The story centers around three friends and the Lands End bookstore in Provincetown. Hunter, Shelby and Colleen spend summers together there through college and as college ends they go on separate journeys. Everything revolves around books - writing, selling, publishing and promoting, which I really enjoyed.
It was a little disjointed for me at times. The story at its base is about friendship and finding your true passion. I seemed to be drawn more to the secondary characters of Carmen and Mia than any of the main characters and Colleen was a whiny, pain in the ass.

I dnf’d for the time being. It’s just a little too slow for a summer read for me at the moment. But I am still very much interested in the story it just didn’t vibe with me at the time

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC!
 
This was as moving as it was frustrating. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, though! The characters could be very unlikeable at times, but the story itself was the perfect getaway.
 
A perfect read for the summer, this should be added to everyone’s summer TBR! A fun story of love and friendship and finding yourself along the way.

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this book even though it was pretty predictable. I have read better and I have read worse, it definitely was not a waste of my time. I was satisfactorily entertained!

DNF but I feel I read enough for a coherent review.

This was not for me, there was way too much going on, but I was also so bored, maybe I will try it again in the future when I want something slower and more low-key.

The formatting of this was also so hard to read as it was one giant document that did not feel properly spaced. I understand this can happen with ARCS but I do not run into this issue often.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the focus on how an author can weave parts of their lives into their novels, without realizing it, and "turn off" some of their friends/acquaintances because of how they see themselves in the characters. The setting of the Cape was perfect, especially as an alternative to the city life of NYC. I enjoyed not only the characters, but the storyline, and felt like it all worked together into a summer novel about a summer novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this story to begin with, some of the character introductions were confusing to me but once in it, I liked getting to know the characters and seeing how the story unfolded.

This one is for fans of love triangles and lots of drama!
It's a beach read that was quick and easy to read through but I felt like it needed more character development. There was also a lot of different conflicts being introduced that could have been explored more in depth. But because there were so many, that was not possible without making this a 600 page book. I loved how the town rallied behind their bookstore though!
The cover is screaming summer and is beautiful.

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.
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.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for an ARC of A Novel Summer!

There was much about this book that worked for me, and much that did not.

What worked for me: I loved the inside look at the publishing world and the work of an author! If you're a book lover, then you'll likely enjoy this one! I also loved the small-town feel and many of the characters.

What did not work for: Hunter was insufferable. I found her to be immature and many of the reasons why she was mad at Shelby just did not make sense. As much of the plot was driven by their friendship, I found myself wanting to skip over much of the book. Another aspect that did not work for me was the fact that the it did much more "telling" rather than "showing." When I read a book set on Cape Cod, I am looking for something atmospheric that will really put me in the setting, and this book unfortunately did not do that. So much could have been done with such an idyllic setting, and it really just fell flat.

Overall, a cute beach read but nothing to write home about.

“It felt as if she were standing at the intersection of her past and her future.”

A decent book for your beach bag, this is the story of three friends who naturally drift apart after college and then get back together three years later in Cape Cod. Shelby, a writer, has published her first book, loosely based on her college friends Hunter and Colleen. Colleen owns a bookstore and this is where Shelby kicks off her book tour. Now an established author, Shelby looks forward to a warm homecoming but is confronted by cold shoulders of neighbors and friends who feel exposed and betrayed. Shelby attempts to move on, put it all behind her and work on her new novel when she receives the call that a friend needs help for the summer. Reluctantly, Shelby returns to Provincetown to help manage her favorite hometown bookstore. While putting in time serving customers at the store, Shelby slowly regains the trust of those she had hurt. BUT as her manuscript deadlines approaches, she is forced to choose between her success and a second chance at love and belonging. Other characters are introduced. A lot of he said she said. There’s a love triangle and drama… with more drama outside of the broken hearts in a picturesque town that also goes through it when a huge storm pounds through, severely damaging the beloved bookstore.

This is great for a beach read, something to breeze through while relaxing amongst family/friends/minor distractions here and there. The characters (and there were a lot!) seemed dimensionless with dialogue and middle school issues that I couldn’t relate to. If I encountered this type of backstabbing from friends in my adult life… I think i would’ve weeded them out a long time ago. Then again they did just graduate from college and only three years had passed so that might explain the characters maturity level and mindless impulses. This may be the beach book for that age rose/coachella/glamping demographic. There was a rolling song-specific playlist throughout the book, nostalgic for lover’s of 80’s music. That and simple, gorgeous beach town with a bookstore life is what i favored most about this book.

Thanking NetGalley and Publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing for the #ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fun summer read for book lovers and best friends. Brenner does it again with this fun, easy beach read. A heart warming story of three best friends and the beach town that changes and shapes their lives and friendship throughout their teens and twenties.

A cute summer read, it wasn't quite the page turner I expected. I think a little more depth in the plot would have made it a quicker read for me.

Super sweet cute summer romance, it was the perfect beach read but lacked the usual depth I’ve come to love about recent romances releases

This was my first Jamie Brenner novel, and while it leaned a bit more towards New Adult (NA) than I expected from an adult fiction book, I found that aspect refreshing. I’ve always had a soft spot for NA books, so I was pleasantly surprised by the youthful energy and the themes of self-discovery that are often characteristic of the genre.

One of the standout elements of this book for me was the character of Hunter. Her journey was compelling, and I loved watching her grow and evolve throughout the story. The way Brenner portrays Hunter’s transformation is both relatable and inspiring. It serves as a reminder that personal growth is ongoing, even well into adulthood.

The novel also does a fantastic job of exploring the dynamics of adult friendships, which often differ significantly from the friendships we have as children. Brenner captures these nuances with a keen eye, highlighting how life’s experiences shape our relationships in ways that are sometimes unexpected but deeply meaningful.

That being said, while there were plenty of golden moments in the story, I found myself putting the book down and picking up other reads along the way. It didn’t quite grip me the way I hoped it would, and it stayed in my reading rotation longer than usual.

In the end, this was a good read—worthwhile for sure—but it didn’t quite make it to my list of favorites. Still, I think it’s a book that many readers will enjoy, especially those who appreciate well-developed characters and the intricacies of adult relationships.

Read 50% and just couldn’t connect with the story. Shelby kept doing stupid things over and over. Thank you for opportunity to read this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and loved, a few other books by this author. And I enjoyed this one as much as the others!

Jamie Brenner's A Novel Summer offers a delightful blend of charm and intrigue, perfect for a beach read. The story follows Shelby Archer, a successful up incoming author who returns to picturesque Provincetown on Cape Cod during her book tour. Having left the town years ago for New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a published author, Shelby is surprised by the chilly reception she receives from her once-close friends, Colleen and Hunter. As she grapples with the fallout and plans to focus on finishing her book tour and her next novel her plans are upended when Colleen, who runs the family-owned Land’s End bookstore, calls for help.

As the summer unfolds, Shelby and her friends must confront their shared past, navigate present challenges, and consider their futures. The novel explores themes of forgiveness, the resilience of friendships, and the possibility of new beginnings.
Brenner skillfully creates a vivid setting that makes you want to visit Provincetown while reading this novel and own a bookstore.

The book’s exploration of the literary world, from writing to running a bookstore, adds a layer of cozy and nostalgia for book lovers. While the primary focus is on Shelby’s journey to reconcile with her past and rebuild relationships, the subplot of romance adds a sweet touch without overshadowing the central themes.

Overall, A Novel Summer is a fast-paced, enjoyable read that combines a scenic setting with relatable characters and compelling drama. It’s an ideal choice for a summer escape, whether you're lounging by the pool or soaking up the sun on the beach.

everything about this book makes me want to move to ptown indefinitely and run a bookstore, write a book and fall in love with an old flame

Cute summer read with the premise of a small beach town rallying behind a local bookstore. Some of the storyline seemed a big disjointed, but the book was incredibly easy to read. Definitely a quick bingeable summer read!

thank you netgalley for this arc, all opinions are my own