I didn't see the spark between the main protagonists, sadly, which then made it hard for me to root for them throughout. The whole thing about Susie being put down by the townsfolk felt very off and threw some shade at this tale, I'm afraid to say for me, and how Susie and Dean got roped to be together... Something felt too forced throughout, and I thus didn't really settle into the tale organically at any point, unfortunately.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

A heart warming story of dreams and a friendship torn apart by an unfortunate accident. An artist’s dreams are within reach when she secures a coveted internship but financial considerations and family obligations keep her from attaining them until her old friend reemerges and kindles their romance. But only after he deals with his feelings of despair.

Loved this so much, a delight to read, thoroughly recommend this and other books by the author, perfect escapism

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book

This was a really lovely gut-wrenching but heart-warming story between two people, I thoroughly enjoyed.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading and enjoy

A lovely story of two people trying to move on years after a tragic accident. I loved both of the main characters and the slow burner of them reconnecting and moving on. Heartwarming feelgood book

After landing her dream job in London, Susie is unable to afford accommodation. Therefore staying with her old friend Dean seems to be her only option. Since a tragic accident years ago Susie and Dean have had little contact, are they able to reconnect and rekindle their friendship.

A sweet easy read.

A Summer of Dreams by Tanya Jean Russell is a romatic story about two people living apart. Susie Lucas lived in a small town among gossip and suspicious glares due to her father's sins. On the other hand, is her best friend, Dean Parker. There was one night that complicated their relationship and left them thrown apart. After years, Susie is getting the opportunity to move her carrier and become an artist. Does Dean help her to move to London and make her dreams come true? Does that summer change the differences that grow up between them?

Honestly, the story reminds me that people do not talk with each other, hiding real reasons, ourselves, and feelings in fear of embarrassing themselves. The action slowly builds up the whole picture, discarding the secrets and characters feeling, introducing complicated situations. I think the real human nature can be seen on these pages, how fear of rejection can paralyse our life. How to fight with the past demons?

Interesting plot, lovely characters, a narrative which almost knows everything - almost! An easy and charming read for an upcoming holiday. I recommend this heartwarming novel.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sapere Books, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an honest review provided in exchange for an arc provided by netgalley.
This book was a refreshing change, for once it wasn’t the girl who was plagued with self doubt and fear and it was great.
Susie is a struggling art student who’s gone to uni as a mature student, she’s emotionally and financially supporting her mum.
Dean is a tech wizard living the London life, they have been friends for years and when Susie gets a placement alongside a renowned artist her only problem is it being in London where she has to leave her mum and live away from home.
Dean steps up and offers her his spare room.
Their history is dark and deep and they have lots of unspoken issues that are simply bubbling to the surface.

Really fab book.

I am sad to announce that I did not enjoy this very much. Russell’s debut book “ An imperfect Christmas” was a four star read for me and I was very excited to receive an arc of this book. But the characters were not very interesting and I thought that they got over problems way too fast.

Thankyou #Netgalley for an arc of this book.
This was the first book i’ve read by Tanya Jean Russell. And certainly won’t be my last.
Susie lands herself a dream job in London, but needs somewhere to stay..Her only option seems to be her old friend Dean.
With a shared past, can Susie and Dean find a way to reconnect?
A very English, summer romance. Beautifully written, with warmth and some very likeable characters.
Thoroughly recommended.

Enjoyed this book was a quick lovely romantic read that sees Susie and Dean reconnect after 7 years because of a tragic accident that happened in the past, loved the storyline and the characters were good

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a nice feel good sort of read, nice characters and a really nice storyline. I liked it.

Susie has an opportunity to leave behind the community that constantly judges her and take up an art placement in London. the problem is that to do this she has to stay with Dean. he used to be her best friend and then abandoned her when she needed him the most.
Will their time in London together be a chance for them to both move on from what happened in the past and become friends again?
A great read, wuite emotional at times.

This is a definite holiday read - curl up snd enjoy the story of Susie snd Dean

Susie’s dad left Susie and her mum to deal with something he did wrong. Susie is trying to hold down two jobs to keep a roof over the heads of her snd her mother. She is offered the opportunity of progressing with her art but can’t afford to live in London to take up her place.

Susie snd Dean had a deep friendship which came to an abrupt end. However, the only way Susie can take up her placement is to take up Deans offer of his spare room. They both tip toe around each other not wanting to bring up the past.

This is an enjoyable read and well worth four stars

A secret dream, two lonely souls, and a life-changing summer…

Having been abandoned by her father as a teenager, Susie Lucas has learned to rely on herself. Holding down two jobs while studying for an art degree, she secretly dreams of becoming a professional artist.

When she lands a prestigious summer placement in London with a famous artist, it seems that the dream is within her reach.

Unable to afford accommodation, Susie is forced to stay with her old friend Dean Parker for the summer. Though they were once close, Dean has avoided her since a shared trauma cast a shadow over their friendship.

As the summer wears on, Susie realises that the only way to progress with her art — and heal the rift between her and Dean — is to let her guard down and open her heart.

But there are old wounds she’s unwilling to probe, and feelings she isn’t ready to face.

And as she and Dean begin to tentatively reconnect, it seems that Susie is in danger of losing her hard-won control…

Can Susie and Dean face their demons? Will they be able to rekindle their friendship?

And is this the summer when Susie’s dreams come true…?
A quick and easy read perfect for a day at the beach or around the pool

I enjoyed this quick read. We follow Susie and Dean as they begin to redevelop their friendship many years after an accident ended it abruptly. I liked both characters and both the development and the romance.

This book is not my usual story. There isn't any omg action or secrets to excite the reader. This book is perfect friends to lover romance set in London and the countryside of England. The author did a great job keeping the story relevant to the location, even including tourist icons in the read. She also had many phrases and dialogues that indicated their location, things like pubs and flats. The small town and summer nostalgia that she included we're definitely relatable and enjoyed in the story. This story is riddled with complications both as they work past memories, accidents, and bad decisions to embrace their future. Susie is an artist who is overworked and always caring for everyone else ahead of her own needs. She is damaged by history, spends the book trying to prove to everyone she is not the same as the history that changed her life. Dean is a successful computer programmer who is still working through his past and overcoming his own fears. He seems like a regular put-together person, except no relationship, has ever worked out, and he hasn't forgiven himself for past decisions and consequences.
Together they find happiness, but can they forgive each other and move past their history. This book was definitely a new adult fiction; it didn't contain any content to be warned about. However, it did end with a happy ending and a lot of learning for both the characters and the reader. The book has some outstanding life lessons interwoven in the story. If you love a sweet romance with a happy ending, you will love this book.