SEVEN SUMMERS • Paige Toon • Pub Date: May 21, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

Abridged Goodreads Synopsis: Liv and Finn meet six summers ago in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline. 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, making a relationship feel impossible—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single, they will spend the summer together. This will surely avoid heartbreak, right? This summer, Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. For the first time, Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. Is she single this summer?

WOW. This book weighs so heavy on my heart. I was utterly captivated by this story, and invested in the characters. After binging this book in a day, I sat with this story for more than a month afterwards, processing the ending and what I would say about the book. Yet I still find myself at a loss for words. Toon's books are always so emotionally rich and complex that boiling the story down to a few sentences cannot truly capture the essence of the story or the mix of emotions that I swam through from the first page to the last. All I can say is that Paige Toon has yet again shown that she is one of the best writers out there.

While this is a book that revolves around summers, it is not a light-hearted summer read. Sure, it's a romance, but it is a romance that packs a punch. Pick this book up when you have time to savor it. And when you're done? Let me know what you think about that ending!

boldly dramatic and cleverly romantic tale that would be perfect as a beach read. or a fireplace read. or a rainy day read.

Seven Summers is an emotional journey that explores love, loss, and the complexity of relationships over time. Centered on Liv and Finn, who meet as young adults working in a bar on the stunning Cornish coast, the novel invites readers into their bittersweet romance, marked by a night of passion and the aftermath of a tragic event that binds them together.

The premise is compelling, with the promise of annual summer reunions setting the stage for tension and anticipation. However, while the emotional moments are impactful, I found certain sections of the story felt a bit slow and, at times, tedious. The pacing occasionally dragged, leading me to moments of disengagement as the narrative explored the intricacies of Liv and Finn's connection and their separate lives.

Liv’s introduction to Tom, a new and mysterious figure in her life, adds an interesting layer to the story. As she navigates her feelings for both men, the theme of choice becomes a central focus. The emotional stakes are high, and there are truly poignant moments that resonate deeply, particularly in how Liv grapples with her past and present.

Yet, despite these emotional highs, the story sometimes felt disconnected. The shifts between the past and present, while necessary to understand Liv and Finn’s bond, occasionally made the flow feel uneven. I wished for deeper exploration of Liv's internal struggles, especially as she contemplates moving on from her first love.

Overall, Seven Summers offers a heartfelt exploration of love and the choices we make. While it may not hold your attention throughout, the emotional core and the exploration of connection and grief make it worth the read. Fans of romantic dramas will likely find value in Liv's journey, though it may leave others wanting a bit more coherence in the storytelling.

Seven Summers is an emotional journey that explores love, loss, and the complexity of relationships over time. Centered on Liv and Finn, who meet as young adults working in a bar on the stunning Cornish coast, the novel invites readers into their bittersweet romance, marked by a night of passion and the aftermath of a tragic event that binds them together.

The premise is compelling, with the promise of annual summer reunions setting the stage for tension and anticipation. However, while the emotional moments are impactful, I found certain sections of the story felt a bit slow and, at times, tedious. The pacing occasionally dragged, leading me to moments of disengagement as the narrative explored the intricacies of Liv and Finn's connection and their separate lives.

Liv’s introduction to Tom, a new and mysterious figure in her life, adds an interesting layer to the story. As she navigates her feelings for both men, the theme of choice becomes a central focus. The emotional stakes are high, and there are truly poignant moments that resonate deeply, particularly in how Liv grapples with her past and present.

Yet, despite these emotional highs, the story sometimes felt disconnected. The shifts between the past and present, while necessary to understand Liv and Finn’s bond, occasionally made the flow feel uneven. I wished for deeper exploration of Liv's internal struggles, especially as she contemplates moving on from her first love.

Overall, Seven Summers offers a heartfelt exploration of love and the choices we make. While it may not hold your attention throughout, the emotional core and the exploration of connection and grief make it worth the read. Fans of romantic dramas will likely find value in Liv's journey, though it may leave others wanting a bit more coherence in the storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

I loved everything about this book! The story was so gratifying and the character development was amazing! I always love her writing and this was on exception!

I have read a few books by Paige Toon and I enjoyed this one the most. I loved the development of the story and the characters as well as their feelings for one another.

This book is truly about letting go, moving on, and true love. There were a few points when I was in tears over the story. Paige Toon just has a way of pulling on your heartstrings.

Seven Summers is the story of Liv and Finn from the time they become reacquainted working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, and for the next 6 summers. Liv is home from school for the summer, and Finn is playing with a local band, but his life is in LA where he is in a band. They feel something for one another that night and over the summer become a couple. Finn can't stay and is ready to go home, when tragedy hits Liv's family. Finn stays with her for awhile, then before heading home, they make a promise. Finn will return at the same time each year, and if they are both still single, they will spent the summer together. Liv loves him, so waits for him each year.

This was one of those stories that got into my head. Liv was a character that I loved, but also was a bit frustrated with. She could have had a much fuller life, if she had moved on. It seemed like Finn was using her and stringing her along, and she was letting him. Liv's brother has developmental challenges and Liv can't leave him, but she also smothers him at times. She can't bring herself to sell the family home, so fixes it up and rents it out as a summer let. She meets Tom, one of her tenants and they become friends after a very rocky beginning. Eventually they become a little more, and I was rooting for Tom to win her heart. Tom has a secret, one that is heartbreaking, and that made me love him even more. I enjoyed the relationships with her friends and how they supported whatever decision she made. Her brother added to the story as well, letting us see another side of Liv as well as showing us that when given the chance, he was able to live his own independent life with support. This is a romance, but one with a lot more to it. There is personal growth, following your heart, family responsibilities, friendship, community, health issues and more. This was an emotional read and I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Seven Summers by Paige Toon. It's the story of Liv and Finn who meet one summer in Europe, and enjoy each other, but they both have other obligations, family and career. Liv is a sculptor but makes money waitressing, and she takes care of her brother who has Downs. It's a fun story to read, always hoping for the happy ending. #sevensummers #paigetoon #netgalley #bookstagram #lovetoread #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #summerromance #takeapagefrommybook

Still looking to squeeze in a few more summer reads? May I encourage you to read this one. I loved it! This book was full of loss and love while navigating through life, making difficult decisions. I cried, laughed, and relating as I turned the pages.

Liv falls in love twice, and both relationships came along during pivotal points in her life. Her story has an unimaginable heartbreak loss, and to watch her growth throughout the story was moving. I was rooting for both Finn and Tom as each character was easy to love. The writing of Liv's story was beautifully done and easy to follow. This was my first book by the author, but it left me searching more for her work.

Have you read Seven Summers? What other books by Paige Toon have you read, and which one do you recommend for me?

3.5 ⭐️ This one didn’t deliver for me as much as Only Love Can Hurt Like This did, but I still enjoyed it.

What didn’t work for me was all the pining that Liv did for Finn, it just became boring after a while.

Will continue to read Toon’s novels and hopefully I’ll enjoy it more next time.

Heartfelt and easy read. I loved the glimpse into the future in the end that this author did. Something I think we all want more from our reads. First time reading this author and def curious to read more.

Loved the setting, loved the characters, loved the story! Paige Toon is such a great author! Perfect summer/beach read!

Thank you @putnambooks for the gifted book!

🐚 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🐚
This book was an up and down roller coaster of emotions! There is a love story between Liv and Finn. Liv and Finn meet one summer after college when their group of friends is just about to embark on adulthood. Finn is set to move to LA to pursue his music career and wants to avoid the devastating history his family has with Cornwall. Before their summer ends, something tragic happens that bonds them forever.

Each summer Finn comes back to Cornwall to visit Liv, and she is heartbroken when he leaves. Liv feels like she can’t leave, and on the seventh summer, she meets Tom. Tom breathes new life into Liv, and Liv faces a choice between past and present.

I wasn’t expecting the book to take the turns that it did. The epilogue had the biggest story twists I’ve read in an epilogue, and changed what I thought about the book as a whole. At the end, it left me introspective about what had happened throughout the story.

The story was able to show a couple different kinds of love stories and how they both can translate to a happily lived life. It also showed what can happen if you take a risk for love, or if you just play it safe. Also prevalent was life, grief, and the real tragic stories that can befall anyone. Just because life has dealt you a bad hand, it doesn’t mean it’s over or that you should play it safe moving forward. How we deal with grief and bad things in life can bury us or make us bloom.


🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🌊 Summer Romance
☀️ Alternating Timelines
🩷 Grief
⛱️ Disability Rep
🧡 Emotional Roller-Coasters
🐚 Heartwarming Love Stories

Seven Summers by Paige Toon is the perfect blend of sun-soaked romance and heartfelt emotion. Bell Everhurst returns to Australia after seven years, only to be swept back into a whirlwind of feelings for her first love, Luke. With a picturesque backdrop of beaches and countryside, this story is as much about self-discovery as it is about rekindling lost love. The chemistry between Bell and Luke is undeniable, and Toon does a great job of keeping readers hooked with plenty of tension, heartache, and those delicious “what if” moments.

What makes this book stand out is how easily it transports you into the Aussie setting, making it feel like you’re right there basking in the summer heat. The characters are relatable, with just the right mix of drama and charm to keep things interesting. Although the plot can feel a little predictable at times, it’s a fun, emotional ride from start to finish – perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a splash of nostalgia!

I devoured this book. It was my first read by Paige Toon and now I'm eager to dive in to others. I really loved the timeline of this story, it reminded me a little of how Every Summer After by Carly Fortune is told. I loved that this story dealt with grief and loss without being too heavy. There is consistent tension throughout this read that felt hopeful while giving those happy ever after moments. I felt like I was going to be happy with the ending no matter what happened and that really surprised me. I loved it!

This book is not just a story it is a journey of two people's lives and it was one that took me for a ride. This book will rip out your heart and put it back together piece by piece.

This was a beautifully crafted tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of memories. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Cornwall, this book weaves together a captivating narrative that will tug at your heartstrings. The characters were relatable and I was so invested in the story. It took me on an emotional journey. And the ending!! If you enjoy books with dual timelines and second chance romances check this one out.

I started this one and just couldn't get into it, it read very juvenile (understandable given their age) but this might not be the book for me.

Seven Summers by Paige Toon seemed slow for me for a while, but then I realized she was building up a beautiful storyline and I savored every bit of what I was reading. And then the end came and just tore me up, I haven't had a book do that to me in quite a while in this way. This story isn't fast-paced, so don't go in looking for that, but if you want a beautiful, deep love story, this is your book.