Wow I loved this book! I rarely give a book 5 stars but when I sat down to write this review I just couldn't give any other rating. I loved Liv's journey and felt so connected to her and invested in her finding happiness. I was so torn between who she should she be with and could see how she could care about Finn and Tom and love them both in such different ways. I can't say enough good about this book and will highly recommend it to anyone! I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! Absolutely loved this book. The location, the Cornish coast was so well described it had me wanting to book the next flight there and I really enjoyed the story and getting to know the characters!

Paige Toon always writes the loveliest of books and this is no exception.

I loved how the main narrative was from this current summer, but then we would get sections of a few chapters from each of the previous summers, since the first time that Liv and Finn meet.

We get to see their love story play out, while being aware that things are a bit different with the current summer which Liv is actually interested in newcomer Tom.

I loved seeing how this all unfolded and trying to work out just who Liv might end up with. I loved all of the main characters, and was really rooting for happy ever afters for everyone!

This was a joy to read, and was very entertaining.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 follows six summers where Finn leaves for L.A. and Liv is left reeling in the aftermath of emotions. They've been bonded for life through trauma and grief and are good together but it's obvious their lives are worlds apart. And for the first time, this summer, her heartstrings tug for another man - Tom, a puzzling and enchanting new addition to her hometown.

- ~ -

I don't particularly like being a sobbing mess but this was worth the read.

I read other reviews and I understood the context of the plot, knew whatw as coming my way, but I was not prepared for the onslaught of emotions.

I rooted for Liv so hard but I like how one of her stories ended - that sometimes you can love someone but know it just wasn't meant to be. And the other? squeezed my heart then filled it with relief (lol) but it was undoubtedly the better ending. Although, the epilogue wasn't enough to wrap up their whole story.

And I best liked Liv's story, all on her own, how she copes with grief and how she goes through the motions of life until she realises that she's finally enjoying it and the way she slowly learns to find her own footing in the world.

- ~ -

3.89 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘗𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘢𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a good read. If you like authors of romance such as Colleen Hoover or Emily Henry, I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy this book. I would definitely read more books by Paige Toon in the future!



Connect with Me <3

My blog is https://bookreviewsbyjules.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/44083250-julia (follow me and/or send a friend request!)

Instagram/bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookreviewsbyjules/ (I follow back all Book accounts)

Substack: https://bookreviewsbyjules.substack.com/ (feel free to subscribe!)

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bookreviewsbyjules?lang=en

StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/bookreviewsbyjules

Paige Toon has a way of writing that draws you in and makes you so invested in the lives of the characters and what will happen. She also rips your heart out and then makes it whole again. This book does not disappoint in the drama department and it is truly a journey from start to finish.

Seven Summers follows main character Liv as she begins on her "on again-off again" summer fling with lead singer Finn. Throughout their summer visits, their love grows and deepens but their physical location does not. For many reasons, the two cannot live in the same place due to past traumas and family obligations. Then one summer, Liv meets Tom. A mysterious beach artist that has come to her small English town to escape his own traumas and secrets.

Throughout the story I found myself rooting for both Finn and Tom, wanting them to be Liv's partners for different reasons.
Seven Summers takes you on a journey that will stay with you for a long time.
Do we only have one "soul mate" or is there the ability to have more than one?

Read Seven Summers to explore this existential question for yourself, with lovable characters and a twisty plot- it will not disappoint!

Thank you to #netgalley

I definitely went into this book with high expectations. I loved Only Love Can Hurt Like This. I think a lot of people are going to love this book and it might even be a top contender for 2024 Summer reads but I really struggled with the first half. I felt like it was slow and disconnected. Once everything started coming together, I appreciated it a lot more. The timelines ended up merging together really nicely and although this is not a light read, the romance was special and memorable. I think most people will like it, it just wasn't for me.

**This book will be published on 05/21/2024!**
I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

St. Agnes has been Liv’s home since a little before her grandmother passed on. One summer, as a young adult, Liv goes to the local bar to enjoy her friends and their friends band. As soon as she locked eye with Finn, Liv feels something special. Finn and Liv spend the next several summers together, soaking up the time together since Finn lives in LA. Then Tom comes into the picture and although it seems like he’s the one, it also seems as if he’s holding back. What’s the real reason Tom came to St. Agnes?

The author takes us on an adventure to follow the life and loves of Liv. Although I laughed and cried a couple times, I felt as though the ending was rushed and it just kept going, and going, and going. Although I do enjoy the story getting a nice bow on it so we aren’t asking questions, it just drug on a little too long for me.

This is my first Paige toon and I had expected more from it. It took way too long to get into it and even then I wasn’t connected or invested in the story/the main character. Bonus points for the beautiful cover

Unfortunately this story was a miss for me. It was sad but I kept waiting for my heart to break. I had all these theories on what would happen as I heard it’s gut wrenching and nothing really happened until 75% left of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for my e advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: May 21, 2024

Seven Summers is my first Paige Toon book.

Finn and Liv meet working at a bar in their young twenties and the future seems full of promise. When tragedy strikes Liv’s life, they are bound together. Finn’s life though is in LA and Liv’s in Cornwall. They decide each summer when Finn returns, if they’re both single, they’ll be together…and it works, until it doesn’t. Year later, Liv meets Tom, a mysterious stranger who is renting her downstairs property for a month. Slowly, Liv finds herself falling for Tom and the idea of long term love. She’s had a choice to make: fall for the man she’s loved for years or the one she’s only recently met. Tom has a secret of his own though, and it just might be Liv and his undoing.

I thought this book had a lot of potential. I really liked Liv’s relationship with Finn and his support despite their less than ideal circumstances. I also found myself loving Tom for Liv as well. The relationships were vastly different but both meaningful.

I didn’t love the structure of this book though. It vacillated between current day and the previous summers and it just became very repetitive at times, especially in the past stories. I felt like it dragged the story on and on. Also, I wish it had ended at the prior to the epilogue. Again, this felt like dragging the story along for longer than it needed to be.

Overall, I was indifferent to this book. Some things I liked, some I didn’t.

Thank you to Putnam Books and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Poor Liv, she certain went through a lot to finally get to her happily ever after. I can't imagine every summer waiting to see if the person you loved was going to come back to see you. Summer, after summer, after summer...... and yet she and Finn both had a lot of growing and healing to do before they were really ready for each other. Good book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This is only the second book by Paige Toon I've read. I felt like the story started a little bit slow and it was hard to build a connection to the main characters. I didn't like how Liv treated Finn through most of the story. Overall it was a good enough read.

You really fall in love with the characters, their families and their stories. However, this is not a lovey-dovey book. It’s heartfelt but also gut-wrenching. Liv, Finn and Tom all have a ton of love and a ton of loss. I was rooting for all of them along the way. I wish the epilogue was longer because I felt there was more to be said of their stories by the end. Regardless this is an amazing book of trauma and love.

I should have started this book with the expectation that I would feel gutted by the end of it based on the other Paige Toon novel I’ve read, but I was unprepared for how heartbreaking and emotional this book made me. It’s one of those that you really want to discuss with friends as soon as you’ve finished it, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for days as I try to recover from the book hangover it’s given me.
Seven Summers has all of my favorite elements: dual timelines, summer romance, first loves, and the element of mystery as you try to figure out who the main character will choose in the end. I’m not always a huge fan of love triangles because I feel sad for the one that isn’t chosen, but in this case it worked for me and made me unable to put the book down as I tried to figure out if Liv would be with Finn or Tom in the end. I was rooting for them both, and the ending caught me by surprise. The theme of grief and loss is woven throughout this book, but thankfully it didn’t come off as too heavy and while this isn’t a lighthearted rom-com, it was easy to read.
If you’re willing to let your heart be shredded a little bit, I highly recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an eGalley ARC of this book from Netgalley and Putnam Books in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the way the story-telling went back and forth from present day with Liv and Tom to each of the past summers with Liv and Finn. It really showed Liv's growth as a person by seeing the contrast side-by-side.

Liv and Finn are young adults who connect one summer in a blossoming romance. The summer ends with a tragedy that will link them together each of the next several summers. During the rest of the year, they are apart with Liv in Cornwall and Finn in L.A. Each year apart and each summer together bring different challenges.

In the present day, Liv meets Tom, a mysterious stranger visiting Cornwall. They become acquaintances, friends, confidantes, and lovers. Tom reveals a devastating secret to Liv, but they are so happy together.

Finn returns and Liv must decide who she wants to be with forever.

I was not a fan of the epilogue and this likely would have been 5 stars for me if it had ended before the epilogue or even with only the first entry of it. I'm sure there are some who will disagree, but the story would've been better if it had ended without all the extras at the end. Liv's friends could see who the better man for her was and I whole-heartedly agree with them.

This was my first Paige Toon book that I have read, and I have to say that she has exceeded my expectations right out the gate!!

Seven Summers is a story that surrounds Liv, Tom, and Finn. It recounts stories across seven summers and how one of those summers can change everything. Liv and Finn cross paths at a Cornish coastline bar, have a night of passion that ends in tragedy, and make a pact to spend the summer together every year if they’re both single. However, a newcomer to the town, Tom, enters the story and brings the reader on a whole other journey.

This book was truly both heartwarming and heart wrenching. The switch POV between past and present, the representation of disabilities, the character development, and everything in between has made this book a true masterpiece.

My ONLY gripe with this book was that I wish I could’ve read it on the beach! But alas, New England winters do not allow for that. Overall, a beautiful read by Toon and I look forward to delving in some of her other work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Seven Summers is the perfect summer read! It is a romance that will break your heart, piece it back together again ❤️‍🩹 and make you feel nostalgic for your younger days. This what I love most about Paige Toon’s novels. They are not rom-coms by any stretch. They are real, sometimes tragic and so incredibly beautiful. Seven Summers is a tribute to some of the best rock music of our times and the beauty of art.

Seven Summers follows Liv and Finn, who meet at a bar in their town. They have one passionate night, that ends in tragedy and leaves their lives interwoven forever. However, Finn’s life and career take him to L.A., while Liv’s leaves her in Cornwall. They promise to meet each summer in Cornwall, as long as they’re both single. They spend summer after summer together, each one harder to walk away from than the last.

One summer, a mysterious man by the name of Tom rents Liv’s apartment for a month. While learning about Tom and spending time with him, he and Liv fall in love, leaving Liv to have to decide what and who her heart wants.

This book will break your heart and put it together over and over again throughout this book. Not only is this an amazing love story, but it’s also a book about coping with grief and working through past trauma. This book has so many layers and none of them disappoint. Each characters storyline made you feel their pain and had you constantly rooting for them throughout the novel.

I loved this book but didn’t like that so much of the story was included in the epilogue. The brief synopsis of each summer after felt rushed even though it was packed with information.

Paige Toon always writes relatable, heartwarming characters and this book met all of my expectations.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons publishing for allowing me to get an early copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

28 year old Olivia is a professional sculptor but works at Seaglass bar/restaurant in Cornwall a beach town, during the summer months and also manages properties that she rents out. 6 summers ago, Liv meets Finn at seaglass where she's spending a night out with friends. Finn has a life in L.A as a musician and he's only in town for short amount of time. When it's time for him to go home, they make a deal that he'll come back every summer. Current time, Liv meets Tom who is staying in one of her rentals. It goes back and forth between current summer and the past 6 summers. Liv falls in love with both of them and she has big decisions to make. 4 ⭐️A lot of grief and sadness in the story.
But then a happy ending. I enjoyed the book but there was a lot of grief in it… not an easy read. Thank you NetGalley for the advance digital copy