What a story! Old love rekindled. Harassment and scare tactics. A community's enmity. All directed at a young woman trying to prove her father was not guilty of one of the murders he was convicted for. This is one of those stories you can't stop reading!

The Summer that Changed Everything
Brenda Novak
June 3, 2025

Lucy was a young girl when her mother left. She and her dad stayed in the old trailer. It was in a camp where he took care of comings and goings. He was the one to call for repairs. At seventeen she was bright and looking forward to college. The elderly couple who lived next door were kind and very special to Lucy. One night while she was alone at home, she was in her room. She heard sirens and people arriving next door. At some point she felt pounding on the door. The police were there looking for her father. They believed that he had killed the couple while trying to rob their home. Life changed for Lucy. She had no family, no money to hire an attorney.
The Summer that Changed Everything will be published on June 03, 2025 by Mira. I was able to read and review Novak’s latest novel via NetGalley. The journey she wrote for Lucy was an involved history of her life. As an adult she managed to get away from living in a car or eating a limited diet. She left for Vegas, learned the poker game and played to win. Her thoughts plagued her until she decided to go after the actual killers. The legal battle began when she went back to visit her dad in Red Onion Prison near Pound, Virginia. This novel is a switch for Ms. Novak. Its suspense is page turning and the reader is left wondering at times, what can happen next?

I don't read romance suspense as much as other genres. I enjoy the twists and turns that kept me guessing through the book. I glad that she finally got truth for waiting 15 years. I also was heartbroken that innocent man or woman was put in jail for crime they haven't done.I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. # Netgalley# # The Summer that Changed Everything #

lucy comes to this small town and tries to solve the mystery of a murder of her friend. she falls in love with ford again. her dad ends up getting out of jail finally and the real culprits are sent to jail. Thanks net galley for letting me read this book

After Lucy McBride's father was convicted of murdering three people, she left town. Fifteen years later she returns to try to get some answers from him. Her world came tumbling down and not in a good way -she was collateral damage as the daughter of someone convicted of murder. People didn’t want her in town because of who they thought she was, and we’re threatening her at every turn.
Totally engrossing story and a perfect summer read.

It's been fifteen years since Lucy Sinclair saw her father. Her father murdered three people and now she is back in Virginia looking to talk to him. I didn't feel that this story was great; it was ok.

This book should definitely be on your summer reads list. It’s got everything you need for a great summer read. Fifteen years have passed since Lucy’s father was convicted of three murders in one summer. Something has never sat right with Lucy since then. While the DNA evidence matched him to the murders of two victims, including one whose DNA was found under his nails, the murder of a girl her age was more circumstantial. Despite the whole town’s conviction, Lucy yearns to return to her hometown and uncover the truth. Her journey leads her to uncover far more than she ever imagined. This is a spicy romantic mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Novak intertwines the best of both worlds of romance and mystery into this 5 star novel. I absolutely loved the small beach town setting and enjoyed getting whisked away like I was on vacation. It really made me want to book a beach vacay ASAP. Not only was there mystery, but the emotions that the author evokes while the story progresses is unmatched. Also, the ending had quite an unexpected twist. I ate this one up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy Sinclair returns to her hometown 15 years after her Father was convicted of murdering 3 people. She isn’t sure he was actually guilty of one of the murders and sets out to find out if he is actually innocent. The people in the town don’t roll out the welcome mat for her, most want her to just leave, except for an old boyfriend. He is feeling guilty for the fact he didn’t stand up for her and is determined to help. The path they follow leads to surprising secrets. This book will keep you guessing, there are a few surprises. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I loved The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak. Lucy Sinclair returns to her hometown to try to investigate the murder of a classmate 15 years prior, a murder that her father was accused and convicted of, along with two other murders. The evidence for the first two murders was ironclad, but for her classmate, it was not. Lucy wanted to talk to her father to see if there's something the prosecution missed in that third murder trial. When Lucy's father was sent to prison for life, the small town they lived in treated Lucy very badly, including her boyfriend at the time, Ford Wagner. Ford is also back in town to get his parents summer home fixed up to put on the market since his father died. He feels guilty for not sticking up for Lucy more 15 years ago, but was pressured by his family not to associate with her. Now that they are both back in town, Ford decides to help Lucy as much as he can. What I like about this Brenda Novak novel is that it contains romance, but has much more tension and a bit of mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance ebook to review.

I can normally gobble up a new book from this author as she has a wonderful way of developing characters but the detail of the story makes you feel as if you are watching a movie in your head while diving through the plot.

This did not disappoint as far as the connection with Lucy and Ford. There were so many roadblocks, and you were just hoping they could get a win but the odds were stacked against them.

After 15 years, Lucy decides she is strong enough to face the details of the murder of three people her father was sent to prison for. Her gut tells her that there were details that were overlooked, and she wants to explore this nagging feeling before she has any more regrets. Her father has told her to live her life and forget about him. As far as he is concerned, he did, he may not recall due to the amount of alcohol in his system, but he's pretty sure he deserves live in prison. She is not welcomed and the community has deemed her guilty by association. Her ex-boyfriend is also in town to take care of some family business. He has some guilty feelings of his own and sees an opportunity to atone for his behavior towards Lucy during the trial. They discover that working together is yielding new clues and the more they follow the clues the more they discover a darker turn of events that surprises everyone.

I won't add any spoilers, but I can say that you will be guessing until the very end. I read this book in one sitting and wished for more.

An engaging story from beginning to the end. When Lucy returns to North Hampton Beach to look for the truth of what happened 15 years ago, she finds that there are quite a few people keeping secrets. Reuniting with Ford, an old flame, together they set out to uncover all the secrets that could change both of their lives.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA via NetGalley for this ARC.

This is my first read from Brenda Novak and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lucy returns to her hometown 15 years after the arrest of her father, convinced he did not commit all three of the murders he was convicted for. She also rekindles with an ex, Ford, the same one who abandoned her when her father was arrested. Together, they navigate hostile treatment from the locals, layers of lies, and sloppy police work to uncover the truth behind the murders from 15 years ago.

The third person limited POV shifted between multiple characters, both Lucy and Ford, and a myriad of side characters. The narrative style was incredibly effective for dramatic reveals, and building depth in the world outside of just the two main characters.

I loved the chemistry between Ford and Lucy, but the immediate flood back of feelings and pining when they first reunited seemed a bit unrealistic given they had only dated a few weeks as teens. Nevertheless, this was a very cleverly crafted novel that kept me hooked the whole way through and I think is a perfect summer beach read.

Thank you kindly to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Brenda Novak has once again written a great suspenseful story! I love a good murder mystery with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing who the bad guy is. I also loved the rekindling of love that had been disrupted for over 15 years because of the deceit and secrecy of others who knew more than they ever shared. Love and a good who-done-it…works for me! Thanks for a great read and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Novak spins a refreshing tale of second chance romance amid finding the truth - however ugly - of where you come from. The small beach town setting is a perfect escape from reality and makes for a delicious cozy mystery. A perfect beach read for the summer!

The newest book by Brenda Novak combines the fun of a getaway to the beach with a murder mystery that is riveting and suspenseful. Lucy returns to North Hampton Beach to prove that her father, a man convicted of three murders, did not actually kill a young teen named Aurora. Once at the place she had previously called home, Lucy is assailed with memories and also faces a great deal of opposition from the local residents. They don’t accept her theory that her father is innocent of Aurora’s murder and seem to resent that she is trying to prove it. Lucy appears to be alone in her battle until her former high school boyfriend Ford shows up to support her, both mentally and physically. Together, the two of them make a good investigative team, especially when Ford hires a private investigator to unravel some on the mysteries involved in Aurora’s death. There are some twists and surprises along the way, although the killer’s identity is actually revealed early in the story. It was interesting to read how Lucy and Ford were able to follow clues to reveal the killer to the town as well as pursue a secondary mystery. There are also some steamy scenes as Lucy and Ford reignite their former attraction. Family drama is a central part of the plot, too, since Ford’s family does not approve of his choices and Ford’s estranged wife wants to hold on to him and holds what seems to be a winning hand. This is a fast-paced and engaging read with the signature style and brilliantly woven complex plot by a master author.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Lucy returns to her hometown intent on proving that her father did not commit all of the murders that he was currently in jail for from 15 years ago. She is determined to find the truth behind what really happened. Her arrival in town was not greeted fondly by the residents, as they did not want old memories and wound to be reopened. Lucy is surprised to find that her high school boyfriend Ford is also in town as he is figuring out his future as his marriage falls apart. Lucy and Ford are drawn together and become partners in finding the truth. The book was surprising as I thought it was a finding each other romance. There is much more to this book that romance and I enjoyed the story line although it was a bitpredictable. I did not like the way some things were drawn out almost like trying to meet a word count, some fo the constant overthinking and overstating of emptions, situations and ruminating. Definitely good for the beach. Thanks to Netgally, the author and publisher.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons for reading and this book is perfect to add to your summer tbr! You’ve got a beach town, a little bit of romance, and a whole lot of mystery. I really loved the mix of genres and thought the mystery aspect was a fun spin to add to a “beach read.” The characters are interesting and I enjoyed trying to figure out how everything fit together as the story unfolded. This was a quick read for me and I think it’s a great book to crack open poolside or on the beach this summer.

Never judge a book by its cover they say, it definitely rings true with this book. From the cover you would think this was a romantic summer beach read, not to say it’s not for some, but then you read the description and would be surprised that it’s a thriller/ mystery. This book intrigued me as I love to figure out court cases, especially ones that involve a suspect that presumes themselves as innocent. I love that Lucy went back to North Hampton Beach to figure out who really murdered Aurora, a teenage girl her age fifteen years ago, knowing in her heart and from what her dad said that he did not murder. I love that Ford her boyfriend fifteen years ago just happened to be back in town as well, and he is determined to help her.

I have never read any of Brenda Novak’s books before, so I don’t know her usual formatting, but I did like the back and forth between the different characters, what they were thinking about Lucy and Ford’s investigation into the murder and what they were doing the night of the murder.

Overall I liked this book and was surprised, but happy with the ending. Thank you Harleqin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for an eARC of this books in return for my honest review. I think many people will love the thrill and mystery of this book, as well as the relationship between Lucy and Ford.

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 1/5

I enjoyed the last half of this book! The first half was very slow, but I had to keep reading to get answers about the murders. While there are some elements of romance, I would say this book is more in the mystery genre. I enjoyed the suspense and knowing what all of the characters were thinking and feeling since this book was written in third person. It was a little confusing at times to keep up with all of the details, (I prefer first person POV) but that adds to the mystery of it all. This book will keep you guessing about all of the details of the murders and you will wonder how all of the little details play into the big picture.

As far as the romance part of this book, I guessed the ending. Or maybe I was just very hopeful that someone was lying so that the “old flame” could reignite. I’m glad the truth came out and it seems like everyone got the ending they deserved!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.