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The Summer #2
The Summer I Saved You
An Angsty, Single Parent Romance
CALEB
I came to the lake to be left alone, to lick my wounds. I wasn’t counting on neighbors and I especially wasn’t counting on her.
Lucie was a little kid the last time I was here. Now she’s grown—and God, did she ever grow up—with two little kids of her own.
She’s everywhere I look, no matter how hard I try to avoid her. I’d forgotten all the things I used to want, used to dream about. She’s reminding me…and making me want every last one of them again.
LUCIE
From the moment I first saw Caleb when I was six, I knew he belonged to me. And I knew I’d have to save him—because how else does the girl nobody wants win over the boy beloved by all?
Nothing about his life or mine has gone to plan. He’s isolated and miserable. I’ve got a vindictive ex and more problems than I can count.
But what hasn’t changed is this: it still feels like he’s mine.
And I still think I may need to save him.
CALEB
I came to the lake to be left alone, to lick my wounds. I wasn’t counting on neighbors and I especially wasn’t counting on her.
Lucie was a little kid the last time I was here. Now she’s grown—and God, did she ever grow up—with two little kids of her own.
She’s everywhere I look, no matter how hard I try to avoid her. I’d forgotten all the things I used to want, used to dream about. She’s reminding me…and making me want every last one of them again.
LUCIE
From the moment I first saw Caleb when I was six, I knew he belonged to me. And I knew I’d have to save him—because how else does the girl nobody wants win over the boy beloved by all?
Nothing about his life or mine has gone to plan. He’s isolated and miserable. I’ve got a vindictive ex and more problems than I can count.
But what hasn’t changed is this: it still feels like he’s mine.
And I still think I may need to save him.
296 pages, ebook
First published September 14, 2023
1586 people are currently reading
12338 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth O'Roark
31 books7,514 followersElizabeth O’Roark lives in Washington, DC with her 3 children. After many years spent writing scintillating brochures about amniocentesis and heart surgery, she is thrilled to have found a job that allows her to just make s*** up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,311 reviews
January 23, 2024
2/5⭐️ Honestly, this started out so good that I thought it was going to be a 5 star read for me, but by like 65%, I was just over it.
I feel like Lucie was wayyy more into Caleb than he was into her. I prefer the hero to be the obsessed one or both equally as obsessed with each other. But I just didn’t get those vibes from Caleb. He was just very meh. I feel like all he wanted from her was sex. And he definitely should have groveled towards the end 😒. He started pulling away from her and the kids and I get why he did it but it still bothered me! Ugh. I couldn’t stand him by this point.
And all the drama with Lucie’s ex??? OMG it lasted throughout the whole book. It annoyed the shit out of me. I wish it would have been resolved quicker.
The 2 stars are for the beginning of the book only. It was more enjoyable than the later half. And at least we got the hero’s pov unlike the previous book.
TW⚠️: loss of an infant (it happened in the past & off page)
I feel like Lucie was wayyy more into Caleb than he was into her. I prefer the hero to be the obsessed one or both equally as obsessed with each other. But I just didn’t get those vibes from Caleb. He was just very meh. I feel like all he wanted from her was sex. And he definitely should have groveled towards the end 😒. He started pulling away from her and the kids and I get why he did it but it still bothered me! Ugh. I couldn’t stand him by this point.
And all the drama with Lucie’s ex??? OMG it lasted throughout the whole book. It annoyed the shit out of me. I wish it would have been resolved quicker.
The 2 stars are for the beginning of the book only. It was more enjoyable than the later half. And at least we got the hero’s pov unlike the previous book.
TW⚠️: loss of an infant (it happened in the past & off page)
September 19, 2023
yeah.. whatever
———
the way im literally praying for it to be a freaking good single mom romance😭
———
the way im literally praying for it to be a freaking good single mom romance😭
September 12, 2023
TW loss of a child and drug addiction
I really wanted to love this one, but compared to the first book in the series, this wasn't really angsty at all. The heroine is going through a divorce from a horrible and controlling guy that is sabotaging her left and right. She gets a job in a company run by the boy who lived next door to her growing up on the lake that she had always been in love with. She was a bit too young, though, so nothing ever happened. While I felt for the hero and his losses, that was the only thing keeping him from being with the heroine. There was a lot of ex drama for both the hero and the heroine, which I'm not always a fan of. This was just not what I was expecting from this series and while it was emotional because of their losses, I didn't feel super emotional towards them, if that makes sense? I just wasn't super into the story and the conflicts and wished I loved it more than I did.
I really wanted to love this one, but compared to the first book in the series, this wasn't really angsty at all. The heroine is going through a divorce from a horrible and controlling guy that is sabotaging her left and right. She gets a job in a company run by the boy who lived next door to her growing up on the lake that she had always been in love with. She was a bit too young, though, so nothing ever happened. While I felt for the hero and his losses, that was the only thing keeping him from being with the heroine. There was a lot of ex drama for both the hero and the heroine, which I'm not always a fan of. This was just not what I was expecting from this series and while it was emotional because of their losses, I didn't feel super emotional towards them, if that makes sense? I just wasn't super into the story and the conflicts and wished I loved it more than I did.
December 20, 2023
Elizabeth O' Roark's romances hit different.
Starting from her covers, they pull me in in a way no other contemporary author can.
I didn't particularly love The Summer I Saved You, but it was a fun ride and gave me anything I needed in that moment, including tons of feels, a swoon-worthy single mom romance and as much angst as you can fit in 41 chapters.
There are a couple things I wasn't particularly excited about (the way Lucie's ex treated her was simply disgusting and I hated how quickly they dismissed it and threw everything awful he's said to and about her under the rug, in the end, for example) and I wasn't really a fan of Caleb for the most part, but he was true to his character and redeemed himself when he needed to.
Lucie was tremendously lovely and I wished we had more scenes with her and her twins.
I'm also pretty curious about Caleb's ex wife Kate's story, now. I know for sure that she and Beck will be the next MCs and I seriously can't wait to find out whether I'll get an ARC for their book or not.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, plz.
I'll list the few trigger warnings I encountered under the spoiler tag.
Starting from her covers, they pull me in in a way no other contemporary author can.
I didn't particularly love The Summer I Saved You, but it was a fun ride and gave me anything I needed in that moment, including tons of feels, a swoon-worthy single mom romance and as much angst as you can fit in 41 chapters.
There are a couple things I wasn't particularly excited about (the way Lucie's ex treated her was simply disgusting and I hated how quickly they dismissed it and threw everything awful he's said to and about her under the rug, in the end, for example) and I wasn't really a fan of Caleb for the most part, but he was true to his character and redeemed himself when he needed to.
Lucie was tremendously lovely and I wished we had more scenes with her and her twins.
I'm also pretty curious about Caleb's ex wife Kate's story, now. I know for sure that she and Beck will be the next MCs and I seriously can't wait to find out whether I'll get an ARC for their book or not.
Keep your fingers crossed for me, plz.
I'll list the few trigger warnings I encountered under the spoiler tag.
September 3, 2023
This was such a disappointment to me. I was scared this book was going to be as angsty as the first one, but honestly, this just felt dull. Caleb was terrible, Lucie had literally no man in her life worth keeping (other than her kid), and the romance was simply not serving anything. I'm not a fan of girl falling first OR harder, so imagine my surprise when this book served both.
Caleb acted horribly throughout the book (don't get me started on how much this man shits on workers' rights because...), I genuinely believe he was only interested in sleeping with Lucie, and I didn't finish this book really believing in their happily ever after.
The third act breakup was ridiculous, and what was even more ridiculous was the fact he didn't grovel one bit. Lucie kept talking about putting her kids first, but after that sh!tshow, the man says I'm sorry, and she acts as if all her dreams came true?
Just terrible.
Caleb acted horribly throughout the book (don't get me started on how much this man shits on workers' rights because...), I genuinely believe he was only interested in sleeping with Lucie, and I didn't finish this book really believing in their happily ever after.
The third act breakup was ridiculous, and what was even more ridiculous was the fact he didn't grovel one bit. Lucie kept talking about putting her kids first, but after that sh!tshow, the man says I'm sorry, and she acts as if all her dreams came true?
Just terrible.
September 11, 2023
"It took two decades, but I wouldn’t change a single thing."
This was my first Elizabeth O’Roark book. Based on this one, I want to go back and read everything she’s ever written.
This book will break your heart, but the ending will ease the pain.
"The same boy who was consistently kind to me at a point in my life when no one else was. He doesn’t scare me, even if he should."
Caleb is an asshole CEO who doesn’t seem to really care about anything other than advancing his company. He’s a workaholic. He’s so far up his own ass that he doesn’t want or need a woman—why would he, anyway? He’s had enough of that.
On the inside, though? He’s a wonderful, broken man.
"Yeah, Lucie, I definitely saw. You grew up. Jesus, did you grow up. And I need to know why I suddenly can’t seem to get away from you."
Lucie was too close to me—I just don’t have kids. She married a guy who was supposed to love and care for her, until he didn’t. Her ex made her feel worthless, and it will take strength and courage to go back to who she was. In the meantime, she has two wonderful kids who depend on her. And she’s not going to let them down.
"Who are you, Caleb Lowell? What happened to the boy you once were? Because it sort of seems like one of us should be trying to find him."
They’d met before, when Lucie lived in the house beside Caleb’s. She watched him from afar, wondering if he could ever be her prince charming. Wishing for it. But the chance never came, and they went their separate ways. Now, fate is throwing them a bone.
"Every time I see her, I want to see her again, and every time she smiles, I want to be the one who put that smile there."
Lucie is alone with her kids. She left her husband, doesn’t have a job, and is trying to do what’s best for them. They come first. The only thing she’s got is her aunt’s house, where she used to live as a kid. Where she used to see Caleb. But that was in another lifetime, and she needs to focus on the present.
Which is why it’s… complicated when she realizes he’s her new boss. And her neighbor. Again.
"Why are you so sure I won’t make a difference?"
"I just am. Take the next two weeks to job hunt. You can even stay three if you must."
Gone is the kind boy she knew. In his place is a real asshole who doesn’t care if she’s there—in fact, he wants her gone ASAP. It’s not that he thinks she’s useless or not able to do her job. He’s the one who may not be able to resist having her this close.
"I thought men cared about other things a lot more than smiles."
"I’m pretty sure they care about lots of things. You’re not lacking any of them."
Lucie doesn’t give up. She feels like she wants to at times (and that was so real), but she can’t. So she tries, she learns, she deals with whatever is thrown at her. She actually excels at a job she was sure she wouldn’t know how to do. But it’s her empathy that makes her an asset.
It’s her kind heart that starts making a dent in the walls Caleb’s erected around himself.
"Because you don’t want candlelight and rose petals, though you clearly think you do. You want someone so fucking eager to be inside you that he can’t wait long enough to take you home, to light those candles or scatter rose petals."
And Caleb? It’s annoying for him to have her around all the time. At the office, at home. He doesn’t want her, or her kids, close. Because it’s easier when no one depends on you. When no one loves you. Then you can fuck up all you want, and it’s fine.
But her small family starts coming closer, and you start seeing a side of Caleb he doesn’t usually show.
"Lucie," he says, his voice a low growl, "be very careful with what you say to me. I have a lot less self-control than you think."
Lucie hasn’t been with a lot of men in her life, and she feels… inadequate. But she wants him. She’s always wanted him, even before she truly knew what it meant. So when they start getting too close, the tension is EVERYTHING!
I was squealing when it finally happened!
"I wasn’t broken, some stunned voice in my head whispers. I was never broken. It was just never like this."
So many things are going on at the same time. Her ex doesn't let up, and I wanted to punch him so many times. Caleb is still unwilling to let people get too close, and his company is going through tough times, so he needs to work more. And Lucie wants the fairy tale—after the nightmare, she wants to be wanted, she wants someone who can be there for her and the kids, who can put them first. Because they’re a package deal. And anyone who wants to be with her better not forget that.
"You think I don’t know which room is yours? My day doesn’t end until I see your bedroom light go out."
There’s so much feeling in this book, and that’s what got to me. The villain here is life. Life pushes you around, hurts you, makes you feel less than and inadequate. Life tells you you can never be happy, and you can never make someone happy.
If you can’t truly be who someone needs, why bother?
"We have everything in common. Fucking everything that matters."
I can tell you right now that Caleb messes up. Big time. But I couldn’t fault him for it because… damn it, there was one specific scene that got me bawling. No spoilers. But you’ll know what it is when you get there, and if you don’t understand and/or love the man after you read it, you never will.
"It turns out what means everything was sitting next door, waiting for me."
They care about each other deeply, maybe more than they realize, and that’s heartbreaking. Because you see it even when they don’t. But they’ll need to face their demons. They need to take a leap and realize this is the right timing for them.
"ICWTMY"
"ICWTSY"
Sometimes you think you want a fairy tale when you actually want something—someone—who is very real. They both needed to belong, not to a place, but to someone. And when push comes to shove, this was the summer they saved each other.
This was my first Elizabeth O’Roark book. Based on this one, I want to go back and read everything she’s ever written.
This book will break your heart, but the ending will ease the pain.
"The same boy who was consistently kind to me at a point in my life when no one else was. He doesn’t scare me, even if he should."
Caleb is an asshole CEO who doesn’t seem to really care about anything other than advancing his company. He’s a workaholic. He’s so far up his own ass that he doesn’t want or need a woman—why would he, anyway? He’s had enough of that.
On the inside, though? He’s a wonderful, broken man.
"Yeah, Lucie, I definitely saw. You grew up. Jesus, did you grow up. And I need to know why I suddenly can’t seem to get away from you."
Lucie was too close to me—I just don’t have kids. She married a guy who was supposed to love and care for her, until he didn’t. Her ex made her feel worthless, and it will take strength and courage to go back to who she was. In the meantime, she has two wonderful kids who depend on her. And she’s not going to let them down.
"Who are you, Caleb Lowell? What happened to the boy you once were? Because it sort of seems like one of us should be trying to find him."
They’d met before, when Lucie lived in the house beside Caleb’s. She watched him from afar, wondering if he could ever be her prince charming. Wishing for it. But the chance never came, and they went their separate ways. Now, fate is throwing them a bone.
"Every time I see her, I want to see her again, and every time she smiles, I want to be the one who put that smile there."
Lucie is alone with her kids. She left her husband, doesn’t have a job, and is trying to do what’s best for them. They come first. The only thing she’s got is her aunt’s house, where she used to live as a kid. Where she used to see Caleb. But that was in another lifetime, and she needs to focus on the present.
Which is why it’s… complicated when she realizes he’s her new boss. And her neighbor. Again.
"Why are you so sure I won’t make a difference?"
"I just am. Take the next two weeks to job hunt. You can even stay three if you must."
Gone is the kind boy she knew. In his place is a real asshole who doesn’t care if she’s there—in fact, he wants her gone ASAP. It’s not that he thinks she’s useless or not able to do her job. He’s the one who may not be able to resist having her this close.
"I thought men cared about other things a lot more than smiles."
"I’m pretty sure they care about lots of things. You’re not lacking any of them."
Lucie doesn’t give up. She feels like she wants to at times (and that was so real), but she can’t. So she tries, she learns, she deals with whatever is thrown at her. She actually excels at a job she was sure she wouldn’t know how to do. But it’s her empathy that makes her an asset.
It’s her kind heart that starts making a dent in the walls Caleb’s erected around himself.
"Because you don’t want candlelight and rose petals, though you clearly think you do. You want someone so fucking eager to be inside you that he can’t wait long enough to take you home, to light those candles or scatter rose petals."
And Caleb? It’s annoying for him to have her around all the time. At the office, at home. He doesn’t want her, or her kids, close. Because it’s easier when no one depends on you. When no one loves you. Then you can fuck up all you want, and it’s fine.
But her small family starts coming closer, and you start seeing a side of Caleb he doesn’t usually show.
"Lucie," he says, his voice a low growl, "be very careful with what you say to me. I have a lot less self-control than you think."
Lucie hasn’t been with a lot of men in her life, and she feels… inadequate. But she wants him. She’s always wanted him, even before she truly knew what it meant. So when they start getting too close, the tension is EVERYTHING!
I was squealing when it finally happened!
"I wasn’t broken, some stunned voice in my head whispers. I was never broken. It was just never like this."
So many things are going on at the same time. Her ex doesn't let up, and I wanted to punch him so many times. Caleb is still unwilling to let people get too close, and his company is going through tough times, so he needs to work more. And Lucie wants the fairy tale—after the nightmare, she wants to be wanted, she wants someone who can be there for her and the kids, who can put them first. Because they’re a package deal. And anyone who wants to be with her better not forget that.
"You think I don’t know which room is yours? My day doesn’t end until I see your bedroom light go out."
There’s so much feeling in this book, and that’s what got to me. The villain here is life. Life pushes you around, hurts you, makes you feel less than and inadequate. Life tells you you can never be happy, and you can never make someone happy.
If you can’t truly be who someone needs, why bother?
"We have everything in common. Fucking everything that matters."
I can tell you right now that Caleb messes up. Big time. But I couldn’t fault him for it because… damn it, there was one specific scene that got me bawling. No spoilers. But you’ll know what it is when you get there, and if you don’t understand and/or love the man after you read it, you never will.
"It turns out what means everything was sitting next door, waiting for me."
They care about each other deeply, maybe more than they realize, and that’s heartbreaking. Because you see it even when they don’t. But they’ll need to face their demons. They need to take a leap and realize this is the right timing for them.
"ICWTMY"
"ICWTSY"
Sometimes you think you want a fairy tale when you actually want something—someone—who is very real. They both needed to belong, not to a place, but to someone. And when push comes to shove, this was the summer they saved each other.
January 13, 2024
3.5 TGD Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This one fell a little flat for me, and it might have been my fault for expecting another "The Summer We Fell." If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have said the books were even related at all; they were so different, with only a passing reference to Danny and the events of Book 1. This could easily be read without reading the first book.
It's a Dual POV following Lucie and Caleb. Twenty years ago, these two were neighbours, and Lucie fell in love. Now she is a jobless mother of twins who has just left her cheating husband and moved into the cabin where she used to spend her summer holidays. Destitute and out of luck, she takes a job at a local company with the hopes of turning around employee satisfaction and retention, only to find that the boy she fell in love with happens to be the CEO of the company, and he is very much grown up.
I struggled with how "high-level" the corporate aspects of the plot were done and then showcased with such grandeur. I don't think this would be a problem for most people, but when I am reading a book about a company doing an exercise competition amongst teams, and the VERY COMPANY I am working for right now is doing the same thing this month, I almost react the same way I react to the "internal communication" emails I receive - with an eye roll and scoff. It just seemed like Lucie would come up with an idea that was so revolutionary it garners TC and magazine interviews but I have seen AND DONE them myself before.
Lucie as a character was a breath of fresh air. I loved how her only priority and motivation were to do right by her kids and be a better parent than hers. She would sacrifice the world for them to keep them safe, and when she has to deal with an autistic son and a 6-going-on-16 daughter, it can seem a little overwhelming. I found it heartbreaking how she was able to stand up for herself and be brave and feisty when her ex-husband wasn't around, but the minute he entered the orbit, she retreated into a hermit shell and shut down to his abuse. The way she learns to stand up to him was done well, and I just wish she pushed back a little more towards the end of the book as his horrid treatment of her and the kids was forgotten in an instant.
Caleb was an asshole, and I found him a little annoying. Playing into the stereotype of men don't have feelings and can't show them when they are hurt, he spends the majority of the book being rude, grumpy, emotionless, and horny for that green dress. I think I just find men who only realize what they have when it's gone an idiot, and that's exactly what happened here. His one redeeming quality that makes him not too bad in my eyes is how he was with Lucie's twins. He stepped so well into that father figure role and connected with them on a level they had been yearning for without even knowing it.
Overall, the romance between the two was very instalovie (which I get that Lucie had a crush from childhood, but Caleb????) and didn't feel very deep. Most of the cute scenes were in the beginning, and when they finally got together, those scenes were almost forgotten, and we just got smut. The smut did make me giggle, as their first time was kind of awkward since it had been the first time for both in a while, and it felt so real. Like I wasn't reading a made-up situation - the way the dialogue unfolded and the way the scene happened was something I really could picture between a couple in real life.
The Trope Summary:
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Single Mom Romance
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ HE REENACTS SEXY BOOKS
▶ Poor Girl, Rich Boy
▶ Childhood Crush - Secret Pining
▶ Neighbours
Overall, it just felt like a regular contemporary romance that I didn't love but I didn't hate. It's quick to read and scratches the itch if you are looking for one of the tropes mentioned above.
I would say check the trigger warnings - there is some difficult-to-read content for some people, and I wouldn't want you going in thinking this is light and fluffy when there can be some aspects that might upset people.
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This one fell a little flat for me, and it might have been my fault for expecting another "The Summer We Fell." If I didn't know any better, I wouldn't have said the books were even related at all; they were so different, with only a passing reference to Danny and the events of Book 1. This could easily be read without reading the first book.
It's a Dual POV following Lucie and Caleb. Twenty years ago, these two were neighbours, and Lucie fell in love. Now she is a jobless mother of twins who has just left her cheating husband and moved into the cabin where she used to spend her summer holidays. Destitute and out of luck, she takes a job at a local company with the hopes of turning around employee satisfaction and retention, only to find that the boy she fell in love with happens to be the CEO of the company, and he is very much grown up.
I struggled with how "high-level" the corporate aspects of the plot were done and then showcased with such grandeur. I don't think this would be a problem for most people, but when I am reading a book about a company doing an exercise competition amongst teams, and the VERY COMPANY I am working for right now is doing the same thing this month, I almost react the same way I react to the "internal communication" emails I receive - with an eye roll and scoff. It just seemed like Lucie would come up with an idea that was so revolutionary it garners TC and magazine interviews but I have seen AND DONE them myself before.
Lucie as a character was a breath of fresh air. I loved how her only priority and motivation were to do right by her kids and be a better parent than hers. She would sacrifice the world for them to keep them safe, and when she has to deal with an autistic son and a 6-going-on-16 daughter, it can seem a little overwhelming. I found it heartbreaking how she was able to stand up for herself and be brave and feisty when her ex-husband wasn't around, but the minute he entered the orbit, she retreated into a hermit shell and shut down to his abuse. The way she learns to stand up to him was done well, and I just wish she pushed back a little more towards the end of the book as his horrid treatment of her and the kids was forgotten in an instant.
Caleb was an asshole, and I found him a little annoying. Playing into the stereotype of men don't have feelings and can't show them when they are hurt, he spends the majority of the book being rude, grumpy, emotionless, and horny for that green dress. I think I just find men who only realize what they have when it's gone an idiot, and that's exactly what happened here. His one redeeming quality that makes him not too bad in my eyes is how he was with Lucie's twins. He stepped so well into that father figure role and connected with them on a level they had been yearning for without even knowing it.
Overall, the romance between the two was very instalovie (which I get that Lucie had a crush from childhood, but Caleb????) and didn't feel very deep. Most of the cute scenes were in the beginning, and when they finally got together, those scenes were almost forgotten, and we just got smut. The smut did make me giggle, as their first time was kind of awkward since it had been the first time for both in a while, and it felt so real. Like I wasn't reading a made-up situation - the way the dialogue unfolded and the way the scene happened was something I really could picture between a couple in real life.
The Trope Summary:
▶ Friends to Lovers
▶ Workplace Romance
▶ Single Mom Romance
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ HE REENACTS SEXY BOOKS
▶ Poor Girl, Rich Boy
▶ Childhood Crush - Secret Pining
▶ Neighbours
Overall, it just felt like a regular contemporary romance that I didn't love but I didn't hate. It's quick to read and scratches the itch if you are looking for one of the tropes mentioned above.
I would say check the trigger warnings - there is some difficult-to-read content for some people, and I wouldn't want you going in thinking this is light and fluffy when there can be some aspects that might upset people.
September 22, 2023
I had a really rough reading month in August. It got to the point where I don't think I had a single new 5 star review the entire month! I knew the perfect book to fix this would be a book by one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth O'Roark. I have loved every single book I have read by this author and this one is no different. Elizabeth promised us this series would be angstier than the devils series was and she was not lying! The characters stories have all been so beautiful and heartwarming.
The Summer I Saved You told the story of Caleb and Lucie, former neighbors who reconnect years later. Lucie's story was absolutely a highlight for me. We went from seeing her so unhappy and undervalued to being loved whole heartedly by Caleb. She went through some serious stuff in this book and by the end she was stronger for it.
It wasn't only Lucie who had some healing and growing to do. Caleb's story was just as tragic and my heart went out to him, even if I was a little frustrated with him at times. Seeing Caleb find love in Lucie and in her children truly warmed my heart. Every single one of his interactions with Henry made my heart melt. Caleb was truly meant to be a part of their family.
I loved the dynamic of Lucie and Caleb. Boss x employee is one of my favorites and I loved that in the beginning we got to see Caleb struggle with his feelings and somewhat take it out on her. Lucie, however, didn't take that lying down. Some of their relationship reminded me a bit of Tali and Hayes from A Deal With the Devil, which might be my favorite couple by this author, and I was grinning at some of their scenes. One thing Elizabeth O'Roark also excels at is chemistry with her characters. Lucie and Caleb had soooo much of it. Their tension had me turning every page excited to see what was coming next.
Overall this was a wonderful addition to Elizabeth O'Roark's collection and I am unbelievably excited for what is coming next. The set up for Kate and Beck has me so excited, and I loved their little teaser at the end. No matter what I have yet to be let down, and I have no doubt the Summer of Buried Things will be the next 5 star in my collection!
Thank you so much to Elizabeth O'Roark and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Post Reading Reaction
Elizabeth O’Roark books never let me down. After a rough August, reading wise, I needed a five star read and this book delivered! Caleb and Lucie had such an amazing journey and I loved them so much, especially Lucie! Very very excited for book 3.
Pre Release
You put Elizabeth O’ Roark and angsty in the description and I will be there!
The Summer I Saved You told the story of Caleb and Lucie, former neighbors who reconnect years later. Lucie's story was absolutely a highlight for me. We went from seeing her so unhappy and undervalued to being loved whole heartedly by Caleb. She went through some serious stuff in this book and by the end she was stronger for it.
It wasn't only Lucie who had some healing and growing to do. Caleb's story was just as tragic and my heart went out to him, even if I was a little frustrated with him at times. Seeing Caleb find love in Lucie and in her children truly warmed my heart. Every single one of his interactions with Henry made my heart melt. Caleb was truly meant to be a part of their family.
I loved the dynamic of Lucie and Caleb. Boss x employee is one of my favorites and I loved that in the beginning we got to see Caleb struggle with his feelings and somewhat take it out on her. Lucie, however, didn't take that lying down. Some of their relationship reminded me a bit of Tali and Hayes from A Deal With the Devil, which might be my favorite couple by this author, and I was grinning at some of their scenes. One thing Elizabeth O'Roark also excels at is chemistry with her characters. Lucie and Caleb had soooo much of it. Their tension had me turning every page excited to see what was coming next.
Overall this was a wonderful addition to Elizabeth O'Roark's collection and I am unbelievably excited for what is coming next. The set up for Kate and Beck has me so excited, and I loved their little teaser at the end. No matter what I have yet to be let down, and I have no doubt the Summer of Buried Things will be the next 5 star in my collection!
Thank you so much to Elizabeth O'Roark and Valentine PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Post Reading Reaction
Elizabeth O’Roark books never let me down. After a rough August, reading wise, I needed a five star read and this book delivered! Caleb and Lucie had such an amazing journey and I loved them so much, especially Lucie! Very very excited for book 3.
Pre Release
You put Elizabeth O’ Roark and angsty in the description and I will be there!
September 21, 2023
this was a highly anticipated read and it did not disappoint. single mom moves into a house from her childhood, and the boy next door she always crushed on has also moved back. but he’s not the sweet friendly guy she remembers. and he’s also her new boss
it had top tier banter and tension that elizabeth o’roark books are known for. lucie was the best mom and doing everything she could to give her twins the best life. caleb was soooo broody and tried so hard not to fall for lucie, henry and sophie but he never stood a chance and watching him connect with lucie’s son was so sweet!!
it had top tier banter and tension that elizabeth o’roark books are known for. lucie was the best mom and doing everything she could to give her twins the best life. caleb was soooo broody and tried so hard not to fall for lucie, henry and sophie but he never stood a chance and watching him connect with lucie’s son was so sweet!!
September 18, 2023
I feel disappointed after reading this one. I enjoyed the story until a specific event occurred and the hero's response left me thinking he was worse than her ex or crappy father.
Truthfully all the men in this one were big letdowns to me and not one PRINCE CHARMING in the bunch.
Truthfully all the men in this one were big letdowns to me and not one PRINCE CHARMING in the bunch.
January 12, 2025
WARNING: THIS WILL BE A SPOILER RANT REVIEW
i will not be marking spoilers and also will probably not make much sense! idc!!
read at your own risk (both the book and the review💀)
OKAY. first off all let me say i am absolutely floored by how much i disliked this book, considering i just read another of hers that i absolutely loved AND i am in general a very generous rater who is easy to please- i almost never rate books below 3 stars. but this book infuriated me. the characters made me so mad.
the basic idea is interesting, with the fmc being a secret child of some famous person who was hidden away and secretly interacted with/crushed on the mmc. she idolized him and wanted to "save" him. years later she is a single mom going through divorce and she moves back into the cabin of her childhood, only to find the mmc once again, except he has changed completely.
she ends up working for him and they have a workplace romance.
where it all went wrong was the fact that the characters are insufferable and there were so many plot points left hanging.
the mmc is married at the beginning of the book, but his wife has been gone and in rehab for over a year - their relationship had been hanging by strings even before this, so he files for divorce. throughout the book, he grapples with this and says their marriage ending was his fault. yes! it was actually!!! the way he is described as treating his ex-wife actually made me so mad. before she went to rehab, she had a baby who did not live long. that part, obviously, is not his fault. but he is described as completely abandoning his grieving wife afterwards, leaving her alone and throwing himself into work and it QUITE LITERALLY SAYS IN THE BOOK THAT HE FELT RELIEVED WHEN SHE WOULD DISAPPEAR FOR DAYS. i understand that he is grieving in his own way but that is inexcusable to me. like. in what world would that be redeemable??
the fmc is running away from her gross ex-husband, and is naive and too forgiving. like. WAY too forgiving. the way the mmc treats her in the third act is disgusting. i felt their connection was almost completely based in lust, and she was WAY more into him than he was into her. she had ideas of fairytales in her head that were pushed onto caleb.
i didn't particularly enjoy any of this book but the third act was what locked in this being a one star for me. especially the part where he says he loves her and she forgives him for what he did and said IMMEDIATELY AND WITH NO QUESTIONS. WHAT THE HELL. im not kidding when i say i would have needed at least one hundred pages of groveling before i even considered forgiving him as a character. like. it was probably one of the worst third acts i have ever read. i dont know if ive ever hated a mmc the way i hate caleb. if i was ever left alone in a room with him HE should be afraid.
he “changed” for her except did he really???
HINT: I DONT THINK SOOO!!!!!! and even if he did how long would it last?? he can’t just undo his behavior because he said he wanted to: it takes work that he didn’t put in.
OH MY GOD I JUST REMEMBERED around 75 they get freaky in a car in a public parking lot when they strongly suspect that her ex husband is having her followed and is fighting for custody of her kids?? YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THAT DUMB 😭 it didn’t get used against them like i thought it would but COME ON. IDIOTS.
there were so many things left unsaid, so many issues never communicated. this couple ends in divorce 100% because there is absolutely no way that their issues just disappeared overnight the way they seemed to.
they also never talked about what happened with the kids father, how that was wrapped up, or what happened with HER father. that plot line could have been so interesting but it was completely abandoned.
the fmcs best friend and her boss were infinitely more interesting than any of the characters in this book and i am extremely bummed to find they dont have a book. i do think im going to give this author another chance as i loved her other book, and this could be a fluke. but honestly. i find it so hard to believe that these two books were written by the same person.
i think I'm going to read the next book because it follows calebs ex wife and his best friend, both characters who were ALSO much more interesting than these two.
I HATE THIS BOOK.
i will not be marking spoilers and also will probably not make much sense! idc!!
read at your own risk (both the book and the review💀)
OKAY. first off all let me say i am absolutely floored by how much i disliked this book, considering i just read another of hers that i absolutely loved AND i am in general a very generous rater who is easy to please- i almost never rate books below 3 stars. but this book infuriated me. the characters made me so mad.
the basic idea is interesting, with the fmc being a secret child of some famous person who was hidden away and secretly interacted with/crushed on the mmc. she idolized him and wanted to "save" him. years later she is a single mom going through divorce and she moves back into the cabin of her childhood, only to find the mmc once again, except he has changed completely.
she ends up working for him and they have a workplace romance.
where it all went wrong was the fact that the characters are insufferable and there were so many plot points left hanging.
the mmc is married at the beginning of the book, but his wife has been gone and in rehab for over a year - their relationship had been hanging by strings even before this, so he files for divorce. throughout the book, he grapples with this and says their marriage ending was his fault. yes! it was actually!!! the way he is described as treating his ex-wife actually made me so mad. before she went to rehab, she had a baby who did not live long. that part, obviously, is not his fault. but he is described as completely abandoning his grieving wife afterwards, leaving her alone and throwing himself into work and it QUITE LITERALLY SAYS IN THE BOOK THAT HE FELT RELIEVED WHEN SHE WOULD DISAPPEAR FOR DAYS. i understand that he is grieving in his own way but that is inexcusable to me. like. in what world would that be redeemable??
the fmc is running away from her gross ex-husband, and is naive and too forgiving. like. WAY too forgiving. the way the mmc treats her in the third act is disgusting. i felt their connection was almost completely based in lust, and she was WAY more into him than he was into her. she had ideas of fairytales in her head that were pushed onto caleb.
i didn't particularly enjoy any of this book but the third act was what locked in this being a one star for me. especially the part where he says he loves her and she forgives him for what he did and said IMMEDIATELY AND WITH NO QUESTIONS. WHAT THE HELL. im not kidding when i say i would have needed at least one hundred pages of groveling before i even considered forgiving him as a character. like. it was probably one of the worst third acts i have ever read. i dont know if ive ever hated a mmc the way i hate caleb. if i was ever left alone in a room with him HE should be afraid.
he “changed” for her except did he really???
HINT: I DONT THINK SOOO!!!!!! and even if he did how long would it last?? he can’t just undo his behavior because he said he wanted to: it takes work that he didn’t put in.
OH MY GOD I JUST REMEMBERED around 75 they get freaky in a car in a public parking lot when they strongly suspect that her ex husband is having her followed and is fighting for custody of her kids?? YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THAT DUMB 😭 it didn’t get used against them like i thought it would but COME ON. IDIOTS.
there were so many things left unsaid, so many issues never communicated. this couple ends in divorce 100% because there is absolutely no way that their issues just disappeared overnight the way they seemed to.
they also never talked about what happened with the kids father, how that was wrapped up, or what happened with HER father. that plot line could have been so interesting but it was completely abandoned.
the fmcs best friend and her boss were infinitely more interesting than any of the characters in this book and i am extremely bummed to find they dont have a book. i do think im going to give this author another chance as i loved her other book, and this could be a fluke. but honestly. i find it so hard to believe that these two books were written by the same person.
i think I'm going to read the next book because it follows calebs ex wife and his best friend, both characters who were ALSO much more interesting than these two.
I HATE THIS BOOK.
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September 14, 2023The Summer I Saved You is LIVE!
Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
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Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://bit.ly/43ADgu8
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/TheSummerISY
Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/44yL3do
September 18, 2023
We all know by now that I am a huge fan of Elizabeth O’Roark since discovering her Grumpy Devils series last year. In my book, *her* books can literally do no wrong. Enemies to lovers with with witty banter? Check. Messy emotional romance? Check check.
First and foremost, I love that 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖, while part of the interconnected Summer series, stands so well on its own. There is a nod to Luke, Juliet and their surfing days gone by, but these characters and the world they are in, feel much more mature. They have lived their lives and have the scars to prove it.
Because the characters are so well developed, and I feel as though I know them personally, I always find myself becoming emotionally invested in their relationships. Caleb and Lucie were no different. My heart broke for what Caleb had to endure in his past, and I felt pure rage at Lucie’s ex and his constant threats and demeaning texts. Was there a moment or two when I wanted to scream at Caleb? Perhaps. But what I love about O’Roark’s writing is that by the time you reach the conclusion, every thing makes sense; every action understandable.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is the powerful friendship Caleb forms with Lucie’s kids, who by the way, pretty much steal the show ever scene they are in. The single parent trope is one I am only just starting to dip my toes into, but I can see why so many people love it. Seeing the relationship forming between Caleb, Henry and Sophie, was a big part of what I loved about this book.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
👩👧👦single parent
🏢workplace romance
📏forced proximity
✌🏼dual pov
🌶️open door
Thank you {partner} Valentine PR for my gifted e-copy and a huge thank you to Elizabeth O’Roark for allowing me to read this one (and the next) super early. It has been such a pleasure. That said, please know that I am just a tad bit biased here 😜.
First and foremost, I love that 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒀𝒐𝒖, while part of the interconnected Summer series, stands so well on its own. There is a nod to Luke, Juliet and their surfing days gone by, but these characters and the world they are in, feel much more mature. They have lived their lives and have the scars to prove it.
Because the characters are so well developed, and I feel as though I know them personally, I always find myself becoming emotionally invested in their relationships. Caleb and Lucie were no different. My heart broke for what Caleb had to endure in his past, and I felt pure rage at Lucie’s ex and his constant threats and demeaning texts. Was there a moment or two when I wanted to scream at Caleb? Perhaps. But what I love about O’Roark’s writing is that by the time you reach the conclusion, every thing makes sense; every action understandable.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is the powerful friendship Caleb forms with Lucie’s kids, who by the way, pretty much steal the show ever scene they are in. The single parent trope is one I am only just starting to dip my toes into, but I can see why so many people love it. Seeing the relationship forming between Caleb, Henry and Sophie, was a big part of what I loved about this book.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
👩👧👦single parent
🏢workplace romance
📏forced proximity
✌🏼dual pov
🌶️open door
Thank you {partner} Valentine PR for my gifted e-copy and a huge thank you to Elizabeth O’Roark for allowing me to read this one (and the next) super early. It has been such a pleasure. That said, please know that I am just a tad bit biased here 😜.
September 15, 2023
mmmm it’s a no from me dog. i know what caleb went through was traumatic but i felt like he never fully absorbed how shitty he was being to the heroine and the kids by keeping them in limbo. and if anyone deserved a solid hero, it was lucie cause holy hell has everyone let her down in her life. i also thought jeremy was gonna be wayyy more of a problem, like the kind of a problem that someone mightve had to push off a cliff, if you know what i mean. shame they didnt
December 13, 2025
The Summer I Saved You is sweet. The story is not long. It is not complicated. It is pretty much straigt forward plot. I enjoyed so much. I had fun.
Its just the chemistry of the characters is bit lacking.
4 stars
Its just the chemistry of the characters is bit lacking.
4 stars
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September 1, 2023DNF
Yeah so… this wasn’t for me. I’m sad because I went into this super excited and hyped because it has such good tropes. It didn’t take me long to realize though that I don’t like the writing style. It feels fast paced and I don’t like the timeline. It kind of skips over certain aspects and I just knew there was no point in continuing because I wouldn’t like it any more. It’s VERY rare that I dnf books but I just am not in the mood to force myself to even continue this. I would definitely still recommend you give it a try and look over the tropes because it has potential, it just isn’t my cup of tea.
Yeah so… this wasn’t for me. I’m sad because I went into this super excited and hyped because it has such good tropes. It didn’t take me long to realize though that I don’t like the writing style. It feels fast paced and I don’t like the timeline. It kind of skips over certain aspects and I just knew there was no point in continuing because I wouldn’t like it any more. It’s VERY rare that I dnf books but I just am not in the mood to force myself to even continue this. I would definitely still recommend you give it a try and look over the tropes because it has potential, it just isn’t my cup of tea.
December 19, 2023
Guy was a dick. Girl was a doormat. Sophie was an icon. Henry was a cutie but also annoying 😃
September 17, 2023
The Summer We Fell was my first read from Elizabeth O'Roark, and it's one of the best books I've read all year. I would go even further and say it's one of my all time favorites. I'm an angst whore at heart, and let's just say, that book fed me extremely well. When I saw another book in The Summer series was coming out, I didn't think twice about picking it up. It seemed impossible that I wouldn't like it, and I wasn't wrong.
The Summer I Saved You may not be the angst fest that was it's predecessor, but I enjoyed every second of it. I adore Caleb and Lucie together. Lucie and her children brightened Caleb's life and helped him face unthinkable heartbreak and guilt from his past that was preventing his healing and happiness, and Caleb gave Lucie the love, protection, and care that she's been missing her entire life. Their banter was perfection, and I lived for their sweet moments and dirty ones equally.
If you've never read The Summer We Fell, don't worry! You can still jump into this story with no problems whatsoever. I don't think it will affect your enjoyment in the slightest, and you certainly won't feel lost or like you're missing out on anything important to Lucie and Caleb's story. An event from TSWF involving other characters that don't appear in this book is referenced, but that's about it.
The next installment in The Summer series will feature a romance between Caleb's ex-wife and one his best friends, and you better believe I'm reading it as soon as humanly possible! I'm beyond excited for the complicated mess coming our way! I can feel the angst and drama already, and I am here for all of it!
Contemporary romance fans, this one's for you!
P. S. I don't usually mention triggers in my reviews, but there is a huge trigger in this book. I would feel terrible if I didn't mention it. I'll add it here under a spoiler tag in case you want to know what it is.
The Summer I Saved You may not be the angst fest that was it's predecessor, but I enjoyed every second of it. I adore Caleb and Lucie together. Lucie and her children brightened Caleb's life and helped him face unthinkable heartbreak and guilt from his past that was preventing his healing and happiness, and Caleb gave Lucie the love, protection, and care that she's been missing her entire life. Their banter was perfection, and I lived for their sweet moments and dirty ones equally.
If you've never read The Summer We Fell, don't worry! You can still jump into this story with no problems whatsoever. I don't think it will affect your enjoyment in the slightest, and you certainly won't feel lost or like you're missing out on anything important to Lucie and Caleb's story. An event from TSWF involving other characters that don't appear in this book is referenced, but that's about it.
The next installment in The Summer series will feature a romance between Caleb's ex-wife and one his best friends, and you better believe I'm reading it as soon as humanly possible! I'm beyond excited for the complicated mess coming our way! I can feel the angst and drama already, and I am here for all of it!
Contemporary romance fans, this one's for you!
P. S. I don't usually mention triggers in my reviews, but there is a huge trigger in this book. I would feel terrible if I didn't mention it. I'll add it here under a spoiler tag in case you want to know what it is.
September 12, 2023
4.5 stars - elizabeth o'roark can do noooo wrong!
lucie's a recently single mom on the cusp of divorce from her emotionally abusive ex. she's finding her own way in the town she used to spend summers in as a kid but when she begins a new job, her new boss and her get off on the wrong foot.
this is single mom, grumpy sunshine, workplace, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, alllll the good things. i just loved it so much!
it's very angsty and caleb is the definition of a broken boy trying to pretend he's unaffected by emotion. their chemistry was so so hot.
lucie's a recently single mom on the cusp of divorce from her emotionally abusive ex. she's finding her own way in the town she used to spend summers in as a kid but when she begins a new job, her new boss and her get off on the wrong foot.
this is single mom, grumpy sunshine, workplace, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, alllll the good things. i just loved it so much!
it's very angsty and caleb is the definition of a broken boy trying to pretend he's unaffected by emotion. their chemistry was so so hot.
Want to read
April 17, 2023I neeeeeed this!! After The Summer We Fell, I wanted more angsty reads that made me crazy!! Even though there were a few issues, they were minor. This author has an amazing writing style and her characters are relatable and flawed and sexy AF!! Gimme another her like Luke and I’ll be so damn happy! I just want more. I don’t care who this book is about, I’m ready for it. Can’t wait for Sept! 🥰
August 23, 2025
Caleb has got to be one of the worst MMCs ever lol. Both of the women in this deserved better. Smh.
First of all, Lucie was constantllllyy waiting up for him. She was giving him quickies in his office whenever he told her to. She was essentially at his beck and call 24/7.
Caleb saying he’d be there for Henry’s project presentation and then not following through? Asshole.
90% of this book is just a man obsessed with work and can’t put anyone or anything above it even once. Sounds like every man I’ve ever dated. Boring & pathetic. Pass.
This quote from Beck perfectly describes Caleb in this entire book:
“You fucked up, dude. Like, you really, really fucked up. She thought her kid was dead last week and you basically shrugged like it wasn’t your problem and left town.”
Like yep, that’s exactly what he did. Thank you Beck for calling his pathetic ass out.
And no offense but I feel so fucking bad for his ex wife, Kate. Listen to this—They have a baby together and she dies as an infant. Kate obviously is not okay after that and what does Caleb do? He basically leaves her to her own devices. Doesn’t comfort her or try to be there for her when she needed it most. So THEN she inevitably goes “off the rails” and basically disappears for a year. When she comes back at the end of this story saying she’s sober and went to rehab, she asks for them to start over. But when she finds out about Caleb moving on with Lucie, the first thing he says to her is “As soon as this is done, I’m going to marry her.” Like damn you neglected your wife in a time of need and this is what she gets from you? 🤣 God, he’s an asshole.
The writing in this also felt cheesy, especially the first 30%. It just wasn’t very good. It’s so crazy to me because I can’t believe this is the same author that wrote Waking Olivia. It genuinely feels like completely different writing. And even in The Summer I First Saw You, it’s soooo much better than this. Elizabeth’s books seem to be a really big hit or miss for me.
On a positive note, I was obsessed with Lucie’s kids. They were both so freaking adorable and funny.
Realistically, I should give this 1 star, but I’ll stick with 2 for now LOL.
First of all, Lucie was constantllllyy waiting up for him. She was giving him quickies in his office whenever he told her to. She was essentially at his beck and call 24/7.
Caleb saying he’d be there for Henry’s project presentation and then not following through? Asshole.
90% of this book is just a man obsessed with work and can’t put anyone or anything above it even once. Sounds like every man I’ve ever dated. Boring & pathetic. Pass.
This quote from Beck perfectly describes Caleb in this entire book:
“You fucked up, dude. Like, you really, really fucked up. She thought her kid was dead last week and you basically shrugged like it wasn’t your problem and left town.”
Like yep, that’s exactly what he did. Thank you Beck for calling his pathetic ass out.
And no offense but I feel so fucking bad for his ex wife, Kate. Listen to this—They have a baby together and she dies as an infant. Kate obviously is not okay after that and what does Caleb do? He basically leaves her to her own devices. Doesn’t comfort her or try to be there for her when she needed it most. So THEN she inevitably goes “off the rails” and basically disappears for a year. When she comes back at the end of this story saying she’s sober and went to rehab, she asks for them to start over. But when she finds out about Caleb moving on with Lucie, the first thing he says to her is “As soon as this is done, I’m going to marry her.” Like damn you neglected your wife in a time of need and this is what she gets from you? 🤣 God, he’s an asshole.
The writing in this also felt cheesy, especially the first 30%. It just wasn’t very good. It’s so crazy to me because I can’t believe this is the same author that wrote Waking Olivia. It genuinely feels like completely different writing. And even in The Summer I First Saw You, it’s soooo much better than this. Elizabeth’s books seem to be a really big hit or miss for me.
On a positive note, I was obsessed with Lucie’s kids. They were both so freaking adorable and funny.
Realistically, I should give this 1 star, but I’ll stick with 2 for now LOL.
September 16, 2023
2.5 stars. The Summer I Saved You is the second book in the Summer series by Elizabeth O’Roark and this one is a single parent romance. I’ve read all of this author’s books and this one wasn’t as angsty (romance-wise) as I was hoping it would be.
“Most people go through their entire lives wondering where their other half is. I’ll go through the rest of mine knowing I found him but could never claim him as my own.”
Basically this is a slow burn romance (which doesn’t always equal angsty) between single mom Lucie and Caleb, her neighbor and childhood crush. Lucie is going through a divorce, or wanting to get divorced, and has her hands full with her twins and her job. To get away from her ex she moves right next door to Caleb, and then runs into him again when she’s working at his company. Caleb is married, going through a divorce himself, and is both pulled towards Lucie and her kids and also wanting to put distance between them after some tragedy in his life.
Lucie and Caleb start spending a lot of time together in the beginning, he helps her with issues with her ex and gets her in touch with his friend and lawyer for her divorce. He does spend a lot of time with her and her kids before telling her he can’t anymore and needs distance from them. I just felt like he should have been that way more so in the beginning, instead of spending time with them and then pulling away later. 🤷🏼♀️ I also just wasn’t a fan of the drawn out issues back and forth from her ex and all the drama that brought. The romance didn’t feel like it kicked in until much later and I just wasn’t invested in these 2 by the time we got to that point.
A couple things for sure: I’m irritated on behalf of the heroine with dealing with her crappy ex and the hero was frustrating with how long he kept her (and her kids) waiting for him to decide if he wanted to make them a priority/make it work. The heroine just had insta love vibes for him and I don’t know why. He should have apologized or groveled some or something.
CW: grief and loss of a child
“Most people go through their entire lives wondering where their other half is. I’ll go through the rest of mine knowing I found him but could never claim him as my own.”
Basically this is a slow burn romance (which doesn’t always equal angsty) between single mom Lucie and Caleb, her neighbor and childhood crush. Lucie is going through a divorce, or wanting to get divorced, and has her hands full with her twins and her job. To get away from her ex she moves right next door to Caleb, and then runs into him again when she’s working at his company. Caleb is married, going through a divorce himself, and is both pulled towards Lucie and her kids and also wanting to put distance between them after some tragedy in his life.
Lucie and Caleb start spending a lot of time together in the beginning, he helps her with issues with her ex and gets her in touch with his friend and lawyer for her divorce. He does spend a lot of time with her and her kids before telling her he can’t anymore and needs distance from them. I just felt like he should have been that way more so in the beginning, instead of spending time with them and then pulling away later. 🤷🏼♀️ I also just wasn’t a fan of the drawn out issues back and forth from her ex and all the drama that brought. The romance didn’t feel like it kicked in until much later and I just wasn’t invested in these 2 by the time we got to that point.
A couple things for sure: I’m irritated on behalf of the heroine with dealing with her crappy ex and the hero was frustrating with how long he kept her (and her kids) waiting for him to decide if he wanted to make them a priority/make it work. The heroine just had insta love vibes for him and I don’t know why. He should have apologized or groveled some or something.
CW: grief and loss of a child
September 3, 2023
2.5/5 this was a let down, not even gonna lie. I think this is probably my least favourite book/mmc from all of Elizabeth’s books I’ve read so far. Idk if I personally don’t like the trope of the girl being obsessed more than the guy but the romance was not giving. and Caleb pissed me off for like 80% of the book. the third act breakup was horrible. Lucie literally spent three hours thinking that her son was dead and somehow all Caleb manages to complain about was Jeremy and how he never wanted the responsibility like let’s be serious 😭 and the reunion in the last two chapters felt very rushed like he didn’t even properly apologize to Henry ?? just disappointing overall. book one was so much better imo 😕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2023
Beta read. RTC.
Elizabeth is in her angsty era and I am lucky to be catching it live 🥹
***
Is it September already? Here’s my review of this lil heartbreaker
Another beta read for EO. I can’t believe this is my life, but I’m grateful for it. So obviously take everything I say with a grain of bias.
If the Devils series was SoCal, the Summer series is NorCal. Not just literally in terms of setting, but even more in terms of the bright and shiny rom com vs the moody angst fest vibes. If the Devils are Reputation, Summer is folklore. You get the drift. Luke and Juliet ripped me apart and I wasn’t expecting Caleb and Lucie to do the same but I was wrong wasn’t I? While TSWF was part coming of age story, TSISY is its all grown up sibling. Our MCs have been through cycles of love and loss and it shows in their every interaction. I don’t read a lot of single parent romances and wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I knew I can trust EO to deliver a story that will appeal to me no matter what the tropes.
Lucie is the girl who fell first and fell hard, and is now back in the orbit of the man who she fell for years ago, Caleb. As his employee no less. And Caleb is a grumpy boss who wants no new employees with frivolous little ideas to bring work life balance to the office. Okay he’s a bit of a dick. But he has reasons. Dark past and unhealthy coping mechanisms reasons. But love and hormones wait for no man, and these two are drawn together almost immediately. With all kinds of friction.
It’s not easy of course, Lucie is a newly single parent, and Caleb…has issues. Also newly not quite single issues. No there’s no “cheating”. He fights first, his attraction to Lucy, and then the responsibility and the everything that comes with her, but please he has no chance of resisting for too long. I make it sound like all fun and games, but it’s a long painful road, with almost everyone in Lucie’s life disappointing her, including but not limited to Caleb. Before he gets his shit together. And her ex is a stinky poopy head. Caleb’s ex on the other hand…interesting story there.
The banter is as always top tier, with even more inappropriate jokes. These two have a little darkness in them and it shows. And excuse the fuck out of me, these two are horny! Their sexy times are urgent and desperate and a little feral and tbh it was slightly unexpected but totally appreciated.
Caleb’s group of friends we first met in TSWF is back, and clearly each of them deserves a story. The events in that book left a lasting impact on each of their lives and it’s interesting to see how they landed after that traumatic event.
CWs: mention of past child death (off page, not graphic)
Elizabeth is in her angsty era and I am lucky to be catching it live 🥹
***
Is it September already? Here’s my review of this lil heartbreaker
Another beta read for EO. I can’t believe this is my life, but I’m grateful for it. So obviously take everything I say with a grain of bias.
If the Devils series was SoCal, the Summer series is NorCal. Not just literally in terms of setting, but even more in terms of the bright and shiny rom com vs the moody angst fest vibes. If the Devils are Reputation, Summer is folklore. You get the drift. Luke and Juliet ripped me apart and I wasn’t expecting Caleb and Lucie to do the same but I was wrong wasn’t I? While TSWF was part coming of age story, TSISY is its all grown up sibling. Our MCs have been through cycles of love and loss and it shows in their every interaction. I don’t read a lot of single parent romances and wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I knew I can trust EO to deliver a story that will appeal to me no matter what the tropes.
Lucie is the girl who fell first and fell hard, and is now back in the orbit of the man who she fell for years ago, Caleb. As his employee no less. And Caleb is a grumpy boss who wants no new employees with frivolous little ideas to bring work life balance to the office. Okay he’s a bit of a dick. But he has reasons. Dark past and unhealthy coping mechanisms reasons. But love and hormones wait for no man, and these two are drawn together almost immediately. With all kinds of friction.
It’s not easy of course, Lucie is a newly single parent, and Caleb…has issues. Also newly not quite single issues. No there’s no “cheating”. He fights first, his attraction to Lucy, and then the responsibility and the everything that comes with her, but please he has no chance of resisting for too long. I make it sound like all fun and games, but it’s a long painful road, with almost everyone in Lucie’s life disappointing her, including but not limited to Caleb. Before he gets his shit together. And her ex is a stinky poopy head. Caleb’s ex on the other hand…interesting story there.
The banter is as always top tier, with even more inappropriate jokes. These two have a little darkness in them and it shows. And excuse the fuck out of me, these two are horny! Their sexy times are urgent and desperate and a little feral and tbh it was slightly unexpected but totally appreciated.
Caleb’s group of friends we first met in TSWF is back, and clearly each of them deserves a story. The events in that book left a lasting impact on each of their lives and it’s interesting to see how they landed after that traumatic event.
CWs: mention of past child death (off page, not graphic)
September 1, 2023
Is it possible for me to give Elizabeth O'Roark anything lower than 5 stars? I don't think so! I've been in the biggest reading slump since march and as always, she's one of the only authors that manages to suck me in with her books. I started this book this morning and I'm already done, it was that good...
Okay but seriously, I'm really loving this new series. The angst makes me wanna stab myself repeatedly, it hurts so good and Elizabeth knows how to write good angst. After The Summer We Fell, I thought this book would have a dual timeline as well but I'm honestly glad it didn't because the one timeline worked perfectly in this case.
Something I love about Elizabeth O'Roark's books are her protagonists because their struggles feel real. I also loved the single parent trope here because I just love seeing the characters grow to love the kids as well. Caleb and Lucie were such a good couple, and I know I say this everytime a new book comes out, but I seriously think the're one of my favorite couples written by the author. Honestly have no notes on the book because I really enjoyed it, I thought both characters had a fair number of POVs and the relationship was well paced, plus Elizabeth's writing never fails!
I do admit I'm not as excited for the next couple because I didn't like the fmc's role in that snippet but I'm not too worried because Elizabeth always manages to make me sympathize and like her characters so I'll probably end up loving the couple anyways!
Thank you to the Valentine PR for the ARC!
Okay but seriously, I'm really loving this new series. The angst makes me wanna stab myself repeatedly, it hurts so good and Elizabeth knows how to write good angst. After The Summer We Fell, I thought this book would have a dual timeline as well but I'm honestly glad it didn't because the one timeline worked perfectly in this case.
Something I love about Elizabeth O'Roark's books are her protagonists because their struggles feel real. I also loved the single parent trope here because I just love seeing the characters grow to love the kids as well. Caleb and Lucie were such a good couple, and I know I say this everytime a new book comes out, but I seriously think the're one of my favorite couples written by the author. Honestly have no notes on the book because I really enjoyed it, I thought both characters had a fair number of POVs and the relationship was well paced, plus Elizabeth's writing never fails!
I do admit I'm not as excited for the next couple because I didn't like the fmc's role in that snippet but I'm not too worried because Elizabeth always manages to make me sympathize and like her characters so I'll probably end up loving the couple anyways!
Thank you to the Valentine PR for the ARC!
June 27, 2024
ABSOLUTNIE UWIELBIAM 4,5/5⭐️ dużo bardziej niż pierwszą część!
I absolutely love it!🩷 albo: I-A-L-I
A na zdjęciu macie fragment z końca książki, którego Wam nie rozszyfruję, musicie zrobić to sami - czytając lub możecie spróbować zgadnąć w komentarzach, jestem ciekawa co Wam wyjdzie.
„Oboje potrzebowali przynależności - nie do miejsca, ale do kogoś.”
Może pamiętacie, jak całkiem niedawno czytałam pierwszą część (by czytać tę, nie musicie znać poprzedniej, jednak jeśli zamierzacie sięgnąć po obie to najlepiej zacząć od pierwszej, bo w tej jest mały spoiler do pierwszego tomu) i podobała mi się, nie byłam zachwycona, ale dobrze spędziłam przy niej czas, jednak tutaj? Absolutnie pokochałam bohaterów, Lucie, Caleba i bliźniaki, które od razu skradły moje serce!
Mamy dawną miłość, która na nowo odżyła, a właściwie nigdy nie umarła, mamy odnalezienie brakującej cząstki w drugiej osobie, ale mamy też kilka poważniejszych tematów i problemów, z którymi zmagają się bohaterowie, m.in. zostawienie męża (który zdradził, uprzykrza życie i jest straszny) i zostanie samemu z dwojgiem dzieci, bez pracy i wizji na kolejne dni, pracoholizm, problemy z dzieciaczkami (ten wątek bardzo mi się spodobał i tak polubiłam dzieci jako bohaterów, że chętnie bym poczytała o nich jeszcze więcej), problemy w relacjach głębszej natury i próbę postawienia się własnym demonom.
Wciągnęłam się i nawet nie myślałam, by przestać czytać. A zakończenie mnie tak usatysfakcjonowało, że z niecierpliwością i ogromną radością czekam na kolejny tom, pewnie będzie ponownie o innych bohaterach, ale jestem tak ciekawa jakie problemy i wartości tym razem poruszy autorka!
Mamy kilka spicy momentów, ale nie jest ich dużo. Ale serio, byłam tak wciągnięta w całość, że ja nie potrzebowałam ich więcej, ta książka ma wszystko czego od niej chciałam.
Kiedy w życiu nic się nie układa, a nowym szefem i starym sąsiadem okazuje się dawna miłość z dzieciństwa - tu wszystko może pójść nie tym rytmem. Szczególnie serca bohaterów, które na tym etapie ich życia powinny być dla siebie zamknięte, a może to właśnie siebie wzajemnie potrzebują?🩷
18+
Współpraca reklamowa z @wydawnictwopapieroweserca dziękuję!
I absolutely love it!🩷 albo: I-A-L-I
A na zdjęciu macie fragment z końca książki, którego Wam nie rozszyfruję, musicie zrobić to sami - czytając lub możecie spróbować zgadnąć w komentarzach, jestem ciekawa co Wam wyjdzie.
„Oboje potrzebowali przynależności - nie do miejsca, ale do kogoś.”
Może pamiętacie, jak całkiem niedawno czytałam pierwszą część (by czytać tę, nie musicie znać poprzedniej, jednak jeśli zamierzacie sięgnąć po obie to najlepiej zacząć od pierwszej, bo w tej jest mały spoiler do pierwszego tomu) i podobała mi się, nie byłam zachwycona, ale dobrze spędziłam przy niej czas, jednak tutaj? Absolutnie pokochałam bohaterów, Lucie, Caleba i bliźniaki, które od razu skradły moje serce!
Mamy dawną miłość, która na nowo odżyła, a właściwie nigdy nie umarła, mamy odnalezienie brakującej cząstki w drugiej osobie, ale mamy też kilka poważniejszych tematów i problemów, z którymi zmagają się bohaterowie, m.in. zostawienie męża (który zdradził, uprzykrza życie i jest straszny) i zostanie samemu z dwojgiem dzieci, bez pracy i wizji na kolejne dni, pracoholizm, problemy z dzieciaczkami (ten wątek bardzo mi się spodobał i tak polubiłam dzieci jako bohaterów, że chętnie bym poczytała o nich jeszcze więcej), problemy w relacjach głębszej natury i próbę postawienia się własnym demonom.
Wciągnęłam się i nawet nie myślałam, by przestać czytać. A zakończenie mnie tak usatysfakcjonowało, że z niecierpliwością i ogromną radością czekam na kolejny tom, pewnie będzie ponownie o innych bohaterach, ale jestem tak ciekawa jakie problemy i wartości tym razem poruszy autorka!
Mamy kilka spicy momentów, ale nie jest ich dużo. Ale serio, byłam tak wciągnięta w całość, że ja nie potrzebowałam ich więcej, ta książka ma wszystko czego od niej chciałam.
Kiedy w życiu nic się nie układa, a nowym szefem i starym sąsiadem okazuje się dawna miłość z dzieciństwa - tu wszystko może pójść nie tym rytmem. Szczególnie serca bohaterów, które na tym etapie ich życia powinny być dla siebie zamknięte, a może to właśnie siebie wzajemnie potrzebują?🩷
18+
Współpraca reklamowa z @wydawnictwopapieroweserca dziękuję!
August 18, 2025
This was good! I loved both the FMC and MMC. One of the first single mama books I’ve read that I’ve loved 😍😍😍. HOWEVER, the ending was a bit too rushed. It almost felt cheesy tbh.
Wish the ending showed the MMCs POV more and helped prove how equal of a partnership they had
UPDATE- don’t read the next book in this series b/c it lowkey ruins this love story
Wish the ending showed the MMCs POV more and helped prove how equal of a partnership they had
UPDATE- don’t read the next book in this series b/c it lowkey ruins this love story
January 19, 2024
Lucie
The Summer I Saved You is book 2 in the series. The Fab Four friends, Caleb, Harrison, Beck & Liam, from The Summer We Fell are getting their own stories. This is Caleb’s, yet it feels more like Lucie’s. Caleb was a difficult person for me to like, let alone love. He was the grumpy boss that everyone stayed away from and delivered massive mixed signals to all. It took me a long time to warm up to him.
My heart broke for Lucie so many times. Being rejected as a young girl by her parents and then always being made to feel she was inferior had a lasting impact on her self esteem and greatly influenced many of her decisions. Luckily she found the courage to break free and the strength to not repeat patterns, sparing her children more pain.
I was very happy when they finally got their HEA. I do wish Caleb had worked for it a bit more.
We heard so much about Kate in this story. Knowing the tragic loss she suffered and how she chose to cope with her grief was not what I expected at the start. If anyone can convince me Kate is a worthy character, it’s Elizabeth O’Roark. Beck and Kate are next.
The Summer I Saved You is book 2 in the series. The Fab Four friends, Caleb, Harrison, Beck & Liam, from The Summer We Fell are getting their own stories. This is Caleb’s, yet it feels more like Lucie’s. Caleb was a difficult person for me to like, let alone love. He was the grumpy boss that everyone stayed away from and delivered massive mixed signals to all. It took me a long time to warm up to him.
My heart broke for Lucie so many times. Being rejected as a young girl by her parents and then always being made to feel she was inferior had a lasting impact on her self esteem and greatly influenced many of her decisions. Luckily she found the courage to break free and the strength to not repeat patterns, sparing her children more pain.
I was very happy when they finally got their HEA. I do wish Caleb had worked for it a bit more.
We heard so much about Kate in this story. Knowing the tragic loss she suffered and how she chose to cope with her grief was not what I expected at the start. If anyone can convince me Kate is a worthy character, it’s Elizabeth O’Roark. Beck and Kate are next.
October 1, 2023
Not as angsty as the previous standalone alone, but I enjoyed it! The audiobook narrators were so good!
The single mom moving in next door, the grumpy neighbor who tries to keep his distance but can’t. So good. I loved that they both had their issues and insecurities tied to previous spouses, put them on a similar playing field.
I do wish the conflict with the heroine did end so abruptly. I get it was an event to give perspective, but it was just like this big issues for the heroine was just over.
Overall, another great read!
The single mom moving in next door, the grumpy neighbor who tries to keep his distance but can’t. So good. I loved that they both had their issues and insecurities tied to previous spouses, put them on a similar playing field.
I do wish the conflict with the heroine did end so abruptly. I get it was an event to give perspective, but it was just like this big issues for the heroine was just over.
Overall, another great read!
September 24, 2023
ehhhh? miss elizabeth what happened??? the first book was so good but this one...ngl...just bad.
feeling exhausted and disappointed right now...like every main character was infuriating and somewhere after chapter 30 i just lost interest....
feeling exhausted and disappointed right now...like every main character was infuriating and somewhere after chapter 30 i just lost interest....
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