in Malibu Summer we follow Ivy and Conrad through the grief process of both their spouses passing. Ivy’s husband and Conrad’s wife both pass around the same time. Mak, a mutual friend, suggests that Ivy goes to Malibu and stays with Conrad for a few weeks to reset. Conrad needs his garden fixed up and Ivy is a “soil doctor”, aka some environmental scientist. Conrad has a stepson named Hudson and he grows closer with Ivy throughout her stay.

I enjoyed the fact that Ivy and Conrad are both older. late 30’s to early 40’s. i liked their maturity and their version of communication as they’re both attracted to each other while also trying to not replace their spouse. it started as “enemies” to lovers and moved towards friends to lovers as they became more accustomed to each other.

the parts i didn’t enjoy as much was the amount of detail in Ivy’s environmental science project and Conrad’s tv show production. it didn’t feel suuuuper necessary for the plot to have chapters dedicated to their professions.

overall this was an easy cute read with more mature characters.

3.75⭐️

Oof. This was not the book I was expecting it to be at all. I was going into with the thought of reading a cute little summery rom com. Nope. Two grieving people coming together after they both have lost their spouses tragically.
The drama was great and the quick wit of some of the characters was done perfectly.
I felt like I was missing the romance of this story but overall it was a great read if you’re in the mood to work through some big emotions

This was a unique premise that kept me reading for hours! This is packaged as a romance, but I'd shelve it closer to its literary fiction brethren.

Ivy is meandering through the early stages of grief when she's placed as a gardener in a Malibu estate owned by a similarly-grieving widower. I wouldn't say sparks fly, but the two form a kinship almost immediately as they each struggle through a dark season. Conrad is likeable, though somewhat of a mystery at the beginning. I enjoyed watching ther relationship evolve but would have loved seeing more build up and sweetness between them.

Overall, a fun vacation read, would recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC of this book. All opinions on this review are my own.

Ivy is a soil scientist who lives in Northern California and is working with UC Davis to develop and agricultural product. Her husband unexpectedly passes away and she is widowed at 31.
Conrad is a television producer who unexpectedly lost his actress wife in a car accident leaving him with a huge house and garden to manage as well as a young stepson.
Their mutual friend, Make,thinks it would be helpful for Ivy to get away from her everyday life and suggests that she comes to live in Malibu on Conrad's estate to help rehabilitate the garden.
The two strike a friendship and a relationship and find connection through their shared grief.

Overall I thought the book was really good. I was rooting for the characters and I thought it was well written over all. A few aspects of the storyline felt like an afterthought and didn't get enough attention in my opinion but the book was a good read and I would definitely read others by this author. Thanks for the opportunity to review.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I absolutely love the premise — two recently-bereaved people coming together as they’re both in their healing processes and figuring out how to navigate their new normal — but it just didn’t pack the punch I was hoping it would.

I feel like the secondary characters got a lot more exposition than usual books of this genre provide (which isn’t a bad thing!), but those storylines didn’t add enough relevance to the storyline to merit the page time they got (I would’ve been totally fine without the Sal storyline & without the JP storyline…). JP’s presence, I feel, was supposed to create a love triangle? But their triangle was an acute one and JP was the short side of it.

Ivy and Connor’s romance didn’t feel like it built at a normal pace, yet at every other turn there was some little conflict that spurred disproportionately large issues between them. The drastic shift between his uber-eagerness for romance and their whatever-miscommunicated-conflict-of-the-day felt a little jarring to me.

That being said, I did enjoy the book - I just don’t think it’ll be a story the lives in my brain very prominently.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin books for the eARC of Malibu Summer

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I picked up this book after reading its summary and was intrigued. Both main characters deal with grief after losing their spouses and I was hoping to see a new take on this common experience.

I liked how each character experienced grief differently. I think there could have been more done with it, more exploration with managing and living with grief.

I have to admit, I was confused most of the time by the dialogue and characters’ behavior. The way Hudson talks doesn’t reflect his age. I think the author is trying to show how trauma and sudden loss of a parent can affect a young brain but Hudson’s behavior and speech is unrealistic.

The same is true about other characters. I caught myself multiple times thinking “people don’t talk like this in real life”.

The high stakes also didn’t seem too high and the plot was anticlimactic. It reminded me of Disney Channel movie plots.

The romance is not really there. We don’t see how the main character falls in love. One day she just says she does and that’s that. Where’s the tension? Where’s the hesitation from both grieving souls? The dilemma of “I want to but I shouldn’t” is briefly there but it feels flat.

The cool thing from this book is the invention the main character is working on. Clearly, this is where the author shines. I liked the message of prioritizing gardening/farming and how it related to global warming. I think, just like with the concept of grief, more could be done in this area of the story.

(3-3.5 stars) If you look at the cover and think, you are about to read a light hearted rom-com with Malibu Summer, you are not. This is a story about two people who are grieving the tragic loss of their spouses, in their own ways.... who somehow (I will get to the somehow), develop a romance. Ivy, a Soil Scientist, needs to get away after losing her husband, and ends up in Malibu with a gig as a Gardener for the estate of a hit TV writer/director/producer, Conrad. Conrad, coincidentally, recently had lost his wife, and is now raising his step-son, while battling his own grief and trying to make a new TV hit in order to provide for their new normal.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this-
Mak (Ivy's best friend) and Hudson (Conrad's Step Son) honestly caried the story for me. Mak's quick wit never failed to make me laugh and Hudson... that sweet baby boy, I just couldn't get enough of him. I especially love how quickly he warmed up to Ivy and how I ultimately believe they greatly impacted how the other one helped them heal.
I love the way this book told a story about grief in such a unique way that highlighted a lot of big things for me- everyone grieves differently, and it is OKAY to move on with your life (not just romantically, but feeling joy is okay too).
Okay and the DRAMA- I did not see the 3rd act of this book coming!!!! I could honestly not put the book down from 75% on, I had to know what happened. My jaw was on the floooooor. Truly was in tears by the end.

Unfortunately what I felt like this book was lacking the most was the romance. I understand Conrad and Ivy were grieving, so the pacing needed to happen a bit slower than just getting right into it, but the romance didn't feel organic whatsoever. Once it "picked up", it felt random. I wanted there to be some form of tension, slow-burn, or even some kind of "I want them but I shouldn't", but that didn't even come until AFTER the first kiss.
I honestly felt like this was written more like a TV show or Movie Script DIALOUGE, without the ques from the characters on how to act... completely missing the build up, stolen glances, etc.

All & all, I did really enjoy this book and probably would have rated it a 5/5 if the romance was developed better. I do think this would make a GREAT movie. It would be so fun to watch.

This was so much more then I thought when I requested it in the best way! It wasn’t just a romance but really a story of grief and second chances. It had such nice depth to it in addition to a romance that had me very invested. I loved the characters and the setting. Would recommend 100%!

3.5 stars, rated up

Malibu Summer was a fine blend of women’s fiction, character evolution, grief, and the feelings that accompany a new romance.

There’s a lot of grieving in Malibu Summer - the romance is very much secondary.

While I enjoyed this one, I didn’t love it.



Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the DRC

I recently immersed myself in this absorbing opposites-attract romance, beautifully set against the sunny backdrop of Malibu. The story follows Ivy Bauer, a talented soil scientist and inventor who faces a tragic turn when her husband dies in a biking accident. Seeking solace, she takes on a summer gardening job in Malibu.

Enter Conrad Reed, a once-wealthy Hollywood figure struggling to balance his responsibilities after his wife's passing, including caring for his anxious stepson and managing his sprawling estate. He hopes Ivy can alleviate some of his burden, but their initial interactions are far from smooth leading to a clash of wills and unexpected sparks.

As Ivy connects with Conrad's stepson, Hudson, a gradual transformation takes place, thawing Conrad's heart and setting the stage for a deeply touching love story to unfold.

This book is a delightful journey that blends heartache, personal growth, and the blossoming of an unlikely romance. The author paints a vivid picture of Malibu, while expertly weaving together the emotional landscapes of grief, family dynamics, and the tender development of love. I found myself captivated by the characters and their evolving relationships, and I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a heartfelt and engaging romantic tale!

This is one of the best literary fiction books i gave 5 stars to! Perfect summer read when you’re laying by the pool or beach and just need nostalgic vibes. Can’t wait for everyone to read this. I have read Judy Blume and now this one and would absolutely recommend this author! Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Libby Gill is truly one of the most gifted authors I’ve ever read. The writing was flawless, and the deep emotions she conveys through her words stay with you long after you finish the book. Undoubtedly, a full 5 stars read for me.

This was an enjoyable novel, with an interesting premise and good cast of characters. It held my interest, and had good themes of learning to grieve and second chances.

This was cute. I don’t think I was fully rooting for the characters. It was sad at times. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters but I enjoyed it. I just felt like something was missing at parts.