This audiobook had me hooked literally from the very first chapter and I was hooked the entire time! It was such a great summer read!

I didn't really enjoy this book...for me, the best part was that it was set in Italy during the Summer.

It was pretty boring, and in my opinion, I didn't feel like they were compatible. I also felt like the writing wasn't for me.

The cover was beautiful though, but the book was underwhelming.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

This was a second chance romance that shouldn't have been a second chance. Sometimes they just need to stay away from each other and this is one of those cases. The love interest was not interesting and I couldn't wait for this book to end.

The Summer You Were Mine was really good. The main characters grew up as best friends due to the closeness of their families. Now they are back in Italy to celebrate the wedding of Ellie's grandmother and Cristiano's grandfather. Although they are now distant, Ellie, a sports talk show host, and Cristiano an elite athlete, agree to an interview to help each other out amidst some potential career ruining scandals. The story was sweet and the main characters had good chemistry. I also loved the supporting characters. Their families added a lot to the story to make it a well rounded read.

Set against the stunning backdrop of coastal Italy, this book truly transported me—with lush descriptions that made me feel the sun on my skin and the taste of fresh wine on my tongue. Jill Francis’s writing is vivid and immersive, and I loved how real and flawed the main characters felt. The inclusion of autism representation was a welcome touch, though I wished that storyline had a bit more depth.

That said, while the setting and supporting characters charmed me, the romance itself didn’t quite land. Ellie’s stubbornness and drama sometimes felt exhausting, and Cris’s over-caring felt a bit misplaced—like he needed to loosen up and let things flow naturally. Their constant miscommunication and focus on past hurts made it hard for me to fully invest in their relationship or feel the spark I was hoping for.

The timeline and backstory were a bit confusing at times, which dulled the emotional impact, and by the end, I wanted more growth from both leads. The story was a pleasant, easy summer read, but it didn’t quite sweep me off my feet.

Overall, I’m giving this one 3 stars. If you’re looking for a laid-back romance filled with beautiful Italian scenery, witty side characters, and real-life flaws, this could be your perfect sunny escape. Just don’t expect fireworks.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all the good things.

These are some of my favorite tropes. I love childhood friends to lovers and second chance romances. I like the autism representation and at times I could really see how it related to the character.

The setting is great. Who doesn't love an Italian vacation?

I didn't love the two main characters together. After I finished, I felt like they might be a couple who wouldn't end up together. They had a hard time communicating and the conflict at the end didn't sit well for me. Logically it made sense, but it left a bad taste in my mouth so to say. There was a lot of selfishness going on between both characters which was off-putting.

As someone listening to the story who knows no Italian, when the characters said something in Italian, there was no translation or hints of what it meant. I had to basically ignore those things and hoped it didnt mean a whole lot.

The narrators did a great job and I think added to the story. They made it easy to listen to the story and kept my attention for the most part.

This had all the makings of a great summer read. Gorgeous Italian coast, second chance romance, childhood friends reconnecting at a wedding. I was all in.

The setting was hands down my favorite part. Jill Francis made Italy feel like a dream. I also appreciated the autism representation and the emotional layers the author tried to explore.

That said, the romance didn’t totally work for me. The spark between Ellie and Cris was missing, and the miscommunication trope dragged things down. I also found parts of the plot a little hard to buy, especially the long-lost teen love storyline.

Still, it was a breezy escape with a stunning backdrop. If you’re in the mood for something light and summery, it might hit the spot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

How could you NOT pick this book up?
Look 👀 at that cover!!

So, as I’m going to write my review I looked to see if I read anything else from this author… to my surprise, it looks like this is her first book! Lucky me that I got an advance copy!!

The summer you were mine is a bit different from anything else I’ve read. Ellie and Cris have known each other since they were kids… vacationing with their families on the beautiful Italian Coast! They were friends for many years… and then one year, they took it a bit further… and it all fell apart.

Fast forward 15-20 years. She’s got her own show, and she’s known to rip these sports guys apart. He IS one of the sports guys… with a long history of swimming, and winning. Along with his family…

So, as their grandparents are gearing up for what looks to be the wedding of the century… with these two octogenarians being the leading characters… they head back to Italy!

Mind you, at the moment, both Ellie and Cris’ lives are falling apart…

So, as they are now in close contact again, for the first time in many years, they swear to NOT get involved again… but once again… we make plans and God laughs… 🤣

And as the wedding draws nearer, they think that maybe, just maybe, they might be able to find some peace and happiness after all these years… but, only time will tell.

This story was sweet, sad, real, devastating, funny, lightheaded and so much more. If you’re looking for a book where you experience a whole REALM of emotions, look no further! And the fact that the older Italians were butting in to every scenario… well, true, AND…hysterical!! 🤣🤣

#TheSummerYouWereMine by @JillFrancis and narrated nicely by @NicolZanzarella and @TimCampbell.

4 1/2 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 for me, happily rounded up to 5!

*** THIS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Friends to enemies to lovers in Italy?? Say less. This cute Italy-based romcom starts with an adorable romance between the main characters grandparents and unravels to their own love story. The main characters have a past which only makes their story better. Each of them are trying to figure out a new direction in their adult lives. With the help of their meddling family members and shockingly each other, they might just be able to get their act together.

This book felt like going back to a place that was monumental in making you who you are. The main characters don’t simply reunite, they collide into one another. It isn’t the perfect clean and drama free romance, it’s perfectly human in the messiness of their relationship. The prose of this book was beyond beautiful, Jill Francis made me fall in love with second chance romances through the way she wrote the love felt within this book. The narrator was the perfect addition to this book, she ensured that the listener would feel immersed into the story which further contributed to this beautifully written story.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Summer You Were Mine tells the story of Ellie and Cristiano's families and their love story. The Italian setting made me want to hop on a plane! The story was a combination of "will they/won't they" and "second chance romance." Ellie is a complex character dealing with her neurodivergence and her career as a radio sports doctor dissolving due to a misstep. Cris balances this out with his own chronic pain struggles as an athlete, and they plan to help each other. It was a sweet story and I really appreciate the time spent on more complex characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a solid 3.5 star second chance romance for me. I say second chance kind of loosely because to my understanding, they were fairly young when the fallout happened.

It took me a bit to get invested, but once I did it ramped up quickly. I appreciate the tasteful spice and cutesy scenes. Coming from an Italian background, I appreciated the culture being represented in this book. The struggle for meddling family is real LOL.

Overall, cute summer read! I enjoyed it!

3.5 ⭐️

This was like a Big Fat Italian Wedding meets second-chance romance—with lots of heart, drama, and a backdrop that makes you feel like you’re sipping wine on the Italian coast.

Ellie finds herself in hot water after a major on-set slip-up, but before she can do any real damage control, she’s off to Italy for her grandmother’s wedding—to none other than the grandfather of her childhood friend, first love, and now-nemesis, Chris.

Ellie and Chris spent every summer together in Italy until, at 18, he broke her heart and walked away. Now they’re back in each other’s orbit, dealing with unresolved feelings, messy family drama (Ellie’s divorcing parents are a whole thing), and big questions about their futures. Chris, a retired Olympic swimmer, is facing doping allegations and career uncertainty. Ellie’s trying to salvage her public image while keeping her emotions in check.

The setting was dreamy and vivid—you could almost feel the sea breeze. If you love second-chance romance, complicated family dynamics, and Italian vibes, this one delivers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If you are looking for an easy, summer beach read, look no further. It was a cute story of second chance romance and was lighthearted. I did have times have a hard time staying focused, but overall enjoyed it.

unfortunately this wasn't for me. as i couldn't get pass 10 %.

thankful i got the chance to receive both the e copy and audio

The Summer You Were Mine, by Jill Francis, is the story of two families with deep intertwining roots in Chiavari on the Italian Riviera. Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have known each other their entire lives, spending summers back in Chiavari visiting extended family and friends. However, they have been avoiding each other for years since crossed wires and immature actions caused hard feelings.

Ellie now has her own radio show using her psychology PhD to talk with sports figures trying to redeem themselves to their fans and followers. Just before heading for a family event in Chiavari where the Beltrami and Conte families will celebrate the union of her grandmother Graciela Beltrami and Simone Conte, Cristiano’s grandfather, Ellie goes on a rant about the entitled athletes she deals with just to learn to her horror that they are still live. This may end the show. At least it is off the air while she is gone, maybe longer.

Cristiano, an award winning swimmer, has decided to retire although hasn’t yet announced his decision. After too many injuries and too much pain left from surgeries, Cris used a banned, although not illegal, substance to fight his pain. When the story broke just before Cris leaves for Italy while he is upset for the mud slinging he isn’t worried about a career he was retiring from, he just wants to clear his name.

As Ellie and Cris are thrown together repeatedly during the planning they begin talking about the possibility of him doing her show to boost them both. But when his agent and others have different opinions it may just open the rift once again.

This is a good story with a cast of wonderful characters and a mostly Mediterranean setting. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

I was lucky to receive the audiobook ARC of The Summer You Were Mine from NetGalley—and wow, what a treat! This story was full of heart, humor, and just the right amount of summer swoon. Set against the stunning backdrop of Italy, it’s the perfect blend of family, food, love, and finding yourself.

Ellie and Cristiano have known each other their whole lives—connected through family, sports, and an unspoken chemistry that never quite had its moment… until now. A return to Italy for their grandparents’ wedding brings them face-to-face with the past—and the spark is definitely still there.

From witty banter and childhood crushes to life-changing revelations and emotional growth, this book had me hooked. I especially loved how Ellie comes to terms with her recent diagnosis in such a realistic and empowering way, and how Cristiano navigates his own challenges with career and identity.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, second-chance romance that pairs beautifully with sunshine and wine—this is it. A heartfelt, deliciously warm read that deserves a spot on your summer TBR! ☀️🍷💕

I had high hopes this was going to be a new favorite summer read. But somewhere along the way it fell flat.

The love story fell flat to me but I appreciate what they were trying to do here. I really adored the side characters and the fact that their grandparents were getting married...omg swoon! But the two actual main characters didn't have any chemistry at all. It was cute, an easy light book for the summer but I'll probably forget about it sooner than later.

"The Summer You Were Mine" by Jill Francis, in its audiobook format, offers a cute premise that unfortunately veers into redundancy as the story progresses. While the core concept has charm, the central "problems" faced by the characters often felt contrived and lacked genuine believability, making it difficult to fully invest in their struggles. This frustration is compounded by the fact that many of these issues stemmed from simple misunderstandings that could have been easily resolved through direct communication between the characters. Despite these narrative shortcomings, the audiobook is significantly elevated by its strong audio narrators, whose engaging performances provide a pleasant listening experience even when the plot falters.

I think this book has helped me realize that the "miscommunication / lack of communication" romance trope is not for me.