This audiobook gave all the summer nostalgia feels—sweet, emotional, and quietly romantic in a way that sneaks up on you. The story felt like a warm breeze and a deep breath, and the narration made it even better. Loved it.

4⭐️ – Emotional, mysterious, and beautifully layered

The Summer of You and Me is a heartfelt second-chance romance wrapped in mystery and emotional healing. Maggie’s journey through grief, love, and self-discovery is both poignant and compelling. The seaside setting and nostalgic ties to her past create the perfect backdrop for her emotional reckoning; especially with Josh, whose quiet love for her adds depth and tension. The mysterious Ethan lookalike added an unexpected twist that kept me turning pages. Some pacing felt a bit slow in the middle, but the payoff was worth it. A moving story about letting go, holding on, and finding love in unexpected places.

First of all, a huge thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the ALC!!

With this book I have such conflicting views. I loved the premise of it, the idea seemed outstanding and really interesting; the outcome is what I didn’t love that much, unfortunately. **There are some spoilers ahead**, so if you prefer to avoid those, stop here, but I’m afraid I need them to clarify why I didn’t love this story as much as I thought I would.

The first part of the book I enjoyed very much: Maggie and Josh searching for clues surrounding the death of Ethan (Maggie’s husband and Josh’s brother) after she runs into a man identical to him (only slightly younger), and the point where they both start to plot theories around it; did he fake his death? Did he have a secret child? Secret brother? Maybe just a doppelgänger casually strolling around the same small town? That whole part was really fun to read, because you, as the reader (or listener), are involved, plotting alongside them.

Now, you may think: if you enjoyed that, what’s the biggie that made you not love the book as much? The aftermath. Once you figure out who that identical person is, where he comes from. And also, the romance.

Listen, I’m a huuuuge romance girly, will always be, and I’m one of the few miscommunication apologists, after all, in my opinion, it’s the most human, realistic trope. Thing here is, some people (and book characters, for that matter) seem to intentionally want to be miserable. Maggie seems to be constantly sabotaging herself when a man who loves her profusely is right there and has been all along, supporting her through it all. And she loves him, but for some reason, picks to be miserable.

The main thing, though, that made me do a huge side-eye was the conception of our little clone. Again, **SPOILER AHEAD**!! Turns out this boy isn’t Ethan’s secret son or brother. This boy is Josh’s son. They’re like, idk, 14 years apart??? Apparently, Josh had cancer as a teenager and they had him get a sperm sample in case of infertility. The hospital misplaced the sample and somehow a woman ended up pregnant with this CHILD sample. Said child is thrilled 18 years later when he finds out he’s a dad??? Why is literally no one talking about this in the reviews???? I’m sorry, I may be the weird one on this take, but I can’t get past it. I was out in public while listening to this part and I don’t know what kind of face I had on, because a lovely lady stopped me to make sure I was okay. I wasn’t.

This last thing may be just me, and I understand it’s a preferences kind of thing, but this book somehow gave me strong right-wing propaganda energy. I can’t tell you exactly why, but that alone made me uncomfortable soon enough.

The romance had such strong potential, but fell short in my opinion. I gave it three stars because the ‘mystery part’ was fun enough, but that was it for me.

"The Summer of You and Me" is another great story from Denise Hunter. This the sixth book I've read of hers, and each one has been filled with relatable, flawed characters who are just trying to make sense out of life.

In this story, Maggie is preparing to observe the fifth anniversary of her husband's death in Afghanistan, and she's finally feeling like maybe she's ready to move on with life and perhaps even to find love again. But that all comes to a screeching halt when she sees someone who looks just like her husband Ethan, then loses him in a crowd. She knows she can't rest until she finds out who the man is, but to do that, she first has to find him again. After all, they never saw Ethan's body. They were simply told he was dead. Could there have been a mistake? Could he be alive after all? The answers to those questions are necessary before she can do anything else.

Enlisting the help of her brother-in-law Josh, she sets out on a mission to find this mystery man and figure out who he is and why he looks just like Ethan. But what they discover is something that will redefine both of their lives in ways they never anticipated.

And that's what makes this story so great. It sucks you in from the very beginning, and as you come to know and care about the characters, they show you exactly who they are, warts and all. And when they finally come out on the other side, made stronger from the experience, all you can do is cheer for them.

Thank you to Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Three and a half stars rounded up! Sweet story. A little slow in the middle but the ending had me teary. Never would have guessed it

Maggie is a young widow trying to move on after the loss of her husband Ethan who died 5 years ago in another country while serving in the military, but when she sees someone who looks just like him it brings up a lot of questions. Could he be alive? Could it be his son from a long-ago affair? Could Ethan’s dad have had another son from an affair?

Maggie is doing her best as a single mom to her little girl Zoey, and is close friends with Ethan's sister Erin and younger brother Josh who has been in love with her for years without her realizing. I have to say, it made me cringe every time Josh called Maggie "Honey." She's his older brother's widow so that felt really weird.

I liked how unexpected and surprising the answer was. Read this if you like some drama, some mystery, romance, friendships, good and bad family relationships, and a happy ending. The audiobook is very well done too. Thanks to the publisher for an ALC via NetGalley.

ARC/ ALC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maggie Reynolds is looking forward to spending the summer in her hometown of Seabrook. As a young widow and single mother, she has every intention of using her vacation to soak up the sun and connect with family. However, her plans are thwarted when she spots a man who’s the spitting image of her deceased husband. Before Maggie can confront the stranger, he disappears into a large crowd. Shaken by the uncanny resemblance, she launches a full on investigation into the mysterious man. Will her mission unearth a dark secret, or is this simply a coincidence?

If you are looking for a summer read that not only offers beautiful writing, but a little bit of mystery and a whole lot of romance, than look no further than Denise Hunter’s latest book, The Summer of You and Me.

This is the second time that I have had the pleasure of both reading and listening to one of Denise Hunter’s books. I am blown away yet again by the depth of her writing. Not only does she keep me on my toes with her brilliant plot twists, outstanding character development, she isn’t afraid to tackle difficult subject matter.

This book confronts topics that center around narcissism, abandonment, death, and grief. While one might assume these topics make for a depressing story, it is the exact opposite. You will leave with a renewed sense of hope and faith.

This book also features:
-he falls first
-forbidden love
-found family

Special thanks to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, Zondervan Fiction Audio, and Denise Hunter for allowing me to read/ listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

*While you can’t go wrong with however you consume this book, I highly recommend listening to it on audio. The story is narrated by the very talented voice actor, Kim Churchill. Teaming up, Hunter and Churchill make the ideal duo. Churchill draws on her years of experience to bring Hunter’s words to life.

so beautifully written, and i loved the audiobook narration as well. i would highly recommend this book to all. very well done!

Romantic drama with an exciting blend of mystery!

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Josh and Maggie—the connection was undeniable! However, I wish their relationship had more buildup. Yes, the connection was there, but it felt like things moved too fast with them romantically, which missed a lot of the emotional depth that could’ve made their story better.

There was something about the pacing and structure of this that felt a bit off to me—I can’t pinpoint it, but certain parts didn’t deliver.

The plot twist was the best!!! I didn’t see that coming at ALL. I was literally freaking out, but it turned out to be so wholesome that I cried.

Even though the story didn’t reach its full potential, it was still an entertaining and emotional read that I’d recommend! Definitely worth diving into.

The audiobook was the best pair for this read; if you read it, PLEASE listen along to it. It makes it so much more engaging!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 & 𝙖𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠!

Book itself: 2.6 ★
Audiobook: 4.1 ★

I enjoy Denise Hunter's books so was looking forward to the Summer of You and Me, so was not suprised that I really enjoyed it. Maggie's husband died 5 years earlier and she is finally ready to move on with her life. She plans to spend the summer at Seabrook with his family and her daughter, Zoey. What she is unaware of, is that her brother-in-law, Josh, has been in love with her since they were kids. He stepped aside and said nothing when she and his brother, Ethan began dating and fell in love. Josh has never had a serious relationship as he still has feelings for Maggie, and decides that he can finally tell her how he feels. Shortly after arriving, she sees someone that she things in Ethan at first glance, but realizes he is too young. She and Josh begin to investigate to find out if he is related to him or not. Could this be a son that Ethan had? Is it a brother? Will Maggie and Josh ever get a chance to find out it they could make a go of things.

The Summer of You and Me is both a second chance romance and a mystery. As Maggie begins to realize that she has always been happy around Josh, that she could just be herself, that he was her best friend, she realizes that maybe she and Josh could make a go of things. The mystery deals with who the young man is that Maggie saw at the amusement park. I really liked the way Josh was with Zoey. She is a precocious little thing, and she never knew her dad. He was killed in battle while Maggie was pregnant. I really liked all the characters, except Maggie's mother. Everyone was loving and took care of each other, but when Josh admitted that he was in love with Maggie, there was some resistance from others, as well as Maggie. Can a woman fall in love with her brother-in-law without causing issues? I think Zoey was my favourite character. I love precocious kids in books, especially when they have not filter. The story was well written and plotted and I loved how everything came together to a wonderful conclusion. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kim Churchill. I enjoyed her performance, with her tone, expression and voices. I definitely recommend this second chance romance in whatever format you prefer.

I am not typically a contemporary fiction girl, but decided to give this one a shot since so many of my library patrons enjoy Denise Hunter's books. Even though I am still not going to be gravitating toward the style, I DID thoroughly enjoy this book. It was a very unusual story line, and I honestly had NO IDEA what was going to happen until the very end. And even then, it wasn't at all what I was expecting! I can't say anything else because I don't want to spoil it, hehe. I also enjoyed the narrator's performance - she did a great job with the various personalities involved.

I truly loved this book so much! I loved the mystery within the story and how the love story developed between Maggie and Josh. I really appreciated the found family aspect of Maggie's relationship with Josh's family. The epilogue was a beautiful ending to the story. Overall, great story of second chance love!

3.75/5 but a deserved round up to 4/5.

This story was wholesome and I really enjoyed it - it felt like a good warm hug. It opened really well, and got to the main conflict of the story right away which I appreciated. It felt like it fell a tiny bit flat in the middle but the twist really redeemed any lull in the story.

I really appreciated the vulnerability of Maggie and Josh couldn’t have been a better guy (almost felt a little hard to believe but not impossible - LOVED Josh)

Overall, loved it and loved the narration of it as well, both Maggie and Josh’s narration)

So glad I was able to grab an ARC audio version of this!

I always love a new Denise Hunter book! Lots of wonderful, likeable characters and a great storyline that will have you feeling love and heartbreak throughout the story.I listened to the audio, and the narrator did a great job! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Reynold’s husband died at war while serving his country. Several years have passed and she is finally ready to look for love again. She decides to pack up and take her daughter to the town of Seabrook where she and her husband first met and fell in love. She feels like this is the perfect plan to gain closure. That is until she sees someone at the town carnival who looks like the spitting image of him. Maggie, alongside her late husband’s twin brother, set out to find this mystery man and learn more. They find the young man and quickly realize that he’s not old enough to be her late husband but her gut tells her that he is related. Can she figure out what the relation is without her heart shattering into a million pieces? Will she be able to find love again?

This book is perfect to read at the start of summer! Even though it has a bit of mystery, it’s definitely considered fiction focused on family drama and true love. Any hopeless romantic would enjoy this book. It’s sweet and has a very valuable lesson about acceptance as well as forgiveness.

Thank you @harpercollinschristian, @tnzfiction and @netgalley for the complementary ARC of this #audiobook in exchange for my honest review. #gifted

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The short synopsis: 5-years after her husband's death, Maggie Reynolds returns to her husband's hometown for the summer for the summer with her young daughter. She is ready to move forward until she spots someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.

This cover immediately caught my eye as I was hunting for some summer reads 🎡 And well, it did not disappoint to kick off my summer reading... from the coastal town setting, a mystery element, and second chance at love... it was pure summer reading goodness 💕

This is a story about love after loss and the courage it takes to move forward. Great for readers who enjoy tender romances with high emotional stakes… with a good hint of mystery. I’d recommend reading! This was my first book by this author but I will definitely be exploring her backlist.

🎧 The audio narration was fine; potentially better enjoyed in print.

✝️ This book is classified as Christian Fiction, however the only elements I could recall when writing this review were a prayer and church attendance; no deep Christian themes IMO.

Read if you enjoy: slow-burn clean romance (kissing only), friends to lovers, small beach town vibes, second chances, dual POV, complex relationships, cozy mysteries, grief & healing

Denise Hunter’s The Summer of You and Me is a charming and heartfelt story about rediscovering love, forgiveness, and second chances. The novel follows Maggie and Josh, her late husband’s brother, as they set off on an unexpected adventure after spotting a young man who eerily resembles Ethan, her deceased husband. What follows is an emotional journey that explores grief, healing, and the complexity of moving forward. Hunter handles a wide range of topics with grace and sensitivity, wrapped in her signature warm writing style and vivid, small-town summer setting. The audiobook narration is gentle and expressive, perfectly capturing the characters’ emotional depth and keeping listeners engaged. I was especially drawn to Maggie and Josh; their chemistry and emotional growth held my attention throughout. This is a deeply relatable story—whether through its themes of loss, love, or renewal, many listeners will find something that resonates on a very human level. A comforting and meaningful listen for fans of clean, uplifting romance.

Thanks to Netgally and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ALC. This is my honest review.

After reading, and loving, the digital review copy I jumped at the chance to sample the audio. I am pleased, but not at all surprised, to say that the audio recording narrated by Kim Churchill is stellar. This story is just as good, if not better, the second time around. I love the entire premise, the character development, and the setting.

The Summer of You & Me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a wonderful story. It will make you happy & wanting to cheer everyone on. It also has a huge surprise twist. YAy! I couldn't stop reading it. The Audio was really good too. A great feel good book!
Thank NetGalley

Overall a good story from Denise hunter. I can count on her for clean romances that will have some faith elements and deeper aspects without being heavy. This book started strong but I struggled with the pacing and the ultimate conclusion of the story- I wish it had felt like a bit more of a reveal instead of revealing some many things along the way- I just wanted a more satisfying ending especially with what the ending was. I also felt like sometimes the story was going too fast, especially at the end and other times it went too slow. I thought some of the strongest scenes were ones with Maggie’s mom. Overall, I enjoyed it and it’s a solid book with some modern elements from DH. Not a new fav though. Audio narration was well done too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book in exchange for my opinion!