Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

I received an ARC of The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Frances from NetGalley in return for an honest review. Newly diagnosed with Autism, Ellie Beltrami, implodes her career after leaving her microphone on and trashing the guest she just finished interviewing. Hours later, she hops on a plane to her home away from home in picturesque coastal town Chiavari, Italy to see her grandmother get married. After a decade of intentional separation, Ellie encounters her childhood best friend, former Olympic swimmer Cris, who also happens to be her biggest heartbreak to date. But wait, there’s more, Ellie’s grandmother is marrying Cris’ grandfather!
As the drama and heartbreak unfolds, the descriptions of the ivy-covered trellises make a perfect backdrop for a summer romance. My only critique is that the action was slow and dramatized much like the descriptions of summer heat in Italy.
Overall, I enjoyed this summer read and big kudos to Frances for creating a neurodiverse main character.

I couldn’t buy into this book. The setting was beautiful and the author did a wonderful job making you feel like you were visiting Italy. However, I could not buy into the romance and I did not feel a major connection with the main characters. This one just fell flat for me. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my eARC.

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis is a second-chance romance set in the Italian Riviera. Ellie, a media personality navigating a recent autism diagnosis, reunites with Cristiano, a retired Olympic swimmer, at their grandparents’ wedding. Their rekindled connection is heartfelt, and the setting is beautifully described.

While the neurodiversity representation adds depth, the story felt predictable at times, and the use of untranslated Italian phrases was distracting. Overall, it’s an enjoyable but not particularly memorable read—good for fans of slow-burn romances in scenic settings.

I loved the premise of this book, but the execution fell a bit flat for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the FMC and I had a hard time rooting for her. I feel like she overreacts to every single thing and I just got sick of it. I did enjoy the Italian setting and how it was described. It really transported me to Italy. Even though this book wasn’t my favorite, I would still give this author another shot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jill Francis delivers a beautifully nostalgic, deeply emotional second-chance romance in The Summer You Were Mine. Set against the dreamy backdrop of the Italian Riviera, this novel captures the complexities of rekindled love, personal growth, and finding home in both a place and a person.

Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have been tied together since childhood—their families are deeply intertwined, their summers in Chiavari filled with shared history. But after a falling out fourteen years ago, their connection was left in the past. Now, they’re returning for the marriage of their grandparents, both carrying wounds from recent public downfalls—Ellie, a once-successful sports talk show host whose career imploded, and Cris, an elite swimmer forced into early retirement under the shadow of a doping accusation.

A mutual deal brings them together again—an exclusive interview that could resurrect Ellie’s career and help Cris clear his name. But as old sparks reignite, they’re forced to confront the past that tore them apart and the lingering question: Is this summer just a fleeting moment, or a chance to rewrite their story?

What Worked:

✔ A Vivid and Evocative Setting – The Italian Riviera comes alive in this book. From the sun-soaked beaches to intimate family gatherings, the atmosphere enhances every moment.
✔ Mature Second-Chance Romance – The chemistry between Ellie and Cris is both longing-filled and tentative, shaped by regret, nostalgia, and unresolved feelings. Their history feels real, and their journey back to each other is earned, not rushed.
✔ Authentic Character Growth – Ellie’s neurodivergent diagnosis adds an important layer to her self-discovery, and Cris’s struggle with his tarnished reputation is handled with depth. Both are at crossroads in life, making their connection feel even more meaningful.
✔ Emotional, But Not Overly Dramatic – While past wounds exist, the angst never feels excessive. Instead, it’s grounded in real emotions, making their love story compelling and rewarding.

What Could Have Been Stronger:

✖ Pacing Slows in the Middle – While the story is beautifully written, there are moments where the narrative lingers too long in introspection, slightly dragging the momentum.
✖ More Closure on the Past Conflict – While their past falling out is revealed gradually, I would have loved a deeper dive into how it truly shaped them beyond just their romance.

Final Thoughts:

The Summer You Were Mine is a deeply romantic, sun-drenched love story about second chances, self-discovery, and healing. Jill Francis captures the magic of summer, the ache of missed opportunities, and the hope that love can still find its way back. If you love slow-burn, emotional contemporary romances with rich settings and compelling characters, this one is a must-read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

I liked the premise for this story so much, including a successful neurodivergent female main character. I never really fell for her male counterpart and their awkward communications and seeming lack of passion made this a lot of work for me. The setting, the Italian Riviera, was charming and delightful. The elderpersons romance was also fun. The random Italian phrases with no definitions or explanations really took me out of the story. I gave up on the meanings after three chapters, but I found it frustrating.

I think this will be a very popular summer novel! Definitely check it out if you want to be swept away to the Italian Riviera this summer!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that captures the essence of summer, love, and self-discovery. The book follows an emotional and evocative journey, drawing you into the lives of the well-developed characters. The author’s writing is engaging and vivid, making it easy to imagine the scenes and feel the emotions alongside the characters.

The chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, and their development throughout the story is both touching and relatable. The plot is well-paced, offering just the right amount of tension, romance, and personal growth. I loved how the book highlighted themes of family, friendship, and finding oneself amidst the chaos of life.

While the story was overall delightful, there were a few moments where the pacing felt slightly slow, and some plot points felt a bit predictable. However, these small drawbacks didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In the end, The Summer You Were Mine is a wonderful summer read, full of warmth, emotion, and tender moments that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

This was a situation where I enjoyed the premise more than the book itself. I loved so many bullet points in the plot description: a redemption arc, a strong female lead, Italy etc. Unfortunately, the female lead remained unlikable, and also weirdly for an academic - seemingly very irrational in responses to issues nearly all the way through the book that I really found it hard to root for her in either the romantic or professional sense. I agree that we all contain multitudes and her autism diagnosis notwithstanding, it was very hard to be on her side and care about what happened at the end.

The first half of the book was very slow to get into and the 2nd half introduced even more hurdles and even more of the male lead character bending over backward to make things work and it all just got a little exhausting.

I did love the setting and how richly it was described and I enjoyed much of the writing itself. I would read another book by this author and give it another shot.

I love a good summer romance. I also love stories that are so clearly written from a special place in an author's heart. The research done on this book and the descriptions of the city, the culture, the people was so vibrant. The author clearly had a deep connection with Italy and the people there. It was a different kind of book that I've read before. It was sweet with that twinge of nostalgia. I did struggle towards the end just because of the third act break up. It's always hard for me to keep in with it, but it was all worth it in the end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis is a heartwarming and poignant novel that beautifully captures the magic and challenges of summer love. The story follows two characters as they navigate a blossoming romance filled with personal growth, self-discovery, and emotional hurdles. Francis’s writing is vivid and evocative, bringing the setting and emotions to life in a way that feels real and relatable. The chemistry between the protagonists is genuine, and their journey is filled with both tender moments and necessary struggles. Overall, The Summer You Were Mine is a touching and memorable read that will resonate with fans of heartfelt romance.

The Summer You Were Mine is a cute romance set in Italy, featuring childhood friends Ellie and Cris who reunite after a fallout. While the Italian setting is stunning, the romance didn’t fully connect for me. The "incident" that caused their split felt unrealistic, and the frequent use of untranslated Italian phrases made reading a bit frustrating. Ellie was relatable, but the plot and romance lacked depth, leaving me a bit lukewarm overall. A nice read, but not my favorite.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration

The ideal summer beach read - dreamy Italy, a slow build romance, and characters you can’t help but root for. Definitely recommending this all summer long!

Official blurb:
“Ellie Beltrami and Cristiano Conte have known each other their entire lives. Both families hail from Chiavari, a small city on the Italian Riviera. Their grandparents are friends. Their parents are friends. They were friends. And for one brief moment fourteen summers ago, they were almost more than that.

After years apart, Ellie and Cris are headed back to Chiavari as generations of Beltramis and Contes gather for the unlikely second marriage between her grandmother and his grandfather. But while everyone’s celebrating, Ellie is reeling from the very public implosion of her career as the host of a sports talk show, plus overthinking her past and perceived flaws in light of a recent neurodiversity diagnosis. Cris, a newly retired elite swimmer, also arrives adrift after being accused of using a banned substance.

Reunited in a place where summer dreams come true, Cris and Ellie make a deal: an exclusive interview with Cris to fix her career, and an appearance on Ellie’s show to clear his name. Soon they’re picking up where their teen romance left off—but if this second chance can last, they’ll need to finally confront what drove them apart all those summers ago.”

Well, this was one heck of a ride, and I am left wondering two things. One is why have I not wanted to visit the magically beautiful country of Italy before? The second thing is why am I not a fan of contemporary romances? Is it because I have no heart or because I haven’t found the right type of romances that suit me? I’m leaning more toward the former. 😉

Look. I adored the setting. I mean, it’s Italy. Who wouldn’t love that as a backdrop for a romance? The plot was good and not overly ridiculous or unrealistic, but the story didn’t wow me. It was well-written and I think Jill Francis is a great author because I felt like I was under the sun beaming through the trellises of ivy that canopied a pergola with tables of fresh food and glasses of wine. I also liked the lessons the main characters learned and wondered if I, too, struggle with trusting people, loving freely, and living like it’s my last day on earth. ♥️

But the romance itself? Well…let’s just say, I was stressed out from their stubbornness, lack of elaborate communication, and shame/guilt. I couldn’t fall in love with the characters or their relationship. They both were so caught up in the past or the future, and it annoyed me that they didn’t fall back down on planet Earth and handle things like adults. I felt Ellie was too dramatic and made mountains out of molehills. She was funny, though. I’ll give her that. But I think she lacked warmth like most MMCs do in contemporary novels and movies. Thankfully, she wasn’t insufferable or annoyed the heck out of me, or I would’ve stopped reading this book. And Cris? Well, he cared too much for the wrong reasons. Like bro, if it’s meant to be, it’ll be so let it be! Loosen up a little. But I will admit, I liked him better as a character than I did Ellie--just a little bit. The supporting characters were great. I loved their siblings and friends/families who watched their relational problems unfold.

All in all, the book was good. I recommend it, even though it disappointed me a bit. ☺️

I received an arc from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.

The Summer You Were Mine was a cute romance, but unfortunately it wasn't my favorite. It combines elements of a sports romance (the male lead was an Olympian), a corporate female lead, neurodivergence rep, and a beautiful Italian vacation. The two leads and childhood best friends turned almost-lovers, Ellie and Cris, head to a village in the Italian riviera for a wedding and reunite for the first time since an encounter that tore apart their relationship/friendship.

Both of them are reeling from severe career and reputation setbacks, so this wedding serves as kind of a break from reality and a little protective bubble. The one thing that the author did best was convince me I need to visit Italy because her descriptions were stunning and beautiful.

For me, the romance aspect didn't hit. I think the trope of childhood friends who have a falling out and then reunite can be done right in many cases (such as Love and Other Words or Every Summer After) but this one didn't quite deliver. It has the same theme of them spending summers together as kids and slowly, maybe becoming something else. In my opinion, the "incident" that drove Ellie and Cris apart was pretty weak and unrealistic. It felt like major overreaction, but I might be being harsh when I say that.

Another thing that really disrupted my reading process was the amount of Italian phrases. Some books (The Spanish Love Deception, for example) incorporate in foreign phrases sparingly and usually provide a translation or enough context clues so that its meaning can be fully interpreted (Granted, I do speak Spanish but my point still stands). But In this book, the sheer amount of Italian was overwhelming and in many cases there were simply no hints as to what it meant, and I kept having to use google translate to make sure I wasn't missing something important. I think the Italian needed to be toned down because let's face it - not everyone has a grasp on Italian. Normally I actually love the incorporation of foreign languages in books, but this was too much for me.

Overall, Ellie and Cris's story was cute and the story had a nice resolution. I also think Ellie was a very, very relatable character.
Even still, the romance and plot was all just a bit lukewarm for me and I never got fully invested.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's and NetGalley for this ARC!

A trip to celebrate a wedding of two senior citizens is the backdrop for a romance. To rekindle a friendship to so much more. A heartwarming story of love, family and all the drama that a family gathering can create. The setting is one that makes us all wish we could travel to the seaside of Italy. The book was a good one. I enjoyed the story.

Cris and Ellie, childhood and family friends, reconnect after years apart while vacationing in Italy. Ellie, suffering a professional faux pas with a hot mic on a talk show that she hosts, and Cris being outed for using a banned substance at the end of his professional swim career are both at a crossroads in their lives. Throw in a new autism diagnosis for Ellie, the summer in Italy is a great escape in order for her to find out who she truly wants to be as a person.

The reconnected friendship turned romance was engaging, as was the Italian setting. The autism diagnosis seemed a bit disconnected from the story line. It was touched on here and there, but I think it could have been a little more developed. Bravo to Jill Francis for including this character trait in her leading lady, which is something I have not seen before in contemporary literature. A nice, clean beach read for all to enjoy.

Great slow burn, second chance romance! Perfect beach read to make you want to go to Italy. Very sweet.

The Summer You Were Mine is a beautiful story that follows 3 generations of a family and their love and relationships. The primary story line is around Ellie and Cris, a multimedia personality and renowned swimmer —who are both experiencing a fall from grace in their own rights. They’re lifelong family friends who once had an almost-relationship that ended badly. When visiting their familial hometown in Italy for the wedding of Ellie’s grandmother and Cris’s grandfather, they grow reacquainted with all of the bumps and scrapes that come with it. I loved their story, along with the sweet connection between their octogenarian grandparents, and Ellie’s parents who are splitting up.

There’s a fair bit of Italian salutations in the text. It’s not obtrusive and adds to the story line. I listened to the book on the NetGalley app with the “read aloud” option. I tend to listen while I’m getting into bed and it took me a while to pick up on names and who they were. Could just be me, but better to pay attention.

All in all, I do recommend this title. It’s a solid read and it’s fun. Thank you to Jill Francis, St. Martin’s, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it!

**ARC Review: *The Summer You Were Mine* by Jill Francis**

If you love second-chance romances, messy emotions, and the ultimate Italian summer vibes, *The Summer You Were Mine* is about to be your next obsession.

Ellie and Cris had that “almost something” fourteen summers ago—before life pulled them in completely different directions. Now, thanks to a very unexpected family wedding, they’re stuck back in their hometown on the Italian Riviera. Ellie’s career is in shambles after a viral TV disaster, and Cris, a world-class swimmer, is facing retirement with some serious baggage. To save face, they agree to fake a PR-friendly friendship—but, of course, the sparks never really faded.

This book is peak *enemies-to-lovers* meets *forced proximity*, with all the drama, longing, and sun-soaked tension you could want. Ellie is a sharp, neurodivergent queen navigating a world that doesn’t always get her, and Cris is the broody, secretly-soft athlete who never quite let her go. The banter? Top-tier. The romance? Slow-burn perfection. The Italian setting? So vivid you’ll practically feel the ocean breeze.

Jill Francis absolutely *nails* the balance of swoony and emotional, making this the ultimate beach read with real depth. If you’re into Emily Henry, Elena Armas, or anything that makes your heart ache in the best way—grab this one. *The Summer You Were Mine* is out July 1, 2025, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**