Recently-divorced Laurel thought her daughters were doing fairly well until her oldest’s teacher reports man-hating comments and suggests a positive male role model would be beneficial. Paris’s marriage imploded ten years earlier because of her then-uncontrolled temper. She’s done a lot of work since, but she’s never quite gotten over Jacob - and now he’s back, widowed with an eight-year-old son. Paris and Laurel are the only members of their book club willing to meet over the summer, and at the book shop’s wine bar they meet Cassie, who impelled by siblings worried she lives her life for them, has traveled across the country to see the land she’s inherited. With each other’s support, will the women be face their fears and risk stepping into their futures?

Mallery hooked me when Paris and Laurel dress strawberries as singers. I like learning about the businesses the three women run or work at and the nostalgia of actual 1980s romance novels they read. Their journeys to find their way through fears are universal. Sympathetic, relatable characters and well-drawn friendships, and humor make for a warm, feel good read. This satisfying story is sure to fly off the shelves. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was given an early copy of this book in return for a review.

Another excellent read from Susan Mallery. This time we begin with long time best friends Laurel and Paris. Both are divorced ladies and running businesses on their own. Laurel is raising 2 daughters. Enter Cassie. She is welcomed in by both the ladies and becomes a part of both of their lives. The ladies all become friends in a variety of ways including the summer book club meetings. But wait, we have to have romance too right? There's plenty of that for each of these ladies and the gentlemen even join in on a book group read and discussion by the end of the book!

I enjoyed watching the friendship between Cassie and the other ladies (Laurel and Paris) develop and watching Cassie become more independent throughout. I also enjoyed the slow build up of the romances of each of the couples and how the whole group became friends. Definitely worth a read!

"The Summer Book Club" offers a good summer read with a focus on three women navigating life's challenges through their book club. The realistic stories about love, divorce, and self-discovery add depth to the narrative. While the initial angst was a bit off-putting, the growth of the three women throughout the book was enjoyable. Despite occasional dull moments and the length of the story, it serves as a light and engaging beach read. The friendship and romance aspect shines as the plot follows Laurel and Paris, best friends, who welcome Cassie into their book club during the summer months. Through ups and downs, their camaraderie and humor keep the story compelling. Overall, it's a nice, fast-paced read, perfect for fans of summer romances and chick lit.

This is a read all night book. Don't pick it up until you are prepared not to put it down. The character s were loveable and down to earth. I really enjoyed how the book focused on 3romances and families . thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

A truly heart-warming and satisfying read. This is a book that I thoroughly loved reading and this author’s engaging prose will definitely make me come back for more.

A summer read about three friends and their book club. What could be better?! Susan Mallery always nails a good summer read!

This upbeat piece of women’s fiction starts with Laurel (one of the three main female characters in the book) getting called into school because her daughter has been telling the school that all men are terrible. Laurel realizes that her daughter has, in fact, not a single good male role model in her life so she sets out to make a male friend in order to show her daughter that some men are actually not terrible! Female lead #2 is Laurel’s best friend Paris whose husband left her ten years ago due to her uncontrollable rage. With years of therapy and learning anger management technique, Paris still worries she could flip out at any moment. Lastly, fem-hero #3 is Cassie — kicked out of the family home in Bar Harbor and told to get herself a life. It’s no surprise that by the end of the novel, everyone is doing great — that’s why we read these books!

Here is why I continue to read Susan Mallery novels, as opposed to many of the other women’s fiction selections. Yes, I have to suspend a lot of disbelief because in real life they just don’t make men like the ones these three manage to snag (except for my husband, of course!), but reading a Mallery book is kind of like reading an entertaining how-to manual for parenting and other relationships (including with yourself). Great advice, articulately doled out, and without having to resort to stupidity and game playing.

A couple of funny bits — the three women have a summer book club focused on Romance novels and the three men join in for one, pretty hysterical, discussion. And Mallery manages to make a thrift store shopping experience actually exciting to me (and trust me when I tell you that I dislike shopping for *anything* that doesn’t come with turning pages).

You just can't go wrong with Susan Mallery. This book is appropriate year round, no matter what the title suggests! I enjoyed "flawed" characters getting out of their comfort zones and trying new things. It was inspiring! A great read and I look forward to more from this community!

We all have baggage from our past that we wish we could check to another destination. Sometimes it takes a different set of hands to point you in the direction of the airport. And sometimes it takes a friend or two to show you that once you do that you can move on and learn to live without all the guilt and sorrow that was packed in it. This, essentially, is the story of Laurel, Paris, and Cassie, each woman struggling with issues from their younger years and searching for that ultimate happiness in life. Together they learn to lean on each other to find the answers to their life questions. Susan Mallery does a fantastic job of weaving regrets with acceptance and forgiveness to show us how this is done. Well done!

The Summer Book Club is a fun read. The book follows three women who are part of a book club as navigate life. It's about friendship between three women that highlight love, divorce and self discovery. An easy to suggest title that is a good escape read.

Laurel and Paris have been lifelong friends. They both are divorced and have issues that they are dealing with including divorce and anger management. When they meet Cassie, they befriend her and the three women help each other to face their realities and move forward. They invite her to join their Summer Book Club, but the book club is really a very minor element of this novel. Most of the time is spent with the women working hard and caring for each other. Additionally they are all bringing men into their lives and dealing with how their pasts influences these relationships. Paris seems to have the most issues due to her prior anger issues caused by an abusive childhood. Although she has worked through the anger issues, she still doesn't trust herself to be in a relationship. I think her story provides a good lesson for people who have had abuse in their past. It is important to get professional help to break the cycle and not bring the anger into new relationships. Once again, Susan Mallery does not disappoint her readers. (FYI There are no explicit sexual scenes.)

Two long-time friends welcome a new-comer into their summer book club, as the three women navigate relationships family and friends.

Loved the lessons of moving forward. Dealing with your parents nner self…. Being able to get help and proving you can do anything

I love a good romance, and this one was wonderful! It had witty banter, and lovable characters. I was rooting for them the whole way through!

When Cassie's family forces her to leave home to "find" herself, she's devastated. Moving to California to learn about the inheritance her uncle left her, she begins to find her way in the world, meeting 2 women who become her best friends when she joins their summer book club that reads romance novels from the 1980s. All of them have commitment issues and have a hard time allowing new men into their lives but together they each navigate the road to having healthy relationships, gain trust, and open up. A perfect summer read.

Three friends—Laurel, Paris and Cassie must each find the courage to admit and move beyond past relationship mistakes before they can find happiness.

As usual Susan Mallery adds depth to the story with fun details. This time we get interesting details of running an eBay store, archeological digs and cave paintings, and promoting a local food stand on social media. We’re also treated to some classic romance titles like “A Knight in Shining Armor” by Jude Deveraux. But the meat of the story is how the three women learn and grow. Discussion questions add the final touch.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Susan Mallery is one of my favorite, go-to author for romance novels. "The Summer Book Club" is a fantastic. book.

Three women at different ages and stages of their lives, each facing unique challenges, come together and find genuine romance and career fulfillment -- it's a very satisfying read about a wonderful group of appealing characters. The Book Club theme seems a tiny bit forced, as it doesn't have that much to do with the characters or the plot, but it doesn't truly matter or take away from a great reading experience. Any reader who likes Susan Mallery, will enjoy her newest title, as will fans of writers like Kristin Higgans, Sarah Morgan, Mary Alice Monroe, and Elin Hilderbrand.

Such a delightful summer read. Page turner. Would highly recommend when it come out to stores. If I could rate it more I would lol

A wonderful story about life, love and friendship. Lauren and Paris are life long friends, Cassie is a newcomer in town who rents Laurens newly remodeled rental unit. The three women become close to each other during their Summer book club.
I enjoyed their relationship with each other and their closeness to Laurens 2 young daughters. All of them meet or reconnect with wonderful men and all of them fear making a commitment.
How they handle it and support each other is the best part of the story.
I loved it.