My heart.

My heart was stolen by this book.

My heart was stolen, crushed, torn, shattered and thankfully, the pieces put back together again.

What an emotional ride. I have not read Paige Toon before and I can assure you this will not be my last. Her writing, the characters, the way she evokes SO MANY feelings from me, it’s everything I want in a book.

Finn and Liv are former schoolmates that meet up years later in the restaurant where Liv works. Finn is performing with the local band while their lead singer is away. They form an immediate connection and sparks fly. However, Finn lives in Los Angeles and only visits the UK every summer. Distance and circumstances will keep them apart. They only have their summers.

Finn has suffered great loss in his life and had an incredibly rough childhood. Liv has also endured a great tragedy. They learn to lean on each other and share their feelings and dreams. Finn is making a successful life in LA as a singer/songwriter and Liv continues to work at the restaurant and strengthen her career as a sculptor. Since neither will budge on the location they live, they continue to only get together in the summer. They agree that as long as they are both single, they can have that time. But circumstances change as each year goes by and it gets harder and harder for them to say goodbye.

This was such a moving book. Both characters have been through so much and their love for one another is so evident but timing and location prevents them from taking things further. There are memories, growth, and so much heartbreak but the beauty of this book is the steadfast love and support that Finn and Liv unconditionally give each other throughout the years. This was quite the journey and I was completely invested, touched and sometimes gutted by this book. But I loved every single word.

Seven Summers - 4 stars

I finished this book a few days ago and I'm still reeling from it!

Liv and Finn are classmates through their high school years, but meet again years later as young adults. Liv is an aspiring sculptor who has plans to move to London and Finn is living in Los Angeles as a front man in a band- both instantly drawn to the other while they're both in their hometown for the summer. When tragedy strikes and Liv's plans to leave instantly change, they make an agreement that Finn will come back each summer and if they're both single, they will reconnect. For years, the two put their lives on pause so that when summer rolls around, they are available for the other, until it becomes too difficult to continue a long-distance, casual relationship and they break it off. It isn't until summer #7 where Liv meets Tom, a new visitor in town. Tom is the first person that Liv is able to picture a future with after the aftermath of her and Finn's inconsistent relationship, but when Finn returns that final summer, what path does Liv take and who does she choose?

Paige Toon does not shy away from the heart-wrenching storylines and Seven Summers fits right into that category. Not only do you get the tragedy that every character individually faces, but you have the heartbreaking choice Liv has to make between the love she has pined after for most of her adult life and a new love that has never wavered. I loved the dual timeline of this story and loved that although it was a love-triangle, it was done in a way that was respectful and thoughtful. Like Liv, you fall in love with both Finn and Tom throughout this story- each being perfect for Liv in different ways. It was emotional and beautiful- I'm excited for everyone else to have the opportunity to read it!

Read if you like:
- love triangle
- dual timeline
- celebrity romance
- small town
- emotional storylines
- down syndrome representation
- stories set in the UK
- single POV

Thank you so much, NetGalley for the advanced copy!

"Seven Summers" was an emotional rollercoaster that tugs at your heartstrings, shattering your heart and then piecing it back together, over and over again. The depiction of disabilities is heartwarmingly real, and the writing is simply spellbinding. You'll be right beside the characters, riding the waves of their emotions. Brace yourself for a tear-jerking journey!

Liv's evolution through seven summers is pure genius. This tale goes beyond romance, delving into Liv's personal growth and deep navigation of the monster of grief. It's a mirror reflecting our own obstacles to progress. The narrative's timeline twists and turns keep you hooked.

Paige Toon truly shines with "Seven Summers." As a die-hard fan, her books never disappoint, and this one is no different. A huge shoutout to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTMAM/ G. P. Putnam's Sons for the chance to dive into this emotionally charged read in exchange for my unfiltered opinions.

This was everything I simultaneously adore and hate in my romances. Consuming yet oftentimes unrealistic love...realistic yet unnecessary angst and drama...relationships that are built on shaky ground that you know can't even hope to stand the test of time. Yet, you still furiously turn those pages to see how it's all going to turn out. I did not like the relationship between Liv and Finn. I struggled to see how it was good for either one of them...spend a few weeks together every year and then spend the rest of that year building it up, imagining how wonderful it would all be, idealizing the other person. Yeah, how about spending some "real" time together. Listen to them snore and fart in their sleep, watch them throw wet and dirty towels just shy of the clothes hamper, have them forget your birthday or even worse buy you a set of pans as a gift (which, by the way, I would secretly love). It's easy to love someone when you only spend a few weeks with them once a year. The true gift is being able to continue to love them through all the garbage. But, once again, I digress. I did love Liv and Tom together. And, when all is said and done, I did very much enjoy this angsty little story!!

What a sweet book! I was rooting for Finn so much in this book. And then Tom came into the picture and I was torn just like Liv was! This book had me going back in forth whenever Finn came around, I just cant imagine how Liv felt!
Seven Summers was an instant 5 stars for me. I have already add a few of Paige Toon's other books into my TBR list, and I cant wait to read them when they get to me.

4.5 stars. Seven summers ago, Olivia (Liv) Arterton has career goal plans, which include becoming a sculptor and moving to London from Cornwall. In the meantime, for that summer, she gets to know Finn, who is currently lives in Los Angeles but is visiting his family. He's a musician and things might start to take off for him really soon in the industry given his talent. At their young age, I loved everything about them together - the chemistry, the dialogue and the feeling of falling. And then the tragedy. Liv is not going anywhere anymore, but Finn has to return to the United States. So goes the next several summers when Finn comes to visit Cornwall and Liv is there to spend time with him as long as they are available. If it weren't for the geographic distance and the directions their lives are in, they felt like such potential end game.

But this summer, Liv is determined to move on and she meets Tom. For Liv, her life has been somewhat of a standstill the last several years as she processes her grief journey and decides how best to come to terms with her current life plans, which do not include London or very much sculpting. She was never able to go to L.A. I had such strong hopes for Liv where I wanted to see her happy and thriving again. If Tom was going to be a part of that, then that's what she needed.

Paige Toon pens a story that had me completely invested in Liv's personal life, and not just her relationships. I really adored Finn, so when Tom came in the picture, I accepted him, too, because Liv needed a win in the name of love. Also, Liv had to start sculpting again because that's who she is. As the story progresses, Liv finds her new normal and what makes her smile again. She really turns a corner with the acceptance of heartbreak and being happy for others in love. This was angsty in a way that I wasn't expecting although the shifting from past to present already set the stage for that. I adored how much Liv looked after her brother Michael, he was such an endearing character with so much personality. Ultimately, this book held my heart in a vice that kept squeezing until the very end, when it finally loosened in comfort knowing that Liv is finally living out the dream in reality (and it was the ending that I genuinely hoped and wanted for her). Although this is my first read by Paige Toon, I'm excited to pick up more works from her in the future.

This was such a heartfelt read brimming with angst and longing. Paige Toon created a love story spanning more than a decade which left me aching to discover how the story would end for Liv and Finn.

The story revolves around loss and longing, and our heroine Liv is struggling to achieve her dreams while also reeling from tragedy. While there are obstacles keeping her and Finn apart, he continues to come back for her. Every summer. There’s just so much tension and a slow burn woven into these pages, and it’s incredibly hard to articulate the power this story had over me.

This was my first Paige Toon novel, but it most definitely will not be my last! Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced copy of this ebook.

"Six summers to fall in love. One summer to change everything."
I don't think I have the words to describe how much I loved this book. I absolutely devoured it. I loved both Finn and Liv. I loved all of the characters. The setting was also perfect. Paige Toon does a great job writing with an atmospheric description without it being too much detail.
If you're a Normal People lover, this book gave me similar vibes.
I totally see this being a huge release this summer. Such an amazing beach read.
Releases March 26, so preorder this one now!

I wasn't prepared for this book, I was expecting a lighter story than the one I read, but I'm happy with it. Liv and Finn's story will break your heart, and then it will break it some more, and maybe in the end, it will destroy it.
This two love birds met in Cornwall 6 years ago, and they fall for each other, but at the end of the summer they have to go back to their "real" life, Finn lives in LA, he is a musician, and Liv lives in Cornwall. They promise to find each other, every summer.
The story has flashbacks, as you can imagine from the title, everything comes "to life" during the summer. In the present time we are in the 6th summer, but we have the opportunity to see how the love story between Finn and Helen has developed since the beginning.
Unfortunately, I'm not much of a lover of love triangles, so I can't give 5 stars to this book, but otherwise, for the delicate topics covered, for example the disability of Liv's brother, for the sweetness of the story, I recommend this reading, just one thing: prepare yourself for this book,
SOS tears ahead.
Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC, in exchange of my honest opinion.

I thought Only Love Can Hurt Like this was my favorite from Paige Toon…boy was I wrong! Seven Summers truly takes the cake! With so many twist and turns throughout the book, I was captivated for a long time! I cried happy and sad tears throughout the entire book!

Paige Toon does it again!

Another heartbreaking tale of love and distance.

It starts with Liv meeting Finn. They fall in love and spend all of summer together. Finn’s life is in LA and her life is in Cornwall.
They agree to live separate lives and agree to be together next summer if they are both single. This means no contact.

The book takes place counting down every summer (6) with flashbacks and then to what is currently the seventh summer.

I loved both Liv and Finn. Finn has a tragic backstory from his childhood and Liv is beginning to get familiar with loss.

I enjoyed this book even though I did shed some tears. There’s a scene in the book that broke my heart but I completely understood Liv’s decision and I honestly would’ve made the same one.

Ms. Toon loves to give us bittersweet endings and I will def say this is one as well, though it does lean more on sweet.

If you liked her other books, you will definitely like this book! Just be prepared to have your heart break a little and have tissues on hand.

Known for pulling at the reader's heartstrings, Paige Toon does not disappoint with Seven Summers.

Seven Summers is well-written and is a captivating read from beginning to end. This story is told in past and present tense and is told from Liv's point of view. Liv's journey is both heartbreaking and compelling. It's a story of the unforgettable first love and the second one who puts all your pieces together. It's a story of love, loss, and adapting to the course life takes you, even if it's not the one you planned.

Seven Summers will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and you won't be able to put this book down.

Loved this story so much. The writing as usual was amazing. I cannot wait to add this book to my shelf

A very interesting story taking place over a number of years. Liv and Finn meet one summer and carry on a romantic relationship over the course of 7 years but only for a few weeks each summer. Could a relationship based on these few weeks each year survive the long haul? It is worth reading this book to find out the answer.

I did a Bookstagram review post for this book which I have copy/pasted as well as linked below. Overall, I did like this book.

I was in the mood to read one of my arcs, and this was a good one but didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. It was definitely an emotional read. I liked the setting, the dual timelines and second chance trope. But a big problem I had with it was took to about 70% to actually care about the love interests. That’s point on, I became invested and did shed a few tears. After I had a few days to reflect on it, I didn’t like the way it ended.

Seven Summers is a romance book set on the Cornish coastline that follows the story of Liv, who meets Finn one summer and they an immediate connection. However when a tragedy occurs they agree to not communicate but are open to seeing each other next summer. We go back and forth to every summer for seven years for Liv and Finn’s story and also in present day when Liv meets Tom a mysterious new man in town. Liv finds herself in a love triangle and has to make an impossible choice.

Even though I had mixed feels about this book, I would still recommend it. Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for the free book in exchange for a review! Seven Summers officially releases on May 21.

Seven Summers
Paige Toon
Publishing 5/21/24
3.5-4☆

There’s something about Paige Toons writing that hits deep and tugs at all of heartstrings. Seven Summers was no different. While there is charming romance, it was a heartbreaking story about loss, grief, and second chances.

I enjoyed how we alternated between past & present summers. Toon executed the transition between the two effortlessly.

Read if you like;
✨ Friends To Lovers Romance
✨ Emotional Reads
✨ Second Chances
✨ Beach Setting

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book felt like playing tug-a-war with my heart between heartwarming and heart-shattering.

First of all the setting was beautiful. The charming seaside town of Cornwall sounds like the perfect summer getaway town. I really felt like I was there.

Our past summer timeline is based around Liv and Finn starting seven summers back. Their summer romance starts with all the highs of a summer fling, exciting, sweet and passionate. We get glimpses of each past summer of them moving forward while getting switching to the present with in which there is no Finn. Liv meets Tom, a handsome mysterious man on a self care vacation to her town who are drawn to each other almost immediately.

The transition between the past summers to the present was so well executed. It gave you just enough of the past to keep you anxious to read more before switching back to the present.

I am definitely not one for love triangles but this didn’t really have the essence of a love triangle. I hated having my heart being stretched between two great men, each with their own unique qualities. The build to the last summer that reveals the big question throughout the book of WHY there is no Finn in the present yet we keep being transported back in time to them was honestly my favorite part. Trying to guess what happened and how this book was going to end was exhilarating.

This book deals lots of trauma, grief and loss. Aside from the romantic journey Liv goes on, it was beautiful seeing Liv heal and process her grief on her own terms and her own timeline.

This is not a fluffy summer romance- this book will capture your heart just to shatter it and mend it back together again.

All that to say, I really had a great time reading this book and would highly recommend especially with summer coming up. I am looking forward to reading more from Paige Toon!

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

I would like to thank Penguin Group Putnam and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. I have never read anything by Paige Toon before, and was excited to read this , based on some of the reviews of her previous books. I have to say that I was not thrilled by this one. It was the story of 2 people , Liv and Finn. They meet 6 summers ago in Cornwall and fall for each other. But tragedy and life keep them apart. They agree to meet next summer if they are both single. This goes on for 6 summers, where they get together once a year for a few weeks. Then Liv meets Tom, and has feelings for him . This started out like a Same time, Next year type of story. It took a lot of turns and twists, most of them sad and tragic. It did not have the sense of fun that I was anticipating. It was also slow and ponderous. It has a non linear time line, going between the current summer and previous ones. There is a long epilogue, which does give an ending to everything, but again it is long and drawn out. I did like some of the characters, and story lines. The characterization of Liv's brother Micheal, who has Down's Syndrome, was well written and an interesting addition. For me, the book was just Liv mooning around about Finn most of the year, until he showed up to visit, then sulking when he left. Sorry, just not for me.

I had a very difficult time connecting with the characters. The beginning was disjointed and there wasn’t a lot to go on that wanted me to keep picking up the book.

I spent several weeks opening the book for a few pages and then putting it back down.

The later part of the story was more interesting but it was too late for me to be invested.

I think a lot of people are going to enjoy this bo

I was excited to be gifted a copy of this novel, especially as I had been hearing some buzz around this title. While the premise is intriguing, ultimately this book fell flat for me. I know that there is an audience out there for this exploration of youth and grief, but I think I may be too old to have felt any real connection to the characters. I wanted so much to be pulled into the story, but always found my attention pulled away. Perhaps it’s just a case of the right book at the wrong time. Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for my early copy.