This is an adorable summer read that is about going home, found family and learning to love yourself.

While it's a fairly lighthearted summer romance, you can definitely dive deeper and take away a few hard hitting life lessons too!

This is part of the Wildstone series but it can be read as a standalone.

I've tried to get into The Summer Deal a couple times recently, unfortunately it's not grabbing me as much as Jill Shalvis books normally do. I will try again at a later point, DNF for now.

Brynn has no luck except for the bad kind. Her ex royally screwed her over and left her with nothing. Kinsey is dealing with her own issues. If she doesn't get a kidney soon, she is out of time. Brynn and Kinsey have known each other since childhood camp, but none of the memories were the good kind. The fun begins when these frenemies find out they are actual family. Throw in love and romance for each of them and sparks fly. Can they get past all the trust issues and their past to have a future life and relationship?

I absolutely loved this one. I loved Brynn's family. I love how she grew up in a loving environment but still manages to figure out how to mess her's up. I loved to see how Kinsey needs people but pushes them away so she can't be hurt. I found out after reading this that it is a series of books. While I don't think that the characters carry over from book to book, I really enjoyed the writing style and will be checking out more books by Jill Shalvis. Four out of five stars for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for providing a copy of this book in exchaange for an honest review..

A wonderful summer read of reconnections and forgiveness. Brynn and Eli are perfect together. Part of a series, but the first I’ve read. Highly recommend this book.

Jill Shalvis has written many women’s fiction titles; however, this is the first of her novels that I have read. It is listed as the fifth in a series but I had absolutely no difficulty reading it as a standalone. I found it to be a good read.

The novel tells the story of several characters, among them are Brynn and Kinsey. At best, the two were “frenemies” after having attended the same summer camp for years. Each chapter starts with a letter that relates to this time. Readers will learn that Brynn and Kinsey share another connection. What will that mean to them?

Brynn has two moms who love her very much. This is, of course, good but has not meant that Brynn’s life has been carefree. She has floundered on her way to adulthood. After her latest disappointments and difficulties, she has returned to her childhood home and has become a substitute kindergarten teacher.

Brynn runs into Eli, an important friend from earlier in her life. He invites her to become the fourth roommate in his house. She agrees, only to find that Kinsey lives there too. They are still like “chalk and cheese” and find it difficult to get along.

Kinsey has her own issues. She has kidney failure and a transplant rejection. Will she find a suitable donor? Will she live?

Will the characters work out their relationships? Will there be a happy ending? Readers will turn the pages at they wait to find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

Great book! Excellent and sweet. Love the characters. They seem so real. It's funny and hard to put down. 5 Stars! First reading a book by this author.

It kind of feels strange to be writing my thoughts on The Summer Deal when there is snow on the ground but that's what happens when you fall behind on reviews. I started the year off reading and enjoying Almost Just Friends which is the 4th book in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis (this is book five). I really enjoyed that one so was excited to pick this one up - and it was just as delightful as I had hoped. This is one of those books where I just loved each and every one of the characters (even when they acted in ways that frustrated me). They all just felt so real with their worries, imperfections, and hopes. There is a lot going on in this book which made for a fast paced read. I was constantly wondering when and how Brynn would find out that she had a half sister - and that it was Kinsey (not a spoiler - it's in the summary of the book). I also adored Brynn's two moms. The parts of this book where they were involved had me grinning the entire time. I loved the romance and chemistry that was building between Brynn and Eli. But what I really loved the most about this book was Kinsey and her not a relationship with Dek (it's been a few months so correct me if I'm misremembering his name). I LOVED these two together so much, and all I wanted was for them to figure out their relationship and for Kinsey to finally let him into her life all of the way. Ugh! It was just so good and despite the fact that Brynn and Eli were both really great - these other two were the ones I was rooting for the most. There were a lot of serious moments in this one so make sure you check out the content warnings. My one and only complaint was the lack of communication at times between the characters kind of made me crazy at points. That being said, I really enjoyed this one overall and cannot wait to read more of the books in this series. I believe there is a new one coming out in January and I will be all over it!

Overall, this is a series and book that I couldn't help but enjoy. It was the perfect change of pace between the mysteries and thrillers that I normally pick up. There is just something about the way that Jill Shalvis writes characters that I cannot seem to get enough of. I love watching the characters work through their issues and find love with one another. It's delightful! I would recommend this book to fans of romance (especially contemporary romance) and also those readers who enjoy women's fiction. Recommended!

Bottom Line: A delightful read with characters that I still haven't forgotten about months later!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Honest thoughts are my own.

I loved this book!! Great story!! Love this series!! Can't wait for the next book in the series to release!! Love this author's books!!

Dealing with the good and the bad is what family is all about and Shalvis shows that well once again. This motley group might have managed to make a unit for themselves despite of their differences and troubles, but they aren’t perfect and definitely have some growing to do. With the support of each other they slowly start to figure out how to be good people and better partners, how to own up to their mistakes and learn to do things differently.

Eli is awesome – a stand-up guy, dedicated friend, loving and understanding. He’s just not overly dynamic for a hero. Instead he’s that steadfast force that both Kinsey and Brynn need in their lives. Both girls need a dependable partner to help keep them on the right path.

Brynn has a habit of either avoiding or running from her problems when things get rough, pretty much all her life. It’s time that she finally learn to face things that matter heads on and thanks to Kinsey and Eli she’s going to have to do that.

Kinsey is not the most cuddly of people – prickly is more like it. But under her spikes, she has a big heart but is afraid to get hurt or hurt other people. By pushing people away she thinks she’s doing the right thing. Luckily for her, it doesn’t always work.

Like a lot of people, Deck is one of my favorite people. He’s the big-hearted alpha that a lot of authors are giving us these days. (I love those guys but sometimes you need an Eli too.) He’s willing to put up with Kinsey’s BS and love her anyway. He sees the person underneath and quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, gives her the support that she needs at that time.

Eli’s brother, Max, provides a little bit of fun to their group and I’m thinking that he’ll make an interesting hero in his own book down the road. He seems to have the fewest issues but I’m sure there are one or two just waiting to be explored.

Throw all of these people together, with their past issues, and you are bound to have some difficulties. It takes a bit for Brynn to let go of her feelings for Kinsey and for Kinsey to let her in. And along the way, there are tons of opportunities for misunderstandings and hurt feelings. They all definitely need to figure out how to be a little more upfront and honest with each other, to learn that hiding things is rarely helpful but that turning your back on loves ones that screw up is rarely the right choice. It’s not an easy journey for them, but it does make for good summer reading for us 🙂

(This is part of a series but I’m pretty sure that’s in name only. All the stories are set in the same California town but that’s about it for how they are related.)

I loved The Summer Deal. This book has all the hallmarks of a favorite Jill Shalvis: touching friend and family relationships, people who are a bit broken figuring out how to be vulnerable and to love, and sweet romances.

The last couple of books in this series have been a bit too sad for me, but this one was like a warm hug from your found family. It centers on Kinsey and Brynn, half sisters due to Kinsey's dad's donating sperm, which Brynn's moms used to have a baby. Kinsey's dealing with kidney transplant rejection and has pushed everyone away basically all her life due to both parent issues and feeling like the best way to protect people is to stay away from them. Brynn's just out of a toxic relationship with a liar and no longer trusts herself enough to trust in others, and she has the bad habit of running away from problems.

I really just felt these people in my heart, and I completely invested in their story. It's a book that doesn't have much of a plot and truly is about the emotional journeys that Kinsey and Brynn are on, and, dammit, they made me feel things. Both Deck and Eli are wonderful love interests, and Mini the dog steals the show any time she's in a scene. *happy sighs*

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Can I just say how much I LOVE the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis? I mean capital LOVE. THIS. SERIES.

Jill Shalvis uses humor in her books and I totally dig that!

What I Liked:

Obviously the cover 🙂 It’s a slice of heaven!

Brynn & Kinsey. Kinsey has that mean girl vibe which means I should not like her- but Jill balances her tough side with a vulnerability. And Brynn is so darn cute and sweet!

The relationship amongst the cast of characters. All of them have reasons to not trust people, to be afraid to ask for what they want out of life, to sit in the corner and sulk that life dealt them a bad hand. But the bond- even when the bond is not completely apparent- is something that really worked in this book.

Bottom line: Put this book on your TBR list immediately if not sooner 😉

I have read many of Jill Shalvis’s books. I loved this one. The characters were lovable and there family dynamic is palpable.
Shalvis always had hidden agendas in her story line. I enjoyed it and it is a fast read.

I varied between being entertained and a bit bored. It was frankly a well written short story stretched into a longer book. It was a bad story but also wasn't one I'll remember a month from now.

I am so sorry I picked up the book. I was excited since Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite authors. I was counting on a great summer read. I am a senior so I couldn’t relate. I skimmed through to see if anything would catch my interest, nope. Well one uninteresting book will not turn me off Jill Shalvis as an author..

I read and listened to this one. I just loved Erin Mallon's narration. This is 3rd person POV & She did all the voices.
There are 3 main characters: Kinsey & Eli are best friends since childhood; and Brynn. All 3 meet at
summer camp when they're young kids. All 3 attend each year. Kinsey & Brynn's thoughts and feelings are told each year in a journal entry. Brynn thinks of Kinsey as a bully, and Kinsey is bitter about a chronic illness & is resentful of Brynn's happy homelife. Eli likes Brynn, but neither of them
are secure enough to say how they feel. Then, there is present day when they all meet up again.
Brynn does have the best homelife-she has 2 moms- Reyna & Olive. I just love Reyna's earthmother, hipster, style helicopter- mothering style. I think that Reyna steals ever scene.
The friend/frenemies dynamic was fascinating. I normally do not like flash-backs. The Brynn & Kinsey journal entries are brief & do not slow down the flow of present day.
It seems easy to dislike Kinsey. She keeps everyone at a distance, but there is a very good reason for that. Eli and Brynn's growing attraction was sweet. The real big story is Kinsey & Brynn's relationship. I would have liked a few more details about Eli's past. I do give him a lot of credit for being such a good friend to Kinsey & for being so patient with Brynn's shy hesitant personality.
I thought the ending was building up nicely, but it finished a little weak for me.
I would love to read this again. I do think that this would be a great book club/buddy read.
I need to mention, the great majority of the time is spent in present day. I've read some books that really put WAY too much emphasis on the high school years. I think that adolescent and preteen years are way more important in forming our selves and relationships.

This was a wonderful beach read. Who doesn't like a little romance and drama folded into one. I read this book in just a couple of days.

This was such a good book! I really like Jill Shalvis so I was expecting to enjoy it and I did! It was a great romance with some family drama thrown in. I really liked all of the characters and I hope that they'll be included in future stories.

Review will be posted on 8/18/2020

After a bad breakup, Brynn returns back to Wildstone, California for the comfort of her home and her two doting mothers. Things aren't going well for Brynn. She suffers a panic attack and ends up in the ER. While there, she runs into her former friend from summer camp, Eli. This isn't just any camp friend from her teenage years. This guy is her first crush and her first kiss. Eli is at the ER with Kinsey Davis, his best friend who is seriously ill. Brynn and Kinsey did not get along at camp; in fact, they hate each other, which is pretty awkward for Eli. However, Eli is happy to have Brynn back in his life and when they meet up again, he invites her to live in his beach house as they are looking for a new roommate. Brynn needs a new start, so she takes him up on it. However, Kinsey is a housemate, so cue all the drama. However, Kinsey is no longer the summer camp mean girl that Brynn thinks she is. She is dealing with very a serious health issues that has impacted her greatly and while looking for a kidney transplant, she finds out that Brynn is her half-sister. Brynn obviously doesn't know this and Kinsey won't tell her. On the other hand, Eli wants Kinsey to tell her the truth, because they both could benefit from this new relationship more than they ever anticipated. The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis is quintessential summer reading with a lot of heart and relationships that you will want to root for.

Brynn is an interesting character in The Summer Deal. She is escaping home to Wildstone and both of her mothers are fantastic, but can be overbearing. It's no wonder she is looking to move out to reclaim her independence and that's when Eli, her former crush, offers her a room in his gorgeous beach house. The only thing holding her back is Kinsey. However, Kinsey and Brynn meet and she promises that things have changed, so Brynn takes her up on this. Can Brynn really let go of the past though and all that Kinsey put her through when they were younger?

While living at the beach house, Eli and Brynn start a new relationship and sparks fly in The Summer Deal. They even make a "summer deal" between them; however, readers can't help but wonder if Brynn is really ready for a relationship yet. Meanwhile, we know all about Kinsey's secret and I was hoping it would come out, especially since Eli encourages Kinsey to tell Brynn. How could both women live together and it not?

Kinsey is also a complex character in The Summer Deal. She is dealing with major health issues, and withholding some major secrets from Brynn. The issue surrounding their mutual father is always looming in the background. I really liked the relationship between Kinsey and Deck, who's is fantastic secondary character. I really enjoyed their playful relationship and how he supported her through her health issues. Also, her best friend, Eli, is always there for her and the kind of male best friend girls dream can only dream of. Shalvis did a great job creating memorable male characters in The Summer Deal who are supportive, romantic, and downright dreamy.

If you are looking for a charming beach read with a lot of heart, check out The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis. It was exactly the kind of light book I needed during this stay-at-home summer. Surprisingly, I have never read a novel by Jill Shalvis before! Are you a fan of her novels? If so, let me know your favorite and if The Summer Deal is on your TBR list.

Jill Shalvis in back in Wildstone, California with her newest release The Summer Deal. The Summer Deal was a wonderful edition to the Wildstone series. Brynn Turner and Kinsey Davis are both such fun characters, and I loved getting their stories.

Brynn has the unconditional love of her 2 moms, but besides that she really doesn't feel like she has her life together. When her latest ex-boyfriend steals from her before moving out of their apartment, Brynn decides it is time to head how to Wildstone and maybe just maybe get her life back on track. I loved that Brynn really did look at the world through rose-colored glasses much of the time. She seemed to look for the good in people much of the time...with the exception of her former campmate Kinsey. Kinsey is pretty much the polar opposite of Brynn at first glance. She puts on a really tough front, but the more time with Kinsey, the more I could see she was all about protecting herself and those she loved.

I really enjoyed the romances in this story. Eli and Brynn have both had crushes on one another since summer camp. Kinsey and Deck are basically in a "friends with benefits without being friends" situation, and honestly that made me crack up each time one of them said it. However, I didn't really feel like either of the romances were the main focus of this story. I felt like it was really Kinsey and Brynn's story from page one. The little insights about Kinsey and Brynn at the beginning of each chapter gave readers the information needed to see how their relationship had so much animosity even as adults. I will say I loved they acted and argued like sisters long before Kinsey ever found out they were half-sisters. Both characters grew so much during this book, and I loved seeing them each step up for one another like real sisters.

The Summer Deal was a fun story for me. Jill Shalvis gave her readers the humor they have become accustom to with her books, along with situations that totally pull on their heart-strings. While it is the 5th book in the series, The Summer Deal can easily be read as a stand-alone story.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)

You had me at Jill Shalvis! I love this author! The book starts as Brynn’s life is at a crossroads. Having no where else to go, she returns home to be smothered by both her moms. Needing a space of her own, she reconnects with a long lost love from summer camp and it just happens he owns a house with a room for rent. One roommate happens to be Brynn’s arch nemesis from high school. As the story evolves, the plot thickens and the sparks fly. This story isn’t just a love story. It’s full of lovable characters you’ll be routing for and a complicated relationship between enemies. Do yourself a favor and pick up this wonderful read!