This book wrecked me in the best way. It was beautifully written. I will always love a unique timeline and revisiting summers was perfect for this storyline. I loved Liv and her friendships with those around her. Tom…🫶🏼 The whole vibe reminded me a bit of Adelaide which I LOVED. The pacing was perfection. I kept thinking about this book and wanting to pick it up. I was equally invested in both timelines. Sometimes you need to read a book that’s going to take you on an emotional journey and this one does it so well.

Read if you like:
▫️playlists
▫️second chances
▫️emotional love stories
▫️multi timelines

Don't be fooled by the cover and title because this book is not a light-hearted beach read. If you are looking for an emotional read, Seven Summers will be a great choice. Just as Liv is preparing to move to London and pursue her passion as a sculptor, tragedy strikes and forces her to put her life on hold. Finn is there to offer support and returns each summer, but Liv restricts their contact the rest of the year in fear of having her heart broken. The story alternates between the current summer when Tom enters the picture and each of the preceding summers. This is the first book I've read by Paige Toon, but I will be seeking out others to read as well. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

I think I initially went into this book expecting a 'beach read,' which would not be the right classification for it. As others have said, it is not a Rom-Com. It is heart-wrenching story filled with grief, drama, and finding one's self. It is a roller coaster of emotions!

All that said, I liked the premise, setting, and characters. I really enjoyed the secondary characters....at times more than the MCs (Liv's brother Michael, Liv's friends Amy and Rach, Finn's brothers). I loved the sibling relationship that Toon created on the page between Liv and Michael - their frustration but love for one another, and the author did an excellent portrayal of disability with Michael's Down Syndrome, along with his independence.

I enjoyed the multiple time lines between past and present to give insight into the relationship of Finn and Liv. However, I also found the first half of the book slow at times, giving little inklings into the development of said relationship but yet, also not giving quite enough detail into it. And due to something lacking, I didn't truly believe their relationship - found a couple weeks a year as somewhat far fetched. And then in that 7th summer, Liv meets Tom. I really liked Tom's character and how with him, Liv seemed to come even more into her own. It seemed like a mature relationship, even if fast.

I was heading towards 4/4.5 star rating on this book and then the ending happened. An ending can make it or break it for me at times, and this one, I just couldn't get behind. It wasn't even completely due to the events of the ending but more the fact that Toon added an epilogue that felt like several chapters contained to the longest epilogue I've ever read. I ended up with some whiplash with the sheer amount of info thrown into it. To be honest, I would have loved for it to have just ended......before the epilogue. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I would recommend this to others that are looking for summer romances filled with grief, drama, distance, and love of family. While this wasn't my favorite book (due to the ending), I look forward to reading more from Paige Toon.

Thank you Paige Toon and NetGalley for my copy of Seven Summers 🤍 I received this book for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.

I enjoyed this book up until the ending, I’m sad to say. I liked the jumps between past and present. I do like this authors writing style. I did not expect the plot twist. The ending did not sit right w me though.

My first book from this author was Only Love Can Hurt Like This, which I rated 5 stars. I adore that book. I recommend it often. It comes as no surprise after both of these books that this author knows how to rip her readers hearts out. I will continue to look forward to her books in the future.

Seven Summers
By Paige Toon

As I started reading this book, what came to mind was "beach read". However by the end it had become something more.

This begins as the story of Liv, her downs syndrome older brother Michael, and their physician parents. The family lives in the village of St. Agnes, Cornwell. Liv has graduated from college in Scotland and done a study in Italy in the hope of jump-starting her career as a sculptress. But in the meantime she works over the summer tourist season at Seaglass, a restaurant and bar where she know everyone and all her friends hang out. She has recently been reintroduced to Finn, who was once school mate Danny Finnegan, now living in California. Their chemistry is immediate and she finds herself falling in love.

But when tragedy strikes, Liv finds that her dreams of moving to London and someday returning to Italy are put on hold. And Finn must return to his family in California. Over the following years, Finn returns every summer, because he just can't stay away. But at the end of each visit, no matter how strong their love, Finn must go back and Liv must stay. They have vowed that, as long as they are both free, they will continue the once-yearly relationship. But what happens when one or the other finds new love? Here the plot thickens.

Life-changing decisions and choices must be made. The results bring both happiness and sorrow. This book is not just a light romance. It shows the reader that life is not always fair – but it goes on. And so must we.

This is a romance but a drama filled romance. This is the story of Liv who has had a difficult young life. She feels responsible for the happiness of others in her life and always finds herself in second place. Finn is her first love but in true love fashion, their love is not to be. Or is it? You know how an ending can totally make you love a book? That didn't happen for me. I really enjoyed the book but didn't love the ending. I guess it brings my rating down a star.

This is not a rom-com. I repeat, THIS IS NOT A ROM-COM. Okay, now that that’s clear - I was NOT PREPARED for the emotional damage from this book (I of course mean that in the best possible way). Seven Summers follows Liv through the course of…seven summers…alternating between past and present as she deals with a huge loss, her journey of grieving, and her relationships with two men. I immediately fell for musician Finn, her first love, with whom she has a series of summer romances sadly separated by long distance in between. Somehow I equally loved Tom, a mysterious new stranger who comes to town in the present day storyline. I also have to mention how great Liv’s brother was and how well the author handled the disability representation with him. If you’re the kind of reader who loves a book that will rip your heart to shreds and put it back together many, many times, please go grab this immediately. Definitely one of the most heartbreaking and hopeful romances I’ve read this year!

Read this if you like:
🐚 summer romance
🐚 alternating timelines
🐚 self discovery
🐚 dealing with grief
🐚 disability representation
🐚 emotional reads

I really enjoyed reading this book. It dealt with all aspects of life. You travel the path of a woman’s childhood, her joys and sorrows, loves, friendships, losses and family. The story is carefully crafted and yet it leaves you hanging on every word to see just what will become of her. I highly recommend this to readers and think you will enjoy it. The basis of the story is a young Cornish girl named Liv who falls in love with a musician who lives in America. She and Finn hold on to a beautiful friendship and love when he returns to her every year for the summer as long as they are both still single. It happens when she is struggling with her life without her parents and taking care of her younger brother. They love each other but their lives are on two different continents and they know it is not to be. Or is it? The story focuses on seven years of their reunions. This is the ultimate beach read. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions and the characters are loveable. She is such a gifted author and I look forward to more of her books in the future.
I wish to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group – G P Putnam and Sons Publishers for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I thought would be more of a light summer read and love triangle story, turned out to be anything but fluffy. There were so many layers of grief and trauma mixed in with Livs love story. I loved the span of the story over seven summers, and the book didn’t end where I expected it to. I enjoyed the character arcs and growth throughout. This was my first book from Toon, but won’t be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

Well that was an emotional rollercoaster, but I didn’t cry—almost did though. The book actually takes place over a few decades, skipping back and forth through time. It could be considered a love triangle but I really didn’t think it was, at least not in the typical way one thinks about it. To me it’s more of a second-chance soulmates book—love is never enough, it’s also timing. That being said, I was cheering for both of the guys, but in their own time. My favorite character was Liv’s brother Michael, he was funny and so protective of her. And I loved that she was a sculptor, I always love some art references in a book. Not a light beach read, but definitely one to read this summer.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

I am a sucker for summer romance books and this one is definitely perfect! This is not a light, fluffy read, but has depth and some tragedy.

I liked the flow of this book and the time periods covered in Seven Summers. I think the overall message of this was beautiful and moving.

I would recommend this book!

This was my first Paige Toon book but definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the way the book is set up going between summers. I struggled (in a good way) throughout the book to decide which guy to root for to win over Liv. The setting was great and made you feel the emotions of the book even more. I’m betting this will be a big hit for the summer!

Seven Summers is my second read by Paige Toon. In this book, Liv and Finn have a summer romance each summer for many years, but life doesn't allow them to be in the same place for most of the year. But, when Finn returns home to visit his grandparents, they inevitably find their way to each other. While I enjoyed the premise of this book and have read other books of similar storylines, I did not quite buy completely into Finn & Liv's relationship. It just wasn't quite there for me. But interesting storyline nonetheless, it did not end where I thought it would.

Reading this book was an emotional rollercoaster that left me both heartbroken and deeply satisfied. The unexpected twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, while the depth of the characters' struggles resonated with me profoundly.

The main character, burdened with a tragic curse and the responsibility of caring for her brother, captured my heart from the very beginning. Her resilience and determination in the face of such overwhelming adversity were inspiring. I felt her pain and her hope, and I couldn't help but root for her every step of the way.

The romance in the story was equally compelling. She falls for someone she believes is unattainable, and their fleeting moments together each summer were both beautiful and heartbreaking. The way their love was portrayed – divided and complicated, yet hopeful – added a rich layer to the narrative.

Despite the sorrow and the struggles, there was a persistent thread of hope and new possibilities that kept me turning the pages. The ending, though unexpected, brought a sense of closure and a new beginning that felt right for the characters I had come to love so much.

In short, this book took me on an emotional journey that I won't soon forget. It made me cry, it made me hope, and it made me believe in the power of love and resilience. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a story that touches the heart and stays with you long after the last page is turned.

How much heartbreak can a person experience before they are permanently shattered? In SEVEN SUMMERS, Paige Toon explores the devastating effects of grief and the healing power of love.

Liv and Finn grew up in the close knit town of Cornwall, but their love story begins when Liv returns after studying at university. Both have been touched by enormous loss. Both carry the expectations of being the family caretaker. Both have big dreams that extend beyond Cornwall. They find solace in each other which quickly grows to love, but reality has a way of interfering. They promise to reunite each summer as long as both are single and, through the years, their love and dependence on each other grows. But, so does the pain that accompanies the end of each summer reunion.

The reader accompanies Liv and Finn through the years and watches them struggle to nurture a relationship while following the individual paths they've chosen. We watch their hearts heal and break over and over again. Great love is capable of causing great pain and we begin to wonder how much these vulnerable characters can withstand.

Paige Toon deftly crafted a novel which is not afraid to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. At the conclusion of this book, my heart was tender and my tears were flowing. It is a beautiful testament to hope and healing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

i genuinely really liked this book!! it was so original and refreshing.

it follows liv for seven summers (the title is pretty self explanatory haha).
it has the love triangle trope with finn and tom but it’s actually good (and not like other love triangle books).

it’s really deep and heartbreaking which can be a bit harder to read if you’re in a slump but i really liked it because of that.

I will not be posting this review on my social media because I don’t think it is a bad book, it just is not a book for me. I should have read the description closer before requesting it because I do not like love triangles. Paige Toon reminds me of British Colleen Hoover. I am not a CoHo fan but will recommend her to my friends looking for something similar to Colleen Hoover.

I had just finished another Paige Toon book when this one came up on NetGalley and couldn't wait to grab it. Moving between the present day and the tumultuous events of the six previous summers, Seven Summers takes the reader on the emotional journey that is Liv and Finn’s relationship. There were two great love stories in the book and I couldn't choose between them. Fortunately, the author knew what I wanted better than I did. The story was beautiful, heartbreaking and unpredictable. Seven Summers is a heart wrenching story about love, loss, family, and fate. Paige Toon is going to break your heart and then put it back together with a satisfying ending. Have tissues handy when you read!

This book was amazing - I don’t know where Paige Toon has been my whole life! A perfect summer read full of heart, art and all the moods (yes, grab tissues). Liv, Finn (and Tom and Michael) are such great, soulful, deeply moving characters that I was SO invested in. Make it through the first couple summers and you’ll be hooked. Paige does such a great job time hopping between summers so I looked forward to each change (which is not something I usually like). Excuse me while I go binge the rest of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

PAIGE TOON. Good grief!! You break my heart every time. Read this.