What a story! I listened to this story and was not really expecting the direction the story took. Lucy's life changed in the summer she was 17. Her story leaves you wondering about how the actions of others can impact someone. There were quite a few surprises in this story. I really liked Ford and how he kept trying to make up how he reacted that summer. I enjoyed the path that it took to get to what really happened fifteen years ago. The story was told at a good pace and I was very surprised at how it worked out. It was a great story. The narration worked well. I was pulled into the story quickly and didn't want to stop. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

3.5⭐️
I have enjoyed Brenda Novak’s books, especially the Christmas ones. So I was glad to see this book available in my NetGalley account.

Lucy returns to Virginia to try and clear her father’s name of the murder he was found guilty of 15 years earlier. She knows in her gut that even though he was found guilty of the murder of a couple in their trailer park, her dad didn’t also murder her classmate. While starting on this hunt to clear her father, Lucy reconnects with the boy who broke her heart, Ford. He did stand by her while her father was on trial. Their romance was sweet and the plot was enjoyable. I predicted a lot of what was going to happen but one reveal did surprise me. I enjoyed the book but don’t think it’ll be something I will think about now that I finished the book.

Lucy’s father was convicted of three murders 15 years ago. While DNA evidence linked him to two victims, the third murder, involving a girl Lucy's age, seemed circumstantial. Now, Lucy returns home to uncover the truth, discovering far more than she expected, including reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend, Ford. The town resents her return, but Lucy is determined to prove her dad's innocence in the teen murder. This spicy romantic mystery will keep you guessing. I found myself deeply invested in solving the case and enjoyed seeing Lucy and Ford rekindle their relationship.

This was my first read by Brenda Novak, and I loved her writing and the way she kept me thinking I knew who was guilty, but still had doubt. I will be picking up one of her books again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advanced copy of The Summer That Changed Everything, and Brenda Novak for a terrific story.

I think I was about halfway through this audiobook and already knew it would be 5 stars for me. This was murder mystery meets romance & I loved it! Murder mystery is not my typical genre of choice, but I was absolutely hooked! The plot twists were not predictable to me. I devoured this audiobook about as quickly as possible to find out exactly what was going on! Courtney Patterson did an excellent job with narration & captured all the voices perfectly! Definitely add this one to your TBR either in print or audio! You will not be disappointed!

Thank you Brenda Novak, NetGalley, & Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to the ALC & provide my honest opinion!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75

If you’re a reader who likes:
-a beach town setting
-not one murder mystery, but two
-second chance romance
… then this is the book for you.

I went back and forth in a companion read between the ebook (eARC) and the audio (ALC) and found I spent more time reading instead because one of the characters that the narrator read for I really wasn’t a fan of. I actually enjoyed her male characters but found the FMC voice somewhat irritating and it took me awhile to get used to. When I first started, it almost sounded like AI because of some of the word pronunciations. Ultimately, I did get used to it and it didn’t stop me or make me want to stop reading, but I did end up reading the digital version more than listening for this reason.

I was fairly entertained by this story and driven to find out what happened that summer all of those years ago. I lowered my rating for some cheese factors, but still enjoyed this read. I was surprised when one of the mysteries (real killer) was revealed so early, but found I enjoyed getting that killers inner dialogue, while still reading until the end to discover the killer of the other murder mystery. I felt like the reader was left out of some of the big reveals and it was almost “closed door” to some of the moments the book was building to.

always enjoy Novak’s books. They are always intriguing and she blends genres flawlessly, there’s a little bit of something for everyone in her books. The Summer That Changed Everything is a small town murder mystery with a side of second chance romance.

After 15 years, Lucy, the FMC, returns home to try to prove her father didn’t commit the murder(s) he was wrongly convicted of. The townspeople were awful to her after the conviction back then causing her to leave town, but she is back and isn’t letting anyone run her off until she knows the truth. When she gets to town her old boyfriend, Ford, happens to be back in town as well. As they begin to reconnect, she’s able to convince him why she believes her father is innocent. The duo becomes a team to try and figure out the mystery of who really committed these murders.

This story is told in multiple POVs not very often does the murderer out themselves early in the book, but in true Novak form, she's not afraid to shake the “norm” up. I wasn’t sure where else the story could go after learning this info, but to my surprise we were just getting started on what became a wild ride full of twists and turns all the way to the end. I don’t want to say too much and give anything away, but this book is full of shady, unlikable, unreliable characters who hold lots of secrets and missing pieces to the puzzle which sets the scene for a great who-done-it mystery.

The audio book made for a great immersive experience. The narrator, Courtney Patterson, did a great job with giving each character their own voice. Her tone and pacing were spot on and helped create a mysterious, suspenseful atmospheric setting and plot.

Add this fast paced summer mystery to your summer TBR!

Thank you @htpbooks @readmirabooks @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio and @authorbrendanovak for the #gifted ARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.

This book did not thrill me, it did not bore me but it was a slow trip down the murder mystery path. Girl from the trailer park returns back to the small coastal town where her father was convicted of three murders. Lucy has been gone for fifteen years but vows to find the evidence to prove her fathers innocence if it's the last thing she does. She reconnects with her former boyfriend Ford who dumped her when her father was arrested. Lucy and Ford work together to find the truth. So it was a bit repetitive and a bit slow but I still enjoyed it, especially the ending. The narrator Courtney Patterson saved it for me, she was quite good. 3 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this book.

Not my fav by this author, it was definitely giving more cold case murder mystery vibes than light-hearted summer beach read romance. Not exactly what I was expecting or hoping for diving in blind but I didn't hate it either. Just an okay read for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a ride.
This mystery was suspenseful, sweet, and very compelling. The twists sure were twisting and when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I was often incorrect.
I liked the comfort that comes with classic mystery tropes mixed with curveballs of unexpected character arcs and surprise perps! This was my first read by Brenda Novak and I really enjoyed it. The book was suspenseful without being stressful and carried dark themes without being unnecessarily angsty. I also liked the subplot of relationship building but it didn’t get an overwhelming amount of emotional focus. It sometimes felt chaotic to jump so quickly between several characters’ POVs without any expectation of change haha but I also appreciated getting input from such an eclectic bunch.
The audiobook performance was really well done. There wasn’t a ton of distinction between speakers but I think that was for the best with the varied points of views and having so many characters.
Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC :)

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.

This was a super easy listen. The story flows really well and keeps you hooked. There’s a nice mix of romance and mystery. I liked the characters, and Courtney Patterson did a fantastic job narrating their stories. It has a cozy, casual vibe, making it a perfect choice to kick off my summer reading.

Thank you to #Mira and #NetGalley for the ARC of The Summer That Changed Everything audiobook.
Lucy returns to North Hampton Beach, her hometown, 15 years after her father was convicted of a triple murder. She wants to find out the truth of what happened when an older couple and a young girl were murdered - were they connected, did her father really commit both sets of murders?
Out old boyfriend also returned to the beach after a divorce and plans to get the family beach house ready for sale.
Lucy and Ford join together to get the answers that summer when everything changed, but the town doesn't want those secrets revealed. The ending was a big surprise!
Brenda Novak is a go-to author for me, so I was so excited to be approved for the audio ARC ! As always, I enjoyed this book as well. The audio narrator was wonderful!

The only thing that would have made thus book better would have been dual narration. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Went in expecting romance, didn't have a clue where it would lead

Love love loved. GET READY to jump-into-summer with both feet in, y’all this is the perfect pool or beach read that has it all - a trio of thriller, mystery, and a surprise romance all wrapped up into one delicious fun tale!! And it’s fast paced with Novak weaving in twists and turns that intensified the further it went. I mean what the heck is happening in this crazy town.. the close-minded people, verbal threats.. deep, dark secrets?!?.. and with the big surprise twist at the end.. wowww.. there was no drifting off to sleep with this one. And what an excellent narrator, Courtney Patterson👏🏻.. I was hooked from the first chapter!! 4.5 stars — Pub. 6/3/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very interesting because it was a romance but with a mystery. Instantly we feel for the fmc and what she has endured. As the book progresses we see how she was treated because of class divide, and how easy it can be to thrown away or forgotten if you are poor. The romance was subtle and a back drop to the mystery. I love seeing it slowly unfolding. This was my first book by this author but I really enjoyed it. I will be reading more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
🌶️🌶️ (2 Spicy Peppers)
Pub Date: 06/03/25 🚨

I was so excited to get an early copy of this audiobook—I’ve really enjoyed Brenda Novak’s books in the past, and this one didn’t disappoint! The story was super interesting and had me hooked from the start. I loved that it followed the daughter of a man who was convicted of murder. That’s not a point of view I’ve read before, and it made things really unique.

The narrator did a great job with all the characters' voices. It made listening fun and easy to get into.

This book had a little bit of everything—crime, mystery, and a second chance romance. Lucy returns to her hometown 15 years after her dad was found guilty of killing three people. She’s always had a feeling that he might not have done one of the murders, and now she’s ready to find out the truth. The story kept me guessing the whole time. It gave just enough away to keep me curious, but still surprised me in the end.

I also liked the romance! It added just the right amount of heat without taking away from the main storyline. I’d give it a 2-spice rating—not too much, but just enough.

If you’re into mysteries with a little romance and some emotional twists, you’ll really enjoy this one!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this ARC

Years after her father was accused of a series of brutal murders in her hometown, Lucy returns to confront the past she tried to forget. But she's not just there to revisit old memories—she's determined to prove her father didn't kill her friend. As she digs deeper into the mystery, she reunites with her former high school boyfriend, who agrees to help her uncover the truth.
Was her father truly innocent? Who really killed her friend—the charming guy who took her out on the lake that night, the same person responsible for the neighbors’ deaths, or someone else entirely?
As Lucy and her old flame rekindle their connection, long-buried secrets begin to surface. Will this summer bring long-overdue justice and a second chance at love, or will it end in heartbreak and devastation?
Find out in this gripping tale of mystery, romance, and the dark shadows of a small town’s past.

LOVE LOVE. The perfect mix of crime, mystery, and romance. It scratched every single itch and the narrator was amazing! The story kept me hooked from the first chapter and I couldn't stop reading.
Thank you Netgalley, Brenda Novak, and Harlequin Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Summer That Changed Everything.

This was such a good mystery with the perfect amount of romance intertwined. I found myself getting so stressed for Lucy the whole time (but in the best way).

It’s interesting that the author told you who the killer was before you were even halfway through, but it worked since you got so many different points of view — you even got the killer’s pov. On that note, the only reason I’m giving this 4 stars is the fact that it was difficult to keep up with who was who as the pov switched multiple times in each chapter.

Definitely would recommend this book though. I wasn’t sure how everything would tie up in the end, but it was the perfect ending.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job with all the different characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

This was another enjoyable beach read from best selling women's fiction author Brenda Novak. I especially liked how in addition to the women's fiction elements, this book had a hint of mystery elements to it as well. I thought the audiobook narrator Courtney Patterson did a great job. I was able to start and finish this book in one sitting on a road trip this summer, and I really did find it enjoyable. I am looking forward to Brenda Novak's next book!

This was a great read. I was much more interested in the murders than the romance, but I think the romance was nice to be included. This book gave me Where the Crawdads Sing vibes. I liked seeing the effects of social class divide and community grief and how it influenced the cases in this book. I also liked how subtle the romance was. It was important, but the two characters just start redoing life with each other. This was a very interesting book.