Foster took a trip down a different path with her new book Hot Mess Summer. And the trails and twists and turns keep the reader guessing what mood they will find the characters in the next page they turn. Talk about a hot mess and complicated lives . . .

If you want a perfect beach read..this book is it! Well, it really can be an anytime read. The banter and antics will keep you laughing. While I have never been married or divorced, the scenes dealing with older children hit home, sometimes our birds have to learn to fly with a dose of reality and it kills us to do so, as Nic faced with Kenzie. Those scenes made the book more real to me and added depth to the unfolding love story. Nic found her tribe and Declan found his girl. My favorite scene had to be the tree and the attic. Off to build my tribe, and find my own Declan.

3.5 stars Nicole decides she needs a change to try and get her writing mojo back, so she buys a summer house in a fishing village in Maine. There she meets lots of interesting new fiends who appreciate her, none more so than Declan. They originally start out as friends as they are both a bit of a hot mess, but things heat up between them. I loved the new friends Nic made and how she learned to lover herself and put herself first. Declan was so frustrating at times! He was such a good guy, but too nice at times. I liked that fact that they were both a little older and had experience life before meeting each other. This was a nice, sweet and hot read.

Hot Mess Summer is a different kind of book than I've read from Melissa Foster. I really enjoyed it. The two main characters, Nicole and Declan, are in their mid-thirties to forties. They certainly don't act like it. They have a meet cute at the coffee shop on the first day when Nicole moves to Chatemup. She turns around with the coffees she bought and runs into him spilling coffee on him. She's an author trying to get her writing going. She bought a cottage there by the beach for inspiration. Declan is a good guy who takes care of everyone. They start hanging out with friends there and have an attraction to each other. She's not ready to have a relationship after two divorces. They decide to have a summer fling. They both are drawn in by their families and past relationships that try to keep them apart. I like the ending even though it's not the normal romance book ending. I received an early copy from Netgalley. I'm leaving my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this Arc. I absolutely adored Declan and Nicole story. I rarely find a book with older main characters, in late 30d and 40s, that I actually enjoy. I feel sometimes they are just flat. But I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had a small town feel, add in that friend to lovers, add in some single parent as both are divorced with adult children. Now add in spark, sas and humor and you have a great story. I really enjoyed the cookie scene as well this really made me laugh esp all the years I was a Girl Scout. The kids played minor rolls but it took a minute for me to warm up to Kenzie. All in all a great read. Would love to see some of the minor characters get books as well.

Sweet, lighthearted and heartwarming. But, Nicole was Mary Calmes's Jory By Another Name...

This is very readable, and refreshingly, it's not what the blurb might make it sound like - there's none of the stroppy, spoiled daughter that I expected, just 3 friends having some summer fun and a catch-up and meeting the locals, who at one point, I, like the friends, wondered if they might be swingers!

Nicole wasn't an airhead, but, goodness did she seem to be the female version of Mary Calmes's Jory who has every person he meets falling for his looks, his magnetism, his hair, his charm, and 'turning them gay', though we didn't get the constant whining for Nicole-Jory to sleep with them, and refreshingly, this book didn't have the copious amounts of meaningless sex that I expected, more friendships turning into more. I liked both leads, but the neighbours came across as phony at times, and in the case of Claude, with issues that weren't ever fully explored, though he was part of the posse/fold. The two best friends were funnier and more refreshing and believable than Nicole, but that's perhaps because Nicole came across as a little egotistic - an author with some kind of writer's block written by an author who clearly doesn't have any kind of block. Maybe a different job would've made her more believable?

The tale ends as realistically as it winds its way, with the leads starting a relationship that suits them, with friendship at the core, not the tiresome supposed explosion of sexual heat that most 'romance' novels have, but something that felt more believable and with a solid core. I think I liked the casual, slowish pace, well away from the franticness and mess that some US-set romance novels can feature.

ARC courtesy of Montlake and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)

I have to dnf at 30%, is this an autobiography?
This read like a manuscript and I didn’t care for anyone. Nicole and her besties go to her beach house she’s bought on a whim. She’s a romance author and is having trouble plotting her new book. Every person she meets wants to know her marital status and sexual history? Her and her girl crew hang out doing beach shit with a bunch of senior citizens who give off major swinger vibes. She’s picking up dudes left right and center even though she’s not all that hot and doesn’t care. Declan; mmc pops around at these old people parties and they commiserate on how awesome it is to be single. There was just so much extra fluff conversations I didnt want to read about.

It was a hard book to get into partially because of the amount of characters being introduced—it made the start feel like it was dragging when we were meeting the friends, then the people in the coffee shop, then the daughter, then residents of the place, then the mom on FaceTime, all in the first few short chapters. It felt like we were learning a lot of unnecessary facts right at the start.
There is some fun banter, but some parts feel unrealistic—and some of Nic’s thoughts feel like they’re thrown in at the last minute (like a sudden pang of missing her father, who had never been mentioned before). The character is also just trying a little too hard to be “quirky”, with comments about how different she is for doing normal things, like putting where she met someone in their contact info on her phone.
I know this book is supposed to be based on the author’s own experience, but it just doesn’t feel realistic that every single man in the town is suddenly trying to ask out Nic.
Having said all of that - after those first one hundred pages, I feel like it got a lot better, because it focused in on Declan & Nic specifically, with cameos from other characters but without feeling like they were another character too many in an overcrowded room. It was like they finally got the balance right, and I started to really root for Declan and Nic to get together! They had so many sweet moments, and so many scenes that got my hopes up for some spice - like Declan making a few comments about her body - and then the ACTUAL spice… absolutely loved it.
I also think the POV switching was done really well, where it changed to Declan only when we actually needed to hear his thoughts. That reads a lot better than needlessly switching just to alternate chapters - I liked that this was mostly one POV but changed when necessary.
Though the beginning was harder for me to pay attention to, I was a lot more interested once I got past it. The smut was hot, too.

"Hot Mess Summer" by Melissa Foster sounds like a delightful and relatable romantic comedy that explores the joys and challenges of starting over in a picturesque New England fishing village. The book's premise introduces readers to Nicole, a romance writer and single mother, who impulsively buys a cottage in search of a fresh start.

The character of Nicole, with her writer's block and the ups and downs of motherhood, is likely to resonate with many readers who have experienced their own life transitions and challenges. Her reluctance to dive back into the dating world and her focus on finding community rather than romance add depth to her character.

Declan Miller, the charming fish peddler and Nicole's adventure buddy, seems like a compelling and down-to-earth love interest. His qualities as a divorced single dad who's not interested in relationship games add an intriguing dynamic to the story.

The book's humor and witty writing style are evident in the interactions between Nicole and Declan, as well as in Nicole's humorous self-reflection as a "hot mess." The idea of finding inspiration in unexpected places, like a budding romance, is a theme that many readers can appreciate.

Overall, "Hot Mess Summer" appears to be a heartwarming and entertaining read that combines romance, humor, and relatable life experiences. It promises to be a delightful journey of self-discovery, friendship, and perhaps even love, set against the backdrop of a charming New England village.

Almost every Melissa Foster book I have ever read has been part of her larger world/series. But this stand-alone deserves all of its own love. Nic and Declan are perfect for each other even though neither one of them is looking for the other. I laughed along with all her friends at all of the hot mess men that Nicole has to work through. Declan certainly has his own -ish to deal with. But watching them work their way around to the other is full of angst, laughter, and tears…not to mention a little jealousy of moving on a whim to the coast and living right on the beach. No spoilers here but the end is also just perfect! I absolutely enjoyed this read and wouldn’t mind sequels following up with her friends ;)

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Hot Mess Summer (Kindle Edition) by Melissa Foster
This book needs way more than 5 stars. I always enjoy Melissa's books but this one really got to me. Delcan and Nicole with all their baggage are the perfect couple. She is a twice divorced writer who buys a cottage in a New England fishing village. He is a fish peddler who is always helping other people solve problems. A cute meet over spilled coffee and the stars are aligned for fun. There is angst, guilt, self-discovery, new beginnings, laughter, tears, adventures, plenty of steam, wonderful new friends and family, and a wonderful heartfelt story that I hated to end.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read Entertaining Romantic Funny Realistic Informative Steamy Great world building Tear-jerker Happily Ever After Wonderful characters Page-turner.

This is the funny, and VERY sexy, story of Nichole and Declan and their adventures together to find happiness in life. I enjoyed the steamy romance and the way they worked through much conflict! This was a good romance!

The story is sooo good!

It is kind of slow burn and it’s not my favorite trop but turned out I didn’t feel a slow pace at all. All because things were developed in a really natural way. I think it is a “can happen in a real-life” type of story.

Both of the characters are 40+ and divorced, so for sure they have their issues and insecurities. Step by step they dig into themselves trying to realize what they really want and - the most important part - if things can work out.

I could relate to both of them while reading and it felt just right. Never had so many highlights in one book!

I enjoyed all the characters in this book. Nicole and Declan are so real, so warm 🥹

But also my heart belongs to Claude (the reason he is grumpy just amazing ❤️ iykyk ) and for sure the hot couple that still have spicy nights (hope I can be the same at their age 🤣 )

Plus extra star for mentioning book boyfriends, motherhood troubles, and That Scene from Dirty Dancing. Melissa Foster just had me at that 😆

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sweep yourself up in a delightful adventure. I loved that Nicole and Declan were mature and not the usual early twenties that we see in most stories at the moment, and that showed, as they had lives and baggage and it made them all the more real and developed. It also added to the story how Nicole could just up and move her life, buying a cottage on a whim and moving herself and taking the summer to write and have adventures with her adventure buddy and what I would give to be able to do that. There were so many amazing secondary characters in this story, they each added another layer, and just brought something else to the story, even if it was a grumpy lover of muffins, they each added another little piece of heart to the story. Melissa Foster always brings great romance to the story, and I loved how this one had some added adventure as well.

I absolutely loved this book, once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. Thank you so much for the ARC.

I loved this book! It was the perfect summer read. I loved that it wasn’t too cheesy of a romance. The characters were both relatable and likeable. Not as “hot mess” as the title would make it appear but I really enjoyed this book!

What a fantastic summer read! Not overly heavy with subject matter which is perfect for a beach read.

I loved reading a book about slightly older characters. They are in their 30's-40's and in the next stage of life - established careers, past a divorce or two, have older children, more mature/realistic mindset. It's refreshing to see characters that aren't trying to figure out how to get started in their lives, but how to now evolve and figure out how to be happy with everything they have learned so far.

All of the characters are super relatable (even the side characters). Not one seems like a caricature, but appears to be pulled straight from real life. The choices they make are realistic and never arbitrary.

I also liked the elements of blended families. It's a clear reflection of real life of how blended families move forward after divorce. Also the descriptions of the small town life makes me want to move to a coastal MA town!

I loved the comedy throughout the book, it wasn't cheesy, and I laughed out loud at parts.

3.5 stars. I liked this story! I know this author has written like 5 million books but this is my first by the author.

I like that the characters in the story are older than the typical romance I usually read. Declan's dirty talking had me all excited, whoooo boy! This was a slow(ish) burn for sure. I kept thinking with each interaction Nic & Declan would see that they were meant to fall into bed together. When they (finally) did it was pretty hot :)
Loved the coastal town/ small town vibes. LOVED the found family friendships Nic formed in her new town.

Would recommend if you love:
-older FMC & MMC
-friends to lovers
-slow burn
-found family friendships <3

When Melissa Foster takes her writing to a whole new level! As someone who loves reading everything Melissa writes, this was a big change in her style, and I enjoyed it. We meet Nicole who after going through a divorce has decided to up and live on the Cape for the summer as a change of pace. Life was crazy and she felt a change was needed to help her come to grips with all the moving pieces. What she didn’t expect was to meet someone by accident in the local coffee shop. He seemed like a really nice guy and though not looking for anything more than a friend, they both gravitated to the other one. Declan has been through enough and working as well as being there to help his ex-wife when she needed it, was his life. Until he met Nicole. As they enjoyed spending time together, it started to look to become more. But this friendship had an expiration date. Nicole would be leaving the small beach town once the summer was over.

For me it was being able to watch Nicole start to find herself. That was the reason she went to the beach town, but she did truly find her strength. She found what she was looking for in herself and that was with the help of not only Declan, but the friends that she made that were locals as well. My favorite thing about her is that she also became stronger in her self-worth and stood up for what she believed in, which included herself. Declan is carrying around the weight of the world on his back. He is trying to live for others and Nicole show shim that he is worth his own adventure. Watching the light in his eyes as he realizes that he deserves so much more was the best. This book is one of those that you want to be sitting on the beach enjoying while a bonfire surrounded by friends is close by. Maybe enjoying some blueberry muffins and a drink or two as well.

Yeah, wasn't a huge fan. Contemporary romance is something that can either be a rare hit or a total miss. This seemed to land somewhere in the middle.