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Summer People
One week. No drama. And absolutely no dating each other.
After graduating college, five friends make a pact. Every summer, they’ll meet for one week at the same beach house on the California coast to relive the golden days of college. There’s just one no dating within the group.
Simple enough, except Everett and Sutton already broke the rule before summer even began… and couldn’t seem to stop. What started as a one-time fling turned into an annual habit neither of them could quit, until the night everything fell apart.
Five years later, Sutton has no interest in seeing Everett ever again. Until one of their friends, newly divorced and looking for an escape, calls everyone back to the beach house. She expects awkward silences and forced smiles, but nothing could prepare her for Everett--still infuriating, still magnetic, and still capable of unraveling her with a single glance.
As the week stretches on and every re-lived tradition, shared meal and outing bring a flood of sun-soaked memories that feed the spark between her and Everett, Sutton begins to wonder if the promise that broke them apart was worth keeping in the first place… and if breaking it again will ruin the delicate balance their friend group has finally started to reclaim.
After graduating college, five friends make a pact. Every summer, they’ll meet for one week at the same beach house on the California coast to relive the golden days of college. There’s just one no dating within the group.
Simple enough, except Everett and Sutton already broke the rule before summer even began… and couldn’t seem to stop. What started as a one-time fling turned into an annual habit neither of them could quit, until the night everything fell apart.
Five years later, Sutton has no interest in seeing Everett ever again. Until one of their friends, newly divorced and looking for an escape, calls everyone back to the beach house. She expects awkward silences and forced smiles, but nothing could prepare her for Everett--still infuriating, still magnetic, and still capable of unraveling her with a single glance.
As the week stretches on and every re-lived tradition, shared meal and outing bring a flood of sun-soaked memories that feed the spark between her and Everett, Sutton begins to wonder if the promise that broke them apart was worth keeping in the first place… and if breaking it again will ruin the delicate balance their friend group has finally started to reclaim.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2026
About the author
Sally Blakely
4 books399 followersSally Blakely studied theatre, media arts, English, and education at The University of Montana. When she's not writing, she's reading, or making far too many playlists. She lives in Montana with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
Did Not Finish
July 19, 2026°❀.ೃ࿔* Soft DNF @ 32%
There is literally nothing wrong with this book. I was very excited when I got approved to read this book since I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s debut “Friends to Lovers.” (This was before my hate for the friends-to-lovers trope began. 😭) But I just couldn’t get into this. The writing was good, the characters were fine, and I’m still interested in what’s going to happen, even though I have an idea of how it’s all going to play out. But whenever I thought about picking up my device to read it, I dreaded it. It's been almost a month since I started it, and I didn't even make it halfway through. 😭🙏🏼 So I’m going to put a pause on this for now because I have other arcs I need to read. ☺
This is just a classic case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”
But I still recommend it if you are looking for a fun and summery romance book! 🧡
ྀི Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ྀི
There is literally nothing wrong with this book. I was very excited when I got approved to read this book since I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s debut “Friends to Lovers.” (This was before my hate for the friends-to-lovers trope began. 😭) But I just couldn’t get into this. The writing was good, the characters were fine, and I’m still interested in what’s going to happen, even though I have an idea of how it’s all going to play out. But whenever I thought about picking up my device to read it, I dreaded it. It's been almost a month since I started it, and I didn't even make it halfway through. 😭🙏🏼 So I’m going to put a pause on this for now because I have other arcs I need to read. ☺
This is just a classic case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”
But I still recommend it if you are looking for a fun and summery romance book! 🧡
ྀི Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ྀི
July 13, 2026
“Things will keep shifting, changing, and we’ll step into each part of our lives knowing the most important truth. No matter what we’re afraid of or excited for, we all have each other.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴏʟᴅ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ” x ʙᴇɴ ʀᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ
0:35 ──♥───────── 3:44
Sutton and Everett share one unexpected night together, fully believing they’ll never cross paths again… until life has other plans. After a shake-up in a newly formed friend group leaves one spot open for their annual beach trip, Everett ends up filling it. What starts as one summer together slowly turns into a tradition, with the same group returning to the beach house year after year. Then everything falls apart. Five years later, one desperate phone call brings them all back to the place where so much of their lives began.
The entire time I was dying to know what happened between Sutton and Everett. You know something went terribly wrong, but the book refuses to hand you the answers all at once. Instead, it slowly peels back every layer through the dual timeline, showing snippets of those summers alongside the present. Every single chapter ended with me needing “just one more,” and suddenly it was 2 AM and I had absolutely no self-control anymore 😭😆 (i will mention this now... the reason things fell apart left me mildly disappointed because like... really?? that's so minor 😭 but oh well. that wasn't my biggest takeaway anyway so i wasn't too worried)
And THE TENSION????? Oh my goodness.
These two spent years burying feelings that practically radiated off the page anyway. Every glance, every conversation, every shared memory… it all carried so much history that you could feel it sitting between them. Everett and Sutton felt incredibly real. They loved each other through hurt, mistakes, stubbornness, and years of silence, and somehow that made every little moment between them hit even harder 🤌🏼
But somehow… the romance wasn’t even my favorite part.
This book is about friendship just as much as it’s about love
I genuinely felt like I knew every single person in this group. I cared about all five of them individually, but even more, I cared about them together. Watching friendships stretch, crack, drift apart, and slowly find their way back again was honestly the heart of this story for me.
At first, “summer people” feels sweet… almost nostalgic. But then you realize that’s exactly what they’ve become. People who only know fragments of each other’s lives. People who used to know every tiny detail but eventually became limited to one week every year because careers, distance, heartbreak, and growing up quietly took over. It made me stop and think about how easy it is to let life convince us that fading friendships are just inevitable 🥺
This story reminds you that growing older doesn’t automatically mean growing apart forever.
People change.
Priorities change.
Seasons of life change.
But if both people are willing to reach back out—to have the uncomfortable conversations, to own their mistakes, to choose each other again— those friendships can look different without being any less meaningful.
I expected to fall in love with the romance, but I wasn’t expecting the friendships to leave the biggest impression on me. There was something so real about watching this group navigate growing up, growing apart, and finding their way back to each other.
This book left me smiling, emotional, nostalgic, and weirdly grateful for the people who continue choosing each other through every version of life 🥹🫶🏼
favorite quotes ↓
“Friends?” he said.
I almost laughed. “Or something like that.”
It was the first lie I ever told him. I couldn’t have been just friends with Everett Bridges if I tried.
“It was always like that with Everett. He kissed me, and the rest of the world turned off for a minute.”
“I remember everything, Sutton,” he says. “I think all of my best days have been with you.”
“I want Everett, who I’ve hurt, who has hurt me, whose flawed, human pieces I know, and have only made me love him more.”
things to know about the book ↓
☀️ friends → enemies → lovers
☀️ forbidden love
☀️ forced proximity
☀️ found family
☀️ dual timeline
☀️ second chance
☀️ summer beach setting
☀️ college friends reunion
☀️ emotional angst
☀️ healing friendships
☀️ friendship-focused story
☀️ single POV (hers)
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 14, 16, 19, 23
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
july 6th- starting an arc that's releasing the next day?? me??? never 🙂↔️
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴏʟᴅ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ” x ʙᴇɴ ʀᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ
0:35 ──♥───────── 3:44
Sutton and Everett share one unexpected night together, fully believing they’ll never cross paths again… until life has other plans. After a shake-up in a newly formed friend group leaves one spot open for their annual beach trip, Everett ends up filling it. What starts as one summer together slowly turns into a tradition, with the same group returning to the beach house year after year. Then everything falls apart. Five years later, one desperate phone call brings them all back to the place where so much of their lives began.
The entire time I was dying to know what happened between Sutton and Everett. You know something went terribly wrong, but the book refuses to hand you the answers all at once. Instead, it slowly peels back every layer through the dual timeline, showing snippets of those summers alongside the present. Every single chapter ended with me needing “just one more,” and suddenly it was 2 AM and I had absolutely no self-control anymore 😭😆 (i will mention this now... the reason things fell apart left me mildly disappointed because like... really?? that's so minor 😭 but oh well. that wasn't my biggest takeaway anyway so i wasn't too worried)
And THE TENSION????? Oh my goodness.
These two spent years burying feelings that practically radiated off the page anyway. Every glance, every conversation, every shared memory… it all carried so much history that you could feel it sitting between them. Everett and Sutton felt incredibly real. They loved each other through hurt, mistakes, stubbornness, and years of silence, and somehow that made every little moment between them hit even harder 🤌🏼
But somehow… the romance wasn’t even my favorite part.
This book is about friendship just as much as it’s about love
I genuinely felt like I knew every single person in this group. I cared about all five of them individually, but even more, I cared about them together. Watching friendships stretch, crack, drift apart, and slowly find their way back again was honestly the heart of this story for me.
At first, “summer people” feels sweet… almost nostalgic. But then you realize that’s exactly what they’ve become. People who only know fragments of each other’s lives. People who used to know every tiny detail but eventually became limited to one week every year because careers, distance, heartbreak, and growing up quietly took over. It made me stop and think about how easy it is to let life convince us that fading friendships are just inevitable 🥺
This story reminds you that growing older doesn’t automatically mean growing apart forever.
People change.
Priorities change.
Seasons of life change.
But if both people are willing to reach back out—to have the uncomfortable conversations, to own their mistakes, to choose each other again— those friendships can look different without being any less meaningful.
I expected to fall in love with the romance, but I wasn’t expecting the friendships to leave the biggest impression on me. There was something so real about watching this group navigate growing up, growing apart, and finding their way back to each other.
This book left me smiling, emotional, nostalgic, and weirdly grateful for the people who continue choosing each other through every version of life 🥹🫶🏼
favorite quotes ↓
“Friends?” he said.
I almost laughed. “Or something like that.”
It was the first lie I ever told him. I couldn’t have been just friends with Everett Bridges if I tried.
“It was always like that with Everett. He kissed me, and the rest of the world turned off for a minute.”
“I remember everything, Sutton,” he says. “I think all of my best days have been with you.”
“I want Everett, who I’ve hurt, who has hurt me, whose flawed, human pieces I know, and have only made me love him more.”
things to know about the book ↓
☀️ friends → enemies → lovers
☀️ forbidden love
☀️ forced proximity
☀️ found family
☀️ dual timeline
☀️ second chance
☀️ summer beach setting
☀️ college friends reunion
☀️ emotional angst
☀️ healing friendships
☀️ friendship-focused story
☀️ single POV (hers)
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 14, 16, 19, 23
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
july 6th- starting an arc that's releasing the next day?? me??? never 🙂↔️
Did Not Finish
July 18, 2026DNF at 45%
The premise of this book is very similar to Happy Place and it ended up being just as disappointing.
I don’t think it is bad to have flawed characters, but it was done in a way that made it hard for me to root for any of them. They also didn’t really act their age which is something I feel like I have been saying so many times in my reviews lately that I honestly hate myself for it. Why write about characters in their 30s if they’re going to act like school children!?! It doesn’t make sense and it infuriates me so much. I also do not understand how these people are “best friends” because they are so bitchy and mean to each other. They should be glad they lost contact with each other for a few years.
I was expecting a cute and summery beach read, but those really weren’t the vibes of this book.
The premise of this book is very similar to Happy Place and it ended up being just as disappointing.
I don’t think it is bad to have flawed characters, but it was done in a way that made it hard for me to root for any of them. They also didn’t really act their age which is something I feel like I have been saying so many times in my reviews lately that I honestly hate myself for it. Why write about characters in their 30s if they’re going to act like school children!?! It doesn’t make sense and it infuriates me so much. I also do not understand how these people are “best friends” because they are so bitchy and mean to each other. They should be glad they lost contact with each other for a few years.
I was expecting a cute and summery beach read, but those really weren’t the vibes of this book.
Did Not Finish
July 13, 2026This is my third time attempting this book. I absolutely loved her debut novel, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. But between struggling to connect to the characters, the plot line overall, and the flow of the writing, I think this one may just not be for me, and that’s okay! (tells herself this a zillion times) Right?!
One of my issues might be that as a huge fan of Emily Henry, a writer Sally Blakely is often comped to, this book is a little too similar to a few of hers and is throwing me off. That said, if you are like me and really want to read this one, definitely give it a try and see if it works better for you. And the audio is fantastic, narrated by Patti Murin, so definitely try that format.
Thank you HTP Books and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
One of my issues might be that as a huge fan of Emily Henry, a writer Sally Blakely is often comped to, this book is a little too similar to a few of hers and is throwing me off. That said, if you are like me and really want to read this one, definitely give it a try and see if it works better for you. And the audio is fantastic, narrated by Patti Murin, so definitely try that format.
Thank you HTP Books and Harper Audio for the advanced copies.
March 26, 2026
TL;DR: Addictive summer romance with insane chemistry, emotional depth, and a powerful message about forgiveness and growing up. Another banger.
Sutton and Everett have undeniable chemistry, but a pact made by five college friends on their first annual beach trip makes their romance off-limits. That doesn’t stop them from getting involved, but as secrets unravel, they’re forced to confront their past—and decide if they can go from “summer people” to forever.
Wow. I’m honestly a little speechless. This book feels like a love letter to anyone in their late 20s to early 30s—the growing pains, the way we cling to old friendships (sometimes longer than we should), and the complicated beauty of forgiveness.
Accountability is important in relationships, but this story really highlights how we can take it too far—punishing the people we love for mistakes long after the moment has passed. We tell ourselves it’s self-protection, but sometimes it’s closer to self-sabotage. There’s so much power in forgiveness—not just forgiving yourself (which we talk about a lot), but extending that grace to others. Humans are messy, and we do messy things. This book captures so well how essential forgiveness is to maintaining relationships and truly growing up.
And honestly—the writing was addictive. The chemistry between Sutton and Everett? OMFG, to die for. There’s just something about a summer romance with dual timelines that scratches my brain in the best way. That slow reveal, the tension from the past colliding with the present—I’m such a sucker for it, and Blakely absolutely delivers.
I always get a little nervous about an author’s second book (the slump is real), but not here. This was another banger, and I’m so glad I got an advance copy.
If you want an addictive summer romance full of chemistry and emotional depth, you’ll love this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sutton and Everett have undeniable chemistry, but a pact made by five college friends on their first annual beach trip makes their romance off-limits. That doesn’t stop them from getting involved, but as secrets unravel, they’re forced to confront their past—and decide if they can go from “summer people” to forever.
Wow. I’m honestly a little speechless. This book feels like a love letter to anyone in their late 20s to early 30s—the growing pains, the way we cling to old friendships (sometimes longer than we should), and the complicated beauty of forgiveness.
Accountability is important in relationships, but this story really highlights how we can take it too far—punishing the people we love for mistakes long after the moment has passed. We tell ourselves it’s self-protection, but sometimes it’s closer to self-sabotage. There’s so much power in forgiveness—not just forgiving yourself (which we talk about a lot), but extending that grace to others. Humans are messy, and we do messy things. This book captures so well how essential forgiveness is to maintaining relationships and truly growing up.
And honestly—the writing was addictive. The chemistry between Sutton and Everett? OMFG, to die for. There’s just something about a summer romance with dual timelines that scratches my brain in the best way. That slow reveal, the tension from the past colliding with the present—I’m such a sucker for it, and Blakely absolutely delivers.
I always get a little nervous about an author’s second book (the slump is real), but not here. This was another banger, and I’m so glad I got an advance copy.
If you want an addictive summer romance full of chemistry and emotional depth, you’ll love this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
rtc
July 11, 2026
School friends are not the end all be all. It’s fine to outgrow them.
July 6, 2026
Thank you Harlequin Audio for this ALC. All options are my own.
A group of college friends get together every summer at the beach and make a pact to never ruin what they have by dating each other. But two of them, Sutton & Everett, had already had a fling- a moment, a connection - and choose to keep their relationship a once a year secret in order to not break the pact and ruin the friend group dynamics.
What to expect:
🏖️ miscommunication trope out the wazoo
🏖️ toxic friendship
🏖️ the MMC & FMC both have terrible parents that cause them to not know how to have a healthy relationship themselves
🏖️ more miscommunication
🏖️ timeline jumps between present and past (back and forth)
🏖️ character driven, emotional realizations leading to growth
🌶️ very low spice (mostly closed door, nothing too descriptive)
This story was well written and the audiobook was produced perfectly, hence the 3 stars. However this just wasn’t for me.
I found myself disliking all the characters except Everett and even rooting against their relationship at times because Sutton kept ruining things. I loathe Laurel (the friend that started the pact). I feel that many people will connect with the emotional work the characters worked through, but it just didn’t connect with me. I just felt frustrated the entire time, and angry for Everett, who deserved much better.
A group of college friends get together every summer at the beach and make a pact to never ruin what they have by dating each other. But two of them, Sutton & Everett, had already had a fling- a moment, a connection - and choose to keep their relationship a once a year secret in order to not break the pact and ruin the friend group dynamics.
What to expect:
🏖️ miscommunication trope out the wazoo
🏖️ toxic friendship
🏖️ the MMC & FMC both have terrible parents that cause them to not know how to have a healthy relationship themselves
🏖️ more miscommunication
🏖️ timeline jumps between present and past (back and forth)
🏖️ character driven, emotional realizations leading to growth
🌶️ very low spice (mostly closed door, nothing too descriptive)
This story was well written and the audiobook was produced perfectly, hence the 3 stars. However this just wasn’t for me.
I found myself disliking all the characters except Everett and even rooting against their relationship at times because Sutton kept ruining things. I loathe Laurel (the friend that started the pact). I feel that many people will connect with the emotional work the characters worked through, but it just didn’t connect with me. I just felt frustrated the entire time, and angry for Everett, who deserved much better.
July 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Summer People is out on July 7th…I will be buying it and so should you!
Sally Blakely you did it again!! I could not put this book down. Read in one day on the beach! I’m always wary of an author’s second novel, especially when the first one is so good….Sally, you surprised me in all the best ways. This may be my favorite summer read so far!
Summer People is a book for everyone. A perfect telling of life in your 20s & 30s, figuring yourself out and figuring out other people and what is really important to you. This book will make you feel the nostalgia of those old days…of what was or what could have been.
Brief Synopsis- We meet Sutton on a night out in college before everything changes. We follow her through her friendships and a trip that happens every summer with her friends. As someone who thrives on tradition, this book really hit home for me. Sutton’s core group is disrupted by scandal and Everett steps in, a guy from her past. Sutton and Everett navigate their summers together while also trying to please their friends. Warning- The chemistry between Everett and Sutton is unmatched…there is so much will they/ wont they, you wont be able to put it down!
My only criticism is that I got annoyed with the characters at the end but not because they were poorly written, probably more so because it was so well written and I wanted everything to be perfect. I can’t wait to hear what you think, this is just so perfect for summer!
Lovers to Friends
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden love
Summer Love
Nostalgia
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
Sally Blakely you did it again!! I could not put this book down. Read in one day on the beach! I’m always wary of an author’s second novel, especially when the first one is so good….Sally, you surprised me in all the best ways. This may be my favorite summer read so far!
Summer People is a book for everyone. A perfect telling of life in your 20s & 30s, figuring yourself out and figuring out other people and what is really important to you. This book will make you feel the nostalgia of those old days…of what was or what could have been.
Brief Synopsis- We meet Sutton on a night out in college before everything changes. We follow her through her friendships and a trip that happens every summer with her friends. As someone who thrives on tradition, this book really hit home for me. Sutton’s core group is disrupted by scandal and Everett steps in, a guy from her past. Sutton and Everett navigate their summers together while also trying to please their friends. Warning- The chemistry between Everett and Sutton is unmatched…there is so much will they/ wont they, you wont be able to put it down!
My only criticism is that I got annoyed with the characters at the end but not because they were poorly written, probably more so because it was so well written and I wanted everything to be perfect. I can’t wait to hear what you think, this is just so perfect for summer!
Lovers to Friends
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden love
Summer Love
Nostalgia
Forced Proximity
Second Chance Romance
July 9, 2026
3.5 stars!
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the arc! Summer People was a highly anticipated read for me, especially as someone who loved Friends to Lovers. Unfortunately, this one didn't hit for me like I hoped it would! It breaks my heart honestly!!!
First and foremost, Sally Blakely's writing is great, no matter what. It's addictive, fast paced, and easy to get hooked onto. Secondly, I enjoyed the premise and the bones of the story a lot. A dual timeline, angsty second chance romance, friends bringing an old tradition back to life, a forced proximity situation to encourage growth/tension/romance. It had almost all the bits that would make this a lovely book for me, but unfortunately, the characters really fell short for me. Specifically the female lead, Sutton, and her best friend, Laurel. The rest of the friend group, didn't do much for me. The only one I really liked was Everett, the male lead.
Don't get me wrong, I love characters that are written to be flawed, ones that show the ugly side of being a person sometimes. But it felt like I was reading a book about two high schoolers at times, rather than a group of 32 year olds. The conflicts felt immature and at times, unnecessary. Especially between Sutton & Everett. Learning what their conflict was, and why they hadn't spoken to each other in 5 years, was just a little frustrating due to the nature of it all.
The romance had great bones & the good parts of it all were enjoyable for me. I did root for Everett & Sutton to find their happily ever after together. I think they truly are meant to be, especially after seeing the growth in their characters. I just wished to see a little bit more from them. Their dynamic in the present was built off a lot of animosity & frustration, so i just needed a little more from their recoupling. Idk how to explain it lol!
All of this to be said, I still enjoyed my time with this one. I hate to talk negatively about a book, but I think my expectations may have been improperly set and that's why I walked away a little defeated. That being said, I think if you go into it knowing that it's a messy, angsty story with characters who show their flawed sides, you'd probably be set up to enjoy it quite a bit!!! I would still recommend this book to the right person and do think it's worth giving a shot on your own!
Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the arc! Summer People was a highly anticipated read for me, especially as someone who loved Friends to Lovers. Unfortunately, this one didn't hit for me like I hoped it would! It breaks my heart honestly!!!
First and foremost, Sally Blakely's writing is great, no matter what. It's addictive, fast paced, and easy to get hooked onto. Secondly, I enjoyed the premise and the bones of the story a lot. A dual timeline, angsty second chance romance, friends bringing an old tradition back to life, a forced proximity situation to encourage growth/tension/romance. It had almost all the bits that would make this a lovely book for me, but unfortunately, the characters really fell short for me. Specifically the female lead, Sutton, and her best friend, Laurel. The rest of the friend group, didn't do much for me. The only one I really liked was Everett, the male lead.
Don't get me wrong, I love characters that are written to be flawed, ones that show the ugly side of being a person sometimes. But it felt like I was reading a book about two high schoolers at times, rather than a group of 32 year olds. The conflicts felt immature and at times, unnecessary. Especially between Sutton & Everett. Learning what their conflict was, and why they hadn't spoken to each other in 5 years, was just a little frustrating due to the nature of it all.
The romance had great bones & the good parts of it all were enjoyable for me. I did root for Everett & Sutton to find their happily ever after together. I think they truly are meant to be, especially after seeing the growth in their characters. I just wished to see a little bit more from them. Their dynamic in the present was built off a lot of animosity & frustration, so i just needed a little more from their recoupling. Idk how to explain it lol!
All of this to be said, I still enjoyed my time with this one. I hate to talk negatively about a book, but I think my expectations may have been improperly set and that's why I walked away a little defeated. That being said, I think if you go into it knowing that it's a messy, angsty story with characters who show their flawed sides, you'd probably be set up to enjoy it quite a bit!!! I would still recommend this book to the right person and do think it's worth giving a shot on your own!
July 24, 2026
This strongly reminded me of Emily Henry's "Happy Place"
A group of friends who met in college vow to return to the same summer cottage every year, but eventually life gets in the way. This book takes place 10ish years after that first summer.
After a breakup early on between 2 members of the friend group leaves one person ousted they vow to never date within the group again.
But when Sutton and Everett develop real, deep romantic feelings for each other Sutton is unwilling to upset the status quo. The Book revolves around what Sutton will choose and how Laurel will handle it.
This was very entertaining and emotional.
Sally Blakely made the characters come to life.
Laurel actually pmo cause mind your own business. You cannot force people to stay friends with you or stop them from forming romantic attachments. They are better than me because I wouldn't have stayed friends with her.
Sutton also was frustrating because her friendship with Laurel was so toxic, but she kept putting it ahead of Everett.
A group of friends who met in college vow to return to the same summer cottage every year, but eventually life gets in the way. This book takes place 10ish years after that first summer.
After a breakup early on between 2 members of the friend group leaves one person ousted they vow to never date within the group again.
But when Sutton and Everett develop real, deep romantic feelings for each other Sutton is unwilling to upset the status quo. The Book revolves around what Sutton will choose and how Laurel will handle it.
This was very entertaining and emotional.
Sally Blakely made the characters come to life.
Laurel actually pmo cause mind your own business. You cannot force people to stay friends with you or stop them from forming romantic attachments. They are better than me because I wouldn't have stayed friends with her.
Sutton also was frustrating because her friendship with Laurel was so toxic, but she kept putting it ahead of Everett.
June 13, 2026
NetGalley Advance Reader Review:
I am giving Summer People by Sally Blakely 3.5 stars. I was able to listen to this story via audiobook. The narrator was great! I enjoyed the love story of Sutton and Everett and how their love for one another evolved summer after summer. I also enjoyed the storyline of a close knit group of college friends who planned summer get togethers year after year. What I didn’t like was how Sutton and Everett’s relationship was dictated by a fellow friend (Laurel) and how they couldn’t truly love and be together all because of a stupid pact that was made years ago. It was frustrating as the reader to listen to this story where one immature character controlled someone else’s happiness. It drove me crazy.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family if they’re looking for a good summer read. I can see why other readers rated this book 4 stars but I couldn’t because of my frustration of Laurel. I’ll get over it…someday. 😉
I am giving Summer People by Sally Blakely 3.5 stars. I was able to listen to this story via audiobook. The narrator was great! I enjoyed the love story of Sutton and Everett and how their love for one another evolved summer after summer. I also enjoyed the storyline of a close knit group of college friends who planned summer get togethers year after year. What I didn’t like was how Sutton and Everett’s relationship was dictated by a fellow friend (Laurel) and how they couldn’t truly love and be together all because of a stupid pact that was made years ago. It was frustrating as the reader to listen to this story where one immature character controlled someone else’s happiness. It drove me crazy.
I would recommend this book to my friends and family if they’re looking for a good summer read. I can see why other readers rated this book 4 stars but I couldn’t because of my frustration of Laurel. I’ll get over it…someday. 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2026
3.5 stars!
If you liked Happy Place by Emily Henry, this will be up your alley — a friend group from college that reunites at a beach house every summer, with friendships that have been stretched with tension and a will-they-won't-they romance that leaps off the page.
I loved Everett and Sutton. The things they experienced and the behaviors that were exhibited due to those experiences felt extremely real, leaving their characters well-developed. Their chemistry was fantastic, and I loved the way Everett loved her, and vice-versa. Also, a movie director and a chef? Feels sooo refreshing in this genre. However, I do think the side characters could've been more developed, and I'd have been content with more pages being added to have those developments.
The plot was fast paced and well executed, bouncing between the past and present timelines, but what didn't work so well for me was the conclusion to the conflict -- especially with Laurel's character. She'd been quite cruel to Sutton (and that's not even including what Sutton overheard from one of the other male friends), and I feel as though it wasn't handled well enough for my taste. I do appreciate the insight into Laurel's character by the end, but it just felt like for the sake of the plot, the character was made significantly worse temporarily, then changed back, rather than giving her the necessary nuance to pull it off. Ultimately, she was a mean girl that I had a hard time standing throughout the majority of the book. Unlike Sutton, I did not forgive her by the end! But alas, we’re in fiction!
Overall, a great story with memorable quotes (I found some parts deeeeply relatable), and I'll definitely be tuning in for Sally's next release.
If you liked Happy Place by Emily Henry, this will be up your alley — a friend group from college that reunites at a beach house every summer, with friendships that have been stretched with tension and a will-they-won't-they romance that leaps off the page.
I loved Everett and Sutton. The things they experienced and the behaviors that were exhibited due to those experiences felt extremely real, leaving their characters well-developed. Their chemistry was fantastic, and I loved the way Everett loved her, and vice-versa. Also, a movie director and a chef? Feels sooo refreshing in this genre. However, I do think the side characters could've been more developed, and I'd have been content with more pages being added to have those developments.
The plot was fast paced and well executed, bouncing between the past and present timelines, but what didn't work so well for me was the conclusion to the conflict -- especially with Laurel's character. She'd been quite cruel to Sutton (and that's not even including what Sutton overheard from one of the other male friends), and I feel as though it wasn't handled well enough for my taste. I do appreciate the insight into Laurel's character by the end, but it just felt like for the sake of the plot, the character was made significantly worse temporarily, then changed back, rather than giving her the necessary nuance to pull it off. Ultimately, she was a mean girl that I had a hard time standing throughout the majority of the book. Unlike Sutton, I did not forgive her by the end! But alas, we’re in fiction!
Overall, a great story with memorable quotes (I found some parts deeeeply relatable), and I'll definitely be tuning in for Sally's next release.
July 17, 2026
While this book didn’t wow me, I appreciated the life lesson that friends can change, drift apart and come back together if we learn to grow with one another. However, there were plenty of moments that irritated me but we’ll get there.
This story is a wonderful summer read of a group of friends who time and time again reunite summer after summer. They make a pact to never date within in the group but there’s one problem: Sutton and Everett kinda hooked up before that first summer trip after graduation, not realizing they had a friend in common. While this loyalty is something to admire, it grinded my gears because it caused our main characters to never talk about their connection. We literally go through a decade of this and it takes FOREVER to get it together. There wasn’t much of a believable yearning storyline for me to go “oh yes! They belong together.” I just really didn’t believe the romance to be honest and I’m quite upset about it lol.
Laurel also irritated me to no end because why are we making such a big deal of these two friends wanting to be together? I don’t know, the whole situation at the end was wild and I myself don’t know how I would still be friends with someone like that. It’s what really emphasized my rating for this book because I couldn’t quite relate or understand the actions of everyone.
Overall, a good summer read that many will enjoy but just wasn’t for me. Thank you so much NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Sally Blakely for the eARC!
This story is a wonderful summer read of a group of friends who time and time again reunite summer after summer. They make a pact to never date within in the group but there’s one problem: Sutton and Everett kinda hooked up before that first summer trip after graduation, not realizing they had a friend in common. While this loyalty is something to admire, it grinded my gears because it caused our main characters to never talk about their connection. We literally go through a decade of this and it takes FOREVER to get it together. There wasn’t much of a believable yearning storyline for me to go “oh yes! They belong together.” I just really didn’t believe the romance to be honest and I’m quite upset about it lol.
Laurel also irritated me to no end because why are we making such a big deal of these two friends wanting to be together? I don’t know, the whole situation at the end was wild and I myself don’t know how I would still be friends with someone like that. It’s what really emphasized my rating for this book because I couldn’t quite relate or understand the actions of everyone.
Overall, a good summer read that many will enjoy but just wasn’t for me. Thank you so much NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Sally Blakely for the eARC!
June 17, 2026
I have a feeling this is going to be a quintessential summer read… Good vibes all around 🥹
July 15, 2026
1.5 stars - Very similar premise to Happy Place which was not my fav. A little odd because her other book reminded me of PWMOV. I’m all for flawed characters but I didn’t really like anyone and found it hard to root for them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is exactly what I wanted in a beach read. The perfect mix of summer vibes and a beautiful plot.
Told in a dual timelines, this book follows Sutton Hale and her group of friends. Every year they all convene at a beach cottage, until something happens and they stopped for five years. Now they’re back at the beach and things are tense.
The past timelines start to unfold the story of what happens while the present timeline connects to those dots. I love books like that, and this book is no exception.
Sutton was such a real main character. Clinging to her friends, her traditions, and her beliefs. She just wants everything to go well. Her character arc was so well done. It truly felt like being happy for a friend at the end when the HEA happened. Being in her perspective the whole time was great. I never tired of her, in fact, I couldn’t put this book down.
The other characters weren’t background characters, they were present and full bodied. Please give me more of Everett. A great love interest.
If you’re in the market for a great beach read, pick up Summer People.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Summer People.
Told in a dual timelines, this book follows Sutton Hale and her group of friends. Every year they all convene at a beach cottage, until something happens and they stopped for five years. Now they’re back at the beach and things are tense.
The past timelines start to unfold the story of what happens while the present timeline connects to those dots. I love books like that, and this book is no exception.
Sutton was such a real main character. Clinging to her friends, her traditions, and her beliefs. She just wants everything to go well. Her character arc was so well done. It truly felt like being happy for a friend at the end when the HEA happened. Being in her perspective the whole time was great. I never tired of her, in fact, I couldn’t put this book down.
The other characters weren’t background characters, they were present and full bodied. Please give me more of Everett. A great love interest.
If you’re in the market for a great beach read, pick up Summer People.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Summer People.
June 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
I absolutely loved this one. Everett and Sutton had me so invested from the start. Their history, the lingering feelings, and all the little moments between them felt so genuine that I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time. The chemistry was there, but it was the emotional connection that really made their story shine.
Loved the beach town atmosphere, felt like the perfect setting for this book.
Definitely a 5-star read and the perfect summer romance. 🌊🤍
I absolutely loved this one. Everett and Sutton had me so invested from the start. Their history, the lingering feelings, and all the little moments between them felt so genuine that I couldn’t help but root for them the entire time. The chemistry was there, but it was the emotional connection that really made their story shine.
Loved the beach town atmosphere, felt like the perfect setting for this book.
Definitely a 5-star read and the perfect summer romance. 🌊🤍
July 17, 2026
This was like the Temu version of Happy Place by Emily Henry.
…that’s actually probably harsher than I meant it, but it did feel a lot like that book to me. Overall enjoyable, but I actually couldn’t STAND or handle Laurel start to finish, and she kind of ruined the book for me. 🤷🏻♀️
…that’s actually probably harsher than I meant it, but it did feel a lot like that book to me. Overall enjoyable, but I actually couldn’t STAND or handle Laurel start to finish, and she kind of ruined the book for me. 🤷🏻♀️
July 16, 2026
As someone who looooved Happy place by Emily Henry, this one was exactly what I needed at this exact moment! Perfect summer read, dedication got me out of my reading slump.
July 25, 2026
Audiobook.
The book would've made more sense if the pact they made was right after high school graduation and not college. Super immature characters. Stupid lies that are unnecessary when you're adults. There was more codependency than friendship. And the writing style, my own personal problem, was awful with the back and forth timelines.
The book would've made more sense if the pact they made was right after high school graduation and not college. Super immature characters. Stupid lies that are unnecessary when you're adults. There was more codependency than friendship. And the writing style, my own personal problem, was awful with the back and forth timelines.
June 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
This one was just okay for me. Unfortunately, it never really grabbed me fully, and in the end it didn’t feel particularly unique. Here I am a week after finishing, and I’m already struggling to remember some of the details, which says a lot. That said, I did moderately enjoy it overall.
I’m thankful to have received a complimentary ALC via NetGalley through the Hive Program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
It was narrator Patti Murin who initially drew me to this one, and she absolutely did not disappoint. She has such a warm, engaging tone and stayed consistent across the many characters she voiced. Honestly, her performance is what allowed me to connect with the story as much as I did. Another win for audiobooks.
I do think this will appeal more to mature readers, given the stage of life the characters are navigating. I enjoyed the dual timeline and getting those glimpses into the past while seeing how it shaped the present.
One personal note worth mentioning: I’m not an Emily Henry fan, and this book has been compared to Happy Place, which gave me pause since I DNF’d that one. The positive? I made it through this one without ever feeling tempted to stop, so take that for what it’s worth.
I hope this review helps if you’re deciding what beach read to add to your TBR this summer.
This one was just okay for me. Unfortunately, it never really grabbed me fully, and in the end it didn’t feel particularly unique. Here I am a week after finishing, and I’m already struggling to remember some of the details, which says a lot. That said, I did moderately enjoy it overall.
I’m thankful to have received a complimentary ALC via NetGalley through the Hive Program, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
It was narrator Patti Murin who initially drew me to this one, and she absolutely did not disappoint. She has such a warm, engaging tone and stayed consistent across the many characters she voiced. Honestly, her performance is what allowed me to connect with the story as much as I did. Another win for audiobooks.
I do think this will appeal more to mature readers, given the stage of life the characters are navigating. I enjoyed the dual timeline and getting those glimpses into the past while seeing how it shaped the present.
One personal note worth mentioning: I’m not an Emily Henry fan, and this book has been compared to Happy Place, which gave me pause since I DNF’d that one. The positive? I made it through this one without ever feeling tempted to stop, so take that for what it’s worth.
I hope this review helps if you’re deciding what beach read to add to your TBR this summer.
July 22, 2026
Thank you Sally Blakely, MIRA, and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. I have a lot of mixed reviews on this one.
I loved the premise. It is very Happy Place by Emily Henry about a group of friends who go on a trip every year to catch up and spend quality time together. They end of making a pact the first summer not to date within the group after a rough breakup happens within the group. However Sutton and Everett actually had a one night stand before this trip but they decide to hide it from their friends and remain just friends.
I thought the chemistry and longing was SO good in the past timeline. I felt how badly they wanted each other and i was INVESTED in continuing reading to see what happened between Sutton and Everett to make them have so much animosity in the present day.
However the chemistry fail short for me in the present timeline? I feel like they never truly resolved the issues they had from the past and they just reconciled pretty quickly. I wanted more resolution in the present time. I also struggled with the entire concept of why they even hated each other. I thought something actually happened but it was just a childish immature disagreement. I also felt like the emphasis on school friends was A LOT. Like the pact in itself did not really make sense to me and then it made even less sense for me why Sutton and Everett were not just honest from the beginning. Or why they wouldn't mention it after YEARS.
I also felt like not being able to have a couple days free to hang out with close friends was a bit unrealistic to me. All their careers were quite successful so money did not seem to be an issue. As someone who has friends from high school and college in my early 30s, I felt like they just were not prioritizing each other. Which is totally fine if that is where life takes you but Sutton seemed to make such a big deal over the Everett stuff. The immaturity of all of this made it a little hard for me to stay invested.
I loved the premise. It is very Happy Place by Emily Henry about a group of friends who go on a trip every year to catch up and spend quality time together. They end of making a pact the first summer not to date within the group after a rough breakup happens within the group. However Sutton and Everett actually had a one night stand before this trip but they decide to hide it from their friends and remain just friends.
I thought the chemistry and longing was SO good in the past timeline. I felt how badly they wanted each other and i was INVESTED in continuing reading to see what happened between Sutton and Everett to make them have so much animosity in the present day.
However the chemistry fail short for me in the present timeline? I feel like they never truly resolved the issues they had from the past and they just reconciled pretty quickly. I wanted more resolution in the present time. I also struggled with the entire concept of why they even hated each other. I thought something actually happened but it was just a childish immature disagreement. I also felt like the emphasis on school friends was A LOT. Like the pact in itself did not really make sense to me and then it made even less sense for me why Sutton and Everett were not just honest from the beginning. Or why they wouldn't mention it after YEARS.
I also felt like not being able to have a couple days free to hang out with close friends was a bit unrealistic to me. All their careers were quite successful so money did not seem to be an issue. As someone who has friends from high school and college in my early 30s, I felt like they just were not prioritizing each other. Which is totally fine if that is where life takes you but Sutton seemed to make such a big deal over the Everett stuff. The immaturity of all of this made it a little hard for me to stay invested.
July 6, 2026
Summer People is the perfect summer listen for fans of Emily Henry's Happy Place, and anyone who loves a dual timeline in the vein of Every Summer After or It's Different This Time will want to add this to their audio TBR immediately.
Everett and Sutton meet right before college graduation in what seems like a one night stand, nothing unusual for two seniors. But it turns out they're both headed to the same post-graduation summer vacation with their friend group, where a pact has been made that no one will date within the group to keep things intact. So they keep quiet about having met, regardless of the undeniable chemistry between them. What follows is years of stolen time together, building something they can never quite name or claim.
When they finally decide to come clean to their friends, it blows up, and the summer vacations stop altogether. Sutton carries the guilt of believing she caused the fracture, but the truth is that everyone was already moving on in their own directions, as life tends to do. Sutton's arc is a really honest portrayal of someone who holds tightly to the good times while quietly sacrificing parts of herself to maintain the status quo. Everett has his own walls up too, and there's a sense that he doesn't quite fight for what he wants or fully believe he can have it. They're two sides of the same coin, and that dynamic gives the romance real texture.
The narrators did a wonderful job distinguishing the five members of the friend group, which can be a real challenge in ensemble casts. I found that following along with both the audio and the eARC helped me stay connected to each character's distinct voice and personality. The found family element was one of my favorite parts of the book, though I found myself wanting more moments between Sutton and Everett within the group to give the friendships even more depth.
A warm, breezy, and emotionally grounded summer romance that is just as lovely to listen to as it is to read.
Everett and Sutton meet right before college graduation in what seems like a one night stand, nothing unusual for two seniors. But it turns out they're both headed to the same post-graduation summer vacation with their friend group, where a pact has been made that no one will date within the group to keep things intact. So they keep quiet about having met, regardless of the undeniable chemistry between them. What follows is years of stolen time together, building something they can never quite name or claim.
When they finally decide to come clean to their friends, it blows up, and the summer vacations stop altogether. Sutton carries the guilt of believing she caused the fracture, but the truth is that everyone was already moving on in their own directions, as life tends to do. Sutton's arc is a really honest portrayal of someone who holds tightly to the good times while quietly sacrificing parts of herself to maintain the status quo. Everett has his own walls up too, and there's a sense that he doesn't quite fight for what he wants or fully believe he can have it. They're two sides of the same coin, and that dynamic gives the romance real texture.
The narrators did a wonderful job distinguishing the five members of the friend group, which can be a real challenge in ensemble casts. I found that following along with both the audio and the eARC helped me stay connected to each character's distinct voice and personality. The found family element was one of my favorite parts of the book, though I found myself wanting more moments between Sutton and Everett within the group to give the friendships even more depth.
A warm, breezy, and emotionally grounded summer romance that is just as lovely to listen to as it is to read.
July 17, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins and the author for a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
First off, let me say how excited I was to receive this ARC! I had the opportunity to ARC read Blakely’s debut Friends to Lovers and I LOVED that book. I was sooo excited when I got the approval to ARC read Summer People!
Summer People is a second chance romance with found family, past and present timelines, and alllll of the beachy California vibes! It follows Sutton, our FMC, and Everett, our MMC, rekindling their past relationship while on a summer vacation with their college best friends. I loved both of their characters and watching them grow and learn more about each other throughout the book. Blakely also has such beautiful writing so there were so many great quotes throughout the book!
Unfortunately, I just didn’t love this book as much as Friends to Lovers. The way that Everett and Sutton’s relationship ended in the past timeline was really frustrating to me. I couldn’t believe they gave up everything they had over such a small issue. I also wanted to love the friend group they were apart of, but I just couldn’t get past how much I disliked Laurel. Laurel was honestly such a terrible friend and acted immaturely most of the time. I didn’t understand how Sutton chose to keep Laurel as her best friend after all that happened between them. I understood and appreciated the message of how friendships will ebb and flow, but I just felt like that friendship was a little too toxic for my liking.
Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I’ll definitely be excited for Blakely’s next book! I also loved the ending of this book! It was so sweet!
First off, let me say how excited I was to receive this ARC! I had the opportunity to ARC read Blakely’s debut Friends to Lovers and I LOVED that book. I was sooo excited when I got the approval to ARC read Summer People!
Summer People is a second chance romance with found family, past and present timelines, and alllll of the beachy California vibes! It follows Sutton, our FMC, and Everett, our MMC, rekindling their past relationship while on a summer vacation with their college best friends. I loved both of their characters and watching them grow and learn more about each other throughout the book. Blakely also has such beautiful writing so there were so many great quotes throughout the book!
Unfortunately, I just didn’t love this book as much as Friends to Lovers. The way that Everett and Sutton’s relationship ended in the past timeline was really frustrating to me. I couldn’t believe they gave up everything they had over such a small issue. I also wanted to love the friend group they were apart of, but I just couldn’t get past how much I disliked Laurel. Laurel was honestly such a terrible friend and acted immaturely most of the time. I didn’t understand how Sutton chose to keep Laurel as her best friend after all that happened between them. I understood and appreciated the message of how friendships will ebb and flow, but I just felt like that friendship was a little too toxic for my liking.
Although this book wasn’t my favorite, I’ll definitely be excited for Blakely’s next book! I also loved the ending of this book! It was so sweet!
July 18, 2026
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my second Sally Blakey and I may like this one even more than friend to lover.
Set in varying areas of california, you never forget where you are and how that part of california is supposed to feel.
Sutton is realistic which can make her frustrating at times but completely understandable. Her pain and hesitation and everything she does isn’t without reason but as a reader I wanted to yell at her to get over but just because i knew it would all be okay in the end (I’m mean it’s a romance so of course)
Everette was the same way, there were times I would have thrown things at his head if he was an actual person but just because he was being as stubborn as Sutton at times.
The idea of watching a group of friends grow through just a glimpse of them for one week each summer was an incredible way to tell this story. Knowing only as much as Sutton knew made me understand why she was so uncertain of where she stood with her friends at times.
The time jumps were perfectly spaced and answered questions exactly when i started to ask them which was so nice as an anxious reader.
The moral of “Things change and that’s okay” was a gut punch cause I hate change but this was such a good way to convince someone to give change a try because it could be even better than what is now
If you enjoyed Friends to Lovers or Beach Read, I highly recommend this story! it’s another perfect summer read about two very special Summer People
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley
This is my second Sally Blakey and I may like this one even more than friend to lover.
Set in varying areas of california, you never forget where you are and how that part of california is supposed to feel.
Sutton is realistic which can make her frustrating at times but completely understandable. Her pain and hesitation and everything she does isn’t without reason but as a reader I wanted to yell at her to get over but just because i knew it would all be okay in the end (I’m mean it’s a romance so of course)
Everette was the same way, there were times I would have thrown things at his head if he was an actual person but just because he was being as stubborn as Sutton at times.
The idea of watching a group of friends grow through just a glimpse of them for one week each summer was an incredible way to tell this story. Knowing only as much as Sutton knew made me understand why she was so uncertain of where she stood with her friends at times.
The time jumps were perfectly spaced and answered questions exactly when i started to ask them which was so nice as an anxious reader.
The moral of “Things change and that’s okay” was a gut punch cause I hate change but this was such a good way to convince someone to give change a try because it could be even better than what is now
If you enjoyed Friends to Lovers or Beach Read, I highly recommend this story! it’s another perfect summer read about two very special Summer People
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2026
I have such mixed feelings about this one! Friends to Lovers was one of my favorite books in 2025, so I was super excited for this one, but I didn’t love it the way I had hoped. I really wanted to love the found family/friendship vibes that this book centered around. I was most excited for that. I loved the idea of a group of friends that met up at a special place every summer to reconnect, but that is ultimately what made this book fall so flat for me. The main female friendship was borderline toxic, and the main conflict could’ve been totally resolved if they spoke to each other like adults. The constant tip toeing around each other and lying about each other’s personal lives was really frustrating to me. The “pact” truly drove me insane. Laurel really was a hard character to read about and the way she treated her friends was BRUTAL. The rest of the friendship group unfortunately didn’t add anything special to the dynamic for me either. They all felt so forced together :/
Since this is sort of a second chance romance, I needed to really be sold on why Sutton and Everett should get back together and that they had matured enough to be together. I didn’t feel that. The conflict that broke them apart in the first place was frustrating, and in the present timeline, I didn’t feel any tension or build up. I felt like they got back together very quickly with no real resolution of the past. Especially since it had been five years since they last spoke. It was just hard to root for and I didn’t feel much for them together or as individual characters. I felt like I never got to fully know them. I DID, however, enjoy the dual timeline because it did give me a better sense as to why everyone was acting the way they were acting in the present. It did give good context.
I don’t want to sit and just dog on this book because it is NOT a bad book. I did enjoy the writing and the summery setting. It really did have so much potential for me, there were just too many things that didn’t work for me but could totally work for someone else. I’ll still read whatever the author writes next! Thank you to the publisher for the arc!
Since this is sort of a second chance romance, I needed to really be sold on why Sutton and Everett should get back together and that they had matured enough to be together. I didn’t feel that. The conflict that broke them apart in the first place was frustrating, and in the present timeline, I didn’t feel any tension or build up. I felt like they got back together very quickly with no real resolution of the past. Especially since it had been five years since they last spoke. It was just hard to root for and I didn’t feel much for them together or as individual characters. I felt like I never got to fully know them. I DID, however, enjoy the dual timeline because it did give me a better sense as to why everyone was acting the way they were acting in the present. It did give good context.
I don’t want to sit and just dog on this book because it is NOT a bad book. I did enjoy the writing and the summery setting. It really did have so much potential for me, there were just too many things that didn’t work for me but could totally work for someone else. I’ll still read whatever the author writes next! Thank you to the publisher for the arc!
July 22, 2026
This book annoyed me enough that I came back to write a review and lower my rating! Here's the thing: I love 2nd chance romance and I love "our childhood traumas make us connect, but also clash in insecurity". I also enjoy a well done miscommunication trope, hello, Normal People?! But this book drove me nuts and is still aggravating me more than 2 days later. First of all, the communication failures go on for far too long. But what really got to me was that Everett completely understood how important this friendship group was to Sutton and why her childhood trauma made her feel particularly vulnerable/insecure in the face of the ridiculous pact and the potential consequences of a perceived betrayal of the friend group. He knew any loss of that group would be devastating to her at a cellular level, and not only did he fail to connect the dots when it came to their relationship, but when they were discovered, he essentially threw her under the bus. In addition, Laurel is her best friend? That entitled, selfish, soul sucker? I guess the fact that Laurel was planning a celebration 2 years away reveals that she isn't truly heartless, but that was about it. How could she fail to realize the enormity of both losses for Sutton and so selfishly deprive her of all of those important connections? When they finally get together it is good, but I couldn't get past the major plot hole of him not standing up for her when her friends started freaking out because honestly, that's the only move that would have been in keeping with his character. "Guys, she's literally here telling me we can't be a real couple because she's afraid of upsetting you all - that's how important your friendship and this friend group is to her. Even though we've been dancing around each other for 5 years and finally decided we were going to give it a real go, she's willing to walk away and sacrifice our relationship because there is a chance it will make you angry. But that can't be true, right? Because truly good friends wouldn't be angry. They'd love her and support her and tell her to grab onto happiness wherever and whenever she can. I know you guys want that for her, because that's all she wants for you."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2026
Okay wow this book surprised me so much after 30%! Similar to Happy Place, which I love and really connect with, this story spans years of a group of friends trying to hold on to their friendship while growing up and growing apart, all while two of the friends are fighting their chemistry for the sake of the group.
At first I was having a bit of a hard time getting into the story. The writing isn’t my favorite style, mainly because there were long sentences that I had to read a couple times to understand. Two of the phrases will overlap, making it hard to figure out what our narrator was saying, and took a few reads to parse out.
By 50% in I was so hooked on the story! It’s hard to describe because you don’t really like the characters’ behavior until the reasoning behind it gets uncovered. I ended up really loving our two main characters and the other friends in the group once everything was finally communicated. This will be a hit for anyone who connected with Happy Place and is looking for a unique story with similar themes.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eARC!
At first I was having a bit of a hard time getting into the story. The writing isn’t my favorite style, mainly because there were long sentences that I had to read a couple times to understand. Two of the phrases will overlap, making it hard to figure out what our narrator was saying, and took a few reads to parse out.
By 50% in I was so hooked on the story! It’s hard to describe because you don’t really like the characters’ behavior until the reasoning behind it gets uncovered. I ended up really loving our two main characters and the other friends in the group once everything was finally communicated. This will be a hit for anyone who connected with Happy Place and is looking for a unique story with similar themes.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the eARC!
July 7, 2026
A cinematic, propulsive, dual timeline romance told across several California summer’s at the beach. It’s my kind of summer read!
After a break-up threatens their friendship group -and summer- college friends make a pact to never hook-up with one another. Everett and Sutton broke the pact before it was ever made, and so agree to keep their summer fling secret… year after year. A compelling love story, with a heavy friendship focus, about a couple with an undeniable, yet frustrating, connection who keep standing in their own way.
🍷Pairs well with bootleg wine and farmers market finds.
I loved Blakely’s debut and her second novel is a solid argument for her to become an auto-buy author. I loved how she expanded the novel beyond the core romance with the various dynamics between the five friends and anchored them within the California coastal location -think akin to Emily Henry’s ‘Happy Place’.
N.B.If you don’t like imperfect characters… this will probably be a frustrating read. Personally, it just made me root harder for them to get it and themselves together already!
This is an open door romance.
With thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for providing an honest review.
After a break-up threatens their friendship group -and summer- college friends make a pact to never hook-up with one another. Everett and Sutton broke the pact before it was ever made, and so agree to keep their summer fling secret… year after year. A compelling love story, with a heavy friendship focus, about a couple with an undeniable, yet frustrating, connection who keep standing in their own way.
🍷Pairs well with bootleg wine and farmers market finds.
I loved Blakely’s debut and her second novel is a solid argument for her to become an auto-buy author. I loved how she expanded the novel beyond the core romance with the various dynamics between the five friends and anchored them within the California coastal location -think akin to Emily Henry’s ‘Happy Place’.
N.B.If you don’t like imperfect characters… this will probably be a frustrating read. Personally, it just made me root harder for them to get it and themselves together already!
This is an open door romance.
With thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for providing an honest review.
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