Another beautifully written women's fiction/ family drama by Susan Mallery. There are unique characters in Erica (the ex-wife of Peter and mother of Summer) and Allison (the current wife of Peter and Summer's stepmom). Peter gets arrested for money laundering and all his bank accounts are frozen leaving Allison without any money and nowhere to go. Allison (currently pregnant) and her 18-month-old son are getting evicted from their rental property. Summer comes up with the idea to have Allison and her toddler move in with her and Erica. These women's relationships evolve throughout the story with the wonderful character development that Susan Mallery is known for. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER
BY: SUSAN MALLERY

About 3.25 Stars!

CAN TWO WOMEN WHO MARRIED THE SAME MAN SET ASIDE THEIR PRECONCEPTIONS OF ONE ANOTHER AND HELP THE SIXTEEN YEAR OLD AFFECTED BY THIS HUSBAND'S BETRAYALS & LIES?

This was a comfort reading experience that examines two very different women who married the same man and whether or not they can rise above their rivalry, jealousy and preconceived notions of one another to help this man's daughter. Do they find common ground where they can help one another in the process? These are a couple of main themes at the core of this novel that I would be spoiling it for readers if I answered these questions. It is not a deeper literary fiction novel, but a lighthearted one that has some over the top characterization in Erica's endless supply of money even though it feels like the author Susan Mallory's intention and heart is in the right place as empowering women. Yes, I think as this author has sketched Erica to be more successful and driven where she has built four salons and spa treatment facilities in the Pacific North West by herself than her first husband. Given their juxtaposition between each other's ethics Erica is believable and it is realistic given what he did to be arrested and put in jail for his crimes is credible and is realistic. I think it's wonderful to be ambitious and financially independent as Erica is portrayed. I did feel that her wealth in which she has earned by herself was just not authentically convincing which detracted from my emotional investment to take this novel as seriously to be convinced that it is realism.

I don't expect a novel to be contemporary realism to enjoy it. My admiration with Erica's generosity and what a great mother she was to her daughter Summer in helping her ex-husband's new wife was an example of how empowering women's goodwill is impressive. It is something that I would expect from this genre. I just wish the extent of Erica's wealth wasn't so exaggerated and more toned down to not make her appear more convincing.

Allison is married to Erica's ex-husband and they have a 20 month old son named Jackson. Allison is pregnant with a daughter when she tries to make two purchases from her joint account using its card and is shocked that it's declined. She uses a different credit card that's perceived as a back up and it authorizes her purchases. When she gets home she is very upset and confused after contacting their bank inquiring why her purchases were declined and is told that the accounts are frozen. She finds out that her husband is responsible for her position after much panic that he is in jail when he calls collect after her complete upsetting experience with not being able to solve things with their bank. He is an accountant who she learns has been arrested for money laundering and wire fraud and something involving a gun against the police.

His daughter Summer is sixteen and she had plans to have dinner with her father and his second wife Allison and her lovable baby brother, Jackson. Allison is understandably upset after being blindsided with her horrible position and she tells Summer. That is too much pressure and information to put on the shoulders of a young sixteen year old. Summer really takes in the burden of Allison's predicament and worries. I thought that Summer's character was unrealistic for her age to have been so involved and worried about Allison. It's great to have a step daughter so eager to blend with her father's second wife and son. I don't think most sixteen year old teenagers are going to get as involved with her step-mother's problems. It's nice to be mature and empathetic, but it's putting too much pressure on a young person with her own age appropriate concerns.

Erica ends up taking in Allison who is about to be homeless since the house she and her husband were renting is being sold. Allison has inherited from her husband's actions the multitude of worry about not being able to find a new home for her and Jackson with no access to her money in the bank. She is already in a hard position where anybody would be feeling like the rug was ripped out from under her. Expecting a daughter and being pregnant with her is enough of a hardship when you have no means of knowing when your husband is going to be released and there to help. Allison is already working two jobs and being left in the dark about her husband's actions I felt sorry for her. Especially when
Allison the next day goes to work at a day care where she gets fired because of her husband being labeled a criminal by her boss who she thought was a friend and confided in. Allison is more upset since she didn't know about what her husband did and she is depending on that job which she can still leave her son there for day care due to the credits she's earned. She goes to her husband's accounting firm and learns that all computers have been seized and only one loyal employee is still there. She had been told by her husband the previous night that it was a misunderstanding and now she is more worried about this being more serious. How can she buy groceries, pay health insurance premiums, buy diapers and find a new place to live with just the income working at her grocery store?

How can she bail her husband out of jail with their bank account frozen? How can she get a lawyer with no access to her money? Allison is a hard worker and honest and suddenly she is on her own with her whole life turned upside down with more worries than she can imagine. Lucky for her Summer has begged her mother Erica to help Allison. Erica doesn't want to but for her daughter's sake she agrees to help. It is something that her daughter will remember the rest of her life the kindness extended to help Summer's other family. I thought it was highly unrealistic how Erica had an endless supply of money that she could have given a woman she's never met before especially to her husband's second wife. It's a great example of a mother's powerful love to her daughter to put aside her own feelings in order to lift the burden of worry over her daughter's unfair position. I personally think it's an admirable great gift to model for your children the willingness to help those who are in need. I believe women who are in a position to help those who need it is something I would do. Erica's circumstances seemed plausible in some aspects and totally far fetched in others. Even though she worked hard to be financially well off which is attainable, there are too many examples for me to list in which I found implausible. Just to be clear I applaud her willingness to help Allison. I just thought this could have been less ostentatious since it's not magical realism, fantasy or science fiction. It's Women's fiction where it's possible to show good will and help others without Erica having an unrealistic endless supply of wealth to the point of having a money tree. Her house was too perfect, her daughter having a trust fund, her business scholarships and their opulence doesn't line up with being a single parent achieving the degree of perfection displayed. Allison's character was more believable and even with both her and her husbands combined income they weren't anything close to Erica's lifestyle or vast fortune. Maybe it's just the wrong timing for me to have read this because I generally like Susan Mallery. I do think the title is perfect.

Publication Date: June 4, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing-MIRA for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#FortheLoveofSummer #SusanMallery #HarlequinTradePublishingMira #NetGalley
FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER
BY: SUSAN MALLERY

About 3.25 Stars!

CAN TWO WOMEN WHO MARRIED THE SAME MAN SET ASIDE THEIR PRECONCEPTIONS OF ONE ANOTHER AND HELP THE SIXTEEN YEAR OLD AFFECTED BY THIS HUSBAND'S BETRAYALS & LIES?

This was a comfort reading experience that examines two very different women who married the same man and whether or not they can rise above their rivalry, jealousy and preconceived notions of one another to help this man's daughter. Do they find common ground where they can help one another in the process? These are a couple of main themes at the core of this novel that I would be spoiling it for readers if I answered these questions. It is not a deeper literary fiction novel, but a lighthearted one that has some over the top characterization in Erica's endless supply of money even though it feels like the author Susan Mallory's intention and heart is in the right place as empowering women. Yes, I think as this author has sketched Erica to be more successful and driven where she has built four salons and spa treatment facilities in the Pacific North West by herself than her first husband. Given their juxtaposition between each other's ethics Erica is believable and it is realistic given what he did to be arrested and put in jail for his crimes is credible and is realistic. I think it's wonderful to be ambitious and financially independent as Erica is portrayed. I did feel that her wealth in which she has earned by herself was just not authentically convincing which detracted from my emotional investment to take this novel as seriously to be convinced that it is realism.

I don't expect a novel to be contemporary realism to enjoy it. My admiration with Erica's generosity and what a great mother she was to her daughter Summer in helping her ex-husband's new wife was an example of how empowering women's goodwill is impressive. It is something that I would expect from this genre. I just wish the extent of Erica's wealth wasn't so exaggerated and more toned down to not make her appear more convincing.

Allison is married to Erica's ex-husband and they have a 20 month old son named Jackson. Allison is pregnant with a daughter when she tries to make two purchases from her joint account using its card and is shocked that it's declined. She uses a different credit card that's perceived as a back up and it authorizes her purchases. When she gets home she is very upset and confused after contacting their bank inquiring why her purchases were declined and is told that the accounts are frozen. She finds out that her husband is responsible for her position after much panic that he is in jail when he calls collect after her complete upsetting experience with not being able to solve things with their bank. He is an accountant who she learns has been arrested for money laundering and wire fraud and something involving a gun against the police.

His daughter Summer is sixteen and she had plans to have dinner with her father and his second wife Allison and her lovable baby brother, Jackson. Allison is understandably upset after being blindsided with her horrible position and she tells Summer. That is too much pressure and information to put on the shoulders of a young sixteen year old. Summer really takes in the burden of Allison's predicament and worries. I thought that Summer's character was unrealistic for her age to have been so involved and worried about Allison. It's great to have a step daughter so eager to blend with her father's second wife and son. I don't think most sixteen year old teenagers are going to get as involved with her step-mother's problems. It's nice to be mature and empathetic, but it's putting too much pressure on a young person with her own age appropriate concerns.

Erica ends up taking in Allison who is about to be homeless since the house she and her husband were renting is being sold. Allison has inherited from her husband's actions the multitude of worry about not being able to find a new home for her and Jackson with no access to her money in the bank. She is already in a hard position where anybody would be feeling like the rug was ripped out from under her. Expecting a daughter and being pregnant with her is enough of a hardship when you have no means of knowing when your husband is going to be released and there to help. Allison is already working two jobs and being left in the dark about her husband's actions I felt sorry for her. Especially when
Allison the next day goes to work at a day care where she gets fired because of her husband being labeled a criminal by her boss who she thought was a friend and confided in. Allison is more upset since she didn't know about what her husband did and she is depending on that job which she can still leave her son there for day care due to the credits she's earned. She goes to her husband's accounting firm and learns that all computers have been seized and only one loyal employee is still there. She had been told by her husband the previous night that it was a misunderstanding and now she is more worried about this being more serious. How can she buy groceries, pay health insurance premiums, buy diapers and find a new place to live with just the income working at her grocery store?

How can she bail her husband out of jail with their bank account frozen? How can she get a lawyer with no access to her money? Allison is a hard worker and honest and suddenly she is on her own with her whole life turned upside down with more worries than she can imagine. Lucky for her Summer has begged her mother Erica to help Allison. Erica doesn't want to but for her daughter's sake she agrees to help. It is something that her daughter will remember the rest of her life the kindness extended to help Summer's other family. I thought it was highly unrealistic how Erica had an endless supply of money that she could have given a woman she's never met before especially to her husband's second wife. It's a great example of a mother's powerful love to her daughter to put aside her own feelings in order to lift the burden of worry over her daughter's unfair position. I personally think it's an admirable great gift to model for your children the willingness to help those who are in need. I believe women who are in a position to help those who need it is something I would do. Erica's circumstances seemed plausible in some aspects and totally far fetched in others. Even though she worked hard to be financially well off which is attainable, there are too many examples for me to list in which I found implausible. Just to be clear I applaud her willingness to help Allison. I just thought this could have been less ostentatious since it's not magical realism, fantasy or science fiction. It's Women's fiction where it's possible to show good will and help others without Erica having an unrealistic endless supply of wealth to the point of having a money tree. Her house was too perfect, her daughter having a trust fund, her business scholarships and their opulence doesn't line up with being a single parent achieving the degree of perfection displayed. Allison's character was more believable and even with both her and her husbands combined income they weren't anything close to Erica's lifestyle or vast fortune. Maybe it's just the wrong timing for me to have read this because I generally like Susan Mallery. I do think the title is perfect.

Publication Date: June 4, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing-MIRA for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#FortheLoveofSummer #SusanMallery #HarlequinTradePublishingMira #NetGalley

Susan Mallery is great, though unfortunately, her latest novel is meh. For the Love of Summer seemed predictable in the story and the ending. The "mean," jilted wife is "redeemed by others learning her true, kind nature. The ex is a scumbag and the boyfriend wants more, but she is reluctant. The daughter and second wife are bonded, and the"fun" ensues...! without giving away too much of the story.

I really enjoyed this book. If you love a book about women supporting other women and raising them up, give this a read!!!

Could you find yourself living together with your husband's ex-wife? or even actually becoming friends? As this book shows anything is possible if the intermediary is someone you both love and don't want to disappoint.  That friendship thing is more about chemistry and compatibility, I think but let's read Ms. Mallery's take on it.
Erica is a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman. Having run a successful business, myself I was impressed with the way Ms. Mallery showcases Erica's leadership skills when an employee messes up.  Sometimes its little things like this that draw a reader into a story and that's what happened for me. Despite her business success, Erica is struggling on the family front as her daughter Summer seems to spend more and more time with her father's family. Then boom! her father is arrested and her stepmother who is heavily pregnant is left with nothing not even enough money to take care of her little family. Summer persuades her mother to take in Alison to live with them resulting in a strange living situation. The family dynamics are interesting as relationships change and evolve. 
Once bitten twice shy, Erica has a friend with benefits relationship that everyone but her knows means more to her partner than he shows. I really like the way the story plays out and how everything comes together perfectly. 
This is a feel-good read with no pressure.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Although it didn’t hit all my criteria for a 5 star rating, it was a solid 4 star read. The title and the cover are a little deceptive. I went into this one thinking it was a summer themed story but it’s not. Summer is the daughter/step-daughter of the two main characters. It is for her that these two women come together to form an unlikely friendship. I truly liked the message of this story especially as a mother whose children have a step-mother. It is a challenging situation in the best of circumstances and often results in some seriously complicated relationships. I liked how these two women put aside their personal feelings and judgments to do what's best for Summer.

I enjoyed the plot and appreciated the uniqueness of the situation and how each woman handled everything thrown at them with such grace. I did feel like the pace was a little slow to start but once it picked up, I had no trouble staying invested in the story. There was a lot of drama and a little bit of humor to lighten the heavy parts. I enjoyed the banter between Erica and Allison. I felt this was a heavily character driven novel and the characters were all well written. Each woman was written in a way that allowed the reader to witness their personal growth but also experience the evolution of their relationships with all the people in their life. I absolutely hated Peter. I am shocked that both of these women were taken by this man who was clearly self-centered and deceitful.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and stories about unconventional friendships/relationships.

The book title had me thinking this was a book about summer. It is actually about main character, Summer.
The story is about bringing family back together after emotional abuse.
This was a bit different from other Susan Mallery’s books. I enjoyed this story of love and friendship.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This might be my favorite title by author Susan Mallery. I love how the story kept me guessing how it would end, but I loved the friendship aspect the most.

I can always count on Susan Mallery for a wonderful summer beach read that is usually woven around intricate relationships. I was excited to be able to read this one. It is about a very unlikely friendship.

Description:
As the owner of Twisted, Seattle’s best salons, Erica knows that the sharpest cuts come from the people we love. She’s terrified that she’s losing her teen daughter, Summer, to her “other” family, especially to her stepmom, Allison.

All it takes to blow up Allison’s happy life is one collect call. From prison. Her beloved husband, Peter, has been arrested, leaving Allison pregnant, broke, scared and alone with a toddler. But when her stepdaughter ferrets out the truth, the teen rushes to the last person Allison wants to ask for help—her husband’s battle-ax ex.

Erica would do anything for Summer, even take in the woman her daughter loves like a second mom. Allison feels intimidated by Erica—a woman who would never let herself become so dependent on a man. But the more time they spend together, the more Allison realizes what Erica truly needs is a friend. Can two women who married the same man move beyond their complicated past and rethink what it means to be family?

My Thoughts:
So many tricky feelings in this book for the characters to work through. Everyone was in turmoil. Eric is a formidable figure with her confidence and problem-solving skills. Allison comes across as needy and lost, but lovable. Summer is a happy, loving teen who is already exhibiting signs of her mother's confidence an potential. I really don't think there are many people in this world who would have done what Erica did for Summer. Taking in the woman who married her ex-husband to live in her house just reeks of trauma. There's a lot of anxiety and drama in this book that kept me tied in knots and thinking about what I would have done and how I might have handled it. I enjoyed the book and think anyone who likes a good soap opera would love it too. This one might make a good movie.

Thanks to MIRA through Netgalley for an advance copy.

I always look forward to Susan Mallory’s newest book. This one roped me in from the very first page. Erica was married to Peter but they got divorced and he then married Alison. Peter finds himself in jail and poor Alison is practically homeless with a 18 month old and is pregnant by Peter. Erica steps up and helps her find her way again. It’s quite a story! I enjoyed it!

A heartwarming story about love, resiliency, and friendships. It's a Susan Mallery book - what more is there to say. Well-written with easy to love relatable characters. This is a great one to throw in the beach bag or just to curl up with on the couch to enjoy.

Thank you #netgalley and #htp #mira for the eARC.

I absolutely love summer reads! So grab this book and head to the beach and prepare to read the best book of the summer. The characters you will fall in love with, and they will become your new best friends.

Susan Mallery never disappoints! I loved For the Love of Summer.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m teetering on whether I should give this one star or two. This was a ROUGH read for me. I’m not sure if this was the author’s first book but it seemed like very juvenile writing. Any time a conversation between characters would happen it seemed so unnatural. So many lines were just… weird and not organic at all. And their moods gave me whiplash. I wanted to DNF constantly but pushed through which is the ONLY reason I’m thinking 2 stars. The storyline is fine, but the writing is just so choppy. And the ending? It was SO abrupt. I feel like the author wrote 9/10ths of it and then was like okay that’s all I have left in me and I don’t know how to finish it up sooooo I’ll just be done here.

The title was misleading. The reason I wanted to read it was the cover and title make you think it’s a summer read. It isn’t. While it’s a good play on words as the name of a character is Summer, it was like being catfished haha!

Speaking of summer. Such a hard character for me. I feel like they’d make her seem well beyond her years then she would whine like a 4 year old. It was so bizarre. And she really was just a big brat.

So yes. Characters that are imperfect are great. But these characters were so flawed and I just feel like they missed out completely on development… they were just left suspended in a needing to do better state, with no chance to really grow. That’s what the last 10th of the book should’ve been. But here we are. Feeling like I read for nothing. All I have to say to Killian who I’m 93% sure is a robot, is runrunrunrun.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC read.

Side note. Had this not been an ARC read I would likely have DNFd. You’ve been warned. I read a book on average in a matter of a few days. This took me almost 3 weeks and was not a long book by any means.

A low stakes story about found family and believing in your worth. If it’s romance you’re looking for, be warned that it’s a very, very small part of the narrative. I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of Susan Mallory and even though this isn’t one of my favorites, I’ll be back for her next release.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for an ARC. Opinions are my own.

I always love Susan Mallery books, and this was one of my favorites! The main character and her story....I just fell so into this story! Such a gripping, heartfelt, and honest story. I loved it! Highly recommend.

For the Love of Summer by Susan Mallery is a women’s fiction title that deals with friendship and family drama and with a slight side of romance to the story. The story in For the Love of Summer is one that does change the point of view between the characters involved but does take place in the present timeline.

Erica was once married to Peter and they share their wonderful teenage daughter, Summer. After their divorce Peter went on to marry Allison and start a second family with her which includes their young toddler, Jackson, and another baby on the way but they always include Summer in their lives welcoming her to their family too.

Since the divorce Erica was motivated more than ever to continue to bring her business, Twisted, Seattle’s best salons to the top and doesn’t really want a man in her life permanently again. What Erica never expected though was to bring Allison and Peter’s new family into her life but when Peter is arrested Allison is left with nothing and no where to turn and Summer is determined she and her mother need to help “family”.

I’ve read several of Susan Mallery’s books before and always enjoy them so I was looking forward to diving into For the Love of Summer. Thankfully I was right when I expected to enjoy this one but even more so I really loved the creativity to this whole new twist to what family means. Just how many people would step into Erica’s shoes and what she does in this book is probably an extremely low number but it worked for this book and really pulled me into the characters lives and struggles. Definitely a book I’d recommend checking out if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary that is truly a thought provoking read.

I truly enjoy stories of resilient women who bond and find acceptance during difficult situations - and this is exactly that type of book. Two women who were once at odds with each other (married to the same man) form a lasting friendship (with the help of Summer-daughter/step daughter). These strong women prove that you don’t have to share blood to be family. A great read!

This book was misleading with the title for the Love of Summer, thinking this would be a lighthearted summer beach read, only to learn that is not the case.

This didn't work for me, and while I appreciate books where women pull together in a time of crisis, I do wish that Allison was a stronger character. I understand that she had to be written that way in order for Summer to step in, but the beginning of the book was difficult to read and I almost put it down many times.

Not my favourite but if you are a fan you may enjoy it more than I did.

I really enjoyed this book. There are a lot of emotions in this book. The book title really does encompass what it is about. It is the amazing strength and bond that these women form that bring them together as a family. You will not want to put this book down to see what happens next.