This book was so fun. I love when the characters have history but half the book is t set in the past. The author navigated showing and developing the characters story while keeping the story moving forward. I appreciated the depth of story and character development while highlighting the characters difficulties (autism, sports injuries, grief) in a way that showed how important they are but not making it divert the story. It made it feel real because real life doesn’t stop when it gets hard. The romance was adorable because the characters were fated for each other but they needed to find each other in the right time and place.
The narrators did a phenomenal job and the story felt like you were welcomed into the lives of these characters.

A romantic story with an emphasis on neurodivergent representation. While I found the story interesting and especially loved the backdrop of Italy for most of the story, I found the connection between the couple a little lacking. I found the FMC lacking an awareness of how her side of the conflict played a part in the couple's misunderstandings. Due in part to her diagnosis, I believe she lacked some awareness that allowed her to solely put the blame on the MMC's 18 year old immaturity. I just couldn't really find sympathy for that character and even though we got a duel point of view, there was more emphasis on Emmie than Chris in their perspectives. At one point I felt like someone in Emmie's life should have made her a little more aware of both sides of the conflict and helped her to see through it a bit more (her brother, mother or her best friend) but I guess with a lot of romances, we are required to slog through the conflict in the third act in order to get some sort of grand gesture resolution. I would say this is one of those childhood best friends leaning to realizing you have feelings and then splitting apart for years only to realize the feelings are still there type of story that will do very little to make me remember it tomorrow. It's a decent read and I would even say a great summer by the beach book as there's very little drama but I don't think it's anything beyond an easy read. Audiobook narrators are great.

This book is a great beach read. The best place to read about summers in Italy is on a beach yourself (unless you’re in Italy).

Cris and Ellie’s families spent each summer in Italy. They grew up together and then they shared a kiss as teenagers. Cris never returned the next summer. Ten years later, Cris’ grandpa is marrying Ellie’s grandma. After years of avoiding each other, they’re right back to that small Italian town together and there is no way to avoid each other.

The premise is great. The book is cute. There is a ton of depth to all of the characters and the family history. I just found the love story to fall flat. It’s pitched as a second chance romance, but it’s not really a second chance. They liked each other as teens then didn’t speak for ten years. Now they’re actively avoiding each other like something deeper than a kiss happened. I’ve been in my teens. I’ve been in my late twenties. I am not over here avoiding someone I kissed once in high school. It’s a flimsy plot point. Ten years of no communication followed by miscommunication. My absolute least favorite trope. Also, it’s a bit weird how interconnected their families are. Their grandparents are getting married. They’re the main love story. And then we’ve got their siblings falling for each other too. Yikes. The book is fine. It’s a good beach read, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read it.

I listened to the audiobook. The narrators did very well, but I am a bit confused by their accent/lack of accent. The female narrates the MMC with an Italian accent sometimes. The male narrator does not give the MMC an accent. The MMC was born in Italy before moving to the United States as a kid. It’s understandable that he would have an accent and also understandable that he wouldn’t. I’m just confused as to which one it is.

2 ⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Audible audio for the ARC.

I enjoyed the audio of this book and the narrator. It flowed nicely. This was my first book by Jill Francis and I really wanted to love it. But I just didn’t. Normally I am a huge second chance romance sucker but this just fell flat. I’m wasn’t a fan of the characters and the whole story line honestly. I really wanted to love it tho.

Thank you for the chance to review! I enjoyed this audio. The narration was fantastic at pulling me into the story. I thought it was sweet and properly funny.

Oh wow! A solid 4.75 (*I explain my demotion from 5)
First, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me early access.
I want to say how beautiful this book is but I know my words will fall short. The family situations. Lots of the book set in Italy. I’m telling you, I could close my eyes and I too was sitting there in those cafes with them!
The last two chapters, I sobbed, it was so precious. A character is on the autism spectrum in the book. I am an autism mama. The understanding that came together/unfolded for that character….I still have goosebumps!
I will never look at a blueberry pie the same way again either!
*Now, in my opinion, the book did not need the strong, vulgar language and neither did we need such a spicy sexual description in the book. If you are “vanilla” like me, you may want to skim.
Others than that, I would recommend this book to anyone!

I really enjoyed The Summer You Were Mine! The story pulled me in from the start, and I loved the emotional depth and the second-chance romance. Jill Francis did such a great job capturing the nostalgia and intensity of summer love. The characters felt real, the setting was dreamy, and I was invested the whole way through.

Jill Francis’s debut novel, The Summer You Were Mine, introduces readers to Ellie and Cristiano—two childhood friends whose families have been close for generations, all sharing roots in the same region of Italy.

After a falling out years ago, the two are reunited for the first time in over a decade when Ellie’s grandmother marries Cristiano’s grandfather. Both are headed to Italy for the wedding, each at a professional low point: Ellie is reeling from an on-air mishap that’s gone viral, and Cristiano is facing doping allegations in the high-stakes world of professional sports.

From there, the story unfolds in a fairly familiar romcom fashion. I found myself easily distracted while reading and listening, though I did appreciate the storyline around Ellie’s recent autism diagnosis and her journey of self-discovery. That element brought some depth and uniqueness to an otherwise predictable plot.

While the audiobook’s voice actors did an excellent job bringing personality to the characters, the writing itself just didn’t land for me, earning three stars. That said, this book may still resonate with many readers—it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jill Francis, St. Martin’s Press, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and listen to The Summer You Were Mine ahead of its July 1st release.

friends to in love to not speaking for years to friends and then what? add in a not talked about much sport (water polo). set in italy, which was fun. random discussion in italian, with no translation. this book was a ride. i thought the narration of the fmc was a bit flat. maybe on purpose? overall, it was ok.

thanks to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for the arc.

#TheSummerYouWereMine #NetGalley

I did not like the miscommunciation in this book or how it was third person but it had a lot of good elements. Just missed the mark!

The writing style felt bland, the never-ending exposition tedious. Ellie’s professional faux-pax derails into a moment of wannabe slapstick that I found more annoying than anything else. Her level of fame didn’t seem believable. My level of annoyance kept rising with every minute.

I want to emphasize that the female narrator was good, pleasant and clear. (I’ve come across a several voice Scot’s recently who all whispered the end of sentences—what’s up with that??) I have zero gripes with this particular audiobook production. But despite her skills, the narrator couldn’t prevent me from giving up on this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First time reading this author. The story combines elements of a sports romance (the male lead was an Olympian), a corporate female lead, neurodivergence rep, and a beautiful Italian vacation. The two leads and childhood best friends turned almost-lovers, Ellie and Cris, head to a village in the Italian riviera for a wedding and reunite for the first time since an encounter that tore apart their relationship/friendship. The endless mentioning of fashions and the atmospheric scent of foods as well as nature, give the vibe of vacation mode. This is a childhood-friends-to-almost-lovers, to second-chance in adulthood trope. Was not my favorite read this year. Thank you so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley