A second chance romance of a very young couple that married to soon and fell apart almost right from the start. Now years later keeping a promise to her ex mother in law, being told there is unfinished business between her son and herself. She calls and meets Rick for lunch and the sparks ignited into a blaze.
A quick audiobook, perfect for a couple hours getaway. A sweet romance story. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #TheSummerHouse

Quick Summary: A second chance after divorce romance

My Review: The Summer House by Susan Mallery is an adult, contemporary romance. The audiobook is being released by Harlequin Audio on 3/4/25. The novel was originally released in 2002 (Marrying Mandy).

About the Book: "Revisit an uplifting second chance romance..."

In My Own Words: Two people. Two choices. A second chance. Closure or something more?

At a Glance:

Married young
Faulty expectations
Blaming/accusations
Adultery
Divorce
Second chance
Disability
Reconciliation
New Beginnings

About the Characters:

Rick - I liked Rick, but I did not always like what he said, and I definitely did not like him after the big no no. Upon seeing each other again, he rubbed me the wrong way when he stated that Mandy had not changed and that she was running...again. Dare I say that she was justified when she left initially, even if she made an error in judgment with what came after. On the flip side, the way Rick engaged with Evie was charming. I appreciated how the two clicked.

Mandy - I liked Mandy, but I did not love her. She was nice enough, but at the same time, she seemed to lack strength of conviction, as well as confidence. I understood her backstory and I could see how it shaped her, but she was old enough to be more firm, in terms of what she wanted. It should not have taken a man to spur her into action. It should also not have taken her friend to state the obvious before she gained insight into her relationship woes with Rick.

Evie - I loved this character. It was refreshing to meet her in the story. For her diagnosis, she appeared high functioning. I liked that she communicated as well as she did. It was also good to see her in a [potential] family unit with two supportive adults.

Rick's mom/Mandy's MIL - Although she did not make a direct appearance, she was a force, in terms of presence. She likely saw all that should have/could have been. with her son and her former DIL. It was interesting to see her influence...and her patience with Rick and Mandy, even as they were not always patient with each other.

About the Conflict: This couple did not have small problems. Because they were young when they first got together, they went into the marriage with some distorted perceptions. Instead of communicating, they shut down and drifted apart. From there, the bad choices were theirs to be make. The second chance scenario was realistic, I suppose.

About the Audiobook: This book was narrated by Tanya Eby. She kept things entertaining. She had a nice rhythm, and she portrayed the characters well.

My Final Say: This was a sweet yet complicated story. Though lighthearted overall, there were a few factors that made this a bit challenging, if I am being honest. I don't know that I got the answer I was looking for on why Rick made the marriage-altering choice that he did. Mandy's error was indicated in detail. The reason should have been revealed for both for there to be balance and transparency.

Other: This novel was an acceptable length. I could easily see it being longer, if only for marriage counseling, interactions with his mom and her dad.

Readers who enjoy stories about breaking up, making up, and securing a love supreme should like this short romance novel.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin Audio), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review. I am grateful for the opportunity.

I didn't love The Summer House. Neither the characters nor their story really grabbed me. A couple reunites after years apart, but it takes too long to find out why they split (infidelity on both parts, hers in reaction to his), and the sudden, intense physical attraction between the two, when their was little during their initial time together, didn't make sense to me. There's a secondary story-line about Mandy fostering a special-needs child, but it wasn't well-developed and felt like an afterthought. And even the title made no sense to me. Since I can't rave about this story, I will not be sharing my review elsewhere.

This is a really lovely second chance novella. Mandy and Rick were very young when they married, it only lasted 8 months. Years later they meet again, and sparks fly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced listener copy. Tanya Eby does a wonderful job narrating this audiobook. If you looking for a quick listen, with great summer vibes I highly recommend this audiobook.

This audiobook by Susan Mallery is a very quick listen as it is a novella. It was a good story but was only a couple of hours of audiobook. It was a lovely little romance of loves reconnecting. The narrator did a good job and it was an easy listen.

The Summer House by Susan Mallery was a quick easy to listen to audiobook narrated by Tanya Eby which makes it even better.
Mandy and Rick are given a second chance at love. The story was filled with emotions but I never got a good feeling of who they are so I couldn’t really connect with them.
Thank you NetGalley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook The Summer House. This is my personal review.

Mandy and Rick, young, inexperienced and hot for each other married in a rush and were divorced 8 months later. A number of years later, Mandy teaches special ed and Rick is a very successful entrepreneur. They haven't seen each other, nor even though about each other for years. Rick's mother suggests that Mandy invite him to lunch because Mandy is staying at a beach house near his home.

Both have grown in so many ways. There are also some physical changes that are more than attractive. And they find that they are interested in each other, but are leery to begin another relationship. The better they know each other, the more interested they become. It's a pretty good story. It's a re-release of a prior book by the author.

I listened to an audio version of the book and enjoyed it.

Susan Mallery’s The Summer House (originally Marrying Mandy, soon to be The Beach House) is a second-chance romance packed into a quick, steamy read. With themes of reconciliation, young marriage, and divorce, it offers a heartfelt look at love, regret, and rediscovery—plus a dash of disability representation.

The story follows a couple who married young, divorced, and now find themselves drawn back together. While the premise is strong, the novella-length format makes it a bit challenging to fully connect with the characters. The emotional depth is there, but it feels a little rushed with a spice level of a solid 🌶️🌶️.

The audiobook, narrated by Tanya Eby, is a highlight—she brings warmth and depth to the story, making it an enjoyable listen. The upcoming The Beach House release features a stunning new cover, making it a tempting pick for fans of second-chance love stories. If you’re in the mood for a quick, passionate romance, this one is worth a read!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is a re-release of a book from 20 years ago. I feel like it fell a little short because of that.

**Audiobook Review: *The Summer House* by Susan Mallory**

Okay, so *The Summer House* is basically your ultimate summer escape in audio form. Susan Mallory serves up a story that’s equal parts steamy romance and emotional rollercoaster, all set in this dreamy, sun-soaked getaway that feels like the perfect break from reality.

The audiobook totally nails the vibe—imagine a narrator whose voice is as smooth as a summer breeze, effortlessly drawing you into every sun-drenched moment and heart-fluttering twist. The characters are so relatable; they’re juggling secrets, longing, and some seriously intense chemistry that has you hooked from the first scene. Every plot twist feels like a refreshing dip in the ocean, keeping the suspense alive and your heart racing.

If you’re into slow-burn romance with a side of summer magic—and if you loved that feel-good, immersive storytelling of your fave beach reads—this one is a must-add to your playlist. *The Summer House* is the perfect blend of lighthearted fun and deep emotional moments that will have you daydreaming about endless summer days long after the audiobook ends.

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

I liked this but wish it was a full book not a short story. I feel we could have known so much more about theses people. A true second chance story with a marriage. Not a normal troup but I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Susan Mallery, and Harlequin Audio for allowing me to read this novella. The Summer House was personal since I am a Special Education teacher and teach students with disabilities. The Summer House was a short novel but packed with description, character development, reflection from their earlier marriage, and heart. The ending was sweet and touching without being overly saccharine.

This was a cute short story. I like that the main characters are reunited after eight years and find their way back to each other. The element of foster care and adoption, especially with a special needs child, was heartwarming and was a nice addition to the story. The narrator’s voice sounded much older than 30 years old. I found it distracting and often thought that the main characters were in their mid to late 40s.

This was a sweet romance about second chances. I typically shy away from second chances when cheating is involved but this was done nicely and kept me rooting for them to get together! Would recommend for sure as a beach read!

This is a rerelease of a book written over 20 years ago.

Mandy and Rick have been divorced for a long time. Way longer than their marriage lasted. When they find themselves living in the same town, they meet up. The spark is still there. They begin to wonder if they can make it work this time.

Since this is being released with a cute new cover, audiobook, a new title, etc... I assumed it was updated. It is not. It is obvious it is out of date- the names, the technology (PDAs were barely even a thing), etc... I could deal with that if not for the other faults.

The length. It is super short and you basically know nothing about them. They were married to each other. You know their careers. But you never know them. Not at all.

I was also annoyed by a few other things. They were MARRIED. There is a conversation where one of Mandy's friends is mentioned and it is all like "Oh, wasn't she the made of honor? I remember her." Like it was your wedding. You'd think they'd remember who was in it. They've only been divorced a few years. There were other examples where they didn't know something obvious, yet they used to be married.

Tanya Eby narrates. Solid performance as always.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Short novella. Very predictable. This is a republication of an early book by Mallery. Her style has gotten better and I like her books now much better than the books from earlier times. Narrator is good.

3.5 ⭐️

This was cute and short and heartwarming. Certain sentences didn’t sit well with me but overall it was an enjoyable book. Very easy read. The audiobook was narrated well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Susan Mallery for the advanced listener’s copy of this book.

A quick second chance romance. I actually would love to see this one turned into a full novel. I enjoyed the characters and the development of the relationship, but was left wanting it all a little more fleshed out.

Short and super sweet second chance romance.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Sumner House Honest ARC Review:

This has all the feels of a small town romance and is a nice read after a chaotic day.

Mandy Carter and Rick Benson were dating and married for a brief time after meeting in college.
The two divorced and moved on with their lives.

Eight years later, Mandy had the opportunity to stay at a friend’s summer home and her life took an unexpected turn, leading her to spend a day with Rick. Both characters have evolved and matured since their last encounter, allowing them to approach the relationship with a new perspective. Neither is looking for romance initially, however chemistry cannot be denied.

The characters must grapple with lingering emotions from their past, unresolved issues with cheating and the fear of getting hurt again.

The familiarity of the characters and the revisiting of past memories creates a sense of comfort and emotional connection.

This story has a nostalgic, small town romantic vibe and would be a great addition to your TBR list!

I really enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing this ARC with me!