Following the untimely deaths of their spouses, two people attempt to heal together.

I have a thing for stories about loss and healing. I love shedding tears for these characters as they work through their pain, and I celebrate their progress as they figure out a way to both remember their loved ones while continuing to live.

This story began with Ivy losing her husband. My heart ached for her, and I was glad when she gave herself some time to heal. The gardening position brought her back to her roots and love of nature. As she planted and nurtured the garden, its live seeped into her. I may not have a green thumb, but I found myself very interesting in all the plant and garden talk. It sounded lush and beautiful, and I swear, I could smell the flowers and grasses.

There were also parts where she shared her love of plants, and my favorites were when she was sharing with Hudson. Hudson was Conrad's stepson. He was precious, even if he read a bit older at times (maybe that's how kids are grown in Malibu). He was also dealing with the loss of his mother, and the connection he formed with Ivy was a standout part of the book.

But Ivy also connected with Conrad. Now, this book may be called Malibu Summer, but it actually spans a year. During that time both Conrad and Ivy try to get back to their lives, and they seem to enjoy doing it while in each other's orbits. I will admit, the romance did not seem the main focus of the story and felt a bit rushed. It seemed the focus was more on Conrad and Ivy and their healing process, but I still always wanted them together in a romantic way.

There were two subplots which I felt served a purpose for moving the story forward, but I didn't necessarily care for. They had a bit a suspense element that seemed out of place, at least to me. But, charming characters, a lovely setting, and a wonderful ending helped smooth over those parts for me.

Overall, I enjoyed spending the year with Conrad and Ivy as they worked through their grief and found a way to open their hearts to love again.

When I first saw this cover, I was instantly drawn in by the bright colors. When I read the description, I was excited. I love STEM novels with strong, smart FMC leads. And a story about people moving through their grief, love it.

With all of that being said, I'm so sad I didn't love this book. I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it felt disjointed.

CONS:
(1) There were chapters from Ivy's POV and Conrad's (which I love dual POV), but then there random ones of Mak or Fernanda. It threw me off a little bit.
(2) The "slow burn" between the FMC and the MMC didn't feel like any burn at all. I felt confused when they were suddenly "together-ish" after not really having spent any time together even though she worked on his property for a year. I think there was so much potential here for an opposites attract, but it fell flat to me.
(3) Then this may be super nitpicky of me but I was bothered by the age of the stepson and his abilities. I have a couple kiddos, and unless this kid was destined to be the next Einstein, he was VERY, VERY advanced for a four year old.
(4) There was a lot going on... we have the grief aspect of BOTH MCs, Ivy and her research, Conrad with his show, Conrad's heart issues, the paparazzi guy. I love dilemmas as much as the next person, but it felt like there were too many to keep track of and I wasn't sure which storyline was the main issue if that makes sense.

PROS:
(1) Though I didn't love the book, the writing of the book was really well done.
(2) Even though the age of his stepson was not realistic to me, I loved the addition of his character (maybe because he was the most dynamic of all the characters). If he was 8-10 years old it would have been perfect.
(3) Beautiful cover art
(4) Love the idea for a STEM novel

Overall, I'm giving this book a 2.5. The writing wasn't terrible, and the idea of the book was great, but I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend. I had to force myself to finish it. If I wasn't reading it to review it, I probably would have DNF piled it. I think with some tweaks this book has potential to be great.

Big thank you to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the eARC to read and review.

A quick but meaty read. Rooted in grief, there is a realness of the pull to move on while clinging onto the lost life. One of the few times I will think a book needed MORE pages. More interaction between the two main characters, more tension, more tease, more build up...

Malibu Summer is the story of Ivy and Conrad, both dealing with enormous grief from the loss of their respective spouses. The novel follows them in the beginning stages, and the paths they are each taking to handle their grief.

I loved the relationship between Ivy and Hudson, Conrad’s stepson. It was an honest portrayal of what a child might go through in losing a parent, and it tied me greatly to the character, investing in his progression through the grief.

Though I was rooting for Ivy and Conrad to be a support system for each other and start to heal together, I did feel that the timeline of their intimate relationship was a little rushed. It felt some parts were missing in between.

All and all, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read something else from the author.

Malibu Summer By Libby Gill is a great summer romance with real characters. Ivy is a young scientist who has recently lost her husband and she needs a respite, so her friend Mak invites her to come to Malibu to get away from it all.
When Ivy gets to Malibu, Mak introduces her to a rich male fiend, Conrad who has also recently lost his wife and is in the business of making TV shows. Conrad hires Ivy to be his gardener and with that position comes her own cottage to live in.
The story is predictable, but Hudson, who is Conrad’s young stepson adds interest to the book. Also, legal issues regarding a scientific breakthrough by Ivy keep this a page turner. I enjoyed this Malibu Summer romance novel as it was an easy read with interesting twists and turns. A big thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fast and easy read, but with that being said, it has such a weird voice. This reads like young YA. The dialogue feels stunted and is just made up of these short little phrases and questions that don't read like how adults speak. Another thing that makes it read like YA is how the main character, Ivy, describes herself (people don't stand in front of the mirror and describe what they're wearing and what color their hair is...you know that whole drill).

The characters didn’t have much relationship development and chemistry, which I understand, given what they’re going through. This book is definitely focused on them grieving and dealing with those emotions and situations. As long as you know that going into this book, it’s not a problem at all. But it was just a tad disappointing to me based on what I was expecting from the genre.

This had such a great premise. The description sounded so up my alley and like it would be such a fun time, but it just fell a bit too flat. But there’s so much potential here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Malibu Summer" by Libby Gill offers a refreshing take on love, loss, and second chances. Ivy Bauer, a talented soil scientist grappling with the sudden loss of her husband, finds solace in a summer job as a gardener in Malibu. There, she crosses paths with Conrad Reed, a wealthy but overwhelmed Hollywood figure navigating his own grief and family dynamics. Despite their initial clashes, Ivy and Conrad soon discover a deep connection that transcends their differences. As they navigate the complexities of love and healing, "Malibu Summer" delivers a heartwarming story filled with humor, growth, and the power of human connection. Libby Gill's storytelling shines in this delightful tale of redemption and romance.

I really enjoyed Malibu Summer, especially the lush, gorgeous cover. I found the premise of two grief stricken people, both suffering the loss of their spouses in violent accidents. compelling. It was a fast read, and a mostly satisfying one.

Unfortunately, there were some issues that made me pause. I found the format of the abrupt chapter endings a bit jarring. Some wrapped up fully, but others just cut off bluntly, and I found myself searching for resolution or wondering if I received an incomplete ARC. I'd say this was the biggest problem I had--the flow and pacing felt a little off because of it.

As for the characters, I liked them all for the most part, though Conrad and Ivy reacted disproportionately angry to each other at times (though I could chalk that up to their grief talking and introducing the trope of "miscommunication."). But I'm not sure about adding Mak's and Fernanda's POV for a couple random chapters. And though I adored the idea of Hudson (his reason for not wanting Ivy to join their family is heartbreaking), he reads like a much older character when he's only a preschooler.

Thanks so much to Penguin Random House for the invite to read and review this book through NetGalley.

It's a true shame when a book with fantastic characters has such disappointing writing. Because these characters are stand-outs.

Ivy, our left-brain soil scientist developing a product to help with water retention, is a powerful FMC. Though this woman in STEM is grieving the loss of her husband, she finds her place as a gardener for a TV producer in Malibu, getting to experiment with her products in a very hands-on way. Conrad, our right-brain TV producer, is also grieving the death of his wife, but he settles for selling out so he can continue to provide the best quality of life for his step-son Hudson. And Hudson truly ties everything together, the first step in the bond between Ivy and Conrad as they develop into a partnership. I found myself rooting for all of these characters and very invested in their journey.

But...most of the chapters were incomplete. They cut off randomly, taking away much of the action. It felt like a TV show cutting for commercial, but then never going back to that plotline. I could excuse a couple chapters of this, but I genuinely started wondering if half of my eARC was missing. A couple of chapters randomly followed side characters (like Mak or Fernanada) and featured their POVs. If this was a slice of life with more intentional looks at different perspectives, it would be fine. But in this story, it was super distracting. I liked each dramatic moment in the third act individually (the storm, the business, the fears of falling in love), but it was too much all together, especially with the cut-off chapters.

There were also random outbursts that didn't fit the narrative at all, like when Ivy didn't know that her supposed best friend's mom died when she was a kid. It felt like lazy character writing. We are also supposed to believe that Will and Ivy were this perfectly moral couple, but Ivy references a Woody Allen quote that Will supposedly loved. It just felt out of place.

Last note: this book takes place over a whole year. Not just a summer. I wish the title fit this book.

I'm giving this three stars because it is hard to write really strong characters and realistic depictions of grief, but the writing left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I’m in between. This one was a bit sad, but not so much- if that makes sense.

It asks the question of when the right time is to move on after a partner’s death- which is is a big question. It does show that there are things that need to be worked on whether it’s kids or career before you’re able to fully move on.

This was a great, quick, read! The "soil" subject was one that I have never read about (much less know about at all). Characters were easy to attach to and root for. It did seem a little rushed at times. But aside from that it was an enjoyable read.

This book has its roots in death. It is a very intense novel, but it is a book that pulls you in and holds you there until you find out how it ends!

As you can see from the synopsis, Ivy Bauer and Conrad Reed have recently lost their respective spouses and are grieving—each in their own way. To add complications, Ivy is almost ready to test her invention, and Conrad has his very young stepson to take care of and to create a new TV series.

This time together, as Ivy restores an important garden for Conrad and Conrad learns what it is like to take care of Hudson AND write his show, pulls Ivy and Conrad together, begging the question -when is it appropriate for the remaining partner to begin a new relationship?

The author throws several monkey wrenches and then tosses some surprises into this book, keeping you on your toes.

I highly recommend this book to anyone,

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Penguin Books, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks.

This book follows Conner and Ivy, a widower and a widow trying to move on from their grief. I loved how they helped each other heal throughout the story and that their shared experiences was the base for their relationship.

I had a hard time with this one from the beginning, mostly due to the writing. I think a first person POV really would have helped this story.

I really wanted to love this book because a sad MMC with a kid is right up my alley but I couldn't get past the dialogue when the adults were talking to him like he was 10 instead of 4.

Thanks to Penguin House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the writing style and premise of this book; however, I think first person POV would given the characters so much more depth and personality. I had a hard time relating to or even liking the characters very much--they felt stiff and formal.

Malibu Summer is more than your typical romance as it covers grief and moving on after the death of a loved one. Both the main characters, Ivy and Conrad, are on their own grief journeys, but they come together to fall in love. This book was a good palate cleanser and I thoroughly enjoyed Hudson’s character and his interactions with both Ivy and Conrad. I would recommend this to all, as it’s the perfect summer read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

unfortunately this is a dnf for me.

i couldn't connect with the characters at all. i also couldn't get past the writing which felt very amateurish for my taste.

Really enjoyed this book, but did not enjoy some of the things said about how people may look.
Acne scars are described as "craters" are very difficult to read. I enjoyed the characters in the book but some of the ways things were phrased was unnecessary.

I wanted to love this book it has all of my favorite tropes. Single guardian, forced proximity has the making of a great books. But this fell short for me, seemed rushed. I don’t remember them interacting more than 5 times before they had their first kiss.

I enjoyed this book it was definitely a page turner. I felt like it was well thought out and organized. Also the short chapters were nice.

Good book with a very well done story that makes the reader want more. I really liked all the characters in this one. They were well done and easy to read.