Thank you so much to HTP Books for the gifted book!

The cover may not suggest that this book is mostly a book about small town murders, but I know by now that you never know WHAT to expect when you pick up a Brenda Novak book! One thing I always know with Brenda, her books will NEVER be boring!

The best thing about this book was how many interesting plot lines there were! It had romance, mystery, small town vibes, family drama, etc.

I thought the ending was absolute perfection! This will be the perfect summer read to toss in your beach bag!

It's complicated...

Lucy is back in town, finally ready to face her past. Maybe. Its complicated. He father went away for a crime people in town would like to remain in the past.

Ford is back in town, too. Its been a long time since he and Lucy were together and he's married. Like I said, its complicated.

Nuanced, layered with a mystery to unravel, Brenda Novak is so skilled at her craft.
Recommend.

I loved everything about this!
Lucy and Ford were a great couple, and I loved the second chance aspect of their relationship! I loved the setting at the beach. I loved the mystery. I loved the overcoming really hard obstacles aspect of the story. I loved the forgiveness that happened when things were solved. I loved all of it. A really great summer read!

I love a good mystery and this one was so tightly woven that I had no idea what would happen until the final reveal. Novak outdid herself. Just when I thought I had it figured out she threw in an unexpected twist that sent me careening in a totally different direction. I was thoroughly absorbed in every page, trying to decide where she would take the story next. I love when an author accomplishes that!

The romantic part of the story is no less complicated with Ford and Lucy reuniting after their teenage relationship crashed and burned. There's tension and mistrust (understandable, considering what happened after her father was arrested) but Novak handles it with a deft hand. Their actions in present day feel authentic and their slowly unfolding relationship, with its peaks and valleys, real and organic.

If you're looking for a well-crafted romantic suspense novel with a cross-class, second-chance romance, a tightly-woven mystery, a hostile community, unexpected twists, and a hard-won happy ending, add The Summer That Changed Everything to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

Lucy McBride returns to her childhood home, where her father is a convicted murder. She wants to be sure her father was not wrongly accused of killing her teenage rival.

Of course no one is happy to see her return. They treat her as a pariah. Her first love returns to town to get away from his impending divorce. Together, they work on finding the truth, as well as, addressing their own past.

Set in a fictional town on the banks of the Potomac River in Virginia. The setting was great and well captured. This is a good read. A little darker than a normal book by the author but well written and kept me quickly turning those pages. This is more a 3.5 star read. I would like to thank NetGalley and MIRA Books for this advance read.

Brenda Novak sure knows how to capture my attention!
The Summer That Changed Everything was such a wonderful read.
Brenda Novak is one of those authors that I go to when I want to pick up a book that I know I’ll love even before I begin reading it. Whether it’s her romance or suspense I haven’t found a story I didn’t like.

I really enjoyed the story line of this book, however it felt slow and boring for much of the story. It was very repetitive and very slow to move. I wanted more drama and fun, and it was just very descriptive. The story picked up at the ending and there were some fun twists that I did not expect, but overall it was just an okay read. I wanted more from the characters and the story and I just never felt like it was delivered. Lucy's father has been in prison for 15 years for murdering 3 people in their small town.  She returns to the small beach town where the murders occured looking for answers. Ford, her old love, is also back for the summer and they find themselves uncovering secrets from the past. If you are looking for a quick read, but not something that is going to blow your mind, definitely give this a try. It is by no means not good, it just moved too slowly for my liking.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies

I enjoyed reading The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Nobody can write a suspenseful romance novel like Brenda Novak! Every time I think I've read her best book, she writes another that's even better. She is that author that makes you want to read all her books after reading one. They just keep getting better and better. Do yourself a favor. Start with this one and then read them all!

Fifteen years after her father was convicted of murder, Lucy Sinclair returns to a town that would rather forget. As she starts asking questions, an old flame-Ford Wagner-gets pulled back into a past neither of them escaped. But North Hampton Beach has its own way of burying secrets… and it doesn’t take kindly to being unearthed. Really enjoyed this one-if you love romantic suspense this one’s for you!

all of Brenda Novak's book are awesome. and this one was no exception!!!!!!! so so good!!! had me hooked from the beginning

This was a very emotional and addictive novel, loved every chapters of it. I couldn't put it down.

A must to add to your TBR.

Highly addictive and emotional! With a riveting storyline, Novak takes her readers on a heartfelt story of reconnection and righting wrongs. The main character Lucy returns to the place where her life changed forever because 15 years later she still hasn't been able to let go of the feeling like something doesn't add up. She sets out on a journey to discover the truth once and for all about what happened on that one summer night, but twists and turns make for even more turmoil as she shakes up the town in a way no one will ever be able to forget. There's sadness, emotion, reconnection and love shining bright as numerous people step up to get to the truth and let justice prevail. The core of the story was very quick to catch my attention and hold it throughout. I enjoyed the twists and I especially enjoyed seeing love conquer all. Highly recommend!

Fifteen years ago Lucy McBride (now known as Lucy Sinclair) had a life altering event in her life that changed her course of life. Her father was accused and convicted of three murders in their small town of North Hampton Beach. This community decided to accuse and convict Lucy as well, even though she had nothing to do with it. As young girl she fled her home with very little money and no family to help as her father went to prison.

Fast forward to the present, Lucy is not the same timid girl who left all those years ago. She is back in town to right what she considers a wrong. She does not believe her father, Mick McBride, was responsible for one of the deaths. She is determined to prove to the world and this judgmental town that a killer has been free all of this time simply because they were willing to accept if Mick killed two people, why not a third.

Ford Wagner really did love Lucy all those years ago, but he did not stand up for her. She did not fit in the class that his family expected of him. So, though he did not believe she was responsible, he did not take up for her. He is back in town and things are not going so well for him. Now he sees an opportunity to right a wrong when he realizes Lucy is back as well.

I had no idea what this story was about until I started reading it. I love this author's books for my summer beach reads. When I dove into it, I was delighted with the plot and the characters. I love a good cold case mystery, even one that is supposedly solved. I also love the fact that Lucy had overcome so much, and now she was ready to fight. This woman had grit and determination. She had overcome the statistics of a girl who pulled herself up by her boot straps and made a living, when most would not have done so well. Ford was a great character as well. He truly cared about helping Lucy out. This is a perfect beach reach merely because of the setting.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you’re looking for a fast paced wonderful written murder mystery then I highly recommend this book!
Lucy‘s father was convicted of three murders. Even though Lucy is totally heartbroken about this she absolutely does not believe that her father is responsible for the murder of Aurora.
So she has returned to North Hampton Beach. She is determined to prove her father’s innocence. Upon arriving in town, one of her first encounters is with her high school, sweetheart Ford. He ends up going out of his way to help Lucy in anyway he can. He even hires a private detective.
There is a lot of family dynamics in the story. Fords estranged wife really adds to the drama.

This is definitely a page Turner and it was very hard to put down !
I definitely give it a five star stamp of approval.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Lucy Sinclairs father is in prison for killing 3 people when she was 17. Fifteen years later she returns to North Hampton Beach because she doesn't believe he is guilty of all three murders. She was from the wrong side of the tracks, so when they suspected her father did it back then, they didn't investigate further. Her high school boyfriend, F0rd Wagner is back in town dealing with his own problems. He feels guilty about how things ended so he decides to help her prove her fathers innocence. The towns people are not very happy about this. This is a feel good story about not giving up on first loves.

The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lucy goes back to her home town to find answers to a fifteen year old murder, her father is sitting in jail for. She's not welcomed by all.
What she wasn't expecting to find was her ex boyfriend Ford.
You think you have it all figured out but you'll be surprised I know I was. Brenda keeps your attention from start to finish

You will read a small town mystery with a twist a second chance romance

Thank you Netgallery and publishers for the advanced copy for my honest review.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

Lucy’s father was convicted of three murders 15 years ago. While DNA evidence linked him to two victims, the third murder, involving a girl Lucy's age, seemed circumstantial. Now, Lucy returns home to uncover the truth, discovering far more than she expected, including reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend, Ford. The town resents her return, but Lucy is determined to prove her dad's innocence in the teen murder. This spicy romantic mystery will keep you guessing. I found myself deeply invested in solving the case and enjoyed seeing Lucy and Ford rekindle their relationship.

This was my first read by Brenda Novak, and I loved her writing and the way she kept me thinking I knew who was guilty, but still had doubt. I will be picking up one of her books again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced copy of The Summer That Changed Everything, and Brenda Novak for a terrific story.

Secrets, murder, and a second chance romance in a beach town. Lucy's father has been in prison for killing her classmate Aurora and Lucy, now that she' s an adult is determined to prove he didn't do it. It's been fifteen year since Ford ditched her in the wake of the trial and he's back in town too,, separated from his wife and thinking about his future. They team up to get answers, This is told with multiple POVs and moves around a bit in time. You, like me, might guess the real villain early on but it's the journey, especially between Lucy and Ford that makes this a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, No spoilers.