The Summer of Broken Dreams follows Meredith Fox as she navigates her way through life in such an exhilarating way, readers will find themselves immersed with her story.

Matha's Vineyard is a summer getaway she and her sister always go to but this summer is different as she lost her sister. Now, she just has to pull herself together with her boisterous family also being there for her cousin's wedding. I loved how active her family is in this one; they are messy and vibrant and nosy. It just hits close to home as a person who's always around my extended family. Martha is trying her hardest to be in the best mental state possible and the monologues she has are just heartwrenching at times, I felt very deeply for her.

Once the concept of the family's assassin game is introduced, the story finally gets better. In this part, we get to see more of Martha's spirited side as she chases after Wit, the charming groomsman. Their banters are hilarious and get me every time. I love how they seem to fill each other's gaps.

Thank you to the Sourcebook and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this.

SO CUTE

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You ever read a book that makes you want to listen to the seagulls caw and take a warm nap in the sunshine? That was The Summer of Broken Rules. It was a warm hug. And LOOK AT THAT GORGEOUS COVER.

One of the best things about Walther's writing is how atmospheric it was. I felt like I was at Paqua farm with Meredith. I felt like I was scheming with Mer and Wit in the Assassin game. I could see everything so clearly - could smell the salt air and coconut sunscreen, could feel the love this huge family had for each other. I think I especially loved the setting because Martha's Vineyard has been a dream trip of my mother's for decades, and she's never gotten the chance to go. This novel made me want to take her.

It's usually difficult, when you have such a large cast of characters, to really flesh them out, but the Foxes, Duprés, Witrys, and friends reminded me so much of my large family that I had to smile. More than anything, I loved Meredith; her strength, her humour, her confidence even as she grieved for her sister, even as she was constantly reminded of her loss. Were there moments she frustrated me? Of course. But it's summer. She's 18. As the title of the book suggests, rules don't apply.

Usually I'm not a fan of pop-culture references in books (they always feel like something older authors throw in to their YA books to "connect" with readers) but in this case, I loved the constant allusions to Taylor Swift (but I am a Swiftie, so that's a given).

The writing was great. Never too expositional, but detailed enough that, as I've mentioned, I felt like i was there with Meredith. This kind of book is my perfect happy medium - Young Adult but just edging into New Adult territory. Campy, but in the best way. Elevated teen romance. Babies! Summer! Wedding! Assassin game! Family! Good food! Honestly, even writing this review, I'm getting a little jealous of Meredith (except for, you know, the life-altering loss and crippling grief).

4.5 stars rounded down, and only because of some very specific things that made me go "huh" that I won't bother mentioning because I don't want to spoil anything! BRB, gotta go find me a Wit.


(Review has already been posted on Goodreads and TheStoryGraph, as we are less than a month away from the publication date! Congrats!)

This book was really good! It was the perfect tale of family and loss, of love and heartbreak. Although I've shelved this as a romance, the romance wasn't actually my favorite thing about this.

My favorite thing was definitely the game of Assassin! I don't think I've ever played it, but not I want to, this book made it seem like so much fun. Between the plotting, scheming, and preparing, there was never a dull moment. It added drama without it seeming unnecessary, which I loved.

I also really loved the relationship between Wit and Meredith. It was sweet, and the instalove between them didn't bother me too much. I love how it didn't get bogged down with angst and drama, it was sweet.

Although I'm not sure if I'll reread this one, I really enjoyed it! It was a cute summer read, and one I'd totally recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and K.L. Walther for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

OMGGGG! I have been recommend to read this book by all of my friends and it did not disappoint! Highly recommend for a cute summer beach read

This book was so cute! I have never read a YA book like it. Meredith and her family travel to Martha’s Vineyard for the week to attend her cousin’s wedding. At the start of the week, her cousin, Sarah, announces they will be having a game of assassin in honor of Meredith’s sister, Claire, who has recently passed away. Meredith forms an alliance with a groomsmen, Wit, to try and help her honor Claire’s memory and win the game. They quickly realize they are more than just allies, and I loved the relationship that they formed.

The Summer of Broken Rules was very lighthearted and fun with the game of assassin and family dynamic, but also really emotional as Meredith is dealing with grief from the death of her sister. I loved the Martha’s Vineyard setting and the wedding plot. There were even a few plot twists in the book that kept me from putting it down. This is a great, easy read summer romance.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Okay so we’re all going to buy water guns & play an epic week long game of Assassin on the Vineyard this summer, right? The Summed of Broken Rules was just SO FUN & SO SWEET! The perfect feel good read. Spanning a week (& then a one year later epilogue), this book takes readers on a delightful summer vacation journey of a weeklong wedding celebration with family themes of love, loss, healing, and of course mischief. I loved how, while there’s a focus on the 18 year old MC, you still learn about this multigenerational family, their friends, & the wedding guests. Plus the love interest is adorably awkward. Slightly coming of age, definitely learning to live again, this is a YA contemporary romance you won’t want to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley & SourceFire Books for this ARC!

This was SO fun and cute, I really enjoyed it!

I devoured this one.
I loved all the summer vibes, the setting and romance but my favourite aspect was definitely the game of assassin! It had me chucking so much.

I loved the chemistry between the main characters and following Meredith dealing with grief and questioning decisions related to her future.

Overall a fun, sweet romance that’s perfect to read in summer!

What a great summer read! I read this book on my way back from a trip to the ocean and it helped me keep that vacation vibe going all the way home. It reminded me of a Sarah Dessen book (a very high compliment) in that it was a beach town book that dealt with tough subjects that teens may go through with a lot of heart. The main character and her community go through a journey with grieving a loved one that feels real and it definitely made me tear up a few times. I would definitely recommend this book to any teens in your life (and any adults too)!

Love loved loved it! So inventive and unique! There were also a couple plot twists that I was not expecting and actually surprised the reader. Loved how the book was around the game of Assassin. I wanted to play the game with my family after I finished this book. Very cute and heartbreaking too. This book put you on a emotional roller coaster that lead to a happy ending. At times I got confused because there were so many characters in this book I forgot who was who. I would definitely recommend this book. 10/10.

What is the perfect book to get you into the summer mindset?

Look no further. This book is simply amazing. This is the perfect coming-of-age story that captures truthfully what it’s like to both grieve and celebrate a lost loved one. Though this book showcases the stages of grief in a way that doesn’t consume the whole story. It’s done in a way that’s authentic to the grieving process where life will continue and it’s how you deal with the daily struggles and emotions. There’s ways to find happiness, there are days that are harder than most, the anger still can be consuming, but overall the memories and love will forever be in your heart.

There’s something about this book that made it hard to put down. There was just enough mystery to keep you guessing on how the story would unfold, enough romance that had you excited for any interaction between them, and enough family fun there you were excited to see who was assassinated next. It was the perfect mixture of playful and heartfelt with great chemistry with all the characters. The writing style flows nicely, filled with vivid imagery and a wide range of emotions and situations that made this more than a YA fiction book.

I adored these words on the pages, characters that felt like extensions of myself, everything. This book is so well written that it captivated you without you realizing it. It’s the type of book that sneaks up on you and you find yourself lost within its pages for hours and leaves you with the best kind of book hangover. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcefire Books for this ARC and the author for change to escape with Meredith and Wit.

Meredith Fox and her family have being going to Martha's Vineyard for their summer holidays for as long as she can remember. This summer, her whole family will be gathered to celebrate her cousin's wedding. But tragedy has struck Meredith's family with the death of her sister, and this will be be the first visit back without her sister and best friend at her side.

After her sister's accident, Meredith was overcome with grief and cut herself off from her friends and threw herself into school and her boyfriend. But now she is single and has to face the consequences of cutting off contact with the friends she has known her whole life.

The one bright spot is the groom's stepbrother, Wit. After an unfortunate first encounter, he and Meredith strike up a relationship that seems written in the stars. But what will happen after the wedding and everyone returns to their real lives? Wit is taking. year off College and plans to travel the other side of the world. Meredith has chosen to attend College close to home, as she feels the need to stay close to what remains of her family. Is this just a week-long fling or can they build a future together.

Meredith's grief at losing her sister is profound and has dominated her life for the last 12 months. But as she returns to Martha's Vineyard and is surrounded by family and friends, she starts to realise that her life needs to go on - that she needs to thrive, not just survive. And to do that, she needs to make amends and rebuild the friendships she has neglected, and find ways to forge her own path in life, whilst still acknowledging her sister's influence.

This is an endearing story about grief, surviving tragedy, the importance of friendship and family, and having the courage to move on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with a copy to read and review.

Harlequin Junkie Top Pick!

This book took me on an emotional journey, this was definitely not your run of the mill romance novel. This was a multi-layered journey to finding happiness again after losing someone important. It was nice to see the way Walther worked in Claire’s character even after her death, I loved that in a way she was still looking out for Meredith, almost even giving her a push towards happiness.

This was the type book that should definitely be turned into a movie, the entire description of The Farm and all the cabins was pure perfection. But it was the entire Assassins game that stole the show for me, I loved the way everyone got so invested in this game. All the mini alliances that were formed and all the secrecy and plotting was just brilliant! This was such a unique addition to the story that truly made this a memorable read. It also acted as the agent that brought Meredith and Wit together, I loved watching them start as co-conspirator and transition into more. In terms of romance this was a pretty slow burn but really cute at the end.

The Summer Of Broken Rules is an easy and entertaining read of two people trying to find their happily ever after with a little help from fate and a loving big sister. This slow burn romance will have you shedding a tear or two only to have you laughing the next moment at the silly game antics, this is a definite must read!

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book.
Summer of Broken Rules is a story about a large (and extensive!) family gathering to celebrate a wedding at the family farm that had been host to many a family get together over the years. Really though, this is the story of Meredith and Wit. Meredith has recently been dumped. She’s grieving the loss of her sister who was also her best friend. There are so many memories, so much history, tied up in this place, this family farm, and Meredith isn’t sure she can handle it but is trying to put a brave face on for the family and especially the bride. Enter, Wit, step brother of the groom. Their connection was instantaneous , deep, thrilling. It brings Meredith back to life but like all things in life, there’s a hiccup that may derail them and the true love connection they’ve formed.
This book is like a warm hug, a best friends laugh, and a great piece of chocolate after a difficult day. I highly recommend it! It was delightful.

Whose in for a game of Assassin now? I really enjoyed this book, particularly the family traditions, a family reunion of sorts - thanks to an upcoming wedding. A week get away with your family (that you like) full of laughter, good food and good company.

Meredith and Wit had a cute romance and I was all for it. Their relationship was natural and Meredith was simply relatable. A perfect YA romance story that progressed nicely and wasn't overly dramatic. I was able to read this one in one day and was captivated by the setting.

This was my first K. L. Walther book and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Summer romance, complicated grief, Assassin? A recipe for a thoughtful but fast-paced YA romance with an idyllic setting, two great leads, and some fun cameos from Walther's first book. I wish she'd spent a little more time on some of the relationships between Meredith and the truly enormous cast of friends and family, but I enjoyed this a lot. For fans of Sarah Dessen and Emma Mills.

This is a cute summer romance that had me giggling and tearing up at times. Curse you cartoonish covers that hide all the trauma within! But all deception aside, I loved Meredith and Wit as well as their escapades in Martha's Vineyard. This book has me hankering for seafood and a game of Assassin with friends. Perfect for a read on the beach.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks FIRE for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Oh, I just adored this book so much! There was so much to love about this book, I was sad when it was over! A sweet, YA, coming of age novel about one summer than can change everything. Meredith lost her older sister, was dumped by her long-time high school boyfriend, and now is dateless for her cousin’s wedding. There is so much I enjoyed about this novel—from the main characters, Meredith and Whit, to all the hilarious family members and wedding party, the sweet relationships formed, and the dreamy Martha’s Vineyard backdrop. While this was definitely a YA novel, I would say it was still very enjoyable for readers of any age. This novel discusses loss, and how to move forward after losing someone you love. It was also light-hearted and a cute, fun, summer read!
Rating: 4.5

Sometimes a book comes around and it just sweeps you off your feet. The Summer of Broken Rules was definitely that for me! It’s not easy for a story to be fun as well as moving, but somehow this one struck the perfect balance and just made it an incredibly engaging read.

You meet Meredith and you can easily relate to her. I think anyone who has ever lost someone close to them understands the way you yourself get lost in your grief. Every corner you turn, you see that person and remember how things used to be, but can’t be anymore. The Summer of Broken Rules managed to make this story a beautiful exploration of grief, while also the journey of reimerging from that cloudy haze that comes with loss, without ever feeling too heavy. I may have shed a tear or two, but I laughed and smiled even more.

From the get go, I was just in love with the setting. I haven’t been on a vacation in forever and definitely have never been to Martha’s Vineyard (it feels like a rich people destination in my head and I cannot explain why?), but I could almost feel the sun on my face, smell the ocean breeze and couldn’t shake that odd feeling when you just know it’s unavoidable to get sand everywhere. Add to that a huge group of relatives and friends, where you sometimes lose track of just how you are related, but you know you are family either way because of the shared bonds and you have captured my heart. At times, I had trouble following the who’s who, but never when it came to the important players.

When it comes to the love story, I thought it was interesting how easily I was swayed by Wit. Many times, I have complained about insta-love and insta-lust, but somehow the connection between Meredith and Wit just felt natural. You basically just follow them through the course of a week, but every interaction felt authentic and made me root for them rather than roll my eyes at their quick attachment.
I’d also like to praise that there was a discussion, albeit brief, about how Meredith tends to latch on to her love interests and detach from her friends as a coping mechanism for her grief. Having scenes with that as a context puts them in a different light and, in this instance, makes them work all the better. With the characters being aware of how fast things are developing and even questioning their behavior, I thought it was refreshing. In the end, it didn’t change how I felt about them though and I was happy to see them grow together through the hurdles they had to overcome.

I can’t say I’ve ever been as competitive or invested in a game as the entire extended Fox family is when it comes to “Assassin”, but what a treat it was to follow them for a week. As serious as they take it, it also created some hilariously brilliant moments and I understand how it became a tradition for them. It’s almost something you’d want to revisit yourself every year to see how everyone was doing, which was why I was so grateful for a little epilogue from the future!

As a final note, this was my first time reading a book by K.L. Walther, but I heard that there are lovely little easter eggs to her previous novel “If We Were Us”. I adore when authors put in those tiny references for readers and it has me very tempted to check out her debut novel.

Fazit: 4/5 stars! Fun and moving – a great summer read!

This is the loveliest, most perfect summer read. I cannot emphasize that enough.

Lazy summer days, the smell of sunscreen and ocean, shiny skin drenched in sunscreen and ocean water, sticky fingers from the ice cream and pie and donuts. Shorts and flip flops, family and a wedding, but also the ache of loss.

A love that completely catches those involved off guard, but it’s effortless and warm and sunny and sweet. It’s so right and hazy and fun.

I loved this one. It’s everything I want to read on Spring or Summer day.

For me, this was as pretty close to perfect as a YA romance could be. Set in Martha's Vineyard, on a family plot of land filled with with different structures and room for many different friends and family, this story is focused on new graduate Meredith, who has returned to her family compound for the wedding of her older cousin, Sarah. Meredith's love of the spot and her family memories run strong as she is back with her parents after missing a summer due to the sudden death of her sister, Claire. Meredith is still moving through the grieving process and the author does a really good job in the way she explores the pain Meredith is still facing. Added to her emotional struggle, her longterm boyfriend has recently broken up with her and she is still trying to find her footing again. Meeting Wit, step-brother of the groom, helps Meredith start to see the world in a different light. And did I mention that the entire wedding week involves a giant game of Assassin? This adds a whole new element of tension to the week and encourages forming alliances, plotting and deception. The relationship between Meredith and Wit is developed in a realistic manner and it grows in a setting filled with magic and love. There are a lot of family members to keep track of but it isn't difficult. I really liked the way the author found a way to introduce the characters and their relationships. I will definitely be recommending this YA romance to my students and I look forward to more by this author. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.