A book about books and bookstores, I love it! Add in a beautiful coastal town, friendships, and a little drama and I am definitely here for it! There’s family drama, rekindled love, and two adorable babies. Have I hooked you yet? Everything a great beach read is made of can be found right here.

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner was an enjoyable read for me. I liked Shelby, although she should have understood why her friends were upset with her. Shelby is an author who wrote about what/who she knows. She did change the names and situations, however her friends recognized themselves in her book. Her book led to hard feelings between the friends. I loved the small town bookstore in the book. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

This is a good feel good book. Its about Shelby and Justin, they were high school sweethearts but once they went ot college they broke up. They each had their own careers. A friend of Shelby's asks her to come to her family bookstore to run it while she was on bedrest. While helping out her friend, Shelby runs into Justin. The attraction is evident and they fall in love again.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Shelby and Justin. During high school these two dated. When it came time to go to college they broke up. Shelby went on to be an author. Justin went on to working with aquatic animals. Shelby comes back when her friend calls to ask her to come run her family’s bookstore because she has been put on bed rest with her twins. She comes to help her and keeps running into Justin. Justin breaks up with his girlfriend because she hasn’t been telling the truth. He starts dating Shelby and they fall in love.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner!

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner is a heartfelt and charming exploration of love, redemption, and the transformative power of second chances. Shelby Archer, an author whose debut bestseller was inspired by her time in Provincetown on Cape Cod, returns to the town expecting a warm welcome. Instead, she faces cold shoulders and resentment from those she once considered friends—those who feel betrayed by the fictionalized version of their lives in her book.

Heartbroken and struggling with the fallout of her success, Shelby finds herself back in Provincetown, this time to manage the cozy and beloved Land's End bookshop for the summer. As she immerses herself in the world of books—steamy romances, dusty classics, and the stories of the customers she serves—Shelby seeks to mend relationships and regain the trust she lost, all while grappling with her own personal and professional dilemmas.

Brenner’s novel is rich with warmth and small-town charm, capturing the magic of Cape Cod in the summer and the nostalgic allure of independent bookstores. Shelby’s journey of growth, reconciliation, and finding balance between her career and her relationships makes for an engaging and poignant read. The book beautifully explores the idea that success can come at a cost, but that it's never too late to make things right.

A Novel Summer is a delightful read for anyone looking for a feel-good story that blends themes of friendship, love, and the pursuit of personal happiness. With relatable characters and a strong sense of place, Jamie Brenner’s novel is a perfect escape for readers seeking a heartfelt, cozy tale.

As a favor to a friend, new novelist Shelby Archer manages a bookstore in Provincetown, Massachusetts, over the summer in A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner. She's been coming to the Cape for several summers since she met her dear friends Colleen and Hunter, but the reception she gets is not as friendly as she hoped. Her new, bestselling novel isn't winning over P-town natives like Hunter or her ex-boyfriend Justin that she unceremoniously ditched. Will her return to her favorite summer place reclaim the friendships she's lost and heal past hurts?

I was eager to read this novel because I've enjoyed many of Brenner's books. They're in the same vein as Elin Hilderbrand with a summer getaway to a place on the Cape, the Hamptons, and even the Jersey Shore. You know there will be drama, romance, and scenery to reel you in. This has all of those elements, but it's predictable and reads like a cookie-cutter of many other beach reads of this nature.

The main characters will bring to mind the usual stereotypes of characters from the promiscuous rich girl to the brooding ex-boyfriend with some quirky characters added. I liked the characters but wasn't so engaged with them. Some are drawn with more depth than others. At times, I couldn't understand how they all got in their own ways or seemed so surprised by predictable events. For example, Shelby seemed naïve to not realize that drawing from her experiences and her friends may ruffle a few feathers.

Some plot points were unique yet most were pretty much your usual tropes. Of course, the endings work out way too well and too quickly do people take up with others in a romantic fashion. You see what's coming way ahead of time. I will say, having worked in a bookstore, a publishing company, and writing for a living made many of the inside baseball descriptions of all those industries fun to read. I could relate in many ways, and I did love hearing from the differing perspectives of those in the industry.

While this book is standard fare, I enjoyed reading it. It's your usual beach read, which isn't really a complaint, but it's not going to captivate you for more than a few days. It's quick and fun to read along with more serious or engaging books or to take along for a weekend. I will stick with Brenner because I do like her books.

Novel Summer is a book about Shelby, who is an author who got inspiration from her first novel in a town called Provincetown.

She returns to town when the book becomes a bestseller but instead of celebration she's met with cold shoulders.

Shelby tries to move on but gets a call from a friend that they need help running a bookshop for the summer so Shelby returns.

The synopsis sounded great but I feel the author could have gone deeper. The characters and what I felt I knew about them was shallow. Shelby is also someone that makes a lot of mistakes and never learns from them. Which yes that is sometimes being human but there is no character development.

Jamie Brenner’s A Novel Summer is a delightful second-chance summer romance that beautifully intertwines themes of friendship, love, and the pursuit of dreams. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Provincetown, Cape Cod, this story offers a heartwarming look at how life’s twists and turns can bring people back together, even after years apart.

The story revolves around three college friends—Shelby, Hunter, and Colleen—whose shared love of literature initially brought them together. Years later, their paths have diverged: Shelby is a writer in New York, Hunter is an editor in Boston, and Colleen manages her family’s bookstore in their beloved Provincetown. When fate intervenes—Hunter loses her job, and Shelby returns to Provincetown for personal reasons—the trio reunites for the first time in three years. Together, they navigate career challenges, rekindle old friendships, and explore unresolved romantic feelings.

Brenner does a wonderful job of portraying the complexities of relationships—romantic, platonic, and professional. Each character is distinct, with relatable struggles and growth arcs that keep the story engaging. The author’s focus on the different dynamics at play adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a romance. The seaside setting of Provincetown enhances the charm, making it an ideal summer escape.

However, one minor drawback is the occasional confusion caused by abrupt shifts in point of view. While it doesn’t detract significantly from the story, a smoother transition between perspectives would have enhanced the reading experience.

Overall, A Novel Summer is a sweet and satisfying tale of second chances, self-discovery, and the enduring power of friendship. It’s a perfect pick for readers who love character-driven stories set in idyllic coastal towns.

Thank you to Jamie Brenner, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, summer read that I especially enjoyed being familiar with Cape Cod. Rising author, Shelby, draws inspiration from her time on the Cape but her novel hits a little too on the mark for one of her friends. Alongside that conflict, another friend seeks Shelby's help with her bookstore over the summer. How will it be for Shelby to return to her roots? What awaits her is far more complex than one friend feeling exposed. As she helps with the bookstore while working on novel #2, she is reunited with friends and acquaintances and faced with a town that is exploring new initiatives. Will she be able to advocate for what she feels passionate about and effect change, or will the scars her novel created, force her out of the area for good? Thanks to Park Row and Net Galley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I am going to keep this brief and short. I was hoping for more of a beach romance in 'A Novel Summer' by Jamie Brenner. However, a few times I felt lost and had to reread some pages just to figure out who's point of view I was reading. The story does change between several characters, except the one best friend Colleen. I will say I did read an unedited version and hoping the published version has some sort of distinctive way marked to show the story is switching POV.

I also had a hard time relating to Shelby, the main character, with all the mistakes she kept making and not learning from them, until the very end. Glad she finally did, but man while reading I kept wanting to yell at her. LoL

I will say it was quick read, and I will give Jamie Brenner another chance and read another one of her books.

** Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Jamie Brenner for an eARC copy of 'A Novel Summer'.

I love Jamie Brenner for my character driven dramas! This was no exception - I also always wanna import myself into her settings. This was another good one!

I think that the concept of this book was an amazing idea. I lover reading books about authors, but I went into this book thinking it would have a similar vibe as Beach Read by Emily Henry and I feel like this caused the book to fall short for me. The romance fell a bit short for me and there were times when I was confused with the different POV's. I enjoyed all of the scenes showcasing life as an author as well as the story being set in Cape Cod. Overall it is a nice summer read, there just happened to be multiple points where I wanted more from the story.

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner is a beautifully written, soul-soothing story about second chances, forgiveness, and the power of books. What I love about Brenner's writing is how she captures the emotional depth of her characters. Shelby’s journey is one of growth, redemption, and finding balance between her career and the people who matter most. The Cape Cod setting only enhances the story, adding a layer of nostalgia and warmth.

If you’ve loved Jamie Brenner’s backlist books (I loved Blush and Guilt), A Novel Summer will not disappoint. It’s the perfect blend of emotional depth and summer charm. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner is called a beach read, as is the book that its main character Shelby publishes. Shelby’s characters seem to resemble her friends, which causes rifts in some of her oldest friendships. She returns to Provincetown to help her friend run her book store and tries to make amends with those she has hurt. This story is told from various viewpoints including Shelby’s friend Hunter (a woman named Hunter was confusing to me…), her ex boyfriend Justin, and Justin’s mom Carmen. There were a few subplots and my favorite was the one about Justin’s sister. While this does include a bit of a second chance love story, that is not the main focus of the book. As a light read, this one served its purpose!

Three years after abruptly leaving her friends, boyfriend, and local town in order to pursue a career goal, SHelby Archer finds herself back in Cape Cod. Now a successful author working on her second novel, Shelby is not prepared when she finds some hurt feelings in those she loves, as they feel she used their private lives and personal stories to fuel her first novel's plot.

I would consider A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner to be a "coming of age" novel however I had issues with how Brenner wrote the characters. Almost every character was so self absorbed in their own problems it was distracting to the reader. I understand much of the personality traits were used as plot points and illustrations of how the women in the novel grew and matured; but it was insulting to the intelligence of the audience in the way Brenner believed the reader would just understand and sympathize with Shelby.

Jamie Brenner has written many good books in my opinion. This was not one of them.

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner is a mixed bag for me. While there are elements of the story that are engaging, it ultimately falls short in several key areas, leaving me with a sense of disappointment—especially given my appreciation for Brenner’s other works.

The premise is promising: a bestselling author, Shelby Archer, returns to Provincetown, the place that inspired her first novel, to reconcile with old friends and manage a local bookstore. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the potential. The book feels disjointed, with too much focus on descriptions, while the character development of the three central women—Shelby, Colleen, and Hunter—feels underdeveloped. I really wanted more depth and insight into their relationships, especially Colleen, who was a central part of Shelby's summer but had very little voice in the narrative. Their friendship felt flat, and I was disappointed by how little time the characters actually spent together. Instead of meaningful interactions, they often texted or barely communicated—particularly Shelby and Colleen, who, despite being best friends, didn’t seem to connect in a way that felt authentic.

The plot is also driven by the "miscommunication" trope, but this was frustrating more than it was compelling. There was very little direct dialogue between the friends, and much of the conflict could have been avoided with more open communication. It's difficult to fully invest in a friendship storyline when the friends spend most of their time apart or texting each other.

That said, A Novel Summer has its redeeming qualities. The character arcs, particularly Hunter’s, did provide some emotional payoff by the end, and the story does wrap up in a satisfying way, albeit predictably. There are some sweet moments, and I appreciated the overall sense of hope and second chances. It also serves as an easy, breezy beach read, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a light summer novel.

The setting of Provincetown, which could have been a character in itself, sadly didn’t get the love it deserved. The town could have been anywhere along the northeastern coast, and that was a missed opportunity. In contrast, authors like Carley Fortune are experts at making their locations feel like integral parts of the story, and I would have loved to see more of that here.

That said, A Novel Summer does have its strengths: it’s an easy read, offers some good character arcs, and wraps up with a decent ending. For readers looking for a beachy, feel-good romance with some drama and a few good moments of growth, this book will likely be enjoyable. For those familiar with Jamie Brenner’s other works, however, this may not be as strong a showing. It’s definitely a letdown compared to her previous books, but I’m hopeful that future releases will return to the level of storytelling I’ve come to expect from her.

Overall, this is a good read for a light beach vacation, but don't expect the depth and charm that the premise promises.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

📱 A NOVEL SUMMER by Jamie Brenner
4 stars

Genre: contemporary fiction
Did I cry: no
Published in 2024

💭: this book was the perfect summer beach read🥹 i absolutely live for a cape cod beach-town setting, and the idea of a local author moving home to help run/save the local independent book store while mending broken friendships and relationships i mean come on!! couldn’t have been better. the characters were great and the plot was great. I don’t think the book particularly wowed me, but then again it’s rare that i feel that way towards contemporary fiction. It was just enjoyable for what it was! Def recommend for a light, fun summer read.

Let’s book made me happy for so many reasons. As an elementary school librarian, that would love to own my very own book shop and write a book of my own, it just hit all the connections for me. I love the storyline and relationship dynamics.

I have read and enjoyed this author before and definitely enjoyed this one.

Would be a great beach read. Three women, Shelby, Hunter and Colleen were college friends. They spent summers in the same beach town. After graduation their lives took different paths.

Shelby, now an author, returns to the beach town to promote her book. Some of her friends aren't happy with the book and that they may be portrayed in it. She also encounters her ex boyfriend, who she parted ways with to move away and pursue her writing.

This was a fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an eARC.