This is one of my favorite books I've read this year. I fell in love right from the first page. I didn't want to put this down once I started it. A great summer read.

SUMMER IN A BOTTLE - Annie Rains

NICE CHARACTERS - 3 stars

Plot - 3 stars - Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, she finds a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again. Lyla worries it will end just as with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.

Writing - 3 stars - Rains has a nice touch with warm and inviting characters and a pleasant story. However, I found the addition of a paranormal element to be distracting and didn't add enough to the story. This plotline felt clumsy and unfinished.

Characters - 4 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Lyla is a professional opinion-writer, but she's finding that she's spending more effort in writing than she used to when writing was fun for her. I liked her a lot as she began to face her life decisions, realizing that she had veered off track because of her fears. Travis is a great main character--strong and independent, having made his choices early in life and being brave enough to follow-through. However, he has a vulnerable side that he's not afraid to reveal to the reader, and then to Lyla.

Format - 4 stars - I like how Rains adds opinions at the beginning of each chapter, setting the reader up for what to expect and where the story is heading. As the story develops, more and more opinions are added as Lyla begins to review her life and make some decisions about the direction she's headed.

Title - 3 stars - When Lyla visits her hometown to handle the sale of her family home, she remembers to resurrect the time capsule she planted years ago. This bottle that she buried is the basis of the whole summer and the whole book. But I thought it was weird to use a soda bottle as a time capsule.

Cover - 4 stars - Nice, bright, summery cover.

Overall - 3 stars - As I've mentioned, I found the paranormal part of the story to be distracting and not necessary. The relationships and Lyla's personal growth were interesting in themselves and didn't need the extra push. I felt that it only added confusion, with items in the time capsule that seemed random and unimportant because the stories behind them weren't really developed fully. And the repeat of once-in-a-lifetime circumstances (like the hurricane and a broken toe) didn't explain (to my mind) why they were significant, just oddly coincidental. What was the point of the repetition? Lyla is a good main character. She's down-to-earth, for the most part, but she also buys into the slight paranormal element in the story, worried about how her unfinished bucket list could affect the rest of her life. I did like watching her growth, however, and could understand and relate to her facing her fears and taking the chance of changing and improving her future. All in all, this was a nice romance, but it could have been improved with a stronger, more believable story line.

I love these kinds of books when I need a lighthearted read without all the crass language and descriptive intimate scenes. Though, I enjoyed Finders Keepers Library more, I still enjoyed this fun read with a little magical touch!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much that I bought a physical copy of it so that I could read it again!

What a cute story!
It pulled on my heartstrings for sure.
Second chance love possibilities???
I loved the chemistry between Lyla and Travis.
I love small town stories♥️
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lyla & Travis are best buddies who have secret crushes on each other….neither one want to jeopardize their friendships,in case it doesn’t work out. Lyla leaves for college & doesn’t stay in contact with Travis. Years pass & Lyla returns home to Echo Cove,to help her parents sell the family home,while they’re on the vacation of their dreams. Lyla digs up a time capsule she buried before leaving town,it’s full of mementos & an uncompleted bucket list of hers & Travis. Next thing you know time is mirroring Lyla’s last year in her hometown. Is this a coincidence,or are things happening for a reason & maybe they need to finish the bucket list. Grab a copy & see how things play out,you won’t be sorry.

Summer in a Bottle is a unique story by Annie Rains. Set in the coastal town of Echo Cove, NC, this novel is a magical tale of the summer Lyla Dune helps her parents when they decide to retire and see the world. Helping includes removing the many boxes of donations and taking them to the thrift store, packing up her own childhood room, and generally watching over the family home until it sells.

Soon after returning to Echo Cove Lyla decides to dig up the time capsule she made ten years ago as a high school senior and buried under a large cedar tree in the backyard. Once Lyla recovers the seven up bottle and begins going through the contents the summer seems to repeat events of that summer before she left for college. But there are also new items to add, including becoming friends with two unlikely women she had known in school and how she reunites with her childhood best friend Travis Painter.

This is such a fun story, written with unexpected surprises and well drawn characters. With touches of magic and different takes on luck, good and bad, Ms. Rains has written a story that follows Lyla as she finds her way, perhaps the pathway she should have found earlier in life, but she is on the right road now. I very much enjoyed this story and I do recommend it!

3.5 stars adjusted to 3 GR stars. Basically this book was just ok. I liked it, but didn't love it. I've been reading Annie Rains, almost since she started. I absolutely love her Sweetwater Springs series and The Finders Keeper Library, which was the start to the Love in Bloom series was really good and I hope she continues on with the series. I just don't really mesh with magical realism in novels, but I do enjoy Annie Rains writing and look forward to what is next for her. There were some cute things in this story, but overall, it doesn't feel real memorable to me.

A cute summer read. I like how it is told in dual point of view and follows the life of Lyla and her childhood friends. She has moved back to her hometown, where she happily left as fast as she could, after her fiancé left her. Her parents are on a cruise and expect her to take care of her old room, so they can sell the house. While there she reconnects, and has great banter with, her friend. She also reconnects with Travis and they gradually go from friend to wanting more. Whether they will choose to act on those feelings remains to be seen.

The fireflies that help Lyla follow her path were a nice touch, that reminded me of catching them to see them light up, then releasing them. A thoughtful story that had many realistic questions and resolutions. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Rains. I received an ARC and this is my honest, voluntary review.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again.

This is a wonderful story that proves that you can go home again. I am a lover of second chance stories, so I was routing for these characters!

*Thank you to the publisher, Kensington for providing me with ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own *

Heartwarming.

There's something about Annie Rains' books. I've read several of her works, and not one of them has failed to captivate me. When I saw Summer In The Bottle, I knew I wanted to check it out. The author and title were what drew me in, and I was eager to read it. As I began reading Summer In The Bottle I knew I was in trouble since I couldn't put down the book. If I weren't on a trip to Disney with my grandma, I would probably spend the entire day reading the book. I had a sense I'd adore this novel, but I wasn't expecting to fall in love. There was so much to enjoy about this book, including the plot, the characters, and everything the characters had to go through, particularly Lyla. Every page drew me into the story more, making me wonder what would happen next. I should know how much this story would affect me.

I adored the friendship that she developed with Allison. I know that she was hesitant at first, but I’m glad that she gave her a chance. At first, just like Lyla, I wasn’t sure about Allison but it didn’t take me long to change my mind about her. She ended up becoming one of my favorite characters. Allison, I believe, was the type of friend Lyla needed. I enjoyed reading the opinions from Lyla at the beginning of each chapter. Each one had me wondering which opinion would come next. Lyla, of all the characters in the book, had the most character growth by the end. I admired how confident she grew and how clear her goals were. I do believe that both Allison and Travis helped her with that.

I love the idea of a time capsule. I have read about those before, and they always fascinated me. I loved Travis and Lyla, and the way that the two of them seemed to connect. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with them next. There wasn’t a single dull moment in this book. Each page had me craving for more. I would highly recommend picking this book up! I’m eager to see what Annie Rains has in store for us next!

3.75stars-SUMMER IN A BOTTLE is a contemporary, adult, sweet romance story line focusing on thirty year olds, handyman Travis Painter, and opinion writer Delilah ‘Lyla’ Dune.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Lyla and Travis) SUMMER IN A BOTTLE follows the rekindling relationship between former teenage best friends Travis Painter, and Delilah ‘Lyla’ Dune. Approximately ten years earlier, having spent a summer working on a bucket list of things to do before Lyla went off to college, Travis Painter fell in love with his best friend , the woman who broke his heart when she left without a goodbye. Fast forward to present day, Lyla has returned to Echo Cove in the wake of her parent’s journey around the world, a journey that leaves Lyla holding fort while the family home is prepared for sale. Lyla never expected to come face to face with Travis, let alone relive everything that happened ten years earlier, a do-over of a sort, but fate and the small town of Echo Cove won’t let our heroine forget what happened years before. A buried bottle with all of their hopes and dreams, leads our couple o a path from the past towards their future.

The world building focuses on Lyla and Travis’ reconnection, and the completion of a bucket list that stirs up old memories and heartbreak. The people of the small town of Echo Cove were a constant reminder of the past, a past Lyla is continuing to repeat as she pushes away the man that she love, and alienate the people of Echo Cove.

The relationship between Lyla and Travis is one of second chances but Lyla refuses to accept there is anything between beyond a damaged friendship, at her expense. Travis is hoping for a second chance but Lyla continues to be oblivious to Travis’ need for the only woman he has ever loved- living in denial pushes Travis out of her life. There are no $ex scenes.

We are introduced to several ‘townies’ who remained in Lyla’s home town: café owner Bernadette; former head cheerleader Allison, and Travis’ sister Bailey.

SUMMER IN A BOTTLE is a sweet story of friendships, heart break and second chances. The premise is endearing and entertaining; the romance is sweet but the couple spent most of the time at odds; the characters are struggling but dynamic.



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This was such a delightful read. I kept rooting for Lyla and Travis all the way. I love all the secondary characters as well. I think Bernie was my favorite secondary character—she was pretty funny. I really liked where the story ends, a little different than the HEA I had anticipated, but it does make me think will there be a sequel that’s set in 10 years from this story?

Summer in a Bottle b Annie Rains is a fairly ordinary second chance romance except for the touch of magic that runs through the story. Lyla is home again to an empty house, just waiting for it to sell so her parents can continue their round-the-world trip. She has just broken up with her fiance and is in no mood. They only thing left in the house is her room, which she needs to pack up. As she contemplates packing she discovers the diary she was keeping that last summer. She had gone to college two seeks earlier than planned because she was frightened of her feelings for her best friend, Travis. Then, as her life started unfolding, she began to notice that its pattern was following the entries in her diary. Except for the friends she was making. Travis was all she remembered and more. He had left town shortly after she did and now was living in a trailer that he towed as he pursued his work as a handyman. Well, you can see where this is going.

The funny thing is that some of the things that happened were real. Some were not. It was eery. She reconnected with high school girls that she hadn’t gotten on with and found that all of them, and she, had grown up and they were really worth knowing. As was Travis. All those feelings came right back. And they still scared her. It was a fun read. As in all romances, the outcome is a given. Annie Rains has a way with words and with characters. The setting is perfect and the things that happen along the way are more perfect. A great Saturday afternoon read!

I was invited to read Summer in a Bottle by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #AnnieRains #SummerInABottle

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Super fun cute read with interesting characters.

I enjoyed this! The characters were sweet and the storyline was super cute. I didn’t really connect with the characters or the storyline but that’s okay! I did love the little touch of magic and the “is it a coincidence or destiny?” it added to the cuteness. Overall it was a cute read and i’m glad i ended the month with it!

3.5 Stars

This is my fourth read by the author, and they were all three or four stars. I loved Through the Snow Globe and The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle and The Finders Keepers Library was pretty good as well. I am happy to say this is closer to the loved side.

This was such a heartwarming and sweet story. I love realistic contemporary romances, especially ones that take place in small southern towns. In this story, our main character, Lyla Dune, goes back to her hometown after her fiancé dumps her. When she gets there, she finds she is living her last summer home over (and over) again. I loved how the author seamlessly weaves together many themes like second chances, self-discovery and the overwhelming power of friendship, to name but a few.

As our main character tries to get through the repetition of living in the past, I never once felt bored; it was repetitive, but it didn't feel that way. The author showed this skill in her book Through the Snow Globe as well. She manages to keep it fresh. The best part of the book, in my humble opinion, is Lyla realizing her love for her best friend, Travis. Both characters were utterly charming and relatable. I was cheering them on and willing them together. I was so happy when Lyla found the strength to go after what she wants and tries to change her destiny.

Echo Cove, I want to live there! Small towns are so alluring to this big city gal. The graphic descriptions and sense of sentimentality, and Lyla reminiscing, will get to anyone who has wished they could change something about their past or has a "The One Who Got Away". The magical realism doesn't hit you over the head, and it adds a little something extra to your typical friends-to-lovers romance. Overall, I found this an amusing read, and it left a smile on my face long after I turned the last page

This was an entertaining book. It was fun, heartwarming and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Ever felt stuck in life? Well, that is exactly how Lyla Dune feels in Summer in a Bottle by Annie Rains. I thought the title was a strange one but after reading this story it is the perfect one for this book. With some magical realism the second chance story has events that feel as if they are do-overs where better choices could be made, regrets could be examined and fixed, misconceptions corrected, and love could form from friendship without fear. Because all these characters, including Lyla and Travis, are older now it is even better. If this doesn’t make sense now it will be if you read the book. I highly recommend Summer in a Bottle. One last thought, I really hope there is a sequel where Allison gets her HEA too.