Summerween by Joss Wood ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summerween is exactly the kind of quirky, feel good romance that knows how to have fun with its setting. I picked it up because the idea of Halloween in the middle of summer, complete with pink skeletons, watermelon jack o’ lanterns, a possibly haunted dance studio, and a little small town magic sounded impossible to resist. Wren was easy to root for as she tried to escape the chaos of her past and keep her heart firmly off limits, only for Dane to make that plan considerably harder.

I really enjoyed the playful atmosphere and the way Solstice Springs felt like a character of its own. The friends to lovers setup and forced proximity gave Wren and Dane plenty of opportunities to get closer, and their chemistry added a nice romantic spark to all the autumnal summer fun. Some parts felt a little predictable, and I would have enjoyed even more development with the magical side of the story, but overall it was a charming and entertaining read. I’d recommend it to readers who love cozy small town romance, quirky settings, friends to lovers, and books that feel like pumpkin season decided to take a summer vacation. 🎃

A cozy romance with a little...ok, a lot...of pumpkin spice mixed in. Wren Callahan has had a trying year and would just like to do nothing for the summer, but her aunt has other plans. The Summerween Festival will feature a group of the town's teenagers performing a dance routine, and Wren has been voluntold to ensure the routine meets her aunt's high standards. Mixed in with the teens is Dane, a doctor looking for an escape from his intense job. He's decided he can dance; Wren disagrees. This is the backstory of this entertaining cozy. The interactions between the two characters brought a few chuckles and a couple of giggles as they "danced" around each other. An enjoyable read all around.

This is the first book in The Halloween Town series.

I was disappointed with this book. It has a good plot and story7 line i just wanted a little more fun read. Overall it was a good read.
💞 Friends to lovers
💃🕺Forced proximity
👻🌞Halloween in summer
🗼🏠Small-town setting

My sunny-spooky heart is in absolute heaven. The chemistry, the banter, and the sun-soaked spooky atmosphere? Immaculate. It’s the ultimate beach-read-meets-haunted-retreat that makes you wish you could pack your bags and move straight into the nearest pumpkin patch.

A fun read set in a quirky town. A great read, the story of Wren who is just back visiting her home town, and Dane who is on leave from his work. Something or someone is conspiring.

Summerween was an introduction to a fun, new, kooky town of Solace Springs AKA Halloweentown. First of all, as a lover of Halloween, I love Mayor Luna bringing Halloween to the summer with skeletons dressed for summer and watermelon jack o lanterns. It was a fun intro and I enjoyed seeing Wren, the mayor's goddaughter, coming back to town where she grew up and seeing the town through her eyes.

I enjoyed seeing Wren coming home to give herself time to heal and figure out what she needs, she has a lot to deal with and her coming home means she gets to meet summer resident Dane who is going through so much baggage. As a trauma surgeon who goes to world disaster, he is rightfully burnt out and has PTSD. While the town is fun and whimsical, both Wren and Dane work through a lot as individuals and together and grow in such beautiful ways. I don't love when it feels like insta-love but I appreciated their conversations and being honest with each other, it wasn't all lust for them, there was substance to their relationship.

The split between believers and skeptics was a fun addition and I LOVED the sections we see from the ghosts who are quite the characters in their own right. The entire town and characters were great and helped make the story! I am looking forward to Poppy's story next!

Such a fun, flirty, ghost filled SummerWeen easy read! I absolutely loved the quirky little town where Halloween is celebrated ALL year long. I'm moving there and putting out my watermelon Jack-o- lanterns and Pink Flamingos wearing swimwear. Summer & Halloween mashup in a cozy small town, meddling ghosts, magic, and endless Summerween festivities made this impossible not to enjoy. I flew through it in a day!
The book is charming and I'm already excited for book 2 and 3.

Read & listen on release date 08 / 18 /2026.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper360 for the entertainment!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc.

Summerween by Joss Wood is a delightful small-town romance that perfectly blends summer sunshine with Halloween fun. Set in the quirky town of Solstice Springs, where pink skeletons decorate the beaches and Halloween is celebrated year-round, this story is packed with charm, humor, and heart.
Wren Dunlop is a relatable heroine who's trying to escape the spotlight after a bout of viral infamy, while Dane Trafford brings just the right amount of mystery and warmth as the intriguing newcomer. Their connection develops naturally through shared moments, forced proximity, and plenty of small-town magic, making their romance both sweet and believable.
The real star of the book is the setting. Solstice Springs feels vibrant and unique, filled with eccentric residents, festive traditions, and just enough ghostly intrigue to keep things interesting. The combination of summer vibes and Halloween aesthetics creates a fresh twist on the cozy romance genre.
While the plot follows some familiar romance beats, the lovable characters, whimsical atmosphere, and feel-good energy make it an enjoyable escape from start to finish.

Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays, so I had to grab this book to read. It was cute and fun. It was fun at times but other times I felt the emotional seriousness of what the characters were dealing with. Dane is in H-Town (Solstice Springs) on work leave. He’s a surgeon dealing with trauma and it’s all too much. Wren is a professional dancer is in town because her godmother talked her into teaching a kids dance class for the summer Halloween festival. They celebrate Halloween all year around. I thought Wren and Dane were super cute together. I loved the meddling townsfolk and that the ghosts had their own POV. This was the best way to kill time on a long drive! There was a lot going on. It was well written with great conflict and lovable characters. I loved the festival shenanigans—especially movie night in a tube. I’m looking forward to the next book, Halloween Town. I received this book from Harper360 and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Conversation with Gemini
Format my thoughts on Summerween by Joss Wood into a polished review suitable for NetGalley.

Title: Summerween

Author: Joss Wood

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

Summerween by Joss Wood is a feel-good, delightfully unique romance that delivers the perfect mix of cozy, nostalgic vibes, sharp humor, and a touch of mystery. Bringing together spooky Halloween aesthetics and beachside romance sounds like a tricky balancing act, but Wood pulls it off seamlessly without letting the premise fall into corny tropes.

The chemistry between the lead characters is fantastic from the start. They are engaging, grounded, and written with genuine depth, making their dynamic feel earnest and high-stakes rather than purely lighthearted. The plot moves along at a great pace, balancing the romantic tension with an intriguing mystery element that kept me turning pages.

If you’re looking for a charming, atmospheric comfort read that brings equal parts warmth, wit, and depth, Summerween is a solid four-star choice. Highly recommended for readers who want a fun, high-chemistry romance with a fun twist on the seasonal vibe!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Where will you cross-post? (e.g., GoodReads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads)

Recommend to retail buyers? Yes

Do you have the review i was just working on

Yes, here is the NetGalley review for Summerween by Joss Wood:

Title: Summerween

Author: Joss Wood

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

Summerween by Joss Wood is a feel-good, delightfully unique romance that delivers the perfect mix of cozy, nostalgic vibes, sharp humor, and a touch of mystery. Bringing together spooky Halloween aesthetics and beachside romance sounds like a tricky balancing act, but Wood pulls it off seamlessly without letting the premise fall into corny tropes.

The chemistry between the lead characters is fantastic from the start. They are engaging, grounded, and written with genuine depth, making their dynamic feel earnest and high-stakes rather than purely lighthearted. The plot moves along at a great pace, balancing the romantic tension with an intriguing mystery element that kept me turning pages.

If you’re looking for a charming, atmospheric comfort read that brings equal parts warmth, wit, and depth, Summerween is a solid four-star choice. Highly recommended for readers who want a fun, high-chemistry romance with a fun twist on the seasonal vibe!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Where will you cross-post? (e.g., GoodReads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads)

Recommend to retail buyers? Yes

Another review

As someone who absolutely loves Christmas, this book was such a fun and cozy read! The advent-style countdown made it feel extra magical and gave the story a unique twist that kept me wanting to read “just one more chapter” every night.



The festive atmosphere was honestly my favorite part - all the Christmas charm, romance, traditions, and anticipation made this feel like the perfect holiday escape. I loved the idea of the 25 dates unfolding like little advent surprises, and it captured that warm, hopeful feeling that Christmas romances do best. This is also really fun to share with a daughter or friends to bring the holidays to life.



If you enjoy seasonal rom-coms with lots of holiday spirit, cute chemistry, and a creative Christmas theme, this one is definitely worth adding to your winter reading

"25 Dates of Christmas" broke me emotionally in the best way. Anne recently lost her brother, Colin. Luke lost his best friend, who was also like a brother to him, the only family he had.



Colin had one last request of them both: to open an advent calendar and do whatever adventure was inside together.



Luke is grumpy, arrogant, emotionally closed off, yet handsome. He lost his mom to cancer when he was younger and never really healed. Luke has a lot of guilt and unprocessed emotions. He struggles with expressing his emotions and would rather ignore them altogether.



Anne is struggling with loss, but she's determined to follow through on her brother's final wish.



I really enjoyed seeing them both work through their grief together in different ways. The holidays are often tough for so many people when they've lost loved ones. I loved that Colin pushed them together during Christmastime. They might not have loved all the challenges/adventures, but they realized they enjoyed doing them together and weren't so lonely.



The progression of their story was beautiful; we really got to see their relationship grow over the 25 days. Not only was their relationship full of heartbreak, it was also inspiring and relatable. It was written so well, and I couldn't stop reading. It was cute, emotional, and definitely worth the read!

Title: 25 Dates of Christmas

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

Review:

As someone who absolutely loves Christmas, 25 Dates of Christmas was such an emotional, fun, and cozy read! The advent-style countdown gave the story a unique, magical twist that kept me saying "just one more chapter" late into the night. Beneath the festive charm lies a deeply touching story that broke me emotionally in the best way possible.

The plot follows Anne and Luke, who are both grieving an overwhelming loss—Anne recently lost her brother Colin, and Luke lost his best friend, who was like the only family he had. Colin’s final wish forces them together: open an advent calendar and complete whichever challenge or adventure is inside each day. Luke is grumpy, arrogant, and emotionally guarded, carrying unprocessed grief from losing his mom to cancer at a young age. Anne is equally heartbroken, but fiercely determined to honor her brother's final request.

Watching these two navigate their grief alongside the holiday season felt grounded, inspiring, and deeply relatable. The holidays are often a difficult time for those who have lost loved ones, and Colin’s push brought them out of their isolation. As the 25 days unfold, their dynamic beautifully shifts from forced reluctance to genuine connection. They may not have enjoyed every single challenge, but they realized they didn't have to carry their loneliness alone.

The festive atmosphere—filled with Christmas traditions, romance, and anticipation—makes this the ultimate holiday escape, yet the raw emotional depth gives it so much heart. It was written so well that I simply couldn't put it down. If you enjoy seasonal rom-coms with high emotional stakes, incredible character growth, and a heartwarming holiday message, this one is an absolute must-read!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Where will you cross-post? (e.g., Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads)

Recommend to retail buyers? Yes

Make it short, sweet and straight to the point

Title: 25 Dates of Christmas

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

Review:

25 Dates of Christmas is an emotional, cozy, and magical holiday romance that completely stole my heart! The advent-style countdown kept me turning pages late into the night, blending fun festive traditions with a deeply moving story about grief and healing.

Anne and Luke are forced together by a final wish from Anne’s brother (and Luke’s best friend): complete the 25 daily advent challenges together. Luke is a grumpy, emotionally guarded hero carrying past trauma, while Anne is heartbroken but determined to honor her brother. Watching them work through their loss and move from forced reluctance to a genuine, deep connection was deeply relatable and beautifully written.

It balances festive charm and romantic chemistry with real emotional depth. A heartwarming, compelling, and utterly cozy must-read for fans of seasonal rom-coms!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

Another review

Between the hallmark feel and thriller twist I wasn’t able to put The Tinsel Twist down! I instantly fell in love with every character and was cheering all of them on through the whole book! While reading this you want nothing but the best for everyone! At one point I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how everything played out! If there is a follow up to this book I’ll be 100% reading it so I can see where everyone has ended up! Rosie J. Potter this was absolutely amazing and can’t wait to read more of your books!!

The Tinsel Twist by Rosie J. Potter is a cozy and engaging holiday romance that mixes festive cheer, second-chance love, and a touch of suspense. Adelaide Burke's return to Tinsley Falls after a professional setback makes for a relatable fresh-start story, and her reunion with Jace Stanton delivers plenty of heartfelt chemistry and unresolved feelings.

I especially enjoyed the small-town Christmas setting, which feels warm, welcoming, and full of holiday spirit. The romance develops naturally as Adelaide and Jace work together to save the town's Christmas feast, while the mystery and sabotage plot adds enough tension to keep the story moving. Their emotional journey toward trusting each other again is sweet and satisfying.

At times, the suspense elements can overshadow the romance, and some plot developments feel a bit predictable. However, the likable characters, festive atmosphere, and combination of romance and intrigue make for an entertaining holiday read.

Overall, The Tinsel Twist is a charming debut that offers romance, danger, and Christmas magic in equal measure. Fans of small-town holiday romances will find plenty to enjoy.

Title: The Tinsel Twist

Author: Rosie J. Potter

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

The Tinsel Twist is an engaging, cozy holiday read that seamlessly blends a classic Hallmark feel with a suspenseful thriller twist. Adelaide Burke’s return to Tinsley Falls after a professional setback sets up a great fresh-start story, and her reunion with Jace Stanton brings plenty of natural chemistry, second-chance romance, and unresolved feelings.

The small-town Christmas setting is warm and atmospheric, providing the perfect backdrop as Adelaide and Jace team up to save the town's Christmas feast. The addition of a sabotage subplot adds a layer of edge-of-your-seat tension that kept me turning pages late into the night. While the suspense elements occasionally overshadow the romance and a few plot developments lean predictable, the warm community, endearing characters, and sweet emotional journey towards trust make everyone easy to root for.

Rosie J. Potter delivers a charming debut full of holiday spirit, heartfelt romance, and just enough danger to keep you hooked. A great pick for readers who love small-town holiday romances with an extra kick of intrigue!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

Make it short sweet and straight to the point

Title: The Tinsel Twist

Author: Rosie J. Potter

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

The Tinsel Twist is a cozy, edge-of-your-seat holiday read that perfectly combines classic Hallmark charm with an unexpected thriller twist! Adelaide’s return to Tinsley Falls and her second-chance romance with Jace deliver fantastic chemistry and real heart as they team up to save the town's holiday feast.

The small-town setting is wonderfully atmospheric, and the sabotage plot line adds just enough suspense to keep you hooked from start to finish. With lovable characters, high-stakes tension, and plenty of festive spirit, Rosie J. Potter delivers a charming debut you won't want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of cozy holiday romances with a splash of intrigue!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

The Tinsel Twist is a cozy, edge-of-your-seat holiday read that perfectly combines classic Hallmark charm with an unexpected thriller twist! I love Hallmark style books and have been in a mood for thriller books so this was perfect read for me. Adelaide’s return to Tinsley Falls and her second-chance romance with Jace delivers a fantastic chemistry as they team up to save the town's holiday feast.

The small-town setting is wonderfully atmospheric, and the sabotage plot line adds just enough suspense to keep you hooked from start to finish. With lovable characters, high-stakes tension, and plenty of festive spirit, Rosie J. Potter delivers a charming debut you won't want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of cozy holiday romances with a splash of intrigue!

Title: The Tinsel Twist

Author: Rosie J. Potter

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

The Tinsel Twist is a cozy, edge-of-your-seat holiday read that perfectly combines classic Hallmark charm with an unexpected thriller twist! As someone who loves Hallmark-style tropes but has been in the mood for a thriller, this was the absolute perfect read for me.

Adelaide’s return to Tinsley Falls and her second-chance romance with Jace deliver fantastic chemistry as they team up to save the town's holiday feast. The small-town setting is wonderfully atmospheric, and the sabotage plotline adds just enough suspense to keep you hooked from start to finish.

With lovable characters, high-stakes tension, and plenty of festive spirit, Rosie J. Potter delivers a charming debut you won't want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of cozy holiday romances with a splash of intrigue!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

Another short, sweet and straight to the point review please

This was a serial killer/police procedural book that follows an escaped serial killer on a killing spree. I found the first part not so interesting, but once he becomes fixated on a young girl it grabbed me. Though this is in a series featuring Erica Stands, she is not the main character here, it is her father the killer. After reading this, I'll definitely go back and read the other books in the series, however it was easily read as a stand alone.

I didn’t realise this was part of a series until I was well into it, but it does work as a standalone book. Charles Sterling is a mass murderer, and he starts off by killing his own daughter, who is a police detective. He commits other murders and the detail in the plotting is clever. Then he gets fixated on a young girl, Jenna, who he tries to get close to through her mother. There are plenty of twists and turns, and surprises in this book, and it kept me engrossed to the end. It certainly piqued my interest enough that I think I will go back and read the preceding three books, just to see how it all worked.

This was a really enjoyable, twisty psychological thriller. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, but I had no problem picking this one up as a standalone.



Charles Sterling is a seriously unsettling character, and I was immediately suspicious of him. Jenna’s instincts about him made me want to keep reading to find out exactly what he was hiding and whether she was right to be worried.



There are plenty of secrets and lies along the way, with the tension building nicely as Jenna starts digging into Sterling’s past. I did manage to guess a couple of things, but there were still enough twists to keep me interested and wanting to see how everything would play out.



A dark, easy to read thriller with plenty of suspense. I’ll definitely be checking out Gregg Dunnett’s other books.

Author: Gregg Dunnett

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

This was a really enjoyable, twisty psychological thriller! Though it's part of the Erica Sands series, it easily works as a standalone book—focusing on her serial killer father, Charles Sterling, while he's on the run.

While the beginning took a moment to get going, the plot completely hooked me once Sterling becomes fixated on a young girl named Jenna. Sterling is a genuinely unsettling character, and watching Jenna trust her instincts as tension and secrets build made it impossible to stop reading. The clever plotting, suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic, and surprising twists kept me engrossed all the way to the end.

A dark, fast-paced read with plenty of suspense. It definitely piqued my interest enough that I’ll be going back to read the rest of Gregg Dunnett’s books in the series!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

This was a really enjoyable, twisty psychological thriller! Though it's part of the Erica Sands series, it easily works as a standalone book—focusing on her serial killer father, Charles Sterling, while he's on the run.

While the beginning took a moment to get going, the plot completely hooked me once Sterling becomes fixated on a young girl named Jenna. Sterling is a genuinely unsettling character, and watching Jenna trust her instincts as tension and secrets build made it impossible to stop reading. The clever plotting, suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic, and surprising twists kept me engrossed all the way to the end.

A dark, fast-paced read with plenty of suspense. It definitely piqued my interest enough that I’ll be going back to read the rest of Gregg Dunnett’s books in the series!

Title: The Serial Killer's Daughter (or series title)

Author: Gregg Dunnett

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

This was a really enjoyable, twisty psychological thriller! Though it's part of the series featuring Erica Sands, it easily works as a standalone book—focusing on her serial killer father, Charles Sterling, while he's on the run.

While the beginning took a moment to get going, the plot completely hooked me once Sterling becomes fixated on a young girl named Jenna. Sterling is a genuinely unsettling character, and watching Jenna trust her instincts as tension and secrets build made it impossible to stop reading. The clever plotting, suspenseful cat-and-mouse dynamic, and surprising twists kept me engrossed all the way to the end.

A dark, fast-paced read with plenty of suspense. It definitely piqued my interest enough that I’ll be going back to read the rest of Gregg Dunnett’s books in the series!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

If you like dark fantasy with romance subplots this is the book for you. Full of magic and secrets this book will keep you on your toes until the very end.



Evanee is a wonderful FMC who, is imperfect but, really does her best to stand on her own. Working to find and rescue herself from the chaotic world she finds herself in.



Also, all characters are mid-20s or older. So if you are looking for older characters this series might be for you.

This book was really good. The author kept the readers guessing about the FMC’s background throughout the story. Her attitude did not match how she was portrayed in the beginning but as the story developed, so did the readers understanding of her. Nothing was as it seemed and every character wasn’t who you thought they were. Some characters I liked at the beginning I ended up not liking and vice versa. The ending was super intense and had my heart pounding. The ending was so abrupt (in a good way) that I went forward and back in the book to see if I skipped over the last chapter. :). Definitely recommend this!

Wow! This was different in a very good way. It's atmospheric and mysterious. Evanee has spent the last three years of her life in servitude to the fae with no recollection of her past beyond the last three years. Who and what she really is, is so much more. One day the Captain of the king's fae guard comes to take her away. She is bound to him so she can't escape on the journey. Evanee is smart and has reservations about who she's traveling with. We as readers very slowly recover her memories with her. It becomes very complicated very quickly. I loved that we had POVs from other characters and that we still only received snippets of information as the story progressed. This got really intense once all the players revealed themselves and this ends, not just on a cliffhanger, it just stops mid action so be prepared. The writing and world building in this is exceptional, I absolutely loved this. The author did a great job characterizing everyone. There was an undertone of who was trustworthy and who wasn't. I love how this book played out and I'm chomping at the bit for the next one. I need to know what happens to everyone! It was an honor to read an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to the author for the opportunity.

Move over vampires and werewolves ( and other mystical creatures) - GARGOYLES have entered the chat. But not just any gargoyles, hot, muscular, broody, protective, and did I mention HOT gargoyles. The only problem- you won’t even know who the Gargoyles are right away, but that’s part of the fun of this book!



I was sucked in and invested from page 1. There is so much unknown in this world! Every chapter gave a little nugget of information that I had to save to try to figure out what was going on.



There is a diverse cast of characters in this book and I love that Ilissa gives us some of tbeir point of views as well. They give off dysfunctional found family vibes. Lyra has got to a favorite side character and she brought some much needed humor when things get intense!



There is romance and spice and banter and tension, but you won’t know between who until you read!



I don’t know what’s worse Evanee not remembering anything or her getting bits and pieces back but not making sense of it all, or her rembering EVERYTHING and things still not working out the way she thought!



I will be impatiently waiting for book 2!

Keep it very short, sweet and straight to the point. Its a review for amazon

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

Review:

If you love atmospheric dark fantasy with romance subplots, mystery, and an incredible cast of older characters (mid-20s+), this book is a must-read!

Evanee is a fantastic, imperfect FMC. Starting with no memories of her past and bound to a broody Fae Captain, her journey is full of secrets, complex world-building, and high-stakes tension. The author gives you just enough snippets of information to keep you guessing, and nothing is as it seems—characters you love will surprise you, and gargoyles have officially entered the chat! With multiple POVs, high-chemistry banter, spice, and a dysfunctional found family, the story builds to an intensely abrupt cliffhanger that will leave you desperate for book two.

A thrilling, captivating read from page one. Highly recommended!

Summerween review

Title: Summerween

Author: Joss Wood

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

Summerween by Joss Wood is a feel-good, delightfully unique romance that delivers the perfect mix of cozy, nostalgic vibes, sharp humor, and a touch of mystery. Bringing together spooky Halloween aesthetics and beachside romance sounds like a tricky balancing act, but Wood pulls it off seamlessly without letting the premise fall into corny tropes.

The chemistry between the lead characters is fantastic from the start. They are engaging, grounded, and written with genuine depth, making their dynamic feel earnest and high-stakes rather than purely lighthearted. The plot moves along at a great pace, balancing the romantic tension with an intriguing mystery element that kept me turning pages.

If you’re looking for a charming, atmospheric comfort read that brings equal parts warmth, wit, and depth, Summerween is a solid four-star choice. Highly recommended for readers who want a fun, high-chemistry romance with a fun twist on the seasonal vibe!

NetGalley Review Checklist:

Cross-posting: Goodreads, StoryGraph, Instagram @Lambyreads

Recommend to retail buyers: Yes

Can we change it some make it more shorter.

Title: Summerween

Author: Joss Wood

Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Review:

Summerween is a feel-good, cozy romance that perfectly blends spooky Halloween vibes with beachside summer flirting! Joss Wood balances lighthearted humor, genuine character chemistry, and a touch of mystery seamlessly without falling into cheesy tropes. It’s atmospheric, charming, and offers just enough depth to keep you turning pages. A solid 4-star comfort read for anyone wanting a high-chemistry romance with a fun seasonal twist!

Summerween by Joss Wood is a feel-good, delightfully unique romance that delivers the perfect mix of cozy, nostalgic vibes, sharp humor, and a touch of mystery. Bringing together spooky Halloween aesthetics and beachside romance sounds like a tricky balancing act, but Wood pulls it off seamlessly without letting the premise fall into corny tropes.
The chemistry between the lead characters is fantastic from the start. They are engaging, grounded, and written with genuine depth, making their dynamic feel earnest and high-stakes rather than purely lighthearted. The plot moves along at a great pace, balancing the romantic tension with an intriguing mystery element that kept me turning pages.
If you’re looking for a charming, atmospheric comfort read that brings equal parts warmth, wit, and depth, Summerween is a solid four-star choice. Highly recommended for readers who want a fun, high-chemistry romance with a fun twist on the seasonal vibe!

This was such a cute novel. I really enjoyed the town’s love and year-round celebration of Halloween, quirky but endearing characters, and ghosts that play a minor, subtle role in the plot. Additionally, I really liked that the main characters (a dancer and a disaster relief doctor), had jobs and live experiences different from the typical small town entrepreneurs who star in most cozy romances. I look forward to reading the next book in series.

This was a fun and cozy romance. I struggled a bit with the insta lust, but thats just not personally my trop. Would definitely read more by Joss Wood.

Thank you to Joss Wood, Netgalley and Harper 360 for an eARC of Summerween.

"This town was a circus, and its performers were unfiltered, industrial-grade crazy."


Summerween gives all the cozy small-town and witchy vibes. It is set in a town called Solstice Springs, known as Halloween Town or H-Town, to it's residents. The town has quirky elements, like a wild turkey, a mane coon and several ghosts. Wren and Dane both ended up in H-Town to recover from life situations.

This story has some comedy, yearning, and spice with a happy ending. It deals with some difficult topics like ptsd and abandonment issues. Summerween is a fun little read if you like witchy summer vibes, small towns, misunderstandings and yearning in new relationships, and nosey side characters.