“Old habits die hard and old flames never do.”

I love when a little bit of magic is added to a romance story, it made the overall story so charming and a joy to read. This had a sort of “Groundhog’s Day” feel to it except instead of a day that repeats itself, it’s a summer from ten years prior. The concept of Lyla’s time capsule, diary entries and bucket list provided an entertaining way to see into Lyla’s past.

For anyone wondering, this is a closed door romance layered with the tension of unspoken feelings and memories that will have you rooting for Travis and Lyla.

I love the growth Lyla experienced by living through her deja vu summer and the journey she took facing her fears and finally being honest with herself.

I hope this gets turned into a series, the side characters were wonderful and I’d love to read what happens in their futures.

Summer in a Bottle
Annie Rains
April 29, 2025

Delilah Dune is a writer for the Echo Cove newspaper in North Carolina. Her specialty has become the social column called Delilah´s
Delusions. For a while it did well and was quite a hit. Lately it's been a slow read and her editor, Bob, wants something really good. It's been tough since she and her fiance split up. He took everything he paid for and she was left with the housing contract about to expire. Lyla will be spending the summer at her parents home in Echo Cove. They are on a spectacular cruise out of Florida and are hoping Lyla can get the house sold.
Summer in a Bottle will be published by Zebra Books on April 29, 2025. I was able to read and review Rains latest novel via NetGalley. I was really looking forward to reading her next book as most have been based on a series. It doesn't seem that Summer in a Bottle will be. Lyla´s life still seems to have many of her high school days as a priority. It seems impractical that her parents boxed all they didn't want and stored the furniture.The only room that was left was hers, just as she left it when she went off to college. They wanted her to sort it, pack it and get it ready for viewing by the realtor and possible buyers. This story is a romantic comedy that rolls a bit slow for my reading. Many readers should find it humorous as Lyla deals with one problem after another. Annie Rains fans will definitely read it but others who are looking for a fun excursion, do try it.

Thank you to Netgalley for this free ARC. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

“Summer In A Bottle” was a lovely and charming small-town romance. I thought the author would use “time travel” or some other form of magic realism to explain why events from Lyla’s summer were repeating, but I’m glad she didn’t go in that direction, because I think the simplicity of the story makes it more heartfelt and sincere.

I also loved seeing the personalities of the side characters, it felt like getting to know actual in Echo Cove. Seeing Lyla develop friendships while being aware of her past mistakes contributed to her growth, and I personally love a self-aware main character.

If you want to read a book that feels like a warm hug, this is it.

What's the saying "you can never go home again" really mean? Lila Dune finds out when she returns after 10 years away. Her parents are selling the family home and travelling so they asked her to come spend one last summer to clear out her room and prep the house for sale. What she discovers is the time capsule she buried and she appears to be reliving her last summer, before she went off to college. Travis, her best friend, is also back for his sister's wedding. As she relives events from 10 years ago and adds a few new adventures, she realizes you are the master of your own destiny and facing fear can open up a whole new world of adventures.

Truly a magical , coming of age story that will excite you. Although I received a free ARC from net galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lyla Dune has returned to Echo Cove to prepare her parents' home for sale. He last boyfriend was cheating, and she is now in limbo. She writes an opinion column but always want to write a great novel. While in town she runs into Travis her BFF since 3rd grade. He's in town for his sister's wedding. As Lyla spends time in town it seems that she is reliving the last summer she was in town before college. The same movie is playing downtown, she has a flat on her bike and Travis rescues her again. She has dug up the bottle she buried in the back yard that last summer she was home. She left home for college and never looked back; she cut Travis off since she didn't want to be stuck in her hometown; she had big plans. Travis is only in town a limited time he travels the east coast in his RV and does handyman work.
Great story on finding your true path in life.

Set in a small town, Echo Cave, Lyla returns to her hometown to sell her parents’ house while they are on a tour. During her stay in Echo Cave, she made a new friend and reconnected with her childhood best friend, Travis.

It is a story about Lyla and her self-discovery, reconnecting with old friends, people, and relieving old memories, and making new friends and creating new memories. Some aspects of Lyla’s story were relatable, like facing her fear and working on things she likes. I loved her friendship with Allison and Bernadette.

It is a cute small-town second-chance romance with a summery vibe in it and filled with friendship, love and nostalgia. The story was filled with warm feelings and magical moments.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it if you like small-town settings and second-chance romance.

Once again, Annie Rains hits a home run and never disappoints. This story is centered around Lyla coming home to oversee the sale of her parents home while trying to get over a breakup from her boyfriend. While trying to pack up her room, with all the memories, little did she know that her best friend from high school, Travis, was back in town too as the local handyman . While she is reliving all her memories of her past, she comes to many to many realizations about her life. This is such a touching story with second chances she didn’t ever think she would get and learning to overcome her fears. I highly recommend this great book. I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

A sweet romance about second chances, new friendship, small towns, regrets, forgiveness and so much more. Funny, hard and magical moment intertwined to bring back together Lyla and Travis, best friends back in High School who lost touch ten years ago and who need to address their real feelings to have their HEA. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest review.

This was a slow start for me but it picked up about 1/3 of the way through the book. Fans of second-chance romance will enjoy this as it has all the elements they seek. This book is light-hearted but has moments of deeper emotion and overall I enjoyed it.

Summer In a Bottle
By Annie Rains

Zebra Books - April 2025

Contemporary Romance


Lyla Dune had returned to her childhood home. She was thrilled to help her parents by staying in the house before it sold while they started their dream vacation now. What she didn't expect were the memories of her last summer before she left for college to be so prevalent.

Or to be on repeat.

She found her old journal, then she dug up the time capsule she'd placed before she'd left. It was funny how some of the exact same things that were written from that long ago summer were happening again.

Like running into her childhood best friend Travis Painter who she hadn't seen since she left. They’d done everything together, and each summer they'd always completed their bucket list. Until that last one. She had left before it'd been complete, and she had cut all ties with Travis. She hadn't wanted to make the same mistakes as others who'd stayed in town and lost their dreams. So she'd not only gone to school, but left Travis in her past. She'd never said goodbye, and never replied to him.

Except now he wasn't still in her past. He was back in town, and just as kind, funny and simply wonderful as he'd always been. The same movie was playing at the theater, another flood happened in the house, and the same feelings that had never gone away were bubbling forth. One deja vu after another was giving Lyla and Travis this second chance to right the wrongs of the past and find a happily ever after together.

Summer In A Bottle was an absolute pleasure to read. I loved the time capsule from their last summer and how the past was reflected in the present. I was a bit annoyed at Lyla for how she’d mistreated Travis, and it is just by chance that she connects with him again. Thankfully, we see her grow and mature into the perfect heroine for him. I also adored the town, the townspeople, and Lyla's opinions. She was an opinion writer and it was always entertaining as she considered different ones. This was so much more than a reconciliation romance, it was also Lyla working through relationships with others. I loved the friendships she formed and how they accepted each other. Look no further for the perfect Summer Read.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

this is a really fun book with an awesome romance plot. i loved the vibes of it throughout. 4 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

Summer in a Bottle is a novel that reminds us to face our fears.

Lyla returns home for what she hopes is the last time, helping her parents sell their property. She left Echo Cove with dreams of being a writer and returns on the edge of losing the meager writing job she has as an opinion columnist. She also finds an unexpected presence from her past, her best friend Travis whom she ghosted on her way out of town twelve years ago.

Now, is this a cute story that many people will find entertaining and maybe even sweet? Sure. But would I drop everything to read it again? I can't say I would.

While the concepts are intriguing to me by default (small town second chance romance), I didn't feel very emotionally connected to the story. Annie's summer starts to repeat itself after opening the time capsule from her past, and she's forced to face the fears she ran away from back then, giving her a second chance. Great. It just felt like it lacked some deep roots to make me care or even understand the significance of so many elements of the story. Things just sort of happened, and it was fine.

But, if you're a big fan of magical realism and second chance friends to lovers romance, this one right be right up your alley.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love this author's books and this one grabbed me from the beginning. It was a little different than others that I've read but all in all a good story. When Lyla returns home to help her parents sell their house, all the "strangeness" begins. (I'm careful not to give any "spoilers" here).
A second chance romance with a bit of romance and mystery that was well worth the read.
I was lucky to receive an early copy to read and review.

Annie has hit it out of the park with this latest book. Summer in a Bottle. Couldn’t put it down. Lyla comes back to her hometown to help her parents sell her childhood home. She goes down memory lane when she runs into her childhood best friend. Travis the prankster. They go on a mission to finish their teenage time capsules bucket list. Enter a series of unfortunate events. That are mimicking events that occurred when they were teenagers.
While she’s cleaning out her child home she connects with an old classmates Allison and Bernie. Bernie was not thrilled to see Lyla return. She was upset with some of Lyla’s opinion columns that she felt were criticizing her. Can Lyla prove to Bernie, that she was not criticizing her. Lyla tries to prove she can fit in to the town she couldn’t wait to leave after graduation.

Will Lyla go back to job or will she stay in her hometown?

This is a must read!

This was a different type of story for this author but I really enjoyed it. About Lyla and Travis reconnecting and the time bottle she dug up. It feels like the summer she left Echo Cove without finishing their bucket list and it is something she needs to come face to face with their present and future. I think Layla she finds out that leaving Echo COve she didn't find her dreams , in fact she got lost and now is finding out that is where she needs to be.

First of all, I loved this book!

There is a teenage girl, Lyla, who lives in a small town and has a dream of becoming a writer. To make her dream come true, she leaves everything behind at the end of the summer after high school graduation, including her best friend, Travis, and never looks back. Twelve years later, she returns to the town to help sell her parents' house, and her journey of self-discovery begins.

It is a warm and also sad story. You will find happiness, sadness, regret, dear friends, friendship, second chances, broken hearts, right and wrong choices, loss, grief, a little bit of magic and love. And you will also find much to encourage you. The opinions are meaningful, emotional and also amusing. Some of them made me laugh out loud.

I highly recommend you to give it a chance, it will put a smile on your face and warm your heart.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoy light, feel-good romances with a cozy small-town setting and a touch of nostalgia, Summer in a Bottle might be worth picking up. However, if you’re looking for something fresh or deeply emotional, this one leans more on predictable but comforting tropes. It’s an easy, pleasant read—perfect for a relaxing weekend but not necessarily a must-read

Summer In A Bottle is yet another Annie Rains success. It is a small town romance about old friends, old enemies and second chances.
Lyla returns to her hometown to help her parents sell her childhood home while trying to figure out how to save her job at the same time. She ends up reconnecting with her childhood best friend , Travis and becoming friends with Allison , a girl from school she never thought she would be friends with. Lyla and Travis try to finish the bucket list they had made the last summer they were together.
This is a cute story filled with friends, family and romance. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

I loved this second chance romance book! The characters were great, I enjoyed the banter between them. It was overall such an enjoyable book to get lost in!

Annie Rains is an author who never fails to give me an emotional, hopeful reading experience. In this new women's fiction novel, she shows that sometimes you really can go home again and sometimes, it's the best thing you can do. Summer in a Bottle is a heartfelt journey of growth, friendship, self-discovery, a touch of magical realism, and a second chance to claim the love that was always meant to be. It's a warm hug of a book I found hard to put down.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley.
Fair and unbiased review.