The Summer That Changed Everything
By Brenda Novak
Narrated by Courtney Patterson

Dont let the cover fool you, I thought this was a romance when I looked at it but it’s actually a mystery/thriller.
Lucy a fifteen year old, whose father was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of three people. When this happened the town not only turned their backs on him but also on Lucy. Lucy goes back to North Hampton Beach in the hopes that she can help to prove her father’s innocence. This is when she gets back with an old romantic partner Ford, and they get to really digging into what actually happened with those murders. But is her father truly guilty? I was on the edge of my seat and this story kept me on my toes.
This is truly a perfect summer read especially if you like a slow burn type mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. All words are my own.

This book was the perfect mixture between The Summer I Turned Pretty and Pretty Little Liars, bit aged up! I had so much fun trying to figure out what was going on with the past and how these characters were going to move forward in the future.

I listened to the audio and the narrator did a good job voicing the characters.
I felt like this story was interesting, but it moved a little slow. It took a long time for the story to get going and some things felt repetitive. I wanted to like the characters more, but they felt a little flat for me. A decent beach read with mystery and a second chance romance.
3.5 stars

The Summer That Changed Everything by Brenda Novak and Narrated by Courtney Patterson
Thank You NetGalley & Harlequin Audio for the ALC

The cover of this book had me thinking this was a contemporary romance or a fun Summer fiction book with more lightness or humor where the FMC finds herself over the Summer. I never really read the synopsis (my bad). This was more of a mystery and FMC spending the Summer trying to solve the mystery. Fifteen years ago Lucy's father was sentenced life in prison for the murder of three people. Since that day, she never saw her father again... until now. She returns to the town where it all happened hoping to prove her father's innocence, and teams up with her old H.S. boyfriend, and lots of drama ensues throughout the book.
This kept my interest enough to finish it, but I didn't love it. The beginning was slow, and I actually sped the audiobook up for awhile just to get through it. Then slowed it down toward the end. The plot kept me interested, but wasn't quite the read I was hoping for. If you like slow burn
mysteries with different characters, give this one a read.

3 stars for the storyline, but the narration dropped it a whole star for me.

I can't say for sure what bothered me about the narration other than I just did not care for the narrators. If it had not been a compelling enough mystery for me to continue listening, I wouldn't have finished the book.

Book: Not every book needs a romance. This book was full of stereotypes and cliches. The fake pregnancy announcement to trap and bring back the husband...the case of misidentified killer and the innocent person who was arrested and incarcerated for 15 years never thought to claim his innocence because he didn't think anyone would listen, yet he allowed his daughter to suffer without the only parent she had left because why? The two teenagers who actually committed the murder and got away with it this far but all of a sudden the distressed daughter decided this was the year she was going to do something about it and uncovers both murders without her lifting a finger...all she had to do was come back to the small town she was from and start sleeping with her former boyfriend to rile people up.

I didn't enjoy much about the book except for the mystery aspect and even half of that storyline was revealed too soon.

Overall it was just middle of the road for me.

I wasn't sure at first about the narrator Courtney Patterson, but her voice grew on me, and she did a great job bringing each character, the story, and the coastal setting alive. The audio was clear, with no disruptions in it all.

This story was very intriguing and full of mystery.
There was a moment I questioned how this book would play out because the author revealed something important 28% into the book. But there was a reason, and I'm so glad I continued listening.
The romance part was good, but it's definitely not the shining part of this book. Though I still enjoyed it to some degree, I enjoyed the twists and turns more. I had a few sneaking suspicions of who did what, some being right, but I was still surprised by some of the twists. What I didn't like was the MMC and how he did the FMC. Wasn't a fan of him by the end of the book!
All in all, I did enjoy this audiobook. It was very intriguing, and the plot definitely kept me listening and wanting more. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this one becomes a limited series or movie.
If you want a beachy summer read that has romance and mystery, I highly recommend this one.

Lucy goes back to her hometown 15 years after her father had been accused of three murders. She'd never accepted that he'd done any of them, especially the third, but DNA said he'd been at the first murders so why not accuse him of the other one as well? Lucy is determined to disover just what happened, the rest of the town was equally as determined that she couldn't. Her first boyfriend, Ford, is also back in town -- pure coincidence as he was getting his family's "cottage" ready for sale. He'd always felt bad about his treatment of Lucy but as they were from different sides of the tracks, his parents convinced him to leave her alone. There's definitely a lot of tension between them. He's also dealing with his own personal issues

This is a good summer beach mystery. I'm not a big mystery reader but do like the author's works, so I'd recommend it to those who just want to escape for a while. The audiobook was just right for listening while walking or cleaning or driving..

Good book. Loved the narrator. The story kept me hooked and interested. I enjoyed it. Didn't give it 5 stars because it wasn't that good of a book.

This was a cute summer mystery novel. The audiobook was really good. I liked the pacing of the plot twists and the mystery during the book. I wouldn’t say this was a romance novel. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the love interests, but enough for a mystery novel. I would recommend this book for people don’t read mystery novels often.

It was pretty run of the mill for these types of books. I wasn't fantastic, but wasn't terrible either. It was entertaining enough.

Lucy is our FMC whose father was imprisoned for two separate murder cases in their small town. She believes her father to be innocent of the murder of the girl who was her age that had a thing for her then boyfriend, Ford. We follow Lucy as she goes back to her hometown 15 years later to see if she can prove her fathers innocence and clear any suspicions of her involvement in the motive of Auroras death. Lucy teams up with an unlikely ally, her old boyfriend, Ford. Ford is in town for the summer looking for an escape from the problems in his life and hoping to fix past wrongs with Lucy. This is my first time listening/reading a book with so many point of views but I honestly enjoyed it way more than I thought I would! There are surprise twists and turns that keep you on your toes until the end. I really enjoyed the narration and how well the story was presented. I would absolutely recommend this book if you enjoy second chance romance with suspense!!

I’m a huge fan of Brenda Novak books, so I was excited when I got approved to listen to the audiobook. I was completely immersed in the mystery and the romance from beginning to end. Not only was this book well written, but the characters were so developed that they could have jumped out of my audiobook. There was also great character development and conflict. The setting itself could have been its own character. I loved the setting and hope Brenda sets another book in this fun town!
Lucy heads back to her hometown after being gone for fifteen years. There were 3 murders that happened back then. Her father is in jail for all of those murders. She has decided it’s time she investigated what exactly happened back then. She hasn’t really spoken to her father in years. Lucy was determined to find out what happened back then and a lot of people in town were just as determined to keep things as they are.
Her first boyfriend, Ford, is also back for the summer dealing with his own personal issues. Ford also rejected Lucy after the murder trial, so there’s definitely some tension between the two of them.
My only complaint was the author set this up to get really nasty and gritty. I always felt like I was waiting for a little bit more to happen. Maybe something a bit more thrilling, or less mild than the initial set up led me to believe. There were good plot twists, but nothing I didn’t really see coming. The conflict was deep and messy, so it still made for a really good listen. This small town had a lot of secrets and it was fun listening to them unravel. The narrator, Courtney Patterson, did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. She was a perfect Lucy. I received this book from Harlequin Audio and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story as it was read to me in audiobook form.
The story is a gut-punch tale of Lucy returning to her childhood town to uncover the truth about what happened to upend her world. She has resigned herself to her father's guilt in the death of a grandparently couple but wants closure on his part in the death of a classmate. She returns to a town that has spurned her, and the main players still remain in this small town. Lucy is a strong character that wants to know the truth regardless of what it will mean to her father or the town. It is a tale of small minds justifying their actions, and of poor behavior toward Lucy as a child and again as an adult. Ford is a solid character, a good male lead. This was an emotional tale, but it makes for a great weekend read (or listen).
As for the audiobook portion, I enjoyed the narrator's voice. There were times where the conversations were rapid and I just didn't detect the different voices (so I didn't realize that the character speaking had changed), but the context of the conversation make it apparent. She read the parts well.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. It is a book that I recommend to others, and the audio form was pleasant to hear.

I greatly enjoyed this audiobook! It hooked me from the start and I could not stop listening. While it was easy to predict what was going to happen the details of how it would all come about kept me on edge. I highly recommend this listen. The narrator is fantastic and the pace is fast.

If you’re looking for a mysterious, emotional, and twisty beach read this summer—this is the one to grab!

I was hooked by the central mystery and the way the past refused to stay buried. The story follows a woman returning to her small hometown to clear her father’s name—but what she uncovers might just change everything she thought she knew. The dual POV added so much depth, and the suspense was woven beautifully with themes of second chances, forgiveness, and the long reach of justice.

There’s romance, small-town secrets, a despicable ex, and a gripping murder mystery with some jaw-dropping twists. Add in a strong dose of women’s fiction and you’ve got a story that lingers.

🎧 I listened on audio, and Courtney Patterson absolutely nailed the narration. She brought every emotion to life—pain, hope, heartbreak, and healing.

Also, I’ve been loving Brenda Novak’s monthly book box subscription! June’s box included this release, a signed copy, a delicious waffle treat, and a beautiful bookish duffle bag. Total win!

✨ Perfect for fans of suspenseful women’s fiction with heart and bite.

🔍 When the past catches up with the present, there is no going back…

I was really hoping for a little more intrigue, twists and turns from this book. The description hooked me, and it sounded like it was going to be a Dateline mystery being solved. However, the book fell flat for me. There wasn’t a ton of mystery because we find out who did it pretty early on in the book, and even the few twists at the end were too little too late. I saw them coming, which was a big letdown. I wanted this book to reel me in and have me on the edge of my seat questioning everyone and their motives. Instead, I was partially invested and hoping for more.
I also didn’t feel super connected to the characters, and I found quite a few of them pretty annoying and despicable. However, I did like Lucy’s tenacity and Ford’s big heart. The second chance romance was good, but again it was a little predictable. I would like to emphasize I don’t think this book was bad, but it wasn’t for me. I thought it was going to lean more into the thriller genre, but it is definitely more contemporary fiction with a small mystery twist.
Courtney Patterson did an amazing job narrating the audiobook. She really brought the book to life and I think she helped me to stay a little more engaged. She did a fantastic job narrating all the different characters. I was able to differentiate between them, and her male voices were great. She was a terrific pick as a narrator.
If you like second chance romance, a little mystery, and small beach town settings this might be the book for you. This book has a slower pace and would be nice to read by the pool. Just don’t expect twist, turns, and excitement.

Fifteen years ago, Lucy Sinclair’s life got turned upside down when her daddy was convicted of murdering an elderly couple and a teenage boy she’d had bad blood with. Folks in town didn’t just look sideways at her—they treated her like she was the one with blood on her hands. With no reason to stay, Lucy packed her bags and left North Hampton Beach behind.

Fast-forward to now, Lucy’s built herself a brand-new life out in Las Vegas, making a living with cards and grit. But something’s been tugging at her, and this summer, she finally answers the call—renting a cozy little cottage back in Virginia to pay her father a visit in prison and maybe, just maybe, uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Southern summer without a familiar face—and in walks Ford Wagner, her old flame, newly divorced and home to fix up his family’s beach house. He broke her heart once, back when everything was falling apart, but he’s not about to make the same mistake twice. When he finds out Lucy’s back in town, he’s determined to set things right.

As Lucy digs into the past, she starts asking questions no one’s wanted to answer. Secrets long buried start bubbling up, and not everyone is happy to see her stirring the pot. There’s plenty of small-town drama, whispered truths, and folks clinging to the power their last names bought them. And let’s just say, some of them end up having to eat a big ol’ slice of humble pie.

This mystery-romance by Brenda Novak is a slow burn, like a hot summer evening stretching on forever. I’ll admit, I figured out who the real culprit was before Lucy and Ford did—some folks just can’t help but act guilty—but watching them put the pieces together was still mighty satisfying. Their relationship builds back up bit by bit, and while Lucy starts off wanting nothing to do with Ford, he’s stubborn in that sweet, Southern way, and eventually wins her over.

The audiobook, narrated by Courtney Patterson, was a real treat. She brought Lucy to life with just the right amount of sass and vulnerability—I could picture her plain as day. If you enjoy a little mystery with your romance and don’t mind a slower pace that lets the story simmer, this one’s worth a listen. While it wasn’t my favorite Brenda Novak novel, it still made for a nice, atmospheric escape.

The Summer That Changed Everything offers a predictable yet moderately engaging dive into a past haunted by tragedy. Lucy Sinclair's return to her hometown, driven by a desire to clear her father's name after 15 years, sets up a promising premise. The idea of uncovering hidden truths in a small town where everyone prefers secrets to stay buried is certainly compelling.
However, the execution feels a bit paint-by-numbers. The rekindling of an old flame with Ford Wagner, himself nursing recent wounds, is an expected trope that, while not unwelcome, doesn't add much in the way of surprise or deep emotional resonance. Their chemistry, while present, feels more like a convenient plot device than a scorching romance.
The mystery itself unfolds at a steady pace, but those familiar with the genre might find themselves anticipating the twists and turns long before they arrive. While the narrative provides enough intrigue to keep the pages turning, the "summer that changed everything" ultimately delivers a resolution that feels a little too neat, leaving the reader with a sense of déjà vu rather than genuine shock. It's a decent enough read for a lazy afternoon, but it won't linger in your mind long after the final page.

I was approved to read and listen to this book. I listened to it. I enjoyed the narration, the different voices that were used were appropriate for that character. The mystery and romance of the book kept my interest. The one part I did not like is how the male main character cheated on his wife. Even though the wife lied about a pregnancy and they were going to get a divorce. They weren’t divorced, so the cheating was not a good thing, I understand, it is life and things happen. I also like how the ending was happy. Miscommunication happens.

Brenda Novak just keeps getting better and better! This was another great read and even though the cover might make you think it's super lighthearted, there is so much depth in these characters. Highly recommend this one!