☀️💛 Book Review: The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh 💛☀️

If you’re craving a warm, hopeful story about friendship, healing, and taking chances, The Summer of Yes is your perfect summer read. Courtney Walsh delivers a beautifully honest novel that’s equal parts heart and soul.

After a painful breakup, Millie decides to say “yes” to every opportunity this summer, hoping to rediscover herself and maybe find new love along the way. With her best friends by her side, she learns that sometimes the biggest risks bring the sweetest rewards—and that healing can be messy, joyful, and full of surprises.

Tropes You’ll Love:
💔 Breakup recovery
👭 Girl squad/supportive friends
🌞 Summer of self-discovery
💖 Slow-burn romance
🌿 Emotional growth & healing

Courtney Walsh writes with warmth and authenticity, capturing the ups and downs of life and love in a way that feels deeply relatable. If you’re a fan of contemporary women’s fiction with heart, this one will stick with you long after the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Okay... okay... I know I should read the blurbs carefully and not just insta-add all the Courtney Walsh books. Knowing that Georgia has only a handful of months, which is why she and Kelsey are embarking upon the summer of "yes," I am now out completely. I hate "diagnosis" plots. Sorry for the downer review!

I really enjoyed this fun book. The premise was cute, with Kelsey meeting famous businesswoman Georgina Tate in the hospital. I liked how that chance encounter ended up changing both of their lives. The love stories were tender without showing any steam and I really appreciated the lack of coarse language. Overall a great summer read!

Kelsey spends the whole book saying Georgina is a cautionary tale she should learn from, yet seems to try her hardest not to. She admits she doesn’t like her job or apartment (which seems barely livable), but for some reason is set on where she lives as the excuse for why her relationship can’t work when she prefers where Hayden lives. I seriously did not get it.

Georgina spends 22 years full of shame and regret for abandoning her family, and when the opportunity for a second chance throws itself at her, she also fights it at every turn.

The message of this book is endearing but I wanted to grab both women and shake them the whole time.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

Overall, this had a really, really slow start. It did eventually pick up, but was very repetitive and a bit too cheesy for my taste.

I love Courtney Walsh and her sweet romantic novels! They're not too spicy, which I love. Her characters are always adorable, and this may be my most favorite yet.

This book was about a 3.5 for me but I’d round it to a 4; because the story was sweet and fun while reading it, but it wasn’t very memorable once I’d finished.

A tender, life-affirming read that stayed with me.

Kelsey Worthington felt like a mirror. Her life was neat, predictable, and safe... until a sudden accident forces her to ask: what am I waiting for? Watching her decide to say “yes” to the things she used to say no to—big and small—was more than inspiring; it felt like permission. Permission to dream again, to risk again, to live with more intention.

And then there’s Georgina Tate. I adored her. Fierce, guarded, brilliant—and yet, so vulnerable beneath the surface. Her dynamic with Kelsey was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their friendship was layered, honest, and sometimes uncomfortable in all the right ways. I laughed with them, teared up more than once, and walked away thinking about my own list of “someday” dreams.

This book isn’t just about bucket lists or second chances. It’s about regret and redemption, about allowing yourself to change, and realizing it’s not too late to start living fully—even if you’ve lost time.

I'd had this book on my TBR list since last year but I finally got around to reading it and boy, oh boy, it didn't disappoint.

The Summer of Yes came to me at just the right time. I've read books by Courtney Walsh before but I didn’t expect this one to move me the way it did, but she has a way of getting under your skin—in the gentlest, most unexpected way.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own life or scared to make a change, The Summer of Yes will feel like a warm, honest nudge forward. It definitely was for me.

I think, when the time is right, a Courtney Walsh novel will find you and show you why life can still be lived and loved🤍

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an arc of this but unfortunately I couldn’t read it by the deadline for personal reasons! I am still very intrigued by this and will be picking it up on my own for my summer TBR. I can’t wait to read it!!

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is the kind of story that makes you want to press pause on life, grab a glass of something cold, and savor every page. It’s charming, uplifting, and filled with that summer magic that makes you believe anything is possible—even saying yes to the unexpected.

I loved the premise of a main character challenging herself to say “yes” more—and the way that journey unfolded felt both inspiring and real. The romance was sweet and swoony, but what really stuck with me was the message: sometimes the biggest transformations come from the smallest acts of courage. Walsh writes with such heart and tenderness, and her characters feel like people you’d want to be friends with.

This book is the perfect blend of lighthearted and meaningful—a beautiful reminder that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to something better than you ever imagined.

Courtney Walsh nails it again with The Summer of Yes—a charming, funny, and surprisingly moving story about what happens when you finally stop saying “no” to life. Kelsey, a stressed-out assistant editor hiding her dream of becoming a writer, and Georgina, a powerhouse businesswoman with more regrets than memories, collide in the most unexpected place: a hospital room. What follows is a delightful “summer of yes,” filled with growth, grace, and a whole lot of heart. Their friendship is unlikely but unforgettable, and the character development? Chef’s kiss. I saw myself in both women, and loved every moment of their journey. Add in some subtle, faith-filled nuggets and you’ve got a feel-good read with real depth.

Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—I didn’t want it to end!

I really enjoyed this romantic comedy by author Courtney Walsh. The message of not allowing work to consume your life is timely and needed. It is important to spend time with the ones we love doing what brings us joy. The relationships between Kelsey and Georgina were both hilarious and touching, and the love story between Kelsey and Hayden was both sweet and funny,

**3-Star Review of *The Summer of Yes* by Courtney Walsh**

*The Summer of Yes* by Courtney Walsh is a heartwarming, feel-good read that centers around self-discovery, second chances, and embracing life’s unexpected turns. The protagonist, Meg, is a woman who, after years of playing it safe, decides to step out of her comfort zone and say "yes" to new opportunities during one transformative summer. As she faces personal challenges and new relationships, she learns to confront her fears and rediscover the joy of living fully.

Walsh’s writing is engaging and easy to read, and the small-town setting adds a cozy, charming backdrop to the story. The themes of personal growth and taking risks are uplifting, and Meg’s journey of transformation is relatable and inspiring. The romance that develops alongside her self-discovery is sweet, though a bit predictable, and the pacing is steady but occasionally slow in parts.

While *The Summer of Yes* is enjoyable and offers a nice escape, some of the secondary characters and plot points feel underdeveloped, and the narrative doesn’t dive as deep into emotional complexity as it could. Overall, it’s a pleasant and motivating read, especially for fans of light contemporary fiction, but it lacks the depth and originality that might elevate it from just another feel-good novel to something truly memorable.

This book really made me happy. I loved how Kelsey pushed Georgina to try new things and find happiness, and in doing so pushed herself as well.

I wouldn’t say there was anything groundbreakingly awesome or different about this book, but the way it all came together just made me smile. That’s all you need sometimes.

Okay, so I rarely fall into the chick-lit camp. But The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh got me good. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and just the kind of book you want to read with your feet up and something fruity in hand.

Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor who's all about routines and playing it safe—until she gets smacked by a car and ends up in the hospital. That’s where she meets Georgina Tate, a powerhouse businesswoman with a terminal illness and more regrets than she’ll admit. Kelsey, fresh off her brush with death, pitches a wild idea: say “yes” to life. Georgina rolls her eyes... then goes along for the ride.

Their Yes Plan takes them from being tourists in their own city to impromptu road trips and awkward family reunions. It’s a sweet, feel-good story about second chances, big-hearted change, and a dash of late-in-life romance.

There’s nothing steamy here—think gentle hug instead of bodice-ripper—and it’s a gem. I laughed out loud (Tanya Eby’s audio narration is gold) and loved every poolside minute of it.

4.5 stars. Say yes to this one.

Thanks Netgalley for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This quirky endearing duo drew a chuckle or two out me with strangely enough a few deep thoughts about my life. It is an e passionate manifesto for living YOUR life to the fullest and making sure you don't let fears rule the day. Reminiscent of the nest Katherine Center or Abby Jimenez, it gives you the expected and much anticipated HEA, but the solution is not facile or at least you've been on a journey with the characters and you consequently cheer them on to their deserved recompense.

This one was so much fun!
Picture Miranda Priestley being dragged along on a bucket list adventure by a bubbly 20-something year old with a newfound determination to say "yes" to all that life has to offer! This book made me laugh, but it also had many heartwarming, emotional moments too.

Read if you love:
🤍 unlikely friendships
🤍 dual POV
🤍 Second chance romance

this book was sooooo slow in the beginning which ruined the experience for me. the romance was also very shallow and i couldn't connect with it at all.

THE SUMMER OF YES features workaholic Kelsey, who is at a point in her life where a drastic change needs to be made. She’s an overworked book editor who gets hit by a car on a coffee run, and wakes in a hospital room.

Read if you like:
-road trips
-relatable characters
-female friendships
-sweet romance

*many thanks to Thomas Nelson, Netgalley for the gifted copy for review