This Summer Will Be Different

4.5

This book felt like a warm, messy, summer fling in the best way. It’s got that “shouldn’t but can’t stay away” energy, and the chemistry? So good. The whole story felt like a mix of sun-soaked days, late night tension, and real life feelings, like figuring out what you want, who you are, and how love doesn’t always look perfect. It gave me all the summer feels: messy emotions, beach town vibes, and that kind of slow burning, magnetic pull between two people that you know is gonna get complicated.
You can practically hear the awkward silence after things get too real between the main characters (lol). It’s that “shouldn’t, but can’t stay away” kind of energy that makes you keep reading, even when you know some show more hearts might get broken.

The romance is there, obviously, but it’s layered with emotion, timing, and the messiness of life. It’s not just a summer fling, it’s about figuring out what you want, what you're afraid of, and what’s actually worth fighting for. I felt like I was right there with them, rooting for them while also yelling at them (in a loving way).
I flew through this one. It’s emotional but not heavy, romantic but not cheesy.
Perfect if you’re into: beach towns, emotional connection, a little drama, and a lot of heart.
Hehhehe the .5 star missing its because the slow burn killleeeeeddd meee xD show less

I loved reading about PEI and I enjoyed some of the characters, like Felix. But the story dragged on for way too long, the time jumps were unnecessary and the mystery about Bridget's big secret was more annoying than anything else. I probably won't read another by this author.

i really dislike the insta-love trope, which this uses, and also how little time the two main love interests actually spent together (like a few days a year for 5 years) so that was hard for me to look past. but otherwise this is good, with an unusual setting (i don't love all the oysters and seafood but that's 100% just me) and a good friendship at its core. i thought the way we went forward and back in time worked really well for this as well.

3.5 Entertaining enough and pleasant to listen to - though a little long and over-involved. Lucy Ashby is best friends with Bridget Clark and they share an apartment together in Toronto where they met at their post-university first jobs. Lucy is going with Bridget to visit her home on Prince Edward Island and there are a few rules: eat your weight in oysters, leave the city behind, don't fall in love with Bridget's brother. Lucy arrives alone because Bridget missed her flight so she goes for Rule #1 to eat oysters and meets a very handsome oyster shucker, Felix (so many puns!) and has an amazing one-night stand, only to learn that he is Bridget's brother, aka Wolf. This happened 5 years ago and Lucy and Felix never told Bridget and show more actually ended up hooking up many other times when Lucy visits P.E.I. - always surreptitiously and always with salacious detail. Pretty steamy. So now it's present day and Bridget is due to get married in a week, but has a freak-out and takes off for the island, begging Lucy to come along. She and Felix are back in each other's orbits though with different circumstances and life choices behind them. Can they finally own their attraction? Can they finally come clean and tell Bridget - and the Clark parents? Lots of push-pull as they all face these major life questions and changes in their late 20s. Do they have the courage to follow their heart and their dreams? You can guess the answer to that, but how it all unfolds keep you guessing straight through. Romance readers will not be disappointed. Loved the P.E.I. descriptions and references - each chapter is prefaced with a quote from one of the Anne of Green Gables books - makes me want to visit! show less

The rave reviews had me going into this book with high expectations, but it didn’t quite meet them. The story is steamy and light, with a nice dose of female friendships and character depth beyond just a love interest. It felt very familiar, both in terms of plot and the Canadian landmarks. It’s a quick and easy read, perfect if you’re looking for something to enjoy during the final weeks of summer. That said, I can’t fully endorse buying it. The characters come across as willfully obtuse, which makes the lack of straightforward communication frustrating. The plot relies heavily on misunderstandings and unspoken feelings, which I found challenging to relate to. Just talk to each other, it isn’t that hard. I enjoyed reading it, show more but it’s the kind of book I think I’ll forget about by next week. It might be worth it if you're in the mood for a light, summer read and can overlook the communication mishaps. Otherwise, it’s not a standout I’d recommend. show less

Lucy is vacationing with her best friend on Princess Edward Island. When her friend is delayed, she forms an instant electric attraction with a hunky guy shucking oysters at a local restaurant. This leads to a shocking discovery and Lucy trying to keep a promise to her best friend.

I enjoyed this book, it was a fun, romantic summer read. The friendships within the book were priceless. I felt more of a connection to the friendships than I did with the romantic relationship. Plot was fairly predictable, but still a perfect mental getaway. Writing was beautifully descriptive of PEI to the point I want to visit. I’ve read Every Summer After, but now need to read Meet Me at the Lake. If you are looking for a light summer read with a little show more heat, I recommend This Summer Will Be Different.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. show less

Lucy "Bee" Ashby and Bridget Clark are best friends. When Bridget misses her flight home to PEI to meet Lucy for a girls' weekend, Lucy heads out to dinner. She meets a young, cute oyster shucker, Felix, and there is instant chemistry. After an amazing night together, they realize that Bridget is their connection. Felix "Wolf" Clark is Bridget's younger brother and is "off-limits". However, year after year, when Lucy returns to PEI, Felix and Lucy reconnect. Lucy's life is in Toronto, where she owns a florist shop "In Bloom". Bridget is getting married and asks Bee to come to PEI before the wedding. The book recounts 5-6 years of their lives.
A different romance, built slowly and with the whole family involved.