⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫ALC Review

Courtney Walsh is an auto-read author for me and once again she didn’t disappoint. This was such a fun story about redemption and living life to the fullest. I love that the author had a troupe I have been enjoying more and more lately that of the intergenerational friendship! Our main character Kelsey survives a near death experience and ends up in the hospital recovering with a super successful business woman Georgina. Together they embark on the summer of yes and find their way to true happiness. It was a beautiful story of change and finding your way to health and happiness in life.

Quote: "We aren't guaranteed a second chance-we're only lucky enough to seize one when it comes."

The audiobook was narrated by Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas and I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Harper Collins, the author Courtney Walsh and Net Galley for the advanced copy of the audio book!

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh is about Kelsey, a single 32 year old publishing editor who has a near death experience. She wakes up in the hospital next to Georgina Tate, one of the most successful businesswomen around. They forge a relationship and start a summer adventure to say yes!
It is sweet and sappy, witty and snarky and laugh out loud funny. The idea of saying yes to life will resonate with each and every reader. The writing style likens to The Guncle or A Romantic Comedy, and the story line to any Elin Hilderbrand book. It is a really fun and meaningful summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for my audio ARC. The dual narrators were excellent picks for who I would imagine Kelsey and Georgina to be.

I loved this book. The idea of opening your mind up to new experiences and saying yes when you would normally say no. I love where all of their decisions lead. I love the personalities of all the main characters. This is a fun book with good life lessons.

This is the perfect summer read! It was fun, quick read, while still being thought provoking! Nobody knows how long they have in life, so it’s interesting to think about what we would change! After Kelsey has a near death experience, she decides to say yes to all the things she would normally say no to!

The relationship between Kelsey and Georgina was fun. I enjoyed their banter and how they both helped each other grow. I loved the touch of romance in this book with Georgina’s son, Hayden!

I think this book has a little something for everyone! A thought provoking, feel good book perfect for long Summer nights!

Kelsey Worthington (in her 20’s) has a near death experience and becomes hospital roommates with Georgina (an older woman who is well known for her cosmetic company). Georgina is given the grim diagnosis of a couple of months to live. I loved the unexpected friendship between Kelsey and Georgina, both workaholics as they take a break in life and embark on the journey of the summer of yes. The banter is amazing, Georgina knows how to give it and Kelsey can dish it right back. I loved the dual POVs and the storylines of both Kelsey and Georgina, however each of those storylines that were presented were very surface level. One major issue I had is that the ending felt too perfect and wrapped up in a bow. The story asks the reader, what do you make a priority in your life?

Thank you to Netgalley, Courtney Walsh and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In “The Summer of Yes,” Courtney Walsh weaves a delightful tale of two women at different stages of life, both learning to embrace the power of saying “yes.” Kelsey Worthington, a workaholic junior editor, and Georgina Tate, a successful businesswoman facing her own mortality, form an unlikely bond that changes their lives forever.

The heart of this novel lies in the exploration of female friendship and second chances. As Kelsey and Georgina embark on a series of adventures, they discover the magic of opening themselves up to new experiences. Their interactions are genuine, filled with humor, vulnerability, and shared wisdom. Through their journey, Walsh beautifully portrays the strength and resilience found in women supporting each other.

And then there’s love—the kind that transcends age and circumstance. Whether it’s rekindling lost connections or finding new ones, the romance in “The Summer of Yes” is tender and heartfelt. Walsh skillfully balances passion with emotional depth, leaving readers rooting for these characters to find happiness.

Overall, “The Summer of Yes” is a feel-good read that celebrates life, forgiveness, and the transformative power of saying “yes.” Walsh’s writing is warm, engaging, and perfect for fans of contemporary romance. So go ahead, say “yes” to this charming novel—you won’t regret it! 🌸

Note: “The Summer of Yes” is expected to be published on July 1, 2024.

just go ahead and add this to your summer tbr 💃🏼

this is my first book from this author - though i’ve had her on my tbr for a while and she did not disappoint. i did this one on audio!

this book was heartwarming and had me swooning and giggling.

in the beginning georgina 100% reminded me of Meryl Streep’s character (Miranda) in the Devil Wears Prada. i also love her narrator. she really brought the character to life for me. kelsey was so likable and so relatable. i loved the journeys both characters take to step into their most fulfilling lives- a season of saying yes and figuring out what they really want from life.

a sweet cozy easy read! 🩷

I loved the two different generations shown in this story! Although they are at different stages and looking for different things, it shows that everyone just wants to be loved. There are work struggles, love struggles, and so much more in this story. This is a clean romance and is a great summer read!

Kelsey wanted to be a writer but she settled into a job of helping people in telling their story as a junior editor. She is living the most basic life but then she gets hit by a car and ends up in a hospital, where she meets Georgina who is a successful business woman and sees the most vulnerable part of her life and realises she is on the path of becoming Georgina and she isn't even doing what she loves. She keeps saying no to everything and has missed a lot of things in her life, family gathering, meeting friends, and all sorts of small and big life experiences.
She is the most relatable character I have read in a while. We are told from childhood to study to get a secure job which will pay for living. We are expected to work for more than the requirement or pay of the job because only then is it called hard work. but we are never taught to be happy, or to know if you are not happy or even satisfied with your life.
Georgina is the other side of that story, she worked hard for what she wanted , made a career, built a company but lost her family along the way. She is the perfect example of 'a woman can have either a career or a family'. Initially I thought her husband's reasoning for leaving her was valid but as I'm writing this, I have realised that it was not right honestly. He left because she couldn't give time to him or his son, but she was busy building an empire and if a basic low pay job employee is expected to work for more hours than expected, imagine building a business. But the son and the husband have their redemption even though it's portrayed as if she didnt deserve their love, because that's how many women feel in such scenarios.
I loved the summer activities and the beach town. The road trip, time of boat and summer vibes. The two stories kept me engaged throughout the book. In all, a really good women's fiction set in summer.

I LOVED this book. It was so sweet and heartfelt. The storyline swaps back and forth between the 2 main characters, Georgina and Kelsey who meet in the hospital after Kelsey was hit by a vehicle. A beautiful friendship blossoms between Georgina and Kelsey which was 😭😭♥️♥️ and I truly loved them both.

Was it anything new and crazy special? No. Was it the absolute best book I’ve ever read? No. But I enjoyed the easiness and storyline so much that nothing else mattered to me. I really enjoyed the “say yes” attitude to things the characters wouldn’t typically do.. and enjoyed even more that Georgina and Kelsey still had the ability to say no to things that weren’t fulfilling to them.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

I loved this book. Especially the story from both an older woman and younger woman - both at different points in their lives. They are both looking for different things, yet love is at the center of everything. I loved the dynamics between all of the characters, they were witty, fun, and smart. I loved the slow burn romances that were building - there was more than one which was awesome! I really enjoyed the perspective of an older woman who is getting a second chance love and a younger, new to love couple. The importance of relationships, romance and forgiveness runs deep from page one. I loved that the characters all grew and changed - to find their own happiness. I just truly enjoyed the overall positive and happy messages in this book, even when things were not happy and easy. Just an overall enjoyable read from the first page until the last!
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader and audio copies.

This is the perfect summer read! For anyone struggling with work, needing hopeful story, or just looking for a fun read, this book is for you. I could not put this one down. From the unlikely friendship to the sarcastic banter, Courtney Walsh had me eating this book up.

This story brought me write back to my 20s when I drove my late grandmother to Michigan to visit her siblings. She was so giddy the entire trip which made me so happy and we just enjoyed our time together. After a brush with death, Kelsey meets and befriends Georgina, an older, lonely professional who has a life-threatening disease. Kelsey convinces Georgina to go on an adventure of a Summer of Yes. They learn things about love. About life. Just by saying yes. Yes to the unknown. To things that are risky. That scare you.
I did a tandem audio and e-read which led for an immersive experience, and a lot of feel good feelings.

Wow! I’ve had a lot of Courtney Walsh books on my TBR but this is the first one I’ve read. I love her writing style. I enjoyed the references to things like the Gilmore Girls and The Holiday movie. She also weaves in highly relatable themes, like at the beginning when the FMC is forced to rest due to a near-death experience. I think this will resonate with many women who feel they must constantly be working, unable to rest unless something serious, like illness, forces them to slow down. This book is about facing fears, saying yes to life, and embracing love.

If you’re looking for a clean romance, I recommend giving Courtney Walsh a read.

This book comes out on July 2nd. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an arc.

4.5 stars
This is such a fun, entertaining, good read. Kelsey and Georgina are interesting, relatable, intriguing, captivating, complex, wounded, strong, entertaining characters. Their interactions and exchanges are entertaining to read and powerful. Their relationship is as good as the romance between Hayden and Kelsey. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. This story and characters resonate with me. The story captured my attention from the start and held it until the very end. The book is easy to read and get into.

I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the story of the friendship between the two women. The journey of how they helped changed each other was touching.
A great beach read!

I adored this story from the very first page! It has the same vibe and voice as The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley while telling a completely different story. Walsh's fan base is going to be so happy with this one!

I did a hybrid read of this book, meaning that I listened to the audio when I had to be out and about and I read the ebook when I needed a quieter moment. Although I loved the voice for Georgina, Kelsey's voice did not fit her character and it annoyed me. By the end, I definitely prefered reading my ebook to listening to the audio. It's nice to have both options, however!

Although the main character, Kelsey, bugged me in the beginning, I enjoyed following her character growth as she learned to say "yes" to more of the things she'd spent years saying "no" to, as well as learning to say "no" to things that weren't helping her live a fulfilling life. In a lot of ways, one of the things I loved most about this story was that it reaffirmed choices that I had to make early on in my marriage that did a lot to shape my future. I have no regrets, but reading about Georgina's put life into perspective. The characters felt so real and relatable, which isn't easy considering that I have basically nothing in common with either of them.

This is a book that is destined to become a comfort read, and one I want on my shelf so I can revisit it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy to review. I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This is categorized as Christian fiction, but I have no idea why. There are literally no mentions of religion or spiritual beliefs.

I listed to the audiobook as an ARC from @netgalley. This is told from the two perspectives of the two MCs - Kelsey and Georgina, who meet in the hospital after Kelsey is hit by a car. Kelsey feels like there’s a reason the two were brought together, and inserts herself into Georgina’s life. Georgina is a highly successful businesswoman who gave up her family for career success. Kelsey comes up with the idea of the summer of yes for her and Georgina - where each of them say yes to opportunities they’d have otherwise said no to. Kelsey convinces Georgina to go on a roadtrip with her, secretly planning to go to the town where Georgina’s husband and grown son live.
I thought this was a completely predictable but fun read - a great book for the summer. 4.25 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley for the ALC, all opinions are my own.

My feelings about The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh are not complicated- I love it! You know the crabby elderly side character who always steals the show? In this book you are gifted her as one of the two main characters!

Sunshine Kelsey Worthington has a serious wake-up call and manages to get grumpy Georgina Tate to begrudgingly join her on a “Summer of Yes”. So much happens in the pages of this book, and to steal Kelsey’s words, “Some of these sentences are absolute darlings.” Most of them, in fact! Yes, you want to slap an elder sometimes but not only is that mean and illegal, everything Georgina does and thinks is very fitting with her character. Kelsey is hilarious and I would joyfully go on a road trip with her anytime! I was happily going along thinking romance wouldn’t be a main plot point and I was okay with that- but there is more romance than I was expecting! I absolutely KNEW what the third act problem was going to be and I had a wake-up call that I can’t always predict a book’s future. I had a little jaw drop at one point. This book is funny and delightful and can pull at even the tightest of heartstrings.

It took me a couple of chapters to get used to narrators Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas, but soon enough they grew on me as they BECAME the characters. I think they could have gotten away with one narrator, and the main narrator reading Georgina’s sections/ chapters in her Georgina voice, but hey, the more narrators, the merrier.

This book felt like a perfect summer read to me, such a 5 star read, and it will be out in the wild on July 2, 2024. I highly recommend saying YES to a pre-order!

5/5 stars
11 hours 29 minutes at 1x on audio
Clean romance; kisses only
Locations: New York, Driftwood, NC and everywhere in between- there’s a road trip!

It was a very lighthearted audiobook. It's nice to come across a book that isn't trying to push a specific amount of promiscuity and profanity. It sounded like there were two authors. I did not care for Kelsey's voice. I kept wanting to fast forward to Georgina's part. Though the book is slow, it has adventure.