3.5 stars
A Novel Summer, by Jamie Brenner, is a friendship based summer-themed book that follows three friends, Shelby, Hunter and Colleen who go there separate ways at graduation. They return back, years later, at a book signing event and the reunion is less than welcoming.

As the characters return to Provincetown on Cape Cod, the small town beachy scene is quaint and summery. The bookstore setting is also perfect for book lovers. The characters have to navigate through hurt, betrayal, misunderstandings, and the potential impending loss of a family business.

The story includes the miscommunication trope, and certain characters who made the same poor choices over and over. There was frustration over the behavior of Hunter, whom I found to be an aggravating character and her attitude disconnected me from the story, to a degree. The story also hops from one character’s perspective to another with little warning. All-in-all, this drama-filled, character-driven, seasonal story was entertaining and atmospheric, but not my favorite of the summer.

Another great Jamie Brenner book! Three college friends, Colleen, Hunter, and Shelby, reunite in Provincetown, a small beach town where they spent a few summers.
Colleen, a native of PTown, ran the family bookstore.
Shelby, an aspiring author, returns to PTown, to promote her first novel set in PTown.
Hunter, whose rich family has a beach house in PTown.
When Shelby returns, she doesn’t get the reception she imagined, but is asked by Colleen to run the bookstore when forced to bed rest during her pregnancy with twins.
All three ladies have life decisions to make this summer, and ultimately decide what is really important.
I enjoyed the book, but found Colleen to be whiny! I would have told her to get with it!
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my feedback.

I hesitate to call this a rom-com because it wasn't really comedic, but this is definitely a perfect lightweight beach read/summer read. There are several characters that we get to know enough about that we understand them even though it almost feels like this could be a sequel to a book with their story from before this novel began.
It's funny because when I looked this book up to add on Goodreads I was surprised how many other books Jamie Brenner has written. Since this is a story about a first time author I was mishmashing her with the real author as if this was her story. I think this speaks to the fact that I was believing the story which makes me like a book more.
The town (Provincetown-aka Ptown) was like another character in the story. All I ever knew about Province town was it is a town welcoming to gay culture and lifestyle. I felt like this book did not emphasize this and let me see it's other characteristics too which was educational and less stereotyping.

Can you go home after you've written about your friends? Shelby does, even though some of them have shunned her, because her pal Colleen needs help running her bookstore while on bedrest. Told by Shelby, Colleen, and Hunter this is very much about friendship and forgiveness-with a touch of romance. Big quibble- it baffles me how a novel set in Provincetown doesn't include or even acknowledge its longstanding and vibrant LGBTQ community. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Fans of this genre know that it will make a good beach read.

Jamie Brenner is one of my favorite authors, and I loved everything about her newest novel, “A Novel Summer”. In this well-written and captivating novel, I appreciate how Jamie Brenner describes the importance of literacy, bookstores, authors, readers, friends and community. The author vividly describes the scenic landscape of Provincetown, on Cape Cod. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex and complicated. The Genres for this novel are Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance and Fiction.

Shelby Archer is a published and established author, who goes home to visit two of her estranged friends. From Shelby’s novel, some of the people in Provincetown compare themselves to the fictional characters, and have conflicting feelings. Shelby’s ex-boyfriend is an environmentalist, and helps his community, but Shelby is anxious about seeing him and his family. One of Shelby’s friends owns the town bookstore, and is incapacitated and asks Shelby to help run it. At this time, it seems one of the bigger Bookstores will be competition for the small bookstore.

Jamie Brenner vividly describes the roles of publishing houses, agents, publicists, the difficulties of being a bookseller and an author. Literacy is so important to me, and I found that this was the perfect summer read. I highly recommend this book to others.

This was such a good book to start while sitting on the beach! Set in Cape Code, I just imagined I was vacationing there and part of the gang she depicted. After years apart Hunter, Shelby, and Colleen return to their home and reconnect, through some turbulence, after being separate since they graduated. Shelby returns a best selling author, Colleen asks her to watch over the bookstore for the summer (wish it was a real one I could visit!) and Hunter is agitated, feeling a bit like Shelby used too much of their personal stories.

This was very fast paced and gave us each other their perspectives, sometimes a little jumpy but overall was such a fun, easy summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ARC. It’s set in Provincetown (or Ptown as the locals say). It’s the story of three young women who became friends while spending summers in Provincetown. Now a couple of years later, Shelby has just written a best selling beach read and is working at her pregnant (with twins!) friend’s bookstore. Hunter, the third friend, comes from a very wealthy family and she’s trying to work in the publishing field. There’s drama, of course, and quite a lot of casual sex. It hits many progressive themes with lesbian marriage, gay men entanglements, unmarried pregnancy, and casual sex. The story was disorganized. I won’t be reading another book by this author.

A perfect beach read! From the gorgeous summer setting to the three intriguing characters, Brenner had me hooked the entire time. This fast-paced story of friendship with some smaller romance stories on the side was such a treat. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Bookstores? Check. Novelist woes? Check. Cape Cod setting? Second chances? Check. This novel had everything that made for a perfect beach read. I loved it.

This book was perfect for summer! It's about Shelby, who comes back to Cape Cod after becoming a bestselling author after her debut novel. However, she's met with a somewhat cold reception from one of her best friends, who thinks that she exploited her background/story for the book. Shelby is asked by one of her other best friends, Colleen, to run her bookstore for the summer. The rest of the book follows Shelby and Hunter, along with a few other characters during that summer.

I loved the setting of the book, I had never been to Cape Cod before (barely knew anything about it), so I enjoyed reading about the beach setting and the small town. There wasn't a ton of beach in the novel, but the summer-y small town made up for that part. I also liked the bookstore aspect--it was so cool that the bookstore manager knew so much about the locals who shopped there and was cute to read about. I wish we had more of that!

My biggest critique of the book is that the characters felt flat. The book is written from the perspectives of Shelby, Hunter, Justin (Shelby's ex), and Carmen (Justin's mother). Each of those 4 start with an archetype and don't develop into complex characters at all, they stay one-dimensional. There were way too many characters in this book (especially Duke + Doug having similar names!) that I had a hard time keeping track of everyone. I didn't relate to the characters at all and thought the choice in POVs was weird. Why didn't Colleen have a POV? She's part of the girl trio and the other 2 had one.

Plot-wise, it worked okay. The characters made dumb decisions and their fights could have been solved by being mature, communicative adults, but there needs to be some conflict for a book to progress, and that is very common, so I'm fine with it. I liked the part with Mia the most.

I think this is a fun, beach/summer-y read. It's not super heavy or requires intense focus, so it's perfect for the summer season, or when you want a light-hearted "beach book" (I mean this in the best way!). I gave it a 3 because while it was fun, I had a couple issues (that can be easily overlooked) and it won't stick with me long-term.

Thank you to NetGalley + Harlequin Publishing for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Novel Summer fell so completely flat for me. When I read the book description I thought it would be a great “beach read” and I loved the idea of the bookstore setting and friends reconnecting but I really could not relate to any of the characters and the jumping narrations really drove me bonkers. I kept feeling like I had missed something.

3.5 Stars!

“A book was company. A book was belonging.”

This is a cute read perfect for the summer!

It is a very light and fun read with a great premise! I absolutely loved the setting in Provincetown! And really liked the happy ending!

It did get very confusing that the POV would change in the middle of a chapter and not have smooth transitions. However, I was reading an early digital ARC, so maybe the formatting was off and the actual book has symbols in between the paragraphs where the POV changes, so then it would work.

I get some miscommunication was needed, but at times it felt a little overdone.

Overall a fun summer read!💛

This was a fun summer book that I was lucky enough to read in an early review copy courtesy of Netgalley.

When an author thinks she will spend a quiet summer on the Cape to finish her second novel, things take a turn when she needs to help out her best friend who is on bedrest for her pregnancy just as the summer season is getting underway for the bookstore she manages. Old flames are rekindled and old friendships spark to life and quickly get snuffed out along the way.

Sure to be a big summer read!

I thought this was a cute quick summer read. I love the setting of Provincetown on Cape Cod as it’s one of my favorite places in New England. I had the remind myself how young many of the characters in this one were because I found them a bit naive but again they are in their early to mid 20s. I think it was a super relatable read of the choices we make after graduating college and how those shape the rest of our lives. Also how the story revolves so much around friendship and relationships as a whole was pretty well done. I did find it a bit confusing at times with how many characters and POVs there were so it made it hard to follow sometimes but overall I enjoyed the story and thought the ending was really good.

Beautifully written novel set on the Cape Cod coast makes this a perfect beach read. The main character, Shelby is on the up of her career as a novelist. She decides to come back home and help one of her best friends with her bookstore. Coming back home also means she runs into her ex-boyfriend who has met someone else. Shelby’s character is very relatable when it comes to balancing a career, work, and deciding your path even if that means you have to leave people behind to find it. I enjoyed this easy quick read.

I've enjoyed all of Jamie Brenner's previous books. I was happy to finish Novel Summer but it did fall a little flat to me. Mainly because I was more interested in some of the side characters as opposed to Shelby.

This book initially seemed like the perfect choice for a fun summer beach read. The cover and synopsis promised a light-hearted story with sun, sand, and sea. However, while the narrative did touch upon beach scenes, it predominantly centered around the life and happenings of a quaint bookstore.

The plot and setting evoked memories of Emily Henry's Book Lovers, with its charming literary references and cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately, the similarities ended there. Unlike Henry's seamless storytelling, this book struggled with disjointed writing and confusing transitions between points of view and dialogue.

The shifts in perspective were often abrupt and jarring, making it difficult to stay engaged with the characters and their journeys. Additionally, the story lacked a compelling climax or significant problem that would have added the necessary drama to elevate the plot. I found myself yearning for more intensity and depth to the storyline, which would have made the reading experience more satisfying.

In summary, while the book had potential with its appealing premise and charming setting, it ultimately fell short due to its erratic writing style and insufficient dramatic tension. It left me wishing for a more cohesive narrative and a more thrilling, engaging plot.

I liked this book, but didn't love it. The story is told from a lot of different people's perspectives and the book doesn't alert you to whose perspective it is immediately, sometimes you had to wait several sentences or a paragraph to find out whose POV it was. Very confusing and annoying.


Not a great romance. Way more about the friendship, just for those wondering. Felt like this could have been different and fleshed out more while still allowing for a lot of conflict and resolution among the three friends.

If you’re craving a perfect summer read that combines the charm of seaside towns with rich, emotional storytelling, look no further than Jamie Brenner's "A Novel Summer." This book effortlessly blends family drama, romance, and personal growth into a delightful package that will keep you turning pages well into those warm, sunny afternoons.

"A Novel Summer" introduces us to Julia Greene, a bestselling author grappling with writer's block and a crumbling marriage. Desperate for a change of scenery and some inspiration, she retreats to the idyllic coastal town of Sag Harbor. What she finds there is more than just a picturesque backdrop for her next novel; it's a community filled with intriguing characters and untold stories waiting to be uncovered.

Julia's journey is one of self-discovery and reinvention. As she navigates her own personal upheavals, she encounters locals who are dealing with their own challenges and secrets. There's Olivia, the fiercely independent bookstore owner with a hidden past, and Nick, the charming carpenter who’s more than meets the eye. These characters add depth and warmth to the narrative, making Sag Harbor feel like a place you’d want to visit.

Jamie Brenner’s writing is evocative and immersive. She has a gift for creating settings that come alive with vivid descriptions, making you feel the salty breeze and hear the waves crashing against the shore. Her characters are well-drawn and relatable, each with their own distinct voice and story arc. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, reflecting the complexities of real-life relationships and personal struggles.

At its core, "A Novel Summer" is about finding one's true self amidst the chaos of life. It explores themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the healing power of community. Julia’s growth from a woman on the brink of despair to someone who rediscovers her passion and purpose is both inspiring and heartwarming.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about personal transformation and the magic of new beginnings. Jamie Brenner has crafted a tale that is both poignant and uplifting, perfect for those lazy days by the beach or cozy evenings at home. Whether you’re in need of a little escape or some heartfelt inspiration, "A Novel Summer" delivers on all fronts.

In conclusion, "A Novel Summer" is a beautifully told story that captures the essence of starting over and the unexpected places where we find ourselves again. Jamie Brenner's ability to weave together love, loss, and redemption in a picturesque setting makes this book a standout in contemporary fiction. So grab your sunhat, find a comfy spot, and get ready to lose yourself in a novel that truly celebrates the spirit of summer.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book.

Shelby, Hunter, and Colleen are best friends who spend summers in Provincetown, Cape Cod while they are in college. Upon graduation, all three work in the publishing industry in some form or other. Colleen manages a bookstore, Hunter works as an editor, and Shelby, only three years after graduation, becomes a best selling author. This is when the trouble starts. Shelby, in her best seller, has based her characters on her friends and her life in Provincetown. Hunter is especially upset.

I just found the characters of Shelby and Hunter so frustrating. Shelby was clueless. Why would her friends be upset she based characters on them without their permission? As for Hunter, she just needed to get over herself and out of her own way. Perhaps I found the characters so frustrating because they were so young. Three years out of college with a best seller. Really? Perhaps it was their immature reactions to everything?

Regardless, everything works out in the end for the three women. Plus, there are lovely, summery descriptions of life on the island with lots and lots of books.