There is just some bring about Paige Toon’s writing that sucks me in. She makes me care for her characters so much. They have great depth and seem to go through journeys that read just like real life experiences. I knew early on this was gonna hurt, I just wasn’t sure how. And hurt me she did. I felt conflicting feelings reading this one. I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to happen. The journey she takes us on felt so real and filled with so much love and heartbreak. I really liked the idea of spreading the story across the summers, it felt familiar but I liked what Toon did with it. This story was beautiful and well written and makes me realize I need to read more of her books!


Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the gifted earc

Only Love Can Hurt Like This ★★★★☆

Seven Summers by Paige Toon is a contemporary romance novel that will definitely pull at the heartstrings over and over again. The story in Seven Summers is just as the title suggests one that takes place over years of time going back to the summers the characters spent with one another.

Just after school Liv had her life planned out that she would spend that summer earning money so she could then leave Cornwall and follow her life’s dream of becoming a sculptor. Liv met Finn that summer and the two were immediately drawn to one another but destined to take different paths with Finn heading to L.A. to become a musician.

Tragedy hits Liv before she can follow her dreams and from that moment she knows her life needs to be in Cornwall with her family. Finn is still set to leave so the two make a pact that each year Finn will visit and if they are both still single they will spend their summer together but if either moves on in between then it will be over between them.

Seven Summers is the first book I’ve read by author Paige Toon and I will admit I almost passed this one by and that would have been a terrible choice. Thankfully something stood out about this one and I went ahead and picked it up and boy what a emotional rollercoaster ride it was until the very end. I enjoyed not only the main characters but those around them and as the years went by I couldn’t read fast enough to know how it would all come around in the end. Definitely one I’d recommend checking out and another author to come back to someday for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

“I think about the road stretched out before me…and I realize something. Love is not enough.”

3.5 stars rounded up! This is a very emotional and super sweet story of healing after loss, how complicated love can be, and what it means to truly follow your heart.

The narrator did a fantastic job of capturing both the love and the angst within these characters. She also has a beautiful accent that is so soothing to listen to!

Although not a light summer romance, this book would be a fabulous beachy read that will grip you and, possibly, have you shedding real tears.

Thanks for the free #audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner and to Netgalley, Putnam Books, and the author for the ARC.

This is not a rom com. I always feel like i have to get that out of the way when reviewing one of Paige Toon's books

Six summers ago, Liv and Finn meet while she's working at a bar on the Cornish coastline and he was a fill-in singer for the band. Tragedy occurs and they are bound together thought it. But Finn's life is in LA and Liv's is in Cornwall. But they agree that every summer that he returns home, if they are single..they will be together. Just for the summer.

So for six summers the cycle continues, - Finn returning home, the two rekindling their relationship , and Finn inevitably breaking Liv's heart when he decides to leave again. I hated that Liv basically put her life on hold every year, hoping that one year Finn will decide to stay. She denies every guy that comes along until Tom .

This book was a rollercoaster with every single chapter. And when it went the way I thought I wanted, I couldn't help thinking in my head..but what if. I will say the many many MANY epilogues...while I can see how they were necessary and they bought the whole story full circle...

I wish it could have been done another way? But I was of course devastated but on the other hand like..how else could it have ended?

Im so sorry for the vagueness, but If i say anything it gives away the story.
My rating for this is a firm 3.75 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own,

Liv and Finn met while working at a Cornish bar. Despite living in different places (Finn in LA and Liv in Cornwall), they promised to reunite every summer if they were both single. However, this summer, Liv meets Tom, a mysterious newcomer, and they start falling for each other. For the first time, Liv envisions a life without the heartbreak of Finn's annual departure. As she learns about Tom's past, she faces an impossible choice. The story unfolds with Liv navigating her emotions, grief, and ultimately finding a new path to happiness. This heartfelt tale of love, loss, and new beginnings is a beautifully written emotional journey.

4.75⭐️ rounded up. This book kinda surprised me with how much I enjoyed it! It was a lot heavier of a hitter than I expected on the emotional front. I didn't very much like Finn and was rooting for Tom all the way (me not rooting for the rock star?? Who am I?) I think this woulda been a 5⭐️ but I found the time jumping a little disjointed.

I really enjoyed the novel, Seven Summers by Paige Toon. The character development of Liv, Finn, and Tom was exceptional. This story really tugged at my heartstrings, loving and hating the situations the characters find themselves in and the development of the relationships with each other over the course of many years. I also appreciated the multiple transitions from current time to the past. I think it helped to tell the story and made the reader pause as if looking back at a point in time. Overall, I really liked this book a lot.

Wow, wow, wow!
This book exceeded all my expectations and more. It’s a stunning love story that completely tore me apart. I was immersed in the grief and love that flowed from every page. this was an emotional rollercoaster and It’s hard to put into words just how deeply this book affected me. I feel both heartbroken and fulfilled at the same time.
Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I love when a book tears your heart out, stomps on it, and then carefully puts it back together again. The dual timeline, the pacing, the characters, the setting, the writing—everything was just so beautifully done.
This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. I plan on reading every single one of her books now.
Besties, I’m begging you—please read this book! ❤️‍🩹😭

Thank you Paige and Putnam for the earc in exchange for a honest review!

second chance
past present timeline
grief and loss
love triangle
right person wrong time
beach setting
disability rep

To have my heart broken so many years in a row would have devastated me. If the circumstances that Liv found herself in was not as it was, the constant push and pull between her and Finn would have been more devastating. She lost her parents that first year Finn left, so Liv was in a constant state of mourning every year thereafter. They were in limbo connected by that loss. They both experienced loss, which made them grow up a little faster. And then Liv meets Tom the 7th summer. She loves them both but for different reasons. Not any less or more. They both get the closure they need and the happily ever after they deserve. But all those epilogues.... after a while I got the pattern, but it felt a little rushed. Nonetheless, the story is a true love story that was realistic and relatable. I look forward to more from the author.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

This book broke me so many times. There was finally a point where I was happy and thought it was the end and my heart broke again and again still. I loved the writing, I felt deeply connected to all the characters. It felt like a true love story, the way it would happen in real life. Would love to read more of this authors writing

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Paige Toon. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Six summers ago, Lilv and Finn meet while she's working at a bar on the Cornish coastline and he was a fill-in singer for the band. Their first night together ends in tragedy and binds them forever. However, Finn's life is in LA and Liv's is in Cornwall. They make a promise that Finn will return every year. If they are both single, they will spend the summer together. This summer, Live meets Tom and begins to fall in love. Can she trust herself enough to commit to him and leave Finn in the past?

Just like Toon's previous book, Only Love Can Hurt Like This, this is not a rom-com. This is a story about grief, family ties, second chances, love. I liked how the story told us what happened all the previous summers, alternating with the present-day story of this summer. It was the perfect way to meet and really understand the characters. And I loved all these characters. To have friends like these, who are there for you and wanting only the best for you, and family that you were completely loyal to. I also really liked how the characters were passionate about their work, no matter whether it was working at the bar or sculpting. This book had me feeling so much - I'm already anxiously awaiting anything else Toon writes. This is a must read this summer!

When you look at this cover, it screams fun beach read, but prepare to have your heart strings tugged with this one. There's no lack of tragedy and deep emotion going on here.

Liv and Finn connected seven summers ago in their small coastal town. The two went to high school together, but Finn moved away after losing his mother and has returned back to visit family. The two hit it off, and Finn becomes a rock for Liv when she loses her own parents, but when Finn makes the inevitable decision to return to LA, they decide to go no contact.

So begins a series of summers - Finn returning home, the two rekindling their spark, and Finn inevitably breaking Liv when he decides to leave again. Liv puts her life on hold every year, desperate that one year Finn will finally decide to stay. She's denied every man that enters her life - until Tom comes along. A fellow artist, the two connect on a deeper level. But Tom's own secrets and Finn's return threaten to ruin that connection for her once again.

The unfortunate reality of this book (besides it NOT being the fun summer read that I wanted) was that the plot was just a bit slow. I felt like I was waiting the entire time for something big and important to happen, and I didn't get that "big" moment until the freaking epilogue.

I just wanted more from this book. There's big emotion, but I don't really feel the pain that the characters should've been feeling. I think this book was alright, but it wasn't delivering on what I wanted from it sadly.

I liked the flashbacks that we got between Liv and Finn as it helped you as the reader understand their growth as characters on page. Their romance felt like everything at once; tragic, bittersweet, and heartwarming. I loved that they were destined to be together despite the mess that seemed to stay between them.

Paige Toon's writing is lovely and this is what keeps readers engrossed in the story. Her ability to pen Liv's and Fin's feelings on page is amazing.

The pacing in Seven Summers, however, dapered much of my interest. For the majority of this book imo, the author drags much of this story, and as much as I liked the tension and emotions rolling off page from its characters. It did feel like a repetitive rollercoaster without a lot of movement. In short, much of this reading felt stagnant.

For the most part, Seven Summers has potential and if you're looking for a summer beach read that may get you in your feelings from time to time despite some bumps, then I would recommend adding this one to your reading list.

This book is not for the faint at heart. It ripped my heart apart and put it back together again so many times. This book stole a piece of my heart I don't think I'll ever get back.

I was completely hooked by the first page. I was addicted and entranced by Liv and her story. You come to love this girl and want to protect her with every fiber of your being. Her journey is heartbreaking and a punch to the gut. Her growth was amazing.

You will come to love two men in this story and find yourself switching between who you want for Liv. I teared up so many times throughout this book and had to stop reading multiple times.

This book is devastating but also ends so beautifully. You will not feel the same after reading.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! I really truly enjoyed this book! It had the perfect amount of heartbreak, romance, and longing that a great love story should have! It has elements for a love triangle but none of the drama that goes along with it. I would highly recommend if you like romance and love stories with not so perfect happily ever afters, you need to read this book! 5+ stars!

I absolutely loved Paige Toon’s Only Love Can Hurt Like This and was thrilled to be approved for the ARC of Seven Summers.

I flew through Only Love Can Hurt Like This and yet, I felt as though I just could not immerse myself in Seven Summers, until the last quarter of the book. While Seven Summers sounds like a lighthearted beach read, and there is romance, there is sadness, too.

As a sibling of someone with special needs, I enjoyed Michael’s character, especially his determination to be independent.

I recently lost a parent, so I was able to relate to Liv’s grief and how hard it can be to find joy and move on with life.

I was cheering for Liv and Finn.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

#SevenSummers

I was first introduced to Paige Toon last year when I read Only Love Can Heart Like This. Seven Summers blew me away. It is so beautifully written, I felt like I was right there with Liv and Finn. The scenery was so descriptive I could picture the town and where everything was. I enjoyed learning about Liv and Finn, I do wish there was a little more about Finn growing up. The inclusion of Liv's brother Michael was beautiful.

What would you do if you loved someone but only saw them once a year during the summer? This was beautifully written and the growth of their relationship as well as individuals was wonderful. Can a love like this last or is it just not meant to be. I wasn't sure what to think when Tom came along but that portion of the book was magical in a different way.

Are Liv and Finn meant to be together? I loved the seven summers leading up and the seven summers after. I did feel that the end was rushed and would have enjoyed more of the last seven summers.

Rating: 4.5
Anticipated Release Date: May 21, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and Paige Toon for an ARC of Seven Summers for an honest review.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago. After a fun night turns to tragedy, they are forever bonded. But life and commitments get in the way and they endure a long distance relationship until one falls in love.

This is a totally new author to me, but I can’t wait to delve into her backlog and anxiously await her next read. This beautiful, summery cover spoke to me, and the description sealed the deal. But the writing and storyline had me turning the pages, devouring the story. I loved the characters, especially the lovable Michael. I so appreciated the way the author portrayed Michael’s condition and fierce independence and Liv’s devotion to him. All characters and situations were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed seeing the characters mature and make some tough decisions. I read this with a lump in my throat and a tissue in hand. This book gave me all the feels…loss, family and always love at the center.

Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you for the advanced readers copy of Seven Summers. What drew me in was the beautiful cover and title that reminded me of Morgan Wallen. I love exploring new authors, particularly romance, because I am most open to new ideas, settings, characters.

Unfortunately, something just didn’t click for me with this one. I have been in a bit of a romance slump, so that could be contributing to it. This wasn’t bad, I really thought the FMC was cute and reminded me a bit of myself.

I just can’t do tell not show romance. You are really thrown into an instant romance with absolutely no slow burn. I think what my ultimate issue with the book was the light theme beginning & then abrupt grief loss that was not fleshed out. Also, let’s meet every summer like nov 9 (Colleen Hoover) gave me the ick.

All and all, I didn’t love but I would pick up another book by the author because the writing was good.

Seven Summers by Paige Toon is an edgy and emotional read that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Liv’s art is her passion, but she has also had several love interests. I adored her love interests and how she evolved as a sister, a friend, a colleague, an artist, and more. Art and music are woven throughout, along with so many stories. There are beautiful descriptions of Cornwall, the book’s primary setting, and I could picture the locations in my mind.

The story had a good flow in the sections telling each summer’s story, but I was often disappointed since we flipped to the present and the past in no discernible order, which sometimes took a while to wrap my head around.

There was closure and a wonderfully deserved ending, with a better-than-expected happily ever after that was a long time coming.

Seven Summers is set in a small village on the sea of Cornwall and filled with art, music, and a core group of friends. Have a cuppa or another beverage and meet some wonderful people.

The review is posted on NovelsAlive.