This was my second novel by Denise Hunter and she’s amazing! In both of her books the characters are relatable and flawed, allowing the reader to connect with the story on a personal level. Pub date 4/22
This was a such beautiful story. It’s packed full of love, grief, family, friendship, forgiveness and even mystery. All of the characters (except Maggie’s mom 😅) are wonderful and so well-written, I couldn’t help connecting with them. The plot is very unique which makes the book even better.
Maggie and Josh’s friendship was so sweet, especially his enduring love for her. I really hoped they would get their “happily ever after”.
The author will take you on an emotional pursuit for answers. Along the way, you will think they have found their answers and another piece of information will change the course of their path. The twists and turns made it impossible to put this book down. I sobbed several times and even gasped out loud more than once.
Highly recommend 💕
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the eaudiobook edition of The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter. Below is my personal review about this title.

Maggie is a young widow with a young a child. She’s a kind-hearted, loving individual and she’s ready for love again. I’m sure she wasn’t expecting what happened when love found her, but even when I thought I had it all figured out- the author tossed me a shocking curveball. It was a bit emotional, lighthearted and a fun listen!

The narrator was great for this audiobook and I enjoyed listening to it.

This has such a fascinating premise. What would you do if you saw your husband walking around at an amusement park? That’s all normal, but what if your husband has been dead for five years? And what if you never saw his dead body, because he died in a war, far from home? This is how The Summer of You and Me begins and hang on, because there are quite a few twists!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

I was captivated from the beginning and the mystery over the man that Maggie saw at the Carnival that resembled her late husband. It has been five years since she lost her husband. Seeing this young man that resembles her husband sends her on this unraveling of what really happened to him. Josh is her late husband's brother and has been helping Maggie with her five year old daughter Zoey. The way Maggie and Josh dove into the mystery and tried to unravel the clues. I love the twists and turns that came in the story.

The audiobook is narrated by Kim Churchill. She did such a great job voicing this story and the various characters. The tone and emotion was perfect. She really kept the story flowing. She had varying voices for Josh and Maggie and I could follow their various dialogue.

I am a big fan of Denise Hunter. I just finished listening to The Summer of You and Me. I loved it!!!

The Summer of You and Me is an emotional and bittersweet story of love, loss, and unexpected second chances. When Maggie spots someone who looks exactly like her late husband at a state fair, it sets off a heartbreaking journey of uncovering long-buried secrets. As she and Josh navigate their growing feelings, family tensions rise, and grief lingers in every corner of their story.

Denise Hunter delivers a deeply moving read filled with heartache, hope, and emotional twists that will stay with you long after the final page. Prepare yourself—this one hurts, but it’s beautifully worth it.

Maggie Reynold’s has spent the last five years grieving for her deceased husband Ethan. She believes she is ready to move on. Maggie is a teacher; she plans to spend the summer in Seabrook, NC along with her four-year-old daughter Zoey. While she and Zoey are visiting a carnival, she sees someone that looks like her deceased husband. She contacted Josh, her best friend and brother-in-law. Josh has loved Maggie from the day he first met her. But his older brother won Maggie’s hand. Josh’s feelings for Maggie have destroyed all his relationships including his marriage. He rushed to her side to attempt to figure out who she saw.
Maggie has feelings for Josh, but she feels guilty because he is her former brother-in-law. She feels like she is betraying Ethan. She doesn’t want to get hurt.
It is so obvious that Maggie and Josh love each other. I enjoyed watching their feeling grow and how they overcome obstacles standing in their way. Maggie and Josh work well together. They uncover several secrets as they search for the identity of the person she saw at the carnival.
The characters in this book are mostly interesting and likeable. Zoey is sweet. Josh’s parents were loving and supportive. However, Maggie’s mother is horrible. Author Denise Hunter demonstrates the importance of good family dynamics, the need for closure, the need to heal. This tale demonstrates Christian values.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter
Maggie Reynolds is opening her heart again when the past slaps her in the face. She sees a man that looks like her late husband and she is thrown a wild card!
Maggie is visiting Seabrook for the summer to find closure. It was where they fell in love as kids and where Evan’s family lives. She’s never realized that Josh, her brother-in-law, has held her in his heart for many years, This unrequited love seems to have sabotaged all of his relationships.
Josh wants to lay it all out and take a chance with Maggie,
They face impossible questions as they try to unravel the mystery of this man that could be Evan’s twin. As they chase answers they are faced with more questions. Maggie isn’t sure of anything, including whether she wants answers.
What a phenomenal story! It was unexpected and so well written!
I love Denise Hunter’s ability to just walk the reader into the story. This was a beautiful experience with wonderful characters!
The prose was so well executed and the audiobook narration was wonderful! A great storyteller with a warm and telling voice! I really enjoyed it!
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC for both the e-book and the audiobook for this novel. Both are excellent! 5/5⭐

I was excited to get early access to The Summer of You and Me, the latest release from Denise Hunter. This is the third book I’ve read by her, and once again—it’s a 5-star read. The Summer of You and Me is beautifully written. Summer, small-town charm, and a plot that keeps you guessing. What more could you want? I highly recommend it!

The audiobook is narrated by Kim Churchill, who did an excellent job bringing the story and its characters to life. Her tone and emotion were spot-on. I especially appreciated how she gave distinct voices to Josh and Maggie—it made their dialogue easy to follow.

Publication Date- April 22, 2025
#TheSummerofYouandMe #NetGalley

Looking for a powerful, emotive story? Look no further than The Summer of You and Me and make sure you clear your day. Maggie and Josh create such a dynamic chemistry that I found myself fully engrossed in their story. My mind was tripped up with all the possible options and explanations. I wasn’t quite sure how I wanted it to resolve and yet, when it did, it was utterly perfect, and no other outcome would have sufficed. Maggie and Josh have a beautiful friendship with long, deep roots and I love how Josh has always been there for her. Their interactions and the tender relationship with her daughter were truly heartwarming and endearing. Not to mention, all the family undercurrents created layers of complexity and realism. I genuinely loved this story and found the audio version to be even more captivating as the personalities and emotions really came through in the interactions.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I have really been enjoying reading Denise Hunter's books as of late and this new contemporary romance was so sweet. I love the way Hunter tackles hard things in relationships and then really highlights the joy by the end of the story. This story had ups and downs, grief and joy, and a bit of mystery that kept me listening, needing to know how the ending would unfold.
This book had a sort of love triangle without having a love triangle. Josh has been in love with Maggie since they were teens, but his older brother Ethan won the girl and Josh tried all he could to move past his unrequited love. After Ethan is killed while serving in the military, Josh steps in as a support for Maggie and her daughter, secretly hoping to finally have his chance to be something more. The dynamic was really good between Josh and Maggie. I wasn't sure at first how I'd feel about the whole her being married to his brother previously thing, but it actually shook out really good for me in the story and by the end, I was on board with it.
This book had some twists and I enjoyed the turn of fate, a turn that I actually was surprised by and surprised by how much I loved it. It was really unique and tied up a lot of things for the main characters.
I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. I liked the way Kim Churchill did both POVs. I found it easy to listen to and follow along. I ended up being so invested in the story, I listened to the entire audiobook in one day.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan fiction. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this audiobook.

An incredible summer read!!
I LOVED the mystery and the twists in this one and it’s still all fiction and a fun romance at the same time. The characters are all really enjoyable and I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

I am not a huge romance reader, but this book did it. for me! A great story on love, family and connection.
We start in the story of Maggies summer, and get the details of the past years through different characters tellings. There is a character every one can relate to in this story, best friends, lovers, narcissists, toxic family members. I think a great moral of the story is the deep love parents have for their children, and what that does or doesn't do for them. I'll add Denise Hunter to my favorite authors!

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all of his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him. The twist and turns that this triggers work their way through the rest of the story, as both Maggie and Josh must reflect on their relationships and the past before they can face their future head-on.

I really enjoyed this book and liked the warmth and relatability of the relationships between the characters. There were times that I found myself frustrated with Magige because of her thinking, but at the same time, given all that she had been through, it was probably very realistic. In the end, it was a wonderful story and I was very happy with how it turned out.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

I just want to say, I absolutely loved this story. I had no idea where it was going but I adored the adventure it took me on.

There were spots where i was sitting on the edge of my sit not sure which way the mystery of the book was going to turn.

Cute love story with a side of mystery. Read it!

Joshua and Maggie "s love story was powerful and amazing . As I traveled through their lives I saw the love they had each other. Even though Maggie 's grief show her that she can love and trust again in a relationship with someone. I also glad that Joshua got what he wished for a long time because the other women did not measure up to Maggie. Finally, the twist was surprising to me ,I shred some tears and my heart fill with joy . Love is life changing. I received a complimentary copy of this book . Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and Zondervan. #The Summer of You and Me #NetGalley

This story excels in building suspense through a tightly crafted mystery. The plot revolves around secrets from the protagonist’s late ex-husband, and as the truth slowly comes to light, the tension never lets up. Each revelation raises the stakes, keeping the reader on edge as characters dig deeper into the past.

The pacing is deliberate, with each twist adding complexity to the mystery and revealing new layers of betrayal. The characters are well-developed, and their reactions to the secrets they uncover feel grounded and authentic. The emotional weight of the story is carefully balanced with the growing suspense, making the discoveries all the more impactful.

The mystery is what drives the story forward, and the way it unfolds keeps you engaged, with enough surprises to keep you guessing until the very end.

The Summer of You and Me is my new favorite book by Denise Hunter! I loved the characters and the storyline. This book had a mystery to it that kept me riveted! There are twists that blew my mind! I absolutely loved the ending! I listened to this book and the narrator was perfect for the performance. I highly recommend this romance!
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for this audiobook due to be released April 22, 2025. All opinions are my own.

Having lost her military husband five years prior, Maggie Reynolds has finally mustered the courage to return to her hometown of Seabrook, the place that holds so many special memories of her time with Ethan as they dated, ultimately married, and looked forward to all the future held for their family. With those plans now shattered, going back to spend her summer in Seabrook would be both a struggle and a blessing. She welcomed time to spend with friends and Ethan's family, but knew her emotions would be fragile. No sooner had Maggie arrived in Seabrook that she caught a glimpse of someone who appeared to be a perfect younger version of her dead husband. After seeing her husband's look-alike and then losing him in a crowd, Maggie was shaken to her core. Her summer was going to be full of twists, surprises, adventures, and new discoveries that she would never have thought possible, and I loved being along for the ride throughout the story! This is one that has all the feels without the predictability of similar books! I look forward to reading others by this author.

The narrator/reader of the audiobook did an excellent job of pacing, clarity, and conveying emotion.

I LOVED this book-so, so much!!
The story follows a military widow who lost her husband while he was deployed overseas. We get an intimate look at her life in the aftermath-what grief really looks like when the world keeps turning.
A Set against the dreamy backdrop of a beach house in the summer, she's joined by her 4-year-old daughter and extended family as they gather to honor her husband's memory and scatter his ashes in the ocean.
But then, on the pier, she spots a man who looks exactly like her late husband. That moment shakes her to the core and sends her spiraling with questions— about life, love, faith, and what "home" really means now.
This book is such an emotional rollercoaster-raw, tender, and full of heart. It beautifully balances the weight of loss with the glimmers of hope. If you've ever experienced grief or wrestled with finding peace after heartbreak, this one will hit you right in the soul.