Girlfriend for the Summer

by Erica Lee

Mia Carmichael has her whole life figured out. From high school royalty to marrying a boy from her hometown to a career in medicine, she can read her future like a map. There’s only one these are actually the things her parents want. That becomes glaringly obvious when she spends the summer with her grandma and meets Colby Rivers.

Colby is completely in control of her life. Sort of. She tends to overthink everything and doesn't have many close friends. Yet, when Mia Carmichael shows up, she sees something in Colby that no one else does. But falling for the girl who lives behind her grandma isn’t part of Mia’s plan. It can’t be.

Can their relationship ever be more than stolen kisses and secret looks? Do they have a future or is this destined to end with the summer?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Lesbian, Contemporary, Lesbian Romance, LGBT, Queer

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2024

About the author

Erica Lee finished writing her first book, Dear Santa: I’m Gay, in December 2016. Erica currently lives in Pennsylvania with her wife, dog, chinchilla, and bunny. She spends her days working as an optometrist and her nights snuggled up on the couch with her furry family, binging on netflix or youtube.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[tenthmuse ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

rip Mia you would’ve loved Good Luck Babe by Chappell Roan

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful YA love story. Mia is spending the summer with her grandmother, not really wanting to. She meets Colby, the girl that lives in the house behind her grandmother. They become friends and have a great summer together. The night before Mia has to go home they realize they're more than friends. But Mia can't be gay! Her mom would disown her. The angst that Mia feels is felt by the reader. So is the love that the two girls feel. I remember how confusing it is at that age.
This is a wonderful friends to lovers love story! A favorite! Worthy of 5 stars!

[John Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good coming of age sapphic romance by Erica Lee. Mia is the popular cheerleader and class president who visits her grandmother every summer through high school and meets Colby, who lives next door. Being MC switches back and forth between the two, although they are developing strong feelings for each other, Colby is the only one who comes out, while Mia has to live her life in her home town in front of her mum and friends as the straight girl. Nicely done if a bit twee by the end. 3.5 stars.

[Aunt Missa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA book from Erica Lee was frigging delightful. Erica perfectly captures angst and yearning and pining and the expectations that are put on LGBTQ kids. Colby is a well adjusted, fluffy little puppy. I’m 50+ years old and I wish I was well adjusted and fluffy as Colby. Mia has the picture perfect life, looking in from the outside. She has a difficult journey ahead of her, her mom sucks, but she has a great support with her grandmother and her best friend, and her brother.

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh teenage love…

This was honestly just a cute read. It was also quite an easy one, as I managed to finish it in about a day. Watching the two’s relationship blossom over the years made the ending ever more sweeter, and the fact they literally interacted when they were children too was just so cute.

I know that most of the time Mia was practically bordering on leading on Colby, but it’s hard to really hate on her for doing what she did. Especially when you consider how she grew up and how old she was at first, it’s definitely rewarding to see her come to terms to her sexuality and finally accept herself for who she is.

Overall it was just enjoyable. Also I love Mia’s grandma. 4.4/5

[lislelee · Rating 2 out of 5]

if I was fifteen with my first girl crush I’d probably die with this and love it! but now even though I can admit it was a beautiful sweet story, I couldn’t entirely feel like I loved it? it was good and sweet but it kind of made me realize that ya romance (with no stakes and fantasy as I’m used to) it’s simply not for me :( I also was so confused at how the parents were portrayed and acted here.


also (and this is me being COMPLETELY BIASED and using my free opinion) this would’ve been three stars if it weren’t for the public CHEERLEADING confession. what in the high school musical im sorry

[Jen Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I don't read a lot of YA but when it comes to Erica Lee, I'm always willing to give it a shot. I loved both of the main characters! Poor Mia has to deal with these big expectations her parents have laid on her shoulders and overcome those in order to find happiness. Colby is a sweet, somewhat awkward teen who does her own thing and doesn't apologize for it. They immediately hit it off and it was a really sweet journey, with a little angst along the way, as they fell for each other. Definitely recommend reading this lovely story!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up I always loved summers. The freedom to live life, have fun, fall in and out of love. The possibilities were endless.

This book brings all those summer feelings back to me and it was a pleasure to get to read this book as a prerelease.

The characters feel real and they are so similar to friends I would have had growing up. Watching them live and learn was a wonderful experience that I will continue to enjoy each time I revisit the book.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The YA kind of book I can read and love. I mean who would not like summers like theirs, lots of fun and a first love. It is so sweet and I loved Mia and Colby and their interactions so much. An extra plus for another great grandmother that helped them find their happiness.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I didn’t think i would have enjoyed this book that much, but the characters are very loveable, the angst is minimal but good, love the grandma. I was afraid it would be “too YA” but the emotions expressed in the book are very relatable. I would have loved for the book to be either bigger or have a second one because the last few chapters felt a little rushed

[Gina L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Erica Lee Hit!

Only Erica Lee can get me (over 60) interested in a Young Adult Romance and actually learn something in the process. That is due to the exceptional writing and character of this author. She is genuinely one that is a role model for the younger generation and readers who need to see how she is living her best life with so much more to come. Colby and Mia’s story is sweet as well as sad but they don’t give up on each other even accepting friendship. Colby teaches Mia that it should be about only her happiness and not anyone else’s. A must read for ALL!

[kristy wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Love

Well I am a sucker for a nice, cute, sweet, good for the heart romance. I almost didn’t read this book because I thought it would be to full of angst non-stop BUT that wasn’t this book. Well I mean there was some of that but it wasn’t over powering like some of them can be. This book was a good for the heart romance. Buy it, read it, your heart will squeeze with the cuteness of young love and coming to terms with who you are no matter what others think.

[Devoncatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you have to repeat to parents you're gay

It took lot of courage come out to a homophobic mother like one of the main characters had. More than one woman I knew had those through screaming match over this lesbian business...oh there is an HEA

[The Wild Weary Cow Reads Sapphic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blitzed my way through this one!. Erica always writes likable, lovable & relatable characters... Mia & Colby 🫶🏼... Also... These a fabulous grandma 😏

[Ciara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I’ve read by this author in a while, I really loved this YA coming of age romance tale.

I binged it in one sitting I found myself really captivated by the story and couldn’t put it down.

There’s not too much angst but my only critique if you would call it that, is the characters behave very mature for their young age, although maybe we should all be as mature!

Really good read and I can’t wait to follow the next in series!!!

[Cara Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Young Adult Sapphic Romance

This is a story about two girls who grow into young women who find the love of their lives in each other. Colby’s family is totally accepting of her but Mia’s is not, and she carries the weight of her mother’s homophobic expectations on her like the massive burden that it is. It’s through summers spent with Colby, and the emotional hurt of being away from Colby that drives Mia’s growth.

Mia gets the girl but read the book to find out how. Another delightful story from Erica Lee.

[Rey Hawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Evocatio]

dnf 30%

[Minna Perälä · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars in general, 4 stars as a YA romance/book. Some awkward/clumsy bits but overall very solid and sweet coming of age and finding yourself young adult book. I wish something like this would have been available 25 years ago when I was a teenager.

[Nat E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! Not spicy at all which is appropriate because the characters are teenagers! Loved the grandmother.

[Juniper L.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolute banger from Erica Lee. I have not been disappointed by anything she has ever written, and today was no exception. Whenever I start one of their novels, I know that I should strap myself in for some major feelings, likely crying, and they always deliver. This novel had it all: happy, sad, giddy, devastated, the whole emotional package. It’s a YA novel but I think all ages would enjoy, and I recommend this to all!

Highlights:
-The writing, obviously. Erica Lee is a great writer, plain and simply, I don’t feel the need to elaborate on what that means.
-I particularly liked the choice of plot structure for this novel, taking place during summer holidays over the course of several years. This allowed plenty of time for the plotline to develop, for the characters to develop strong feelings for each other, and for the stakes to be established. I hate it when a romance plotline is rushed (instalove is the WORST) and this novel did the exact opposite. This timeline, as well as the start-and-stop nature of their time together, gave the characters lots of time to reflect on their time together, to pine for each other, to try and fail to get over each other , and just generally have the time for a lot to happen.
-There was some delightful, gay panic.
-The portrayal of a range of experiences with confronting your sexuality, as well as coming out, was nice to see within a single novel. There was a double gay awakening, which resulted in two very different journeys for the characters. Representation win!

Zero complaints, no notes.

[Mysia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 ⭐️

I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled with it from the start. Mia and most of her family and friends weren’t likable to me, and the story felt rushed, especially in the first summer. There wasn’t enough time to truly develop the characters, and I couldn’t invest in their journey because I didn’t feel like I knew them. Even after a few more summers, I was still left wondering who Mia and Colby were as a couple, beyond their constant back-and-forth about Mia’s sexuality.

It felt like Colby ended up getting what she wanted after a lot of begging, and that just felt wrong and unfair. Honestly, I was hoping they wouldn’t end up together and that Colby would leave with Amber instead. The relationship dynamics weren’t healthy, and I worry this sends the wrong message to young sapphic readers. I wish there had been more redeeming qualities for Mia and her family, and more depth to their relationship from the beginning. All in all, I found this to be a bad example of the kind of positive relationships queer young adults need to see in books.

CAWPILE Rating:
Characters: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Writing: 4
Plot: 3
Intrigue: 4
Logic: 4
Enjoyment: 3

[Toni LibraLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeter than Sugar ❤️❤️❤️

While the decision of when and how to “come out” is a struggle that has been broached by many authors in a variety of ways, the subject, in my reading experience, usually involves slightly older characters, this novel deals with young women on the cusp of “womanhood”.
Usually, that decision is more difficult to make by one member of the couple, as it so happens here. This does not break any new territory, however, the characters here are so sweet and the difficulties they confront are so common, it is impossible not to root for them.
I would love for Ms. Lee to write a “part two” novel that could pick up these delightfully appealing young women as they venture into the “real world” of maturity and how they deal with the obstacles they confront in perusing a happily ever after future.
I read this novel with a lot of smiles, and quite a few tears and look forward to reading more from this author.
Good luck to Mia and Colby and of course Granny Jane.

[Amanda Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading Girlfriend for the Summer by Erica Lee, I was on the fence about reading it because of the ages of the main characters. I am so glad I decided to read it. The book was fantastic. The story starts off with Mia and Colby during the summer between middle school and high school. Mia stays with her grandma for the summer and befriends Colby, the girl who lives next door. They are inseparable all Summer. After that first Summer Colby and Mia both realize they have feelings for each other. Colby comes out to everyone, but Mia is scared and can't come to terms with her sexuality. The book covers the next 3 summers and their growing relationship. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions. I truly felt and cared about Colby and Mia and everything they were going through together and individualy. This book was truly amazing. This book definitely gets 5 stars, and I recommend anyone interested in the story, to read it.

[Petrina Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5.

Erica Lee always seems to write great YA books. All the characters were loveable, even the side cast (except for Mia's mum, who is the clear villain of the piece), and you root for Colby and Mia the whole way through. I could empathise with both the MCs who struggled, and embraced, their sexuality and burgeoning feelings in different ways. I also love the little easter egg references to her other books that Erica Lee tends to drop in! No spoilers, so IYKYK.

This would have been a 5 star for me, except the writing occasionally felt a little clunky and stilted, and there were some typos (including Mia's family's surname changing from Carmichael to Cartwright at one point), but the actual storyline and character development more than made up for this.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A very sweet, low angst, double gay awakening, young adult, friends to lovers romance. It gave me But I'm a Cheerleader vibes and the author even name drops that movie which I thought was cool. Mia and Colby are both so incredibly lovable. Once Colby comes out that's it. She doesn't hide it. For Mia it can't be that simple and my heart hurt for the poor girl. The chemistry between them was really good and I thought the drama felt realistic. Nothing felt unnecessary and I think both characters handled everything as best they could. The ending was so cute and very much But I'm a Cheerleader moment. Cheesy but sweet and that's how I would describe this book. Well written, well paced, wonderful characters, and a lovely romance. I'd recommend it.

[Marina Feliz Imba · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,2. I recently read this book, and I thought it was okay. I really liked the main characters, and I absolutely loved the best friends and Colby’s parents—but my favorite person was definitely Mia’s grandma. I hated Mia’s mom so much that I felt sick every time she appeared in the story.

Their love story was sweet and innocent, with plenty of angst due to Mia’s fear of coming out as gay. While it wasn’t my favorite book and probably won’t be unforgettable for me, it was a decent read, perfect for younger readers.

At times, the story felt slow, and I felt like nothing was happening—or that the same things were repeating over and over. I did get a little bored occasionally, but overall, it was an average book, and I’ve read much worse.

[Patricia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, angsty, YA love story. I really enjoyed it. However, when I first started reading it on Kindle Unlimited months ago I returned it only four per cent into the book, as I felt the first pages were poorly written with immature dialogue and inner thoughts of the MCs. I gave it another go yesterday and read past that 4% and the story was great.

I read it in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. Just the right amount of angst, internal turmoil of teenagers, and really well written.

So if you’re starting this book keep reading it, it’s worth it. I’d recommend this to both YA who are struggling to come to terms with their sexuality and for adult readers who can reflect back on their past experiences. Well done.

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girlfriend for the Summer is a variation on the summer fling genre. In this sweet, YA tale Mia and Colby build on their attraction from one summer to the next. Year to year there is some backsliding and a normal amount of teenage angst. Mia’s reluctance to come out at home is a major obstacle throughout the story arc. While her concerns are not entirely unjustified, the reality is not as devastating as she expected. There is a good supporting cast, including an all-too brief cameo by Penny from an earlier Bellman tale. This is an enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion and a possible setup for more tales from Bellman.

[Hope Freed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a bit of YA romance now and then and this fitted very nicely into that mould. It has some familiar elements - two teenage girls who find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other; one who is prepared to accept and embrace her sexuality and the other who’s not; one with an accepting family and one with the homophobic parents (particularly the mother) and supportive straight best friends; but this was sufficiently different to make it enjoyable. And I did particularly like Mia’s cheerleading declaration towards the end!