It was love at first sight when I saw this and I just had to read it, without even looking at the blurb! Charlène is a new to me author, so I was very excited to start reading!

Our main character, Avery, has recently and very abruptly dumped by her long term boyfriend. This has completely come out of the blue and left her feeling so low and abandoned.
She takes a big leap by packing her bags, heading off for a working break along the shores of Cape Breton to work on a website project for an exclusive retreat centre. This is a major step for Avery. For someone that has crippling anxiety and who experiences panic attacks, new people and unfamiliar places are a big hurdle for her. However, she needs to pay the bills and maybe a change of scenery is the best medicine for her. Once she arrives, what Avery doesn’t expect, is bumping into her childhood best friend who just so happens to be working at the place she is residing at. A best friend she hasn’t seen for 17 years. She finally sees her sweet Logan again.

For a debut novel, this story was addictive and beautifully written. I was imagining myself sitting with Avery on her bench at the end of the day, taking in the waves, the smells and sounds of Cape Breton.

Avery and Logan’s story is the perfect summer read. Yes it is a romance, but it does deal with real life issues that many of us struggle on a day to day basis. Anxiety is no trifle matter. Being personal here, for someone that never used to be anxious or have panic attacks, oh boy how this has changed with on going peri menopause symptoms and having a child with disabilities. The worry, the thoughts running through your head. The times when the words don’t come out as you feel your throat closing up, yeah the struggle is real and I could totally resonate with Avery and also Logan. The mental health issues were represented very well in this story. Sophie, Avery’s closest friend was amazing too, such a support, who really helps Avery. Everyone needs a Sophie in their life. Looking forward to her book next!

So to conclude, I’m so glad that the book cover grabbed my attention and I read this gem of a debut by Charlène.

Thanks for the advanced copy for an unbiased and truthful review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️

Thanks to NetGalley for this Arc. Charlenes writing style is great. I enjoyed this book. This book is a cute little read and a perfect palette cleanser. The plot was quite simple but it did warm my heart at the end. An easy read.

Summer Kind of Love is book one in the Seasons of the East Coast series by Charlène Boutin.
This book was amazing and I devoured this book in just a few sittings! I loved the character development and how the story progressed.
Charlène created two characters with undeniable chemistry.
I absolutely loved being at Cape Breton with Avery and Logan.
The description and details were amazing.
A sweet friends to lover, second chance romance story.

Thank You NetGalley and Iris Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This is a tentative 3 stars for me.
Overall, it was a fine story; however, I struggled with getting to the end. Which was done well after everything else.

Our FMC, Avery, was exhausting. I appreciate severe anxiety representation, but this came off as very selfish. It was hard to connect with her because I couldn’t stand her character.
She’s been through it, no doubt about that, but I don’t think the execution of her story in the aftermath and handling things was done well.

The romantic relationship with her childhood friend was super fast and lacked the necessary chemistry for me to care about them. Also she starts out not handling the break up with her boyfriend of many years well, but then suddenly ends up with Logan after not seeing him in many years.
Not to say you can’t fall in love quickly after the death of a long term relationship, I lived that in real life, but if I’m reading about another couple I need more to care about the outcome.

The setting and vibe of the book is great for summer. I recommend if you are looking for a quick light beach read.

What a beautiful second chance romance/friends to lovers story! I loved the anxiety/mental health rep. It was a really solid read and the friendship that bloomed into romance felt realistic and natural.

This was my first book for this author. I truly loved it. It hit home with me because of the anxiety. The FMC deals with anxiety and panic attacks and it was great to see how someone like that could navigate all that life throws at you. Suffering from anxiety myself (not on the same level as the FMC) I could absolutely relate to all the doubts and all the thoughts of worst case scenarios our brains give us when we are in the middle of an anxiety attack. The story was cute. Second chance romance gets me everytime. On top of it all it is written by a Canadian author which I’m absolutely thrilled about. Story is based between Cape Breton and Montreal so I truly feel like I was reading a story from someone I actually knew. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more books from this author.

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 2 🔥🔥
Tropes:
- Childhood Friends To Lovers
- Small (Beachy) Town
- Mutual Pining
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Anxiety Rep
- A Hint of Spice with Lots of Heart

This book was so beautifully written. The blend of love and heartache was on point. I think Avery’s character was so well written, her anxiety felt very authentic and you could really sympathize with her character.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

I loved this book so much! 🌟 The writing was so lyrical and perfect that sometimes I just stared at the phrases in awe. ✨

This book is about Avery, who gets out of a relationship and needs some time to herself, so she decides to book a month away at a cabin. When she arrives, she encounters Logan, her childhood best friend whom she hasn't spoken to in 17 years. 😲 Sooner or later, Avery realizes there’s still something between her and Logan. ❤️

The mental health representation in this book is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. The way the panic attacks were described—as someone who has mental health issues, I could not relate more to them. They were described in a perfect and realistic way that I appreciate so much. 🙌

I thought the ending was a bit rushed, and I would have loved to see more of Avery’s journey by herself. 🌸

I started this book thinking it would be another simple cute romance, but boy was I wrong! It delves into so many deep and real experiences and feelings. I got so into the story, and I cried somewhere near the end due to the AMAZING description of a particular scene (no spoilers here)! 😭💖

Just trust me, go read this—you won't regret it! 🤩
AND I WANT THE NEXT BOOK ASAP! 📚✨

I was drawn to this book since it was a summer romance based off the title and the cover. Though there are trigger warnings I didn’t expect the book’s conflict to be so heavy and deep as I was expecting more of a lighthearted second chance summer romance. However, I did enjoy reading the book. I loved seeing the growth that Avery went through and how Logan was there for her. He wasn’t trying to solve her problems but as someone to just be there and listen. I look forward to the next book in the series

Summer Kind of Love by Charlene Boutin

Blurb

It’s official: I’m spending a full month on the ocean shores of Cape Breton.

Alone.

Avery is usually hunched over a laptop, writing the kind of words that end up on website homepages and glossy brochures. But ever since “The One” turned out to be the one who smashed her heart to bits, the page has been relentlessly blank. And blank pages mean an empty bank account.

When an up-market retreat center offers Avery a major project, she jumps at the chance to pay next month’s bills. But taking the job means committing to a change of scenery to jumpstart her failing creative spark. A cottage by the sea won’t be lonely...right?

Actually, it’s anything but. Because Logan, once the only person in the world Avery could rely on, is working the front desk. And just like that, Avery’s past catches up to her. It’s too much and too wonderful all at once. Too...everything.

But with Logan beside her, it might not be too late — if Avery can make peace with their past.

My Opinion

At just 255 pages this was a relatively quick read. For me this was such a charming book to read, with some brilliant descriptions making the setting easy to picture. Avery felt like such a relatable character and sometimes I feel like I should just book a cabin that I can use to escape from everyday life.

This is going to make for a lovely summer read and Charlene Boutin is an author that I will be looking out for in the future. There are some sensitive topics covered in these pages but Charlene has dealt with them in a delicate manner.

Rating 4/5

I am very unsure about this one.

The tropes and the premise made this sound so interesting, but it got to around 40% of the way through I was getting annoyed by Avery. And Logan didn't really have a lot going for him.

Childhood friends to strangers to lovers.. after 17 years of not seeing each other... felt a bit odd to me. It's a bit unrealistic, and felt really rushed.

And I'll be honest, there's a scene where Avery spirals, and while I love seeing how anxiety is represented in this book, it just felt a bit OTT.

Sophie (the BFF) was a highlight for me. Everyone needs a friend like her.

I loved the writing of the vacation, and the activities that went on. How Avery x Logan would go on these walks to get reacquainted, that was sweet.

This was a delightful summer romance with a gorgeous setting and a really interesting premise. The way the author portrayed Ava's struggles was very relatable, allowing you to create a connection with her which I always find very important and special when it comes to reading.

Newly single, low on funds Avery heads to Cape Breton for a month to work on a project for an up market retreat. It’s a break away from the home she shared with her ex, it’s a job and a new beautiful change of scenery..a win win.

But what turns out to be the biggest win of all? being reunited with the boy from her past, her best friend and boy she had feelings for and still checks in on from afar years later.

As the past catches up to them both we get to see Avery find herself again, whilst facing her insecurities, dealing with anxiety, her relationship with her Dad and falling in love with the boy from her past all over again.

This was a cute, quick east read. With not only sweet moments but also some heartbreaking moments watching her struggle with anxiety and self worth and working through it.

I’ll be reading best friend Sophia’s story when released.

3.75⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! The anxiety representation was very good and the romance was so sweet! I would highly recommend this book!

First, I want to say thank you to Charlène Boutin and Iris Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I rated this book 4.5 ⭐️’s. The tropes to this book is friends to lovers and second chance romance. 💕

This book resonated with me due to its relatable main character, Avery. Although it falls within the romance genre, it delves into sensitive themes. The book explores loneliness, burnout, anxiety attacks, meltdowns, and symptoms. It also touches on topics like suicide, bullying, alcoholism, and toxic parent relationships. I appreciate the author shedding light on these common experiences where most people can relate.

The story’s flow is well-crafted, and there are no filler moments. Avery and Logan’s chemistry feels authentic, and their cute interactions consistently brought a smile to my face. The intimate scenes strike a balance, neither overwhelming nor feeling forced. Avery’s inner thoughts, especially when she desires Logan, provided moments of laughter.

The portrayal of anxiety symptoms and attacks resonated with me personally. Having to experienced them in the past, the descriptions accurately captured the emotions. I wish I’d had this book when I was younger—it would have helped me explain my feelings to others. This book made me feel heard.

One standout scene involves Avery’s conversation with her dad. As someone who relates to similar experiences, this moment hit home for me. I even paused to reflect on my own conversations with my father.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and eagerly await the second book’s release.

Quick Note: Just posted on my Goodreas (5/31) but will put on my Amazon around the day it comes out.

Edit: Added it to my storygraph

This is a cute quick read about dealing with anxiety and a second chance at love. I loved the representation of anxiety and panic attacks in this book. I felt it was handled in a realistic and respectful way. I also loved seeing the journey of Avery and Logan reconnecting and relearning about each other after being apart for years, as well as the transition from friends to lovers. Avery’s personal growth post-breakup and learning who she is and how to deal with anxiety and how to be a good partner was absolutely wonderful.

Note: I did receive an ARC via NetGalley.

Summer Kind of Love is an adult romance set on the coast of Cape Breton. Our main character, Avery, sets out for a change of scenery to get her creativity flowing for her newest copywriting contract. What she's not expecting to find there is her best friend from when she was 13.

I enjoyed the author's portrayal of Avery and her journey to find herself after a rough breakup and life's challenges. It was relatable to anyone who has had to rediscover themselves and decide what the future will look like. As the story between Avery and Logan unfolded, I appreciated the friendship and understanding they had and how easily and naturally it came back to them. Logan is the perfect, supportive, understanding male lead.

Part of Avery's struggles throughout the book center around her anxiety and panic attacks. For the author to portray something so meaningful and personal to her was powerful. I think that any readers who have gone through similar things will appreciate knowing that they are not alone in their struggles with anxiety.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book.
Avery is someone who struggle with anxiety daily. Because of this I had to DNF the book because I am currently struggling with anxiety and found it hard to read about it. I may pick this book up again when I’m in a better mental state.
Thank you again for the opportunity to read it.

⭐️ 2.75

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

It follows Avery, who suffers from extreme anxiety and panic disorders. She is broken up with after a 5 year relationship, her dad who also suffers from anxiety is MIA. She impulsively books a cabin on the coast 9 hours drive away for new scenery. So she can finish her current copywriting webpage and focus on healing after her abrupt breakup. the LAST thing she thinks will happen is her childhood best friend Logan being the one working the desk. She and logan were inseparable from ages 8-13 until her family uprooted and moved across canada for her dad’s job.

I love the idea of a childhood second chance romance, there’s a handful i loved and would recommend over and over. There’s also books i’ve read with the main characters having bad anxiety. But for some reason the way this one was executed just wasn’t for me. I found the FMC to annoy me, her thought process didn’t make sense at all. Ignoring her best friends input on something she’s seen from her since they’ve known each other over 17 years. the face she’s almost 30 and the dad called her “my strong girl” on like 5 occasions in one conversation didn’t sit well with me & the fact she thought she knew what’s best for Logan after being around him less than a month in the last 17 years- how she connected his issues prior to reconnection as things to do with her. Idk not for me i’m sorry

Wowwww, seriously loved this sweet second chance love story, the anxiety rep was AMAZING and Logan was just a perfect MMC

What to expect
🌷One POV
🌷Second chance romance
🌷”it was always you”
🌷anxiety rep

Thank you for this ARC🫶