I loved everything about this story - from the setting to the characters. I didn't quite see the twist, until it was revealed, but I was delighted it ended the way it did. I really enjoyed how the story didn't just start with teens and then go to now, but the years in-between. Those were just as important to the story. It's a great beach read!

A perfect summer read! Well-developed characters with a slew of family drama. I was already loving this one, but woah, did it take off toward the end!

My only issue with the audiobook is that one of the narrators was a bit soft-spoken and I had to constantly adjust the volume. Not enough of a hassle to rate this any less, but something to note. If hearing is at all difficult for you, as it is me at times, this one might be better to pick up in print.

This audio said it was perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Rebecca Serle, but I have to disagree as I love both of those authors dearly but this story fell flat for me. I didn't find any of the characters likeable, and the romance was seriously lacking. In order to be a romance book, there has to be some romance and I just feel like the author really missed the mark here if that was the goal. Family saga? Yes. Romance? No.

A great summer read. If you love a nostalgic summer romance, this one’s for you. Loved the Hamptons setting and the dual timelines, though at times there was a little too much back and forth. The pacing felt a little off at times but the story picked up toward the end where it needed to.

I didn’t know going into this that Summer After Summer is a modern day retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, which I’ve never read. Something to note if you’re a Jane Austen fan.

3.8 rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Narration: Such enjoyable listening, the narrator perfectly captured Olivia and all the shades of her emotions. She expertly altered her voice, even in the slightest of ways, to differentiate character from character, male from female. Just fantastic.

I didn't think I was a fan of tortured love/ star crossed love stories but here I am with a major book hangover and I neeeed you to read this one!

In Summer After Summer, we meet Olivia as she's returning to her family's Hamptons home to help pack it up since her dad sold the house. It comes at the perfect time for an escape, since Olivia caught her husband cheating. What her sisters and honorary aunt don't tell her is that the buyer of the house is her former love Fred, the one that got away.

The novel goes back and forth in time, to 15 years ago when Olivia and Fred first meet at the beach club, and follows them through the trials and tribulations they face throughout the years.

This multilayered story had so much going on,and yet was written in a way that didn't weigh it down. There was something so innocent and magical about Fred and Olivia's teenaged love that made it so easy to fall for and root for them no matter where they were in their lives. Olivia had a lot to sort out between her broken marriage, the grief she carried of her mother's untimely passing, the distant state of her relationships with her father, each of her sisters and her former best friend Ashley, and then of course her unresolved feelings for Fred. So many things and I loved every minute of it

"Summer after Summer" offers a nostalgic journey through the beloved story of Jane Austen's "Persuasion," reimagined in a contemporary setting. As a fan of Austen's works, I found the familiar plot and characters to be comforting, yet this modern retelling left me yearning for more originality and depth.

Super cute summer read. Just in time to throw into your beach bag and get lost in a love story. The main characters let you glimpse into their love story every five years. And fill you in on the details of them being apart in the space in between. Would definitely recommend to others and the audio production did an excellent job.

Audiobook Review: Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.


What I liked:

- I enjoyed the narrator in this audiobook, she did a great job throughout its entirety.

- I loved the twist on Jane Austen's Persuasion, and I do felt like this story did a good job reflecting similarities in a modern day twist.

- Though the ending was faster paced, I didn't mind it too much, actually was refreshing, as the middle of the book dragged a bit.

- The complex family dynamics were done well.

What I didn't like:

- As I said the pacing was SO tough, and that is strange for an audiobook.

- The story and all the flashbacks were a bit confusing at times.

- I wasn't sold on our MMC love interest, I wish I was rooting for him more.


I would still say this might be a great beach read for the summer !

**DNF**

Listening to Summer After Summer was an intriguing yet ultimately unfulfilling journey for me. With only 28% of the audiobook consumed, I made the difficult decision to stop, feeling that it wasn't quite the right fit for my tastes. Here's why...

First, let's talk about the narration. The narrator's delivery was, unfortunately, not as engaging as I had hoped. An audiobook's narrator can make or break the experience, and in this case, the monotonous tone and lack of emotional depth made it difficult for me to stay connected to the story. A more dynamic and expressive narration might have significantly enhanced my experience.

The storyline itself seemed promising at the outset, with an interesting structure that shifted perspectives from the past to the present. This aspect reminded me of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars, which is a book I enjoyed for its clever twists and layered narrative. However, while We Were Liars masterfully intertwines family drama with suspense, Summer After Summer focuses more heavily on a singular romantic story, which felt somewhat superficial and steeped in young-adult themes that didn't resonate with me.

What I did appreciate was the concept of time shifts, which added a layer of depth and kept the narrative from becoming too linear. This back-and-forth between different time periods had the potential to explore characters' growth and the unfolding of events in a more nuanced way. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat, leaving the storyline feeling fragmented and underdeveloped.

The themes of young love, self-discovery, and personal growth are timeless, yet in this audiobook, they were handled with a level of simplicity that might appeal more to a younger audience as opposed to me, a married 36-year-old female. For someone looking for a more sophisticated take on these themes, the book might come across as lacking the necessary depth and complexity.

While Summer After Summer had its moments of potential, it ultimately didn't capture my interest. The combination of an uninspiring narrator and a storyline that felt too lightweight for my taste led me to discontinue listening. However, if you enjoy stories of the ultra-rich with a focus on romance and a blend of past and present perspectives, this might still be worth a listen. It’s a reminder that not every book will resonate with every reader, and that's perfectly okay.

Summer after Summer is the modern day retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. I have never read Persuasion, but enjoyed this story. I loved the dual timeline between the past and the present, tying history into present. Fred and Olivia meet as teenagers and crossing paths every 5 years several times, but the timing of their relationship is never right. The final encounter at present, Olivia’s family is selling their family home after the passing of their mother, bringing Olivia back to the Hamptons. She returns to escape her cheating husband only to find out that the buyer of the home is Fred.

If you’re looking for a light summer read, this book is perfect for that.

I enjoyed listening to Megan Tusing narrate this book. Her voice was nice to listen to.

🎧Summer After Summer by Lauren Bailey
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of those light reads that would be perfect for the beach except for the fact that it’s entirely too long. Honestly could have been 2 books. I would have really enjoyed this second chance romance but it drug on too long. It had lots of potential and honestly I liked most of the book. The narrator did a great job of capturing the characters. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC audio book.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Let's start with the narrator. I liked her reading for the most part, but she often trails off to show emotion, and I miss something or need to turn the volume way up. That was annoying as it happened throughout the story. The book was decent, but I found it to lag in the middle. However, I kept with it because I wanted to know how it ended.

For fans of Rebecca Serle, Lauren Bailey writes a story of summer love and heartbreak told over 20 years.

What I loved:
- the atmosphere of young summer love in the Hamptons
- the flashbacks through their time together
- the feelings this brought back thinking about summers spent away at the beach

What I didn't like:
- it was slow to listen to through the book, and then the ending came and I wanted more. I wanted that feeling the entirety of the book
- her sisters were the worst
- Olivia wasn't my favorite FMC
- I didn't get enough of Fred and Olivia to make an opinion on if they should be together or not, then the ending came and it didn't hit for me. They just seemed like they continued to hurt each other and make the same mistakes again and again.

This book was hit or miss for me, but I wanted their relationship highlighted more together.

When I saw this was a Jane Austen retelling I knew I needed to ask for this book, alas although I finished it, it didn't do it for me.

Things I liked:
The story's summer beach house setting is lovely for bringing old flames back together. Fred's character is adorable, adding lots of charm. And those flashbacks to young summer love? They really make the story special.

Things I wished were better:
While the story has its moments, the pace feels off at times, going slow then suddenly fast, especially towards the end. Olivia, the main character, isn't as interesting as I hoped. She's kind of like a bland version of Anne Elliot. And I wanted more of the present-day story to really feel the connection between Fred and Olivia. Instead, it felt forced and didn't draw me in.

Summer After Summer is the debut novel by author Lauren Bailey. Set primarily in the summer of 2023, this story also includes flashbacks to the summers of 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018. Perhaps the fifth time Olivia Taylor and the love of her life Fred Webb are brought together will be the final charm for the bracelet Fred gave to Olivia on her sixteenth birthday.

Regardless of their feelings for one another, each time they come together it seems that in a matter of days something will happen to rip them apart. It is almost as if an outside force deigns to first tease, then tear them apart. But this summer, the summer of 2023, there are so many cards in play, with deceit, subterfuge, fraud, and misrepresentation as the Taylor family comes to the end of their hereditary ownership of their seashore estate. Not only is this the story of a family in flux, but it is also the story of those that would take advantage of this family in a twisted plot line.

This is such a well told tale with richly crafted characters and an intricately woven plot. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend this book!

Thank you for the ARC! I loved this story, it was extremely well written. Will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author!

I love this book! The story of love lost and found again over and over is the reality of many but not often portrayed in writing. It was a nice change of pace. The dialog was witty. I wish there was more of a connection with the sisters but that is easily forgiven. Highly recommend.

Absolutely loved this one! Heart aching at so many points, but so fulfilling in the end. Every character in this one got exactly what they deserved! I felt differing degrees of all the emotions in this one. Loved the setting and the style of the story—going back and forth between past and present really brought it all together. A great beach romance read!

Summer after summer by Lauren Bailey follows Olivia, who finds herself back in her childhood home while also trying to navigate her failing marriage. Olivia assists her father in sorting through the family's possessions as he prepares to sell the estate due to financial troubles. She has a hard time returning to her childhood home since her mother’s death. The situation gets even more intense as Olivia discovers that the prospective buyer is none other than Fred, her first love.

Summer after summer is a great book for anyone who loves Jane Austen’s ”Persuasion”. I absolutely love second chance romance books and thought the different time jumps into the past added depth to the storytelling. The FMC and MMC were both very relatable and the relationship was developed very well. The story also covered topics such as giving second chances, betrayal and finding oneself. I did not know it was Baileys debut novel, as it was very well written and the pacing was good.
Furthermore, the voice actor did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.

When I decided I wanted to read Summer After Summer, I did not realize all the emotions that I would face. If you think this is just going to be some sweet summer love story, you are wrong.

It’s so much more. I had tears in my eyes more than I’d like to admit.
There was so much heartache but also in ways it had just as much love.
Not only is there heartache but quite a bit of drama to keep the story going.
It’s my first book by Lauren Bailey but I really enjoyed it. I also really like the narrator, Megan Tusing. I’m pretty sure it’s my first book by her too. She was great.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for a chance to listen to an advance copy of the audio in exchange for an honest review.