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.

"Summer After Summer" is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's "Persuasion." I wanted to love this book, but I found a few things that made me not like it so much. First, the main character Olivia was not captivating or likable in many instances. It made it very hard for me to cheer her and Fred on. Secondly, the audiobook was slow paced. The first half of the book was so slow that I almost gave up.

For a debut novel, Lauren Bailey did well. I look forward to reading her future books.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy.

I didn’t read the synopsis at all and just decided to request this off the title and pretty cover. I regret nothing! 😂 I got very lucky going into this one blind, it was a good romance AND was a retelling of Persuasion! I loved Persuasion!

The characters were likable, the romance was dramatic at times, and there supporting characters all brought something special to the table. I also like that there was a tiny bit of an unknown factor in the mix that added extra intrigue to the storyline. I love a good retelling and this was a delightful twist on the classic.

If you love Jane Austen and you’re looking for a romance with light to moderate spice then add it to your list!

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘆: 𝗬𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰/𝟱⭐️

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the alc via Netgalley!

Summer After Summer by Lauren Bailey
Narrated by: Megan Tusing

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the review copy!

This is beautiful story of love, summer after summer. Olivia returns to the place she grew up and met her first love while her marriage is on the rocks. Her father is selling the family estate and Olivia helps go through the family’s belongings. Her mother passed away years ago and it is hard for Olivia to be in the house and to be going through her things. Fred is buying the property, but also happens to be Olivia’s first love. The book goes back in time to each of the five years that Fred and Olivia try to make things work, then back to present day. They both have been through so much and the way this is written made me want to binge the book! I wanted to know what happened each time they tried to make things work and of course if they were going to figure out how to make it work in the present tense. There’s a few unexpected twists and turns, but it is a HEA! This is my first time listening to Megan narrate and she was great! Overall, a great second (fifth) chance romance, with family drama!

I love a good fluffy romance, but when the romance has a little Scooby Doo mystery gang action in the end... It solidified this being one of my top books of the year so far. Plus a little Wimbledon action in there. Perfectly rounded romance.

Oliva moves back to her childhood home in the Hamptons to help her family pack up and move out as their home has recently been purchased, as well as running away from her cheating husband. Coming back opens up her memories to meeting her "one that got away", Fred. Her childhood love that keeps coming back into her life in unexpected ways, but it never seems to work out. Something always gets in the way, including themselves. With her separation from her husband and Fred back in the picture, but with a casual girlfriend, feelings start coming back as if they never really went away. There have been 4 other opportunities, coming up every 5 years since their first summer. But is this the summer they finally figure it out?

I wouldn't classify this as a sports romance, but it has the perfect amount of action in it, without the reader feeling lost if they don't understand tennis. I love seeing into a niche community, and the world of professional tennis was so good. The training schedules, the time spent abroad, and Wimbledon?? I loved her perspective of the matches and how she could improve.

The romance time jumping was just enough. I didn't get lost in the time lines, and it was pretty much an even back and forth between the past and the present. Seeing their past and how it changes them every 5 years showed the best amount of growth.

I loved that this wasn't your typical "beach read", the characters were more real, with actual problems that real life people face. Olivia and her sisters, Fred, the sleezy husband Wes, and the charm bracelet.
I loved this and the narrator was awesome. No weird voices for any of the characters, and easy enough to follow along with who was speaking when. Thank you to NetGalley and Lauren Bailey!!

I was very impressed by this debut novel, which I did not realize until after I finished, is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion. The audiobook totally exceeded my expectations, and I could not stop listening!

This is a multi-timeline story about Olivia, who is now an adult in her mid-thirties. She has retired from professional tennis and just left her husband after discovering he was unfaithful. Olivia returns to her family's beloved summer home in the Hamptons to help clear it out because her father can no longer afford to keep it. She is shocked to learn that the home buyer is Fred, aka The One Who Got Away. The novel jumps back in time to the summer that Olivia and Fred met as teenagers, and then there is a chapter for every summer after, telling the story of their doomed back-and-forth romance each year.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys:
*Starting over
*Second chance romance
*Small town coastal settings
*LGBTQ rep
*Fans of Carly Fortune, Annabel Monaghan, Emily Henry, and other similar authors.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for my review!

Summer after summer is for the reader looking for a fun summer romance and an escape to the Hamptons. Olivia recently gets out of a divorce and heads back to her family vacation home for the summer to pack up her family’s estate. Fred and Olivia have tried over and over to make a relationship work and timing never seems to be on their side. With Olivia being newly single will the stars finally align? I loved the it’s always been you trope and the fun summer setting it was the perfect audiobook for May! 4⭐️

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on May 7th, 2024. Links provided.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I really liked the narrator for the audiobook.

At 35 years old, Olivia Taylor, whose marriage is crumbling, finds herself drawn back to her childhood home in the Hamptons tasked with helping her family pack up their beloved estate, now in the process of being sold due to financial woes. Escaping the chaos of her life in New York City and the fallout with her soon-to-be-ex-husband Wes, Olivia steps into her familiar role as the family caretaker. Yet, returning home also means confronting painful memories, not least of which includes her history with Fred, her first love she’s never quite forgotten. Despite their tumultuous past and multiple attempts to make it work, Olivia can’t help but feel a stir of hope when she sees him again after five years since they last crossed paths and 20 years since they first met. Both she and Fred have changed and as she navigates through the remnants of her past life and the possibilities of a new beginning, Olivia struggles with trying to figure out what she really wants out of life. Could it be that the fifth attempt at love is finally destined to succeed? This compelling story weaves a tale of love, loss, and the possibility of second chance against the nostalgic backdrop of a family home with a tender past.

Told in alternating chapters of present day (July 2023) and flashbacks between the Julys of 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018, Summer After Summer was a sweet story about love, second chances, betrayal, and finding oneself. Second chance romances are often one of my favorite storylines so it is likely that my feelings regarding this book are slightly influenced by that fact. I really enjoyed seeing Olivia and Fred’s entire story unfold with the use of flashbacks every other chapter. There is definitely a fair amount of angst throughout the entire book, and it is clear that Olivia and Fred just keep finding each other at the wrong times in their lives. There were some situations that led to frustrating decision making in my opinion but overall I enjoyed the main story of their love and journey as well as the present day story surrounding Olivia’s family.

"Summer After Summer" by Lauren Bailey, narrated by Megan Tusing, offers a dual timeline narrative that delves into the complex romance between Olivia and Fred. While I found the flashback scenes engaging and compelling, I struggled to connect with the characters in the present-day storyline. Some moments were captivating, but others left me wanting more depth and development. However, Tusing's narration enhanced the experience, adding depth to the characters and bringing the story to life. Despite not fully clicking with the overall plot, I can see how this "then and now" tale would appeal to many listeners seeking a nostalgic romance. Overall, "Summer After Summer" is a decent listen that may resonate more with fans of fulfilled romantic stories.

Summertime, second chance romance, family drama. Makes for a fun beachy read.

The pacing of the story was a little touch & go and the FMC came off as immature at times but overall, a fun summer read.

Thank you NetGalley for an audio arc of this book.

This was a quick listen and I enjoyed it but didn't love it. Had a hard time really feeling for any of the characters and even halfway through I was still mixing up a few of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, if you are looking for a fun beach read/listen than this the perfect book for you. I thought Megan Tsuing was great narrator and I would listen to more books by her in the future, and I would also check out more of Lauren Bailey's work as well.

—


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

If you enjoyed Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, Summer After Summer by Lauren Bailey might be right up your alley.

This book offers a second chance at romance with a dual timeline, featuring star-crossed lovers Fred and Olivia. They meet at a young age, around sixteen, and come up with a five-year plan when they realize their relationship might not survive their current circumstances. However, before they can see it through, everything falls apart. Throughout the years, they find themselves crossing paths every five years or so, but the timing is never quite right.

Olivia returns home after a long absence, prompted by her father's need to sell the family estate in the Hamptons following her mother's passing and his own financial troubles.

The twist near the end of the story pleasantly surprised me; I had my suspicions but couldn't quite predict the outcome, which added to the enjoyment.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the portrayal of Olivia as a female athlete. As a young tennis player pursuing a professional career, her journey was inspiring to witness, as she worked tirelessly to achieve her dreams.

While I found Fred to be an endearing character, with his flaws and questionable choices, I couldn't help but wish for more depth and character development for Olivia. Her lack of relationships with her family members was somewhat intriguing and I would have loved delving deeper into these dynamics.

Megan Tusing delivered a solid performance in narrating the book, but it didn't particularly stand out. While there were no issues with the narration itself, I couldn't help but wonder if the single point-of-view nature of the book affected Tusing's performance, especially considering Olivia's somewhat whiny persona.

Overall, "Summer After Summer" was an engaging read, and I'm grateful to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

I absolutely loved this audiobook! It’s a slow burn so I’m glad I opted for the audiobook because it helped me really get into the story. Olivia and Fred’s second chance Romance is a perfect choice for summer reading. Megan Tusing did a beautiful job narrating the story. Amazing debut by Lauren Bailey. Bravo to all!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just received the approval for the audiobook the day before publication. I cannot wait to listen! Will update review as soon as possible.

Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for the Audio ARC!!!

Summer After Summer was a cute book overall. I didnt overly love it but I really did enjoy it. This story was such a classic sweet story. Going from past to present with different pov/timelines gave the story more depth and understanding.

It wasnt a deep emotional love story so that is what held me back a little from enjoying it more. I didnt feel very connected to the characters and it didnt really hit me emotionally.

This was a really cute story if you are looking for a lighthearted romance with a little bit of drama. It was an easy read/listen. I listened on audio and Megan Tusing is a great narrator.

This modern retelling of Persuasion was a quick beachy read. Told via two timelines - present day and a series of flashbacks - the story of Olivia and Fred’s on and off romance was entertaining, if not the most believable. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to their younger days when they first met, but the present day timeline is was lacking the depth I needed to feel that their years long, several chance romance was really worth it. A note on the audio: the narration by Megan Tusing really made this book for me! She captured the characters so well and gave them a lot of personality. I’d definitely recommend checking it out in this format!

Read this if you like:
⛱️ summer love
⛱️ second chance romance
⛱️ Persuasion

Summary:
Olivia Taylor is dealing with the end of her marriage all while also dealing with her family as they beg her to return to the Hamptons to help them pack up their childhood home for sale. She agrees to return home and help, only partially to escape her soon-to-be ex. Olivia is the problem solver of the family and so she returns home only to help them get the house cleaned out. But things won’t be that simple.
Because the love of her life is also back home. She first met Fred as a teenager and since then they have tried to make a romantic relationship work, but something always gets in the way. But with Fred there and her marriage all but over, will she finally have reconnected with Fred at the right time in both their lives?

Thoughts:
I fell in love with both Fred & Olivia early on in the story. This was a beautiful retelling of Persuasion. I loved the dual timelines, watching as Olivia & Fred tried to make their relationship work again and again and again, always 5 years apart from the last time they gave it a shot. I think Olivia is onto something about that charm bracelet being cursed. I liked getting to know and getting annoyed by the large cast of characters as they each seemed to be responsible for at least one of Fred & Olivia’s breakups. I was rooting for them to finally figure this out throughout the entire book. I loved watching them meet and pick up like no time had passed every five years. This is a beautifully written romance that I look forward to revisiting again and again.