This is a very powerful book that shares the punishing weight of anxiety, panic attacks and fear. Avery is distraught after Jeremy suddenly walks out on her just saying, "he's done". As a freelance writer, she needs to be able to focus and be in the zone. She impulsively books a stay at a resort and finds her childhood best friend Logan working there. As she tries to deal with her dad disappearing from her life, her breakup and lack of money, she and Logan reconnect and finally express their feelings for one another. Avery's anxiety is still front and center. She tries to "fix" everyone she loves and in doing so pushes them away. Sophie is her best friend who has stood by her even when everyone else said she was weird. Sophie helps Avery until she finally breaks and tells her to stop trying to fix everyone except herself. Angry, Avery harshly shuts her out. When she is at her lowest point, she realizes that Sophie is right. She makes some difficult decisions and with a little help, learns that she can have people that love her nearby and still continue her journey. I received an advanced copy of this book and highly recommend it. It is well written with strong characters.

first off all thank you Charlène Boutin and Netgalley for my first ARC in exchange for me giving it an honest review.

my honest opinion about the book?
I really really liked t!! The book is so nice and fun to read and the story development is perfect.

I loved the characters in the book, They are relatable and you will love them easily.

Avery:
I think that there are a lot of people who can recognize themself in Avery's anxiety. While reading about her anxiety you can tell that the writer has done her research or maybe has experience with it.
but beside her anxiety, Avery is sweet and funny character.
What I find nicely added in this book is that you read about Avery going away for a full month on her own even though she has her anxiety and she will have to deal with it alone instead of having her friend of mom close by, but that her anxiety doesn't make her not do it. For me it felt like a reminder that even if you're dealing with something like anxiety it automatically means you can't do certain stuff like doing something like going away on you're own

Logan:
I loved Logan, he's so sweet and caring to Avery and the way he helps her with her anxiety is so cute. Such a sweety!!
I would've loved a POV from Logan. The read about how this all was for him and to read about his struggles in life more.

This book is a perfect summer day read, and would love to add this book to my physical collection someday!!!

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion. What drew me to it was the main character, Avery, who has anxiety and panic attacks. Since I also suffer from both, I was interested in reading about it. It's often hard to find books with accurate representation of these issues, so I was eager to see how they were portrayed.

The story follows Avery, a writer struggling with creative block and financial difficulties after a tough breakup. She seizes the opportunity to work on a project at a retreat center, hoping for a change of scenery to reignite her creativity. However, she soon discovers that Logan, someone she once relied on, is working at the retreat center. As Avery's past catches up to her, she must navigate her emotions and decide if she can make peace with her history with Logan to build a future together.

As I read about Avery's experiences with anxiety, I felt validated and seen. It was refreshing to read about my own condition and know that someone out there understands it.

I was initially drawn to the idea of childhood friends turning into lovers, a trope I love, and I was rooting for the story. However, although I liked it, I surprisingly couldn't fully connect with the love story. I loved the characters individually, especially because Logan is experiencing burnout a condition I've also experienced. Their personal struggles kept me engaged in the story. However, as a romance, although I found it cute, it didn't entirely captivate me.

I unfortunately stopped reading the book when I was 80% through. I really wanted to love it, and perhaps when I'm in a different romance mood, I'll come back to it and enjoy it more.

It's actually a 4.5 start read! I loved every second of this book! Initially I thought it would be a typical cute silly romance, but I was so wrong!
The book his really deep when it needs to be deep and light when it needs to be light: the perfect balance!
From the descriptions of the panick attacks to the thoughts runnning inside the head of the female main character, the writing was impecable!
It let me curious for the next book to get to know Sophie's story better!

A perfect summery romance with a bit of spice. I would have liked a bit more of a will they-won't they as the couple got together quite fast, however it was sweet, fluffy and beautifully written. A really strong friends-to-lovers and I think it will be a popular book this summer.

This book is a heavy one. Avery has been dumped by her boyfriend and left by her father. So she decides to get away alone to get some inspiration and find herself. She runs into her childhood best friend Logan and they rekindle their friendship. Avery and her father both suffer from panic and anxiety disorders and Logan struggles with depression. The themes in this book are very heavy and for any one struggling with depression or anxiety I would caution you before reading this book as the portrayals are very real. I enjoyed the love story though it felt a bit rushed and the ending also felt very rushed but overall was an enjoyable read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶.5 (kissing and 2-3 none explicit scenes)
Genres: Romance / Friends to Lovers / Mental Health
Narration: First-person POV

Thank you NetGally for granting me my first arc💖

I want to start by giving the warnings on this book (that I missed for not reading the author’s note):

•Toxic / Strained relationships with a parent
•Themes of loneliness, depression, and burnout
•On-page anxiety symptoms, meltdowns and anxiety attacks
•On-page suicidal ideation brought forth by extreme anxiety attacks
•Brief depiction of alcohol consumption
•Brief mention of childhood bullying

I’m not a fan of reading this type of theme and if I had noticed sooner I might’ve not read it. But I still wanted to give it a chance. I want to clarify that I’m not against these themes, please don’t get me wrong. But reading them makes me feel some kind of way and this one was just too much for me. I don’t want to provide a bad rating because the book wasn’t bad, but it simply was not for me.

In this book, we see the story between Avery and Logan, two long-lost childhood friends, who haven’t seen each other in 17 years. But after going through rough patches in their lives they reencounter themselves by coincidence in the ocean shores of Cape Down. We can see how they still reconnect and rekindle their relationship after so long. We get some snippets of their childhood and how Logan was always there for her during the roughest times of her life.

This book is written in a very raw and realistic way when portraying anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I’ve never read a book as descriptive as this one regarding mental health. Something that I would have loved was more information about her parents, it portrays how they are estranged from each other, but we don’t get much information regarding their relationship and what happened between them and Avery. As well as I wished that there was less secrecy and better communication between Avery and Logan at the beginning and more trust between them.

In the end, it was nice to see how Avery did her best to be a better version of herself after all she went through and that she got to learn, and was still learning, how to improve for herself and her loved ones.

I loved this friends to lover, second chance romance. The anxiety representation felt very real to me as someone who also experiences anxiety. I loved the setting and seeing these two rekindle their flames. Our MMC was such a supportive cinnamon roll when our FMC was having anxiety attacks and not feeling her best. Also, this cover is gorgeous!

Avery lives with (sometimes crippling) anxiety. A family curse, her dad used to say. Used to, because she's been trying to get hold of him and he doesn't return her calls or texts. On top of which Jasper, her boyfriend of 5 years, leaves her.
She books herself a rather expensive month in a resort, to finally work on the website she needs to copywrite, only to bump into her childhood friend Logan. They were more than friends, they were Best Friends, thick as thieves, and maybe -maybe- a bit in love when Avery moved away with her parents, and due to anxiety, ghosted him.

The book starts with a nice list of trigger warnings, and anxiety is one of them.

I am not an anxious person, and wanted to read this book because I like romance and have a friend who does live with anxiety. Reading Summer Kind of Love definitely made me understand her a bit better.
That said, the anxiety is on pretty much every page. It's the ever-present devil on the shoulder of Avery and on a meta-level I think it does what it does to people with anxiety: it gets to be annoying. Like, girl, can't you just enjoy for a bit, and when you do, NOT immediately think how much more enjoyable this is because you're currently NOT anxious? Again, I think it's supposed to have the disruptive effect on the reader, to make the reader feel how it would be, spiralling in and out.
Logan is the absolute angel, understanding, calm, says and does the right things, until the big fall-out, which, romance being romance, has to happen at some point. No spoilers here.

This wasn't the book for me, because of small things. How the language speaks of "weeks to come" when we know she's at the resort for 4 weeks, and we're a week in, if not more. Logan and Avery are immediately back smitten, which is lovely, but it's rather too spelled out for me again and again and I couldn't figure out if this was meant to show how anxious minds need to have good things repeated, or not. It didn't work for me.
It's little things, and if you're a reader who doesn't puzzle together a time-line, etc, you'll probably won't get distracted by it.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in return for an honest review.

This was my first book by Charlene Boutin. I appreciate that it is not a long book at all, however, it is rather slow. It took me a while to really get invested in the story. I love a good rekindled love and friends to lovers story so I am glad I had the opportunity to read it.

This was my first read by this author. I did enjoy the concept of the book. I liked how anxiety attacks were portrayed in the book and how she overcame her insecurities. It was a little slow for me and harder to get into in the beginning. I would recommend this if you enjoy romance and rekindled flames.

Thank you Netgalley and Iris Books for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Now this was a cute book overall. I thought that Avery needed time to grow and space to find herself. The romance aspect in this was cute too. The second chance romance in this was something. I didn't like Logan a lot. I mean, it's maybe a me thing.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

This is an amazing debut novel!
It is about Avery, a woman who is going through several things such as heartbreak, financial problems and some mental health issues. Her character was very well developed and I found her very relatable, especially the portrayal of anxiety was spot on. Of course, this is also a romance, as she returns to the beachy town she grew up in and crosses paths with Logan, an old friend. The friends to lovers, second chance romance was so good. I personally love these tropes and think they were masterfully done.
I would absolutely recommend this romance which ticks all the boxes: fun, full of chemistry and sometimes hard-hitting moments too.
Avery's journey resonated a lot with me and i think that a lot of women will feel the same. The romance really adds to it as it makes it a much more hopeful story.
It's the perfect mix and I won't forget it.

It's a swift book and an excellent debut. I liked the flow of action, and the main character's emotions were realistic. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Title: Summer Kind of Love by Charlène Boutin
Seasons of the East Coast, Book 1

Release Date: June, 11th, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Avery finds herself on a solo retreat on the shores of Cape Breton, seeking solace and inspiration after a painful breakup. When she lands a project at a retreat centre, she's hopeful for a fresh start. However, her past resurfaces when she encounters Logan, someone she once relied on. As they navigate their complicated history, Avery wonders if it's possible to find closure and move forward with Logan by her side.

In my opinion, this book delivers a delightful summer romance with a surprising depth, delving into themes of anxiety and fear of abandonment.

Despite its exploration of heavier topics, it maintains its charm as a friends-to-lovers and second chance romance. Avery's emotional journey resonates deeply, offering relatable insights and moments of connection for readers. The portrayal of emotional trauma and healing feels authentic, capturing the struggles of post-breakup self-discovery. Logan's unwavering support for Avery through her anxiety is heartwarming and adds to the uplifting nature of the story.

This is a cute and easy summer read that leaves a lasting impression.

Thank you to The Publisher Iris Books ,The Author Charlène Boutin & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Kind of Love by Charlene Boutin
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 11 June 2024

Avery's usual domain is behind a screen, crafting the words that grace website homepages and glossy brochures. But since her heart was shattered by "The One," her once prolific writing has come to a standstill, leaving her bank account painfully empty.

When a prestigious retreat centre offers Avery a lucrative project, she seizes the opportunity to keep the bills at bay. But accepting the job means immersing herself in a new environment, hoping to reignite her dwindling creative flame. A seaside cottage seems like the perfect place to find inspiration, but Avery soon realises it's not as solitary as she expected.

Unexpectedly, Logan, once her closest confidant, is now manning the front desk. His sudden appearance resurrects memories Avery thought she had buried. It's overwhelming, yet oddly comforting—all at once, too much and not enough.

The characters were a highlight for me; they were incredibly endearing and easy to love. Logan, in particular, was the perfect mixture of caring and considerate for me. His interactions with Avery were adorable, and their dates were pure delight. The way he supported her through her struggles showcased his genuine kindness.

Avery was equally sweet and humorous, and her relatability resonated deeply with me. She's a character who tugs at your heartstrings, and their dynamic together is simply wonderful.

The writing in this book was absolutely captivating from beginning to end. It had a beautiful quality that kept me engrossed throughout. The story unfolded seamlessly, and the plot was fantastic—I was hooked from the get-go, and it delivered on its promising premise flawlessly. Overall, the writing was superb.

This book is the perfect summer read, it's filled with lovable characters, gorgeous prose, moments of humour, and touching emotional depth.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Iris Books, and the author, Charlene Boutin, for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

4/5

This book had me laughing out loud and even tearing up at times. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting. Loved it! 💕

WHAT TO EXPECT:
⛱️ Childhood Friends to Lovers
⛱️ Mutual Pining
⛱️ 1/5 🌶️
⛱️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
⛱️ Anxiety Rep
⛱️ Small (Beach) Town Romance

Starting off with a quick summary: Avery’s spending a whole month on the shores of Cape Breton. She’s usually glued to her laptop, writing stuff for websites and brochures, but since “The One” broke her heart, she’s been in a creative slump with blank pages and an empty bank account. When a fancy retreat center offers her a big project, she jumps at it, needing the cash. But to do the job, she has to move to a seaside cottage to try and get her creative juices flowing again. She thinks it’ll be peaceful... until she finds out Logan, the one person she could always count on, is working at the front desk. Suddenly, her past is right in her face, and it’s overwhelming but amazing at the same time. With Logan there, maybe it’s not too late—if Avery can deal with their past.

I really loved the writing in this book. It was beautiful from start to finish, and it kept me hooked the whole time. The story developed really well, and the plot was awesome. I liked the premise from the beginning, and it totally delivered. Great writing overall!

I really liked the characters; they were super sweet and lovable. Logan was such a cinnamon roll, and I’m always down for a good cinnamon roll MMC. He was so sweet, especially with Avery, and their dates were the cutest. The way he helped her through panic attacks? Total sweetheart. You’ll definitely love Logan. Avery was really sweet and funny too. Seeing some of my struggles reflected in her made me feel less alone and showed there's a way out. She’s a character that got me emotional because of how relatable she is… these two together are just everything and really awesome.

This book is a perfect quick summer read! It’s got lovable characters, a swoon-worthy love story, beautiful writing, funny moments, and some emotional bits too. I really enjoyed it, and you might too!

——————

PUBLICATION DATE:
11th of June, 2024

*Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Charlène Boutin's first novel skillfully portrays the experience of a woman dealing with anxiety and heartache, intertwined with a second-chance romance. As we follow Avery's journey, we see her battle with self-discovery and healing after reconnecting with her long-lost friend, Logan. Their relationship is portrayed realistically, offering genuine support without quick fixes. This novel seamlessly combines emotional depth with a delightful summer romance, making it a must-read for those who enjoy friends-to-lovers and second-chance love stories.