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Summer in a Bottle
Dumped by her fiance, upon returning to her coastal North Carolina home town, Lyla Dune opens the time capsule she buried the summer after high school. As events from that past summer are seemingly recreated in the present, Lyla must confront her past regrets in the hope of creating a brighter future. THis moving tale of self-acceptance with a thread of romance by bestselling author Annie Rains is perfect for fans of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle.
In this tender, uplifting novel, a young woman returns to her North Carolina hometown hoping to make new memories, but finds history repeating itself—literally . . .
Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, she finds a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
Praise for Annie Rains’ The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
“Hits it out of the park with all the feels . . . 100% recommend!” —Jeanette Escudero, author of The Apology Project
“Magic shines in the pages.” —Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe
“A hint of magic and a heaping of friendship . . . I love this charming book!” —Tif Marcelo, USA Today bestselling author of When Jasmine Blooms
In this tender, uplifting novel, a young woman returns to her North Carolina hometown hoping to make new memories, but finds history repeating itself—literally . . .
Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, she finds a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
Praise for Annie Rains’ The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
“Hits it out of the park with all the feels . . . 100% recommend!” —Jeanette Escudero, author of The Apology Project
“Magic shines in the pages.” —Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe
“A hint of magic and a heaping of friendship . . . I love this charming book!” —Tif Marcelo, USA Today bestselling author of When Jasmine Blooms
321 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
30 people are currently reading
6209 people want to read
About the author
Annie Rains
43 books1,496 followersAnnie Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America's largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn't writing, she's spending time with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.
If you enjoyed the Hero's Welcome series, don't miss the short wedding story for Kat and Micah (Welcome to Forever). Get it here for FREE: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/aTSl1
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If you enjoyed the Hero's Welcome series, don't miss the short wedding story for Kat and Micah (Welcome to Forever). Get it here for FREE: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/aTSl1
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 30, 2025
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3.5 Stars
This is my fourth read by the author, and they were all three or four stars. I loved Through the Snow Globe and The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle and The Finders Keepers Library was pretty good as well. I am happy to say this is closer to the loved side.
This was such a heartwarming and sweet story. I love realistic contemporary romances, especially ones that take place in small southern towns. In this story, our main character, Lyla Dune, goes back to her hometown after her fiancé dumps her. When she gets there, she finds she is living her last summer home over (and over) again. I loved how the author seamlessly weaves together many themes like second chances, self-discovery and the overwhelming power of friendship, to name but a few.
As our main character tries to get through the repetition of living in the past, I never once felt bored; it was repetitive, but it didn't feel that way. The author showed this skill in her book Through the Snow Globe as well. She manages to keep it fresh. The best part of the book, in my humble opinion, is Lyla realizing her love for her best friend, Travis. Both characters were utterly charming and relatable. I was cheering them on and willing them together. I was so happy when Lyla found the strength to go after what she wants and tries to change her destiny.
Echo Cove, I want to live there! Small towns are so alluring to this big city gal. The graphic descriptions and sense of sentimentality, and Lyla reminiscing, will get to anyone who has wished they could change something about their past or has a "The One Who Got Away". The magical realism doesn't hit you over the head, and it adds a little something extra to your typical friends-to-lovers romance. Overall, I found this an amusing read, and it left a smile on my face long after I turned the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
This is my fourth read by the author, and they were all three or four stars. I loved Through the Snow Globe and The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle and The Finders Keepers Library was pretty good as well. I am happy to say this is closer to the loved side.
This was such a heartwarming and sweet story. I love realistic contemporary romances, especially ones that take place in small southern towns. In this story, our main character, Lyla Dune, goes back to her hometown after her fiancé dumps her. When she gets there, she finds she is living her last summer home over (and over) again. I loved how the author seamlessly weaves together many themes like second chances, self-discovery and the overwhelming power of friendship, to name but a few.
As our main character tries to get through the repetition of living in the past, I never once felt bored; it was repetitive, but it didn't feel that way. The author showed this skill in her book Through the Snow Globe as well. She manages to keep it fresh. The best part of the book, in my humble opinion, is Lyla realizing her love for her best friend, Travis. Both characters were utterly charming and relatable. I was cheering them on and willing them together. I was so happy when Lyla found the strength to go after what she wants and tries to change her destiny.
Echo Cove, I want to live there! Small towns are so alluring to this big city gal. The graphic descriptions and sense of sentimentality, and Lyla reminiscing, will get to anyone who has wished they could change something about their past or has a "The One Who Got Away". The magical realism doesn't hit you over the head, and it adds a little something extra to your typical friends-to-lovers romance. Overall, I found this an amusing read, and it left a smile on my face long after I turned the last page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 25, 2025
Blurb:
“Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, past memories lead her to a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.”
The Plot: I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the small-town vibes and the friendships, but on the other hand, I was underwhelmed by the romance and the plot. At first, I thought it was going to be one of those stories where the main character wants a do-over after they realize they messed up their past and, with the help of some magic, they get that chance and fix the mistakes they made. But I guess I forgot what the book was actually about because that didn’t happen. 😂 It was still fun to see how past events were integrated into the present so Lyla can fix her mistakes. As I said, there were things I liked. Echo Cove sounds like a cute place to live, and the people there seemed to be pretty cool. And I liked the summer bucket lists Travis and Lyla did as kids. That part was cute. I also rooted for Lyla when she wanted to make amends with her friends and neighbors after bailing on them when she turned eighteen. Okay. Maybe not bail on them because it’s her life, but she did seem like a selfish person. I’ll get into more of that later. But everything else seemed…unnecessary. A lot of the situations the characters got themselves into wouldn’t have happened if they did this wonderful thing that we call communication. It’s not that hard. And the romance? It seemed like Lyla and Travis let their hormones act instead of their brains or hearts. They needed to talk things over before they got into each other’s beds. (It’s a closed-door romance, in case you were wondering, and it’s something I appreciate.) Anyway, it wasn’t swoon-worthy or cute because of the characters, which brings me to my next point.
The Characters: Where do I begin? I tried to feel sympathetic toward Lyla and her situation, and I did for the most part, but she continued to give me examples as to why I find her exasperating. This might be a bit of a spoiler but her boyfriend cheated on her and, man, that sucks. No one should have to go through the pain of finding out that their partner is being unfaithful. Besides, he was a crappy boyfriend. I’m glad she found out before their relationship escalated. However, that does not mean that Lyla could make everyone else’s lives miserable just because her life was. You are the captain of your own ship, and if it’s heading toward destruction, it is on you to steer your ship away from danger. A lot of the consequences she dealt with were either because of her selfishness, fear, or her own warped thinking that you can’t have the best of both worlds, of having love and a dream. I kinda blame her mom for that because it seemed like she made a point of telling Lyla that she chose her and her dad over a dream, and that you can’t have both, which scared Lyla and caused her to do what she did, which she regretted. Sometimes parents try to help, and I love them for it, but not all advice is helpful advice. They unintentionally instill fear in their kids that they will make the same mistakes. Keep your regrets to yourself, please, or keep them to a minimum.😂 Anyways, I liked Travis and his willingness to let Lyla come and break his heart again. He was just too understanding, which is a fantastic quality, but the poor guy had already been through enough as a kid, and now this grown woman is playing games with him because she doesn’t know what she wants? It’s funny. Lyla was afraid of being heartbroken when she was the one who was breaking hearts. Goodness gracious, girl. I’m trying to like you. I’m trying, but the more I think about it, the more I can’t stand you. 😅 Maybe I'm just being too harsh. But hey. At least everyone else in town was pretty cool. Small towns are the best. 🤗
The Writing: I know it wasn’t the author’s intention to make me dislike the FMC, but if you can make me feel a certain way about a character, whether it be good or bad, then you are good at what you do.😆 Therefore, Annie Rains is good at what she does. I did feel that the story dragged just a little bit, but it flowed well, it was engaging, and the message she was conveying about not being afraid to do what you love with the people you love was a great reminder for me to just shut up and do it. I intend to read more of her books in the future, hoping to find a favorite. ☺
Overall Thoughts: I think I said enough. The cover is cute, the romance wasn’t that cute, and the story was kind of disappointing. If Annie Rains weren’t such a good writer, I wouldn’t have finished it. But don’t let my rambling dissuade you from reading the book. I think you might like it, and I honestly hope you do. So I recommend it if you like second-chance, friends-to-lovers romances that take place in a small town. ❤
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
Pub Date: 04/29/25
#SummerinaBottle #NetGalley
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.”
The Plot: I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the small-town vibes and the friendships, but on the other hand, I was underwhelmed by the romance and the plot. At first, I thought it was going to be one of those stories where the main character wants a do-over after they realize they messed up their past and, with the help of some magic, they get that chance and fix the mistakes they made. But I guess I forgot what the book was actually about because that didn’t happen. 😂 It was still fun to see how past events were integrated into the present so Lyla can fix her mistakes. As I said, there were things I liked. Echo Cove sounds like a cute place to live, and the people there seemed to be pretty cool. And I liked the summer bucket lists Travis and Lyla did as kids. That part was cute. I also rooted for Lyla when she wanted to make amends with her friends and neighbors after bailing on them when she turned eighteen. Okay. Maybe not bail on them because it’s her life, but she did seem like a selfish person. I’ll get into more of that later. But everything else seemed…unnecessary. A lot of the situations the characters got themselves into wouldn’t have happened if they did this wonderful thing that we call communication. It’s not that hard. And the romance? It seemed like Lyla and Travis let their hormones act instead of their brains or hearts. They needed to talk things over before they got into each other’s beds. (It’s a closed-door romance, in case you were wondering, and it’s something I appreciate.) Anyway, it wasn’t swoon-worthy or cute because of the characters, which brings me to my next point.
The Characters: Where do I begin? I tried to feel sympathetic toward Lyla and her situation, and I did for the most part, but she continued to give me examples as to why I find her exasperating. This might be a bit of a spoiler but her boyfriend cheated on her and, man, that sucks. No one should have to go through the pain of finding out that their partner is being unfaithful. Besides, he was a crappy boyfriend. I’m glad she found out before their relationship escalated. However, that does not mean that Lyla could make everyone else’s lives miserable just because her life was. You are the captain of your own ship, and if it’s heading toward destruction, it is on you to steer your ship away from danger. A lot of the consequences she dealt with were either because of her selfishness, fear, or her own warped thinking that you can’t have the best of both worlds, of having love and a dream. I kinda blame her mom for that because it seemed like she made a point of telling Lyla that she chose her and her dad over a dream, and that you can’t have both, which scared Lyla and caused her to do what she did, which she regretted. Sometimes parents try to help, and I love them for it, but not all advice is helpful advice. They unintentionally instill fear in their kids that they will make the same mistakes. Keep your regrets to yourself, please, or keep them to a minimum.😂 Anyways, I liked Travis and his willingness to let Lyla come and break his heart again. He was just too understanding, which is a fantastic quality, but the poor guy had already been through enough as a kid, and now this grown woman is playing games with him because she doesn’t know what she wants? It’s funny. Lyla was afraid of being heartbroken when she was the one who was breaking hearts. Goodness gracious, girl. I’m trying to like you. I’m trying, but the more I think about it, the more I can’t stand you. 😅 Maybe I'm just being too harsh. But hey. At least everyone else in town was pretty cool. Small towns are the best. 🤗
The Writing: I know it wasn’t the author’s intention to make me dislike the FMC, but if you can make me feel a certain way about a character, whether it be good or bad, then you are good at what you do.😆 Therefore, Annie Rains is good at what she does. I did feel that the story dragged just a little bit, but it flowed well, it was engaging, and the message she was conveying about not being afraid to do what you love with the people you love was a great reminder for me to just shut up and do it. I intend to read more of her books in the future, hoping to find a favorite. ☺
Overall Thoughts: I think I said enough. The cover is cute, the romance wasn’t that cute, and the story was kind of disappointing. If Annie Rains weren’t such a good writer, I wouldn’t have finished it. But don’t let my rambling dissuade you from reading the book. I think you might like it, and I honestly hope you do. So I recommend it if you like second-chance, friends-to-lovers romances that take place in a small town. ❤
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
Pub Date: 04/29/25
#SummerinaBottle #NetGalley
June 11, 2025
Adorable!!! Annie Rains just continues to be one of my favorite story tellers. She has a way of crafting a romance that’s sweet, yet real and I so appreciate that.
Lyla returning to her hometown on the heels of a breakup turns out to be everything she didn’t know she needed. New friends, old enemies, a pinch of magic, and a best friend she left behind all create the perfect summer.
The town of Echo Cove is so cute and I hope the author gives us more from it! Allison, perhaps?? 🤞🏼
Lyla returning to her hometown on the heels of a breakup turns out to be everything she didn’t know she needed. New friends, old enemies, a pinch of magic, and a best friend she left behind all create the perfect summer.
The town of Echo Cove is so cute and I hope the author gives us more from it! Allison, perhaps?? 🤞🏼
April 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARc of this book.
Go ahead and skip this book. It started off promising. I liked the characters, it was lighthearted; it drew me in. Halfway through, I was counting down the pages til I was done. It got so repetitive, so predictable, and in all honestly, just ridiculous. There are only so many times that a character can be told something or wonder something themselves before the reader starts to scream at them that it’s just too obvious for this to be possible. In this case, after both main characters admit that they like each other currently as well as liking each other in the past, and having all surrounding characters mention it, it’s ridiculous for the main character to still be unsure. I get that the author wants to draw us in with their love story, but they drew it out way too long. It was too much, and I hated this book by the end. Also, what was with the magical elements? They were sprinkled in randomly, and they didn’t add anything to the story.
Go ahead and skip this book. It started off promising. I liked the characters, it was lighthearted; it drew me in. Halfway through, I was counting down the pages til I was done. It got so repetitive, so predictable, and in all honestly, just ridiculous. There are only so many times that a character can be told something or wonder something themselves before the reader starts to scream at them that it’s just too obvious for this to be possible. In this case, after both main characters admit that they like each other currently as well as liking each other in the past, and having all surrounding characters mention it, it’s ridiculous for the main character to still be unsure. I get that the author wants to draw us in with their love story, but they drew it out way too long. It was too much, and I hated this book by the end. Also, what was with the magical elements? They were sprinkled in randomly, and they didn’t add anything to the story.
January 12, 2025
ARC read - 5/5⭐️ I don’t give 5 stars to romance books often, but this one pleasantly surprised me! I loved everything about this book. This second chance romance story follows Lyla, who revisits her hometown and reconnects with old friends and new. There wasn’t a dull moment, the pacing of the story was on point. Highly recommend reading this book when it comes out on April 29, 2025! Thank you to Annie Rains and Kensington publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read this early!
December 24, 2024
Lyla es escritora de una famosa columna, está comprometida y es exitosa; todo parece irle bien hasta que rompe con su novio y, además, debe regresar a su pueblo natal, aquel lugar del que no podía esperar para escapar, para ayudar a vender la casa familiar. Al estar allí, se reencuentra con viejos compañeros de clase y con su ex mejor amigo por quien tuvo un enamoramientosecreto, Travis.
El libro fue entretenido, pero hubo partes que me costaron debido al snobismo de Lyla. Me gustó la parte de la cápsula del tiempo y que se repitieran ciertos eventos; me hubiera gustado que se hubiera enfocado más en esa parte.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
El libro fue entretenido, pero hubo partes que me costaron debido al snobismo de Lyla. Me gustó la parte de la cápsula del tiempo y que se repitieran ciertos eventos; me hubiera gustado que se hubiera enfocado más en esa parte.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2025
Points for being clean fiction with no swearing, sex scenes, or forced-in diversity checklist bingo.
On the flip side, not super inspiring or moving. Great for a breezy summer day by the pool with mimosas, however.
Light romance. (Almost second chance style.) Lovely female friendships. Not much “real” backstory. a happy-ending tale.
-Desiree Reads
October 25, 2025
On the flip side, not super inspiring or moving. Great for a breezy summer day by the pool with mimosas, however.
Light romance. (Almost second chance style.) Lovely female friendships. Not much “real” backstory. a happy-ending tale.
-Desiree Reads
October 25, 2025
January 6, 2025
Summer in a Bottle was an entertaining read which focused on second chances, regrets, evaluating what’s important, overcoming fears, misconceptions, friendship, and moving on. The story fast-paced and kept me engaged. There was angst, joy, frustration, and plenty of emotion. This is a fun read and I had trouble putting it down.
April 26, 2025
It was cute?! I usually do love a small town story with a nice friendship but I kept thinking the main character was early twenties not thirty 😂 ~but who am I to judge~
February 26, 2025
First of all, I loved this book!
There is a teenage girl, Lyla, who lives in a small town and has a dream of becoming a writer. To make her dream come true, she leaves everything behind at the end of the summer after high school graduation, including her best friend, Travis, and never looks back. Twelve years later, she returns to the town to help sell her parents' house, and her journey of self-discovery begins.
It is a warm and also sad story. You will find happiness, sadness, regret, dear friends, friendship, second chances, broken hearts, right and wrong choices, loss, grief, a little bit of magic and love. And you will also find much to encourage you. The opinions are meaningful, emotional and also amusing. Some of them made me laugh out loud.
I highly recommend you to give it a chance, it will put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a teenage girl, Lyla, who lives in a small town and has a dream of becoming a writer. To make her dream come true, she leaves everything behind at the end of the summer after high school graduation, including her best friend, Travis, and never looks back. Twelve years later, she returns to the town to help sell her parents' house, and her journey of self-discovery begins.
It is a warm and also sad story. You will find happiness, sadness, regret, dear friends, friendship, second chances, broken hearts, right and wrong choices, loss, grief, a little bit of magic and love. And you will also find much to encourage you. The opinions are meaningful, emotional and also amusing. Some of them made me laugh out loud.
I highly recommend you to give it a chance, it will put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2025
It was enjoyable. Travis was a consistent and encouraging MMC. The story kind of dragged along and the timeline was fuzzy like was it days or weeks or months? But that’s mainly an editing issue. Lyla trudged through the lesson we knew from page one she needed to learn. It was actually a little annoying how she just kept bumbling along… anyways it was an easy read with feel good vibes. I guess I just prefer to feel more emotional attachment in a book.
May 19, 2025
What a cute story!
It pulled on my heartstrings for sure.
Second chance love possibilities???
I loved the chemistry between Lyla and Travis.
I love small town stories♥️
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
It pulled on my heartstrings for sure.
Second chance love possibilities???
I loved the chemistry between Lyla and Travis.
I love small town stories♥️
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 5, 2025
DNF- I got halfway through and just couldn’t go on. I feel like it was written for middle schoolers. The characters were so ridiculously juvenile. I have no idea how this got a decent rating.
June 10, 2025
A cute, magical romance.
May 9, 2025
Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, she finds a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
*Thank you to the publisher, Kensington for providing me with ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own *
Heartwarming.
There's something about Annie Rains' books. I've read several of her works, and not one of them has failed to captivate me. When I saw Summer In The Bottle, I knew I wanted to check it out. The author and title were what drew me in, and I was eager to read it. As I began reading Summer In The Bottle I knew I was in trouble since I couldn't put down the book. If I weren't on a trip to Disney with my grandma, I would probably spend the entire day reading the book. I had a sense I'd adore this novel, but I wasn't expecting to fall in love. There was so much to enjoy about this book, including the plot, the characters, and everything the characters had to go through, particularly Lyla. Every page drew me into the story more, making me wonder what would happen next. I should know how much this story would affect me.
I adored the friendship that she developed with Allison. I know that she was hesitant at first, but I’m glad that she gave her a chance. At first, just like Lyla, I wasn’t sure about Allison but it didn’t take me long to change my mind about her. She ended up becoming one of my favorite characters. Allison, I believe, was the type of friend Lyla needed. I enjoyed reading the opinions from Lyla at the beginning of each chapter. Each one had me wondering which opinion would come next. Lyla, of all the characters in the book, had the most character growth by the end. I admired how confident she grew and how clear her goals were. I do believe that both Allison and Travis helped her with that.
I love the idea of a time capsule. I have read about those before, and they always fascinated me. I loved Travis and Lyla, and the way that the two of them seemed to connect. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with them next. There wasn’t a single dull moment in this book. Each page had me craving for more. I would highly recommend picking this book up! I’m eager to see what Annie Rains has in store for us next!
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
*Thank you to the publisher, Kensington for providing me with ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own *
Heartwarming.
There's something about Annie Rains' books. I've read several of her works, and not one of them has failed to captivate me. When I saw Summer In The Bottle, I knew I wanted to check it out. The author and title were what drew me in, and I was eager to read it. As I began reading Summer In The Bottle I knew I was in trouble since I couldn't put down the book. If I weren't on a trip to Disney with my grandma, I would probably spend the entire day reading the book. I had a sense I'd adore this novel, but I wasn't expecting to fall in love. There was so much to enjoy about this book, including the plot, the characters, and everything the characters had to go through, particularly Lyla. Every page drew me into the story more, making me wonder what would happen next. I should know how much this story would affect me.
I adored the friendship that she developed with Allison. I know that she was hesitant at first, but I’m glad that she gave her a chance. At first, just like Lyla, I wasn’t sure about Allison but it didn’t take me long to change my mind about her. She ended up becoming one of my favorite characters. Allison, I believe, was the type of friend Lyla needed. I enjoyed reading the opinions from Lyla at the beginning of each chapter. Each one had me wondering which opinion would come next. Lyla, of all the characters in the book, had the most character growth by the end. I admired how confident she grew and how clear her goals were. I do believe that both Allison and Travis helped her with that.
I love the idea of a time capsule. I have read about those before, and they always fascinated me. I loved Travis and Lyla, and the way that the two of them seemed to connect. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with them next. There wasn’t a single dull moment in this book. Each page had me craving for more. I would highly recommend picking this book up! I’m eager to see what Annie Rains has in store for us next!
April 19, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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In this tender, uplifting novel for fans of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle, a young woman returns to her North Carolina hometown hoping to make new memories, but finds history repeating itself—literally . . .
Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, past memories lead her to a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
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Annie Rains is always good for an enjoyable story that offers plenty of romance but much more than that, and her newest offering is no different. Lyla finds herself back home, a little bit down on her luck and at loose ends, and she isn't sure how she will be received. She has burned some bridges, and she is feeling some trepidation about reconnecting with the people of her past. And then she finds herself experiencing some major déjà vu.
This is a fun book, with a little bit of magic thrown in. There are some more serious plot points (CW: child loss), but for the most part, I found it be very uplifting. The central romance plot is satisfying, and even more satisfying for me was the strong theme of second chances and women's friendships. As we head into summer, this book is the perfect read for anyone who has ever wondered what would happen if you had the chance to go back and right old wrongs or redo some things from your past, as well as anyone who is looking for a warm, feel-good story complete with more than one HEA.
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In this tender, uplifting novel for fans of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle, a young woman returns to her North Carolina hometown hoping to make new memories, but finds history repeating itself—literally . . .
Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, past memories lead her to a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .
Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.
She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.
----------
Annie Rains is always good for an enjoyable story that offers plenty of romance but much more than that, and her newest offering is no different. Lyla finds herself back home, a little bit down on her luck and at loose ends, and she isn't sure how she will be received. She has burned some bridges, and she is feeling some trepidation about reconnecting with the people of her past. And then she finds herself experiencing some major déjà vu.
This is a fun book, with a little bit of magic thrown in. There are some more serious plot points (CW: child loss), but for the most part, I found it be very uplifting. The central romance plot is satisfying, and even more satisfying for me was the strong theme of second chances and women's friendships. As we head into summer, this book is the perfect read for anyone who has ever wondered what would happen if you had the chance to go back and right old wrongs or redo some things from your past, as well as anyone who is looking for a warm, feel-good story complete with more than one HEA.
April 27, 2025
3.75stgars-SUMMER IN A BOTTLE is a contemporary, adult, sweet romance story line focusing on thirty year olds, handyman Travis Painter, and opinion writer Delilah ‘Lyla’ Dune.
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Lyla and Travis) SUMMER IN A BOTTLE follows the rekindling relationship between former teenage best friends Travis Painter, and Delilah ‘Lyla’ Dune. Approximately ten years earlier, having spent a summer working on a bucket list of things to do before Lyla went off to college, Travis Painter fell in love with his best friend , the woman who broke his heart when she left without a goodbye. Fast forward to present day, Lyla has returned to Echo Cove in the wake of her parent’s journey around the world, a journey that leaves Lyla holding fort while the family home is prepared for sale. Lyla never expected to come face to face with Travis, let alone relive everything that happened ten years earlier, a do-over of a sort, but fate and the small town of Echo Cove won’t let our heroine forget what happened years before. A buried bottle with all of their hopes and dreams, leads our couple o a path from the past towards their future.
The world building focuses on Lyla and Travis’ reconnection, and the completion of a bucket list that stirs up old memories and heartbreak. The people of the small town of Echo Cove were a constant reminder of the past, a past Lyla is continuing to repeat as she pushes away the man that she love, and alienate the people of Echo Cove.
The relationship between Lyla and Travis is one of second chances but Lyla refuses to accept there is anything between beyond a damaged friendship, at her expense. Travis is hoping for a second chance but Lyla continues to be oblivious to Travis’ need for the only woman he has ever loved- living in denial pushes Travis out of her life. There are no $ex scenes.
We are introduced to several ‘townies’ who remained in Lyla’s home town: café owner Bernadette; former head cheerleader Allison, and Travis’ sister Bailey.
SUMMER IN A BOTTLE is a sweet story of friendships, heart break and second chances. The premise is endearing and entertaining; the romance is sweet but the couple spent most of the time at odds; the characters are struggling but dynamic.
copy supplied for review
Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Lyla and Travis) SUMMER IN A BOTTLE follows the rekindling relationship between former teenage best friends Travis Painter, and Delilah ‘Lyla’ Dune. Approximately ten years earlier, having spent a summer working on a bucket list of things to do before Lyla went off to college, Travis Painter fell in love with his best friend , the woman who broke his heart when she left without a goodbye. Fast forward to present day, Lyla has returned to Echo Cove in the wake of her parent’s journey around the world, a journey that leaves Lyla holding fort while the family home is prepared for sale. Lyla never expected to come face to face with Travis, let alone relive everything that happened ten years earlier, a do-over of a sort, but fate and the small town of Echo Cove won’t let our heroine forget what happened years before. A buried bottle with all of their hopes and dreams, leads our couple o a path from the past towards their future.
The world building focuses on Lyla and Travis’ reconnection, and the completion of a bucket list that stirs up old memories and heartbreak. The people of the small town of Echo Cove were a constant reminder of the past, a past Lyla is continuing to repeat as she pushes away the man that she love, and alienate the people of Echo Cove.
The relationship between Lyla and Travis is one of second chances but Lyla refuses to accept there is anything between beyond a damaged friendship, at her expense. Travis is hoping for a second chance but Lyla continues to be oblivious to Travis’ need for the only woman he has ever loved- living in denial pushes Travis out of her life. There are no $ex scenes.
We are introduced to several ‘townies’ who remained in Lyla’s home town: café owner Bernadette; former head cheerleader Allison, and Travis’ sister Bailey.
SUMMER IN A BOTTLE is a sweet story of friendships, heart break and second chances. The premise is endearing and entertaining; the romance is sweet but the couple spent most of the time at odds; the characters are struggling but dynamic.
copy supplied for review
April 29, 2025
This entertaining novel has some deep truths in it and I really enjoyed the way the author brought them to the forefront as she weaved the tale of Lyla and her life. Lyla, dumped by her boyfriend, returns to Echo Cove, North Carolina, a small town that she gladly fled when she graduated from high school. She had great plans to be an author and she has kind of met that goal by becoming an opinion columnist who is well-known for her columns. Once she is back in Echo Cove, with the task of helping her parents sell their home there, Lyla is confronted with her past and her present dilemmas and has to decide what she will do about her future. I thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted banter between Lyla and her friend Amanda and Lyla’s gung-ho attempt to win over Bernadette as a friend. The friendship between Travis and Lyla was realistically portrayed as was their gradual realization about their romantic feelings for each other, even if they didn’t want to pursue those feelings. I loved Lyla’s compassionate nature and how she reached out to Amanda when she knew she was hurting from all of her losses. Bernadette was feisty and reluctant to accept friendship, but her fun-loving and warm heart won me over. All of the characters were relatable, so much so that I just wanted to go into the pages of the book and tell them what they needed to do. The novel’s plot is fast-paced and engaging, with some complex elements woven into the simple tale of a girl who just wants to escape from her small town and never look back. The author masterfully creates a story around the central characters of Lyla and Travis and even includes snippets of Lyla’s opinions, some of which are humorous and others that are thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the magical element that was included with the fireflies, noting that Lyla needed those little guys to point the way for her. What a clever way to get Lyla to pay attention and what a great reminder of the fun I had with those little bugs in my childhood! I loved everything about this book and even ordered my own copy so that I have one to keep and re-visit Lyla’s story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
June 8, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The appealing characters is where the story shone for me. Lyla is a professional opinion-writer, but she's finding that she's spending more effort in writing than she used to when writing was fun for her. I liked her a lot, especially as she began to face her life decisions, realizing that she had veered off track because of her fears. Travis is a great main character--strong and independent, having made his choices early in life and being brave enough to follow-through. However, he has a vulnerable side that he's not afraid to reveal to the reader, and then to Lyla. The format is interesting. Rains included opinions (from Lyla's column) at the beginning of each chapter, setting the reader up for what to expect and where the story is heading. As the story developed, more and more opinions were added as Lyla begins to review her life and make some decisions about where she wants to go. However, my biggest drawback was that I found the paranormal part of the story to be distracting and not really necessary. The relationships and Lyla's personal growth were interesting in themselves and didn't need the extra push. The repeat of once-in-a-lifetime circumstances (like the hurricane and a broken toe) didn't explain (to my mind) why they were significant, just oddly coincidental. What was the point? Also, the items in the time capsule often seemed random and unimportant because the stories behind them weren't really developed fully. I feel strongly that this whole section of the book could have been omitted, with no detriment to the story. Lyla is a good main character. She's down-to-earth, for the most part, but she also buys into the slight paranormal element in the story, worried about how her unfinished bucket list could affect the rest of her life. I did like watching her growth, however, and could understand and relate to her facing her fears and taking the chance of changing and improving her future. All in all, this was a nice romance, but it could have been improved with a stronger, more believable story line.
The appealing characters is where the story shone for me. Lyla is a professional opinion-writer, but she's finding that she's spending more effort in writing than she used to when writing was fun for her. I liked her a lot, especially as she began to face her life decisions, realizing that she had veered off track because of her fears. Travis is a great main character--strong and independent, having made his choices early in life and being brave enough to follow-through. However, he has a vulnerable side that he's not afraid to reveal to the reader, and then to Lyla. The format is interesting. Rains included opinions (from Lyla's column) at the beginning of each chapter, setting the reader up for what to expect and where the story is heading. As the story developed, more and more opinions were added as Lyla begins to review her life and make some decisions about where she wants to go. However, my biggest drawback was that I found the paranormal part of the story to be distracting and not really necessary. The relationships and Lyla's personal growth were interesting in themselves and didn't need the extra push. The repeat of once-in-a-lifetime circumstances (like the hurricane and a broken toe) didn't explain (to my mind) why they were significant, just oddly coincidental. What was the point? Also, the items in the time capsule often seemed random and unimportant because the stories behind them weren't really developed fully. I feel strongly that this whole section of the book could have been omitted, with no detriment to the story. Lyla is a good main character. She's down-to-earth, for the most part, but she also buys into the slight paranormal element in the story, worried about how her unfinished bucket list could affect the rest of her life. I did like watching her growth, however, and could understand and relate to her facing her fears and taking the chance of changing and improving her future. All in all, this was a nice romance, but it could have been improved with a stronger, more believable story line.
January 29, 2025
**spoiler alert** This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review This review may contain spoilers.
Summer in a Bottle had many charming moments, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged. While the premise of a small-town second-chance romance intrigued me, I had difficulty connecting with the main character, Lyla. Several side characters also felt underdeveloped. While Allison’s backstory was emotional and impactful, Bernadette’s role felt sporadic. I wish there had been a stronger foundation between her and Lyla before reaching the resolution of their story.
The romance between Lyla and Travis was another aspect I struggled with. We’re repeatedly told about their deep connection from the past, but I wanted to see more of that chemistry unfold in the present. Their transition from estranged former best friends to rekindled love interests felt abrupt. For much of the book, Travis only appears occasionally, so when decade-old feelings suddenly resurface, it felt unearned. Personally, the 12-year gap made their relationship a bit hard to believe—if someone ghosted me for that long, I wouldn’t be so quick to welcome them back, let alone jump into a romance.
Lyla’s biggest roadblock was fear, which is understandable, but at what point do you admit that you are probably the problem? She returns to a town where multiple people dislike her—a former best friend, a neighbor, a coffee shop owner... If so many people dislike her, how is the reader supposed to root for her too? As an opinion columnist, I enjoyed seeing her perspectives sprinkled throughout the book, though some felt more “fortune cookie” than strong opinions.
That being said, I loved the small-town atmosphere, which was warm and inviting, and the magical elements woven into the story were a delightful touch. The past/present parallels were well done, adding emotional depth to certain moments. While this wasn’t a standout read for me, it’s a light and cozy story for fans of small-town romance and second chances.
Summer in a Bottle had many charming moments, but I found myself struggling to stay engaged. While the premise of a small-town second-chance romance intrigued me, I had difficulty connecting with the main character, Lyla. Several side characters also felt underdeveloped. While Allison’s backstory was emotional and impactful, Bernadette’s role felt sporadic. I wish there had been a stronger foundation between her and Lyla before reaching the resolution of their story.
The romance between Lyla and Travis was another aspect I struggled with. We’re repeatedly told about their deep connection from the past, but I wanted to see more of that chemistry unfold in the present. Their transition from estranged former best friends to rekindled love interests felt abrupt. For much of the book, Travis only appears occasionally, so when decade-old feelings suddenly resurface, it felt unearned. Personally, the 12-year gap made their relationship a bit hard to believe—if someone ghosted me for that long, I wouldn’t be so quick to welcome them back, let alone jump into a romance.
Lyla’s biggest roadblock was fear, which is understandable, but at what point do you admit that you are probably the problem? She returns to a town where multiple people dislike her—a former best friend, a neighbor, a coffee shop owner... If so many people dislike her, how is the reader supposed to root for her too? As an opinion columnist, I enjoyed seeing her perspectives sprinkled throughout the book, though some felt more “fortune cookie” than strong opinions.
That being said, I loved the small-town atmosphere, which was warm and inviting, and the magical elements woven into the story were a delightful touch. The past/present parallels were well done, adding emotional depth to certain moments. While this wasn’t a standout read for me, it’s a light and cozy story for fans of small-town romance and second chances.
April 20, 2025
There's something about that bottle!🤔
4-4.5🌟 stars
More about the bottle later. Overall Annie Rains' Summer in a Bottle was a page-turner that left me happy and hopeful.
Set in North Carolina, Lyla's trip back to her hometown, high school memories and a neglected former best friend ended up inspiring, heartwarming and a totally satisfying self discovery romance. Finishing the epilogue, I was inspired to think of Dorothy Gale and how her adventures away from her Kansas farm and family, no matter how colorful and exciting, could not beat the life and love she and Toto had back home.
Lyla left her hometown and dropped all contact except with her parents to go to college and live her dreams as a successful writer. A decade on and her success as a nationally-recognized columnist has not made her happy. Though her trip home is in aid of her parents, it lets loose her memories and regrets and the frightening prospect that she must face the fears she left behind or risk rack and ruin like she experienced in her last year at home repeating.
The time capsule bottle she digs up and opens brings some magic realism with it and has her wanting to remedy loose ends, particularly with Travis, the fellow she had left behind. Within weeks of returning home she's finding solid friendship and conflicted romance.
While I loved the plot and the easy writing style, there were a few inconsistencies and the glaring question: since when does a bottle have a flap? How did she cram those keepsakes in its neck and remove them so easily? Catchy title, but the idea of a bottle rather than a box time capsule just had me baffled.
High marks for the feels the story evokes nonetheless.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
4-4.5🌟 stars
More about the bottle later. Overall Annie Rains' Summer in a Bottle was a page-turner that left me happy and hopeful.
Set in North Carolina, Lyla's trip back to her hometown, high school memories and a neglected former best friend ended up inspiring, heartwarming and a totally satisfying self discovery romance. Finishing the epilogue, I was inspired to think of Dorothy Gale and how her adventures away from her Kansas farm and family, no matter how colorful and exciting, could not beat the life and love she and Toto had back home.
Lyla left her hometown and dropped all contact except with her parents to go to college and live her dreams as a successful writer. A decade on and her success as a nationally-recognized columnist has not made her happy. Though her trip home is in aid of her parents, it lets loose her memories and regrets and the frightening prospect that she must face the fears she left behind or risk rack and ruin like she experienced in her last year at home repeating.
The time capsule bottle she digs up and opens brings some magic realism with it and has her wanting to remedy loose ends, particularly with Travis, the fellow she had left behind. Within weeks of returning home she's finding solid friendship and conflicted romance.
While I loved the plot and the easy writing style, there were a few inconsistencies and the glaring question: since when does a bottle have a flap? How did she cram those keepsakes in its neck and remove them so easily? Catchy title, but the idea of a bottle rather than a box time capsule just had me baffled.
High marks for the feels the story evokes nonetheless.
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
April 21, 2025
I like Annie Rain's writing. I know the towns will usually be small, the characters will have some depth and if there is a romance the door will stay closed. I have enjoyed several of her books previously. This one is general (women’s) fiction with a slice of romance.
Lyla Dune returns to her small hometown of Echo Cove to prepare her parents house for sale. She has broken up with fiancé and her job as an opinion columnist is being threatened. Since it is shared in the blurb, she decides to dig up a time capsule filled the summer before she went to college. It brings back memories and includes a bucket list of things she was going to do before leaving town. In a twist, this isn’t a Groundhog Day story. She isn’t relieving the same day but instead she is seeing some of the things that happened in that summer happening again to her.
Lyla calls for a handyman and it turns out to be Travis, her one time best friend. He helped her write the original bucket list and is willing to help her check off the remaining items. The story is sweet but with some cute moments. And I loved the idea of the bucket list. But this felt a little young for me as I was reading it. I think because her emotions and feelings are from her high school days and her desire to leave the town behind. She has a lot of fears and I was genuinely surprised that she hasn’t sought out help for them. There are opinion comments throughout the book as well that brings a folksiness to the story. And I didn’t get the romance interest at all other than they were long time friends.
It is still a very cute story but I didn’t invest emotionally like I have with other books from the author. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Lyla Dune returns to her small hometown of Echo Cove to prepare her parents house for sale. She has broken up with fiancé and her job as an opinion columnist is being threatened. Since it is shared in the blurb, she decides to dig up a time capsule filled the summer before she went to college. It brings back memories and includes a bucket list of things she was going to do before leaving town. In a twist, this isn’t a Groundhog Day story. She isn’t relieving the same day but instead she is seeing some of the things that happened in that summer happening again to her.
Lyla calls for a handyman and it turns out to be Travis, her one time best friend. He helped her write the original bucket list and is willing to help her check off the remaining items. The story is sweet but with some cute moments. And I loved the idea of the bucket list. But this felt a little young for me as I was reading it. I think because her emotions and feelings are from her high school days and her desire to leave the town behind. She has a lot of fears and I was genuinely surprised that she hasn’t sought out help for them. There are opinion comments throughout the book as well that brings a folksiness to the story. And I didn’t get the romance interest at all other than they were long time friends.
It is still a very cute story but I didn’t invest emotionally like I have with other books from the author. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
April 28, 2025
I wanted to love this one. That cover was so engaging. And the blurb promised me Rebecca Serle and Josie Silver vibes. I was underwhelmed. 🍾
The premise was so intriguing, but I did not feel it delivered.
I loved the small town setting of Echo Cove, but too many things just didn't add up. Sorry to say it is my least favorite title by Annie Rains. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise was so intriguing, but I did not feel it delivered.
I loved the small town setting of Echo Cove, but too many things just didn't add up. Sorry to say it is my least favorite title by Annie Rains. Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
I want to start off by saying this book, Summer in a Bottle, is a cute second-chance romance with a fun concept.
When Delilah Dune left Echo Cove, she thought she'd be getting away from her small, simple town and starting life anew in a big city. She had huge dreams for herself, however, years later, she finds herself lost and questioning herself and her life choices. She heads back to Echo Cove to help her parents sell their house and, in the midst, figure out her next move. However, when she arrives, she quickly notices that events of her last year at Echo Cove are replaying themselves. From being struck by lightning to her father getting sick after eating eel, Delilah is more than certain these cannot be simple coincidences. Delilah is convinced that life is trying to teach her something.
This is a cute read, with the cutest romance between two childhood best friends. It's a story of finding oneself and finding true love along the way. It really focused on not trying too hard and everything being right in front of you, which I loved. What I did not love, however, was how remedial the entire story was. I get that the events were repeating, so it would make sense for the author to work off that idea, but did the same details need to be brought up several times per chapter? Or did Lyla need to question the exact same thing (her feelings for her best friend) as often as she did? Or did every incident need to go back to Lyla's ex? The repetition just seemed overwhelming and brought a damper on the book a bit, however, it was still sweet.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Annie Rains for this ARC!
When Delilah Dune left Echo Cove, she thought she'd be getting away from her small, simple town and starting life anew in a big city. She had huge dreams for herself, however, years later, she finds herself lost and questioning herself and her life choices. She heads back to Echo Cove to help her parents sell their house and, in the midst, figure out her next move. However, when she arrives, she quickly notices that events of her last year at Echo Cove are replaying themselves. From being struck by lightning to her father getting sick after eating eel, Delilah is more than certain these cannot be simple coincidences. Delilah is convinced that life is trying to teach her something.
This is a cute read, with the cutest romance between two childhood best friends. It's a story of finding oneself and finding true love along the way. It really focused on not trying too hard and everything being right in front of you, which I loved. What I did not love, however, was how remedial the entire story was. I get that the events were repeating, so it would make sense for the author to work off that idea, but did the same details need to be brought up several times per chapter? Or did Lyla need to question the exact same thing (her feelings for her best friend) as often as she did? Or did every incident need to go back to Lyla's ex? The repetition just seemed overwhelming and brought a damper on the book a bit, however, it was still sweet.
Thank you NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Annie Rains for this ARC!
May 3, 2025
Summer in a Bottle by Annie Rains is a fairly ordinary second chance romance except for the touch of magic that runs through the story. Lyla is home again to an empty house, just waiting for it to sell so her parents can continue their round-the-world trip. She has just broken up with her fiance and is in no mood. The only thing left in the house is her room, which she needs to pack up. As she contemplates packing she discovers the diary she was keeping that last summer. She had gone to college two seeks earlier than planned because she was frightened of her feelings for her best friend, Travis. Then, as her life started unfolding, she began to notice that its pattern was following the entries in her diary. Except for the friends she was making. Travis was all she remembered and more. He had left town shortly after she did and now was living in a trailer that he towed as he pursued his work as a handyman. Well, you can see where this is going.
The funny thing is that some of the things that happened were real. Some were not. It was eery. She reconnected with high school girls that she hadn’t gotten on with and found that all of them, and she, had grown up and they were really worth knowing. As was Travis. All those feelings came right back. And they still scared her. It was a fun read. As in all romances, the outcome is a given. Annie Rains has a way with words and with characters. The setting is perfect and the things that happen along the way are more perfect. A great Saturday afternoon read!
I was invited to read Summer in a Bottle by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #AnnieRains #SummerInABottle
The funny thing is that some of the things that happened were real. Some were not. It was eery. She reconnected with high school girls that she hadn’t gotten on with and found that all of them, and she, had grown up and they were really worth knowing. As was Travis. All those feelings came right back. And they still scared her. It was a fun read. As in all romances, the outcome is a given. Annie Rains has a way with words and with characters. The setting is perfect and the things that happen along the way are more perfect. A great Saturday afternoon read!
I was invited to read Summer in a Bottle by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #AnnieRains #SummerInABottle
April 1, 2025
Summer in a Bottle
Annie Rains
April 29, 2025
Delilah Dune is a writer for the Echo Cove newspaper in North Carolina. Her specialty has become the social column called Delilah´s
Delusions. For a while it did well and was quite a hit. Lately it's been a slow read and her editor, Bob, wants something really good. It's been tough since she and her fiance split up. He took everything he paid for and she was left with the housing contract about to expire. Lyla will be spending the summer at her parents home in Echo Cove. They are on a spectacular cruise out of Florida and are hoping Lyla can get the house sold.
Summer in a Bottle will be published by Zebra Books on April 29, 2025. I was able to read and review Rains latest novel via NetGalley. I was really looking forward to reading her next book as most have been based on a series. It doesn't seem that Summer in a Bottle will be. Lyla´s life still seems to have many of her high school days as a priority. It seems impractical that her parents boxed all they didn't want and stored the furniture.The only room that was left was hers, just as she left it when she went off to college. They wanted her to sort it, pack it and get it ready for viewing by the realtor and possible buyers. This story is a romantic comedy that rolls a bit slow for my reading. Many readers should find it humorous as Lyla deals with one problem after another. Annie Rains fans will definitely read it but others who are looking for a fun excursion, do try it.
Annie Rains
April 29, 2025
Delilah Dune is a writer for the Echo Cove newspaper in North Carolina. Her specialty has become the social column called Delilah´s
Delusions. For a while it did well and was quite a hit. Lately it's been a slow read and her editor, Bob, wants something really good. It's been tough since she and her fiance split up. He took everything he paid for and she was left with the housing contract about to expire. Lyla will be spending the summer at her parents home in Echo Cove. They are on a spectacular cruise out of Florida and are hoping Lyla can get the house sold.
Summer in a Bottle will be published by Zebra Books on April 29, 2025. I was able to read and review Rains latest novel via NetGalley. I was really looking forward to reading her next book as most have been based on a series. It doesn't seem that Summer in a Bottle will be. Lyla´s life still seems to have many of her high school days as a priority. It seems impractical that her parents boxed all they didn't want and stored the furniture.The only room that was left was hers, just as she left it when she went off to college. They wanted her to sort it, pack it and get it ready for viewing by the realtor and possible buyers. This story is a romantic comedy that rolls a bit slow for my reading. Many readers should find it humorous as Lyla deals with one problem after another. Annie Rains fans will definitely read it but others who are looking for a fun excursion, do try it.
April 3, 2025
In Summer in a Bottle Lyla returns to her home town to take care of the selling of her parents' house. Also she is just out of a relationship gone bad. Then the last summer she was in small town Echo Cove seems to be repeating. Odd!
She is an opinion writer for a newspaper but she is becoming more out of sync with it and really would like to be a writer. When she digs up a list of things she and Travis were going to do there are some things unchecked. Should she and Travis who has returned finish ticking off the list?
Lyla has thought leaving town was the way to go. Why get stuck in a backwater place, why develop further in a relationship at eighteen? She is sure she has the right of it. However when she returns to Echo Cove she begins to see differently.
I liked how some relationships were mended and the reasons for the break were clarified. I liked that Lyla begins to see things more clearly as Ground hog Day plays out for her. Travis had a lot of patience but even he can only take so much. It was good to see Lyla finally face her fears and see where happiness lay.
I had expected to like this a lot more but I found the pace slow and I didn't eagerly turn to pick it up each time. It sort of dragged for me.
If you like small town life, a little magical realism, a character who realises that finding yourself might not need to include leaving town, and a closed door romance then this book will be for you.
I did enjoy Annie Rains The Finders Keepers Library so I will read another book by this author at some point.
She is an opinion writer for a newspaper but she is becoming more out of sync with it and really would like to be a writer. When she digs up a list of things she and Travis were going to do there are some things unchecked. Should she and Travis who has returned finish ticking off the list?
Lyla has thought leaving town was the way to go. Why get stuck in a backwater place, why develop further in a relationship at eighteen? She is sure she has the right of it. However when she returns to Echo Cove she begins to see differently.
I liked how some relationships were mended and the reasons for the break were clarified. I liked that Lyla begins to see things more clearly as Ground hog Day plays out for her. Travis had a lot of patience but even he can only take so much. It was good to see Lyla finally face her fears and see where happiness lay.
I had expected to like this a lot more but I found the pace slow and I didn't eagerly turn to pick it up each time. It sort of dragged for me.
If you like small town life, a little magical realism, a character who realises that finding yourself might not need to include leaving town, and a closed door romance then this book will be for you.
I did enjoy Annie Rains The Finders Keepers Library so I will read another book by this author at some point.
April 14, 2025
FUN! This is such a fun summer read!
Can you imagine having a lifelong friend of the opposite sex?Lyla and Travis had that friendship. Every summer they would make out a summer bucket list. One that had to be completed otherwise they would run into bad luck. Well the summer before Lyla left for college that bucket list didn’t get complete completed.
Lyla is back in town to look over the sale of her parents home. And when she needs a handyman, she is totally shocked when it’s Travis that shows up at her door. Lyla is having so many déjà vu moments. She feels like she’s reliving that last summer before she left for college. Travis is upset because he feels like he was ghosted. He doesn’t understand that Lyla had such strong feelings for him. But she didn’t want to ruin their friendship by acting on those feelings so she felt the best thing to do was just to move out of town and forget all about Travis. I’m here to tell you. She did not forget about Travis and he did not forget about her!
I absolutely adored every page of this book. They have such a remarkable friendship. It’s one that everybody should have at least once in their lifetime.
This is an absolute page Turner one that you will not want to put down ! I highly suggest you pre-order it today 💛
Can you imagine having a lifelong friend of the opposite sex?Lyla and Travis had that friendship. Every summer they would make out a summer bucket list. One that had to be completed otherwise they would run into bad luck. Well the summer before Lyla left for college that bucket list didn’t get complete completed.
Lyla is back in town to look over the sale of her parents home. And when she needs a handyman, she is totally shocked when it’s Travis that shows up at her door. Lyla is having so many déjà vu moments. She feels like she’s reliving that last summer before she left for college. Travis is upset because he feels like he was ghosted. He doesn’t understand that Lyla had such strong feelings for him. But she didn’t want to ruin their friendship by acting on those feelings so she felt the best thing to do was just to move out of town and forget all about Travis. I’m here to tell you. She did not forget about Travis and he did not forget about her!
I absolutely adored every page of this book. They have such a remarkable friendship. It’s one that everybody should have at least once in their lifetime.
This is an absolute page Turner one that you will not want to put down ! I highly suggest you pre-order it today 💛
April 21, 2025
Summer in a Bottle
Annie Rains
Lyla - opinion writer
Travis - handyman
Allison - friend
Bernadette - friend - coffee Cafe owner
Lyla goes home to get the house ready to see so her parents can travel. Her parents has Allison check on her. Echo Cove where she grown up and she didn't think anyone from high school still lived there. She took her bike out and she get a flat tire and Travis her best friend from high school stops and helps her get home. Travis and Lyla start talking when she need a handyman to fix a few things around the house so it can be sold. First was a water leak. Then he came to get her ready for the next person to look at it. That buyer was afraid hurricane Bill would damage the house. In the meantime she did her opinion spot in the newspaper. And hangout with Travis and Allison.
Travis came to board the house up before the storm. Travis and Lyla hangout and continue getting feeling for eachother.
She hangs out with Allison goes to the bar and Travis shows up there.
Travis didn't like one of the opinion peices in her article got mad.
Annie did a fantastic job with description of the story. She matched characters up very well.
Annie knock this one out of the field and I just couldn't put it down.
Annie Rains
Lyla - opinion writer
Travis - handyman
Allison - friend
Bernadette - friend - coffee Cafe owner
Lyla goes home to get the house ready to see so her parents can travel. Her parents has Allison check on her. Echo Cove where she grown up and she didn't think anyone from high school still lived there. She took her bike out and she get a flat tire and Travis her best friend from high school stops and helps her get home. Travis and Lyla start talking when she need a handyman to fix a few things around the house so it can be sold. First was a water leak. Then he came to get her ready for the next person to look at it. That buyer was afraid hurricane Bill would damage the house. In the meantime she did her opinion spot in the newspaper. And hangout with Travis and Allison.
Travis came to board the house up before the storm. Travis and Lyla hangout and continue getting feeling for eachother.
She hangs out with Allison goes to the bar and Travis shows up there.
Travis didn't like one of the opinion peices in her article got mad.
Annie did a fantastic job with description of the story. She matched characters up very well.
Annie knock this one out of the field and I just couldn't put it down.
May 14, 2025
Summer in a Bottle is a unique story by Annie Rains. Set in the coastal town of Echo Cove, NC, this novel is a magical tale of the summer Lyla Dune helps her parents when they decide to retire and see the world. Helping includes removing the many boxes of donations and taking them to the thrift store, packing up her own childhood room, and generally watching over the family home until it sells.
Soon after returning to Echo Cove Lyla decides to dig up the time capsule she made ten years ago as a high school senior and buried under a large cedar tree in the backyard. Once Lyla recovers the seven up bottle and begins going through the contents the summer seems to repeat events of that summer before she left for college. But there are also new items to add, including becoming friends with two unlikely women she had known in school and how she reunites with her childhood best friend Travis Painter.
This is such a fun story, written with unexpected surprises and well drawn characters. With touches of magic and different takes on luck, good and bad, Ms. Rains has written a story that follows Lyla as she finds her way, perhaps the pathway she should have found earlier in life, but she is on the right road now. I very much enjoyed this story and I do recommend it!
Soon after returning to Echo Cove Lyla decides to dig up the time capsule she made ten years ago as a high school senior and buried under a large cedar tree in the backyard. Once Lyla recovers the seven up bottle and begins going through the contents the summer seems to repeat events of that summer before she left for college. But there are also new items to add, including becoming friends with two unlikely women she had known in school and how she reunites with her childhood best friend Travis Painter.
This is such a fun story, written with unexpected surprises and well drawn characters. With touches of magic and different takes on luck, good and bad, Ms. Rains has written a story that follows Lyla as she finds her way, perhaps the pathway she should have found earlier in life, but she is on the right road now. I very much enjoyed this story and I do recommend it!
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