Julia finally returns home after years away because her mom is dying. Going back to Gull’s Harbor, California means facing a lot of memories Julia would rather leave behind, including her high school sweetheart. After their mom’s passing, Julia and her sisters are in for a rude awakening when the will is read. The girls must live together in their family home for the three months or they forfeit their inheritance. Living in her childhood home puts Julia right next door to her high school boyfriend who she’s still in love with. Will Julia be able to win Liam back or are there too many secrets between them?

I have only ever read cozy mysteries by Jenn McKinlay, but was intrigued when I saw this book coming out. I loved the cover and couldn’t wait to dive in. I liked Julia and Liam together and enjoyed the second chance at love for them. The will and storyline that brought on led to some drama and funny moments. This was a romance book and had a lot of good moments between Julia and Liam, but it was also a story about finding yourself after grief and family. I liked the different layers in this book and it kept me interested from start to finish. The ending of this book was great and I loved how everything tied together. The family dynamic between the three sisters was fun to read about and I loved seeing how all of their lives were so different even though they were raised by the same woman. The romance parts were the best in my opinion, but I did enjoy the variety in this book and had a good time reading it.

3.5 Stars :)

This is the first book that I 've read from this author, and it won't be the last.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, the narrator did a great job giving a voice to each character and to keep you hooked on the audiobook.

If you like second chance romance, family drama, family secrets, childhood friends, boy/girl next door, this book is for you!

This book it's about Julia returning to her childhood home with her sisters (Soph and Em) after 9 years. Julia and her mom don't have a good relationship or a relationship at all, but after her mother Babs get sick she went back home to help her sisters and her mother. After her mothers passing, there are a series of events that helps them (Blumer sisters) to rebuild their relationship and to navigate the grief together. While at home, Julia tries to reconnect with the boy next door aka her first love, who she left with out a word years ago.

I like the premise, and I enjoyed this book very much! there where some parts that I was laughing, there was a lot of OMG, REALLY?! moments, and there was a part that I was crying.
But when I was half way this book It became a little hard on some parts as I am not a fan of miscommunication/misunderstanding situations and there were a lot of these in the book.
But otherwise it was a quick and funny read!

The romance felt a little flat for me, I felt that there was something missing. I wished there was a little bit of how Julia and Liam having some moments together, how they win each other again... because at some point their relationship was so rude and mean, and I didn't like that.

At the end, I felt there was some loose ends and questions unanswered... as there was a lot going on on this book, and felt that there was some unfinished business. It missed an epilogue where you could see the closure on each characters. I hope that later on there is an extra for this book as bonus epilogue !

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange of my honest review.

I am not going to do a review on this book because I did not care for the main characters or the story or plot of the book.

ARC Review

-Single POV
-Second Chance Romance
-Slow Burn

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy: 🌶️

This book was funny!
I really liked the bond the Blumer sisters had! I give Liam props for putting up with them 😂

3.5 stars.

Let’s start with the good. I loved the FMC, Julia. She’s a delightfully chaotic, neurodivergent-coded character who brought a lot of energy and heart to the story. The sister dynamics were another strong point. Each relationship felt distinct, and I liked seeing how they grew over time.

That said, as much as I loved Julia, I really couldn’t stand the MMC, Liam. The only way this would have worked as a true HEA for me is if Julia told him to eff off at the end.

There were also moments of internalized misogyny that felt unnecessary. Randomly calling women “whores” and the entire character of Courtney felt outdated and problematic.

On the audio side, Dara Rosenberg did a great job with the narration. She really captured Julia’s quirky vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

First of all, I want to say that I really appreciate the range of topics the author tackled in this book—grief, lies, revenge, sisterhood, suicidal thoughts, betrayal, and identity. The story doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff, and I also appreciated the spice scenes, which added another layer of emotional complexity.

That said, I found the pacing a bit uneven. I drifted in and out of the story at times, which made it harder to stay fully immersed.

I enjoyed the narration—it brought the characters to life well. Still, overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ALC.

Talk about balancing grief and romance in a book! The book’s description does not prepare you for the mental and emotional toll this story goes as Julia deals with the loss of her mother who she felt never loved her. Julia and her two sisters, who are all at different stages of life, experience the grief of their mother differently. Not only does Julia try to work through her difficult feelings, but she has to do it in front of her cute next door neighbor who she jilted when they were younger. Liam and Julia were hot and heavy in high school, but after one night, Julia up and left for the city with Liam’s best friend. It makes coming home awkward, while healing at the same time.

This story will make you laugh, cry, rage, and swoon! Jenn McKInlay did a phenomenal job weaving so much story and emotion into this book. She sums up the many experiences one has with grief, finding out hard truths, and being there for the ones that mean the most.

RECOMMENDED FOR:
Romance readers that enjoy deeper emotions and themes
Readers working through grief
Readers that want more meat to their romance stories


AUDIOBOOK:
This is a single narration by Dara Roseberg. No complaints! She did a great job bringing Julia’s humor and sarcasm while also showing her hurt at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for providing this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed so much the journey the story took me on in this latest Jenn McKinlay. There were slight surprises that I didn’t expect and I liked how they played out. I prefer less spice than this book had, however. Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC for review.

I Can’t Even by Jenn McKinlay is the perfect summer read. While it tackles heavy topics like past family trauma, secrets, and grief, the story manages to stay light and entertaining. There are plenty of hilarious moments that had me laughing, along with some classic sibling bickering that felt so relatable.

The story follows three sisters trying to sort through their messy relationships—with each other, with their mom, and with the past. The main character, Julia, sums up her relationship with her mother perfectly when she says:
“It’s not that I don’t love my mother. I do. It’s just that loving Mom is like loving a cactus. It’s best done from a distance—of miles.”

Themes of perception—villain versus victim—run throughout the novel as the sisters slowly uncover truths that force them to reassess everything they thought they knew, especially about their mother.

Adding to the emotional tangle is Julia’s first love, which complicates her already full plate. That storyline is just as engaging as the family drama, giving the book even more emotional depth.

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook, narrated by Dara Rosenberg, and she did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. Her performance made the experience even more enjoyable.

Overall, this book was funny and full of heart. I give it 4 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a story about complicated families, with a side of romance. This was my first Jenn McKinlay book, and I’m looking forward to reading more!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jenn McKinlay for the advance audio copy!

This book was good, but just that. I enjoyed reading it, but I also didn't crave picking it back up. I would recommend it to those needing a good, summer book with a bit of heaviness.

This book was super cute and had all the fun, flirty vibes I was hoping for! The characters were lovable, the banter was great, and the story kept me entertained from start to finish!

But… That being said, it definitely had way more spice than I was expecting!… Like, a lot more… I did a little research before requesting the book, but it definitely got more graphic than I’m personally comfortable with.

If you’re into open-door romance, you’ll probably love it, but if you prefer close-door this one probably isn’t for you... Still, the overall story was fun and had a whole lot of heart!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook. Overall I enjoyed this book and the audiobook narrator did a great job. When I was first listening I was confused about whether this was a romance book or a family drama as the main story. I feel that more could have been explored with the family and their backstories. I didn’t really like the MMC very much or the relationship between the FMC and him. I did enjoy reading about the FMC’s sisters and their relationships. I also really enjoyed the queer representation with one of the side characters in the book!
3.5 ⭐️

Rating: 3

The more I think about this book, the more annoyed I get. I sat on the book for a couple hours before typing out a review because I couldn't put into words what the heck I just read. And even now, I'm still not positive. Is it a family redemption story with a lost daughter being reunited with her family? Is it a redemption love story with a small town girl going home after running away a decade prior? Is it about finding yourself? A snotty cousin? It felt like there were so many side stories and none took the spotlight which just made me sad.

Ps. The main character needs some felt worth.. I understand the whole "he's my one true love" thing, but girl..

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed the narrator for this book. Her voice matched the main character and she did a good job telling the story.

May contain spoilers.

There was so much potential with this book and the author made it about "the love interest" and hooking up. I wish this story had focused more on the main character finding herself after her mother's secrets are revealed. While readers will get a sense of what each sister is going through, I would have loved more on each of them as well.

The main character was too desperate for her high school love and it was sad to listen to. I didn't like him from the start and I wish his storyline had been written differently. The two didn't have chemistry beyond hooking up and that is all this story was.

When the story doesn't include him, there is a real story there that had depth and heart to it.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ALC.

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing an E-audio ALC of this book in exchange for my review.

I love Jenn McKinlay, and was so excited when I was awarded this ALC. I'm not really sure how I feel about the book, overall, yet. The middle seemed to drag a bit, and I just didn't love the book. However, that could be due to the narrator - Dara Rosenberg. The voice just wasn't what I expected and was a bit distracting. But, that's my opinion.

I loved the bond between the sisters. A great feel good rom-com to relax with!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

DNF at 24%

In this book our fmc comes back to her home which she left 9 years prior because her mom is dying. The relationship with her mom in complicated at best and it is only the 2nd time since leaving that she is back for a visit. And it is the first time she sees her ex boyfriend Liam again, who she left as well when she ran from home 9 years ago.

Why I DNF-ed this book:
1) I really do not like the fmc. The book is written in first person, which means we are in the thoughts of the fmc. And the way she describes past and present situations, judges people (often very rudely by calling them a bit** or worse) and keeps changing her mind on what she does and does not want felt very frustrating to me.
2) the strange mix of the fmcs desire for her ex boyfriend mixed with the very real death of her mother and all the complicated emotions that come with it felt wrong to me. One moment she strips for the guy, the next her mom passes away. I just couldn't make those two sides of the story come to term with each other.
To be fair: The author might resolve those two in a GREAT way later in the book. I did DNF at 25%. So this point might not be fair if judging the whole book.
3) I felt like this book was only pulling me down. I do like to read challenging books, books about grief, character development etc. But after 3 hours of audiobook all this book did was make me frustrated.
4) The author is weirdly graphic in moments where I don't feel it is necessary or in any way called for. How the fmc describes other people (like the backside of a young girl at her moms funeral or her cousin and how she choses to showcase certain aspects of her body at same funeral) or also the sudden stripping of the ex boyfriend or the fmc

This book just isn't for me. I don't want to frustrate myself any further, so I will DNF. But I am also aware that this book might be just the right book for other people.
I don't want to hinder this books publicity or reach, so I have decided not to post a review on Goodreads of Storygraph in order to not drag the average rating down.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

This one is more than a second chance summer romance with the next door neighbor. It’s about complicated family relationships, forgiveness, personal growth and facing your past mistakes head on. Definitely recommend if you want a romance with more depth that will take you on an emotional journey.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Julia left to NYC in the middle of the night 9 years ago after an epic fight with her Mom. She left behind her two sisters and the boy she loved to start a new life. Life in NYC was going great she had a job, friends and two cats.

Then Julia received a phone call from her sister asking her to return home asap as her mom’s sick. Julia and her mom do not have a good relationship but she needed to be there for her sisters. What Julia didn’t count on was her Ex Liam still living next door, he was the only man she ever loved. But there was no way he would ever forgive her for walking away 9 years ago.

Julia mom passes and even from the other side she is still controlling Julia’s life. In order for her and her sisters to get their inheritance they have to spend the summer living in the house. The rules were simple: every night all 3 girls must sleep at the house & the urn holding their mom’s ashes must remain in the window. If they fail their inheritance would go to their awful cousin.

This was not the summer Julia planned, she couldn’t just escape back to NYC. She was now in Gills Harbor for the summer rekindling her sisterly bond and facing down her past aka Liam.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I can’t think about anything but you,” Liam said. “I missed you all damn day, surfer girl.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

Second Chance - Childhood Neighbors
Website Designer FMC
Coffee Shop Owner MMC
She Escaped to NYC 9 Years Ago
Passing of Parent & Last Wishes
Reconnecting the Blumer Sisters
Window Shenanigans, Lemon Tree Kisses, Bathing Suit Sunbathing, Surf Dates & Coffee Shop Visits
LGTBQIA+ Rep (Bestie)
Gulls Harbor - San Diego, CA
Single POV - Slow Burn

🔅💜🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️💜🔅💜🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️💜

Dara Rosenberg wow ok, I don't recall listening to this narrator before 🤔 So this audiobook was a great listen! Thank You Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the Opportunity to Listen.

This is the 3rd book of Jenn's I have listened to and I can honestly say I like her style!

But for some reason, Julia Blumer( the FMC) was annoying the heck out of me in this Novel! Liam I can say I kinda liked, but in some parts of the book he also annoyed the heck out of me! I don't know maybe it was the dragging and dragging of not being able to be completely honest with each other from the start, but I understand that because it's a Novel it has to drag a bit to make it a Novel. But I do give it 4 stars because I did like it and by the end I even kinda forgave them all myself(even Babs!)

I have been a fan of Jenn McKinlay for quite awhile. I was very excited to receive audio book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a heartfelt summer rom-com with blends of grief, first love, and family secrets as Julia and her sisters uncover shocking truths about their parents. This is definitely an emotional and engaging read. The audiobook narrator Dara Rosenberg, was wonderful. Perfect for fans of small-town stories, with family drama, and second-chance love. Please read the trigger warnings.

I Can't Even by Jenn McKinlay is a second chance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance. Julia returns home after finding out her mother Babs is ill and she is forced to face her first love, Liam. After Babs death, Julia and her sisters are forced to face grief, revelations from the past, rebuild relationships, and determine what their futures hold. I enjoyed this story and the twists and turns they all face. The humor was great, but I did struggle with the hot and cold nature of the relationship between the main characters throughout.

Thank you Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.