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.

I really enjoyed this tale of female friendship and saying yes!! These characters are so realistic and while they were sometimes annoying I think the way the characters thought/acted were how a lot of people would act in a similar situation. The only thing I would change is MORE Georgina!!

If Courtney Walsh writes it, I will read it. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. I loved this book, I can see it being one of my favorite reads of the summer.

I discovered myself wanting to approach the summer filled with a lot of “yesses.” I loved to think about the difference it made in both Kelsey and Georgina’s lives when Kelsey convinces Georgina to head off on a wild adventure. The characters were well developed and the relationships that developed were touching. This is a light summer read that is great for curling up at the pool or by the ocean. You will be treated to a story of love, forgiveness, second chances, and hope. Amazing at the new beginnings that can happen when you say “yes”!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

A slow start, but it really picked up and I ended up liking it by the end. I really
Enjoyed the friendship and the banter with our main characters.

This is a no for me.

The plot of this book is just as original as a Hallmark movie.. The writing doesn't add anything to it either. It wants to be emotional at times except it uses too much telling and not enough showing to make the reader feel that emotional energy too... And in the end it is just as cheesy and sweet as a Hallmark movie. I am usually a fan of cheesiness, but that's when the book gives me something more, which this book failed to do.

It's not the women friendship adventure I hoped it would be, it's not even a good romance book - when the female friendship theme failed I really hoped the romance will lift the plot up, but alas, it didn't. There are two romance plots, one is short and a second chance, it's where the author really pushed the emotional and while a Hallmark film might make me tear up in that moment, the book didn't, and the other one is an insta-love that we don't really believe. All the relationships in this book are very surface-level, except for the old relationship which feel more believable only because we know these people knew each other for more than two pages...

I really wanted to like this book, I really hoped it was so much more than it actually is. Unfortunately it doesn't offer anything new and I am sure I will forget it as soon as I post this review.

Run to pick up this book!

Meet Georgina. An older woman that chose work over all else. Kelsey, a twenty something that loves her job and is happy in New York living her life. An unexpected event bring these 2 women together and their lives will change forever. Is it possible they can go on a journey of a summer of yeses together to make each other better but more importantly find what is truly important to them.

This is a page turner! It has solid characters with a done before but not this way storyline that keeps you engaged. A new favorite author for me!

This cute contemporary novel focuses on self-discovery, featuring an enjoyable plot and writing style. My only critique is that I wished it were a bit more fast-paced, but overall, it's a good read.

Spicy: G
52 Book Club Summer Book Prompt #10 - Finding Balance in Life

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

When Kelsy Worthington wakes up in the hospital after being hit by a car on the coffee run, she finds herself sharing a room with the original girl boss, Georgina Tate, a self-made cosmetics titan. Turns out Georgina is dying and she might have some regrets in her life - not that she wants to talk to Kelsey about them. But her near death experience has given Kelsey an insight into her own hyper-focused world where she has no time for anything but work. So Kelsey decides that she and Georgina are going to have a summer of yes. A reluctant Georgina gets dragged along and before she knows it, Kelsey has brought them to the small town where Georgina’s estranged husband and son live - her very handsome, very eligible son. You know where this is going.

This was just a delight of an audio book. It was the perfect for a road trip but also kept me from pulling out my hair as I sat in rush hour traffic. The narrators are both excellent and brought the the characters of Kelsey and Georgina to life - especially Cathy Colas, she nailed Georgina’s haughty tone with amazing precision, I could feel her looking down her nose at me as she read.

This gem of a book came out yesterday and I am telling you to put it on your summer beach read TBR right now. Whether you read it on the beach or on the road, I think you will be warmed by this unexpected friendship and maybe, you too will embrace the things you fear and start saying yes to the things that scare you.

Kelsey Worthington, a junior editor, lives a safe, predictable life until an accident changes everything. In the hospital, she meets Georgina Tate, a successful but regretful businesswoman with failing health. Together, they embark on a "Summer of Yes," challenging themselves to embrace the unknown and rediscovering love, forgiveness, and fearlessness along the way.

I went into this knowing it was more on the women’s fiction side and was pleasantly surprised to have fallen head-over-heels for Kelsey’s sweet little romance! Though most of the story focuses on friendship and navigating ‘what ifs’, the romantic moments truly did still have their moments to shine ✨ The characters were sassy yet warm, and I think the dreamy beachside town setting will encourage everyone to say yes to getting out of the city this summer ☀️

It was really hard to think of similar titles.. the ones I listed are multigenerational stories of women with romantic subplots. Okay okay, you may think I’m crazy for adding The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but I promise I’m not! While this book has a happier tone and doesn’t include the major plot twist TSHoEH has, both stories are about a wealthy woman who has regrets and an untold story, and they share their ’secrets’ with a younger author. See? Connections everywhere.

I listened to the audiobook and particularly loved the narration of Georgina! Thank you @dreamscape_media for the ALC 🥰

Perfect for you if you like:
Strong, relatable female protagonists
Exploring life’s “what ifs”
Multi-generational women’s friendships + romance
Contemplating regret and making new decisions

Similar to:
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Look on the Bright Side by Kristin Higgins
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

⛔️closed door romance (kisses only)
⚠️non-graphic near-death experience at the beginning of the story, regret

“I’m now realizing that life is short. And you get one shot. All the clichés, it turns out, are true.”
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Courtney Walsh has become an auto buy author for me because her books bring such joy to my life! The Summer of Yes did just that! Even the bright cheery cover makes me happy! This is a romance, but it has so much more to offer. The book makes you think and ponder and has so many quotable lines!
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I did an immersive read with both the audio, brilliantly narrated by Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas and the physical book, which arrived a wee bit early so I read it instead of the ARC I had been provided. I was so thankful that this happened because I have so many tabs placed in this book! These two narrators absolutely brought this book to life and I can’t imagine reading without them!
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After a near death experience Kelsey rethinks many things in her life and challenges herself to a summer of saying yes to things she would normally say no to. Her hospital stay caused her to meet a very successful and famous older woman who Kelsey convinces to join her in this quest. It didn’t happen that easily, but that’s for the reader to discover.
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I liked the growth that came to both of these women throughout the story! The romance was sweet the way only Courtney can write them! I could relate to a number of aspects of this book. I really enjoyed this very well written book and I recommend it to anyone who wants a great read and a book they will want to hug at the end!
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Thanks to @netgalley and @ThomasNelsonFiction for the free Advanced Copy of the book and to @HarperCollinsChristian for the ALC. All opinions are my own.