The Summer of Starting Over by Savannah Carlisle pulls you right into the world of the story from chapter one. In this moving and fun book, you'll read about second chances, rediscovery, and finding courage. The story takes place in Tennessee and the author’s descriptions of Big Dune Island makes you feel like you're there, walking on the cobblestone streets. Callie returns to her home, a place she hadn’t seen in years, to face the past including the loss of her parents and the love she had left behind. She's struggling to connect to her past which makes it difficult to move forward.
Savannah Carlisle’s prose weaves the emotions like a tapestry. Callie’s journey wasn’t just about rediscovering her love for music but about rediscovering her past, her family, and the amazing place that shaped her.
The love story in this book between Callie and Jesse was tender and Jesse became one of my favorite characters. I love how he helped Callie face the ghosts in her past.
I will be recommending this book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for an advanced readers copy.

I am a big fan of women’s fiction reads. I just read a good one. The Summer of Starting Over by Savannah Carlisle comes out very soon.

The Summer of Starting Over was written by Savannah Carlisle was an absolute joy to read! It is the first in the series Big Dune Island. I can not wait for the second book to come out now that I have read the first book in the series.
Callie and Jesse are connected in such a wonderful way that reading will make you feel you are there with them.
The small beach town Big Dune Island Florida is someplace I want to visit if it were an actual place.
I had so many different emotions flying around me as I read. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I have already added others to my TBR pile. I was also excited to see that there is the next book in the series coming out If I’d Have Known – it centers on Gigi.
Thank you NetGalley, Savannah Carlisle and BooksGoSocial for the copy of The Summer of Starting Over. This is my personal honest review.

This is a new-to-me author, so I went in with no expectations.

Callie is a famous singer who moved away for her career over a decade ago and has avoided coming back home, until now. She has to confront everything she’s lost: her parents, her voice and inspiration career-wise, the feelings she has in her hometown and the people, especially her long-lost love, Jesse.

The book has several good romance tropes:
-Second-chance
-Slow-burn
-Small beach town
-Pining (experienced through the MCs internal monologues)
-Jesse’s work on the house was giving "The Notebook" vibes

I wish it had pulled me in and made me feel more invested, but it’s a very light, fluffy, zero-spice story, that is predictable in the way you don’t mind when you reach for a beach/pool read. Does Hallmark do summer romance movies? If so, this would probably be the kind of story they'd make a movie from.

3.5⭐️

Thanks to the publisher (Harpeth Road Press) & NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 4/1/25

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was fresh and interesting and I really enjoyed the characters, as well as their different personalities!

This is a heartfelt novel about second chances, healing, and rediscovering love. Callie returns to her childhood home on Big Dune Island, where she must confront her past, including the grief of losing her parents and the heartbreak of leaving behind her first love, Jesse. As she reconnects with her passion for music and navigates her lingering feelings for Jesse, she begins to realize that coming home might be exactly what she needs. With vivid descriptions, emotional depth, and a beautifully written slow-burn romance, this novel is a touching story of love, loss, and finding where you truly belong.

I absolutely loved this book. A sweet book about second chances, family and coming back to ones roots!

An idyllic setting mixed with a second chance romance makes this a must read for your summer tbr! Callie is back home on Big Dune Island, after 10 years, to clear out her parents home. The first person she bumps into after arriving in town is none other than her first love, Jesse. Just as Callie tasks her best friend to get her out of her music contract, her ex boyfriend Andrew has arrived in town…unannounced. All Callie wants to do is perform at the beach festival but will it pan out in her favor or will she be forced to back out?

Callie and Jesse’s romance was so sweet and sincere. Uncle Lonnie was the perfect “cheerleader” for Callie and I loved his words of encouragement. I could easily see this novel becoming a movie and book a front row seat to see it!

My first ARC! I really enjoyed this book! The cover is absolutely stunning and drew me in. As a self proclaimed romance girlie, I knew I’d eat this up and I was 1000% right.

Callie and Jesse were high school sweethearts before Callie made it big, starting a country music career at just 16 in Nashville. Jesse planned to follow Callie but due to some unexpected difficulties with a family business, Callie told Jesse to stay home on Big Dune Island, ending their relationship. Years and years have passed and Callie has essentially avoided going to back home, until her precious family home is being sold to an unknown buyer. Callie has to face her past, in more ways than one. Jesse has to keep a secret or two that could ruin any chance he has at a connection with Callie again. So of course, there’s some good small town drama and gossip.

This cute little beach read was well paced and gave early Taylor Swift career vibes to me, which I looooooved. The whole ‘reconnecting to your roots’ theme was heartwarming. Super satisfying ending and I’m already looking forward to the next installment!

This was such a great book. I enjoyed it immensely. I loved the main characters, Callie and Jesse and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A great summer, beach book. I enjoyed the romantic story in the book as well As a girl who loves country music, I thought the storyline about Callie's music career was told very well. I looked forward to reading about Callie's process with her music. I was not disappointed at all. Great, great book!!

On the plus side, I must admit the writing style is pleasant with vivid scenes that you can easily picture in your mind. But on the down side, I was mostly annoyed by the uneven pace and how slow it felt. True, the story is full of emotions, but it leant toward the boring side action-wise, so it's a bit of a miss for me. But it was the first book I read by this author, so I won't let it stop me from trying another one of her titles, because you don't always connect with all the books of a writer.

A Heartfelt Second-Chance Romance with Beautiful Southern Charm.

❣️ Second-Chance Romance | 👥️ Dual POV | 🏘 Southern Small-Town Vibes | 🇺🇲 USA

Callie Jackson left home chasing stardom, leaving Jesse Thomas—and their future—behind. Now, with her career in ruins, she’s forced back to Big Dune Island, where facing Jesse means confronting the past and the dreams they lost.

This was my first book by Savannah Carlisle, and I was excited to dive in. A friend on Instagram absolutely loved her debut novel, and when I saw The Summer of Starting Over available as a “Read Now” title on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to check it out.

After reading so many books set in the UK, I was looking forward to a change of scenery and a return to the charm of small-town America. The Southern coastal setting was one of my favorite aspects of the book—it had that warm, nostalgic feel that reminded me of Jenny Hale’s novels. The descriptions of Big Dune Island were vivid, and I could easily picture the laid-back island life, the close-knit community, and the lingering emotions between Callie and Jesse.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it just didn’t fully connect with me. While I enjoy second-chance romances, I found the pacing to be too slow. Much of the story focused on Callie’s internal struggles, and I felt that there wasn’t enough time spent with her and Jesse together in meaningful, engaging moments. Their relationship was at the heart of the book, but I wanted to see more interactions that rekindled their chemistry rather than so much reflection on the past.

That said, Carlisle’s writing shows promise. The setting was beautifully crafted, and I can see why other ARC readers who enjoy slower, introspective romances might connect with this story more than I did. While The Summer of Starting Over wasn’t the perfect fit for me, I’m still open to giving this author another try in the future.

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Harpreth Road Press.

ARC REVIEW

I'd say this was a good read. As for it being based in a small town, the people just interfered way too much. Everyone wanted a piece of the pie, which got irritating after a while. But I guess that's what made this book readable. The ML was a flawed guy but not a mean one. The feeling that he got left out made it realistic enough. I liked the slice of life aspect of the book more than the romance because the FL got way too much flack for things she was not responsible for.

Superstar Callie Jackson realizes maybe you can go home again!
Home being Big Dune Island, the island that she left when she was discovered and thrust into stardom, she hasn’t been home since her parents died, but her childhood home is being sold and she’s back after 10 years to clean it out.
So why is it that the guy she left behind is in her backyard?

This book was such a fun read. This is my first book from this author. It will definitely not be my last and I cannot wait for more of this series and to find out what happens to all my new friends on Big Dune Island.

This was so cute! I did feel for Callie and was rooting for her from the start. The first few chapters really grabbed me, I loved all the characters and the plot! All the characters were easily likeable and everyone can relate to ‘going home’ and having their own struggles with dealing with grief and moving on. The journey of Callie and Jesse are written with so much heart that you can’t help but root for them! A very heartfelt story of love.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

ARC REVIEW RELEASE DATE: April 1st, 2025

The Summer of Starting Over is the perfect quick summer read. The setting gives all the summer vibes and feelings. Callie is a pop star who finds her self back home on Big Dune Island and she finds herself realizing all she left behind. The story was quick and fun however I expected more romance and that is why I rated it alittle lower.

Another available read from @netgalley that I thoroughly enjoyed….𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓 by Savannah Carlisle.

This is the PERFECT vacation read. The fictional setting of Big Dune Island, FL has all the feels of a beach getaway. The Main Street, the coffee cafe, the bike riding, and the Beach Bash. AND… The Gossip.

I’m not a mushy gushy romance reader. The mush in this story is not too gushy, I assure you. The main character, Callie, is a small town girl turned famous singer and she’s back in Big Dune to deal with the sale of her parent’s home. Enter Jesse, the old boyfriend.

What I liked about this story is that it moved right along. The characters are all likable, the storyline is cute and you want to keep reading to see how it all unfolds. Will Callie stay in Big Dune, or will she go back out on the musical road?

I’ll be looking for more Savannah Carlisle books as the days become longer and the weather becomes warmer!

From the very first page of The Summer of Starting Over, I was pulled into a world that felt like home, one I never wanted to leave. Savannah Carlisle’s writing has a rare ability to make you feel like you're not just reading a story, but living it. I read the book in a single sitting, unable to put it down, and as soon as Nashville was mentioned, I couldn’t help but press play on my country music playlist to set the mood. This book spoke to my heart in ways I wasn’t expecting. The themes of second chances, rediscovery, and finding the courage to face your past resonated deeply with me, and I found myself transported from the cold, grey skies of Scotland to the sun-drenched streets of Big Dune Island, right alongside Callie and Jesse.

The author’s vivid descriptions of Big Dune Island made me feel like I was walking the cobblestone streets, breathing in the salty ocean air, and hearing the gentle hum of the island’s rhythms. It felt so real, so alive, that I was right there with the characters, feeling everything they were feeling. I could almost taste the sunshine and the nostalgia that filled Callie’s return to her home, a place she hadn’t seen in years.

Savannah Carlisle’s prose weaves emotions so seamlessly that each page feels like it’s speaking directly to the heart. The way she handles grief, love, and the complexities of second chances is nothing short of magical. I found myself feeling deeply connected to Callie’s journey—not just because of her story, but because of how real her emotions were. Her struggle to face the past, the loss of her parents, and the love she had left behind mirrored the emotions we all experience when confronting what we’ve buried deep within ourselves.

What truly made this book special for me was how it captured the essence of finding your way back to yourself. Callie’s journey wasn’t just about rediscovering her love for music but about rediscovering her roots, her family, and the place that shaped her. For someone like me, whose heart has always belonged to country music, I could feel the weight of Callie’s love for her hometown and her roots. It made me reflect on my own life—how country music has always been the soundtrack to my experiences—and how coming home to where it all began can be a powerful form of healing.

The slow-burn romance between Callie and Jesse was pure magic. Their connection felt so natural, so undeniable, and yet tinged with the rawness of past wounds. I adored the way their love story unfolded—quietly, with so much tenderness, honesty, and unspoken understanding. Jesse, with his quiet strength and unwavering loyalty, became a character I couldn't help but fall in love with, and watching Callie face the ghosts of her past while rebuilding her future with him was a joy I won’t soon forget.

By the end of the story, I found myself wishing that Callie was real—so we could hear the beautiful song she writes in the book. The song, like the book itself, would be a masterpiece of healing, love, and new beginnings. The Summer of Starting Over left me with more than just a good story—it left me with a sense of warmth, of having experienced something deeply personal. It was as if I had not just read about Big Dune Island, but had lived it, breathed it, and found a part of myself within it. Savannah Carlisle’s gift for crafting characters that feel like family, for writing prose that moves you, and for creating a setting that becomes a character in itself, makes this book one I will hold close for a long time.

This isn’t just a book; it’s an experience, one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a heartfelt journey filled with love, loss, and the beauty of starting over. I would give this 5 times 5 stars if I could!

I’d love to know: if you could create a playlist for The Summer of Starting Over, what songs would you include? A soundtrack for this story would be the perfect way to continue the journey!

I enjoyed this story. It's a fun, quick beach read about Callie Jackson returning to her childhood home of Big Dune Island. She's a superstar who needs a break after a career-altering problem. Another problem is facing her hometown sweetheart, Jesse.

The novel is a well-written, clean romance. It's a slow burn, so don't expect big leaps. There are some sad parts and many internal thoughts of the two main characters.

I look forward to reading the next novel in this series, which was previewed at the end of this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I loved loved this book!!! Callie and Jesse story!!! I’m a sucker for second chance romance and small town…I cannot wait to read the next book. I will definitely recommend this book when it comes out