Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for the opportunity to read A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner. A perfect summer beach read - Hooray!

First of all I'd like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to explore a new-to-me author and to share my honest thoughts on this book. I fell into the plot quite quickly and found myself imagining how it would feel to have a close friend write a book where a character resembled me in the story. Then I started to really enjoy learning about the ins and outs of actually being an author and all that goes along with writing a book, dealing with publishers, agents, editors, bookstores and getting it out to readers. I was entertained until the very end.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Jamie Brenner's previous novels but this one just missed the mark for me. The setting of Provincetown was the perfect place for a beach read about friendship with a little romance but I found myself not relating to a single character. Hunter especially annoyed me and I feel that the only thing Shelby actually knew how to write is other people's stories from her real life. Even her other friend Colleen got on my nerves towards the end of the novel. I was confused when the novel unnecessarily jumped POVs from different characters and I lost track of the more minor ones, like Duke and Justin's mom. Unfortunately, I found this book to be just an average read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was an OK read, I read this on kindle and there were many many typos and missing words. It very much distracted me from reading. Hopefully that gets worked out before publishing.

A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner had my interest right from the first chapter!
It is the perfect blend of romance, rivalry, and the charm of nostalgic summers.
The character development in the story was very well done, each with their own quirks that make them feel incredibly real.
In addition, this story beautifully captures the essence of nostalgic summers. My favourite!
The vivid descriptions of sun-soaked days, lazy afternoons, and the enchanting atmosphere of the small town and local bookstore create a perfect setting for a summer romance.
Author Jamie Brenner’s ability to evoke such a strong sense of place and time is truly commendable.

Overall, “A Novel Summer “ is a heartwarming read that combines the thrill of rivalry, deep friendships, the sweetness of romance, and the warmth of summer nostalgia.

Highly recommend!

Thankyou to Author Jamie Brenner , Netgalley and Park Row publishing for the opportunity to read this book ahead of published date.
Charlene Keller @lastnownext 📚🤗🌸

Shelby Archer is an author who wrote her first book about her summers in Provincetown, Rhode Island. But when her friends felt like the story was too close to home, it left a few of them feeling exposed and betrayed.

Desperate to make things right and looking for inspiration for her sophomore novel, she returns to Provincetown to help local bookseller, Colleen, who is now on bedrest. Now Shelby can heal her friendships and have a wonderful summer – if she can avoid her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, who happens to be opening a competing bookstore.

Why I Liked It: Fans of nostalgic Jamie Brenner rejoice! She’s back to her beach reads roots with this return to Provincetown and some of our favorite characters make it into the story! It was fun to reconnect with the locale and its inhabitants.

Another great summer read by Jamie Brenner. I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it took place on the Cape. I loved the characters.

This book is an example of why I love Jamie Brenner's books. The characters may be flawed, but work through those flaws, and emerge stronger than when they started. Her settings are always interesting and makes the reader desire to visit. But most of all her plots are intricate--like a ball of yarn they start to unwind and then run into tangles, as a reader, I hold my breathe to see how she works the tangles out--she always does and then finishes the knitted garment to everyone's satisfaction. Sometimes, as with this book, I learned quite a bit about publishing, book tours and agents. I will anxiously await Ms. Brenner's next book.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @parkrowbooks and @netgalley for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
“A bestselling author finds love and second chances in the stacks of a quaint beach town bookshop.”
I love books that take place in small beach towns and I love books about bookstores so A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner was a must read for me.
When Shelby Archer publishes her first novel based on her experiences living in Provincetown on Cape Cod during her college summers, she’s disappointed to find out that some of her friends feel exposed and betrayed by her book. But when one of her friends needs help for the summer running her family’s bookstore back in Provincetown, Shelby returns to assist and try to resolve things. As Shelby reconnects with old friends and old flames, she also works to save her friend’s family independent bookstore from both natural disaster and a bookstore chain that has recently come to town.
This is such a summer beach read and makes me want to travel to all the small towns on the Cape. I love the authors and book references and the talk about writing, editing and the publishing world. While this book does have romantic notes in it, it’s really a book about friendship and coming home. Woven through the story is a commentary on the impacts of climate change, especially on the smaller, coastal communities, through Justin’s career and some of the events that take place.
Also, Shelby and her friend go to “a bar called the Library. It had bookshelf-lined walls and cognac-colored velvet armchairs.” Is this real? Can we go there?
I’ve read a few of Jamie Brenner’s books and I was excited to go back to Provincetown with this one. I’m excited to go back and read more of her backlist.
I'm giving this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Park Row for providing this book, with my honest review below.

A Novel Summer was a great book as the temperatures warm up and I dream of being on a shore somewhere. Provincetown, where Shelby is temporarily relocating to for the summer, is so well done in its descriptions including the citizens that I could see the charm of the beach and the very old buildings. Some oddball and generally caring for one another folks in the town created a warm and friendly environment I felt transported to.

Shelby’s relationships with her friends, Hunter and Colleen, as well as her ex Justin were also well done. I loved Justin and his family members and was glad this book delved into different perspectives and added in some non Shelby specific storylines that rounded out this novel. A cute romance and touching story, if you dream of getting small town charm by the ocean or are lucky enough to have that today, this is the perfect summer book.

Like the title of the book suggests, “A Novel Summer” by Jamie Brenner makes for good beach reading. Three best friends come together after they’d parted ways in their quaint beach town where they’d spent summers upon college graduation. One went on to become a best-selling novelist. One stayed in town to run her family’s bookstore. And the other, returned to her parents’ summer estate when her career as a book editor didn’t pan out. Of course, there was a guy left behind, who had been devastated when what he had believed to be the love of his life had walked away.

I really wanted to love this book, but I can’t say I did. It had all of the makings of the perfect escape novel, but to be honest, I didn’t like the characters all that much. Two of them seemed selfish (or clueless about the feelings of others) and one of them had been barely fleshed out.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read an ARC of this novel. My opinion is my own.

A Novel Summer is the perfect beachy, summer read!! This will be a quick, easy ready while you work on your tan. I will definitely check out more books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing|Park Row for an ARC copy of this book.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

Shelby Archer used her summers in Provincetown with her two best friends as inspiration for her novel; what she didn’t realize is how much her friends and some of the neighbors would not appreciate their contribution as her inspiration. Now, as a bestselling author, she is coming back for another summer to help with the local bookstore when her friend is on bed rest, and she is getting the cold shoulder from those who felt taken advantage of and from her ex boyfriend who she coldly left behind. After being back for a while, Shelby is realizing how much she loves the Cape and begins to wonder whether her success is worth the sacrifices she has been making.

This is a great book to throw in your bag and take to the beach, it’s fun and has all the feels you need for a great read while sitting in a lounge chair (maybe with a glass of rose?) under an umbrella. I love going back to Provincetown with Jamie Brenner and visiting with the new characters she creates, her books are like a warm blanket on your legs while sitting on a chair by a bonfire. I still have some of her backlist to read, and plan on doing it this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parker Row for the Arc to review

The story line was enjoyable but I had a hard time emotionally connecting with the characters. It was frustrating to watch the main character repeat her big mistake from the beginning of the book all over again and not realize what she was doing.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into "A Novel Summer," and what a delightful read it was! Set in a quaint beach town, the story follows three friends entrenched in the book industry. The vivid descriptions transported me to the idyllic coastal setting, where I could almost feel the sand between my toes. As the characters navigate heartbreak and new beginnings, their growth throughout the novel felt authentic and relatable. With its charming narrative and compelling characters, "A Novel Summer" is the perfect companion for a lazy day at the beach. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!

Great summer read, perfect for your beach getaway or staycation! Brenner has a knack for transporting her readers to Cape Cod and we vicariously enjoy every bit of it!

A trio of college friends must overcome their past frustrations with each other and life in order to grow their friendships into adulthood.

Shelby, a debut author, has found success writing what she knows, yet risks losing her friends because of that. Colleen and her bookshop are at a crossroads in life vs. career. Hunter must come to terms with her family wealth and phobias about relationships. Add in a host of interesting characters and relationships and you have the ingredients for a binge read!

Pack this book and you are set for a good time!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

This was my second time giving a Jamie Brenner novel a shot and I don't think I'll be returning as a reader. The premise for this novel--of three young women tied together by their time on Cape Cod each summer, one of whom writes a bestselling novel that's based on one of the other's life--was appealing and I was hoping for a fun, breezy read. I had the same feeling reading this book as Blush, one of Brenner's other books. The flow of information felt uneven and I didn't understand the characters' reactions to things. At times this felt more like an outline of a novel than a fully fleshed out narrative. I'm disappointed because I was hopeful on this one.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Novel Summer has all of the components of a perfect beach read with substance. The story is set in a quintessential beach town with a fitting cast of characters with a plot inclusive of second chance romance, friendship drama and a community supporting one another.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy. What a great beach read! Old friends who have gone their separate ways reunite for the summer that brings changes to their lives that they never imagined.