This story follows Jade Taylor a girl in need of some soul-searching who takes a temporary job managing a bookstore next to a resort on Nantucket. On her second day, her boss sells the bookstore out from under her to the wealthy (and hot) owner of the resort next door. But he wants to shut the whole store down and expand his resort empire. Jade just can’t accept that, this was her big comeback! Her moment to prove to herself that she was more than just a pretty blonde.

Oof ok. Let’s start by saying that I really really wanted to love this book. It looked like it was going to be a super cute rom com type book with all the best tropes. Unfortunately, it just didn’t get there for me. There wasn’t much substance beyond the physical relationship of the two main characters. The story started pretty rough for me and while it did get a bit better when the plot was introduced at around 30%, it just wasn’t a book I was excited to read. Everything happened too quickly and with no tension or build-up to speak of, it was just not super enjoyable for me as a reader. This is my first Kathryn Freeman book and I’m convinced that maybe her style just isn’t for me and you know what? That’s ok! I have friends who would have enjoyed this book, but it really wasn’t my thing.

A huge thank you to Harper Collin’s UK, One More Chapter for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

‘Booked for Summer’ by Kathryn Freeman has a charming premise and a delightful setting in Nantucket.

The premise is fun and refreshing: Jade, a book lover, takes a three-month job running a bookstore on the beach. Unfortunately, the shop is sold, and Jade's summer then centres around trying to convince the new owner, Liam, to save the store. Along the way, of course, romance blooms between them. The setting of Nantucket and the quirky bookstore create an ideal backdrop, and I really appreciated the atmosphere of the story. It's a perfect read for book lovers dreaming of a summer by the sea.

Jade and Liam as characters are very engaging at the start. Jade is a woman trying to find her place in the world, and Liam is a man at a crossroads in his own life. The sparks fly immediately between them, and I was rooting for their relationship from the beginning. Their journey of self-discovery and mutual growth is one of the book’s stronger aspects. The author does a great job of delving into the flaws of the characters, and I found their struggles with self-worth and their evolving relationship to be quite powerful. Their connection really transforms Liam.

However, while I loved the character development, especially with him, I had some issues that really affected my overall enjoyment of the story. First and foremost, both Jade and Liam often acted in frustratingly petty and unreasonable ways. They were quick to jump to conclusions and didn’t allow each other the space to explain themselves, leading to an excess of unnecessary miscommunications. This, unfortunately, detracted from the story’s flow and was repetitive at times.

Another issue for me was the heavy focus on their physical relationship. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but I found that the book leaned a bit too much into the sexual side of their connection, often at the expense of more meaningful emotional conversations.

That said, ‘Booked for Summer’ did capture my attention, and I loved the easy, small-town vibe that came through in the writing. The initial setup was fun, with the classic dynamic of a city grump and a hopeful, wide-eyed woman who is all about the bookstore life. The characters’ development — particularly Liam’s — kept me hooked, even if their relationship was flawed.

This book made me want to visit Nantucket, work in a bookstore, and become part of the tight-knit community. It’s a great read for those who love a cute romance with a dreamy setting, but be prepared for some moments that may feel a bit too much on the steamy side. It’s a fun, light read for book lovers and those who are looking for a beachy escape.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island, home to the rich and the rich holidaying. Worlds away from the UK a three month sing managing the book shop is just what jade needs. Until she meets Liam, who she later find out is her new boss. Is she good enough for this billionaire. She doesn’t think so. A brilliant romance is such a beautiful setting.

Such a fun cute read with lots of laughter! Love the small town romance. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a feel good read. First book I've read by this author and definitely will be reading more by her!

I rated this book 2.5 stars. Unfortunately this book just didn't grip me. I really had to push myself to finish it to give an authentic review.
The characters felt basic however I loved the description of the world around them, the characters themselves felt flat.
It was cute and what I call fluffy in parts and was an easy read, just wasn't captivating. I found it very predictable and wanted more banter, more flirting and angst/tension between the pair. Not an awful book but not my favourite. A cute little summer read if you need a wee palette cleanser.

Jade Taylor is looking for a new job and she applies to Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island for the summer. She is looking for a change in a relaxing environment.

I had a hard time reading this book and did not finish it around 20%. I did love the descriptions of Nantucket and how beautiful it is.

Loved the story about an English girl going to the US to work in a bookshop and meeting a hotel owner - and falling for him. It was easy to sympathise and even empathise with the characters and how they felt. Great ending .
I am not so sure I liked the stereotypical descriptions of the 2 characters though. It felt a little sexist.

This is such a delightful read! Set in Nantucket, the vivid descriptions of the island truly highlight its charm—charming cobblestone streets, a picturesque marina filled with boats, and the stunning weather all make it an ideal backdrop for a romance. Jade is the heroine I didn’t know I needed—fun, relatable, and down-to-earth. I loved the enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-again dynamic between her and Liam! Jade was so easy to root for as she navigated finding love, a fulfilling relationship, and a job that truly suited her. Liam, the brooding hero, was the kind of character I instantly knew I’d love!

Jade spent three months running a small bookshop in a cozy little shack, and it was such a joy to follow her journey—doing my dream job in a place I now can’t wait to visit again! Nantucket is somewhere I’ve been, but now I’m eager to return after experiencing the island through this story. The tension between Liam and Jade was so captivating, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen between them. The luxurious setting and the adorable bookshop made it all the more charming. The ending was perfect, and after reading this, I’ll definitely be picking up another one of Kathryn’s books!

This book had a cute cover and the synopsis sounded interesting to me. I was happy to have received an eARC and devoured it in two days.

This story is about Jade, a British girl who gets a job as a bookstore manager on Nantucket for the summer. She’s has always felt like she was never good enough for her family or her previous relationships.

She’s meets a brooding billionaire, Liam who is out to prove that he isn’t a failure after being abandoned by his mom and tormented at boarding school.

These two meet and develop a relationship, but are afraid to go all in because of what has always happened to them in the past. Are they able to get over their past and let love win?

I most definitely shed some tears reading this book. I’d give it an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! It was a quick read, held my attention and left me wanting more!

Love Kathryn’s books so was happy to receive this one for a review. I love that it is set in Nantucket,great views and beaches. Jade is over there from England for 3 months to work in the quaint book shop,she loves books and she would like to get into publishing. Liam owns one of the big resorts on the island and is having to manage it at the moment as his manager has moved away. Jade has a few days before she starts her job and her and Liam bump into each other. They are immediately attracted to each other and end up spending time together. Liam takes Jade onto his yacht and one things leads to another. Liam can’t control himself around Jade and he can’t get enough of her. Things take a turn when Liam finds out he is going to be Jades boss. He has been trying to buy the book shop and wharf for some time and eventually gets it. He wants to knock it down and build cottages for tourists. Jade is not happy that Liam didn’t tell her he was going to be her boss and then his plans. Liam keeps his emotions well hidden,he has been hurt a few times and his Mum left him when he was young so he was brought up by his Grandma who is his world. Liam went to boarding school and hated it,he was bullied because he didn’t come from money so he was determined to do well for himself.Jade,too,has been hurt by 2 previous boyfriends who didn’t treat her well. Jeremy works for Liam but doesn’t put up with his broodiness and can see he is falling for Jade. Jade wants to show Liam he should keep the bookshop and they get a group together. Despite trying to keep away from each other,Liam and Jade are drawn together and spend a lot of time together. You must read the book to see where things take them,they navigate so many ups and downs but I just wanted them to find there happy ever after. You won’t be disappointed.

I wasn’t feeling it. The premise of the book sounded interesting but execution was lacking and plot turns were certainly a choice. Overall, too little substance and too much insta lust without any real character chemistry.

A brilliant romance in the most magical
Of settings, Kathryn Freeman is one of my favorite authors and this didn’t disappoint. I’ve never been to Nantucket but the evocative descriptions left me yearning to go. The characters themselves are fabulous and well rounded, Jade in particular is a ray of sunshine but not without her issues. Her taming of Liam and their romantic and at times stormy relationship keep the pages turning to the last. With a colorful cast of background characters this book is everything an escapist romance should be. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Emily Henry and Carley Fortune.

Thank you so much for the early read! I adored this book, the setting and especially Liam and Jade. Loved how it centers around her love of books and trying to cut through his tough exterior. Great read!!

This was an insta lust very spicy read. I really liked the premise of this book, I love stories set in bookshops. Jade and Liam had a lot of chemistry and I felt they fell into bed a bit too fast for me.

Their backstories were touching and well thought out. Seeing the heartache Liam had growing up and the feelings or inadequacy from Jade made them so much more relatable. The plot was a bit predictable for me, but the sense of community and friendship was nice to see unfolding.

This was an uncomplicated read, ideal for summer beach reading.

This book had me laughing and giggling through most of the story. The main character is so quirky, and her little reactions to things were so genuine and cute. I would definitely recommend picking up this book.

I loved this book! It is absolutely jam packed with sizzling hot romance. The characters are so perfect. A real easy to read fun book.

What a sweet story! The description and setting on the coast were so immersive and felt nostalgic to summers on the water. I loved the plot and the character development between the love interests. The protagonist was relatable and her personality was fun. Would recommend!

I was not a huge fan of this book. It was too spicy for my taste and it felt to insta lust for my taste and it felt like they did not have real love.

This year, Booked for Summer will be a charming beach read. It was simple to read, and I adored Jade, the protagonist. Naturally, I'm fantasizing about visiting Nantucket because I adored the descriptions. the novel was enjoyable enough!