I loved the premise of this book. I identified with several aspects of the women’s lives and struggles as well.
The pace was slow with lots of character development and background. I’m not sure it was all necessary, as it tended to detract from the story.
I enjoyed the setting being in Maine and being in a small town.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Summer Roommates by Holly Chamberlin in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I am a big Holly Chamberlin fan and was so excited to be approved to read the latest beach read by her. This was a great heart warming story and I was so sad to finish it. Do yourself a big favor and pick up a copy of this ASAP! :) You won't be disappointed.

Generally I like to read messy characters in any book. But this book wasn’t it in my opinion. Honestly, this book felt too messy at times and the pace was just terrible. Like something was missing something. Honestly, I shouldn’t read this book.

This was a lovely story and I basked in every page. The characters were so realistic and relatable.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The blurb on Goodreads compares Holly Chamberlin to Elin Hilderbrand, but honestly, there is no comparison. This book was probably the most boring piece of fiction I’ve ever read. I made it to about 40% before I skipped to the last chapter.
Sandra is a 74 year old widow living by herself in Yorktide, Maine. She decides to rent out 3 of the rooms in her house to perfect strangers for the summer and thus Mary, Amanda, and Patty come to live with her. Mary is a recently retired attorney, Amanda is a high school social studies teacher in a closed off relationship, and Patty is a single nearly 70 year old who behaves like she’s 7. The women are vastly different but learn to live together.
It’s hard to give a good review when you’ve skipped 60% of the book, but that should tell you more than any review could.
If you like repetition, no real plot, and complaints from 3/4 of the characters than this is the book for you. If none of that sounds good, skip this one and pick up any of Elin Hilderbrand’s books.

Summer Roommates written by Holly Chamberlin was truly a heart warming summer read. <b>A story of friendship is truly the most beautiful thing</b>. I loved this book, but my only concern was it could've been cut shorter, at times the story just dragged on and got repetitive which lost my interest. Watching a new friendship blossom is literally so heart warming and mesmerizing, it's like you grow out of touch with one friend, but then the next person comes along and y'all can make new memories. The bright beautiful cover really caught my attention, but the prospect of having summer roommates really drew me in. Summer for me has so many meanings, staying out late with friends, making new friendships along the way, sunsets, swimming, tanning, fairs, and of course cotton candy. Despite how much I loved this story, I felt like the book was too long and started repeating itself in some situations, but honestly that was the only concern I had with this book. I have never read a book by Holly Chamberlin before, but this definitely won't be my last. If you're looking for a summery book before summer ends, look no further than Summer Roommates. I can't recommend this book enough for all my girlies who have found new friends in this Goodreads community.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND KENSINGTON BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

Summer Roommates is a deeply satisfying and emotional story about a group of four older women who come together under one roof for an unforgettable summer of their lives. These women renew their self discovery, and the healing power of friendship, after this summer these women will have found a new companion in one another. A run down rambling house on the coast of Maine is the perfect place for four strangers to spend the summer together under one roof. Sandra Pennington has lived through enough winters in Maine to know how long they can be, even in April when it's almost spring, it's still muddy and chilly in Maine. The long winter months add to Sandra's loneliness, Sandra lost her husband five years ago, and her best friend is now in a care facility, so Sandra is feeling extra lonely. Sandra has children, but they are all grown, so the big house is suddenly empty. Sandra gets an idea to rent out three bedrooms and set up some sort of bed and breakfast for the summer. Sandra has all these ideas, but her daughter thinks she's being irrational and making silly decisions because Sandra's lonely.

There will be challenges, of course renting out three bedrooms to three strangers, but Sandra is determined to try and build a community of like minded women who are in need of companionship, support, and new found friendships along the way. Soon when Sandra gets the bedrooms ready to be rented out, her house guests start to arrive. In Summer Roommates we meet Sandra, Amanda, Patty, and Mary. Let's do little introductions. Sandra, is of course the owner of the rambling run down house, Amanda is a high school teacher who feels uncertain where her long term relationship will end up. Patty refuses to act and or reveal her age, but under that facade lies a deep sense of vulnerability. Mary is recently retired and ready to hang up her tough lawyer facade. These four women might not all have the same problems, but the one thing they all have in common is the need of companionship of supportive women. I absolutely adored every single one of these women, they were so adorable, some were obnoxious, but that's what made them different from each other. Despite what life threw at these women, they never gave up, they picked themselves back up and found support and new friendships in one another.

This was a sweet story with a start like the Golden Girls. 4 woman who don't know each other, live together for one summer. They are all very different and come from very different backgrounds but as the summer goes on they bond and reflect on their own lives and actions. This book explores many interesting topics - community living as you get older, generations living together in one house, what to do after retirement, and finding love later in life. It would be a great book for a book club as there are many themes to think about and discuss

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much that I acquired a physical copy so I could read it again!

This book shares a pivotal summer in four women’s lives. After Sandra loses her husband, she decides to rent out the other bedrooms in her home for the summer for people to holiday in the beach town of Yorktide. Mary, Amanda and Patty all join her for various reasons, Mary has just retired from her high pressure job, Amanda wants to evaluate her relationship away from her boyfriend, and Patty wants a holiday away from her judgemental sisters.

I loved the short chapters from their different points of view and their table discussions on a variety of different things which showed the woman’s personalities. This is a book about personal development, self love and loneliness, as well as friendship and family.

Although it was a little slow and I wanted a bit more action from the pages, that’s just my personal preference and I think others would love this for a gentle holiday read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

A cute and fun summer read about an older woman at the cross roads of her life. She decides to open a B&B and we follow her and some other characters through the course of the summer. Delightful,

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Summer Roommates bright book cover caught my eye. Like her other books, this one is also set in Maine.
We meet our FMC Sandra whom is a bit older in age. Her husband passed a few years back and her best firend is in a care home, so she's feelin ga bit lonely. She decides to turn her home into a bit of a b&b and rent out three of the rooms that way. Hoping to find some companions / like-minded people.
The other characters we meet through this are great. They add their own twists and entertainment to the story.

This genre / book isn't my normal read. I don't typically gravitate toward books featuring older / elderly main chaaracters, but this book was pretty good.
Overall a decent book.

This one was just ok for me. I liked watching the characters grow through the summer and I liked that it was about “older women” and it women in their20’s and 30’s. I loved the plot of all of them living together for the summer and the ending.I thought this book was to wordy and should have gotten to the end a lot quicker.

A book of sunshine that made me feel happy and content. Roomates and a cat make it a humorous and fun book to read.

Four strangers and a fabulous cat rooming together for the summer, what can go wrong?

It's a fun story - all four ladies come from different backgrounds and income levels and it's really interesting to see how they mesh together, helping each other and learning more about each other and themselves. Easy to follow, but a lot of viewpoints here - not your typical sunny summer book, but it was a really enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I loved the premise of this book, and have found the idea of co-living among women of a certain age intriguing, getting close to that age myself. I identified with several aspects of the women’s lives and struggles as well.

The pace is slow, with lots of character development and background. I’m not sure it was all necessary, as it tended to detract from the story. I wouldn’t let it stop me from reading future books by this author, though.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

There is a lot of introspection on the part of the main characters in this book. Each of the four women seem to be at a crossroads, whether it be retirement, dealing with widowhood, living without a permanent home, and one who is trying to determine the status of her relationship. While the women are all strangers at the beginning of the summer, they do form a bond. Overall, I found the book a bit boring as the most of the dialogue seemed to be talking points about every aspect of aging.

This was my first time reading a book by Holly Chamberlin and I really enjoyed her writing style! I enjoyed the plot of the book although it was a little slow, but unfortunately, I didn't love all the characters which was my reason for not loving the book. This book is centered around older ladies so it was not the type of book I would usually read as I typically read books focused on people close to my age but I think my mom or grandmothers could like it!

Thank you NetGally, Kensington Books, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Roommates is an inspiring lovely story about aging, agism, being stuck in your ways, the challenges women face as they grow older, companionships and of course love. The story takes the reader on a journey with four older women in their fifties up to their seventies, all strangers to each other who live in a house in Maine for the summer, most set in their ways and the challenges they endure to not only get along and understand each other, but to also begin to comprehend themselves.

Until recently, Sandra Pennington seemed to have it all. Two great children all grown up, a loving husband, terrific friends and the beauty of her coastal town in Maine. But with the death of her husband and now her best friend diagnosed with dementia and having to be put in a care facility, this past winter came with a loneliness she had never experienced.

So, Sandra decides, with the help of a realtor to open her home up for the summer to three older women for not only the comfort of having others around, but to see if perhaps she would like to continue this experiment in the future.

She goes through the applications and picks the three women.

Mary, a lawyer who has recently retired from the job she loved due to the stress of the company being sued. Although they were found not at fault, it took its toll on Mary who now just wants some down time to relax and rebuild herself to discover what she wants next in life. Never having children and not close to her only sibling due to being a workaholic, she feels the need to discover who she is now that she’s not working.

Amanda, who is a teacher decides she needs a vacation before the next school year starts. She has lived with her boyfriend Liam for eight years. They are comfortable together and both feel marriage is not an option. Although she feels independent, she does seem to rely on Liam a great deal. Liam for some reason thinks this time away would be great for her.

Patty, the oldest is the quietest yet dresses the loudest. She lives with her sister and brother-in-law as her income is inconsistent, because of fleeting jobs which has left her with hardly any money for her retirement, a fact her sisters insist on reminding her on a daily basis. This certainly was not the way she thought she would end up. All she ever wanted was to be married and have children. But she made poor choices when she was younger to needless to say, that ship has certainly sailed!

And with the cast of characters in place for the summer, as they try to cohabitate, there are some arguments, heated debates and discussions about life, friendship and even love. As the women begin to open up to each other, they also look inward. They soon bond and all try to imagine what their futures could be like. What they discover will change their lives forever.

Summer Roommates is an uplifting, wonderfully different take on aging with strong characters and unorthodox options for their futures. And why not? You are as young as you feel!

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #SummerRoommates #HollyChamberlin for the advanced copy.

Since the death of her husband five years ago, Sandra Pennington has been lonely and her large family home in Yorktide, Maine feels empty. She decides to open her home to three summer boarders and, with the help of an agent, quickly selects Mary, a newly retired lawyer and Amanda, a teacher. Patty is a last minute choice and this opportunity gives her a much needed break from living with her sister. Poor choices have caused severe financial difficulties and she sees this summer as a second chance. She’s right. This will be a second chance for all four women, a chance to learn more about themselves and to see how they can change for the better.

Summer Roommates is a slow read. The story of the women’s self discovery competes with a narrative of the many different ways people can live together in groups. This is interesting, if dry, information but it interrupts the main plot. I wish the talented Holly Chamberlin has chosen one or the other. Three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Holly Chamberlain for this ARC.

Native Mainer Sandra has been rattling around her big house since her husband died 5 years ago, and with her best friend, Emma, now in a care home for her dementia, Sandra finds herself very lonely. She decides to experiment with a type of communal living, inviting three women into her home for the summer., Although her daughter is worried and Sandra too feels some trepidation, she's also eager to give it a try.

Her three summer roommates are seemingly dissimilar: Mary, a New York attorney who recently retired and is mourning the death of one of her closest friends; Patty, who finds herself dependent on her sisters' grudging charity; and Amanda, whose live-in boyfriend seems strangely unperturbed by her decision to spend a summer away from him.

All four women find themselves on a journey of self discovery, as they learn to respectfully live with one another while discovering truths about themselves. The setting is absolutely lovely and the characters are engaging. There's a little bit too much of them sitting around having long conversations about topics--might work better for a screenplay, but it sometimes drags in a novel. But it's still a satisfying read that reminds us that women's lives do not end at a certain random age. #SummerRoommates #NetGalley