Tag: summer romance

ARC Book Review: Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes by Shelbey Kendall

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 332 pages
Author: Shelbey Kendall
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sadie Summers has spent her entire life being exactly who everyone expects her to be.

Responsible. Reliable. Rooted in Dusty Hollow, Texas.

But somewhere between checking boxes, keeping the peace, and making sure everyone else is taken care of, she forgot what it feels like to choose herself.

When she stumbles upon a list titled Try Something You’ve Never Done Before, Sadie begins to wonder what it might look like to step outside her carefully ordered world—to want more than what’s safe and familiar. What she doesn’t expect is for the list to lead her straight back to Milo Carter.

Milo was her first love. The one who left town—and the one who never really left her heart. Now he’s back, older, steadier, and certain about what he wants. And what he wants is Sadie.

As they begin checking off the list together, Sadie finds herself laughing more, hesitating less, and facing the one question she can’t avoid who is she when she stops living for everyone else?

A heartfelt, small-town romance about faith, freedom, first love, and finding the courage to live a life that finally feels like your own.

Thank you to the author and Happily Ever Readers for the gifted PR Box.

WHAT A GREAT READ.

This came across my DM’s and I took a chance on a new to me author that absolutely delivered. I think it found me at just the right time.

Our lovely FMC was highly relatable in all of her people pleasing, eldest daughter ways. I was drawn to Sadie and I loved her character arc. Growing and changing and finding her way and what was genuinely going to make her happy. I loved that this had some traveling aspects to it and the courage it took to adventure.

The romance is super sweet. It’s low angst and tension and has the feel of a quiet Sunday morning watching the sunrise. I loved Sadie and Milo together. Milo is still very much down bad and works hard to communicate and show Sadie that they are forever. The genuine feel of this romance really sold me.

I do have to insert a grumble about the third act because I will stand on my soap box that it wasn’t necessary for this book, BUT I DIGRESS.

An absolutely lovely romance that has me definitely wanting to pick up the next book in the series.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses

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ARC/ALC Book Review: The Shippers by Katherine Center

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: May 19th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook and St. Martin’s for the the gifted ebook.

WELL I HAD A GOOD TIME.

This book found me at just the right time when I needed a sunshine filled romcom and Katherine Center delivered. It’s got the quirky writing I leaned right into and a humorous story full of heart and joy.

The FMC, JoJo, made me struggle just a bit because there were one or two small plots that didn’t work for me, but I digress, I was here for the rest. I LVOED the banter between her and Cooper. Gosh, it was sassy and smile inducing and I’m sorry, how could you not see from 10 miles away that Cooper is madly in love with JoJo??? We love a man who yearns.

There’s plenty of wedding shenanigans, cruise ship antics and drama throughout. I really liked the sub plots as well. I liked the conversations and themes and the supportive nature of JoJo’s family. This has a lot of those hallmark *romcom* moments that always bring me joy (one bed, stuck in a stairwell…you know you want to know more).

Also the audiobook! Stellar as always. The narrator does an amazing job. I loved it. JoJo’s character was brought to life beautifully. And don’t miss the special note from Katherine Center either.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: kidnapping & child abuse (recounted), sexual harassment and attempted assault

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ARC Book Review: Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Celeste Dador
Publisher: Delacorte Romance
Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Named one of Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2026, Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is a swoony debut YA romance about First Daughter Abby Cary-Alzona’s summer of self-discovery, small-town charm, and unexpected love.

All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.

But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.

Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.

As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.

Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Reluctant royalty
• Small-town charm reminiscent of Gilmore Girls

A cozy, heartfelt story that explores familial expectations and what it means to choose a life—and love—on your own terms.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

THIS WAS SWEET!

What a lovely debut. I really enjoyed this story. And it’s a fourth of July romance?? I’ve never read one of those and it was utterly charming. The small town charm was highlighted just right and the atmosphere was full of everything summer. This had the first love summer romance quality I had a breeze flying through.

I liked the eldest daughter FMC, Abby. She slowly works through letting things go and taking advantage of the opportunities to feel more like a teenager than the FDOTUS. It’s not heavy on political things and focused much more on the coming of age story for Abby. I loved the relationship she had with her sister.

The romance too was incredibly sweet. It’s appropriate for teens with kisses only and low (if any) language. I can easily keep this on my shelves for when my littles are older. I liked the banter between Gabriel and Abby and the communication they worked towards. There is some miscommunication but it wasn’t dragged out and felt right for the age range.

All in all, it’s filled with fireworks (literally), good parent relationships, new friendships, and summer love. Easy recommend!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: none
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Allison Ashley
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 5th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A teen starts to fall for the boy she and her best friend agreed was off-limits while building a relationship with the new guy in town at the same time in this seaside teen romance perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Amelia’s summers in Cape Cod have always been about three spending as much time in the ocean as possible, hanging out with her best friend Kat, and crushing on Myles Ford, her and Kat’s forever dream boy. But this summer, Kat’s leaving their little beach town to get a head start on tennis training at her new boarding school. Kat’s always been the social one in their friendship, the one who made things happen, and Amelia’s just been along for the ride. Without Kat, Amelia’s…adrift.

Amelia’s job at the local seafood joint keeps her busy, and Pearl’s just so happens to employ the one and only Myles. As Amelia and Myles get to know each other, Amelia realizes there’s more to him than she thought, which complicates things when Myles starts to show interest in her. Because ever since Amelia and Kat decided Myles was the epitome of crush-worthiness, they agreed he was off-limits so no boy would ever come between them.

And when another boy comes into Amelia’s life—a newcomer in town who makes Amelia look at life differently—Amelia will have to risk her closest friendship for a romance fit for a Nicholas Sparks novel or take a chance on a boy who might not stick around for long?

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted eARC.

I’M NOT SURE.

I just couldn’t get behind this one. I don’t read a lot of YA contemporary romances anymore but I love Allison Ashley’s adult romances so I wanted to try this one out too.

I did love the atmosphere of the plot. It has a very nostalgic summer quality to it where I wanted to be at the beach and pier too (a la The Last Song or The Summer I Turned Pretty). And that was probably my biggest win in regards to the book. I think most of it worked fine, though I am confused if there’s going to be a sequel?? I’m not going to lie, you’ll probably find me reading that too.

The love triangle didn’t work for me because it felt pretty obvious what direction it should go in and now I’m leery of the ending? Once again, not knowing if there’s another book coming. Some of the content (multiple underage drinking parties and a few sex discussions) make this for a little bit older of a YA crowd even though the writing was on the younger side of that spectrum.

I liked Amelia. I thought she felt like a teenager and responded overall, the way I figured. Which isn’t a bad thing. I don’t love friend to friend drama over a boy though and that bugged me as the book went forward.

Thoughts are all a bit scattered, but here we are.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a parent (recounted), underage drinking, alcohol poisoning (small side character)

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