Member Reviews
A great summer read. This is a book for those who need to live a little or wish they could be more bold in their personal and professional lives. A story of an unlikely friendship and an unexpected romance too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the audiobook of The Summer of Yes! As expected this was a fun read featuring some clean romance, but it was also so much more! I enjoyed following Kelsey and Georgina’s stories unfold and even caught myself giggling at the banter between the two of them throughout this story. I’m giving this one a 3,5 stars!
Thank you so much for Courtney Walsh for the advanced reader copy of this fun summer read!
The Summer of Yes was a fun read with a big heart. I loved the concept of these two unlikely "friends" going on a journey to undo regrets and just say yes, and I found myself smiling a lot throughout the book. Although it was filled with some heavier topics, the author found a way to still make it feel light and inspiring. I loved the ending and found myself fist pumping and trying to give Kelsey and Georgina imaginary high fives after the office scene.
My one complaint about The Summer of Yes was that it felt a bit too long. After awhile, Kelsey began to feel a tad bit annoying, while Georgina was insufferable in her stubborness, which I suppose was the point. I'm not really sure what part of the story would have been cut out because none of it felt irrelevant, but it just felt like it was dragging on.
Overall, I did like this book and would reccommend it for anyone looking for a fun summer read.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the early review copies of the e-book and audiobook via NetGalley.
After being hit by a car, Kelsey reassesses her life and starts making positive changes, starting with her “Summer of Yes.” She aims to step away from her workaholic and fear-ridden lifestyle and say “yes” to opportunities that bring her joy. She somehow wrangles famous businesswoman Georgina Tate (think The Devil Wears Prada’s Miranda Priestly) into joining her, and the resulting caper is part THE HAPPY LIFE OF ISADORA BENTLEY, part THE MOSTLY TRUE STORY OF TANNER AND LOUISE, with a dash of THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT. The story follows their adventures and the personal growth they experience. I got chill bumps during a couple of the more moving scenes.
I love an author who delivers engaging stories with interesting characters that are charming without being sappy. Walsh’s trademark is heart without heat, spunk without swearing, and emotion without angst. While I also enjoy darker tales, reaching for one of her reliably sunny novels is comforting. Her books are a joy to read, uplifting, and filled with characters I care about. I eagerly await each new release.
The audiobook has two narrators for Kelsey and Georgiana’s POVs, and both performances capture the heart and soul of each character.
This is a really cute story about two unlikely friends (essentially Joy from Inside Out and Miranda Priestley from Devil Wears Prada) and how that friendship changes each of their lives.
Is it predictable? Yes. Did I mind? No. It’s a great low stress, mood lifting read, and it’s also the kind of book that you could recommend to your mother in law without having to worry about greater than PG content.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The Summer of Yes follows two friends who met in the hospital. They are both usually say no to everything people until one day they decide to venture out on a summer of saying yes. This was adorable. I loved the characters and their banter, It's a must read for the summer.
Wonnderful story that had me engaged from beginning to end. Narrators were fanastic.
Thank you to NetGalley aan the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The audiobook is well done; both narrators give a good perfomance that meshes well with the characters they are portraying. My problem is with the book in itself. I didn't like the character of Kelsey at all. She read like a quirky, insufferable manic pixie dream girl. And I wasn't interested in the story enough to continue reading it because I could see from the beginning what was going to happen. The extra star is for the well done narration.
Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.
My first ever 5-star find from NetGalley!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness this novel was such a delight! Such a perfect and predictable slice of summer bliss for when you want to feel good! I felt that the story was well paced and was laced with humor while also tackling some very important/emotional struggles within the characters’ lives. I loved the friendship between these 2 women, regardless of how drastically different they are from each other. The side plot of a newly-stemming romance was soooo adorable as well. This was my first ever Courtney Walsh novel and it definitely will not be my last!! <3
Huge thank you as always to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
The perfect summer read. Although it would work anytime of year, I just happened to read it in summer. I loved the characters in this book! I was pulled into the story right away, and I couldn’t wait to find out how life played out for everyone. Was it predictable? Absolutely, but it was the getting there that made the story, not just the end. My only small quibble would be that I thought Kelsey’s romance was a little too insta-love, but that’s a me thing.
The narrators were great in the audio version that I listened to. I particularly loved the voice of Georgina, who actually sounded like the elderly lady she was. Definitely a pleasant reading experience.
Will the disruptors of your life lead you to say YES to living one?
Kelsey was living a perfectly adequate (observer) life when a literal run-in lands her in the hospital. While coming to the realization of where she is, she also recognizes she's not alone, and her new roommate is anything but happy with it. Enter: Georgina Tate. Makeup mogul & all around boss of a female business owner.
With Georgina by her side, Kelsey embarks on a 'Summer of Yes' and discovers that it's not always the big yeses that make a difference in your life. Sometimes the beauty of the moment is found in the little yeses of everyday life.
I already knew Courtney Walsh was an auto-buy author. ‘The Summer of Yes’ is a disruptor to the life of the reader in only the best sense. Listening to this book brings clarity to how we spend the yeses in our life and acts as a reminder of the value of how we spend our time.
Note: I received an advanced listener copy of this book courtesy of netgalley. All thoughts and reviews are my own. In fact, I was actively reading the copy I purchased myself when I received the advanced audio copy and switched to listening.
This was such a fun and endearing story with a little bit of romance. The character development was excellent. I love how Courtney Walsh has incorporated multi-generational relationships in this book and her previous book. The only downfall of the audiobook was I could not stand the narrator's voice. I read the actual book first and if I had listened to it instead, I would not have liked the book as much due to the narrator.
What an absolute joy to read! I always love picking up Walsh’s books because they are so lighthearted and always something I need in the summer. The Summer of Yes was full of fun, deeper moments and just everything you want in a feel-good story. This book was basically one big hug for the soul!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I just adored everything about the story! It was full of fun and quirky characters that make you want to jump into the story.
But, my favorite was Kelsey’s character and the way she was able to open herself up to the world, people around her and to some fun new experience. Her character was so relatable since we all have those geeky and socially awkward moments along with those fearful moments that can hold us back when venturing beyond our comfort zone to try new things.
Steam level: Clean
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Dual POV
Finding Yourself
Pure fun in a book
Bit of romance
Second chances
Laugh out loud moments
Relatable Characters
Smart Independent Women
Working through fear
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
Tanya Eby and Cathi Colas absolutely blew it out of the park with their narration!
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
This was such a fast-paced story! I flew through the audio during my commute and then tacked on some extra miles during my walk, just so I could finish listening to it.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Yes! This story is about finding yourself, not giving up, and living life to the fullest. It is just a book full of sunshine and one that will have you smiling from beginning to end!
I really love this book and the story grab me when I didn't expect it. The relationship between Kelsey and Georgina are completely 2 different people. I love the trope between the two character grumpy/sunshine that played between them and didn't realized they needed the change. Overall this story was a breath of fresh air and Courtney wrote it beautifully together when sometimes do you do need to say yes to take the chance before its too late. I can't wait to see what more comes in the work!
I must admit, the gorgeous cover hooked me in, then the synopsis but...it just didn't grab me like I wanted it to. It was way too slow for my liking.
It took far too long for Kelsey to get Georgina to agree to a road trip (which was around the streets of NY, so not very road trippy) then she stuck her nose into some very private personal business and made major life decisions on Georgina's behalf.
I didn't find either woman particularly likeable. And I think this is why I found the romance for both a bit unbelievable. Kelsey was a convenient insta-love and Georgina was forgiven waaaay too quickly for me to believe.
Enjoyable enough for me to finish it but not enough to recommend.
I loved this book. It was not at all what I was expecting. It was so much more thoughtful and deep than I thought it would be. I loved the grumpy/sunshine troupe played out with two women who needed each other. The growth and change of each was great to see. I know what it’s like to feel like life is just happening to you. It’s so easy to be content because it’s comfortable but some of the best moments come from stretching ourselves. The ending of the book made my eyes well up with tears. It was so beautiful. I liked the subtle romance in the book but for me, even if that wasn’t a part of the story I would have still loved this book. The audio book was narrated very well and overall so glad I got to experience this story.
The Summer of Yes is a cute romance that's perfect for summer reading. Kelsey Worthington has a dead-end job as an editor for a publishing company. Her life is pretty mundane, too. If that weren't bad enough, she wakes up in a hospital bed, unsure of how she got there. She shares a hospital room with a famous cosmetics company founder, Georgina Tate. Georgina's days are numbered due to illness. Kelsey's accident has made her realize that she needs a little change and adventure in her life. She's sure that Georgina could use a little excitement, too. It takes a lot of persuading, but Kelsey convinces Georgina to go on a road trip. The caveat is that they have to say yes to everything! Along the way, they both try things they've never done and find romance, too. This is a really fun, light read. The audiobook narration is well done also.
Thanks to HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for a review copy of this book and audiobook.
I loved this charming story of two unlikely women becoming friends as they start saying "yes" to activities they normally wouldn't choose to do. I enjoyed reading about Kelsey and Georgina's adventures, their struggles, and how they helped each other improve their lives. I appreciated the sweet romance between the two couples. It made for a delightful summer read. The love between Georgina and Dylan was so touching. It was a wonderful example of what true love is. My favorite quote from the book was when Georgina said, "Don't wait to love the ones you love." It is such a true statement. Kelsey and Hayden were also a perfect match as they supported each other in the difficult life decisions they each had to make. I loved listening to the audiobook! Tanya Eby and Cathi Coles did an excellent job of telling the story. I especially loved listening to Georgina's voice. I felt it was spot on. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review!
When Kelsey wakes up in a hospital room after being hit by a car, she finds out her roommate is none other than Georgina Tate. Georgina is a very successful women who is the CEO of her own company and the subject of many business courses. However, she has sacrificed the most important things in her life to get where she is today. After talking to Georgina, Kelsey notices the similarities in her life and wants to make a change. She cashes out her vacation time and decides to do a summer of yes. Kelsey is determined to also help Georgina in her journey to help Georgina fix the regrets in her life before it is too late. The summer of yes starts a journey for both Kelsey and Georgina to figure what they truly want out of life.
This book was a lot of fun. I loved Kelsey and Georgina for the main characters. Their banter was entertaining, and I felt that Georgina was the perfect mentor for Kelsey, while Kelsey was the push Georgina needed to realize what aspect of her life was more important. The romance between Kelsey and Hayden added another aspect of this book that I loved. I feel in love with this book and at the end it made me think what is truly important in my life.
Audiobook: I would highly recommend the audiobook for The Summer of Yes. There is a narrator for both Georgina and Kelsey's point of view and felt that both narrators did an excellent job for their characters.
The Summer of Yes is out now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Haper Collins Christian Publishing for the advance copy of The Summer of Yes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary fiction📚
𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I liked this one but I didn’t love it
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
All the adventures
Road trip
Themes of forgiveness
Great character growth
Light hearted summer reads
Second chances
Dual POV
NYC and NC settings
Unlikely friendships
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The side of romance
Great audio narration
Sassy old lady vibes
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Slow start