I didn't want this book to end! I loved the characters, and the way pace of the story and was perfect! Kelsey came into Georgina's life at the perfect time. These two strangers needed each other in ways they didn't know until an unfortunate accident lands Kelsey in the hospital with Georgina as a roommate. They are total opposites and yet an out of the ordinary friendship of sorts develops and it benefits them both! The summer of yes is about taking chances and living life to the fullest! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC audiobook, the narrators were fantastic!

The Summer of Yes is a fun, light-hearted romp from start to finish! Kelsey awakes after a close-call accident and realizes her life has become nothing but work. Placed in a hospital room with a very Miranda Priestly-esque character, Georgina Tate, Kelsey begins to devise a plan to live her life more fully and connect with the hard-exterior Tate. The relationship between Kelsey and Georgina is contemptuous, with Georgina often barely tolerating the over-eager Kelsey and she begins to thaw this cold businesswoman's heart. A cute beach read!

"Don't wait to love the people you love. We aren't guaranteed a second chance-we're only lucky enough to seize one when it comes."

Summary: After waking up in the hospital after a near-death experience, Kelsey Worthington has decided that some things in her life need to change. She's decided to do that one "yes" at a time. With an unlikely friendship brewing, Kelsey and Georgina Tate, a famous businesswoman, set off on a summer adventure that will change both of their lives.

Thoughts: Courtney Walsh has done it again! I love a good book with a message inside and this one made me take a look at my own life. Am I saying "yes" to things in life or am I backing out due to my fears? I loved that Kelsey kept pushing Georgina to go along with her plan for a summer of yes, and surprisingly Georgina said "yes"! Kelsey brought a family together and in turn, changed her own life in a great way. Both Kelsey and Georgina have regrets about their choices throughout their lives, but it was also so wonderful to see those closest to them forgive them for those choices.

I was blessed to be able to listen to the audio of this book and HIGHLY suggest listening to it. Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas did a fantastic job voicing Kelsey and Georgina. It made this story come alive with their delivery.

This is a perfect book for those who love clean books with wholesome lessons, even with a few perfect kisses along the way.

Thanks to @netgalley @thomasnelson and @tnzfiction for the #gifted copies of this book and the audio. All opinions on this book are my own.

This will probably be one of my favorite books of the YEAR. Yes the year!! I'm not sure if I just found this book at the perfect time in my life, or if I would've loved it regardless of the time in my life I read it, but I absolutely adored this novel. It follows Georgina and Kelsey after they meet in the hospital - Kelsey for getting hit by a car, Georgina for kidney failure. The two form an unlikely friendship after they realize they've been telling themselves "no" to different things, which has impacted their lives in negative ways. The set off on the summer of "yes," and that's where this story takes off!

I gobbled up this book the whole time I was reading it. It was like receiving a warm hug from an old friend, and it was SO inspiring. I enjoyed every single second, and this solidified Courtney Walsh being an auto-buy author.

The Summer of Yes was super cute with the best summery vibes!! Kelsey is a workaholic who has missed out on so much in her life and with friends. After being hit by a car, she meets Georgina at the hospital, who also sacrificed her life for her successful business. Kelsey feels like she’s been giving a second chance at life and wants to live a summer of saying yes to everything, pulling her and Georgina out of their comfort zones.

The beginning was a bit slow for me, and I had doubts whether this would develop into something worth sticking around for, but it ended up being an adorable, perfect-for-the-beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

This audio book was delightful. The narrator really added to the story. The plot was cute, but still thought-provoking. The characters were very personable and quirky, especially Kelsey and Georgina. My go-to genre is Christian fiction. This book was not overtly Christian but was clean and I didn’t have to filter out any non-Christian elements. The ending was perfect as all the threads came together in a very satisfying way. This was the first time I had read anything by the author, but I will make it a point to read her books from now on. I am grateful to the publisher for the privilege of listening to this audio book in exchange for this, my honest review.

What a gem of a book! I was immediately drawn in by the quick wit and the banter between the two main characters. This book is full of sweet moments, mixed with laughter, as two women become unlikely friends. I listened to the audio version of "The Summer of Yes" and the voices were absolutely perfect! I felt like I was part of the book, just peaking in and watching it unfold. Thanks to @NetGalley for this ARC -- a perfect summer read!

Fun story of taking charge of your life and not always saying no!!! Kelsey and Georgina begin a very unlikely friendship when they are forced to share a hospital room. Kelsey believes that their meeting was fate and that leaving the life she has always known may finally bring her happiness. I loved the journey of these two women who even though they are at different stages in their life that they are both desperately searching for the happiness in life.

What a great story!!! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book. I listened to the audio version and narration was perfect!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook arc!
Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I couldn't listen to the narrator any longer.

The Summer of Yes is a beautiful and uplifting story of renewed hope, unlikely friendship, forgiveness, and a second chance at love. The book follows the journey of 2 main characters: Kelsey Worthington, a workaholic junior editor, and Georgina Tate, an extremely successful businesswoman. Through a near death experience and an overnight stay at the hospital, Kelsey meets Georgina. After both are forced to come face to face with their own reality of regrets, the Yes Plan is born. It takes a little time, but Kelsey is finally able to convince Georgina to join her on the Summer of Yes journey.

I absolutely loved Kelsey and Georgina’s friendship. The banter was so fun and relatable. I was literally smiling and picturing the scenes playing out in front of me. I could go on and on about them! Just pure joy!

The romance subplot is so refreshing! Both main characters have their own love interests and it’s perfectly balanced! It was also so nice to enjoy the romance without spice! Let’s just say Hayden was added to my book boyfriend list!

I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook overall and definitely recommend everyone reads it. Yes, there were times it was slow paced. But overall I didn’t want to stop listening once I started! It was a fun and lighthearted story that made me smile 90% of the time!

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, Harper Collins, and Courtney Walsh for the opportunity to listen to this ARC/ALC copy of the audiobook!

This was an absolutely heartwarming and sweet novel. If you enjoy Hallmark movies this book is for you. It's about facing your fears and being open to new possibilities. When workaholic Kelsey winds up in the hospital having a near death experience, she meets an elderly business icon Georgina who is dying. Neither woman has people come visit them because in the hospital because both of them have made their lives all about work. She takes this as a sign that they both need to open themselves up to new experiences, and live the Summer of Yes.

Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the advanced listener copy. the narrators Tanya Eby and Cathy Colas were both amazing. The book had dual perspectives from Kelsey and Georgina. I highly recommend this book, reading it, is like a big hug.

An absolute gem of a book…what a joy this book was to read! It has all of the right feels, and will leave me thinking about more ways I can say “yes” in life. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

ALC Review

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

QOTD: How would your life change if you said “yes” to more things: relationships, dreams, etc. (without going against your morals)?

Series: no
Genre: Contemporary with a side of Romance
Romance Level: Kisses only
Release Date: July 2, 2024

Courtney Walsh has regaled us with another beautiful story. This one is of forgiveness, second chances, and the power to change your life through one simple word: YES.

When Kelsey (spelling?) has a near-death experience and ends up in the hospital, she meets Georgina, who is also there for health reasons. Kelsey befriends her and eventually convinces her to do a “summer of yes”. The result: mended relationships, new beautiful friendships, forgiveness, love, and lives changed forever.

Kelsey-she is afraid to chase her dreams. But Georgina helps her to see life differently. This story was such a fun take on the “enemies-to-friends” trope, if you could even call it that. Their evolving friendship was so fun to watch as their journey through the book progressed. Their banter brought hilarious moments. Georgina is a spit-fire and in the truest sense, a grumpy older woman who needs to get her priorities straight. I just loved both of their character arcs. So much growth through the book.

And while love/romance was a subplot, I loved every minute listening to the love that grows between Kelsey and the man she meets.
And Georgina, oh my heart just broke and mended during the difficult conversations she has with her husband.

Oh my, Courtney writes such powerful and inspiring messages into her stories. Do you want a book that could change your life? Read, “The Summer of Yes”, her newest one releasing on July 2. I definitely felt my heart grow a couple sizes as the last words were spoken in the audio. And I loved Courtney’s message to us as readers.

Notes on narrators: Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas both did fantastic jobs of narrating the dual POV of Georgina and Kelsey. I highly recommend the audio version of The Summer of Yes.

I received a free copy of the audio from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book, while extremely predictable, was very sweet and a breath of fresh air. I don’t know why Amazon calls this “Christian romance,” maybe what they mean is clean romance, happy endings, heartwarming and with a lack of S M U T. In any case, I thought this was a lovely story and a very fun beach read. Kelsey ends up in the hospital after being hit by a car, by sheer happenstance she ends up in a hospital room with a Miranda Priestly type, Georgina Tate. Georgina is secretly fighting kidney disease and asks Kelsey to sign an NDA. Themes are; life is short, take chances, say YES to things you would normally say NO to… and also vice versa. Follow your dreams. You get it. The audiobook is good, the voice of Georgina was realistic without being biting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio for theARC in exchange for an honest review.

In The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh, we follow Kelsey Worthington, a 32 year old assistant editor whose live revolves around her work. One day she wakes up in the hospital after being hit by a car while walking on the sidewalk. She is sharing a hospital room with Georgina Tate, a successful business woman who is President & CEO of Tate Cosmetics. Kelsey overhears the nurses talking about her and Georgina because neither have visitors and how sad their lives must be. Kelsey's mom visits Kelsey after she is released from the hospital and explains how she should use this as an agent for change in her life. Kelsey realizes how much she is missing out on in terms of friends, family and enjoying life and makes a commitment to say yes to things that she would normally turn down. Kelsey then uses that to convince Georgina to say yes to things, too. There is friendship, found family, love, and exploring new ideas, and new concepts of themselves and what they want from life. Overall, this book was completely enjoyable. I did not love the 'voice' used for Kelsey by the audible narrator - it was too chirpy or squeaky and definitely too young for a 32 year old. Thank you to Net Galley #NetGalley and Harper Collins for my advance copy.

This was my first time listening to a book by Courtney Walsh, and I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a clean, feel-good, summer read, then this is the book for you. Recommended.

Yes, yes, yes to The Summer of Yes!! Courtney Walsh is outstanding in this book - no surprise there!! Definite 5 star read for me & one of my favorite books of the summer!
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Christian Publishing|Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

For the fans of Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, prepare to fall in love with this new story by Courtney Walsh. I always forget that Courtney’s traditionally published books lean more heavily on women’s fiction, so go in expecting that and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the sweetest romance—but it doesn’t emerge until about 40% in—just so you are aware. I did love the story. It’s almost like someone meeting Miranda Presley from The Devil Wears Prada as she’s getting close to retiring and taking her on a summer of saying yes. Oh the possibilities! Really sweet story. Great lessons to be learned. While I did enjoy the story, I wasn’t invested or hooked like I’ve been in the past and it took me about a week to finish it.

I usually listen to most books, so I am well “listened” with many different narrators. I’m not taking off stars, but I didn’t love the narrator for Kelsey. It just didn’t feel like the right fit to me. But, as always, it’ll be preference.
Thanks netgalley for the ALC!
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I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I ended up really enjoying it.

Kelsey is an editor who wants to be a writer and is afraid her life has stagnated (a revelation she has after getting hit by a car).

Not wanting to end up as nothing more than an editor who does nothing fun, simply working every day until she dies, she takes a month off and decides to say ‘yes’ to new experiences and opportunities.

Part of this includes an older woman who was in her hospital room when she was recovering after the accident, and sort of forcing her to experience new things too.

Much more happens and while this isn’t a normal romantic comedy or dramatic romance, it’s a good book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy of this title. This is a light audiobook about a young career girl who ends up sharing a hospital room with an older, famous, very accomplished businesswoman. Through some (slightly unbelievable) circumstances, this duo ends up on a road trip south from NYC whereby the older woman reconnects with her long-estranged husband and son, and the younger woman develops a romantic relationship with the son. The expected happy ending occurs. This was a light audio diversion.