Sweet and low angst summer romance.

“Like you were embarrassed to be seen with me…
“I know how gossip works on this island. You’ll need a lot more than a squirt gun if Grams is lead to believe we’re on a date”

📚 rival families
📚 small town
📚 he falls first
📚 police officer
📚 cute dog sidekick
📚 interconnected series
📚 single POV

“I hate hot Satan. I can’t be selling my soul to the devil though, no matter how attractive he is”

🚫 clean romance

|Thoughts|
This is my 3rd book in the Falling For Summer series and it has me falling for the swoony leading men. Get a thrill out of how the characters and storyline’s cross over between the books. It seems like most romances are blossoming at the same time, so you get different perspectives on their romance.

Loved the tension that built better Gemma and Beau as he tries to get her to see the magic on the island.

“Did that Palmer boy blackmail you into going out with him?”

Beau is the picture perfect version of a golden retriever and it’s sweet to see him through Gemma’s eyes, as she literally records him for a promo. Although he falls first, they both fall fairly fast for each other.

“I didn’t just kiss Beau Palmer, I’m falling in love with him”

This book is part of the interconnected, Falling for Summer series. It can be read as a standalone or as part of the set. Events and characters cross over throughout each of the 7 books (so far I’ve read 3).

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & the author for an eARC in exchange for this honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a fun lighthearted book! This was such a cute love story. I really enjoyed watching their love story unfold. I really liked both characters. This book was very enjoyable. I listened to the audio book and I enjoyed the narrator.

This was a fun read. Probably a 3.5 star rating rounded up. There were things about the female lead that really bothered me, but in general, the story was cute. I wish that the female lead was not quite so self-deprecating. It was just too much, and didn't really ever get dealt with. Not the best book in this series, but not the worst one either.

Contains an audiobook review.

Plotting Summer is part of the Falling for Summer series. This is a series of standalone stories but with interconnected characters set in the fictional town of Sunset Harbor written by 7 different closed-door/clean romcom authors. They can be read in any order, but take my advice and read them all! It is a really fun series!

This book is probably one of my favorites of the series so far. I really enjoyed the tropes and the interaction with the characters. We get to see some of the other characters featured in this story as well. It was fun to get some back story on these two as well.

Plotting Summer is told from a single point of view, so it has just a female narrator. She does a wonderful job of reading the story and using different voices for all of the characters. I wouldn't have minded getting some perspective from Tristan along the way, but that's because I love dual POV stories. This one was well rounded as a single POV though.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Netgalley and Jess Heileman for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. I'm happily and voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I loved this book the first time I read it and I loved the audio! This is one of my favorite romances of the year I plant to reread it in the summer and would definitely recommend it! Capri and Tristan are the best!

I absolutely adored this book when I read it with my eyes. But listening to it? I couldn't get enough! In fact, I stayed up HOURS past my bedtime one night simply because I didn't want to turn it off. The book is marvelous, and the narrator did an exceptional job!

~I was given a complimentary copy of this audiobook. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.~

I am a big fan of this series and this was such a cute addition to the series. I love these characters and this was such a sweet story. I truly loved seeing some of the connections made in other books.

Meet Capri. If that’s not the sunniest name. She had a crush that she even wrote about. And then it got published. And then the guy comes back. Not the plans she had. It’s like the MASH game you always wanted to come true. And then it does. Kind of.

Meet Tristan. This isn’t a dual POV and I would have loved a glimpse in his thoughts. But what I did know was enough to be totally on board the Tristan train. I’m the engineer. Helloooooo.

When the two reconnect and Tristan throws down a competition, things heat up. And it’s just laugh out loud fun and flirty from that point on. Happy sigh. The author will keep you smiling and turning pages

- the outings
- the writing drama
- resolving pasts
- the friends and family
- the secret identity
- the nickname
- the end grand gestures were melty

Push aside your school shopping and add this to keep the summer vibes. Can Capri reveal her secret and find the love she longingly describes?

The narrators are so good and I liked the way she did the male voices and took us right into the story. Super enjoyable!

This story is sooooo cute!!! Books about writers writing can often be tedious or silly or I just don't like them for whatever reason, but I loved how it was done in Plotting Summer! She's writing romance under a pen name to hide that her hit debut novel is a straight rip from real life! Except the love interest isn't actually interested....

It's deliciously awkward!!!! The main character is so awkward and repeatedly stuck in awkward situations as she desperately tries to hide her identity and is torn between her continued attraction to her childhood crush and avoiding him! Heileman wrote the characters and their shenanigans soo well!

Regarding the whole series, I've now read 3 of the books, and I can say I love how they are fitting together!

The audiobook is narrated by Ellen Quay, and she was a perfect choice for this. She does the whole thing with no weird faux-man voice. She was easy to listen to and a great fit for the story!

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for an audiobook to listen to and review honestly and voluntarily.

I am entering my 'audiobook era' thanks to this wonderful book!

Here is what I absolutely adored about both the story and the narration:
🎧 The narrator has such a wide variety of voices and subtle shifts that truly brought the book to life! Capri (FMC) has so many moments of inner dialogue and the way the narrator was able to differentiate between her inner and outer voice will never cease to amaze me.
🌅 This was my first introduction to the Falling for Summer multi-author series and it HOOKED me! This small fictional island is home to not just the most swoony of love stories, but also the small town characters that make it hysterical.
📚 Capri (FMC) has one of the best cases of hidden identity I have seen in a story and watching it unfold had me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought I saw how the plot was going to unfold, the author threw a little twist in there. Kept me captivated throughout.
💪 This one is weird for me to say out loud... I really liked the narrator's man voice. 🤣 It didn't feel odd to have a woman speaking as a man, which like I said, is weird to admit.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you laughing, blushing with embarrassment (in the most entertaining of ways), begging for someone to break the tension, and keep you guessing until the end... this is the book/audiobook for you! ♥️

This was an excellent narrator for this single POV book! I feel like she did a great job voicing both characters even though it was only from the FMC’s perspective.

Okay, I love me a good “pining after a secret crush” story! This book had it all: the secret author, the handsome and slightly jealous MMC, the pining, the sizzling chemistry filled moments, the romantic get-aways, and so much more! The competition to see who could plan the best outing on the island led to so many great moments between Tristan and Capri. I adored this couple! (and how Capri looked at every romantic moment as something to pen into her next novel 🤭)

Capri Collins has a secret; she’s the famous author, Sunny Palmer, who writes amazingly swoony romance novels! The only problem is that she doesn’t want anyone finding out because she based her first book off of her unrequited childhood crush. Since Capri couldn’t be with Tristan in real life, she took to writing to make all of her romantic dreams come true, and women loved it! (I love the fact that the old ladies of Seaside Oasis are absolutely enthralled with her romance novels) In a series of events, Capri ends up back on the island and of course Tristan is there. One thing leads to another, and our favorite author finds her way into her dream man’s heart (and his arms 😏).

I have been loving this series and I’m going to be so sad once I’m finished with it! I love seeing how each of the stories connect and it’s so fun to read the other character’s POV’s of certain scenes!

Highlights:
☀️ Sunset boat ride
☀️ Capri Sun
☀️ “Secret Crush”
☀️ Manatees
☀️ Handlebar bike ride
☀️ Hidden keys
☀️ Mud bath + shower after
☀️ Pool of pillows + a movie
☀️ THE KISS

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook! All opinions listed above are my own.

4⭐️ Another sweet Falling for Summer love story! First, friends to lovers is not my go to trope, but it was written so well that it has convinced me that I might need to start picking that trope up more often. It was just so sweet!

Capri and Tristan were adorable. Their little "outings" were so cute and I enjoyed every single one. That tension between them was killing me! (That spa trip in particular had me dying! Iykyk) Second, romances like this sometimes fall into the cheesy side, but honestly, I never felt that reading it. No cringe moments here! It was just a downright sweet romance that feels like a warm hug. I have almost read all of the books in this series and can honestly say I have not been let down.

I did listen to this in tandem with reading the physical book, and I ended up listening to it more than I read it. The audiobook narrator, Ellen Quay, just has such a cute and enjoyable voice to listen to. She’s not monotone and makes the listening experience fun. I enjoyed it.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jess Heileman for the complimentary copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you enjoy:
- Friends to lovers
- Childhood crush
- Secret identity
- Closed-door/clean romance

Capri’s story is one of my favorites because she’s a closet romance writer. I remember back in the day writing play-by-plays in my journal of every little interaction with my current crush–can you imagine turning that into a book? Yes!

Ellen Quay did a great job of narrating this fun summer romcom and I couldn’t get enough of Tristan and Capri’s story. It was a treat to listen to this one all over again. I love the way Jess Heileman wrote this and brought another Sunset Harbor love story to life in so many fun ways.

Fantastic plot, wonderful characters, charming setting, sweet and hilarious interaction, terrific swoon–this one is one my favorites list.

I absolutely adored this wonderful romance! Plotting Summer is the third book in the Falling for Summer series, which is great when read in order, yet all of the books can also be enjoyed in any order. I listened to the audio version and it was beautifully narrated, truly bringing the characters to life for me.

Going into this novel, I realized that it was told only from Capri’s perspective and I wondered how I would feel about that. Well, it was the perfect way to tell this story! I thought the author did a great job of creating those uncertain and nervous emotions that Capri felt upon being around Tristan for the first time in almost a decade. As they embarked on spending time as friends and going on outings, Capri began to wonder if Tristan might want to be more than friends. And Capri definitely realized that her crush had never actually disappeared. It was in full force all of these years later! But would there be a chance to be more than friends with Tristan once he learned of the book she wrote about her crush? I really felt for Capri as she battled feelings of nervousness and dread for the conversation she knew she needed to have with Tristan.

This book packed all of the feels and captured every emotion so vividly! I loved it from start to finish and it was extra fun to find out that there was a bonus epilogue told from Tristan’s point of view. I highly recommend this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh my word! This Falling For Summer series is such a favorite already! I love Jess Heileman’s books and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this. Book #3 Plotting Summer was a dream to read! It’s every high school girl’s fantasy. Did you have that one boy you had a secret crush on? The one whose last name you’d constantly doodle with yours? This sweet romcom took me back to all those fun times. I could completely relate to Capri Collins’ book nerd, introverted self and loved reading the story from her point of view. I absolutely adored this friends to more, next door neighbor, hidden identity, unrequited love romance! Definitely a must read for every romance lovin’ heart!

Capri Collins has a secret. She’s a best selling author who stole her secret crush’s last name for her pen name. As Sunny Palmer, she published her high school fantasy, the one where her handsome next door neighbor, Tristan Palmer falls for her in high school instead of the popular girl.

When Secret Crush becomes a bestseller, Capri decides she can never reveal her true identity, and never go home again in case someone puts two and two together. It’s been 9 years and several books later, but when she has to return home and her oh so single secret crush is back again, she can’t help but fall in love all over, especially when bets are involved and he offers to remind her of all the great places on Sunset Harbor. But, just as friends, right? And what happens when Tristan discovers her secret?

I LOVED this book! There were so many scenes that made me smile. Jess Heileman knows how to write those adorably awkward scenes that are so relatable and I was here for all of it. I loved Capri’s family, especially her meddling brother-in-law Heath. The romance was so amazing! From the boat rides, to bike rides, to a day at the spa (the mud bath scene!), and the 4th of July, this book captured my heart and didn’t let go. While we never get in Tristan’s head, I loved seeing how much this guy cares for Capri. He’s every bit the dreamy book boyfriend she captured in her books. I also loved the perfect ending and how everything was resolved. Don’t miss the epilogue!

After reading this amazing book, I was so excited to revisit it via audiobook. The narrator did a fabulous job bringing all these characters to life. She had a pleasant voice to listen to & I enjoyed how she voiced both male & female characters. Definitely recommend this version.

Plotting Summer and the entire series are instant favorites and the perfect summer reads. Definitely grab this one and all the others! While this book can be read as a standalone, it was so fun seeing familiar faces and the way the series is connected. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

Read three books from this series and its just keep on getting better and better with each book i believe. This one has some of my most favourite romance tropes🤌 love this combination so much.
The narration was as usual smooth and easy breezy. The vibe of this series is so beautiful that literally I feel I am a part of this book series now. The characters are charming and beautifully written in this too. I am eagerly waiting for the next book now.

Hooked in the first chapter! Adorable story of Capri & Tristan. Secret childhood crush on the neighbor. (Perceived) unrequited love. The friendly banter had me giggling and blushing. The anticipation of their first kiss had me going crazy, in the good way. I was torn between speeding up the audio narration to see what happened next, but at the same time wanting to live in the moment, lol. Narrator was good. Spice 0.5/5.

Spoiler?? On all of their outings Tristan took a picture of him & Capri. I was thinking along the way that it would come back. Maybe I missed it?

Falling for Summer series has been a blast to experience this summer. Thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook ARC's. 10/10 recommend the entire series if you are interested in closed-door summer romance.

Plotting Summer by Jess Heileman is a sweet summer romance. It is the 3rd book in the “Falling For Summer” series, which is a multi-author series with interconnected characters all taking place on Sunset Harbor. However, they can all be enjoyed as standalone stories.

Capri and Tristan were next-door neighbors growing up. Capri has always had a secret crush on Tristan, she even wrote a book about it. She never thought her book would go anywhere but it was a bestseller. She used a pen name and has kept her identity as an author a secret for years. When she returns to Sunset Harbor, Tristan is closer than she planned, and those old feelings have not gone away.

This story is a sweet summer romance that makes you think about young love and secret crushes. Both Tristan and Capri come across as teenagers as they revisit their past, adding some angst to the story.

The plot moves quickly and makes this a fun and easy read. The story is from Capri’s point of view, and it would have been fun to also see Tristan’s side.

If you are in the mood for a light and fun summer read with meddling siblings and a long-time crush, this is the book for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jess Heileman for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Capri is a successful romance author hiding behind a pen name. She faces a dilemma when she returns to her hometown and encounters her secret crush, Tristan—whose last name she borrowed for her pseudonym. Her secret identity, and a novel based on a fictionalized version of their relationship, threaten to be exposed as Tristan reignites their connection. Capri must choose between protecting her anonymity and pursuing a real-life romance with the man who inspired it all.

This is a fun, lighthearted, and emotional romance. The chemistry between Capri and Tristan is strong. I loved the second-chance element and the sense of longing between them. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Plotting Summer is part of the Falling for Summer series but it will work just fine as a standalone. This story takes place on a fictional island off the coast of Florida, Sunset Harbor.

Plotting Summer is my fourth book in the Falling for Summer series and is my favorite. Summer Ever After was my least favorite and it followed Jane who I liked but she just came off so desperate that she bothered me. Plotting Summer follows Jane’s best friend Capri.

Capri was such a strong and interesting lead character. She is an author writing under a pen name. The name she uses has a stolen last name and her first book was based on her and the guy whos name she stole, just with a happily ever after. Capri has only told a few people who she really is and doesn't want anyone on the island to know who she really is, especially her secret crush Tristian.

Capri and Tristian’s love story goes back to when they were kids. This was the most well told story so far in the series and it even made me really like characters I was not too fond of like Jane. Jane was a great supporting character here and I believe that’s because of Heileman’s excellent writing. I also feel this story used all the characters we have learned to love in the other books in the series in the best way. Unlike the other books, this lacked the POV from the male main character, but this almost felt like an ensemble cast anyway. This was more than just Capri and Tristians story, this was a story of Sunset Harbor.