My first time reading something by Kortney Keisel! I really liked Jane and Walker and the tropes this book come with - best friend's brother, longtime crush, one bed, pro athlete MMC. The dual narration only made things more funny and enjoyable.

I'd like to revisit this book again someday and re-listen to this when I'm in a better mood for this type of feel-good romance!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

“She deserves a one-bed trope with someone who will stick around.”

Jane uses book tropes to find love and plan dates, and that is me.

I loved Jane and Walker’s dynamic. They were so fun and cute. I loved watching them help each other and eventually fall (“eventually” meaning let’s ignore that they’ve been in love since the beginning of time) in love. I enjoyed seeing all the different tropes at play. If only they got together sooner without Capri getting in the freaking way.

The voice acting in this book was so well done.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

Kortney Keisel’s Summer Ever After is a heartwarming romance that expertly captures the joys and challenges of falling in love with someone who’s been part of your life forever. Set against the backdrop of lazy summer days and cherished friendships, this novel is a delightful exploration of love, timing, and second chances.

The story revolves around two childhood friends who have always harbored secret feelings for each other but found themselves held back by circumstances and their own insecurities. Keisel brilliantly captures the tension and chemistry between the protagonists, making every interaction sparkle with unspoken emotion. Readers will find themselves rooting for this pair as they navigate the hurdles that have kept them apart, from family ties to personal fears.

Keisel’s characters are a standout feature. The protagonist is relatable and endearing, while her best friend (who also happens to be the hero’s sister) adds a layer of complexity and warmth to the narrative. The male lead is charming and authentic, his vulnerability making him all the more lovable. Supporting characters are equally well-drawn, providing humor, depth, and balance to the main storyline.

The novel’s pacing is spot on. The romance unfolds naturally, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked. The dialogue is sharp and often hilarious, adding a refreshing lightness to the story’s more emotional moments. Keisel’s writing style is engaging and evocative, perfectly capturing the magic of summer and the bittersweet beauty of a love that’s been years in the making.

Beyond the romance, Summer Ever After also explores themes of personal growth and the importance of taking risks for love and happiness. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the love you’ve been searching for has been right in front of you all along.

Verdict:

Summer Ever After is a charming, feel-good romance that will leave readers smiling long after they’ve turned the last page. With its lovable characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and an irresistible love story, it’s the perfect summer read for fans of contemporary romance. Kortney Keisel has delivered a delightful tale that’s as heartwarming as it is entertaining.

Summer Ever After is one book in a series of books called Falling for Summer but it can be read a a standalone. Each book in the series is a small town romance that takes place in the beautiful, but fictional, town of Sunset Harbor…where the residents are close knit and the retirees are nosy!

Walker is a professional golfer who has fallen away from his lucky streak and decided to take a getaway to his hometown of coastal Sunset Harbor.

Jane is large and in charge in her local community. Anything from planning social events to benefits to volunteering. She is well known and well liked by all. Jane has also been harboring feelings for Walker since middle school…7th grade to be exact. So needless to say, she is thrilled that Walker is back in town. She is also tongue tied and shy because she knows that her feelings won’t be returned.

The two connect and begin to form a forbidden friendship. They have a great connection but there is one thing keeping them apart…Walker’s sister. Jane has been friends with Walker’s sister for as long as she can remember and a long, long time ago they formed a friendship pact where Jane swore to never date Walker. But they can be just friends, right?

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Heartwarming Summer Romance

Summer Ever After by Kortney Keisel is a delightful start to the Falling for Summer series. It captures the essence of summer love and second chances. Keisel’s vivid descriptions and relatable characters create a charming and nostalgic atmosphere.

The story follows the journey of two characters who reunite years after a youthful romance. Jane, a hopeful romantic, and Walker, the enigmatic returner, share a palpable chemistry that sparks a slow-burn romance. Their journey is filled with sweet moments, heartfelt conversations, and a touch of mystery. As they navigate the complexities of adult life, their connection reignites, leading to a heartwarming and emotionally charged journey.

The author’s skillful storytelling and well-developed characters make for a captivating read. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing for both heartfelt moments and lighthearted banter. The themes of love, loss, and the power of second chances resonate deeply.

Overall, Summer Ever After is a heartwarming and engaging read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance. It’s a perfect summer escape that will leave readers feeling hopeful and inspired.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #dreamscapemedia #summereverafter #kortneykeisel #fallingforsummer

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of Summer Ever After, in exchange for an honest review.

'Summer Ever After' by Kortney Eisel is a cute and fun listen that takes you to a charming little island where love and friendship intertwine. The book follows Jane, who is on a quest to find love, and suddenly finds herself swept up in the return of Walker, her best friend's brother. Their chemistry is undeniable, and as they become closer, you can’t help but root for their relationship.

The characters are wonderfully written. Jane is relatable, determined, and full of hope. Walker is the perfect blend of charming and a bit mysterious, making their friendship feel real and engaging. The romance is sweet and unfolds at a natural pace, which adds to the story's overall charm.

While there might be moments where the plot slows down a bit, the warmth of the storytelling keeps you invested. Eisel has a knack for creating a cozy atmosphere, making it feel like a perfect summer day. The cute, romantic moments and the friendships in the story make it an enjoyable experience, perfect for those looking to escape into a light-hearted romance.

'Summer Ever After' is a heartwarming audiobook that will leave you smiling. It sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting series, and I can’t wait to see where Eisel takes us next! If you’re in the mood for a sweet and engaging love story, this is one is for you.
3.95 Stars!

This was an audiobook I'd sell a romance lover who has read everything and wants something new. It checks all the genre boxes and does it well, but there wasn't anything that makes it stand out. It's great at doing what it does, which is tropes and summer and a fantasy romance, and neither offers nor asks the reader to do anything more. So, it's perfect if that's what you're looking for!

*Summer Ever After* by Kortney Keisel is a heartwarming contemporary romance that beautifully captures the essence of love, nostalgia, and the bittersweet nature of summer. The story follows the journey of two protagonists who reunite years after a youthful summer romance, reigniting old flames while navigating the complexities of adult life.

Keisel’s writing is both poignant and relatable, drawing readers into the emotional landscape of the characters. The vivid descriptions of summer settings create a nostalgic atmosphere that feels both familiar and dreamy, evoking a sense of longing for carefree days. The dialogue flows naturally, filled with wit and heartfelt moments that deepen the connection between the characters.

The characters are well-crafted and multidimensional, each carrying their own baggage and dreams. Their development throughout the story is authentic, as they confront their past and evaluate what they truly want for the future. The tension between their shared history and the challenges of their present circumstances adds depth to the romantic storyline.

Themes of second chances, personal growth, and the importance of embracing change resonate throughout the narrative. Keisel beautifully illustrates how love can evolve over time, reminding readers that sometimes, the best things in life are worth revisiting.

Overall, *Summer Ever After* is a charming and engaging read that will appeal to fans of contemporary romance. Kortney Keisel delivers a tender story filled with warmth, laughter, and a touch of nostalgia, making it a perfect choice for those looking to escape into a summer of love.

If you love romance tropes and microtropes, you’re going to really like this summer romance! Summer Ever After is a best friend’s brother romance in a small town with a professional golfer MMC and a hopeless romantic FMC who is ready to find her true love and willing to use any trope to get there. This story is chock full of tropes; I don’t think I could list them all! I really liked Walker - he was charming and well-developed. I wasn’t as big a fan of Jane (I kind of found the way she was forcing relationships to be annoying), and the audiobook narrators probably weren’t my favorite. But overall, a fun and clean romance for summer (no spice and not really any language)!☀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an advanced audio copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Cute (but totally unbelievable) storyline. If you are able to suspend your belief, then this is the story for you. I had a hard time getting into this book with the people involved living in the lap of luxury. The female main character has parents that are famous singers and have given their beachfront 3 million dollar home to her. So no struggles beyond trying to find the love of her life. The male main character is a top notch golfer who hob knobs with all the famous golfers. I prefer a storyline with a more realistic storyline, but besides all that, the writing was good and the characters were fun to get to know.

First and foremost, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me laugh out loud as much as this one did. The first half of the story was one long, sweet, and super funny meet-cute. What could possibly go wrong with subjecting a bunch of single men to every romance trope written? Apparently everything under the sun for Jane. Even funnier was how Walker would unintentionally complete those same tropes in such sweet ways. The chemistry between Jane and Walker was sizzling, yet clean.

Audio Note: This story was told with two narrators and I really liked that each narrator also spoke their parts in the other’s chapters. This made the dialogue more engaging.

I received this book complimentary from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.

Jane is ready to be marry and have a family, She is hored with her life and she does different activities to entertain herself after her family and best friend move away. So he looks for single man based on trope from books. While going to dates and teying to fall in love . She ran into Walker who is her best friend brother and she has a crush
when she was young.
After an injury and surgery Walker come back to Sunset Harbor to reconnect with his coach, he is a golf player and he state of mind isnt in the game anymore. He come back home to gain the passion again. he never expected Jane.
love the book and the narration was so great
NARRATED BY Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington

4 Stars

Such a cute book! I loved loved loved the plot and the characters. The narration on this book was just ok, not my favorite. But I enjoyed the story so much it was still worth listening to even if it was a little hard to do so. Still worth a solid 4 Stars.

Thank you to Dreamscape media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I cannot say enough good things about this series. Each author gave their unique story but they all tied together so wonderfully. They are adorable romances and each one is so special and cute in its own way. I love the small town island charm and how people seems to find different versions of themselves throughout these stories. So very well done- I’d recommend them as stand alones or a series to anyone! Perfect summer reads!

This is a super fun read! Jane is trying to force tropes on dates to find “the one”, but then Walker shows up and they just kinda happen. I thought this was very unique and cute! I love reading unique books - keeps things fresh and interesting.

The audiobook was so good! I loved the duet narration - where the female narrator read all the female dialogue in the male narrated chapters and vice versa. Never listened to a book like that but I loved it!

Definitely check out this book if you are wanting a fun, unique summer read.

Romance: closed door - kisses only
Content: previous death of family members

I liked the premise of this one—applying romance tropes to real life was fun! However, the full-length format felt like it dragged at times. The romance with Walker was sweet but lacked some depth. I think this could’ve been stronger as a novella.

This story just didn't work well for me. Maybe because I had already seen how it would play out through the other stories in the series, or maybe because it's just not that great, and the duet narration threw me off. I don't know, but it wasn't good for me. I understood the premise of her "trying on the tropes", but I don't want to read about her dating other people. Just get to the point. The other guys should be footnotes, not entire chapters.

This was an adorable book! I really enjoyed the audiobook and how the male and female narrators did their voices no matter whose POV chapter it was. That detail makes an audiobook even easier to follow. I thought it was a fun idea for an author to set up tropes to try to fall in love - I have not lived in a small town but I can see how this might be a silly challenge someone might want to do when their dating pool is small. I think this would be a book I would recommend to Sarah Adam's fans. It was cute, charming and great whether you are looking for a closed door/no door romance or just want a fun summer romance to enjoy!

this was really cute!! also sometimes annoying and dumb but hey it’s a summer read and it gave me exactly what i wanted!🤭🩷

she dated a lot of guys during the book and i can’t wait to see their happy endings with her friends throughout this series😋(love that authors are different but the world is same, different main characters and different voices)

except the best friend/ sister😡 you fuck off annoying witch🫵🏼

but it dragged out a bit, like they were still not dating around 80%😒



~~~~~
going on a vacation tomorrow(finally) so this weeks vibe is just ✨summer✨

i feel like this series is perfect for the relaxed beachy days 😋🫶🏼

Summer Ever After
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kortney Keisel

I requested an audio advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Falling in love is easy. Finding the right guy to spend happily ever after with... that's the hard part. 

But I have a foolproof plan. I'm taking the tropes that work in romance books and applying them to my love life. Only one bed? Never fails. Caring for someone when they're sick? A classic. "Who did this to you?" Seals the deal every single time. So long, loneliness. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

But the more I try to force romance, the more feelings naturally progress with the one man who's off limits: Walker Collins, the guy I've had a secret crush on since 7th grade, not to mention my best friend's older brother.  Dating Walker crosses BFF lines I swore I'd never cross. Plus, he hates Sunset Harbor, and his pro golf career will take him off the island as fast as he came, sending me back to the land of singlehood, loneliness, and broken hearts. 

At the end of the day, I don't want to be the fool in my foolproof plan.

My Thoughts: This is the first book in the Falling for Summer series. While part of a series, any of the series books can be read as a standalone. Each series book is written by a different author and all are closed door romcoms. I LOVED this series. Jane loves romance books, so much so that she plans to utilize the common tropes to her own dating life and announces to her reading group that she fall in love by the end of the summer using one or more of these tropes. Jane makes a list of the tropes she would like to use, such as only one bed, caring for someone with they are sick, and the classic “who did this to you.” While she is trying to force these tropes, the one man that is off limits, the one that she has pined after since the 7th grade, Walker, she has increased interactions, making the feelings stronger. She promised her best friend in the 7th grade that she would never ever date Walker. Walker is a pro golfer and does not care for Sunset Harbor, only visiting occasionally. Will the 7th grade promise fall to the waste side? Or will Jane continue to push down her real feelings to continue forcing tropes with other men? This follows the tropes of small town, best friend’s brother, forbidden love, and island life.

The story is narrated in a dual narration by Jane and Walker, in their respective perspectives. Jane is ready to fall in love but is does not want to move out of Sunset Harbor, she loves the town too much. Jane is eccentric, kind, loyal to a fault, and fierce. Walker is a pro athlete recovering from an injury, trying to get his golf game back on track and does not like Sunset Harbor but figured it was the perfect place to get back on track. The characters were developed well with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and kept me invested. The supporting characters elevated the story and set the stage for future series books. The author’s writing style was complex, closed door, swoony, heartfelt, and beautiful. The scenes were heartfelt at times, and at other times, had me laughing out loud. This was a great opening book and set the stage for a delightful series.

The story is narrated by Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington. The narrators do an amazing job with voice variation across character distinction. The flow and pacing was amazing and I was able to listen at 2x speed with no issues keeping up. This was a sweet closed door romcom. Even though we only have kissing scenes, they are done with such passion and steam, that the spice is not missed. I really loved this series, having read the entire series except the last book (it comes out next week). I would highly recommend this series to readers. The digital books are available on KU.