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Stealing Summer
Chandler loves being in the spotlight when she's on stage performing, immersing herself in the romantic stories of the characters she brings to life. When the curtains close and the lights dim, she's not confident in navigating the path of her own love life.
Being caught in center field between two rival athletes was definitely not what she had envisioned for her own story.
Boston, her next-door neighbor and brother's best friend has always been Chandler's childhood crush---she's wooed by his drive for baseball and sweet nature.
There's one problem. Reese. This bad boy is determined to turn her world upside down and stir up more than just trouble.
There's nothing quite like a summer in the small town of Bayside. As secrets start to unravel, their relationships are reshaped and Chandler is forced to confront what she truly desires.
Better buckle up, Chandler. There's only room for one Blue Devils athlete to play the leading role in your love life.
Being caught in center field between two rival athletes was definitely not what she had envisioned for her own story.
Boston, her next-door neighbor and brother's best friend has always been Chandler's childhood crush---she's wooed by his drive for baseball and sweet nature.
There's one problem. Reese. This bad boy is determined to turn her world upside down and stir up more than just trouble.
There's nothing quite like a summer in the small town of Bayside. As secrets start to unravel, their relationships are reshaped and Chandler is forced to confront what she truly desires.
Better buckle up, Chandler. There's only room for one Blue Devils athlete to play the leading role in your love life.
- GenresRomanceSports Romance
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2024
25 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Jess Bryson
5 books83 followersWith a passion for storytelling, it has been my lifelong dream to pursue it and let my imagination run wild. I aspire to dominate literature with enticing contemporary romance novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 18, 2024
Stealing Summer
By Jess Bryson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars!
"I bet you'd like benefits with me," he whispered, the words hanging between us like a tantalizing promise.
This book! Holy angst. It’s the perfect blend of romance, drama, and a love triangle that kept me so confused—I literally couldn’t decide which of the guys I wanted for myself!
Chandler’s story with Boston and Reese is so fun—she is literally torn between two HOT rival athletes. Boston, her brother’s best friend and her long-time crush, has always been the sweet and driven one. Then there’s Reese, the bad boy determined to shake things up and make Chandler question everything.
If you’re looking for a fun, easy read with lots of summer vibes, definitely grab this one. I cannot believe this is a debut book, congratulations on hitting a home-run with this story! Can’t wait for the next book. Read ASAP!
By Jess Bryson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars!
"I bet you'd like benefits with me," he whispered, the words hanging between us like a tantalizing promise.
This book! Holy angst. It’s the perfect blend of romance, drama, and a love triangle that kept me so confused—I literally couldn’t decide which of the guys I wanted for myself!
Chandler’s story with Boston and Reese is so fun—she is literally torn between two HOT rival athletes. Boston, her brother’s best friend and her long-time crush, has always been the sweet and driven one. Then there’s Reese, the bad boy determined to shake things up and make Chandler question everything.
If you’re looking for a fun, easy read with lots of summer vibes, definitely grab this one. I cannot believe this is a debut book, congratulations on hitting a home-run with this story! Can’t wait for the next book. Read ASAP!
December 11, 2024
Stealing Summer follows Chandler who spends the summer in a small town called Bayside with her brother and his best friend Boston. Both her brother and Boston play for the baseball team the Blue Devils. Chandler has had a crush on Boston for years. But knows she can't do anything because of her brother. Reese plays for the Blue Devils and hates Boston. But soon Chandler starts falling for Reese and that makes Boston jealous. Soon Chandler will have to figure out which man she likes better.
This was such a cute summer romance book. I really liked this book. This book also left off on a bit of a cliffhanger and I need the second book like right now haha. But this was such a cute lighthearted summer romance. I could not up this one down. I am obsessed with Resse and Boston. Honestly, I do not know who I like better. I can't wait to read more books from Jess Bryson in the future. This was the cutest book.
Thank you Jess Bryson for the ARC of this book.
June 23, 2024
4.5 stars!
My only complaint is that there wasn't enough! I need more.. like now!
This book has some of my favorites - summer love, sports, brother's best friend, love triangle, all the angst. I need the 2nd book immediately!! Must read 📚
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My only complaint is that there wasn't enough! I need more.. like now!
This book has some of my favorites - summer love, sports, brother's best friend, love triangle, all the angst. I need the 2nd book immediately!! Must read 📚
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May 18, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an ARC e-book. I thought going into it, it would be a 3 star book. Let me tell you, I flew through this book like no other. Jess Bryson is now an auto buy author for me and I'm excited about another book. I saw the plot twist early on but the execution of said twist was flawless! It's
#brothersbestfriend #teammaterival #baseball #secrets #summerromance
But most importantly it's a fast paced read that you can't get enough of!
#brothersbestfriend #teammaterival #baseball #secrets #summerromance
But most importantly it's a fast paced read that you can't get enough of!
June 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I had the pleasure to read the arc and I'm so very grateful for being able to be apart of the team. This book has romance, love triangle, uncovered secrets, rivalry and brother's best friend. I absolutely love Chandler And Reese. This book was such a lovely read and made me giggle in parts. If you just want a light fluffy book to read you will have to get it when it's released. I can't wait to purchase a physical copy once it's out. A great book to read if your looking for something after reading a big series.
Keep up the great work Jess.
Keep up the great work Jess.
May 20, 2024
Stealing Summer was a lovely read with some of my favourite tropes brothers best friend, childhood crush sports romance. I loved the way this story was written and the struggles Chandler faces in choosing who she wants to be with. The tension between the boys, Boston and Reese invested be in the story from the beginning and I really hope there is another book as I need answers to so many questions! I really enjoyed this summer sports romance. I received a complementary copy from the author.
May 21, 2024
Before reading into my review remember these are my own thoughts and opinions. I hope this is seen as that!
Roses: I binged this story all in one day and what a angsty and fun story. While reading this I instantly thought of One Tree Hill and the rivalry between Nathan and Lucas. I liked the love triangle in this. Boston was of course the perfect boy next door that everyone would want to be with and then you have Reese. Wealthy, movie star looks and amazing at baseball. You can’t go wrong with that. I liked Parker and his relationship with Chandler. They were a really fun sibling pair and showed how much they cared for each other. Friendship is really big in this story which I loved to see.
Thorns: I didn’t really feel the romance in this book. It was very insta-lust without really any substance to build a romantic relationship with. At parts it felt like I missed a whole chunk of the story because Chandlers feelings for Boston were so strong that I felt like I missed out on them being built. We learn of a few moments that helped start them but I just wasnt as connected has I wanted to be. Reese and her relationship took off super fast without much relationship building. I was left kind of not believing chandler was down bad for Reese even with the situation at the end. I honestly hope she does choose Boston just because something about how Reese read to me didn’t sit well and I’d be disappointed if she went with him. Did I have a gut feeling reading this that something was going to happen and make everyone’s world become topsy terby yes, was my guess right also yes. It was pretty predictable. There were just a lot of clues and from my initial connections to the layout of One Tree Hill, I immediately thought of what the secret was going to be. I also am not a huge fan of cliffhangers. I just feel like if there was more meat to the book, this would’ve been setup easier for a cliffhanger to make sense. I just feel like the secret could’ve been answered in the first book with all parties involved and then the second book be more of the whole processing part for the boys and Chandler to go through. I have a big feeling that book 2 is going to get insanely messy (not a bad thing! AT ALL). I think a lot of my feelings came down to the book being short. The book was really short and I think it could have had more to it to better set up what the second story will be.
For this being her first book I thought it was pretty good and I can only see her next stories getting stronger and better! 😊
Roses: I binged this story all in one day and what a angsty and fun story. While reading this I instantly thought of One Tree Hill and the rivalry between Nathan and Lucas. I liked the love triangle in this. Boston was of course the perfect boy next door that everyone would want to be with and then you have Reese. Wealthy, movie star looks and amazing at baseball. You can’t go wrong with that. I liked Parker and his relationship with Chandler. They were a really fun sibling pair and showed how much they cared for each other. Friendship is really big in this story which I loved to see.
Thorns: I didn’t really feel the romance in this book. It was very insta-lust without really any substance to build a romantic relationship with. At parts it felt like I missed a whole chunk of the story because Chandlers feelings for Boston were so strong that I felt like I missed out on them being built. We learn of a few moments that helped start them but I just wasnt as connected has I wanted to be. Reese and her relationship took off super fast without much relationship building. I was left kind of not believing chandler was down bad for Reese even with the situation at the end. I honestly hope she does choose Boston just because something about how Reese read to me didn’t sit well and I’d be disappointed if she went with him. Did I have a gut feeling reading this that something was going to happen and make everyone’s world become topsy terby yes, was my guess right also yes. It was pretty predictable. There were just a lot of clues and from my initial connections to the layout of One Tree Hill, I immediately thought of what the secret was going to be. I also am not a huge fan of cliffhangers. I just feel like if there was more meat to the book, this would’ve been setup easier for a cliffhanger to make sense. I just feel like the secret could’ve been answered in the first book with all parties involved and then the second book be more of the whole processing part for the boys and Chandler to go through. I have a big feeling that book 2 is going to get insanely messy (not a bad thing! AT ALL). I think a lot of my feelings came down to the book being short. The book was really short and I think it could have had more to it to better set up what the second story will be.
For this being her first book I thought it was pretty good and I can only see her next stories getting stronger and better! 😊
June 18, 2024
4 ⭐️
such a cute, easy, fast summer read!
i really enjoyed the love triangle aspect of the book, haven’t read one in a long time. i’m definitely team Reese if i had to pick
only downfall of the book is how short it was! i feel like there could have been a little bit more details thrown in.
overall, cute read that i would recommend. can’t wait for more!
such a cute, easy, fast summer read!
i really enjoyed the love triangle aspect of the book, haven’t read one in a long time. i’m definitely team Reese if i had to pick
only downfall of the book is how short it was! i feel like there could have been a little bit more details thrown in.
overall, cute read that i would recommend. can’t wait for more!
October 23, 2024
⚾️🩵 BOOK REVIEW 🩵⚾️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jess Bryson’s debut novel, Stealing Summer, is out now and available on Kindle Unlimited.
"You're not just some girl to me. You're the girl—the one I’ve always wanted."
“You’re the only girl that’s ever consumed all of my thoughts. You’re the only girl I think I’ve ever really cared about.”
Jess knew exactly what she was doing with that ending. She hooked her audience with an ending that will leave you counting down the days until her next book releases!
When I tell you this book was sooooo good!! If you’re looking for a great baseball romance that isn’t super lengthy, this one’s for you. The characters are all so likable and I felt like I was right there with them the whole time I was reading.
Boston is the brother’s best friend and childhood crush. Reese is the bad boy looking to turn Chandler’s world upside down. Seriously how can you choose between the two? I can’t and refuse to because I love them both. They’re both great in their own ways, especially as you got to know each of them.
I’m so excited to read more about Chandler, Boston, Reese, Parker & Willow. Stealing Summer is the first book in The Bayside Lake Series with the second book, Rival Summer, coming December 2024!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jess Bryson’s debut novel, Stealing Summer, is out now and available on Kindle Unlimited.
"You're not just some girl to me. You're the girl—the one I’ve always wanted."
“You’re the only girl that’s ever consumed all of my thoughts. You’re the only girl I think I’ve ever really cared about.”
Jess knew exactly what she was doing with that ending. She hooked her audience with an ending that will leave you counting down the days until her next book releases!
When I tell you this book was sooooo good!! If you’re looking for a great baseball romance that isn’t super lengthy, this one’s for you. The characters are all so likable and I felt like I was right there with them the whole time I was reading.
Boston is the brother’s best friend and childhood crush. Reese is the bad boy looking to turn Chandler’s world upside down. Seriously how can you choose between the two? I can’t and refuse to because I love them both. They’re both great in their own ways, especially as you got to know each of them.
I’m so excited to read more about Chandler, Boston, Reese, Parker & Willow. Stealing Summer is the first book in The Bayside Lake Series with the second book, Rival Summer, coming December 2024!
December 11, 2024
Instantly was hooked! I loved Bayside and all the characters in this story. The relationship between Chandler and her brother, Parker is the best. She is just tagging along 😂 but loves it.
Boston is such a sweetheart. From the beginning he is nice to everyone. I love that he doesn't mind Chandler always hanging out with him and Parker.
Reese has a hold on me! I absolutely love his character ☺️😍. Bad boy but he has a heart. He is all the things!
Chandler wears her heart in her sleeve and loves deeply. It was such a joy to watch her come out of her comfort zone. The ending left me wanting more of these characters asap!
Boston is such a sweetheart. From the beginning he is nice to everyone. I love that he doesn't mind Chandler always hanging out with him and Parker.
Reese has a hold on me! I absolutely love his character ☺️😍. Bad boy but he has a heart. He is all the things!
Chandler wears her heart in her sleeve and loves deeply. It was such a joy to watch her come out of her comfort zone. The ending left me wanting more of these characters asap!
October 28, 2024
This book gave me “The Summer I Turned Pretty” vibes 🥹 Such a fun, quick, heartbreaking read! I kept being torn between Boston and Reese, but I’m still cheering for Boston. He’s the typical golden retriever you just feel happy and giddy around! Reese is the complete opposite, a cocky, smirking bad boy who makes you melt and not understand why you actually like. But they’re both so cute in their own ways!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
Favourite scenes and quotes:
⚾️ “ today was one of those perfect moments you wanted to bottle up and save forever”
⚾️ “I noticed a faded friendship bracelet tied into the stitching on the inside of the mitt, its threads loose and frayed. I recognized the bracelet instantly. I had given it to Boston years ago when we were just kids—the first time we had ever met.”
⚾️ “This is going to sound crazy, but I kept the bracelet because that was the day I told myself you’d be my girlfriend one day,” he confessed, his eyes searched mine. “You’re who I want—I’ve always wanted you.”
⚾️ “You’re not a game to me. Chandler, I stood in the back of every play sweaty and tired after games, I never missed one. I’ve always been your biggest fan.”
⚾️ “you’re not just some girl to me. You’re the girl—the one I’ve always wanted.”
I can’t wait for book 2!!
Favourite scenes and quotes:
⚾️ “ today was one of those perfect moments you wanted to bottle up and save forever”
⚾️ “I noticed a faded friendship bracelet tied into the stitching on the inside of the mitt, its threads loose and frayed. I recognized the bracelet instantly. I had given it to Boston years ago when we were just kids—the first time we had ever met.”
⚾️ “This is going to sound crazy, but I kept the bracelet because that was the day I told myself you’d be my girlfriend one day,” he confessed, his eyes searched mine. “You’re who I want—I’ve always wanted you.”
⚾️ “You’re not a game to me. Chandler, I stood in the back of every play sweaty and tired after games, I never missed one. I’ve always been your biggest fan.”
⚾️ “you’re not just some girl to me. You’re the girl—the one I’ve always wanted.”
June 15, 2024
It’s summer time and Chandler is heading to Bayside with her brother,Parker, and his best friend, Boston, for summer baseball camp. While there, she meets Reese a rich, entitled kid who happens to be on the baseball team as well.
In the past, there has always been rivalry between Boston and Reese and at the end of the book, the reason is finally revealed. For Chandler, she finally learns that her childhood crush (Boston) has always been interested in her but the timing is just not right as she has just started a relationship with Reese.
With the big secret reveal at the end, the next book is gonna be an interesting read for sure. Can’t wait for it to be out! This is definitely an amazing debut for the author, and a perfect read for the summer!
Note: this book ends on a cliffhanger
In the past, there has always been rivalry between Boston and Reese and at the end of the book, the reason is finally revealed. For Chandler, she finally learns that her childhood crush (Boston) has always been interested in her but the timing is just not right as she has just started a relationship with Reese.
With the big secret reveal at the end, the next book is gonna be an interesting read for sure. Can’t wait for it to be out! This is definitely an amazing debut for the author, and a perfect read for the summer!
Note: this book ends on a cliffhanger
June 24, 2024
4.5 stars
This was such a cute summer read! I loved the setting of Bayside and am always a sucker for a baseball romance.
This story follows Chandler who spends her summer with her brother Parker and his best friend Boston. They have known each other since they were young and both Boston and Parker play for the Blue Devils baseball team. She has had a secret crush on Boston for years, but she never went after him just because of her brother.
There's another player on the Blue Devils team, Reese, that Boston can't stand. Soon after, a love triangle forms between Chandler, Boston and Reese and at the end, she has to choose who she wants to be with. While pursuing Reese, she notices that Boston starts to get jealous.
My first thought when I finished this book was I really wished it was longer. I would have loved to read even more about their relationships. I think that's why I didn't really feel the romance because it just seemed like insta-love. I would've loved to read about a deeper connection.
I think this was a fantastic debut novel for Jess Bryson and I know her second book is going to be great as well! I can't wait to read it once it's available.
This was such a cute summer read! I loved the setting of Bayside and am always a sucker for a baseball romance.
This story follows Chandler who spends her summer with her brother Parker and his best friend Boston. They have known each other since they were young and both Boston and Parker play for the Blue Devils baseball team. She has had a secret crush on Boston for years, but she never went after him just because of her brother.
There's another player on the Blue Devils team, Reese, that Boston can't stand. Soon after, a love triangle forms between Chandler, Boston and Reese and at the end, she has to choose who she wants to be with. While pursuing Reese, she notices that Boston starts to get jealous.
My first thought when I finished this book was I really wished it was longer. I would have loved to read even more about their relationships. I think that's why I didn't really feel the romance because it just seemed like insta-love. I would've loved to read about a deeper connection.
I think this was a fantastic debut novel for Jess Bryson and I know her second book is going to be great as well! I can't wait to read it once it's available.
November 27, 2024
This book was fantastic! I’m still torn between Boston and Reese as the perfect match for Chandler. When Chandler joins her brother and his best friend on a trip to the charming town of Bayside for baseball, she finds herself caught between her longtime crush on Boston and an unexpected spark with Reese. As her emotions grow more tangled, the clock is ticking and her return home is fast approaching. The story ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m counting down the days until book two, Rival Summer to find out what happens next!
August 19, 2024
Great Summer read. It Reminded me of "The Summer I turned Pretty ".
October 19, 2024
That ending !! Wow
I want it to be so much longer!! I can’t wait to read the second book!!
Tropes:
Summer love
Brothers best friend
Love triangle
I want it to be so much longer!! I can’t wait to read the second book!!
Tropes:
Summer love
Brothers best friend
Love triangle
May 27, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
I went into this book completely blind forgetting the blurb and the tropes. Just knowing it sounded like a cute title and would be the perfect book in between so many dark books I’ve been reading lately.
Well let me just say, I was blown away. This book was so amazing and I will be telling everyone about it. It takes place in a picturesque lake town that has all the amazing summer time vibes.
You are introduced to main character Chandler and her old brother Parker and his best friend Boston. These three clearly are very close and you soon learn they have been doing everything together since Chandler was 5 years old. For college break they go to the Lake so Parker and Boston can be in a summer baseball league as both of them are trying to make it big time. While there the story develops and you are introduced to other characters like the town golden boy Reese, a girl name willow and others that make this town so fun.
I don’t want to give much more away because it’s best to go in blind but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I can’t wait for the next one to come out! If you love contemporary romance, college romance, lake/summer time vibes then this one is for you. I usually enjoy A LOT more spice in my books but that didn’t even matter in this book. The angst, the emotions and the story line here made it all worth it and I didn’t even miss that part.
Tropes:
- Brother's best friend
- Childhood crush
- Sports romance
- Love triangle
- Summer romance
- Small town romance
- Fun side characters
- Mildly spicey
- Teammate rivalry
- Uncovered secrets
🌶️
I went into this book completely blind forgetting the blurb and the tropes. Just knowing it sounded like a cute title and would be the perfect book in between so many dark books I’ve been reading lately.
Well let me just say, I was blown away. This book was so amazing and I will be telling everyone about it. It takes place in a picturesque lake town that has all the amazing summer time vibes.
You are introduced to main character Chandler and her old brother Parker and his best friend Boston. These three clearly are very close and you soon learn they have been doing everything together since Chandler was 5 years old. For college break they go to the Lake so Parker and Boston can be in a summer baseball league as both of them are trying to make it big time. While there the story develops and you are introduced to other characters like the town golden boy Reese, a girl name willow and others that make this town so fun.
I don’t want to give much more away because it’s best to go in blind but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! I can’t wait for the next one to come out! If you love contemporary romance, college romance, lake/summer time vibes then this one is for you. I usually enjoy A LOT more spice in my books but that didn’t even matter in this book. The angst, the emotions and the story line here made it all worth it and I didn’t even miss that part.
Tropes:
- Brother's best friend
- Childhood crush
- Sports romance
- Love triangle
- Summer romance
- Small town romance
- Fun side characters
- Mildly spicey
- Teammate rivalry
- Uncovered secrets
May 13, 2025
2.4 ⭐️
This was like if you took bits of one tree hill & the summer i turned pretty but made it more wattpad. I was honestly bored the majority of this book and just wanted it to be over. Reese was the only remotely interesting character. I might read the 2nd book at some point but overall it was just meh.
This was like if you took bits of one tree hill & the summer i turned pretty but made it more wattpad. I was honestly bored the majority of this book and just wanted it to be over. Reese was the only remotely interesting character. I might read the 2nd book at some point but overall it was just meh.
December 4, 2024
Here is my full disclaimer: I added this book to my TBR because I was approved to read an ARC edition of the second book in the series, Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance, and I wanted to know what the series was about. I waited to give my review on this book until after I finished Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance because I wanted my thoughts to reflect the evolution of the story and the work of Jess Bryson.
The story: I have just watched the first two seasons of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" with my eldest daughter on Amazon Prime. I had already seen the show before, but this was the first time for my daughter. I don't know if I have that story on the brain or if these two books have very similar plots, but Stealing Summer had a lot of qualities from The Summer I Turned Pretty. That's fine. A lot of books have comparable plots, and if I have watched the series and read the books by Jenny Han, it's because I enjoy them. Well, the same can be said for Stealing Summer. Jess Bryson created a world where Chandler Hartford is our main character and our sole POV in this book. She has an older brother, Parker, who is a baseball player in college. Chandler and Parker grew up next door to Boston and they have been best friends since childhood. Chandler has always had a crush on her neighbor and brother's BFF but he was too cool for her and viewed her as a little sister. (Or did he?)
Let's move to the present day. Chandler has just finished the first year of college, and Parker and Boston have finished, I think, their sophomore or maybe junior year of college. Parker and Boston have been invited to play for the Blue Devils summer team at Bayside Lake, which is approximately 2-3 hours from Stillwater, where they live and go to school. Boston's mother is originally from Bayside but doesn't like to go back since she left the small town about 2 decades earlier. Boston, however, does enjoy going and used to visit when his grandparents were still alive. They have now passed but their cabin is still there. Boston and Parker are going to stay in the cabin for the summer and Chandler is tagging along with them.
The overall gist of the story is that there is another player on the Blue Devils, Reese Carrington, who is almost celebrity status in Bayside. He comes from a wealthy and influential family in town. He is good-looking, a very talented baseball player, especially a pitcher, and mysterious. A lot of people think he is the bad boy who is always getting women. Boston and Reese do not get along and they have been rivals for years now, having met through baseball. This is the first time they will be on the same team and they need to learn to get along. However, Reese meets Chandler and he decides to pursue her. Chandler, who has always had a crush on Boston, doesn't believe anything will ever happen with him, so she allows herself to get swept up by Reese, and she, too, starts to fall for him. This makes Boston jealous and he decides to confess to Chandler one night that he has feelings for her. How selfish of Boston to tell her this now that she is finally moving on.
Tensions and rivalry increase between Boston and Reese and it is not all because of Chandler. Reese and Chandler have started some sort of a relationship, at least for the summer. Let's not forget that they go to schools that are about 3 hours apart for most of the year. The story is left on a cliffhanger. It's good, although, a bit predictable. Here are the main points that drive you to jump into Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance immediately
The standout secondary characters in this book are Parker and Willow, Coach Levi's daughter. We are introduced to a few other characters and teammates in the book, but not much information is given about them. Parker and Willow are important because they are enablers to Chandler, Boston, and Reese. They have their own little situationship happening between them, similar to Steven and Taylor in The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Now on the writing. This is the debut novel by Jess Bryson and it's obvious in the writing. This is a novella, an intro to the series to give us the background. That's obvious by the number of pages as the story is so short, but even as a novella it was lacking format. It felt like I was reading a synopsis for a tv show. It's almost as if you could take this book and pitch it to a production company or a network to see if they want to turn the series into a show. What I mean by that is that it was lacking some overall structure that books need. The pauses and breaks in chapters or paragraphs to indicate changes in time or scenery were missing; only really being clearly defined when there was a flashback scene to explain Chandler's perception of an event. It also lacks further development of secondary characters beyond Parker, and Willow wasn't developed. Also, and this is a personal preference, the story was told in past tense, which I don't like. I think the flashbacks are fine as past tense, but the current events of the summer should be written in the present tense. Overall, it's not a game changer, and none of these small details discouraged me from continuing the book or captivating my attention. They are just small details I picked up on, and I think I will improve as Jess Bryson gets more experience in writing and publishing.
I enjoyed it and, I can already say that I read Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance and I reacted to a lot of the book. My full review is here
The story: I have just watched the first two seasons of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" with my eldest daughter on Amazon Prime. I had already seen the show before, but this was the first time for my daughter. I don't know if I have that story on the brain or if these two books have very similar plots, but Stealing Summer had a lot of qualities from The Summer I Turned Pretty. That's fine. A lot of books have comparable plots, and if I have watched the series and read the books by Jenny Han, it's because I enjoy them. Well, the same can be said for Stealing Summer. Jess Bryson created a world where Chandler Hartford is our main character and our sole POV in this book. She has an older brother, Parker, who is a baseball player in college. Chandler and Parker grew up next door to Boston and they have been best friends since childhood. Chandler has always had a crush on her neighbor and brother's BFF but he was too cool for her and viewed her as a little sister. (Or did he?)
Let's move to the present day. Chandler has just finished the first year of college, and Parker and Boston have finished, I think, their sophomore or maybe junior year of college. Parker and Boston have been invited to play for the Blue Devils summer team at Bayside Lake, which is approximately 2-3 hours from Stillwater, where they live and go to school. Boston's mother is originally from Bayside but doesn't like to go back since she left the small town about 2 decades earlier. Boston, however, does enjoy going and used to visit when his grandparents were still alive. They have now passed but their cabin is still there. Boston and Parker are going to stay in the cabin for the summer and Chandler is tagging along with them.
The overall gist of the story is that there is another player on the Blue Devils, Reese Carrington, who is almost celebrity status in Bayside. He comes from a wealthy and influential family in town. He is good-looking, a very talented baseball player, especially a pitcher, and mysterious. A lot of people think he is the bad boy who is always getting women. Boston and Reese do not get along and they have been rivals for years now, having met through baseball. This is the first time they will be on the same team and they need to learn to get along. However, Reese meets Chandler and he decides to pursue her. Chandler, who has always had a crush on Boston, doesn't believe anything will ever happen with him, so she allows herself to get swept up by Reese, and she, too, starts to fall for him. This makes Boston jealous and he decides to confess to Chandler one night that he has feelings for her. How selfish of Boston to tell her this now that she is finally moving on.
Tensions and rivalry increase between Boston and Reese and it is not all because of Chandler. Reese and Chandler have started some sort of a relationship, at least for the summer. Let's not forget that they go to schools that are about 3 hours apart for most of the year. The story is left on a cliffhanger. It's good, although, a bit predictable. Here are the main points that drive you to jump into Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance immediately
1.The crumbling state of Boston and Chandler's friendship. They may have crushes on each other, but at the core of their relationship is a friendship spanning 15+ years. That bond is on shaky ground at the end of the summer and no one wants to see it end. They have to fight for that relationship above any other, right?
2.The relationship, or should we call it situationship, between Chandler and Reese. Where they in love with each other after 2+ months. No, not yet. But Reese opened up to Chandler in a way he hadn't with many other people and Chandler was starting to explore adulthood and womanhood with Reese. They weren't in love yet but there is definite potential. However, the ghost of the crush on Boston is part of their situation, and there are a lot of things to figure out before moving forward. How do they move forward? Or do they step back and keep it as a friendship?
3.The animosity between Boston and Reese runs deep and precedes any chemistry or feelings regarding Chandler. We discover the reason behind their feud. Not only do we discover it, but Boston does, too. This is something that Reese had known about for a while and he is the one that instigated the bad blood between himself and Boston. It's a good reason...it's a soap opera-worthy reason.
The standout secondary characters in this book are Parker and Willow, Coach Levi's daughter. We are introduced to a few other characters and teammates in the book, but not much information is given about them. Parker and Willow are important because they are enablers to Chandler, Boston, and Reese. They have their own little situationship happening between them, similar to Steven and Taylor in The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Now on the writing. This is the debut novel by Jess Bryson and it's obvious in the writing. This is a novella, an intro to the series to give us the background. That's obvious by the number of pages as the story is so short, but even as a novella it was lacking format. It felt like I was reading a synopsis for a tv show. It's almost as if you could take this book and pitch it to a production company or a network to see if they want to turn the series into a show. What I mean by that is that it was lacking some overall structure that books need. The pauses and breaks in chapters or paragraphs to indicate changes in time or scenery were missing; only really being clearly defined when there was a flashback scene to explain Chandler's perception of an event. It also lacks further development of secondary characters beyond Parker, and Willow wasn't developed. Also, and this is a personal preference, the story was told in past tense, which I don't like. I think the flashbacks are fine as past tense, but the current events of the summer should be written in the present tense. Overall, it's not a game changer, and none of these small details discouraged me from continuing the book or captivating my attention. They are just small details I picked up on, and I think I will improve as Jess Bryson gets more experience in writing and publishing.
I enjoyed it and, I can already say that I read Rival Summer: A College Baseball Romance and I reacted to a lot of the book. My full review is here
June 15, 2024
Rating- 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice - 🌶️.5
When I saw the cover and read the tropes, I was like it's love triangle, how will it be written but Jess, she has written it in an exquisite manner.
It is a great book but the only thing why whyyyyy you have to make us wait 🥺🥺🥺 I need answers, I'll be waiting for the next .
Chandler, Boston and Reese.... 🥵🥵🥵
I binged it in a few hours.. it was quotes angsty and a fun to read. The side characters are very cheeky and funny 🤣 🤣.
I liked how the relationship between Parker and Chandler was written. Amazing sibling love 💕
One thing I needed was a slow burn romance. It was a quick fun insta love romance. But it was a good piece 💕💕
Can't wait for the next book in the series 🫡💋
.
Spice - 🌶️.5
When I saw the cover and read the tropes, I was like it's love triangle, how will it be written but Jess, she has written it in an exquisite manner.
It is a great book but the only thing why whyyyyy you have to make us wait 🥺🥺🥺 I need answers, I'll be waiting for the next .
Chandler, Boston and Reese.... 🥵🥵🥵
I binged it in a few hours.. it was quotes angsty and a fun to read. The side characters are very cheeky and funny 🤣 🤣.
I liked how the relationship between Parker and Chandler was written. Amazing sibling love 💕
One thing I needed was a slow burn romance. It was a quick fun insta love romance. But it was a good piece 💕💕
Can't wait for the next book in the series 🫡💋
.
January 13, 2025
Jess Bryson has nailed this series so far and what a debut!!! Stealing Summer focuses on Chandler, caught up in a steamy love triangle between Boston, her brother’s best friend and long-time crush, and Reese, the hot shot bad boy and Boston’s biggest rival.. on AND off the baseball field.
The angst, the drama, the cliffhanger!! This book put me through all of the feels and the way I RAN to book 2 as soon as this one was done! Jess captured the summer romance trope perfectly, and has created such a fun universe with so many great characters. This is going to be such a good series moving forward and I can’t wait for the rest!
The angst, the drama, the cliffhanger!! This book put me through all of the feels and the way I RAN to book 2 as soon as this one was done! Jess captured the summer romance trope perfectly, and has created such a fun universe with so many great characters. This is going to be such a good series moving forward and I can’t wait for the rest!
October 6, 2025
I would first like to thank the author for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this novel. With that being said, let's get into it:
I really don't have many complaints with this novel. It is one of the better ARCs I've ever read. There were a lot of grammatical errors, so it should be cleaned up a bit to make it better. There are just a few things and scenes I want to talk about.
-I know it can be a name, but I had a hard time getting behind the name Boston. I couldn't take it seriously as I was reading. No fault against the author, that's just my opinion.
-I thought one of the earlier scenes, when the character Caroline comes over to talk to Chandler for the first time, was incredibly awkward.
-There's a scene where Chandler and Reese are having a conversation that is private, but they are on a boat, and with friends, so it doesn't make a lot of sense that they are able to have a conversation privately on a boat with other people? How big is this boat? If they aren't on the boat, I didn't see it written that they had left the boat. Another confusing scene
-The book in general has moments where it moves quickly, leaving out scenes that would have been nice to read
-I didn't like how her brother accused her of dating the whole team without knowing the whole story. But with that being said, I loved it as well because it adds angst to the story which is always great. It keeps the plot moving, and the reader reading.
-The last thing that bothered me, but was also another great thing for the plot is the hypocrisy of Boston's character. He tells Chandler that he can't make a pass with her because he respects his friendship with Parker, and his relationship with her parents more than anything. She takes it with grace, knowing that her crush will go nowhere. Then after she has already gotten together with Reese, he decides to spill his feelings that he has always been into her, putting her into an awkward position of "who do I choose?". When she stays with Reese, he doesn't say it out loud, but holds resentment against her. Later in the story, when she is screwed over by Reese, she tries to discuss those feelings with Boston who pretty much blows her off, and makes her feel like shit for no reason.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book. The ending was great. I could almost guess where it was going, but I look forward to reading the next book.
I really don't have many complaints with this novel. It is one of the better ARCs I've ever read. There were a lot of grammatical errors, so it should be cleaned up a bit to make it better. There are just a few things and scenes I want to talk about.
-I know it can be a name, but I had a hard time getting behind the name Boston. I couldn't take it seriously as I was reading. No fault against the author, that's just my opinion.
-I thought one of the earlier scenes, when the character Caroline comes over to talk to Chandler for the first time, was incredibly awkward.
-There's a scene where Chandler and Reese are having a conversation that is private, but they are on a boat, and with friends, so it doesn't make a lot of sense that they are able to have a conversation privately on a boat with other people? How big is this boat? If they aren't on the boat, I didn't see it written that they had left the boat. Another confusing scene
-The book in general has moments where it moves quickly, leaving out scenes that would have been nice to read
-I didn't like how her brother accused her of dating the whole team without knowing the whole story. But with that being said, I loved it as well because it adds angst to the story which is always great. It keeps the plot moving, and the reader reading.
-The last thing that bothered me, but was also another great thing for the plot is the hypocrisy of Boston's character. He tells Chandler that he can't make a pass with her because he respects his friendship with Parker, and his relationship with her parents more than anything. She takes it with grace, knowing that her crush will go nowhere. Then after she has already gotten together with Reese, he decides to spill his feelings that he has always been into her, putting her into an awkward position of "who do I choose?". When she stays with Reese, he doesn't say it out loud, but holds resentment against her. Later in the story, when she is screwed over by Reese, she tries to discuss those feelings with Boston who pretty much blows her off, and makes her feel like shit for no reason.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book. The ending was great. I could almost guess where it was going, but I look forward to reading the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 🌶️🌶️
Coming of age stories are sometimes underrated. There is so many layers to peel back and explore. The excitement of really learning what love is, giving into feelings and urges you are finally ready for, and discovering more about who you are and what you want. Jess reminds readers of all of this in her book.
Chandler is our FMC who is comfortable with the dynamics between herself and her brother’s best friend. Although she has had a crush on him for years, she’s never acted on it. During the summer, the three of them stay in Bayside Lake where her brother, Parker, and his best friend, Boston, get to play baseball. She is excited to be going with them and maybe this will be the summer she finally acts on her feelings.
As she gets to know Bayside, she unknowingly meets Reese. Who just happens to be Boston’s rival. There is definite chemistry between her and Reese, which begins to bring out behaviors from Boston that are definitely not best friends little sister vibes. Does this mean that he feels for her what she does for him? As they relationship with Reese grows and deepens, Chandler is left with a choice.
Some people may see love triangle and immediately think this is not for them. Within this story, the love triangle speaks more about Chandler realizing what she wants in a relationship. She has always known Boston and their relationship is comfortable. She was able to grow into her feelings for him. Reese is someone she has an undeniable attraction too, but isn’t sure how to process those feelings. She doesn’t know him the same way she does Boston. There are three people’s hearts involved, but it’s written with class and stays true to the growing up Chandler is doing.
Jess delivers a beautiful coming of age story that leaves the reader wanting more. Not just because of the character development, but the revelation we are left with at the end of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing Jess grow and develop as an author as she continues to write amazing stories.
As always review trigger warnings before reading.
Tropes:
⚡️brother’s best friend
⚡️sports romance
⚡️teammate rivalry
⚡️small town romance
⚡️uncovered secrets
⚡️love triangle
Coming of age stories are sometimes underrated. There is so many layers to peel back and explore. The excitement of really learning what love is, giving into feelings and urges you are finally ready for, and discovering more about who you are and what you want. Jess reminds readers of all of this in her book.
Chandler is our FMC who is comfortable with the dynamics between herself and her brother’s best friend. Although she has had a crush on him for years, she’s never acted on it. During the summer, the three of them stay in Bayside Lake where her brother, Parker, and his best friend, Boston, get to play baseball. She is excited to be going with them and maybe this will be the summer she finally acts on her feelings.
As she gets to know Bayside, she unknowingly meets Reese. Who just happens to be Boston’s rival. There is definite chemistry between her and Reese, which begins to bring out behaviors from Boston that are definitely not best friends little sister vibes. Does this mean that he feels for her what she does for him? As they relationship with Reese grows and deepens, Chandler is left with a choice.
Some people may see love triangle and immediately think this is not for them. Within this story, the love triangle speaks more about Chandler realizing what she wants in a relationship. She has always known Boston and their relationship is comfortable. She was able to grow into her feelings for him. Reese is someone she has an undeniable attraction too, but isn’t sure how to process those feelings. She doesn’t know him the same way she does Boston. There are three people’s hearts involved, but it’s written with class and stays true to the growing up Chandler is doing.
Jess delivers a beautiful coming of age story that leaves the reader wanting more. Not just because of the character development, but the revelation we are left with at the end of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing Jess grow and develop as an author as she continues to write amazing stories.
As always review trigger warnings before reading.
Tropes:
⚡️brother’s best friend
⚡️sports romance
⚡️teammate rivalry
⚡️small town romance
⚡️uncovered secrets
⚡️love triangle
December 9, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
Stealing Summer is the first book in The Bayside Lake series that follows Chandler, Boston, and Reese in a love triangle. I adored this book and the cliffhanger that it ended on had my jaw on the floor!! This is Jess's debut book and she knocked it out of the park! I loved the love triangle aspect of it and I think it was done beautifully. I wish it was a dual POV but it was still so good!
Chandler, our FMC has known Boston since she was a little girl and grew up as next door neighbors. Boston became best friends with Chandler's older brother Parker. Chandler thought of Boston as a friend as well but as time went on she realized she also has a crush on him.
Boston and Parker play baseball college and are headed to Bayside, NC for summer baseball playing with the Blue Devils. They all go to Bayside for summer and stay at Boston’s mother’s house and they are all excited for this opportunity, except Boston and Parker's rival, Reese who plays on the Blue Devils.
Reese is the wealthy, gets whatever he wants, bad boy pitcher that always causes trouble especially with Boston. After Chandler’s and Reese’s first meeting where she doesn’t know who he is and she thinks he is hot but tells him she doesn’t like Reese and she doesn’t even know who he is during this meeting!
Chandler feels a connection towards Reese from the first time she met him and even with her actively trying to keep away from him she cannot. She is hesitant to pursue this connection because of everything she has heard about Reese from both Boston and Parker. This connection keeps getting stronger and more happens between Chandler and Reese but there is still Boston and her feelings towards him as well.
As the story unravels between these three you learn of new feelings, a huge secret that could bring everything tumbling down and the end of the season ball that changes everything between Boston and Chandler. Boston finally admits his feelings to Chandler and that it was always her and he always wanted her and nobody else.
Who will Chandler choose? Are secrets better off being locked away? Or will Boston find out why Reese really dislikes him and it’s not just about Chandler?
Find out in book 2 coming December 13th!
🌶️
Stealing Summer is the first book in The Bayside Lake series that follows Chandler, Boston, and Reese in a love triangle. I adored this book and the cliffhanger that it ended on had my jaw on the floor!! This is Jess's debut book and she knocked it out of the park! I loved the love triangle aspect of it and I think it was done beautifully. I wish it was a dual POV but it was still so good!
Chandler, our FMC has known Boston since she was a little girl and grew up as next door neighbors. Boston became best friends with Chandler's older brother Parker. Chandler thought of Boston as a friend as well but as time went on she realized she also has a crush on him.
Boston and Parker play baseball college and are headed to Bayside, NC for summer baseball playing with the Blue Devils. They all go to Bayside for summer and stay at Boston’s mother’s house and they are all excited for this opportunity, except Boston and Parker's rival, Reese who plays on the Blue Devils.
Reese is the wealthy, gets whatever he wants, bad boy pitcher that always causes trouble especially with Boston. After Chandler’s and Reese’s first meeting where she doesn’t know who he is and she thinks he is hot but tells him she doesn’t like Reese and she doesn’t even know who he is during this meeting!
Chandler feels a connection towards Reese from the first time she met him and even with her actively trying to keep away from him she cannot. She is hesitant to pursue this connection because of everything she has heard about Reese from both Boston and Parker. This connection keeps getting stronger and more happens between Chandler and Reese but there is still Boston and her feelings towards him as well.
As the story unravels between these three you learn of new feelings, a huge secret that could bring everything tumbling down and the end of the season ball that changes everything between Boston and Chandler. Boston finally admits his feelings to Chandler and that it was always her and he always wanted her and nobody else.
Who will Chandler choose? Are secrets better off being locked away? Or will Boston find out why Reese really dislikes him and it’s not just about Chandler?
Find out in book 2 coming December 13th!
June 20, 2024
Such a great summer read
I absolutely adore this book. I am now a fan of this author and will read whatever she writes.
Chandler is the FMC and she has known Boston since she was a little girl. He became best friends with her brother Parker and is always around. She thought of him as a friend too but has also had a crush on him since she met him.
Boston and Parker play baseball in college where they all go and they also all go to Bayside for the summer and stay at a house Boston's mom owns. The guys get asked to play with the Bayside Blue Devils there and are excited except Boston's rival, Reese, plays there too.
Reese is the wealthy bad boy pitcher that seems to always cause trouble especially with Boston. When Chandler runs into a guy while looking at a trophy with Reese's name on it, she tells him she's not a fan of Reese, but thinks this guy she's talking to is insanely hot. When she sees him later, she asks her new friend Willow who he is, she finds out it's Reese.
Chandler is drawn to Reese and they end up running into each other at his party. There's a connection there but she's hesitant because of Boston and things she's heard about him. More happens between the two of them and there's an undeniable chemistry there but there's still lingering feelings for Boston.
Will Chandler and Reese be able to be together or will there be reasons they don't? Will Chandler be able to get over Boston or will Boston feel the same for her? What is going on between Boston and Reese and why do they seem to hate each other? Need to read this and see. Not all questions answered because that cliffhanger was brutal. Can't wait til next book!
I absolutely adore this book. I am now a fan of this author and will read whatever she writes.
Chandler is the FMC and she has known Boston since she was a little girl. He became best friends with her brother Parker and is always around. She thought of him as a friend too but has also had a crush on him since she met him.
Boston and Parker play baseball in college where they all go and they also all go to Bayside for the summer and stay at a house Boston's mom owns. The guys get asked to play with the Bayside Blue Devils there and are excited except Boston's rival, Reese, plays there too.
Reese is the wealthy bad boy pitcher that seems to always cause trouble especially with Boston. When Chandler runs into a guy while looking at a trophy with Reese's name on it, she tells him she's not a fan of Reese, but thinks this guy she's talking to is insanely hot. When she sees him later, she asks her new friend Willow who he is, she finds out it's Reese.
Chandler is drawn to Reese and they end up running into each other at his party. There's a connection there but she's hesitant because of Boston and things she's heard about him. More happens between the two of them and there's an undeniable chemistry there but there's still lingering feelings for Boston.
Will Chandler and Reese be able to be together or will there be reasons they don't? Will Chandler be able to get over Boston or will Boston feel the same for her? What is going on between Boston and Reese and why do they seem to hate each other? Need to read this and see. Not all questions answered because that cliffhanger was brutal. Can't wait til next book!
Read
May 27, 2024Stealing Summer by Jess Bryson is a charming romance that captures the essence of a small-town summer love triangle. The story revolves around Chandler, a performer who shines on stage but struggles with her own love life. Her world turns upside down when she finds herself caught between two rival athletes, Boston and Reese.
Chandler's childhood crush on Boston, her next-door neighbor and her brother's best friend, brings a sweet and nostalgic element to the story. Boston's passion for baseball and his kind nature have always drawn Chandler in. However, the arrival of Reese, the bad boy determined to shake things up, adds an exciting twist to her summer.
The book is filled with some favorite romance tropes, like the brother's best friend and childhood crush, making it an enjoyable and familiar read. The tension and chemistry between the characters are well-crafted, and Chandler's struggle to choose between Boston and Reese keeps the reader engaged. The story also explores the theme of self-discovery, as Chandler is forced to confront her true desires amidst the unfolding drama.
One minor downside is that Chandler's strong feelings for Boston feel somewhat sudden, as if some of their backstory was missing. Despite this, the book remains an engaging and delightful read. It's worth noting that Stealing Summer ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.
Chandler's childhood crush on Boston, her next-door neighbor and her brother's best friend, brings a sweet and nostalgic element to the story. Boston's passion for baseball and his kind nature have always drawn Chandler in. However, the arrival of Reese, the bad boy determined to shake things up, adds an exciting twist to her summer.
The book is filled with some favorite romance tropes, like the brother's best friend and childhood crush, making it an enjoyable and familiar read. The tension and chemistry between the characters are well-crafted, and Chandler's struggle to choose between Boston and Reese keeps the reader engaged. The story also explores the theme of self-discovery, as Chandler is forced to confront her true desires amidst the unfolding drama.
One minor downside is that Chandler's strong feelings for Boston feel somewhat sudden, as if some of their backstory was missing. Despite this, the book remains an engaging and delightful read. It's worth noting that Stealing Summer ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment.
June 15, 2024
☀️ WHAT TO EXPECT: ☀️
✨ Brother’s best friend
💙 Childhood crush
✨ Sports (baseball) romance
💙 Love triangle
✨ Summer romance
💙 Small town romance
✨ Fun side characters
💙 Mildly spicy
✨ Teammate rivalry
💙 Uncovered secrets
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice: 🌶️ / 5
Thoughts 💭:
What an amazing debut!!! I loved this book so much and thoroughly enjoyed reading it! This was such a cute romance novel. I just couldn’t stop reading it.. it was soooooo gooodddd!! It was a perfect read for me and I’m already looking forward to re-reading it during summers.
There’s honestly nothing bad about this book except for the fact that we have to be waiting for next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it! Everything was really amazing; the plot, the main characters, the side characters, the storyline, the chemistry and tension between the characters!
When I first heard that it had love triangle trope (which I’m not quite fond of), I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not but someone else who read it told me that the love triangle was very The Vampire Diaries coded (not entirely), I knew I’m gonna fell in love with this book! And I know many people have same thoughts about this trope but I’d really encourage them to read it and I’d like to know their perspective as well!
This book is official out now and you guys better RUNNNN to grab this book! I’m not even kidding. This is SO.DAMN.GOOD!!
✨ Brother’s best friend
💙 Childhood crush
✨ Sports (baseball) romance
💙 Love triangle
✨ Summer romance
💙 Small town romance
✨ Fun side characters
💙 Mildly spicy
✨ Teammate rivalry
💙 Uncovered secrets
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice: 🌶️ / 5
Thoughts 💭:
What an amazing debut!!! I loved this book so much and thoroughly enjoyed reading it! This was such a cute romance novel. I just couldn’t stop reading it.. it was soooooo gooodddd!! It was a perfect read for me and I’m already looking forward to re-reading it during summers.
There’s honestly nothing bad about this book except for the fact that we have to be waiting for next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it! Everything was really amazing; the plot, the main characters, the side characters, the storyline, the chemistry and tension between the characters!
When I first heard that it had love triangle trope (which I’m not quite fond of), I wasn’t sure if I’d like it or not but someone else who read it told me that the love triangle was very The Vampire Diaries coded (not entirely), I knew I’m gonna fell in love with this book! And I know many people have same thoughts about this trope but I’d really encourage them to read it and I’d like to know their perspective as well!
This book is official out now and you guys better RUNNNN to grab this book! I’m not even kidding. This is SO.DAMN.GOOD!!
October 21, 2024
Over all I gave this a 4 star! My five stars are normally my by far favorite books, or has big potential to be a favorite.
This book was such a cute and easy read, I found it simple to get through and not too much repetition in the writing. The characters were cute and I loved the details on each of them and the small backstory on each. I am a sucker for small town romance, and the baseball was such a plus for me as I relate to this on a personal level so I enjoy it so much more! Love triangles are always fun, so getting to pick a team is just fun and getting to know each character in the triangle gives the book a cute and fun part to keep you invested in the book.
NOW SPOILER ALERT:
I hate that I saw the ending coming from a mile away! It was good but I truly expected it. When Boston's mom refused to go to this small town to watch her son play, I was already feeling a bit fishy. BUT what gave it away for me was when she finally came to the game and made the comment about Reese playing good it locked in my suspicion. BUT as someone who always looks for the big plot twist at the end, I was already trying to figure it out. I feel like a typical reader may not catch onto that small bit and I applaud the author for throwing in these subtle hints because looking back if I were not paying close attention, and expecting a cliff hanger ending, I would have not known!
All in all, this is a great book and such an easy and adorable read - also team Reese hehe
This book was such a cute and easy read, I found it simple to get through and not too much repetition in the writing. The characters were cute and I loved the details on each of them and the small backstory on each. I am a sucker for small town romance, and the baseball was such a plus for me as I relate to this on a personal level so I enjoy it so much more! Love triangles are always fun, so getting to pick a team is just fun and getting to know each character in the triangle gives the book a cute and fun part to keep you invested in the book.
NOW SPOILER ALERT:
I hate that I saw the ending coming from a mile away! It was good but I truly expected it. When Boston's mom refused to go to this small town to watch her son play, I was already feeling a bit fishy. BUT what gave it away for me was when she finally came to the game and made the comment about Reese playing good it locked in my suspicion. BUT as someone who always looks for the big plot twist at the end, I was already trying to figure it out. I feel like a typical reader may not catch onto that small bit and I applaud the author for throwing in these subtle hints because looking back if I were not paying close attention, and expecting a cliff hanger ending, I would have not known!
All in all, this is a great book and such an easy and adorable read - also team Reese hehe
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2024
the temperature isn’t the only thing heating up this summer!!
Chandler Hartford has finished her first year of college and now is ready to enjoy the summer with her brother Parker & friend Boston. 2 hours later they arrived in Bayside, where the boys would get to play in with some of the most coveted baseball players. Life would be perfect this summer. Until Chandler catches the eye of baseball royalty and the boys biggest rival, Reese Carrington. & their friendship starts to blossom into a summer fling only seen in the movies. Although Chandler always had eyes for Boston, she felt she could finally move past it. Until the right before the town ball, Boston decides now is the time to say it was always her, he wanted…
Who will Chandler choose? Are some secrets better left unopened? Or will Boston find out why there is soo much tension between him & Reese, that isn’t just about Chandler?
📚 Small Town / Summer Romance
📚 Baseball
📚 Love Triangle
📚 Brothers Rival
📚 Brother’s Best Friend
📚 Book 1 - Ends on a Cliff Hanger
📚 Single POV
This is my first Jess Bryson read and oh my gosh!!!! This was giving Say You Swear vibes but in its own way. Like I read this so quickly because I couldn’t put it down!! It’s definitely a YA read, so super appropriate for a younger crowd. I did not expect to be left hanging when the cliffhanger appeared 😱
Chandler Hartford has finished her first year of college and now is ready to enjoy the summer with her brother Parker & friend Boston. 2 hours later they arrived in Bayside, where the boys would get to play in with some of the most coveted baseball players. Life would be perfect this summer. Until Chandler catches the eye of baseball royalty and the boys biggest rival, Reese Carrington. & their friendship starts to blossom into a summer fling only seen in the movies. Although Chandler always had eyes for Boston, she felt she could finally move past it. Until the right before the town ball, Boston decides now is the time to say it was always her, he wanted…
Who will Chandler choose? Are some secrets better left unopened? Or will Boston find out why there is soo much tension between him & Reese, that isn’t just about Chandler?
📚 Small Town / Summer Romance
📚 Baseball
📚 Love Triangle
📚 Brothers Rival
📚 Brother’s Best Friend
📚 Book 1 - Ends on a Cliff Hanger
📚 Single POV
This is my first Jess Bryson read and oh my gosh!!!! This was giving Say You Swear vibes but in its own way. Like I read this so quickly because I couldn’t put it down!! It’s definitely a YA read, so super appropriate for a younger crowd. I did not expect to be left hanging when the cliffhanger appeared 😱
May 24, 2024
I loved this book! I devoured it in 1 night, I just could not put it down! This was a suuuuper cute summer romance/love triangle book, between Chandler, her brothers best friend Boston (her childhood crush) and Reese, the guys enemy/ team "jerk". The brother and his best friend play baseball and they, along with Chandler spend the summer break from collage at Bayside Lake where they hope to catch they eyes of agents who will hopefully pick them to be drafted. They just so happen to be playing on the same team as their rival Reese Carrington, who has always had it out for the boys, especially Boston. Chandler navigates the summer holidays cheering on for her brother and childhood crush as well as trying to figure out why the enemy has taken a new interest in her.
I had so many thoughts going back and forth trying to decide who I was rooting for to get the girl and by the end of the book, I STILL can't decide!
I loved the chemistry throughout the book and the drama that ensued between all the characters. There was a big plot twist (and cliffhanger) on the very last chapter that has me begging for more!
I had so many thoughts going back and forth trying to decide who I was rooting for to get the girl and by the end of the book, I STILL can't decide!
I loved the chemistry throughout the book and the drama that ensued between all the characters. There was a big plot twist (and cliffhanger) on the very last chapter that has me begging for more!
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