsea’s feelings, but overall a really well written book and I long for the Cliffs of Moher to change me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copy to review!

Would I want to move to Ireland for the summer and work at a hostel if I were twentysomething with no family responsibilities? Heck yes, sign me up! Chelsea, not so much. She’s had her life planned—stability, suburbs, 2.5 kids—and when it’s ripped out from under her, she’s at a loss. The Boston B&B she planned to make her career is closing, and when the owners offer her a job at their sister property in Galway, Ireland, she takes it with the idea that she can use the time to find her next Boston job.

But, the people at the Wanderer have other ideas—how can anyone be such a Debbie Downer and be determined to hate Ireland? Friendly and adorable Collin takes matters into his own hands and strikes a deal. He’ll show her his country and she can open her mind just a bit. And it’s just a harmless summer fling, right???

The camaraderie of the hostel characters along with the magic of Ireland really stood out in An Irish Summer. I felt like I was there: in the hostel, seeing the Irish natural wonders, drinking in the pub, going to a hurling match, and just hanging with the characters. I loved the chemistry between Collin and Chelsea and how it slowly escalated. I did have a hard time with Chelsea. She was just so unlikeable and rigid, and I was wondering why anyone bothered with her considering her snotty attitude when she arrived. She definitely got better, but it was a bit of a struggle. At least everything else about the book made up for her. Overall, it was a cute and enjoyable book.

3.5 stars

n Irish Summer is one of those books that you become so invested in that you cannot stop reading because you fear that you will miss out on what the characters will do next. There were so many times that I felt I was in Ireland and traveling the countryside along with Chelsea and her friends. This book had everything. Friendship, adventure, love, and finding what you truly want and I couldn’t get enough of it.

There were many times I wanted to just scream at Chelsea to wake up! You have this amazing adventure just handed to you. Live it up! Enjoy! Do you know how many people would just love to be in your shoes!!!! She was at times frustrating but she was also so relatable.

Chelsea has a plan and nothing will deter her from it. She is literally handed this amazing opportunity to spend a summer in Ireland working at a hostel. Instead of taking the experience as just that, a once-in-a lifetime experience, she feels it's a detour on the path she has laid out for herself. It’s not Boston, it’s not a hotel, it's not the “dream job”.

Little by little though she slowly welcomes the magic that Ireland has to offer. This was such a beautiful story and not only was it about finding love, it was about finding yourself, making a new life, accepting new friends, and falling in love with a plan.

I really enjoyed this book! It was light and very enjoyable!

Chelsea is a driven woman with her life plan laid out in front of her. After losing her job, she decideds to take a summer job at a hostel in Ireland while she looks for a new job back in Boston. She is so set on her life plan that she almost misses out on what is right in front of her. The male character in the book was tender and mature. Definitely a Hallmark feel of a book.

This book took me to Ireland, a place I have always wanted to visit.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for providing me the ARC of this book!

Such a cute book! I loved the characters and the plot to go with. I have always dreamed of going to Ireland, so this was a great book to me! Cute and I'd definitely recommend it!

After she loses her job at a boutique hotel, Chelsea Gold is given an opportunity to work for the summer at a small hostel in Ireland. Her dreams of working for a high end hotel as an event manager were firmly set in her mind. Her first days in the Irish hostel challenges all of her pre=conceived notions of how life would be in Ireland. Meeting Collin Finnegan, the tour guide for the hostel, changes her idea of what her life should look like. As she is drawn into life at The Wanderer hostel, she finds herself and her dreams changing. Her statement of "Where do you go when you realize your dream isn't your dream at all? When you realize your new dream is the exact thing you thought you never wanted?" reveals a pivotal change in her thinking..

This book is good for a light read, but had me frustrated by her obsession with Collin's tattoos, like that alone would make him attractive. The byplay between them feels a little forced, especially in the beginning of the book. Quirky characters and situations are the things that keep this book entertaining.

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

"Maybe there was something to be said for taking risks after all"

4.25 stars

What a love letter to Ireland!!

Meet Chelsea. Her life has always gone according to plan and she's completely happy in her current life. Until her employers inform her they are closing their B&B. Then everything she thought about her life goes up in flames! She's been given the opportunity to work for a hostel in Ireland for the summer while she figures out the next step in her long term life plan.

But Chelsea is not excited. She has no interest in going to Ireland, learning about Galway, and definitely not interested in shared living space with a bedroom the size of a closet. The hostel, The Wanderer, and it's lovable staff however have other plans for her. She befriends Flo, Lars, and Collin who the later forces her on trips around the country to see all that Ireland has to offer.

Suddenly she's not so sure about her long term plan to return to Boston. Does she actually want to be an event planner for a hotel? Or was that her old dream? And what about the feelings she's having for Collin? Do they mean anything? Is it just a summer fling or something more?

I LOVED IT. Every description of the Ireland countryside brought me back to a time when I was able to travel and see all the sights. It is such a beautiful place and Alexandra Paige captures it through her storytelling. I also enjoyed watching Chelsea come around and find a new side to her self. And of course, her burgeoning romance with Collin was so swoony. Love love love.

I can't say enough good things - except thank you for this story and for reminding me how much I love Ireland. I need to re read this book ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book took me a little while to get into. I think part of that might have been coming off several books I really enjoyed. The beginning felt quite predictable, with minimal build-up to the romance, and I struggled to connect with the FMC initially. However, as the story progressed, it found its rhythm, and I grew more invested in her journey in Ireland.

As someone who has traveled to Ireland, I really appreciated the book’s nods to Irish culture, locations, and traditions—it added an authentic touch to the narrative. By the end, I would say it’s a solid 3.75 stars. While the story was quite predictable, I still enjoyed the read overall, and it ended up being a cute, heartwarming journey.

First and foremost, thank you to Alexandra Paige, Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of Only in Your Dreams in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
After losing her job at a beloved Boston B&B, Chelsea reluctantly accepts a summer gig at its sister hostel in Galway, Ireland. Struggling with the constant rain, shared bathrooms, and a sense of displacement, she’s counting down the days until she can return home. But when charming tour guide Collin challenges her to fully experience Ireland before passing judgment, Chelsea finds herself embracing adventure—and an unexpected romance. As summer fades, she must decide between the familiarity of home and the possibility of something new.

Short Opinion:
It took me a while to connect with this book, and while I eventually warmed up to it, some of the writing felt disjointed. Chelsea’s stubbornness wore on me at times, but Collin completely carried the romance with his charm. I genuinely enjoyed the descriptions of the Irish scenery, and felt like I was there!

In-Depth Opinion:
I struggled to get into this book, and it wasn’t until the halfway mark that I started feeling truly invested. Some parts of the writing felt disconnected, with abrupt scene transitions and missing details that left me confused. Instead of being told about the power of storytelling within the novel, I wish we had experienced it firsthand. While I liked Chelsea’s character overall, her internal back-and-forth and last-minute decisions became frustrating by the end. The romance was carried by Collin—he’s a bit of a stereotypical Irish charmer, but I adored him. The setting was very immersive. I already wanted to go to Ireland, but now its a necessity!

Overall a decent read, good if you are looking for a Summery Hallmark feel set in Ireland!

I enjoyed this fun, fast paced read from Alexandra Paige. I have been to Ireland and it was so fun to read about many of the places we visited as well as finding many of the Irish phrases we heard in the book. "No bother" made its way into my daily vocabulary after two weeks in Ireland.

I was frustrated with Chelsea for how dead set she was against enjoying her time in Ireland. Flo was one of my favorite characters in this book and she shared so much wisdom with Chelsea. Collin was a green flag MMC through and through.

If you're looking for a bit of Ireland for your summer and aren't able to go, An Irish Summer, is a great way to experience the Emerald Isle.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Alexandra Paige for the eARC of An Irish Summer.

I really enjoyed this story of a woman, Chelsea, who loses her hospitality job in Boston and decides to take a summer job in Ireland at a hostel while she gets her like in order. I enjoyed this character’s journey as she struggles through job loss, living in a new country and the process of finding where she would like her life to go. I thought the characters in this book were fun, the romance that develops seemed realistic and overall the story was a really enjoyable read. I think this is a great romcom read for anyone who enjoys reading about other countries and looking for a lighthearted read.

I received a copy from NetGalley.

An Irish Summer tells the story of Chelsea, a recently unemployed die hard Bostonian who is forced to take the only opportunity to keep her from moving back in with her parents—a summer gig at a hostel in Galway Ireland. From day one, the chemistry between Chelsea and Collin is charming and nostalgic. He is hell bent on getting her to fall in love with his Ireland, while also falling for her. Chelsea is hell bent on moving back to Boston after her two month Ireland stint, but finds it harder and harder to fight the charm of Ireland and one specific fairy story telling Irishman.

Coworkers/close proximity/just for the summer/slow burn.

Typos in the copy I read:
Page 111 typo with Lars “said” with a chuckle
Page 151 typo “made me it even harder” should be “made it even harder”

Chelsea must start fresh after her life is upended, losing both her job and apartment. She accepts a summer position at a hostel in Galway, hoping to diversify her hospitality experience and hurry back home to Boston as soon as possible.

The majority of this book focuses on the push and pull of what being successful means, changing dreams, and struggling with abandoning what you thought you always wanted.

This was a very cute read and would be an entertaining vacation or plane read. Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy.

An Irish Summer was a breezy, feel-good rom-com that hit all the right notes for a summer read—though I did wish for a bit more. I’d give it 3/5 stars! I enjoyed it but wouldn’t necessarily read again.

Chelsea leaves her job in Boston to spend a summer working at a hostel in Galway, Ireland, where she meets Colin—charming, local, and all too eager to show her the magic of the country. Their slow-burn romance had me rooting for them, but I’ll be honest, I wanted more chemistry and insight into Colin’s side of things. The setting was beautiful in theory, but it didn’t feel as immersive as I hoped. As someone who’s visited Ireland and Galway specifically, I was expecting more descriptions of the landscape and vibe. And while Chelsea’s growth is nice, her stubbornness and lack of maturity got old fast.

Still, this is a sweet, quick read for anyone craving a light escape to Ireland. It has its moments, but I wanted more depth and development from the characters.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!! ❤️❤️❤️

This was a beautiful book. A young woman, Chelsea, loses her job in Boston and decides to take a job at a hostel in Galway, Ireland. And boy, it turns out to be the best decision she ever made. What a great story about what it means to not only step outside your comfort zone but LEAP out of it.

Ireland absolutely brings out the best in people (irl and fictional). The setting was extremely descriptive and immersive and I felt like I was right back in Galway. Reading this book felt like a trip down memory lane and getting to experience Chelsea's journey alongside her- it felt like I was there again!

At certain times in the book her inability to make a decision and stick with it got quite annoying but overall the story was a beautiful arc of a young woman trying to find her way., IT was definitely fun and if you plan on taking a trip to Ireland anytime soon- make sure to snag this one for a wonderful preview! 4 stars! Slainte!

Thank you Avon and Netgally for arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute. It had some really sweet moments, some beautiful Irish scenes, some fun found-family adventures, and some really great characters. I enjoyed going on outings with Chelsea and Collin and was wishing I could stay at the hostel for a few weeks.

The writing was strong and dialogue was realistic and banter-y (my fave).

Solid 3 stars! A light summer read.