The Summer Deal review:

Kinsey and Brynn have been enemies since summer camp as kids. Eli is Kinsey’s best friend, and Brynn’s first kiss (at said summer camp) After a failed relationship, Brynn finds herself in the hospital with a panic attack and stumbles back into the lives of Kinsey and Eli. What happens next is a whirlwind of events to pick up the pieces of Brynn’s life and start anew.

I loved how the girls had their journal entries start each chapter. It really gave us depth on their enemy status, but also how their personality was shaping.

This isn’t just about two frenemies that are technically half sisters. This isn’t just about childhood camp crush hoping for that spark once reunited. This story goes deeper than that. It’s a story about hope, living life on limited time, a love story about loving yourself and the company you keep. (Faults and all). Brynn is trying to find her second chance at life with a new start. Kinsey is trying to find her second chance with a new kidney.

I kept getting the girls names confused, I won’t lie. I kept thinking Kinsey was Brynn, vise versa. With the diary entries, it almost read like a YA, but had romantic moments to even it out. This was my first Jill Shalvis, and I definitely plan on reading more.

The Summer Deal comes out 6.2.2020. Be on the lookout! Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my opinion.

This book continues the Wildstone series, which while not having recurring characters is set in the same town of Wildstone. If you have read previous books in this series, this book continues in the same vein. It revolves around Bynn and Kinsey who are half sisters with only one of them knowing about it.

As in most of Ms. Shalvis' books the relationships are the most prominent feature, and this is no exception. Brynn returns home devastated from a busted relationship and runs into her old friend Eli who offers her a rental room in his house. She accepts, not knowing her arch nemesis from camp Kinsey is renting a room there already. The plot revolves around relationship growth. Between the 2 half sisters and the loves of their lives. I enjoy books that are character driven and loved this. If you have enjoyed the previous books in this series you will not be disappointed with this one,

Received as an ARC from Netgalley

Another winner by Jill Shalvis! Brynn and Kinsey were rivals who thoroughly disliked each other at summer camp, where Brynn shared a kiss with Eli, Kinsey's best friend. When they re-connect many years later, not much has changed. But Kinsey has been hiding big secrets, and new developments lead to new discoveries and new paths. This is romantic women's fiction that will appeal to a large audience.

Jill Shalvis is my go to for all things romance. However, lately I’ve absolutely loved her women’s fiction novels. Heart. Friendship. Heat. And so many wonderful things wrapped into one great package. The Summer Deal is exactly that. I love this one as much as I loved her first women’s fiction novel. I’m so lucky I got to read an advanced reading copy. Thank you Netgalley!! The only downside is that I’m hungry for more books written by this author. If you love Jill Shalvis, this is a must read.

I enjoyed this book, not what I'm used to from the author but I did like it! 4 stars for this!
We follow a few people in this story, but our main characters are Brynn, Kinsey & Eli, and a bit of Kinsey's not friend but with benefits Deck.
Kinsey has a secret, Eli knows it, and it has to do with Brynn. Kinsey has been a thorn in Brynn's side for years every summer at camp. When you find out the secret you will be shocked! But there is other things going on with these two and the other characters that will hold your attention throughout the book. Will the woman be able to let love into their fragile lives? You'll have to read and find out!

Jill Shalvis never disappoints. She spins a tale of friendemies turned best friends in this summer’s go to beach read. I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Cute beach read- I did not know this book was a part of a series, I read it as a stand alone and it was good but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read the first four.

I found out after I read this, that this is actually part of a series. I read it as a stand-alone and I was not lost. I enjoyed this book. Fans of Jill Shalvis will also.

I usually love Jill Shalvis’s book but found myself bored at the end. A story of two women who did not like each other since childhood and found out they were half sisters. Just didn’t hold my interest. I appreciate Netgalley and William Morrow publisher’s for the chance to read and review this.

THE SUMMER DEAL is book five in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis, but I find that you can really read these books as a standalone. I didn’t have very much expectation about this book, so I went in with a very open mind.

One thing I liked about this book is the fact that Shalvis can make light out of every situation. Whether it’s something grim or just the characters hanging out, she manages to infuse the scene with her trademark humor.

However, I just don’t think I was a huge fan of the concept of this particular story. This book has three main characters. There’s Brynn who suffers from panic attacks. Then there’s Kinsey whose body is rejecting the organ she’d just had transplanted. And there’s Eli who has been best friends with Kinsey for his entire life. There is a romance that occurs in this book, but the relationship between Kinsey and Brynn is also quite important to the storyline.

In theory, I liked the sound of it. However while I was reading the book, I just thought that it was a bit grim. There were some parts I would have liked to see more of and other parts that I would’ve liked to skip over completely, so with that being said, I didn’t love all aspects of this book.

I do think that Shalvis is making a bigger effort to make her books less of just a romance and a put more Women’s Fiction elements into it. I just don’t know if I’m always going to be in the mood for this kind of writing all the time.

Brynn does not have her life together. Things just seem to keep crashing down around her. Kinsey has been pushing through obstacles her whole life, and now she is just marking time, or so she tells herself. Eli just wants those he loves to be happy and safe, and now he has a chance to make that happen, and to maybe find a little of that for himself, too. One summer. 3 people who were once all connected at camp, and now have a chance to re-connect on a different level, and maybe make a difference. Shalvis once again hits the mark with a book that incorporates humor and love in all of its forms, and characters that feel as though they could walk right off of the pages.

Little bit coming of age, little bit family drama, little bit romance. Excellent writing, solid and snappy dialogue, relatable-ish cast of characters... though I had to remember back a million years ago to my 20s! Enjoyable read for sure.

Kinsey and Brynn meet up as adults after suffering through the same summer camp for years. Each girl has memories of the other being a bully at camp and can’t stand the thought of a happy reunion when it unexpectedly happens.

When Brynn comes home after her boyfriend dumps her - she is afraid to let anyone in again.

Kinsey has had a life of disappointments with medical problems, family drama and has a wall built around her miles high.

Can either girl let love in when it comes crashing in? What happens when friends will do just about anything for you?

I absolutely love and adore Jill Shalvis. Her writing style is amazing!

That being said, this book was no different. I absolutely loved it! The characters were precious, and made the story that much better.

All in all, I thought this book was great, and was a nice light read.

I’m in the minority with my 2 star rating but I’m sad to say I just cannot connect to any of the characters! I was hoping it would get better but the more I read, I found myself skimming pages and just not enjoying it at all. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

It absolutely pains me to say that I didn't like this book. I am a long-time Jill Shalvis reader and never thought I'd find a story of hers that didn't, at the very least, entertain. I guess it's not fair to say that I wasn't entertained, because I did keep coming back and reading more, I just wasn't happy when I was through with it.

I will start by saying that I didn't hate everything about it. I don't want to mislead you. I did enjoy the periphery characters, but the main characters did not do anything for me...at all. I really loved Deck. He was an incredible character. He made limited appearances, but he stole the show for me for real. I adored his and Kenzie's relationship.

Now for what I didn't like...

I feel like Brynn accepted the fact that Kinsey was her sister WAY too readily. She didn't ask for proof or even time to accept it. It didn't match with all of the previous interactions between the two.

Also, Brynn was definitely a hypocrite. She went around telling everyone that they had to be honest and there could be no more secrets, no more lies, blah, blah, blah. Then when she was looking for their dad, she say, "Sometimes people keep secrets because it's easier than the hurt and disappointment that knowing those secrets will lead to." She was quick to judge everyone around her, but then ran to hide when people turned the table on her.

And then there was Eli... he was a bit stale to me. He was very complacent and just a drab character and I didn't connect with him at all.

Overall, it just wasn't what I'm used to from this author.

Brynn just moved home after being dumped by her boyfriend. She doesn't know what she wants to do, but when her moms call an ambulance for her because they think she's having a heart attack, its only a panic attack, her life changes.

Kinsey is at the hospital because she needs a kidney transplant and she was informed one was on the way. Her best friend Eli is there as well, worried. He decides to go to the vending machine for snacks and runs into Brynn. They are surprised to see each other, she pretends to not remember him.

These three went to summer camp together when they were kids. What Brynn doesn't know is a family secret that her and Kinsey share. While Eli is still as sexy as he was when they were younger.

Kinsey thinks she is a walking expiation date and doesn't want anyone to get close. She's is seeing Deck but she won't let him stay over. Deck is head over heels, and is always there for her. It takes Kinsey awhile to realize that being loved is a gift and to enjoy and cherish it while she has it. In the end everything works out for everyone and the girls are more than they seem.

I loved these characters they were going through a hard time and did the best they could. Brynn irritated me, everytime someone screwed up, kept something from her even when she was doing the same, she bailed. Kinsey keeps something from Brynn, and because Eli knows, Brynn takes her anger out on him too. Brynn cannot have it both ways and needs to work on that. I highly recommend this book, and a box of tissues, i have no idea how many times I cried. Are they able to forgive each other about the past and be the family they all need?

This is about Kinsey and Brynn. They went to summer camp together all their childhood, but didn’t get along. Kinsey had fought health problems all her life, and that led her to not wanting to let anyone get close. Brynn, grew up being bullied. When Brynn returns home, to get over a bad relationship she meets Eli, who was the first boy she ever kissed, years ago at summer camp. And this leads to her moving in with him, Kinsey, and Eli’s brother Max. Each one of them have their own issues and insecurities. Kinsey and Brynn discover they are more connected than just going to camp.
I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and funny. The characters were all so real, and you could really get their personalities and what made them. This was very well written, and the story came alive on the page. It definitely kept me interested.

Brynn and Kinsey spent summer camp together throughout most of their childhoods. They were not friends and now as adults, they find themselves roommates. ARC from NetGalley.

Brynn Turner's moving home at almost 30, not exactly the plan she had for her life. After her latest boyfriend scammed her and took off with almost everything, the contents of her bank accounts included, she needs some time to reset and get her life in order. When a panic attack lands her in the ER the last thing she needs is to bump into Eli, her childhood summer camp crush and friend of Kinsey Davis, summer camp mean girl. Kinsey Davis has spent her entire life in and out of the hospital, most of that time with her best friend Eli by her side. Kinsey's had a rough life and has learned to not get her hopes up or attached to people. Eli couldn't be more thrilled to see Brynn, realizing that time hasn't dulled his affections for her, he offers her a room for rent in his house. When secrets start to come out, Brynn questions everything she thought she knew about her new roommates.

This is such a wonderfully written story. It's about much so more than just Brynn and Eli's relationship, we get a bit of Kinsey and Deck, and see all the characters work through some pretty tough issues. I really enjoyed that it was about more than one relationship, the plot wasn't confusing or overwhelming. Each character's voice and distinct personality stayed true to them until the end, which I feel not all authors do well. Despite her prickly exterior, I adored Kinsey, and the amount of love and fierce protectiveness she had for the people that she did let in. Brynn was so relatable to me, feeling like an all-around train wreck most of the time, I'm so glad she learned to fight for the important people in her life. Despite the heavier plot, there was definitely comic relief in the form of Brynn's moms, they brought some much-needed levity and had me cackling. This is such a great read about so much more than just romantic love, it's about found family, forgiveness, patience, honesty and fighting for those you love. Highly recommend