This book was a turbulent romance story for me. There were two love stories intermingled with several sorrowful losses.
Written in the past as well as the present we are led through the Seven Summers of Liv’s life. Liv and Finn have a love for each other that can be put on hold. Each summer they come together and share that love. But at the end of the summer they part and agree to get back together next summer if they are single.
I felt that the main characters, Liv and Finn were selfish and self centered. Both were proclaiming deep love but were not willing to give to make the relationship work. And Liv’s relationship with Tom made me sad for Tom.
The book was very well written as the author created the emotional highs and low excellently for the reader. For me some parts definitely called for a kleenex break. But the ending left me sad as I felt that the story deserved more.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I thought that I would love this book but I only liked it. It was too slow for me. I found that it just never grabbed my attention fully after about 30%. I will try another by this author after reading all the reviews.

Thank you NetGalley for the change to try an new author.

Seven Summers is a highly emotional romance about impossible choices, love, and growth.

Told from the past and present, Seven Summers follows Liv and Finn as they fall for each other, but are separated at the end of each summer with a promise to spend next summer together if they’re both still single.

I enjoyed the alternating timelines with the present informing readers to guard their hearts as Liv and Finn are estranged. As much as I enjoyed the alternating timelines, I wish Toon would have spent more time in the past chapters. Liv and Finn are supposed to have an all-consuming romance that allows them to wait for each other. While I did feel their chemistry and tension, there wasn’t enough of it. Admittedly, their story is gut wrenching however it could have been devastating.

The ending was rushed. The epilogue read like Toon wanted to finish writing as quickly as possible and get Liv to a specific ending.

Spice level: fade to black

Overall, Seven Summers had the potential to be an all-consuming and devastating romance, but missed the mark by not spending enough time developing the relationship.

This is a magical read that you will not want to put down. Absolutely beautiful from beginning to end.

Alternating between present day and the past 6 summers we journey with and fall in love with a string of lovely complex characters that are so broken yet so loveable. Our MC, Liv, goes through all the things..grief, love, loss and self-discovery with her two love interests Finn & Tom, her friends and brother Michael who provides the comedic relief during heavier moments.

I was in a constant state of wanting Liv to be with Finn and then Tom and then Finn and then Tom..and the way they both come and go from her life is heartbreaking and heartwarming. They are both equally perfect for her and there for her at the right times.

The meat of the book is slower paced for you to take everything in and then speeds up in the epilogue(s) that will come together, warm your heart and have you reaching for a tissue.

I loved this book!! I really really loved it.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together. This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .

I came into this book with high hopes. I've only read one Paige Toon book, but it left me with all the feels so I was excited to see where this one took me. Unfortunately, I have some pretty mixed feelings on this one. Going back 6 summers was good in theory, but ultimately became very repetitive and eventually boring. The same things happened every time like clockwork. We kept going over her parent's death and his mom's death/disappearance. Neither of them would bend to each other which ultimately landed them in heartbreak at the end of every visit. I also didn't feel the chemistry between Finn and Liv. Like in her last book, it was so apparent they were going to end up together and the chemistry was palpable. In this one, you had to just take her word for it. The best part of the book was the epilogue which then went year by year into the future. That is when most of the action of the book took place. I was peeved that after so much book all the good stuff was stuffed into the back epilogue. It also felt very rushed. Every year got like 2-3 pages.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 5/21

3.5⭐️s rounded up. The writing was good and I felt for Liv, Tom and Finn, though Michael was by far my favorite. I thought the characters were described well and the emotions conveyed in a way that had you feeling what they were feeling. The concept of grief was well done and handled well.

I did, however, struggle with how I felt about the book as a whole with Liv and Finn’s relationship. It just felt so toxic to me, how neither of them wanted to give, but also neither of them refused to move forward or let the go. I just really disliked how the majority of their story went, so I’m still not really sure how I felt about the book as a whole.

Ultimately it was really sad - redeemed by the end of it but just sad for so many reasons. I absolutely loved Michael’s character, tho. He was so well done and perfect in the story.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

3.5 stars

This was just too slow for me. We have past chapters and current chapters, where Liv is falling in love slowly with two different people. I got to the point where I just wanted the book to speed up and have her pick somebody. Unfortunately for me, that wish was granted and the ending was too sped up!! We quickly flash multiple years into the future and that was so rushed to me. I also felt like Liv never really worked on how she dealt with her grief and if she did it was completely off page. She does move forward from her parents’ deaths but it felt like she could use a little more support.

I liked it and might recommend it, but it could use just a few tweaks.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

I adored the first Paige Toon book I read, “Only Love Can Hurt Like This” so I was thrilled when I received an ARC of “Seven Summers” from NetGalley. Whoa baby was this an emotional ride.

Liv and Finn.
Liv and Tom.
Liv and Finn.

“I want to say that I’m over Finn. I’ve had a year to move on. But in the months after he left, when I’d heard nothing about him in the press, I could t help but hope that he’d be coming back to me after all. Now that hope has been crushed.” Every summer for 7 years Liv says goodbye to Finn. They don’t talk for an entire year. If they are both still single the next summer they will be together. Every summery they find their way back to each other… until the summer that they don’t. He moved on and she is crushed, then she falls in love with another man, and he can’t let her go. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions but I honestly wanted to knock some sense into the main female character for putting her life essentially on pause waiting for this man (Finn) to come to his senses. When she finally finds a man (Tom) who chooses to stay for her and make her his home, once again he’s back... “Don’t do it Liv. You’ll end up on that godforsaken roundabout that you’ve been on for years. He’ll jump on for a bit, tear your head into shreds, and jump off again. I can’t watch you do it.” I really wanted to love it…. But it left me mentally exhausted.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This heart-wrenching romance was a journey through grief, love, loss, and self-discovery. The descriptive writing painted the world beautifully, where I really wanted to live and head to the beach with the characters! There were two love interests, but it honestly didn’t feel like a love “triangle” as both relationships were on their own separate journeys and timelines. The dual timelines kept it fresh, interesting, and suspenseful. I honestly didn’t have a strong opinion of who I wanted her to end up with, they were both so well-written, believable, and made sense in their own right, so I couldn't choose! And then she went and hit us with that epilogue – WOW is all I can say.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I am not sure that this was the right time for me to read this one. It took me a very long time to get through it - I definitely found myself struggling to get into this one.

you know that feeling you get when you read a book or watch a movie and your mind just wanders to what if, and your heart swells and you get that tingly feeling when you think of how life would be if something happened or didn’t happen? this book is that feeling. an absolute freaking work of art.

this book follows Liv in dual timelines from her early 20s to late 30s (the past seven summers) and the past chapters eventually meet up with the present chapters. It tells the beautiful story of love, loss, fate between Liv and Finn over the last 7 summers… but what happens when a new person, Tom enters Liv’s life this summer? I cannot stress enough that this is NOT a love triangle… it is so much more and so beautifully written I did indeed bawl my face off multiple times and it DESERVES this lengthy review.

Liv is so strong, my heart grew and broke and patched itself up for her for all that she went though, the ending was perfect. Finn is such a beautiful soul, but so broken through his past and I just wanted to give him the biggest hug. Tom is a gentle soul and was such a beautiful addition to the story.
My soul needed the epilogue. I will be thinking of this book for weeks and months. I love it with everything in me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book will fill you full of hope, love and so much more. Then it will break your heart but put it back together a few times. It’s worth every bit of the roller coaster of emotions you feel. I think I’ll be thinking about risk story for months to come. It’s just one that stays with you. It captivated me I love the alternating story line between the time periods and peeling back layers to understand the characters and their actions. The story follows three main characters: Liv, Finn and Tom. Liv and Finn meet while both working at the Seaglass bar- he is a lead singer in band and she is working the bar. There is instant chemistry. Then Liv experiences the worst news ever and Finn must return to LA for band and writing music. They agree on no contact and to meet back in the summer. Six summers to fall in love. In the seven summer Liv meets Tom.
This story is not your typical romance. It has so much more. Liv has the most character growth- she experiences grief, loss, heartbreak, love. She has endured a lot of pain and seems to come out stronger each time. I loved watching f her become more confident in herself.

I wish this book was part of a series. I want more of the epilogue years like the earlier seven summers. Not sure my heart can take it but I need more! Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Wow! What an amazing story! The author did an amazing job creating imperfect characters that I loved and hated at the same time. I felt like Liv and Finn were both the heroes and villains of the story at the same time. I enjoyed seeing them grow, both together and apart. This was a beautifully written story that made me feel all of the feels. I most appreciated that the story didn’t just end—I feel like the story is complete and I am not left wondering what happened. 5 stars!

𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒚: 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒐𝒏
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️5/5 🌶️2/5
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Two Epic Love Stories, Second Chance, Alternating Timelines, Disability Rep
𝗧𝗪𝘀: Grief, Death of a loved one, Mentions of Suicide and Mental Illness

This made me want to cuddle and hug my husband afterward because of all the feels and the rollercoaster of emotions that this beautiful story had put me through. 2 epic love stories told in alternating timelines that is heart wrenching, poignant and beautiful. All the emotions took a minute to settle in and i’m having trouble putting into words how this story touched me so much.

How lucky can you be to find two epic loves in your lifetime that is different but not one is greater than the other. The rawness of all the emotions were so clear that it will reel you in at the most unexpected times. The characters were so lovely. Liv’s journey through grief in separate times in her life for different reasons was so jarring! The strength it took for her to pick herself up and move forward in life especially dealing with the later griefs that she had to go through. You also have to admire his brother Michael who has Down Syndrome for his unwavering courage to find normalcy. It was so touching and absolutely commendable.

Liv and Finn’s love story is epic in vast proportions because of how their love and bond came to be. It was rough and desolate at times but significant in each of their growth.
Liv and Tom’s love story was easy and grounded. It never wavered and I want a love like that too. The realizations in the end for Liv were the moments that struck me the most because the love she got from Tom and Finn were both so profound that it overflowed.

Such a beautiful story. This is one of those that will catch your breath in its simplicity.

I was not expecting Seven Summers to be such a heart-breaking story. When I started to realize that there was a love triangle, I was unsure how I would feel about this book. I had nothing to worry about. Paige Toon did a fantastic job of setting up the characters and their situations. Liv's journey and character development was done beautifully. I liked that she found her way back to Finn as a stronger person. I thought the pacing of the story was perfect. I liked the different flashbacks over the summer. It would have been nice to have some Finn POVs. I wish we got to see more of where Finn's head was at. Although the ending felt a little rushed (a lot happens in the last 30 minutes of the book), I still enjoyed this read! Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

“𝓢𝓲𝔁 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮. 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.”

✂️ P L O T L I N E
Liv and Finn met six summers ago. They had an instant connection filled with passion and promise. When an unimaginable tragedy strikes, their bond becomes stronger than ever. When the summer is over, Finn must go back to LA while Liv needs to stay back in Cornwall. They make a promise to spend every summer together if they are both single. Everything changes the summer that Liv meets Tom.

💭 ⓂⓎ ⓉⒽⓄⓊⒼⒽⓉⓈ
You all know how much I love a book that leaves me with some good emotional damage. This book did just that in the most wonderful way. Shockingly, this is my first book by Paige Toon and I’m already completely obsessed. This book made me laugh and cry and squirm and be pissed and then cry again and then lose hope and gain hope…basically just made me feel all the freaking feels. An easy 5🌟 from me because it tore me apart and then put me back together again. I also had no idea how the story was going to end. A story about growing up, first loves, overcoming the awful tragedies that life throws your way, and finding your happiness. This book had the perfect cast of real, raw, and relatable characters. It gave me similar vibes to “Brightside” by Kim Holden and I loved every second of it. Definitely pick this one up!

📚 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
💫Summer love☀️
💫Love triangles🔺
💫Second chances💕
💫Emotional reads😢
💫Heartwarming and heartbreaking❤️‍🩹
💫Overcoming grief and trauma😔
💫Dual timelines✌🏽
💫Book playlists🎶
💫All the feels🥰

⚠️ 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: suicide mention, loss of loved ones.

🐚𝕄𝕐 ℝ𝔸𝕋𝕀ℕ𝔾🐚
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

💕Q U O T E S: “𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝐼 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒, 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒. 𝒪𝓇 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑒𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝑒, 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓉.”

"𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀, 𝓁'𝒹 𝒽𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈.”

🙏 Thank you NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Paige Toon for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. 💕

This wasn’t my favorite. I found myself getting bored throughout and Hannah wasn’t my favorite character. I still think the premise is interesting but I don’t think it was executed well.

Another amazing story from this author. Olivia - Liv - meets Finn one summer when they're both 22 years old and this book tells the story of them during the summers when Finn would visit from America. So much story is packed in this book. 4 1/2 stars.

This was an emotional rollercoaster. Paige Toon is brilliant at ripping your heart apart and putting it back together, and this was no exception. The characters are rich and full and the love triangle is brilliantly written.

Paige Toon's "Seven Summers" embarks readers on an addictive, emotional journey alongside Liv and Finn as they navigate years of intertwined lives, love, and loss. The heart of the narrative lies in Liv and Finn's annual summer reunions, each one fraught with longing, passion, and the ghosts of their shared past. Despite being a classic case of right person, wrong time, I couldn't help but root for Liv and Finn to overcome the odds and make their unconventional arrangement work.

Enter Tom, a compelling addition to the story, who brings his own challenges and complexities. While I typically shy away from love triangles, Toon handles this dynamic with finesse, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers guessing and torn between the characters.

Beyond its romantic core, "Seven Summers" delves into deeper themes of loss and resilience, adding layers of emotional depth to the story. While it may not be the light-hearted beach read some expect, its emotional complexity makes for a more fulfilling journey.

My only minor criticism lies in the ending. While the resolution in the seventh summer felt satisfying, the subsequent "epilogue summers" felt somewhat rushed in comparison. After investing in Liv, Finn, and Tom's emotional journey, I wished for a bit more closure.

Overall, "Seven Summers" is a captivating read that showcases Toon's talent for crafting compelling narratives. I highly recommend it! With "Seven Summers," Paige Toon solidifies her place as a must-read author in my book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy.