the setup…
Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor for a publisher in New York. Her dream was to be a writer but she’s settled for the mediocre job of helping other people write their stories. But, her world is turned upside down when she walks out of a coffee shop and is hit by a car. When she awakes in the hospital, she finds her roommate to be the highly successful businesswoman she’s revered…Georgina Tate, the beauty industry mogul who’s crushed so many barriers and ceilings. While Kelsey is soon to be released, Georgina’s health is dire. Her kidneys are failing and because of her rare blood and tissue type, prospects of finding a donor are slim and she’s facing the end of her life. Kelsey looks at her own life and decides what if she starts saying “yes” to the things she fears and would normally turn down? The “summer of yes” is born as she drags the reluctant and extremely difficult Georgina into the plan.

the heart of the story…
I really liked and connected with Kelsey who’s consumed by work, letting her personal relationships take a secondary role in her life. It’s also clear how fear has driven a lot of her life decisions, as it’s done for Georgina who early in her career had to make a choice between her family and the business she built. I loved how these two opposites interacted after their rather serendipitous meeting in that hospital. They were good for each other and something about Kelsey inspired Georgina to let her in. Reconnecting with her estranged husband and son was a highlight of the story.

the narration…
I’m already a fan of Tanya Eby and she was ideal as Kelsey. I also enjoyed Cathi Colas as Georgina, capturing her sardonic tone perfectly.

the bottom line…
This is a story about how we let our fears prevent us from possibly achieving the dreams we really want, turning away from the paths that might lead to openings because it’s scary. It was beautifully illustrated through these two characters who on the surface couldn’t be more improbable as partners. It was life changing for both of them and thought provoking for me.

This was a perfect light read for the summer. The book's main characters, Kelsey and Georgina, meet while in the hospital and Kelsey hatches a plan to convince Georgina to go on a "Summer of Yes" where they yes to new adventures (as long as they are above the law and follow their morals. Kelsey has been spending her time on things don't really matter and it reminds Georgina a bit of herself in her younger years. I enjoyed the different ages of the two characters and the relationship that bloomed between the two women.

Thank you for this book and exchange for my honest review. The Summer of Yes was a hilarious, heartwarming story of friendship and not giving in to a slow death by not fulfilling your life’s goals and dreams. Every single book that Courtney Walsh writes is my favorite, and this one was no different.

“Because times change. People change. ‘Life moves pretty fast. And if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

In this book, Kelsey realizes one day she only works. She says no to everything else. But an accident helps her to wake up to the reality that she is missing out on life. She hopes that highly successful Georgina can help her find new purpose. But first, they both are going to have to be willing to expand their boundaries.

Some of what Kelsey says "yes" to is commonplace. But the book is equally as much about Georgina learning to make up for lost regrets. Learning to be open to new possibilities can be a challenge. Kelsey and Georgina have more in common than it first appears. This book features not one but two sweet romances.

I listened to the book via NetGalley. At first, I wasn't sure about it. But the characters grew in me and listening to it ended up taking it to a whole new level! Perhaps Kelsey could have said yes to a few more things. But overall, it was a sweet book that was life giving.

I wanted to listen and review the book. All opinions are my own.

3 🌟
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Summer of Yes wasn’t my favorite but it's still a good book. This is a lighthearted and easy summer read.
The Summer of Yes is about 2 women who always say no to everything pairing up together for a summer of yes!

When Kelsey Worthington has a near-death experience going on a coffee run for her boss, she ends up in the same hospital room as business tycoon Georgina Tate. Georgina has kidney disease and potentially only a few months to live, so Kelsey talks her into a Summer of Yes where the two women say yes to things they’d normally say no to in order to fully live their lives. Kelsey has a bigger plan up her sleeve: to reconnect Georgina with her estranged husband and son. Along the way the women learn how to love, forgive, and live life to the fullest.

This is a cute story, but it’s predictable and not a whole lot happens. I really liked both main characters and enjoyed the alternating chapters from their POVs. The book has a good message and a happy ever after, but the romance is pretty shallow and Georgina’s entire storyline is fixed way too neatly. Overall though, it’s a quick and enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Christian Publishing, and Courtney Walsh for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6848924861Thanks to NetGalley & Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


Still searching for light and fun summer vibes? Courtney Walsh presents her bittersweet yet entertaining novel that will bring you all the perks of summertime!


-what is it about-

The accident changed Kelsey Worthington's perception of life. After the scary experience, the woman decided to change her dull and comfortable existence into a risky to-do list of dreams and aspirations she'd always wanted to fulfil. Georgina Tate, an older woman with a medical condition, joins Kelsey on her Summer of Yes trip. Time to catch up on everything that has been waiting!


-what I loved?-

-> I adore the vibes of this novel. Courtney Walsh tried to present bittersweet themes that made the storylines of the main characters entertaining yet important. I think that the aspects of health issues, unfulfilled dreams, love, and friendship were well-developed throughout the entire book.
-> I liked the different points of view that allowed me to see the thoughts of the main characters. Courtney Walsh showed contrasting feminine perceptions of life and dreams. It is worth noting how Kelsey and Georgina changed on their journey.
-> The style was light and fun. I had no issues with getting into this story!



-what did I not love?-

→ The pace of the book was too slow. I expected Courtney Walsh to add to the storyline more dynamic and intriguing events.
→ Some chapters and themes were repetitive and unnecessary. I think more development in terms of the pace and importance of some situations presented in the novel would help as I got bored at some point while listening to the storyline

rating: 3/5 ✮✮✮
genre: Contemporary
themes: friendship, romance, girls' trip

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @thomasnelson for the ALC/ARC/gifted copy!

🚙 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🚙
This book should be on everyone’s end of summer reading list! Or anytime of the year really! There are a lot of beautiful messages woven into this story, and heartfelt moments. And I was crying by the end of it!

This story begins with Kelsey, who wakes up in a hospital bed recovering from being hit by a car. She is lucky enough to be sharing her room with wildly successful businesswoman Georgina Tate, who is there for her failing kidneys. Kelsey is inspired while she is in their room, and proposes an adventurous idea. Why not spend time saying “Yes” to everything they would normally not. She enlists Georgina to join her, because she sees Georgina has some lifelong regrets that have plagued her.

I love the back and forth between Kelsey and Georgina. Georgina is tough and set in her ways, and Kelsey somehow knows how to dig into the heart of her and encourage her. And I loved seeing the opposite unfold with how Georgina ultimately encourages Kelsey and how they breathes life into her again.

This really is a beautiful story. I had a hard time reading the kidney failing storyline, as I had my dad pass from this disease last year. However, there are no harsh descriptions of anything medical to read about, and there is hope ultimately surfacing in this story, so any reader worried about that can rest assured there is a HEA that Courtney’s stories always provide!

🎧 𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 🎧
Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas did a great job bringing Kelsey and Georgina to life. Both brought vulnerability to their narration roles. These two ladies were easy to distinguish too and I always love that when there are two POVs on an audio! I definitely recommend listening!

🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
💛 Self-Discovery
🩷 Second Chance Romance
💛 Life Changing Moments
🩷 Small Town Romance
💛 Sweet, Closed Door Romance
🩷 Impromptu Vacations

This book was good, but not great. The characters seemed a little underdeveloped for me. I loved the premise of a summer of yes, it it seemed too contrived and forced.

Sometimes, you just need to read a book about friendship, and The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh perfectly fits that need. This book features strong themes of self-discovery and incredible character development. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

There is something so good about Courtney Walsh's books, and this was NO DIFFERENT! I loved Kelsey & Georgina and there unlikely friendship. I think we should all say yes more often, you never know what might come of it.

⭐️ 4.25/5. I really enjoyed this story! It had heartfelt themes of regret, forgiveness, reevaluating life’s priorities, learning from your elders, and saying “yes” to adventures; while also being humorous, incorporating romance, and having a happy ending. There were a few times I felt like the plot was dragging just a little, but other than that I was very satisfied with this read and would recommend it as a fun summer story.

Kelsey wakes up in a hospital, with no recollection of how she got there. It is only after awhile that she realizes she was struck by a car while walking down the sidewalk. However, all Kelsey wants to do is get back to work, she has a meeting that may make of break her career, and that's what she has been working so hard towards all of these years. But being stuck in the hospital, she realizes she is sharing a room with "The" Georgina Tate, and somehow a unique friendship begins. Soon both Kelsey and Georgina find themselves doing things they would never have previously done, and saying yes to all of the things.

This was a very fun read, and one I would recommend to anyone looking for a light-hearted read. Perfect for vacation or summer lounging.

The audio quality was good, and the book easy to listen to.

It was what I needed.
I was traveling for work and I was really tired.
This book kept me company in a light and "breezy" way.
No drama (just an inch) no bad argument between the characters... a lot of love.
It was easy to read, to follow, to appriciate.
YES

And of course a really good narrator.

Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh was exactly the audiobook I didn’t know I needed! I’m giving it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars because it hit all the right notes—heartfelt, funny, and full of life lessons, all narrated brilliantly by Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas.

So here’s the deal: Kelsey Worthington is your typical workaholic junior editor. She’s great at helping other people tell their stories but has pretty much given up on her own dreams. Her life? Safe, stable, and… let’s be honest, kinda boring. Then BAM—she has a near-death experience. While stuck in the hospital, she shares a room with THE Georgina Tate, a glass-ceiling-shattering businesswoman who sacrificed everything to be where she is. Except now, with failing kidneys and only a few months left to live, Georgina is dealing with regrets. And this is where the magic happens.

Kelsey gets inspired to shake up her own life with a little thing called "The Yes Plan"—where she decides to say yes to all the things she’d normally say no to. It takes some convincing, but Georgina tags along on Kelsey’s “Summer of Yes” adventures, and what a journey it is! Picture two women—a junior editor and a business icon—touring NYC, dining with strangers, and cruising in a convertible that’s way more fun than practical. It’s all fun and games until Kelsey throws in a surprise visit to Georgina’s estranged son and not-so-ex-husband, and things get real.

What I loved about Summer of Yes is the mix of dual perspectives, unlikely friendships, and the reminder that it’s never too late to shake things up in life. There’s romance, but it’s the sweet, wholesome kind, and you can expect plenty of those good disrupters that make you rethink everything.

Now, onto the narration—Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas are wonderful. They brought these two women to life in such a genuine way. Kelsey is persistent (in a dog-with-a-bone kind of way), and Georgina is tough but vulnerable. The way these two characters grow together is such a joy to listen to.

Special thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy of the audiobook via the NetGalley app. While it’s technically a Christian book, it’s not overly religious at all—it’s more about love, friendship, and finding yourself. Highly recommend!

Two very different women meet when they share a hospital room. Kelsey is an unfulfilled writer, working for a publisher when she's hit by a car. Georgina is a wealthy businesswoman who's in renal failure. The story that unfolds is a heart-warming tale of finding what's important in life. It's poignant, funny, and there's some romance, too! It is an example of how someone you meet can change your attitude toward life. I admired Kelsey's spunk, in particular. The narrator really made the characters come alive. I'd highly recommend this book--very uplifting!

4 Stars

This was such a good story! I just loved the characters. The narrators did a great job of telling the story. Kelsey is a workaholic at the beginning of her career and finds herself in the company of another workaholic at the end of her career. They take off into the summer of saying yes together and it is just wonderful. The banter between these two is so good. I could totally see this book as a movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian publishing for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Kelsey wakes up in a hospital after being hit by a car on a New York sidewalk. Even more surpassing than that is that she ends up being roommates with Georgina Tate, female business mogul. The two develop a weird kind of friendship, much to Georgina’s dismay. Kelsey convinces her to join her on a Summer of Yes. What unfolds changes both of their lives forever.

This book is precious. Kelsey is lovable, even when she is relentless. Georgina is difficult, but you know there is more to her. I love their unlikely connection as they explore themselves and take a hard look at the fast paced lives they have both been living. It’s a good wake up call to slow down and love the people around you!

CW does it again!!!!! What an absolute delight this story was! I loved the setting, the growth we saw from the characters, the banter between elderly Georgina and young Kelsey, and more. I adored the transformation that we saw in Georgina and as with other of Walsh's books, the themes of hope, forgiveness, and starting over were so beautifully written.

This book was an enjoyable, easy read. Most of it was happily predictable but there were a few surprised in the plot though not many. I would definitely recommend this as a summer read! I enjoyed the characters overall. However, sometimes they felt a bit whiny. The message about living life to the fullest is absolutely one that we should embrace more often.