See You at the Sunset

by Susan Lee

Two enemies-to-lovers, one unforgettable summer escape…

Jia Chung is living the dream…until she gets fired from her job, yet again. With her mom breathing down her neck to move home, she needs an escape, fast. When Mimi, her beloved grandmother, invites her to spend the summer in Palm Springs, Jia jumps at the chance. Staying at Sunset Hills Senior Living Community is exactly where a free spirit like Jia can thrive—among people living their best, sun-soaked, fun-filled lives. So what if they’re all octogenarians?

Henry Shin lives by the rules. It’s what overworked corporate lawyers do. They don’t fly off to Palm Springs to help their grandfathers move into a new home. But Dennis is Henry’s only family. How else can Henry make sure he’s settled and safe? The boisterous Zumba classes, daily happy hours, and spicy book clubs were a surprise though. And at the center, leading the charge, is a bright, vivacious stunner named Jia Chung. The same face he’d had a one-night stand with a few months back. And the same woman Henry was forced to terminate at his company the morning after.

As carefree days turn into hot, steamy nights, the chemistry between Henry and Jia ignites. But when the real world beckons, should what happens at the Sunset stay at the Sunset?

Genres: Romance, Summer, Summer Reads, Contemporary Romance, Aapi, Fiction, Contemporary

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 11, 2026

Reviews

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (slump era)]

༉‧₊˚.

pre-read : another susan lee arc ପ( •̤ᴗ•̤ )੭⁾⁾.｡.:✽・ﾟ＋

[Lochi's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m absolutely shocked that I read this book in a single day! I flew through it and it’s a credit to Susan’s writing.

See You at the Sunset, is a bright, effervescent, warm book that exudes a positive message. But also touches on maintaining senior independence and yes, even elder abuse. Jia and Henry’s story also works well with a BTS soundtrack.

When career climbing, code-switching, high-strung Henry Shin is given the responsibility of firing Jia Chung the bubbly, hopeful, jovial employee I knew this book was going to be interesting. The two end up together while they care for their grandparents in California at Sunset Hills and slowly bond while bring a community of seniors together. I know this book is Susan's second adult romance novel, and there are still some kinks to work out but the story is all good with its messages. As a new BTS listener, Into the Sun is *literally* the best track for this book and I hope one day we get to see Susan take advantage of the craze and interest in K-Pop explosion. Seriously, Susan give it to the girlies!

"Thanks for watching the sunset with me".
"Thanks for letting me. I see now why it's so important to you".

Thank you Harper Collins Canada for the digital arc, after some bumps in the road I'm so glad that I got a digital copy. :)

[Anna (annareadit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed the book. The story gave me the vibes of my favorite movie, Letters to Juliet. I also loved the nod to the fmc from The Romance Rivalry . But for some reason, something was personally missing for me, and I can't quite figure out what it was. The characters were sweet, and they honestly reminded me so much of the ones from the movie.

My rating: 3.5

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kari]

Soft DNFing this one, at least for now. I got to about 12%, but am struggling with the writing style. I'll probably give the audiobook a try once it's out.

Free review copy received from the publisher.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the hive/harlequin I had eARC and ALC as option and I chose to listen! I absolutely adore Susan Lee and here is another example of why. This book follows Jia who goes to live with her grandma at her 55+ community in Palm Springs and Henry, the man who just fired her, and is going to help move his grandpa into the same community. Jia immediately finds herself in this community and brings life to senior citizens who have been pushed off or infantilized which I thought was some great commentary.

Jia also is dealing with being fired for no reason and being and Asian woman and facing challenges both from being forced to work jobs she doesn’t fit in by her overbearing parents and then facing harassment and false firing claims.

I really loved watching not only Jia and Henry’s relationship grow but also all the senior citizens around them grow more confident with Jias help and just provide a lot of laughs. My favorite parts were the Zumba classes and senior dance!

- enemies ish to lovers
- family struggles
- anxiety and ocd rep ( Henry ily)
- finding your place in this world!

[Sarah Medeiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. Looooooved.

I love Jia and Henry.

But I also love
Mimi
Dennis
Gladys
Gordon
Betty and
Eugene

I have such a sweet spot for old people and the Sunset Hills retirement community is such a vibe. I love that Jia sees the worth and life left to live for the residents and in turn, they show her all of the talent and skill and value that she brings to the table as well. It’s such a sweet relationship that she develops with everyone there.

And Henry- oh Henry. Grumpy and reserved and a total worrywart, but Sunset Hills heals him too. It brings out the softer side of him that he’s never allowed himself to let anyone see. What a magical place for both Jia and Henry.

I would honestly watch a tv show all about the antics that this cast of characters gets up to because they are just that hilarious.

And I screamed when I saw the Romance Rivalry Easter egg in the epilogue! I am such a whore for Easter eggs and that one was perfection.

Thank you to The Hive for the early copy!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
I loved the first half of this book! I enjoyed learning about the characters’ family dynamics and how they complemented each other. I also loved the pull between the two main characters! The second half of the book just felt rushed for me. I would have enjoyed some plot points to be dragged out further.

[Zoë Taki · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ★
↳ I would give this ∞/5 ★ if I could

Thank you to Mira books, The Hive, Harper Collins, and Netgalley for this eArc!

Date Finished ~ 05.08.2026

★ 𝖕𝖑𝖊𝖆𝖘𝖊 𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊 - 𝖒𝖞 𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓𝖘 𝖘𝖕𝖔𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖗𝖘 ★

"𝙸 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎...𝚟𝚒𝚋𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚝. 𝙴𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙱𝚘𝚕𝚍. 𝙸𝚝'𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚖𝚎. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚐𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍."

"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝. 𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚢."

"𝚈𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚝."

"𝚂𝚎𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙸'𝚍 𝚍𝚘 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞."

"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚎𝚝, 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎."

𝑻𝑹𝑶𝑷𝑬𝑺 + 𝑺𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑬 ~
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Found Family
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Forced Proximity
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ Self Love
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝑴𝒀 𝑩𝑰𝑮𝑮𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝑻𝑨𝑲𝑬𝑨𝑾𝑨𝒀𝑺 ~
╰┈➤ I LOVE JIA CHUNG OH MY GODDDDDD. My beautifully messy, big hearted, exceptionally creative and resourceful girl. Holy shit. I know I've said this before in Susan's other books, there are always pieces of her FMCs I see in myself, but Jia has taken the cake so far. Jia is written so immensely human, and I really commend Susan for making so many of her struggles and difficulties internal - and I think it really shows off how clear and clean Susan's writing and narration is.
╰┈➤ My poor sweet anxious puppy dog Henry J. Shin, Esq. Something I think Susan has always done very well is that her FMC and MMCs are all very unique from each other and Henry is a new flavor of LI from Susan that I am OBSESSED with. He goes through a HUGE character arc throughout this book, and it was done with such precision and with such a clear picture, I love who he became over the course of the book.
╰┈➤ This book is going to resonate with so many people who are close with their Grandparents, and who have been able to grow up with them. There is a soft delicacy in handling the topic of the love, while the fear of watching them grow older. Wanting the best for your elderly family, while not always going about it in the best way. My Grandma is 81 and suffers from a lot of health issues, and reading this book was like a warm hug. It made me nostalgic of all the memories I have from growing up with her, while also grateful for all the chances and opportunities I still have to make now.
╰┈➤ Susan has stated that this book is her love letter to the desert, and as someone who grew up in one of the deserts of California, her love and admiration is so evident. The sense of peace and belonging is laced through the words she's written, and I am so excited for readers to see the desert the way she does. I live in NYC (like Jia and Henry at the start), but pieces of my heart will always belong to California; to the scorching hot days, the Palm and Joshua trees, and the painted sunsets across the sky.

𝑰𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫 ~
As the self proclaimed #1 Susan Lee stan, up until now my favourite of hers had been The Romance Rivalry. That being said, I am now confidently saying that See You at the Sunset is now replacing it at #1. (However, if I'm cheating the game then technically SYATS is my fav Adult and TRR is my fav YA hehehe). I am really looking forward to not shutting up about this book and getting it on everyone's radar prior to release!

𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕖:
IG: @abitofmagick
TT: @abitofmagick

[Joselyn N · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ *some spoilers*

I had a really fun time with this one overall. Susan Lee has a way of writing characters that feel easy to root for, and I think this is a stronger, faster-paced book than her debut.

Henry and Jia share one unforgettable night together, fully expecting to never see each other again. No names, no numbers, just one perfect night. Jia thinks she’s celebrating a promotion… only to wake up and find out she’s actually been fired (again). Henry is a rule-following lawyer who’s starting to realize he’s been living life a little too safely. Fate brings them back together at the retirement community where both of their grandparents live, except instead of picking up where they left off, all of that instant chemistry seems to disappear.

One of my favorite parts of this book was Jia’s journey. The very qualities that kept getting her fired ended up becoming her biggest strengths as she started organizing events and building community at Sunset. Watching her realize she wasn’t “too much” or “bad at life,” she was just in the wrong environment, was honestly really beautiful.

I also loved the family dynamics. Susan gave us close, overbearing family relationships in her first book, and here she explores something different. Henry has emotionally distant parents, while Jia’s parents love her but struggle to see her as the capable adult she is. And Mimi? Absolute queen. She was everything you could want in a grandma, endlessly supportive and always reminding Jia of who she really is.

The seniors plotting to get Henry and Jia together absolutely stole the show. Every scene with them made me smile.

That said… the romance lost me a little in the middle. Around the halfway point I kept waiting for the emotional tension to build, but it felt surprisingly stagnant considering these two had literally already slept together. Then, all of a sudden, it jumped from barely acknowledging their feelings to making out, and the transition just didn’t feel earned for me. I wanted more yearning, more slow realization, more emotional build-up.

I also wasn’t completely sold on the real estate storyline. Matthew was introduced like he’d play a much bigger role, but it never really developed the way I expected. The resolution worked well enough, but I think it could have had a little more depth. And while the intimate scenes weren’t my favorite, they were a small part of the overall story.

Even with those criticisms, I really liked where everything landed. Seeing Jia build a life that actually fit who she was instead of trying to squeeze herself into someone else’s expectations was easily the heart of the story for me. I loved that both she and Henry chose to stay in Palm Springs and create lives they genuinely wanted, on their own terms.

Overall, this was a sweet, heartfelt romance with lovable grandparents, found purpose, and a reminder that sometimes the things people tell you are your weaknesses are actually your greatest strengths. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a feel-good romance with plenty of heart.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I realized this book primarily takes place in Palm Springs during the summer, I was concerned about some sort of romanticizing of the California desert in its off-season (am I just an LA girl scarred from a few too many weekend trips in 110+ degree heat? maybe). Thankfully, the descriptions of the desert in the summer were spot on, and I thoroughly appreciated the treatment of the stifling heat and slower pace of life during that time of year. Plus, these elements play a key part in the story of the Sunset Hills Senior Living Community.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book was the retirement community in Palm Springs where the main characters travel to spend time with their grandparents. All of the “older” neighborhood residents were a delight – their compassion, humor, and sense of community were a highlight of the story. I also loved that Jia threw herself into building and supporting the community through creating clubs (even a spicy book club!) and fostering connections among the residents to help them live joyfully.

I also appreciated the open discussions around mental health between Jia and Henry. They share their struggles (particularly around their strained relationships with their parents) and experiences in therapy, which I found very meaningful.

However, in terms of the romance, something was missing for me. Jia and Henry’s moments of connection during the community activities felt a bit forced, and I just didn’t ever feel that they had much chemistry. I also felt that their initial meeting and history (nameless one night stand + messy professional ties) were a way bigger deal than was made out to be in the story. I didn't see how two people could get past some of the things they went through.

I empathized with both main characters and they did have decent development – but I definitely felt I knew Jia better than Henry. Perhaps due to the detached, serious, even unfeeling nature of his personality through most of the story, I just didn’t really feel like I knew him as a character, which left me not really caring much about the romantic elements of the book as well.

I will also add that I absolutely adored The Romance Rivalry (loved the reference to it in this book!!) and Julia Song is Undateable, so perhaps I let my expectations get away from me a bit here, which caused me to feel a bit let down by the romance in this book.

Overall, it’s a fun summer story with a lovable community of characters – there was just something missing from the romance part of it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC! 💌

[DeeAnn Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

See You at the Sunset by Susan Lee
Available August 11, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Thanks so much to MIRA for the eBook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jia Chung thought she was getting a promotion and goes out to celebrate and ends up having a one night stand that rocked her world, the next day however; instead of a promotion, she gets fired from her NYC job and decides to take refuge with her grandma Mimi for a month in Palm Springs. Mimi lives at a retirement community called Sunset and it holds so many fun memories for Jia as a child, but when she arrives it seems the community isn’t like she remembers so she decides to get the residents together again and bring back activities and life to the Sunset.

Henry Shen is “living the dream”. He’s a young lawyer working at a prestigious law firm in NYC and working his way to the top with them. He had to make some questionable calls, but he’s getting so close to all the things he wanted for himself. He’s feeling good about everything and goes out for a drink and ends up bringing an amazing woman back to his place for the night, but she’s gone by morning without him knowing her name or anything about her. He brushes it off quick because his grandpa Dennis calls him telling Henry that a realtor convinced him to sell his Palm Springs home and move to a retirement community the Sunset. While his grandpa seems happy with his decision, the realtor sounds sketchy so Henry decides he better go to Palm Springs and help Dennis get settled. What he doesn’t anticipate is finding his one night stand Jia staying at the Sunset.

This story gave me all the feels. My grandparents lived in a 55+ community and while it wasn’t as cool as the Sunset, I have fond memories of swimming at the pool, playing hours of Monopoly and Yahtzee, helping with their garden, and my grandpa putting me on the back of his bike and taking me to 7-11 for tiny chocolate footballs (it was the 80s so this was fine 😂). Jia and Henry had the perfect opposites attract energy. I think he added some grounding and stability and she brought whimsy and joy in life. They shared a love for the found family at the Sunset, so many hilarious and fun characters that just added so much to the story. I think anyone looking for a summer romance, hilarious medaling grandparents, and two people finding themselves while finding love NEED to read See You at the Sunset.

#RomanceBook #SummerRomanceBook #NetGalley #authorSusanLee #SeeYouattheSunset

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where the cover is gorgeous, the title is cute, the premise sounds like something I should absolutely eat up… and then somehow the actual reading experience just doesn’t quite hit the same. 😭🌴☀️

A summer romance in Palm Springs? A one-night stand reunion? Meddling grandparents in a retirement community trying to play matchmaker? On paper, this had everything it needed to work for me. In reality… not so much.

I think a big part of the issue was the third-person narration. I’ve been reading so many first-person single/dual POV romances lately that this one felt weirdly distant, and I never fully connected with the romance because of it. Henry and Jia were both perfectly likable, but “perfectly likable” is unfortunately not enough when I need a romance to have me giggling, kicking my feet, and making bad life choices over fictional people. 😔

Also, I’m sorry, but two grown adults spending two weeks in a retirement community where a bunch of seniors are basically running a full-time matchmaking operation?? 😭 I know romance books are not exactly documentaries, but this whole setup was just a little too absurd for me to fully buy into. Around the 30% mark I was already doing that thing where you “read faster” aka start lightly skimming and hoping the chemistry will suddenly hit.

The romance felt rushed, the story was very predictable, and overall the whole thing leaned a little more childish than I expected. I connected with Henry more than Jia, but with her I often just didn’t understand the choices she was making, which made it harder to get invested in them as a couple.

That said, the book is very easy to read, and I appreciated the inclusion of mental health struggles and how much those themes mattered to the story. I can absolutely see this working for readers who want something light, quirky, summery, and a little different.

Sadly, I was not the target audience here. 🤷🏻‍♀️✨

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Give me young people taking up residence in a retirement community with charming, meddlesome grandparents and I will be seated for the story. There was so much humor and heart in these pages, and I was charmed by it all.

I had the audiobook and ebook together for an immersive read. Michelle H. Lee did a fantastic job with the narration of the audio. She brought emotion and personality to each of the characters with a distinct voice. I enjoyed her performance very much.

Jia’s plight of trying to find her place in the world and as an adult was real and relatable. I felt for her when she was upended from her corporate job, but loved to see her thrive in the community space when she went to stay at Sunset Hills with her grandmother and helped revive its social calendar. Even if she didn’t realize it in the process, she was providing such important livelihood and connection for the residents, and she was finding joy in herself by helping spread it among others. I loved the role she created just by being herself.

The concept of having a one-night-stand with the man who ultimately signs off on your employment termination the next day brought such a fun twist to the introduction of Henry into Jia’s life, even if they didn’t know that little tidbit until later when Henry also landed at Sunset Hills with his grandfather. (Additionally, the misunderstanding when they’re reintroduced in each other’s lives was highly entertaining and comical for me.) Seeing Henry’s shifting perspective and growth in compassion and understanding - for those around him and for himself - during his time at Sunset Hills was heartwarming, and Jia’s part in that was no small contribution. Their connection grew and strengthened in a way that felt organic and lasting, and it was put to the test later in the story in a way that really solidified it.

This book was a delight from start to finish. Thank you to MIRA for the eARC and Harlequin Audio for the ALC, both via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Cindy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins and Susan Lee for this ARC! I was not expecting to cry and feel big feelings from this rom-com story. Jia Chung and Henry Shin are as opposite as can be. Jia loves bright colours and currently at an uncertain crossroads in her life. Henry is a strict rule follower and currently hard at work career climbing. This story follows the MMCs as they navigate their career paths, familial responsibilities, and what happiness truly means.

I love the contrast in these characters in the first few chapters. Despite this, we can still see how similar they both are in their current wellbeing and their amazing chemistry. I enjoyed seeing how they both cherish their grandparents. The opportunities and challenges with retired community living are well integrated and add a unique perspective. This community life was woven in very well with the story and lots of relatable themes for the MMCs to consider, such as, freedom of choice, prioritizing your wellbeing, and redefining happiness for you.

These characters navigate their own big feelings of inadequacies in an age where it’s so easy to compare our lives with others. This is extremely applicable today and gave me the feels.

Finally, and most importantly, I love the way Susan integrates generational trauma. We get to see both characters navigate their own experiences and upbringings. It was very emotional for me to read (*brb, I’m going to cry again).

What I love about this story:
❤️ Asian-American representation
💁🏻‍♀️ She is vibrant, uncertain of her future
💁🏻‍♂️ He is a lawyer: strict rule follower and overprotective
💃🏻📖 Zumba & spicy book clubs
🧲 Opposites attract
👵🏼👴🏼 Meddling octogenarians
🏡 Forced proximity
❤️‍🩹 Generational trauma & mental health representation
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Joanne Lui · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a great beach read this summer, "See You at the Sunset" is the perfect vibe. Susan Lee's writing is always both lighthearted and full of heart, and I flew through this book.

Jia was such an interesting character. While on the surface, she is accused of being flighty and irresponsible, she actually's full of soul and kindness, and has so much love to give to everyone around her. The way she immediately jump in to help the residents of Sunset Hills is proof of that.

Henry, of course, is the grumpy to her sunshine, the stodgy lawyer to her optimistic admin assistant, but he has reasons for being the way he is too. His character is equally three-dimensional, and his panic attacks and anxiety over his grandfather gave needed insight into why he is the way he is.

I loved the natural flow of their relationship, and especially how Susan handled their interactions and how they still cheered for each other when it became clear that they would have to be at odds when it comes to what happened at their workplace. I don't always love when I know conflict is coming, and although there naturally is some, the third act was very refreshing to read.

Bonus points for the hilarious and adorable senior citizens of Sunset Hills. It's always fun to read some feisty characters who remind us that growing old doesn't have to mean growing bored or growing stale.

Truly, another great read from Susan Lee. I hope she has another adult romance coming soon!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and HarperCollins for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Kayla Thorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Jia is fired from another job and her parents want her to move home and get serious about life. She really doesn't want to go so she takes a detour to stay with her grandmother in Sunset Hills retirement community while she tries to figure out what comes next for her. She wants to breathe life back into the community so she hosts a welcome party for new community member Dennis. Dennis is joined by his grandson Henry who is helping him settle into his new home. Henry is a corporate lawyer who plays by the rules. Oh also he just fired Jia from her job. Plus they previously had a one night stand.

Read if you like:
-forced proximity
-opposites attract
-multi-generational family stories
-one night stand
-found family

My thoughts:
I liked this! Jia was such a beautiful messy character with the biggest heart. She just felt very real. Her and Henry are very much opposites but still made so much sense for each other. Henry had a great character arc that was incredibly satisfying. I loved all the side characters and the elderly community. My grandparents have all passed away but to this day my grandpa remains my favorite human to ever live and this book just really hit me in the feels. I love to see people treating the elderly community with the dignity and respect they deserve and this book did that in a big way. Over all this was a really feel-good romance and I really enjoyed it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Courtney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin for the arc of this super fun new novel from Susan Lee!

After being fired from yet another corporate job, Jia heads to the desert from some much needed R&R with her favorite person, her grandmother Mimi. While there, Jia spreads her sunshiney, colorful energy to all the residents of the Sunset bringing them together as a community. She also begrudgingly falls for the man who fired her.

Cry Rating: Level 0 (no tears)

What Stood Out:
- The super fun meet cute and additional chance encounters!
- Jia’s sunshiney, messy, colorful spirit! She remains true to herself despite the obstacles thrown her way and effortlessly brings joy to those around her just by being her!
- Henry’s caring personality. Sure, he is a bit rigid at times, but his heart is always very much in the right place, and it is oh so big!
- The relationships between everyone at The Sunset! I adored how Jia rejuvenated the community and got all the seniors engaged in activities with one another. She truly united the village into a community.
- The character growth. Both Jia and Henry grow so much in this short story and it was truly so special to watch it all unfold.
- The banter between Henry and Jia was absolutely delightful!

Read If You Like:
- one-night-stands
- found family
- forced proximity
- opposites attract

[Onceuponabooktalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

See You At The Sunset - ARC Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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PUB DATE: August 11th, 2026
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FEATURES:
-Contemporary Romance
-Found Family
-Spunky, Elderly side characters
-Embracing A Slower Pace
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WHY 4/5:
I really enjoyed this unique and fresh romance, with great leads and incredible side characters.
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Both leads go on very different journeys of self discovery, only to find letting go of past goals and standards might be best. I loved seeing them grow and ultimately find unexpected happiness in a senior citizen community - where they embrace a slower pace, find community that becomes family, and find their truest selves.
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I will say that I almost enjoyed the spunky, elderly side characters the most! They were a hoot!
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My only reason for not giving this 5 stars was that the beginning felt a bit scattered/had too many ideas between the work conflict, one night stand, and the leads ending up in the same senior citizen community. It took a while to get the story going and I think it might have flowed better if the author ran with either the work conflict or one night stand as a meet cite, instead of both.
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Overall very enjoyable and I look forward to more adult romances from Susan Lee.
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Thank you @harlequin and @netgalley for my eARC copy. I was given this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Brittany Rader · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ARC review✨

2.5 stars

The premise of this book was right up my alley and I really liked the kooky cast of senior citizens that made up the secondary cast of characters. They added so much life, humor, and compassion to the story and really made the plot feel 3-dimensional. Our protagonists, Jia and Henry, both entered the story with faults and the other characters helped them become better versions of themselves in a very organic way. Although this is primarily a romance between the two, their relationships with their respective grandparents stole the show for me. Those subplots were really the heart of the story.

Where this book didn’t work for me was in the main characters and their romance (which unfortunately is the bulk of the book). Both of the characters felt like flat caricatures. I appreciate that we got to know bits of their trauma and mental health struggles, but they felt very surface level and seemed to disappear whenever they weren’t actively contributing to the plot. The romance also felt pretty off. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two so even though they knew each other of months by the conclusion of the book, it felt quite insta-lovey.

Overall, I can see a lot of charm in this book, but it ultimately didn't come together into a book that I enjoyed.

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!!

a retirement community setting is not something i knew that i needed in my life until this book, i had SO much fun with jia, henry, mimi, dennis (the whole community really). i am an absolute sucker for fun and playful meddling and i think that susan lee is without a doubt the best author when it comes to meddling family 🤭

one of the reasons i am so enamored by susan lee and her writing is her FMCs, i absolutely love the way that they never have to change who they are to get the happy ending. jia is sunshine personified and i was so grateful to see that no one (outside of her parents) ever tried to dull/change who she was and that her little quirks just endeared her further to people. henry specifically made my heart melt in the way he would remember things for jia so that she wouldnt forget things while her brain was going a million miles a second and the way that he handled a certain plot line at the end, adamant that jia needed to do what would be best for her and to not worry about him during it.

henry and jia were just so sweet, i loved their chemistry, i loved how they helped each other grow in different ways. this book was everything i hoped it would be and more!! susan lee is just such an amazing author to me, i live for the way she tells her stories and i cannot wait to see what she does next!

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

See You at the Sunset was simply…cute. That’s probably the best word to describe it.

I found myself relating to both Jia and Henry more than I expected. As a recovering workaholic, Henry’s struggle with work and identity hit close to home. Jia’s dream of stepping away from the traditional corporate path also resonated with me. I’ve often imagined doing something completely different, like working in a senior living community. The Asian family dynamics and expectations felt authentic too.

I also adored the retirement community setting. The residents completely stole the show and brought so much warmth and humor to the story.

That said, there were moments when it almost felt too cute. The story reminded me of a light romantic comedy you’d happily watch on a Friday night, enjoy for two hours, and then move on from. It was entertaining, the romance was sweet, and I had a genuinely good time. I just found myself wanting a little more emotional depth and a few less perfectly charming moments.

Overall, it was a fun, heartwarming escape, even if it didn’t become a new favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Books for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The retirement community setting absolutely made this book for me. The residents of Sunset Hills completely stole the show, bringing so much warmth, humor, and heart to every scene. I loved seeing Jia and Henry’s relationships with their grandparents, and I appreciated how the story explored themes like freedom of choice, prioritizing your wellbeing, and redefining happiness later in life. I also loved seeing an elderly community treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

That said, I struggled to connect with the main romance. Jia and Henry were both likable, but their relationship went from one-night stand to enemies to love a little too quickly for me, and I never felt fully invested in them as a couple. I also wanted to shake both of them at times- especially Jia when it came to standing up to her parents.

There were quite a few plot threads that felt like they were building toward something big but ultimately fizzled out without much resolution, leaving me with more questions than answers.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but if I’m being honest, the main characters were closer to a 3-star read for me. The unforgettable Sunset Hills residents and all of their antics are what bumped this up to 3.5 stars.

[Jen Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Lee is giving us a whimsical rom com with Jia Chung and Henry Shin who after a one-night stand, reunite at their grandparents retirement community. Straight laced lawyer Henry is working his way up the corporate ladder and complies with the questionable firing of Jia, the full of life and color executive assistant. Henry is helping his grandfather move into a new retirement community and taking a long overdue vacation. Jia is visiting her grandmother who has always accepted her and will give her a safe space to recuperate. One night was a dream, but what happens in 2 weeks of meddling seniors and ambitious group activities. Add in toxic parents and corporate meetings bringing out lots of emotions and reflection.

The chemistry between Henry and Jia was undeniable. They support each other and their new community. Henry settles Jia while Jia brings warmth and light to his life. I loved how they end their days watching the sunset and how each grew and found true peace in the found family. It was cheesy, lighthearted, and also tackled some hard topics with grace.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC of See You at the Sunset in exchange for an honest review. I am a fan of Susan Lee and this book did not disappoint!

[Jocelynn LeBlanc]

See You at the Sunset by Susan Lee
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (not a full rating yet since did not read the full story yet due to it being a sample on NETGALLEY)

This is my first Susan Lee book I’ve read which I am happy I got an idea of how her writing is in this one so I can pick up more of her books in the future!!
I was not expecting this to be only a little 8 chapter sample for this book. Didn’t know publishers did this and I guess I understand why but it did upset me that it wasn’t the full book.

I have enjoyed this book so far a lot. I’m intrigued by Jia and Henry and I want to know more of how their relationship is going to develop and what’s doing to happen in general for both characters and the storyline. I do love a good little one night stand romance moment though.

Thank you MIRA and Harlequin for the early sample for this book, I am invested and really want to read the rest of this book and know how it all plays out. I really am enjoying this story so far so I just felt very blue balled there when this got cut off after 8 chapters, but hoping there will be a full eARC option soon or if a physical ARC is in development for this one I totally would love to get my hands on this!!

[Sarah Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Susan Lee. This was the perfect summer read that I have been itching for. We have Henry who is a lawyer and is a loyalist to the rules. And then there is Jia, who likes to enjoy life and bring light into others' lives. They have a one-night stand and Henry fires Jia the next day. They meet again at The Sunset, where Jia's Grandma resides and Henry's Granddad is moving to. During the story, you fall in love with the endearing residents of The Sunset as they are in cahoots to bring Henry and Jia together. Jia is finding her purpose and herself during her time at The Sunset while also bringing together the residents in the community. Henry is so swoony, I loved Jia and Henry's relationship. The story also dives into the topic of treating elders with respect and the right to live their lives, instead of counting down their days.

I felt a lot of nostalgia reading this book, as my grandparents lived at a 55+ residential community in Palm Springs, just like The Sunset. Thank you Susan Lee for gracing us with another excellent book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc!

[Swai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, charming, and predictable in a good way. Henry and Jia are easy to root for. Their personalities are clearcut and diametrically opposed: she is the free spirit who's lost her job, and he is the straight laced corporate lawyer. These personalities developed in relation to their parents: Henry's are the freedom loving hippie type, to the point of negligence and self indulgence, while Jia's are helicopter lawyer parents. Oddly, the two fall in love with the very image of their parents -- even though the actual parents, especially Henry's, are presented in a harshly negative light.

Despite how I have set this up, the novel is really about the relationship with one's grandparents rather than parents. Much of the plot takes place in a senior community in California. I loved the sweet depictions of the older generation.

I did wish for more complexity among the characters. They existed to move the plot, and their moral standing was always crystal. That doesn't mean they weren't likable; they just seemed more puppeteered.

The romance was steamy and fun, with somewhat cookie cutter descriptions and tropes.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jia is sure she is getting a promotion at work but ends up being fired instead. Under the pressure of her successful lawyer parents, she seeks refuge at her Mimi’s retirement community in Palm Springs. She flourishes in this world, making connections with the residents and creating clubs and programs for them to be able to socialize, have fun, and remain independent.

Henry is a successful lawyer, sacrificing his personal life in order to climb the ladder at work. His flighty parents all but abandoned him as a child, leaving him with his grandpa Dennis. Now Dennis is moving into a retirement community so of course Henry will be there to help.

Imagine the surprise when these two come face to face in Palm Springs after a casual hook up back in NYC. They both have some serious soul searching to do and now a mutual attraction to explore.

It’s easy to root for Jia and Henry and hard not to fall in love with Mimi, Dennis and the retirement community. Overall this was a fun and light read.

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review. Check this one out on August 11!

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

See You at the Sunset will be one of THE books to grab this summer to read by the pool. Thank you Susan Lee, MIRA, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early reader copy of See You at the Sunset. Warning: if you have (or had) a close relationship with your grandparents, you may cry, so keep tissues nearby.

Palm Springs, NYC - both coasts and their stark differences are on display in See You at the Sunset. Jia Chung and Henry Shin are polar opposites that on paper, should not work. The entire storyline could be re-written as a thriller in a blink of an eye, which is even poked fun at by both the FMC and MMC.

While the writing style of SYatS didn't necessarily hit all the spots for me, the characters did. Jia Chung and Henry Shin were extremely relatable and you could see them actively fighting against and questioning what they were conditioned to believe about themselves and the world. But more so, I want more of all of the sweet, quirky, and hilarious residents of Sunset Hills - Mimi, Dennis, Gladys, Betty etc.. The found family aspect definitely hit within Sunset Hills.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

[Meredith Redding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, the main reason I like Susan Lee is because Ali Hazelwood likes Susan Lee, and I like Ali Hazelwood. Unfortunately, friendship with a great author does not make someone else a great author. 😅

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly good, either. It’s written in third-person POV, which I’m beginning to realize I don’t like, and the writing style was just hard for me to follow, in general. I like the plot in theory, but the relationship arc of the main characters wasn’t very convincing to me. Jia was almost too nice and Henry was almost too aloof, and it goes from one night stand to enemies to insta-love very quickly.

There were also a lot of plot holes. Like from the very first page, she’s setting up a big dramatic conflict to happen, and then it just sort of fizzles out. And then another big devious thing is set up to go down, and then it just kind of dies out without any follow up. I don’t know, maybe I’m being too harsh, I just feel like I ended with so many unanswered questions?!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the ARC of this book!

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book had the potential to be really great, but it just fell a little flat for me. I appreciated the build up of her being fired from her job and I sort of understood the connection her clothes had with her life in New York, but I feel like it could have been skipped or brought into the plot more. To me, her leaving her luggage seemed like too small of a thing to be mentioned so many times. The writing was good for most of the book, but sometimes it felt like reading a Wattpad story.

Overall, it was a fun book and I loved all The Sunset residents and their hilarious antics. Jia was such a sweet person, but she was bordering on overly ditzy. Some of her behaviors and conversations made me cringe. This was a classic grumpy x sunshine story with lots of great side characters that really helped me get through the book. Although I wasn't overly fond of this book, I think it was still a fun read and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.