The Summer That Changed Everything has layers of story with mystery and romance. I loved the mystery, twists, turns, & love story! I just adore this new book & can’t recommend it enough!

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration was excellent! The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life with the perfect amount of emotion. I really enjoyed listening to this story told in multiple POV’s. I was engrossed the entire time. It had a little bit of everything. What I liked most was the second chance romance and small town mystery, and the HEA, of course! It’s got lots of twist and turns that keep you guessing, and a great balance between romance and mystery, making it a must read! I admired Lucy’s determination and Ford’s unwavering dedication. Brenda Novak’s writing is so smooth and easy to read/listen to. She is quickly becoming a go to author for me.

4.25 stars ⭐️ This page turner was a perfect mix of mystery and romance!

Courtney Patterson did an excellent job narrating each character and making them distinguishable.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Fifteen years ago, Lucy Sinclair’s father was convicted of murdering three people in the small town of North Hampton Beach, Virginia. At just seventeen, with no other family, she was left to fend for herself. Lucy weathered some tough times but got through it and made something of herself. Now all these years later Lucy’s ready to go back to answer some nagging doubts she had about one of the murders. She doesn’t count on running into Ford, the man who abandoned her and broke her heart, but he’s also back in town taking a summer break from his own problems.

Lucy gets flak from the townsfolk right away when they find out why she’s there, but there are also ones who’ve questioned the past, as well. While we find out what’s behind one of the mysteries pretty early on, some of it doesn’t come all the way out until the end. I had my suspicions.

The Summer That Changed Everything was part romance, part mystery and a messy situation on several levels. Messy is usually something I avoid because I’m not a big fan of angst, but somehow Ms. Novak writes it in such a way that it doesn't come off as angsty. Once I started, I knew I’d have to read/listen to it all the way through! It wasn’t a story I’d have an easy time setting aside to continue later. I was riveted and had to know how it’d all turn out! I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m still thinking about it!

I alternately read and listened to The Summer That Changed Everything. I thought Courtney Patterson performed all voices, males and female wonderfully with appropriate emotion, bringing the characters and story to life.

This isn't my typical genre, but the description sounded interesting, so I wanted to give it a chance, and I am so glad that I did! The Summer I changed everything is a wild and captivating summer read.
This book is about Lucy, whose father was accused of multiple gruesome murders in a small town.
After more than a decade away from the town Lucy decides to go back for the Summer. She does not fully believe her dad killed one her classmates, so she is there to find out the truth. This task will not be easy, most people would rather not dig up the past, so she does not receive the warmest welcomes. She will also have to face her first love, the one who broke her heart, who is also in town for the summer.


"Sometimes people are so guilt-ridden there's a part of them that wants to be caught"

"The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior."

Small Town
Secrets & Mystery
First Love
Second Chances
Whodunnit
Reconciliation

I thoroughly enjoyed the Narrator, Courtney Patterson. This is the first book I have listened to that she has narrated, but I would love to listen to more by her. Courtney has different enough voices for each character she portrays so that really helps keep track of the story and tell everyone apart. The audiobook was great; it really brings the book to life.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC!

Brenda Novak’s The Summer That Changed Everything is a compelling audiobook filled with mystery, romance, and the weight of long-buried secrets. Lucy Sinclair returns to her hometown after fifteen years, determined to clear her father’s name following his conviction for a triple murder that shattered her life as a teenager. As she digs deeper into the truth, listeners are drawn into a tense atmosphere where nothing is as it seems.

The return of Ford Wagner, an old flame fleeing his own troubled past, adds layers of emotional complexity and slow-burning chemistry. Novak expertly weaves together the threads of suspense, small-town dynamics, and unresolved feelings, making the coastal town of North Hampton Beach a vivid and immersive setting.

Narrated with heartfelt nuance, this audiobook is perfect for fans of mystery-laden romances and stories about facing the past to find hope for the future. The Summer That Changed Everything is a gripping listen that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The Summer That Changed Everything was my first book by Brenda Novak. It was absolutely phenomenal and I did see that ending coming. It was a perfect mixture between mystery/thriller and romance.

I rated this book 5/5 because it was my favorite for 2025!

This story is well written. The narrators voice is easy to understand and very likeable. However this story was not for me. I found myself getting distracted and lost unlike other audio books that just keep me hooked. I really wanted to love this story as the synopsis was right up my ally.

I still would recommend this book. It just was not for me.

This book had it all: mystery, suspense, complicated family relationships, romance. I loved every bit of it. Highly recommend picking this one up this summer.

Courtney Patterson did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Brenda Novak, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you’re looking at this cover and thinking you’re going to find a summer rom-com in these pages, you’d be mistaken. However, if you’re thinking you’ve stumbled upon a good story, you’d be correct.

Lucy and Ford were dating the summer that life fell apart for Lucy, so why in the world would she ever go back to Virginia?

This story looks at young love and buried secrets, cover-ups and class division. It’s about the court of public opinion and how your life can be changed in one minute, one night or one summer.

I felt the ending of this one was the *tiniest* bit rushed, but I did enjoy the complex yet believable story these characters tell.

I listened to this audiobook, and I really enjoyed hearing the story come to life through the narrator. There were a lot of threads to keep straight but I never got lost in the telling or overwhelmed by the details.

Have you ever lost relationships because people believe a lie about you?

3.5 stars

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I did enjoy it overall, it was much slower paced than I tend to like. I was a bit distracted by an overabundance of details that didn’t seem relevant. The twist and resolution were great, and overall I was entertained.

I listened on audio which was very well done and superbly narrated.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is my first book by Brenda Novak and I can not wait to read more. I think this is a perfect beach read...it has romance, a mystery, past lovers reconnecting, and a cast of interesting characters. This was a fast paced book that was so entertaining. The mystery part was pretty strong.....it kept me guessing as the twists kept coming at me as the story prgressed. And I loved the relationship between Ford and Lucy. I was rooting for them the whole book. A perfect beach read. I rated this a 4 star book on my Goodreads and other socials. I thought the author did a really good job....narrating a bunch of different characters and keeping it different must be hard. The narrator, Courtney Patterson, did a good job.

If you’re looking for a fast paced wonderful written murder mystery then I highly recommend this book! I was hooked until the very last page. It is a five star recommendation from me!

Lucy‘s father was convicted of three murders. Even though Lucy is totally heartbroken about this she absolutely does not believe that her father is responsible for the murder of Aurora. She has returned to North Hampton Beach determined to prove her father’s innocence. Upon arriving in town, one of her first encounters is with her high school sweetheart Ford. He ends up going out of his way to help Lucy in anyway he can to right this story that started 15 years earlier. The complicated family dynamics just added to the overall story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Brenda Novak for this ALC in return for my honest review.

This was my first Brenda Novak book and I really enjoyed it. I was not expecting it be a mystery but I loved it. The narrator did a really good job in keeping my interest throughout the audiobook. It can be difficult sometimes to remain interested throughout an audiobook while multitasking but the narrator did a great job. It helped that Brenda Novak wrote such a twisting novel. Thank you Harlequin auto for the ALC.

I listened to this one. The narration was great. It is a small town murder mystery that kept me guessing. Lots of good characters and a good story too.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and Net Galley for the audio book in exchange for my honest review.

The story never fully drew me in as it was to slow of pace for my liking. Lucy is determined to prove that her father, who is in prison for multiple murders, didn’t commit one of the murders he was charged for. I never connected with any of the characters. The relationship between Lucy and Ford, her ex, was lacking. There was not chemistry between the two. I enjoyed the murder mystery aspects, but that was about it.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the gifted audiobook!

The cover may not suggest that this book is mostly a book about small town murders, but I know by now that you never know WHAT to expect when you pick up a Brenda Novak book! One thing I always know with Brenda, her books will NEVER be boring!

The best thing about this book was how many interesting plot lines there were! It had romance, mystery, small town vibes, family drama, etc.

I thought the ending was absolute perfection! This will be the perfect summer read to toss in your beach bag!

The narrator was perfect!

Set in Small-town Virginia, in a town where silence is survival and justice is a mere performance. The Summer That Changed Everything peels back the layers of a ‘good ol’ boys’ system built on secrets. One summer. One tragedy. And a whole lot of regret. You won’t be able to look away.

I absolutely loved this book and the characters were relatable.
The love story in between the other situations was something that kept me listening intently.
I listened to the Audiobook and the narrators were superb and on point with what I would have expected in the region the book was set.
I most definitely recommend reading or listening to this book.

I received a copy of this in exchange for honest review.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Brenda Novak for the chance to listen to this audiobook early! The Summer That Changed Everything is officially out now (as of June 3, 2025), so if you love twisty small-town mysteries with a side of second-chance romance, definitely give this one a listen.

This story had me in right from the start. Lucy returns to her hometown to confront her past and possibly clear her father’s name, after fifteen years of believing he was a murderer. The secrets in this town run deep, and I was hooked on finding out what really happened all those years ago. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another curveball came flying in. The twists kept me guessing all the way through, even up to the last chapter!

The narration by Courtney Patterson was really well done! She nailed the emotional moments and gave each character a clear voice, which made it easy to get lost in the story.

This was such a great summer thriller and entertaining listen! Full of emotion, mystery, and enough small-town drama to keep things interesting. Four BIG stars from me!