This romantic suspense centers around Lucy, who is returning to her hometown for the summer but isn't expecting a happy reunion. When she last lived there, at age 17, her father was convicted of 3 murders, one of them her classmate, Aurora. But he's always claimed he wasn't responsible for killing Aurora, and after 15 years of avoiding her father and everything from her past, Lucy feels strong enough to listen and see if she can get to the truth. Unfortunately everyone else in town believes the truth has already been settled.

Next door to Lucy's temporary home is the man who was her boyfriend at the time of the murders, Ford. Ford has a lot of drama of his own between a divorce and settling his father's estate, and is taking the summer at the beach as an escape, under the guise of getting the house ready to sell. But helping Lucy clear her father's name and possibly rekindling those old, unresolved feelings seems more attractive than updating floors and fixing garbage disposals.

This was a decent mystery, but the pacing felt a little off to me. It starts out slow, and then the ending felt very rushed, with several things being resolved off of the page. We're also clued in to part of the mystery very early on, and I wish we had been left guessing for longer. I think it would have made it more impactful when everyone else finds out the truth about that character. However, I really enjoy Brenda Novak and will continue to read her books.

Finally, I don't usually complain about covers, but this is really a case of the cover not matching the book.

THE SUMMER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING by Brenda Novak is an ultimate summer novel featuring the memorable and vivid Lucy Sinclair returning to the small town where everything in her life was torn to shreds years earlier when her father was accused of a triple homicide. I totally related to the beach town setting, the way that small town charm and customs can overlay the tensions, difficulties, and harsh realities of a past most want to forget even though it so emphatically affects the present, including Lucy and her rediscovered flame Ford. The attraction between the pair is powerful and moving, particularly when they are united in figuring out what really happened that fateful time when everything changed for everyone. Great beach read with romance, mystery, thriller elements woven tight and well. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

🌊Brenda Novak crafts a gripping and emotionally layered tale that masterfully weaves together long-buried secrets, a chilling unsolved mystery and the tender spark of rekindled love.

🌊Set against the backdrop of a quiet coastal town, the story follows Lucy Sinclair as she returns home after fifteen years, still haunted by the belief that her father was wrongfully convicted of a brutal triple homicide. Determined to uncover the truth, Lucy stirs up old memories and deep-rooted resentments in a community that hasn’t quite forgotten. As she digs deeper, Lucy reconnects with her former flame, Ford Wagner, now a police officer torn between his responsibilities and the undeniable pull of their shared past.

🌊Novak paints the town with vivid detail, capturing its charm and unease in equal measure. The suspense simmers, building tension with every chapter as layers of deception are slowly peeled away. With unexpected twists and a satisfying emotional core, this is a captivating, slow-burn mystery perfect for summer reading!

🎧Narrated by Courtney Patterson, the audiobook is a standout. Her clear, emotive delivery brings each character to life and builds suspense at just the right pace. She adds depth to the story, making it an immersive and satisfying listen.

This actually a mystery/thriller. even though it looks like a summer romance.

Lucy was only 17 when her father was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of three people. Two were neighbors, the other was what we'd now call a 'mean girl'. The town turned their backs on him and Lucy -- she left town at 17 and managed to survive on her own, eventually landing in Las Vegas. Lucy's father had told her not to ever contact him again, but she just couldn't. She returns 15 years later because she just doesn't believe that her father could have done the murders, even though his DNA was found at the double-murder scene. Coincidently, Ford, an old romantic partner, is also back in town on unrelated business, and they team up to dig into what really happened that summer.

This is a great summer read, a really good slow burn mystery/romance story. The narrator, Courtney Patterson, was very good in keeping all the characters separate.

This is much more than a beach read, also a mystery. Lucy returns to a small beach town determined to prove her father isn’t guilty of the 3 murders he has been in jail for the last 15 years. She teams up with her old boyfriend, Ford and what they uncover turns their lives and the whole town upside down.

A slower romantic suspense. I had a hard time getting into this book. I had see. Reviews that it is better on audio and I wished I had the opportunity to read it that way instead. Overall entertaining.

I am a fan of this author , this was a good read but felt its been done before , the characters were good , the ending a bit abrupt .

Another well-composed novel by author Brenda Novak. I love how she weaves a bit of mystery into her fiction. Novak has long been one of my autobuy authors. This book is on the list of my favorite reads from this summer. Highly recommend.

Not every book needs a romance. This book was full of stereotypes and cliches. The fake pregnancy announcement to trap and bring back the husband...the case of misidentified killer and the innocent person who was arrested and incarcerated for 15 years never thought to claim his innocence because he didn't think anyone would listen, yet he allowed his daughter to suffer without the only parent she had left because why? The two teenagers who actually committed the murder and got away with it this far but all of a sudden the distressed daughter decided this was the year she was going to do something about it and uncovers both murders without her lifting a finger...all she had to do was come back to the small town she was from and start sleeping with her former boyfriend to rile people up.

I didn't enjoy much about the book except for the mystery aspect and even half of that storyline was revealed too soon.

Overall it was just middle of the road for me.

The Summer That Changed Everything is a warm, suspenseful beach read with substance—ideal if you're in the mood for a smart mystery grounded in heartfelt relationships and small-town drama. Think strong heroine, slow-burn romance, and secrets that must surface—wrapped up in enough summer atmosphere to keep things breezy and engaging.

This was a great slow-burn read perfect for the summer season!! I liked that we were able to find out who caused one of the murders before the characters did.

There were a few plot twists to keep the pages turning for me, some of which I figured out on my own.

Readers who enjoy small-town secrets, unresolved pasts, and rekindled romances intertwined with suspenseful quests for truth will find this book compelling.

A big Thank You to @NetGalley and @readmirabooks for the complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Summer that Changed Everything by Brenda Novak was not your typical romance. Lucy returns to her hometown fifteen years after her father was sent to prison and everyone turned their backs on her. She hasn't spoken to her father that entire time, but when she does a seed of doubt about his guilt is planted.

Returning to the beach town in hopes of proving his innocence, she is still shunned. The only person willing to help her is her old boyfriend. There is still chemistry there, but also a mystery to solve, dealing with the people that want her gone, and old hurts that stand in the way.

I think this novel will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review,

Gonna be honest and say when I started this book I thought it might end up being a dnf for me. I struggled getting into the story and for some reason couldn't keep characters and events straight in my head. I powered through though and am glad I did. What started out as a possible dnf ended up being a quick and easy read.

This book is a little bit romance and suspense. The author makes it work though. I liked the combination of the genres because it allowed the story to have more depth. Lucy and Ford were likable enough characters. They seemed realistic as did the suspense part of the story. Once I got into the story I couldn't put my Kindle down. The author's writing style and the pace of the story plus the story itself kept my interest.

This book would be a great weekend or vacation read. It's a nice story to get pulled into. Grab a beverage, find a comfy spot, and enjoy this story!

While The Summer That Changed Everything may at first glance appear to be a beach book/romance, I would consider it a bit heavier though still a relatively quick read. Being a huge true crime fan, I was drawn to the wrongful conviction/attempt to discover the true murderer aspect of this novel. What I still can't decide is if I liked the fact that we learn some of the truth very early on, so there wasn't a whole lot of mystery there.

Fifteen years ago, Lucy Sinclair’s life took a devastating turn when her father was sentenced to life in prison for three murders. At just 17 years old, she was left to grapple with the unimaginable. One of the murders in particular has haunted her for years, and she can’t shake the doubt that her father is innocent. While she understands his guilt for the other two murders, she can’t help but wonder if he’s truly responsible for the death of that young girl.

This summer, Ford Wagner, plans on spending the next few months at his summer home in North Hampton Beach. He’s eager to finalize his divorce from his wife and is determined to leave his past behind. Little does he know that he’s about to cross paths with Lucy, a woman he briefly dated in high school. Their relationship was promising, but it was interrupted by the tragic circumstances surrounding her father’s sentencing.

Lucy has been trying to move on from her father’s actions and build a new life for herself. However, the past continues to haunt her, and she can’t help but wonder if she’s doing the right thing. When she returns to North Hampton after 15 years, she finds that people are just as angry and resentful as they were back then. Determined to find answers, she sets out to uncover the truth behind the young woman’s death.

Meanwhile, Ford is immediately concerned for Lucy and sets out to help her. Together, they embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of the past and bring justice to the young woman’s family. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover a web of lies and betrayal that challenges everything they thought they knew.

Their time together all those years ago was brief, but it was passionate. Can they overcome their past and forge a new future together? Meanwhile, Ford faces complicated circumstances with the woman he hopes to make his ex-wife.

This captivating story kept me guessing until the very end. Although it may be a slow-burn narrative, the solid concept and intriguing investigation make it a worthwhile read. I particularly enjoyed the way the characters pieced together clues and the development of their relationship. The second chance that Lucy and her father receive is truly heartwarming.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was an enjoyable book. This is a good beach read. I liked seeing the strength that Lucy has to find the truth that no one else wanted to see. This book has romance and a good mystery. I would have read this book quicker, as I didn't want to put it down, but work and life got in the way. If you are looking for a good summer read, pick this book up.

The cover of this book gives you so summer/romance vibes but I was totally wrong. The story is full of suspense and mystery. Very well written and kept me engaged since the beginning. I loved the setting and how the story developed throughout the book, the mixed of romance and mystery was very satisfying!.

THE SUMMER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Brenda Novak
Available (June 2025)


The summer Lucy Sinclair was 17, life looked good. She had fallen in love with Ford, a summer boy to her seaside town and even though she knew he would leave her, it wasn’t for the reason she thought….

Lucy adored her neighbours who treated her like a grandchild, so why did her father kill them? The proof is there and he doesn’t remember because of the drunken stupor he was in at the time. But then, a childhood friend of Lucy’s goes missing and when her body turns up, her father is accused of that murder as well. Many of the town people turn on Lucy, but the worst is that Ford does not stick by her.

Now , it’s 20 years later. Lucy has returned to North Hampton Beach, VA and she is determined to prove her father did not kill Aurora Clark, even though the proof is there that he killed Tony and Lucinda. It isn’t fair he is serving life in prison for three murders. Something is telling her even though he may have murdered, he was a good father to her after her mother left them.

She settles into the cottage she is renting and waits for the maelstrom that she is sure will come her way from the town, but what she doesn’t expect is her neighbour, Ford who is there for the summer.

Brenda Novak’s newest mystery is the perfect summer read, suspense, someone still out there with a huge secret and the sunshine of a beach.

This is probably my favorite Brenda Novak book. I loved the mystery and the characters in this one.

Lucy Sinclair has not seen her father in 15 years. He was convicted of murdering 3 people when she was 17. This spun her life out of control. But now she is back because she believes there is more to this story.

Lucy’s past really breaks your heart. But, she has overcome her heartaches and she is now determined to find some answers. She knows something is just not right with the murders supposedly committed by her father. So, she starts to do some investigating. And this does not sit well with some of the town folk. This also throws her into contact with her high school sweetheart, Ford.

This book kept me entertained the whole way through. It also gave me quite a few suspects. This always keeps me guessing even when I know the answer 😜.

Need a good mystery with great characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today n

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I was approved to read and listen to this book. I listened to it. I enjoyed the narration, the different voices that were used were appropriate for that character. The mystery and romance of the book kept my interest. The one part I did not like is how the male main character cheated on his wife. Even though the wife lied about a pregnancy and they were going to get a divorce. They weren’t divorced, so the cheating was not a good thing, I understand, it is life and things happen. I also like how the ending was happy. Miscommunication happens.