This was such a lovely sweet story of two wounded people coming together and learning to love. Stella has sworn off men after being left at the altar two days before her wedding 2 years ago and Luke is suffering from ptsd and survivors guilt after an honorable discharge from the navy seals. What starts off as a rumor turned fake dating scheme to keep people off their backs turns into so much more. But will there pasts keep them from a happy future?

I loved Stella and Luke! I felt for both of them and the trauma they’d lived through. Although there were many times I wanted to yell at both of them to get into therapy! I’m glad that Belle didn’t magically make Luke’s ptsd disappear at the end of the book but showed he was getting help. Grief, ptsd, and survivors guilt affect so many people and since it does I appreciate when books don’t make it seem like something you just magically get over.

They’re story was sweet and there are some great secondary characters. I haven’t read Lucy and Dante’s story and they seem great but the real secondary stars are Miles (Luke’s nephew) and Tessa (Stella’s baby sister) Miles is just absolutely precious and Tessa is the most precocious old soul 10 year old who I hope one day gets her own grown up story.

Summer on Blackberry Beach by Belle Calhoune is one the most sweetest, fake-dating, summer fling read I've devoured in some time!

Stella and Luke are just divine in my opinion.
Couldn't get enough of these two.
A unique and breathtaking storyline, sensationally written with amazing characters and an authentic view of all different forms of love and how they shape us into the people we are and sometimes the people we want to be.
This book will make your heart burst with cuteness, give you cavities because of it's sweetness, and make you believe in happily ever afters.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Forever,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

✨ Summer on Blackberry Beach is the perfect way to kickstart your summer! It will have you craving the ocean breeze, warm weather and seafood. ✨

📝 Second grade teacher, Stella Marshall is ready for summer break! After getting dumped two days before her wedding, she's ready to leave behind men and town gossip. Then Luke Keegan, a retired Navy SEAL, returns home after becoming injured in Afghanistan. He's Stella's childhood crush, along with every other single woman in town. To stop everyone from interfering in their dating lives, Luke proposes for them to take on a 'SHOWMANCE' to hopefully ward off other singles and blind dates. Is this fake relationship the solution to all their problems? Or, does it lead to something more?

What I 🤍:
🌊 Coastal Maine Setting
🌲 Small Town Vibes
💕 Heartwarming Romance
🌷Fake Dating Troupe
💭 Emotional Connection over Sexual Chemistry

This book was such a sweet romance! I felt I was given a warm hug as I read it. 🤗Honestly, Hallmark should pick this book up as their next movie. 🎥 One thing I loved was how supportive the people were. Stella and Luke were kind to one another, and they also taught themselves kindness within. I think that's a valuable lesson we all need in life. I also loved all the townspeople. Even though they were meddlesome and chit-chatty, I felt it was because they care for one another in this place. They really do want the best for one another. I finished reading SOBB and wished I lived in a town like this.

There are some tough topics in this book, such as getting dumped, death of loved ones, and PTSD after returning home from war. Calhoune handled this in a way that acknowledged the struggles, but focused it more on a journey of healing. Those moments were really powerful, and heartwarming.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Steaminess: 🔥 (Kisses)

(I took off 1/2 a star because I would have loved a bit more spice, or a closed door scene.)

Someday, this will be a book I want my daughter to read on healthy communication in relationships. Thank you to Belle Calhoune, Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for a copy of this book. 🤍