Set in 1999 during the days of AOL, Sawyer is an aspiring writer, a future bride and a young publishing executive in New York City. Her summer should be very busy but when her fiance begins working long hours with a new female colleague named Kendra, suspicions arise. Sawyer and Kendra’s boyfriend, Nick, begin exchanging emails about their significant others' potential affair. Sawyer agrees to meet Nick on a Friday afternoon so they can discuss the situation and an unlikely friendship develops . Since they both have half day Fridays in the summer, they begin spending afternoons exploring New York City as Nick and Sawyer grow closer.

With a twist on the enemies to lovers trope, Summer Fridays is a sweet and romantic addition to the romance genre. The author’s descriptions of New York City transport the reader and the realistic interaction of the characters has you rooting for them. A feel good summer read that’s a perfect for readers of Emily Henry or Katherine Center.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced reader's copy.

I have seen manyyyyyyy books marketed as You've Got Mail for a new generation and some have kinda delivered but most don't. This one takes the cake though, it's not an exact copy and it's not really an enemies to lovers like You've Got Mail, they aren't rival business owners or anything like that. But this story has the vibe, it made me feel the same way I do when I watch You've Got Mail, it's cozy and romantic and like a love letter to New York. The book starts off in 2001 just after 9/11 then jumps back to 1999, where Sawyer is striving to make it in New York and is engaged to her college sweetheart, She starts to suspect he's cheating on her with a coworker, then she gets an AOL message (queue the You've Got Mail voice we all know and love) from said coworkers boyfriend, who wants to meet and discuss their suspicions. This leads them to spending every Friday together exploring the city. I understand why some people have a problem with the cheating in this book but for me, I was so invested in Sawyer and Nick's relationship that I was rooting for them and I loved how they both grew together so I didn't let it bother me too much. I do wish there had been more of a blow up moment with Sawyer and her fiancee, it was all very calm and civil but honestly, all the reactions felt really realistic so if there had been a blowup, it probably would have felt out of place. Overall, this is going to be my go to feel good summer recommendation!

Review will be posted on 5/13/24

It's the summer of 1999 and Sawyer is set for a sweltering summer in New York City. Her job in publishing affords her "summer Fridays," so she'll have a lot of time to unwind this summer. She would love to spend more time with Charles, her lawyer boyfriend, but he is swamped at work with a new case, which Sawyer immediately dreads as this means more time with his questionable co-worker, Kendra, and less time with her. At a work dinner for Charles, she meets Nick, Kendra's boyfriend, and they have some words. Nick implies that Charles and Kendra are having an affair. Later on, Nick emails Sawyer to apologize, and their back-and-forth emails ensue, which graduates to AOL instant messenger. Before she knows it, Sawyer has hit it off with Nick and she comes to find that he understands her situation with Charles better than anyone. They both start hanging out on Fridays and she even shares her NYC bucket list with him with the hopes that they can tackle that this summer, too. Will their friendship blossom into something more or fizzle out once summer is over? Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell is summer rom-com perfection.

I really enjoyed Sawyer from the start of Summer Fridays. I also loved being transported back to the summer of 1999 and the world of AOL. It brought back a lot of memories and I think Rindell captured it all so well; in fact, it was very reminiscent of You've Got Mail and in the best way possible. Also, I appreciated the setting of NYC and the publishing world, which is always one of my favorite settings. Lastly, the slow burn romance was fantastic as well as the use of emails and instant messages to develop their relationship. I was rooting for them from the start. If you love 90s rom-coms, you'll want to be lost in Summer Fridays this summer. I didn't want the book to end!

Thanks so much to Dutton for the ARC. The promised “You’ve Got Mail” vibes had me excited about this one, but sadly I found the lead characters to be fairly one dimensional and the writing to be bland. I also found fundamental aspects to be unbelievable — the lead characters suspect their significant others are cheating on them together, and they decide to just…ignore it? Not talk about it? Wait it out? Like…wouldn’t you agree to do some sleuthing or try to find proof, instead of just hanging out and talking about anything but? I found that to be bizarre. I found the lead male character to be abrasive and the lead female to be bland. He literally says she’s ‘not like other girls:’

“Nick shrugged. "I had you pegged for the kind of girl who would be most comfortable meeting at a fancy social club. But, I can see now, you're ... different.”

🥴🥴🥴🥴

Thank you @duttonbooks and @prhaudio for the complimentary book and audiobook.

🛑𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬.🛑

This book would have been ten pages long if a conversation had been had. So, if like me, you can’t handle the miscommunication/lack of communication trope then this book probably isn’t for you. Nick and Sawyer meet to discuss their suspicions of Charles and Kendra’s affair and then… nothing. They do absolutely nothing about their suspicions but continue emailing each other and meeting on Fridays. You can see where this leads to right? And then at the end, when you know there will be some angst before the happy conclusion, once again, a whole lot of drama could have been avoided with just one simple conversation.

I did have a little laugh remembering the dark ages when we had dial-up internet, and no mobile phones so when you said you would be somewhere by a certain time you had to stick to it. Summer Fridays Goodreads rating is currently over 4 stars, so I am in the minority with my opinion. think I only finished it because I also had the audio, Elizabeth Rindell was great. When I enjoy a narrator I always check to see what other books they have narrated to add to my listen list, unfortunately she hasn’t narrated anything else on my tbr, but I would happily listen to another audio by her in future.

| Story Review |

The tone of Summer Fridays is set from the very beginning when Sawyer overhears a conversation between two women. Following 9/11, they're discussing getting in touch with people you haven't seen in a long time and how the events have made you really introspective and thinking about what's most important. And so begins Sawyer's own recounting from 'a few summers ago.'

If you knew my age, then you'd know it was the You've Got Mail comp that hooked me. I do love a good AIM chat story, and this one reeled me in from the beginning. Sawyer and Nick first meet at an event for Sawyer's fiancé's law firm. And when they're left alone, Nick confirms he has the same suspicion - are their significant others cheating with each other? After insulting Sawyer, he also confirms he's a big jerk. Where can things possibly go from there? The answer to that is - all over New York City!

Sawyer is surprised when Nick gets in touch to apologize for his actions, and Nick is immediately charmed by Sawyer's witty personality. The two decide to meet in person to discuss what might be happening between Charles and Kendra, and their second meeting doesn't go much better than the first. In spite of this, the two are drawn to each other, and thus begins their 'Summer Fridays.' The publishing industry (along with other industries, it seems) shut down around noon on the Fridays during the summer, and it frees them up to compare notes about the suspected cheating. I love the way Saywer and Nick's friendship blossoms. Nick isn't afraid to call things out, and it makes Sawyer brave to know he's on her side. I also related to how Sawyer obsessed over every little detail. There were things Nick said to her that just stuck with her, and they would cross her mind again and again as she analyzed them. And as she quickly learns, there's more to Nick than meets the eye. He quickly becomes a sounding board for her, and she's surprised by the sound advice he gives. But even as their attraction grows, it's bittersweet. They're both with other people. But try as they might, they just can't stay away from each other. I will say, that element alone means this book isn't for everyone. But if you're a reader who has the 'sell it to me!' outlook, as in, I can like anything if the author does it well, then I suggest picking this up. I promise - the feelings in this book are so deep, once you're done, you won't be able to believe it spanned only one summer.

But it's not just the love story here - as cliché as it might sound, this book was truly a love letter to New York. The author doesn't just rely on 9/11 (which really is atmosphere enough if you were alive during that time,) but she really leans into the descriptions of what makes New York New York. From the food vendor descriptions to Coney Island to the heat wave - she just makes you feel like you're there.

I hope my review conveys how much I loved Summer Fridays. I read this book in two sittings, and I can't remember the last time I did that. I just couldn't walk away from the story, and even now, it's still with me. And I know it will be for a long time. This is a book I'll be reading again and again. And the best part is, now I have Suzanne Rindell's back list to dive into!

| Narration Review |

Summer Fridays was narrated by Elizabeth Romanski, and she did a wonderful job! She was able to capture Sawyer's personality perfectly, and the blasé part of Nick's personality that was actually part persona was also done so well. She was able to evoke emotion, and I just loved every moment of her narration. If you're going to read this book and enjoy audio, I would recommend reading this way.

(Actual: 3.5⭐, rounded up) This book was so cute and surprisingly very refreshing given its setting! The nostalgia vibes were all on point, the characters - while flawed - were still relatable, engaging, and worth rooting for from a reader's perspective, and I felt like the writing was strong enough that it held its own & managed to evoke several strong emotions out of me (both positive and negative). The only part I didn't *like/love* necessarily was the [redacted for spoilers] c******* aspect that was included (I felt like there were other ways to instigate conflict without using that specific trope/action), which is why I couldn't give it a full 4-stars.

although this book does deal with an emotional and then a physical affair, I did like it. We are all human and these are things that go on in life whether or not you yourself would do them. I found myself transported by their love, it felt real and I had to ask myself what I would do differently and I like a book that makes me think.

After graduation and an unexpected and somewhat rushed engagement to her college boyfriend, Sawyer and Charles moved to New York City where he landed a job at a high-powered law firm and she began as an editorial assistant at a publishing house while also pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. Soon after, they attend a stuffy company dinner where Charles virtually ignores her in favor of his gorgeous colleague, Kendra. When Sawyer tries to converse with Kendra’s boyfriend Nick, he is rude and disdainful. So, imagine her surprise when he follows up with an email apology and a texting conversation via AOL Instant Messenger (when online communication was in its infancy, 1999) where he shares his belief that their significant others are having an affair. Since Charles is spending more and more time with Kendra at work and the gym, Sawyer quickly agrees to meet Nick on a Friday afternoon, since most of the city empties out at lunchtime during the heat of the summer. That first non-date leads to a weekly adventure, taking them on a ferry ride to The Statue of Liberty, a visit to the Lower East Side Tenement Building, the beach and amusement park at Coney Island, a secluded swimming hole north of the city, and other hidden gems throughout the city. While the physical and emotional distance between Sawyer and Charles widens, despite their impending October wedding, her friendship with Nick blossoms into something she might not be ready for, until tragedy strikes, making the decision for her.

If there’s one clear message in this love story, it’s to recognize when you’ve found the person who accepts you for who you truly are and brings out the best in you, doesn’t play games, and will do everything in their power to support you and make the time to be with you. Rindell keeps readers in the dark until the very last page about whether Sawyer and Nick will have a chance at a happily-ever-after, but you can’t help rooting for them. This is a beautiful story and a love letter to NYC pre-9/11. It’s also a reminder of how different, and perhaps simpler, life was when we weren’t glued to our cellphones and social media, and actually made the time to engage face-to-face. Perfect for fans of Kate Clayborn, Katherine Center, Emily Henry, and Sarah Ready. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Dutton through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A book on timing. Story has some triggers. It is a good book on struggles if relationships and timing. There is depth to the story and parts make you think about what you would do.

I was really enjoying the writing in this story, but there is a trope that I just couldn't get over that ended up having me DNF the book. That is only my person preference though. Other's I'm sure will love this story!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I gave this book a rating of 2 stars, as this book really did not work for me. Let's break it down, shall we?

The premise: "You've Got Mail for a new generation, set in the days of AOL and instant messenger banter, about a freshly engaged editorial assistant who winds up spending her "summer Fridays" with the person she least expects".

So my biggest issue with this is why. WHY do we need a book set in 1999, in the days of AOL? Are young readers keening for books set in the era they were born in? Or was it used as a convenient trope/plot point for the characters to excuse their behaviour because they were not able to get in touch with a partner immediately? There are several times in the book where the fact that people still used landlines and answering machines played into the outcome and/or decision making of the characters. And this allowed misconceptions, deceit and cheating to happen.

This really was not anything special and I can think of many many many better books out there.

I loved the fact that this took place in NYC in 1999. Being born and raised in Brooklyn (&still live in) it was fun to see places I’ve frequented and just to remember how things were back then (like hanging up the phone so you can use the internet). I wanted to love this book but I feel like it fell a little flat. Sawyer and Nick just didn’t have any real chemistry for me. While Charles could’ve been better, I wish we saw more of him.

This was so good! I did not want to put it down. I was on edge until the last page, wondering what would happen. I can easily say that I just adore Nick but I also love Sawyer. The actual summer Fridays were so good and made me want to be in New York sometime in the summer, which I've heard is awful but this was so charming. So many swoons - I definitely recommend this one!!

Summer Fridays comes out next week on May 28, 2024, and you can purchase HERE! I loved this book!!
After a while, the band finished the song they were playing, and a small pause ensued as Nick turned to each of his bandmates, conferring about what to play next. Finally, he leaned close to the microphone. "We're gonna play a little cover."

The crowd waited to hear what it would be.

"That's weird," Kendra said to Charles. "They never play cover songs."

The band began to play.

Sawyer immediately recognized "Sweet Thing." It sounded like Nick had written a special arrangement of it specifically to suit his band's instruments and musical style.

Which meant he'd been thinking about playing this cover for a while.

It was a gentle song: simple and sweet, true to its name.

This time, as Nick sang, Sawyer didn't just think he was looking at her; she knew he was looking at her. She knew in the marrow of her bones, that same unnerving place where she'd felt every second of their kiss. She tried to keep her composure as she listened, but Sawyer could feel something fluttering inside her chest and stomach every time she willed herself to look in Nick's direction onstage and meet his intense stare.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

This was so fun and the premise is such a great backdrop for a romance. I think that people will get a lot out of this story, aside from just the romance itself, and I am SO excited for more people to be reading it!

☀️I feel like my thoughts are totally mixed on this one and I could argue that it's amazing but also not amazing at the same time. I always WANT every book I read to be amazing and always try to make a case for a book!

In this case, that's both easy and hard because

1. The writing was incredible
2. I actually shed a tear (that's always worth something)
3. I couldn't put it down, it was SO EASY to read
4. 90s nostalgic #romcom vibes
5. You've Got Mail vibes

But it also

1. Could have been resolved like 80 times with a 5 second conversation
2. The main character (MC) was cheating most of the book

🫣Cheating and miscommunication are my least favorite things which is why I'm so torn!! If I could ignore those, I'd give this a huge 5 stars, but I don't think I can so I don't fully know where to land. Don't get me wrong, arguments could be made in defense of the MC but also 🤔 I think most people will love it regardless!

💕It slightly reminded me of FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry and her writing felt like it would be perfect for fans of Em Hen and Abby Jimenez which is a huge compliment as far as writing style goes.

3.75/5 ⭐️ - Rounded to 4
This book gave all the feelings of a late 80's rom-com. I have not had a book bring back such nostalgic memories for a time before texting. The feeling of rushing home to see if someone messaged you online or sent you an email, with all of the excitement from when they did; and the disappointment when they didn't. The story encompassed the feelings of a walk in New York, while providing an atmosphere that was not too cheesy - but just cheesy enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the fun, lighthearted-ness of the plot, even with the lingering dark choices that would need to play out in the story.

*I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an adorable read. Imagine New York, pre-social media and long weekends.

In this new novel, we men=et Sawyer, an Editorial Assistant with big dreams in the BIG City. Her fiancé Charlie also is achieving his own dreams. When Sawyer meets a Kendra, co-worker of Charlie's she is left unsettled. Unbeknownst to her, she finds solace with Kendra's boyfriend Nick who shares the same suspicions.

Throughout Summer Friday's we see the friendship blossom. Sawyer and Nick have early days and vow to really see New York,

I really enjoyed this book. Will sure to be a great read this summer!

It was overly expositional and too narrative for me. I stopped after chapter 3 (8%). I can see this being a three to four star read for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

oh to have been living in New York in 1999 with no social media and just AOL and email.

I broke my "no technology in bed before sleep" rule to finish this, so you know that means I was absolutely enthralled and invested in this story.

Summer Fridays is a really fun, story that is unique in its premise of being in New York before the age of social media and modern technology. I'm super picky about the romance I read nowadays as I get older but this is one I can 100% get behind and recommend. I will say it will not be for everyone due to a certain trope, but if you can look past it I think it delves into questioning the ethics of what is morally right and just how far something can go before it's justifiable. I'm kiiiiind of ranting here. This book is also told in third person, which some people will not enjoy, but for the type of story it is it makes a lot of sense and is extremely well-written.

Suzanne Rindell encapsulates the essence of New York in this time, before 9/11, in a beautiful light. Carefree, young, nostalgic, before the world was changed. This juxtaposes to the final chapters set not long after 9/11 in 2001, and how those events intertwine with the lives of two of these characters to conclude their story.

A story of unexpected love and connection, this is a wonderful, light-hearted summer read that will make you appreciate a time before modern technology in a beautiful love story to New York.

Thank you NetGalley & Dutton/Penguin Group for the ARC!