This was my first Ali Brady book and it made me want to run to pick up a copy of their other release, because I fell madly in love with their writing style. THE COMEBACK SUMMER is the story of sisters Libby and Hannah Freedman who run their grandmother’s PR firm together now that she’s passed. They’re having trouble keeping it afloat, so when they get solicited from a big name client they have to take a chance. The twist is, the client is a self-help guru who won’t officially hire them until they complete her 12 week “Crush Your Comfort Zone” challenge.

This book totally blew me away. I was expecting a cute little summer beach read but I got so much more. I loved the relationship between the sisters and the way they learned so much about themselves from their summer challenge. I loved the self-discovery and the way they re-evaluated how they were interacting with the world around them. I loved their bravery and their love for each other and their late grandmother. I just loved everything about these women and their stories.

Both of the romance storylines in this story were amazing, but they almost seemed secondary to the self-discovery of the comfort zone challenge. I love that we got to experience Libby and Hannah’s character growth alongside their budding relationships, which felt so human and real. There was a scene about halfway through the book that unexpectedly hit me right in the feels - swipe to see photo evidence 😂

I also LOVED the Jewish representation in this book! It was super casual but so clearly an important part of these characters’ lives.

I also have to say, I loved both of the perspectives in this book and never favored one over the other, which is impressive. I truly cared so much about both women and their journeys of personal growth, self-discovery, and finding love.

Seriously y’all - this book is the perfect summer beach read. It may be long (over 400 pages!) but I zipped through it in 2 sittings!

This book is everything! I read it in one day and I am absolutely OBSESSED

Two relatable main female characters and two swoonworthy guys?! Witty banter, laughs, smiles, and tears? Y E S

Hannah and Libby are sisters that took over their legendary grandmother’s PR firm in Chicago. But business is bad and they are barely staying afloat

Until Lou, a wellness and life coach guru walks in and offers them the client of a lifetime! Only catch? Hannah and Libby must complete her 12 week challenge to break free from your comfort zone

Hannah, still unable to trust men after the devastating break up of her high school sweetheart. Libby, the romance lover but doesn’t feel she is worthy of love because of her body and low confidence

While Hannah helps Libby train for an upcoming full body challenge, Libby signs up as Hannah to set her up on the perfect dates! What could possibly go wrong when the love of Hannah’s life returns and Libby falls head over heels for a guy she meets on a dating app, as Hannah?

An absolute must read!!

Wowwwww, guys!! I absolutely loved this book!

I buddy read The Beach Trap last summer with my friend and we really enjoyed this book and this new up and coming author duo!

One year and another book later, I feel like they’ve really figured it out! This book is incredible!

I love the bond between the two sisters and the whole idea of crushing your comfort zones. Putting yourself out there and doing the hard stuff and taking the risk…it was so sweet and inspiring!

Definitely had a little spice and I was so invested I got teared up a couple times!!

So so happy with this book! I can’t wait to see what Ali Brady can do next. 🤍

Sisters! This is all about sisters, Hannah and Libby realize they need help to see their grandmother's PR business going and then find themselves doing things they never expected to do. Whether it's becoming physically fit or dating, everything is outside their comfort zones at first but then slowly, slowly they both grow as people. But the key is that they never forget that they must help one another. It's a tad trope-y in spots but the dialogue sparkles and the story pops along. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This will be perfect for travel, the beach, or just hanging out.

After falling in love with The Beach Trap last year, one of my most anticipated reads of the spring was The Comeback Summer!

I really enjoyed this book about two sisters in Chicago trying to keep their grandmother's legacy alive by continuing her PR firm as they are struggling. A dream new client has them complete a 12 week "Crush Your Comfort Zone" program which has them going on 12 first dates and completing an obstacle run to push them. Will they be able to achieve their goals and keep the business going?

They perfectly capture the sister relationship and I liked both Hannah & Libby and how they grew by pushing their comfort zone. I didn't love everything with the Adam/Libby storyline but Adam will be a bookstagram book boyfriend love this summer, he's such a great character!

Definitely check out this wonderful book, it is a perfect beach book! I can't wait to read their 2024 book about summer camp!

This book touched on many relatable situations that left me with a book hangover! I finished it a couple of weeks ago and I'm still thinking about it. The relationship between sisters Libby and Hannah seems to be typical of many sisters who are close; they tell each other secrets as well as keep things from them. They're best friends one moment and arguing the next. The central focus in this story is about comfort levels and what each of us are capable of when we give ourselves the power to truly trust our instincts. I appreciated the way the authors wrote about flawed charachters without making them less worthy. We all have issues that may not be considered 'normal' but who sets the standard of normalcy? This was a very inclusive read and I felt so many emotions and it most definitely made me homesick for Chicago.

It's been dreary and raining here in NYC, so when I was offered the change to review The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady, I jumped at the chance to transport myself to warmer weather with a dash of romance. I was not disappointed.

The sophomore effort by co-writing duo Ali Brady tells the story of Hannah and Libby, struggling to uphold their beloved grandmother's legacy through her PR firm. When they're offered a lucrative contract that could save the firm, they eagerly jump at the chance even though it comes with a catch - they must both complete 12-week "Crush Your Comfort Zone" challenge. For Libby, that means feeling more comfortable in her body and completing a rigorous obstacle course race. For Hannah, it's getting out of her own head and going on 12 first dates.

Obviously, chaos and romance ensue. I loved that Brady made both sisters relatable. Too often in a dual narrative novel I end up skimming through one character's POV to get to the other but I was delighted by both Hannah's second chance romance (which isn't usually my cup of tea) and Libby's struggle to accept herself and get out of her own way. Each romantic subplot was engaging and charming in its own way, with neither detracting from the other. Overall, a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. Now to continue counting down the days until summer...

*This book is out 5/9. Huge thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This is a sweet summer read. I was drawn to the book by its colorful cover and a happy reading memory of Ali Brady’s last book, The Beach Trap. In The Comeback Summer we see two sisters, Hannah and Libby, conquer their fears and find love while working to save the public relations firm they inherited from their grandmother.

The sister’s company, The Freedman Group, has been losing clients and is in desperate need of new ones when Lou, a self-help author and motivational speaker, says she will consider using their company to promote her business if they agree to complete her 12-week Crush Your Comfort Zone  program. Libby must complete The Down and Dirty Race, an obstacle race course and Hannah has to go on twelve dates. I wondered how each sister would react when they were pushed to their limit.

Libby, the older sister, has always been there for her younger sister, Hannah. When their parents divorced twenty years ago, when Libby was nine and Hannah seven, their grandmother (GiGi) told Libby to look out for Hannah because their parents weren’t reliable. Libby, who is great with people, takes control of the office and tries to come up with ways to keep their business afloat. She has always been good at creative ideas like when she used to throw themed parties for her friends like the Passover is Over party where she served dip and leavened bread and the Yellow party where everything, including the food, drinks and outfits were yellow. She is plus-sized and struggles with body positivity. She doesn’t think she deserves a romantic love. She prefers to read romance books, avoids physical activity... and she is keeping a big secret from Hannah.

Hannah is beautiful, loves to run, listens to true crime podcasts, and handles the finances for the company. She is also very shy and has anxiety disorder. Joshua Jacobson, her boyfriend through high school and college, dumped her, and she became depressed. But she saw a therapist, and with Libby’s support and medication, she is managing well, but she feels uncomfortable around new people and doesn’t go out much. Now, five years later after their breakup, Josh, now back in Chicago and working at the Shedd Aquarium, calls Hannah and asks her to meet him for coffee. He shares with her that he was diagnosed in college with ADHD and how much medicine helps him. I appreciated how the characters in this book shared about their mental health struggles.

The sisters need a team of four for the Down and Dirty Race and have twelve weeks to prepare. Josh asks if he can be on their team and train with them and while Hannah agrees to this she lets him know she isn't interested in being more than friends. Hannah and Libby decide that outgoing Libby will download a dating app with Hannah’s pictures and profile and do the swiping and chatting, and choose dates for Hannah while Hannah will set up a training schedule for Libby and do it with her. The scenes with Hannah’s dates are funny like when one date gets upset at her for being too competitive when she beats him at pickleball. Libby starts to fall for Adam, one of the dates she found online for Hannah. Adam runs his family’s diner that serves delicious latkes and mandel bread. Jewish culture is beautifully showcased in this compassionate novel!

Both sisters struggle with their challenges and the stress that builds the closer they get to the day of the race. I found myself cheering for them as they worked to 'crush their comfort zones' and was surprised at the secrets that were revealed. The struggles felt real and the romances were wonderful and just when I thought I could see where the story was going, it turned out different than I expected. I found myself liking one of the sisters more than the other, but enjoyed both of their journeys. There are colorful secondary characters like Lou the self-help mentor and Scott their snarky office manager. One of the big themes in the book was how we all must learn to love ourselves. I recommend this book to readers who like stories with characters willing to step outside their comfort zones, sisterhood, second chance romance and found families. It's a gem!

This book has been my emotional anchor this past week. Under normal circumstances I would've inhaled in one sitting. Life and stress got in the way and I am kind of glad they did because I loved escaping into the world and lives of Hannah and Libby at the end of the day even for just a little while. Ali Brady (a sister duo who wrote the book) has a huge new fan in me! If you love stories about sisters, love and romance, family dynamics and journeys of self-discovery you will not want to miss this one!!!

Libby and Hannah are sisters of vastly different personalities with different personal challenges but one common professional one - how to save the PR company they inherited from their beloved grandmother GiGi. In comes a potential new client who could turn that around. The catch: in order for her to consider them for the job they first have to complete a 12 week "smashing their comfort zone" challenge which is at the core of this client's business!

Families are complicated. Family dynamics even more so. I love that at the heart of this story is something that is true for most of us - that we become one version of ourselves in relationship to our siblings, partners, work. I love stories which centre around characters' growth - The Comeback Summer did it in such a way that I couldn't help but cheer for both Hannah and Libby every step of the way. It was also a fun little touch that one sister is a fan of true crime podcasts and the other an avid romance reader. There was a kind of funny mention of miscommunication trope in romance novels that I feel will be really appreciated by much of bookstagram!!!

This book just worked for me on every level. It thoughtfully explored relationships between various characters, shared their inner journeys and development but also made you care even about side characters. (I loved GiGi so much and she is only TALKED about in the story and Great Scott had such a vibe!) This is one of those rare books that works both as a beach read and as a story that makes you think and feel deeply. You better believe I'll be working through those challenge prompts myself over the coming weeks!

A huge thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I fell in love with The Comeback Summer by @alibradybooks on pretty much the first page,

In The Comeback Summer, two very different, but extremely close sisters, Libby and Hannah have inherited their beloved grandmother’s PR firm, but they’re on the verge of going out of business which would not be honoring her memory. In walks, Lou, a famous self-help guru with a huge new product launch, but she won’t commit to hiring the sisters unless they go through her “Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone” program. Plus-sized, creative Libby is assigned training for a grueling physical race and socially anxious, pragmatic Hannah must go on 12 first dates. What could possibly go wrong?

This book has everything I already expect from an Ali Brady book and more. There are two great romances, and therefore two book boyfriends to choose from—I definitely had my favorite. There are great character arcs as the sisters figure out who they are and what’s really being keeping them in their comfort zones. And at the core of the book, there’s an endearing testament to the power of the sibling bond that I just loved.

The Comeback Summer also offers a realistic look at mental health and a character with ADHD that absolutely rang true to me. There’s Jewish representation. And I absolutely loved plus-sized Libby. There’s a lot more plus-sized representation in books than when I was growing up (read: there are actually some that aren’t written by Judy Blume and called Blubber), but a lot of the representation just doesn’t hit me as being true and reading it is more upsetting than gratifying. Libby’s inner monologue and growth felt very, very real to me and I was cheering for her the whole time.

Hannah and Libby need a miracle: the PR Firm they inherited from their grandmother is in major trouble. They have been losing clients left and right but the sisters can’t bear the thought of closing. Their situation seems hopeless, until they meet Lou, a self-help guru they think may have a shot at saving their business. There’s just one catch: whoever works with Lou must also complete her twelve week challenge called “Crush Your Comfort Zone”. Shy Hannah is challenged to go on twelve first dates and Libby, who avoids athletics, must participate in an obstacle course race. They try to help each other and it seems to be going well, until Libby falls for a guy she is supposed to be setting up with her sister. But they can’t give up with their family’s legacy on the line.

This was fun and much more thought-provoking than I inititally was expecting! I loved the sisters’ dynamics, how they worked together and were trying to help each other. I enjoyed the dual perspective and how some of it was explained through the sisters’ journal entries for their respective challenges. Although a bit longer than I normally read, I felt the story was worth it. Lovers of steamy rom-com’s, complicated family dynamics and challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone will enjoy this one. I can see it being a great read for summer :)

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and Ali Brady for the ARC! “The Comeback Summer” releasess May 9th.

This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I enjoyed The Beach Trap but I loved this one even more. This writing duo will definitely be on my must read list from now on!

Libby and Hannah took over their grandmother’s PR company when she passed, but it is struggling.
Lou (short for Louise not Loser), a well known self help guru, tells them she will consider hiring them, they are thrilled. But to be considered, they must complete her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program which runs twelve weeks.

This program not only has eachof them out of the comfort zone and confronting their fears, it also reveals some secrets they other didn't know and causes tension in their relationship.

I loved both Hannah and Libby! I loved how, while romance was also a theme in this book, it was a book about sisters! The growth they both experienced was amazing. And while they had some bumps in their relationship, you could always feel that love between these two.

I also loved both romances. They each found their person!

Despite being a chunky book, it didn't read like one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and Let's Talk Books Promo for my ARC and letting me be a part of this Berkley Buddy Read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

The Comeback Summer is the perfect summer read. The story follows two sisters, Hannah and Libby, as they try to save the PR agency they inherited from their beloved grandmother. A solution comes in the form of Lou, a self-help guru looking for a new PR agency. However, she tells them they must complete her 12 week “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program in order to land her as a client. Introverted Hannah is tasked with going on 12 first dates, which is complicated by the appearance of her first love. Libby is challenged with completing an obstacle course and solving the added problem of her falling for a guy she is trying to set up with her sister. Over the summer, the two sisters find out more about themselves..and each other.

I LOVED this book. Ali Brady’s last book, The Beach Trap, was one of my favorites of 2022 and this one is just as entertaining and heartwarming. Something about their writing style just fits with my brain and I never want to put their books down. I loved the two romance storylines, as well as how complicated and lovable the sisters were. I was as invested in their personal journeys as I was in their romances. This is the perfect book to read by the pool this summer. I need their next book immediately.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh man the way I LOVED this summer romance about two Jewish sisters in Chicago was unreal!! Writing duo Ali Brady have written a standout story with this book and I couldn't get enough of it!

We get two know sisters Hannah and Libby as they work to win a big client for their business. Part of this involves each of them taking on new challenges. For younger sister Hannah it means going on twelve first dates to try to get her more out of her shell but when the guy who broker her heart returns she can't help seeing if they can have a second chance at love despite her sister's strong protestations.

Libby on the other hand, is challenged with competing in an obstacle course race and for someone on the heavier side who hates any kind of exercise it's a big commitment. Libby also volunteers to help manage her sister's online dating profile and finds herself falling for one of the men she's supposed to be setting up for Hannah.

Full of heart, secrets and one of the strongest sister bonds. I loved both sister's storylines equally and the way their relationship grew over the summer as they learn how to follow their hearts in both business, life and love.

There was also great ADHD rep in the book from Libby's ex who takes medication and struggles to focus. Both women were affected by their parent's divorce and father's abandonment too which played a big role in the story.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!! If you read one book this summer definitely make it this one!

A delightful rom-com that is heavy on the sister relationships and interpersonal dynamics within families and romantic partnerships. Loved the Chicago setting and the motivational prompts and diary entries sprinkled throughout. Will read the next from this duo!

I received a gifted galley of THE COMEBACK SUMMER by Ali Brady for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THE COMEBACK SUMMER follows sisters Hannah and Libby. The pair are best friends, working together in the PR agency they inherited from their grandmother. They are working hard to make the business thrive, but it isn’t going so well. In order to land a big new client and possibly save the business, they must try out their potential customer Lou’s self-help program for themselves.

The “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program naturally puts both sisters into new waters, each tackling their own anti-comfort zone. For Hannah this means going on twelve first dates. For Libby this means training to compete in an extreme obstacle course race. Each must challenge what they know about themselves and their relationships.

I really enjoyed the authors’ first book, THE BEACH TRAP, so I was excited to pick this one up as well. Thankfully, this lived up to my hopes for it. I really enjoyed how each sister’s story was fully fleshed out with their own challenges and triumphs, while the stories still intertwined. This is definitely a bit longer of a book given that you’re almost getting two books in one, but it never felt long to me.

I think the relationships throughout this book were well done and I liked getting into the head of both main characters. A lot of things and opinions evolve and shift throughout the book. There is some miscommunication trope which tends to not be my favorite, but I will say it made sense in this story and wasn’t ever over the top for me.

This was a fun read and it will be perfect for summer reading!

“Our grandmother was the constant in our lives, the giver of advice, the purveyor of wisdom, the mentor and guide we always turned to.”

I. ABSOLUTELY. ADORED. THIS. BOOK. It was like a warm hug. It’s was a dream that you want to go on forever.

I loved all of the characters and how they got out of their comfort zone using Lou’s 12 step program.

I loved how Libby and Hannah talked about their love for their grandmother throughout the entire book. I was close with my grandmother too so that really hit home for me. This book was so relatable.

Hannah and I have running and an obsession for true crime podcasts in common…and yes I think true crime podcasts make me calmer too. Hannah could totally be my bestie. I loved the line “Libby thinks my true crime obsession is the cause of my neurotic tendencies.” Umm…so that’s a thing? 🤔🤣😂 #itsjustthewayiam

I loved how we got to dig deep into Josh. Right away I needed…CRAVED more of his story.

I loved Libby and how she got out of her for

I loved the ADHD / Anxiety / Depression Representation and how Josh used crochet to compensate. Someone near and dear to me does the same thing! I loved the #bodypositivity #vibes too.

I can’t adequately do this book justice in my glowing review. Just get the book, read it, love it. I sure did.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady
Publishing May 9, 2023

☀️ Dual POV
🌊 Second Chance Romance
☀️ Mental Health Rep
🌊 Plus Size Rep


The Comeback Summer was a fun, yet emotional, story about two sisters who are trying to save their family business. To do this, they have to complete a 12 week challenge to get out of their comfort zones.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I loved the representation of mental health and of a plus sized woman. I found the characters very relatable, and it was easy to root for them and get connected to them as I read. I was able to make connections with both sisters. I really enjoyed both characters and POVs.

I did struggle reading the first few chapters, as it was hard to differentiate from Libby and Hannah at first. However, as the story progressed it became easy to keep them separated.

I would totally recommend The Comeback Summer to anyone who is looking for a story about sisterhood and finding yourself (plus some adorable romance).

Sisters and PR partners, Libby and Hannah, have fallen into their comfort zones over the years: Libby the outgoing and protective one, Hannah the quiet and cared for one. Now into their 20s, they are challenged go step out of their normal roles in life, family, work and love.

I enjoyed getting to know libby and Hannah as sisters and friends. I liked the alternating POV as I felt I was able to connect to both women. The main focus of the story is on the sisters’ relationship with each other and within themselves. They both grew throughout the story and I enjoyed following their journey. I also enjoyed the romances each of the women had. I felt it was a little long and drawn out in a few places, but overall I really enjoyed this story about love, friendship and personal growth.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my eARC and to PRHAUDIO for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Brittany and Lauren do a phenomenal job narrating all the characters

The Comeback Summer tackles many issues in a thoughtful and gentle way.

Metal Health
Body Positivity
Anxiety
Depression

These are all heavy topics but this is not a depressing or sad book at all. With humor and cultural references spread through the book, Ali Brady has given us the perfect summer read. You will want to read this book while sipping a French 75.

I enjoyed the dual POV chapters and was glad I paired the eARC and audiobook. It was not difficult at all to distinguish between the sisters.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy, but Hannah and Libby need to do just that in order to save their family business. But is saving the business really in their best interest ?