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The Summers Between Us
A young, ambitious lawyer returns to her family's rural property after 10 years and must confront her deepest fears and long-buried secrets for a second chance at love with the one that got away, despite her family's expectations.
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2025
134 people are currently reading
12559 people want to read
About the author
Noreen Nanja
1 book62 followersNOREEN NANJA is a Toronto-based contemporary romance writer. A second-generation immigrant from the Indian diaspora, Noreen’s writing explores themes of identity, race and belonging, wrapped in stories of romantic and familial love. When she is not writing or reading, she can be found spending time with her partner and their adorable dog and exploring local bookstores.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
June 6, 2025
4⭐
Genre ~ coming of age fiction
Setting ~ Canada
Publication date ~ May 13, 2025
Publisher ~ Random House Canada
Est Page Count ~ 368
Audio length ~ 10 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Athena Karkanis
POV ~ single 1st, present & past tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline, small town, first crush, first love, first heartbreak, friends to lovers, forbidden romance, second chance, very, very minimal steamage
Lia (28, now) & Wes (28, now) first met when they were both 14 years old. Her family has purchased a cottage on a lake that they’ll visit in the summers, while he and his mom live there full time. The dual timeline goes back to 14 years and moves to 10 years, which is when they last saw each other.
Now, Lia is spending the summer there again helping her 15 year old niece while her mom goes through cancer treatment. She never thought she’d go to the cottage again, and never wanted to see Wes again, either. But as the past timelines slowly move to the present we get a good look at what went wrong and why.
The plot lies heavily on cultural differences and strict parents, which leads to secrets and sneaking around. Lia is a people pleaser who tries to make everyone happy, especially her parents and boss. She strives to be the perfect daughter, even choosing a career based on her father’s dream for her. It takes one more summer at the beloved cottage for her to see that whose dreams matter most are those of her own.
Wes’s commitment to helping his mom was truly heartwarming. He was really sweet and you could just feel how he couldn’t understand why he was being kept a secret.
First loves are sweet and first heartbreaks can be earth shattering to young hearts.
Overall, this was a pretty great debut. There are great side characters, except for one bad pill, there always has to be one. I can’t wait to see what Noreen writes next.
Author note:
The Summers Between Us is a story that aims to represent the messiness of life. This book contains discussion of divorce, homophobia, pregnancy loss, grief over the loss of a parent as an adult and coping with family illness.
*Thanks to Jackie at Random House Canada for providing me with a copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ coming of age fiction
Setting ~ Canada
Publication date ~ May 13, 2025
Publisher ~ Random House Canada
Est Page Count ~ 368
Audio length ~ 10 hours 3 minutes
Narrator ~ Athena Karkanis
POV ~ single 1st, present & past tense
Featuring ~ dual timeline, small town, first crush, first love, first heartbreak, friends to lovers, forbidden romance, second chance, very, very minimal steamage
Lia (28, now) & Wes (28, now) first met when they were both 14 years old. Her family has purchased a cottage on a lake that they’ll visit in the summers, while he and his mom live there full time. The dual timeline goes back to 14 years and moves to 10 years, which is when they last saw each other.
Now, Lia is spending the summer there again helping her 15 year old niece while her mom goes through cancer treatment. She never thought she’d go to the cottage again, and never wanted to see Wes again, either. But as the past timelines slowly move to the present we get a good look at what went wrong and why.
The plot lies heavily on cultural differences and strict parents, which leads to secrets and sneaking around. Lia is a people pleaser who tries to make everyone happy, especially her parents and boss. She strives to be the perfect daughter, even choosing a career based on her father’s dream for her. It takes one more summer at the beloved cottage for her to see that whose dreams matter most are those of her own.
Wes’s commitment to helping his mom was truly heartwarming. He was really sweet and you could just feel how he couldn’t understand why he was being kept a secret.
First loves are sweet and first heartbreaks can be earth shattering to young hearts.
Overall, this was a pretty great debut. There are great side characters, except for one bad pill, there always has to be one. I can’t wait to see what Noreen writes next.
Author note:
The Summers Between Us is a story that aims to represent the messiness of life. This book contains discussion of divorce, homophobia, pregnancy loss, grief over the loss of a parent as an adult and coping with family illness.
*Thanks to Jackie at Random House Canada for providing me with a copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
June 4, 2025
A breathtakingly beautiful second chance romance that completely stole my heart! The Summers Between Us is a tender, emotional, and gorgeously written story about love, identity, cultural expectations, and finding your way back to the parts of yourself you thought were lost.
From the first chapter, I was completely immersed in Lia’s world. She’s the definition of the “perfect daughter”—successful, polished, following all the rules laid out by her immigrant parents. But when she’s drawn back to her family’s summer cottage on Pike Bay, she also returns to the memories, heartbreak, and unresolved feelings tied to her first love, Wes. The way the past and present unfold side by side is masterfully done. I found myself eagerly flipping pages, needing to know what tore them apart years ago and whether they could rebuild something from the ashes now.
The chemistry between Lia and Wes is undeniable—soft, aching, and deeply genuine. Their emotional connection felt so raw and real, and I was rooting for them with every ounce of my heart. I also appreciated how their individual growth was handled. Lia’s internal struggle—between who she was expected to be and who she wants to become—resonated so deeply, especially as she reevaluates her career, her family obligations, and her definition of happiness.
Noreen Naji’s prose is rich and lyrical, painting the lakeside setting with such care that Pike Bay becomes a character in itself. The slow-burn storytelling, dual timelines, and exploration of cultural identity and emotional healing made this story feel incredibly grounded and relatable. It’s not just about romantic love—it’s about self-love, forgiveness, and reclaiming your voice.
If you're a fan of emotional second chance romances, friends-to-lovers tropes, and soul-deep character journeys set against a dreamy, nostalgic backdrop, this book is absolutely for you. I laughed, I teared up, and I finished it with a full heart.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Random House Canada for sharing this sweet, heartwarming romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. This is a summer read you won’t forget!
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From the first chapter, I was completely immersed in Lia’s world. She’s the definition of the “perfect daughter”—successful, polished, following all the rules laid out by her immigrant parents. But when she’s drawn back to her family’s summer cottage on Pike Bay, she also returns to the memories, heartbreak, and unresolved feelings tied to her first love, Wes. The way the past and present unfold side by side is masterfully done. I found myself eagerly flipping pages, needing to know what tore them apart years ago and whether they could rebuild something from the ashes now.
The chemistry between Lia and Wes is undeniable—soft, aching, and deeply genuine. Their emotional connection felt so raw and real, and I was rooting for them with every ounce of my heart. I also appreciated how their individual growth was handled. Lia’s internal struggle—between who she was expected to be and who she wants to become—resonated so deeply, especially as she reevaluates her career, her family obligations, and her definition of happiness.
Noreen Naji’s prose is rich and lyrical, painting the lakeside setting with such care that Pike Bay becomes a character in itself. The slow-burn storytelling, dual timelines, and exploration of cultural identity and emotional healing made this story feel incredibly grounded and relatable. It’s not just about romantic love—it’s about self-love, forgiveness, and reclaiming your voice.
If you're a fan of emotional second chance romances, friends-to-lovers tropes, and soul-deep character journeys set against a dreamy, nostalgic backdrop, this book is absolutely for you. I laughed, I teared up, and I finished it with a full heart.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Random House Canada for sharing this sweet, heartwarming romance’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions. This is a summer read you won’t forget!
medium.com
May 6, 2025
A summer romance and second chance?! SAY LESS!! The atmospheric vibes on this was so fun and I truly think if you love Carley Fortune this would be right up your alley!
March 14, 2025
If you adore Christina Lauren and Carley Fortune you are going to eat this romance up. I devoured TSBU. I'm obsessed with the young love and angsty second chance romances and Nanja's debut DELIVERS! Add in a splash of forbidden romance too. Lia & Wes are complex characters, each with their own struggles to face and it was wonderful to see how their experiences shaped them whilst bringing them together.
Massively recommend you add this to your summer TBR!!
Massively recommend you add this to your summer TBR!!
June 2, 2025
Another lakeside summer romance you MUST read. Told in dual timelines, Lia returns to cottage life in Pike Bay, Ontario (yay for a Canadian setting!) to help care for her teenage niece while her aunt undergoes cancer treatment. But coming back means facing the past. And that includes Wesley Forest, the boy who defined her teenage summers.
This second chance romance hit me in all the feels with their messy unresolved feelings and buried secrets. And within that is a really deeply layered story of family expectations, with Lia continually putting pressure on herself to be the perfect immigrant daughter. I loved the emotional tension it added to not only the romance but also Lia’s relationship with her wonderful sister.
I adored Lia and Wes and their shared love of books (there’s even a scene where Wes reads to her while she's ill ♥︎). Their romance was such a soft, aching kind of angst that kept me desperate to uncover what exactly happened between them. And the reveal truly surprised me! Both have spent years trying to be who they thought they should be, and seeing them find their way back to themselves and each other was just perfect.
(heat level: 2 open-door scenes, mild details)
This second chance romance hit me in all the feels with their messy unresolved feelings and buried secrets. And within that is a really deeply layered story of family expectations, with Lia continually putting pressure on herself to be the perfect immigrant daughter. I loved the emotional tension it added to not only the romance but also Lia’s relationship with her wonderful sister.
I adored Lia and Wes and their shared love of books (there’s even a scene where Wes reads to her while she's ill ♥︎). Their romance was such a soft, aching kind of angst that kept me desperate to uncover what exactly happened between them. And the reveal truly surprised me! Both have spent years trying to be who they thought they should be, and seeing them find their way back to themselves and each other was just perfect.
(heat level: 2 open-door scenes, mild details)
April 18, 2025
A lovely, emotional, evocative friends-to-lovers debut! This will hit with the Every Summer After crowd, but The Summers Between Us is entirely its own. I loved the lush Canadian lake vibes (the setting is its own character, and Noreen does it beautifully!), the deeply complicated relationship between Lia and her family (rendered with empathy, but never sugar-coating), and the push-and-pull slow burn of Lia and Wes (you'll ache for them to finally get together!) I won't spoil, but Noreen makes some absolutely perfect narrative moves in this where I feel like the plot couldn't have been better or more character-driven. Fans of Naina Kumar, Kate Spencer, and Carley Fortune (ME!!) will be enamored by Noreen's voice! Can't wait for the next!
Thank you to Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 🙂
Thank you to Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review 🙂
March 18, 2025
I am a sucker for a second chance romance, and The Summers Between Us absolutely delivered! I was equally invested in both the timelines, eager to see where Wes and Lia's story would go and how it would resolve. Noreen Nanja has such beautiful writing, and I can't wait to see what she does next!
May 19, 2025
Felt similar to a lot of childhood second chance romance books that I’ve read but personally enjoyed the others more.
August 1, 2025
A wonderful story of second chance love and finding yourself. Delightful characters and a sweet romance. Highly recommended!
May 7, 2025
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC and to Libro FM for the ALC! I devoured this book in a day while going back and forth between the two versions and I truly loved it! The book follows Lia, a corporate lawyer in her late twenties, who ends up back at her family's lake house to care for her teenage cousin, while her aunt goes through a health issue. Being there brings back all sorts of memories for her of her own teenage years spent there becoming friends with and falling in the love with the next door neighbor, Wes. She isn't expecting to see him again after over a decade and they strike up a tentative friendship that ends up bring back all of the things that happened between them in the past and what could be possible for their future as well. The book toggles between timelines as you see teenage Lia struggle with cultural expectations from her family and the love she so clearly have for Wes and her struggles as an adult who feels like she always has to take care of everyone and have it all together.
This book was an absolutely beautiful second chance love story (my favorite kind!) and a great exploration of cultural, familial and personal expectations. It is a great summer read and also packs quite an emotional punch with a good amount of depth to the story. If you like Carley Fortune's books, I think this one would likely be a hit for you! I will look forward to reading more from Nanja in the future!
This book was an absolutely beautiful second chance love story (my favorite kind!) and a great exploration of cultural, familial and personal expectations. It is a great summer read and also packs quite an emotional punch with a good amount of depth to the story. If you like Carley Fortune's books, I think this one would likely be a hit for you! I will look forward to reading more from Nanja in the future!
May 29, 2025
Tons of hugs and gratitude coming your way for the #gifted copy of "The Summers Between Us" @penguinteenca
If you're looking for a summer read that has similar vibes to "Every Summer After" & "Love and Other Words"... Noreen is your gal!
Grab ya tissues, she's filled with emotions. (Ps. Give yourself grace and check trigger warnings, there's a lot of heavy topics)
The very first thing I wrote about this story was "workaholic fmc. Felt." To give you a quick idea of Lia... she lost in the corporate lawyer sauce & forgets how to live for herself. Life has become unfulfilling for her. Her dreams. Chances at love. Happiness has been lost. Until, fate takes her back to her families summer cottage on Pike Bay, where her past love & hurt reside. Her growth. Her history. It's good. It's painful. I felt everything that she dealt to my core.
I learned a lot about cultures and families. It was really interesting to see the difference between Wes and Lias' families. Both of them feel pressures in different ways. I will say it did break my heart when they weren't accepting of Lia and Mel. I can only imagine how isolating it can feel when your parents don't understand you.
Speaking of Wes, he's a top-tier book boyfriend (*cough* adult edition...ifykyk *cough*) I was swooning during this story at how smitten he was with Lia. It's so refreshing to read a book about a love that is strong start soooo young.
I loved the dual timeline. My heart was really drawn to how Wes & Lia grew together. The innocence of young love is really nice to read about. I really liked that Wes always knew Lia was "the one" for him. She was always his best friend and always felt like home for him.
Remember when I said you're going to need tissues... yeah, Noreen b r o k e m e when I got to the chapter about why the pair stopped talking for a decade. I am still repairing my delicate heart.
💙 Summer Love
🛶 Dual Timeline
🍦 Second Chance
☀️ Friends to Lovers
💙 Family Dynamics
🛶 Caregiving
🍦 Guaranteed to make you s o b
If you're looking for a summer read that has similar vibes to "Every Summer After" & "Love and Other Words"... Noreen is your gal!
Grab ya tissues, she's filled with emotions. (Ps. Give yourself grace and check trigger warnings, there's a lot of heavy topics)
The very first thing I wrote about this story was "workaholic fmc. Felt." To give you a quick idea of Lia... she lost in the corporate lawyer sauce & forgets how to live for herself. Life has become unfulfilling for her. Her dreams. Chances at love. Happiness has been lost. Until, fate takes her back to her families summer cottage on Pike Bay, where her past love & hurt reside. Her growth. Her history. It's good. It's painful. I felt everything that she dealt to my core.
I learned a lot about cultures and families. It was really interesting to see the difference between Wes and Lias' families. Both of them feel pressures in different ways. I will say it did break my heart when they weren't accepting of Lia and Mel. I can only imagine how isolating it can feel when your parents don't understand you.
Speaking of Wes, he's a top-tier book boyfriend (*cough* adult edition...ifykyk *cough*) I was swooning during this story at how smitten he was with Lia. It's so refreshing to read a book about a love that is strong start soooo young.
I loved the dual timeline. My heart was really drawn to how Wes & Lia grew together. The innocence of young love is really nice to read about. I really liked that Wes always knew Lia was "the one" for him. She was always his best friend and always felt like home for him.
Remember when I said you're going to need tissues... yeah, Noreen b r o k e m e when I got to the chapter about why the pair stopped talking for a decade. I am still repairing my delicate heart.
💙 Summer Love
🛶 Dual Timeline
🍦 Second Chance
☀️ Friends to Lovers
💙 Family Dynamics
🛶 Caregiving
🍦 Guaranteed to make you s o b
June 6, 2025
The writing on this book was 4 stars, but the plot decisions were not. I am getting honestly quite tired of 'romance' genre books where the duo dated when they were young, broke up over a miscommunication about something in yet another instance of "we assume things and we don't communicate" with one another, and then go a decade or two or three without speaking, serendipitously reconnect, find they still have the hots for each other like nothing has changed, all the while never bringing the elephant in the room up. Then one person gets cold feet and calls the whole thing off because of said past incident, doesn't tell the other person why they're flipping out, so they break up AGAIN but then reconcile because one of them decides to be an adult and commmmunnnniiiiicaaaaaate.
I sound cranky, I know. It's where I am right now though. And it's probably because I have been making questionable book choices lately, and / or maybe I need to avoid this genre entirely for a while. IDK.
Would definitely read the author again - she can write. But i would read the synopsis first!
I sound cranky, I know. It's where I am right now though. And it's probably because I have been making questionable book choices lately, and / or maybe I need to avoid this genre entirely for a while. IDK.
Would definitely read the author again - she can write. But i would read the synopsis first!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
I genuinely loved every moment of this book; I truly can’t recommend it enough! If you’re a fan of Love and Other Words and Every Summer After, this book is definitely for you.
Told through alternating timelines of present day and five special summers in Lia and Wes’ lives, The Summers Between Us is the story of how Lia and Wes met, fell in love, were torn apart, and are brought back together.
The story focuses on the importance of your own happiness, the impact of family, and what it means to love. This book had me laughing, crying, and on the edge of my seat waiting to see how their love story played out. I simply couldn’t put the book down and will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.
The character development and the beauty of Lia and Wes’ love is going to stick with me and I think if someone is looking for a book to kick off the summer, this the perfect place to start.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Digital Galley in exchange for an honest review!
Told through alternating timelines of present day and five special summers in Lia and Wes’ lives, The Summers Between Us is the story of how Lia and Wes met, fell in love, were torn apart, and are brought back together.
The story focuses on the importance of your own happiness, the impact of family, and what it means to love. This book had me laughing, crying, and on the edge of my seat waiting to see how their love story played out. I simply couldn’t put the book down and will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen.
The character development and the beauty of Lia and Wes’ love is going to stick with me and I think if someone is looking for a book to kick off the summer, this the perfect place to start.
Thank you to NetGalley for the Digital Galley in exchange for an honest review!
March 24, 2025
This book was so sweet and meaningful at the same time. I love young love and the thrill of a summer fling. I’m so happy I got my hands on this arc 🥰🥰🥰
August 4, 2025
My bias of being a corporate lawyer in Toronto overtook my ability to enjoy the book. So many inaccuracies i was rolling my eyes the whole time. Otherwise cute
May 29, 2025
Fans of Carley Fortune and Christina Lauren’s “Love and Other Words,” this one is for you!
April 5, 2025
What a beautiful novel in a beautiful setting. I just wanted to live at this little lake and watch this romance unfold. (Reminded me of the lovely lake setting in Tom Lake and Carley Fortune books.)
Now for the best part: the relationship between Wes and Lia is tender and sweet - their care for each other is so genuine. I loved the past and present and couldn’t stop turning pages to find out what happened all those years ago. Also, as a former burned-out corporate attorney, I adored the way Lia’s job became a character and loved watching her relationship with her career change. Five out of five!
Now for the best part: the relationship between Wes and Lia is tender and sweet - their care for each other is so genuine. I loved the past and present and couldn’t stop turning pages to find out what happened all those years ago. Also, as a former burned-out corporate attorney, I adored the way Lia’s job became a character and loved watching her relationship with her career change. Five out of five!
February 5, 2025
I loved this book. The character development was really well planned and I loved the cultural references as well. The minor characters were well written and the focus on the location was great too.
June 8, 2025
Just felt like an ai-generated version of Every Summer After ngl
June 10, 2025
this book spoke to my soul. this was everything i wanted and needed rn
May 16, 2025
I've been in a massive reading slump lately, but this book levitated me out of it! NO SPOILERS!
The story is told in dual timelines, and the past gave me the same feelings I had as a young teen, reading YA romances about the boy next door during summer break. The giddiness, the yearning, the insecurity around young love. And accompanied with the present timeline where the realities and difficulties of adult life come in, the story truly felt like summer folded within hundreds of pages.
SISTERHOOD - Nanja does a wonderful job at weaving in powerful themes throughout the narrative. The one that hit me the most was the bittersweet relationship between siblings--especially between sisters. It was an almost parallel, secondary love story that happened in tandem with the main plot. The love and loyalty shared between two sister is almost magical, but also any betrayals and sibling squabbles cut more deeply than any fight between friends.
FAMILY - I will refrain from commenting on the immigrant experience, as I can't relate, and there will be many reviewers who can provide a more nuanced opinion. I can however relate to the pressure of becoming someone your parents would be proud of when they worked extremely hard to give you everything. The sense of duty and responsibility vs. the heart's desires is a recurring inner struggle that Lia faces throughout the story. Nanja does a spectacular job at portraying all of it.
ROMANCE - This is a second-chance romance with the boy next door and a summer love. The yearning is actually top tier, and the way their love blossoms throughout the story is so sweet and nostalgic. Wes is incredibly charming and a genuinely nice guy, but also the right amount of manly to make you swoon. He's the kind of man that I wouldn't just fall for in fiction, but in real life as well.
PROSE - Top tier. Solid rhythm to paragraphs, and very nice and visceral descriptions. The writing itself is beautiful, but not flowery in a way that distracts you from the plot. At times it almost disappears into the background (especially if you listen to the audiobook) and you feel transported directly into the setting itself.
I really hope you pick up this book because it really is worth it!
The story is told in dual timelines, and the past gave me the same feelings I had as a young teen, reading YA romances about the boy next door during summer break. The giddiness, the yearning, the insecurity around young love. And accompanied with the present timeline where the realities and difficulties of adult life come in, the story truly felt like summer folded within hundreds of pages.
SISTERHOOD - Nanja does a wonderful job at weaving in powerful themes throughout the narrative. The one that hit me the most was the bittersweet relationship between siblings--especially between sisters. It was an almost parallel, secondary love story that happened in tandem with the main plot. The love and loyalty shared between two sister is almost magical, but also any betrayals and sibling squabbles cut more deeply than any fight between friends.
FAMILY - I will refrain from commenting on the immigrant experience, as I can't relate, and there will be many reviewers who can provide a more nuanced opinion. I can however relate to the pressure of becoming someone your parents would be proud of when they worked extremely hard to give you everything. The sense of duty and responsibility vs. the heart's desires is a recurring inner struggle that Lia faces throughout the story. Nanja does a spectacular job at portraying all of it.
ROMANCE - This is a second-chance romance with the boy next door and a summer love. The yearning is actually top tier, and the way their love blossoms throughout the story is so sweet and nostalgic. Wes is incredibly charming and a genuinely nice guy, but also the right amount of manly to make you swoon. He's the kind of man that I wouldn't just fall for in fiction, but in real life as well.
PROSE - Top tier. Solid rhythm to paragraphs, and very nice and visceral descriptions. The writing itself is beautiful, but not flowery in a way that distracts you from the plot. At times it almost disappears into the background (especially if you listen to the audiobook) and you feel transported directly into the setting itself.
I really hope you pick up this book because it really is worth it!
May 13, 2025
This book takes me back to the days of summer and memories of your first love. A captivating summer romance about second chances, family expectations and finding your own happiness.
Lia is a corporate lawyer in her twenties and returning to her families lakeside cottage to help care for her teenage cousin. Being back at Pike Bay brings her back in touch with her teenage best friend and first love, Wes. These two were childhood friends turned lovers before the lost contact and never talked in over a decade. This story is told in dual timeline of present and past to tell the story of them falling in love and what happened to keep them apart for so long.
Lia is a corporate lawyer in her twenties and returning to her families lakeside cottage to help care for her teenage cousin. Being back at Pike Bay brings her back in touch with her teenage best friend and first love, Wes. These two were childhood friends turned lovers before the lost contact and never talked in over a decade. This story is told in dual timeline of present and past to tell the story of them falling in love and what happened to keep them apart for so long.
September 4, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ Une belle romance d’été avec la “thrope” de deuxième chance. J’ai trouvé qu’il y avait quelques longueurs, mais j’ai bien aimé comment la fin de l’histoire s’est déroulée.
Si vous aimez les romans de Carley Fortune, vous allez aimer cette lecture!
Si vous aimez les romans de Carley Fortune, vous allez aimer cette lecture!
August 30, 2025
Way more emotional than I expected!! I love a good second chance romance. Def for fans of Carley Fortune and Love & Other Words 💕💕
May 17, 2025
I really, really, really enjoyed this second chance debut interracial summer romance between a South Asian Canadian Toronto girl and the small town boy she meets while at her parent's vacation home on the Bruce Peninsula.
There's lots of young forbidden opposites attract love, flashbacks and fans of Carley Fortune will want to gobble it up!! I was here for every second of this book and especially enjoyed the audio narration by Athena Karkanis.
Noreen Nanja is a new Canadian author to watch!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: accidental pregnancy, abortion, death of a parent. side character with cancer
There's lots of young forbidden opposites attract love, flashbacks and fans of Carley Fortune will want to gobble it up!! I was here for every second of this book and especially enjoyed the audio narration by Athena Karkanis.
Noreen Nanja is a new Canadian author to watch!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
⚠️CW: accidental pregnancy, abortion, death of a parent. side character with cancer
April 23, 2025
breaking generational trauma, an angsty love story and a good time. I look forward to what Noreen does next!
June 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ This was just ok for me. Kinda wanted to slap a few characters.
May 26, 2025
A stunningly brilliant second chance romance, telling a story of raw emotions and grappling with family expectations amid figuring out who you are as a person. The writing was superb, it made for such a joyful and delectable read. I struggled to put this book away when I had to get to work or do some other stuff. If I had the time, I'd have devoured it in one sitting.
Noreen Nanja's debut brims with heart, honesty and humanity. The sweet and emotional moments mix with heavier ones, merging into something real and heartachingly beautiful.
Lia was such a complex, relatable character who I couldn't help but root for. Witnessing the love story between her and Wes, from the timid first teenage glances, blossoming friendship turning into more through the trials of love not always being enough to conquer all the first time around. The attention to details was so lush - Lia's tattoo got me misty-eyed. The nod to Julia Quinn's books, especially The Viscount Who Loved Me (my 2nd fav Bridgerton book), was an icing on the cake.
I also adored secondary characters - especially Mel - and thought the dynamic between the sisters was presented so well. Or maybe it's just the fact I could really relate to it as I was the 'perfect sister' growing up which caused a huge rift between me and my sister. We're great now and I loved seeing Lia and Mel's relationship change over the years as well.
I loved everything about this book. A new author added to my favourites list <3
Noreen Nanja's debut brims with heart, honesty and humanity. The sweet and emotional moments mix with heavier ones, merging into something real and heartachingly beautiful.
Lia was such a complex, relatable character who I couldn't help but root for. Witnessing the love story between her and Wes, from the timid first teenage glances, blossoming friendship turning into more through the trials of love not always being enough to conquer all the first time around. The attention to details was so lush - Lia's tattoo got me misty-eyed. The nod to Julia Quinn's books, especially The Viscount Who Loved Me (my 2nd fav Bridgerton book), was an icing on the cake.
I also adored secondary characters - especially Mel - and thought the dynamic between the sisters was presented so well. Or maybe it's just the fact I could really relate to it as I was the 'perfect sister' growing up which caused a huge rift between me and my sister. We're great now and I loved seeing Lia and Mel's relationship change over the years as well.
I loved everything about this book. A new author added to my favourites list <3
June 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I couldn’t put this book down from the moment I opened it! The characters really jumped right off the page from me and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Lia and Wes.
The sister relationship was complex but also filled with love which made it seem very real, and the complexities around family, culture, and the crux of being the eldest daughter added so much depth to the story in my opinion.
I often hate the miscommunication trope and this book was no exception but I did understand *why* it had to be done. The setting in this book truly made me wish I was sitting lakeside with my own paddle boat and secret island to go visit.
An incredible summer romance read!
I couldn’t put this book down from the moment I opened it! The characters really jumped right off the page from me and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Lia and Wes.
The sister relationship was complex but also filled with love which made it seem very real, and the complexities around family, culture, and the crux of being the eldest daughter added so much depth to the story in my opinion.
I often hate the miscommunication trope and this book was no exception but I did understand *why* it had to be done. The setting in this book truly made me wish I was sitting lakeside with my own paddle boat and secret island to go visit.
An incredible summer romance read!
May 13, 2025
5 ⭐️!!!!
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
it was literally summer wrapped up with a bow and I fell in love with Lia and Wes’s story and their second chance romance 😭😭🫶🫶🫶
I loved the switch between them as kids and then during the present which really helped me understand who they were and who they became. ALL IN ALL, Noreen Nanja u are a god and ily
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
it was literally summer wrapped up with a bow and I fell in love with Lia and Wes’s story and their second chance romance 😭😭🫶🫶🫶
I loved the switch between them as kids and then during the present which really helped me understand who they were and who they became. ALL IN ALL, Noreen Nanja u are a god and ily
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