Thank you @tnzfiction and @netgalley for my early listening copy of Denise Hunter’s new novel, THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME, out now.

The novel starts off quickly with Maggie and her daughter at a boardwalk carnival in a sleepy North Carolina seaside town, where she then thinks she sees a younger version of her dead husband. This opens the door for her to call her brother-in-law, Josh, who has always been there for her (and harbors a decades old crush for her).

This perplexing doppelganger moment drives the momentum of the novel from here on out.

As Josh and Maggie search for who he really is, there are moments of heartache and toxic family members, as well as growth and comfort.

I actually really liked the characters and felt connected to their history, I just didn’t get into the whole “husband sighting” as much…I did love the ending of the novel though, as it all ties back together nicely.

I was excited to get early access to The Summer of You and Me, the latest release from Denise Hunter. This is the third book I’ve read by her, and once again—it’s a 5-star read. The Summer of You and Me is beautifully written. Summer, small-town charm, and a plot that keeps you guessing. What more could you want? I highly recommend it!

The audiobook is narrated by Kim Churchill, who did an excellent job bringing the story and its characters to life. Her tone and emotion were spot-on. I especially appreciated how she gave distinct voices to Josh and Maggie—it made their dialogue easy to follow.

Publication Date- April 22, 2025
#TheSummerofYouandMe #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson/Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced audio book.

This book just wasn't for me. The beginning was too slow and I found myself uninterested in any of the main characters. Needing to wait until about halfway through for the story to kick into a new gear feels like asking too much from readers who have a lot of options.

OH I was drawn into this book from the beginning. I got a little disturbed in the middle - but as what usually happens with this fabulous author, I fell in love and cried with the characters! It was a wonderful book and will recommend it to everyone! Loved the narrator and will listen to this book again!

Thank you to NetGalley for this story! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The Summer of You and Me is a tender unrequited love story that deserves an HEA. Josh is a saint and Maggie is about to realize what a blessed woman she is as they uncover an almost 2 decade mystery. This author's stories are always original but never waiver from the basic moral values we all hold dear. The narrator for the audio book did a great job of conveying the heartfelt emotions. This novel would make a great Hallmark Mystery movie.

This one gets five shiny, Summer stars from me. 😎

Up until I read this upcoming release, I had only picked up one Denise Hunter book. To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed.

Not long ago I saw this one available in audio on NetGalley. Here I am just four days later -- already done. I would turn it on to walk the dog and then kept listening in the car, during other chores, etc. It was hard to put down.

Here are five elements that made this a real winner for me:

😎The summery setting with the MC Maggie staying at a beach house and enjoying outside time with her four-year-old Zoey and extended family.
😎The mysterious stranger. How could someone who looked just like her husband be walking around in the town they once lived in as a married couple.
😎A military widow representation and a look at the aftermath of losing that loved one during deployment overseas.
😎The extended family of Maggie's beloved husband Ethan rallies around her and has such a healthy and life-affirming attitude.
😎That Epilogue was simply delightful. What a heartwarming ending to Maggie's sometimes stressful Summer.

Bonus reason: That cover! 🎡

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for both an audio and digital ARC of this release scheduled for April 22, 2025. All opinions are my own.

Another epic story from Denise Hunter. The characters and their story were so real that they felt like old friends. This is what I have come to enjoy about Denise and her storytelling. If you prefer what could be real versus mushy gushy with no real story behind it, this story is for you.

I received an advanced audiobook copy from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Denise Hunter has once again written a story sweet as honey with characters who I adore. It is books like this that give hope when life throws curveballs. A happy escape from worries or troubles. The narrator did a great job and her voice went well with the story. I like how things were wrapped up in everyone's storyline. Serious topics were touched upon, yet the author was able to keep it light.
Thanks to the author for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I give it 4.5 stars rounded to 5 for a cozy read and will recommend to anyone looking for a good story!

Maggie and Josh pulled on my heartstrings so much! Josh has always been in love with Maggie but she married his brother Ethan so he learns to keep his feelings to himself until almost 5 years after Ethan's death. When Maggie sees a man who looks just like Ethan, it sends them on a mission to find out who it is and boy does it take them on a wild goose chase! I really enjoyed this whole love story and could understand the angst that they felt when dealing with their families. Denise Hunter is a master at writing home-town romances that will leave you smiling. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read/listen to and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 22 April 2025

I really loved this audiobook! Wow, the story was so captivating! The various plot-twists added so much depth and enjoyment to the story! Denise wrote a touching story about a single-mom/widow navigating grief and new-love! Ugh, I loved every minute! And the side characters had so much personality. While there were many heartbreaking moments, the overall resolution was so worth it!
Thank you Thomas Nelson for my early copy of this audiobook!

The summer of You and Me Honest ARC Review:

Maggie Reynolds feels she is ready to start over after the loss of her husband in an explosion, while he served in the military. Her husband Ethan was her childhood sweetheart and she couldn’t imagine life with anyone else. Fortunately, Maggie’s brother in law , Josh , has been by her side since the birth of her daughter.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, Josh has been in love with her since they met. Emotions are out on hold as Maggie believes she sees her Kate husband one day at a carnival. Feeling heartbroken, Maggie and Josh follow a journey to discover whether the mysterious man at the carnival was actually Maggie’s late husband.

With sub characters that are colorful and involved in Maggie’s life, the story is consistently interesting. Add a few plot twists and turns, and this story keeps you on your toes!

Filled with heartfelt connections, self reflection and hope, this novel has been an enjoyable and inspiring read! This is definitely one to add to your TBR!

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

4 stars for THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I totally judged this book by its cover — that was my sole purpose in requesting the ARC from Net Galley. I am SO glad I did because not only did I enjoy this book so thoroughly, but I also found a new author to add to my “must read more of” list.

Denise Hunter wrote such a beautiful love story from start to finish. And I’ll be the first to admit that this trope isn’t my favorite, but it was done in such a tasteful way that I genuinely found myself cheering Maggie and Josh on from the sidelines, despite what others may think.

The romance + the mystery of “Ethan’s twin” had me hooked. Honestly from the very beginning I knew I would enjoy this story.

The characters were real and raw, with emotion that felt honest. It pulled at my heartstrings to see Maggie struggle with her feelings (about Josh, Ethan, her mother, grief, loss, moving on).

The twist had me audibly gasping because even though I should have, I honestly did not see it coming.

Definitely check this one out when it comes out on April 22. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of THE SUMMER IF YOU AND ME ✨

One day Maggie is at the fair with her young daughter and swears she sees her husband among the crowds. Trouble is, he was killed in the line of duty five years ago.

Calling upon his brother to help her search for him opens up a new world of possibilities neither of them ever expected, and are a little afraid to entertain. But they don't give up, and eventually are confronted with an impossible truth.

This novel is at once a mystery, a love story, and a story of revitalization. Grief is heavy and comes in waves, some hitting so hard and fast it makes us feel like we'll never get a breath of fresh air again. But holding stagnant doesn't allow you to buoy back to the surface, lifted by the spirits of those who came before. By the love and honor you have for them. This is a story about humanity in a lot of ways. Coping with death. Resilience.

An undercurrent of support, love, and understanding runs through this novel. The characters seem to be at least casually religious, though it's not outwardly discussed much through the narrative. Instead they lead by example, telling truths even when it hurts, finding forgiveness in difficult situations, overcoming shock in favor of compassion. There is plenty of drama in this book, but I could feel the safety net underneath, in the best way possible.

The Summer of You and Me blurs genre lines to bring a story that will tug at your heart strings. I absolutely loved it. I hope you will too.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was my first Denise Hunter read, and not my last. It was familiar, like a warm hug. Coming to you on April 22, 2025 its one to put at the top of your TBR lists. Five years after the loss of her husband, Maggie still mourns Ethan and the life they should have had together. She struggles with the "what ifs" and she navigates the world raising the daughter that Ethan loved, but never got to meet. Blessed with supportive in-laws, Maggie and her daughter travel back to her husbands home town to spend the summer with Ethans family. With a surprise twist, Maggie finds herself and her brother-in-law Josh (who is in love with her) on a mystery that could change their lives forever.

The audiobook read wonderfully. I could listen to Kim Churchill all day.

Thank you NetGalley, Denise Hunter and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions I share are my own.

Reading The Summer of You and Me feels like slipping into a memory—sun-drenched days, salty breezes, and that one summer where everything shifted. Denise Hunter paints the season with nostalgia and nuance, wrapping her characters in heartache, healing, and a second chance that feels both tender and true.

This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about timing, trust, and the kind of love that doesn’t just survive the storm, but is shaped by it. The emotional undercurrent runs deep, but it’s balanced by Hunter’s gift for writing those soft, swoony moments that make you believe in love all over again.

Perfect for fans of beachy settings, meaningful connection, and that sweet ache of what-could-have-been finally becoming what is—this book is summer bottled up in pages.

Denise Hunter knows how to swoon a reader from the first chapter. She writes and creates the most relatable characters, and heart felt stories! Wonderfully done. I cherished each page.

Maggie Reynolds lost her husband, Ethan, to war. Five years later she spends the summer in Seabrook, where her late husband was from, and sees his doppelgänger. She employs her brother-in-law Josh, who has been in lover with her for years, to help her find this doppelgänger.

This book is a little mystery, a little love story. The only problem is it lacks depth, on the verge of cheesy. I would have DNFed this book if it wasn't an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Publish date is April 22, 2025.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: Seabrook, a charming, nostalgia-drenched beachside community
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

The Summer of You and Me is the kind of novel that stays with you long after you turn the final page. With lyrical prose, richly drawn characters, and a storyline that gently balances grief, hope, and the quiet ache of what might have been, this book is an emotional triumph.

Five years after her husband’s tragic death, Maggie returns to Seabrook—the place where their love first blossomed—as a way to find closure. Her intentions are simple: say goodbye to the future they planned and spend time with the Reynolds family, who still feel like her own. But as summer unfolds, so do old feelings, new truths, and a mystery that shakes the foundation of everything she thought she knew.

Josh Reynolds, Maggie’s brother-in-law, is one of the most compelling romantic leads I’ve read in a long time. His long-buried love for Maggie is tender, selfless, and deeply moving. Watching their dynamic shift, slowly and respectfully, as Maggie begins to open herself to the idea of life after Ethan, is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

But it’s the appearance of a stranger—one who looks hauntingly like Ethan—that adds an unexpected twist. The mystery is subtle but effective, driving the plot forward and forcing Maggie to confront not just her grief, but her identity and the possibility of a new beginning.

The Summer of You and Me is not just a love story—it’s a story of rediscovery. Of finding your way back to yourself after loss. Of realizing that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting, and that love, in its many forms, can be both enduring and transformative.

Tender, romantic, and filled with emotional depth, this book is a must-read for anyone who believes in the healing power of time, truth, and second chances. #NetGalley, #thesummerofyouandme #booked_this_weekend

OH THE DRAMA!!!!!! i almost couldn’t keep up with it at points bc just when a situation was resolved another one popped up!! i thoroughly enjoyed this and loved all the characters!! i breezed through this and it has me so excited for summer to begin!! it’s a perfect beach read!! i listened to the audiobook in less than 24 hours because i had to know what was happening!!

thank you to netgalley & the publisher for the e-arc & audiobook in exchange for my honest review!!

The Summer Of You And Me by Denise Hunter

A BIG thank you to #NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, and author #DeniseHunter for sending me #TheSummerOfYouAndMe in exchange for my honest review.

About the book: 5 years ago Maggie Reynolds lost her husband and love of her life, Ethan. After all this time Maggie is finally ready to try and move on and get some closure.
She decides to bring her and Ethan’s daughter back to her home town for the summer, back to where Ethan’s family is.
Maggie takes her daughter to an amusement park in town and while she’s there she’s sees a man that looks exactly like Ethan! But how could it be? Ethan is dead.
Maggie immediately calls Josh, her brother in law, who quickly comes up to the fair. This turns into a “quest” to find the young man and when they finally do find him it raises way more questions than answers.
During their journey to discovering the truth Maggie and Josh begin to get closer and closer, but something Maggie doesn’t know is Josh has loved Maggie since her first laid eyes on her. He’s ready to lay it all out there for her, but will she reciprocate his love?

What I thought? What an absolute sweet story! I really enjoyed this one. I love how it was just a good nice “clean” story. The story grabbed me from start to finish, and the characters were all really likable. I would definitely want to read more by this author in the future. I would rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

Kim Churchill did an amazing job as narrator and really helped bring the story to life!

This book will be released April 21, 2025