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Burnout Summer
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Expected 12 May 26Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
As September approaches, Cam must decide between snuffing out the flames with Danny in order to keep her beloved friend group together and return to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
As September approaches, Cam must decide between snuffing out the flames with Danny in order to keep her beloved friend group together and return to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
352 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
18821 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Ramirez
1 book68 followersJenna Ramirez was raised outside of Washington, D.C. in the Maryland suburbs until college brought her to California. After graduating, she remained in sunny Los Angeles, where she works in entertainment marketing. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time complaining about the lack of rain, ranking chai lattes in the city, and chasing her crazy rescue Chihuahua Fitzwilliam, named after the equally prickly Mr. Darcy.
Her debut novel, Burnout Summer, is available on May 12, 2026 from Saturday Books.
Her debut novel, Burnout Summer, is available on May 12, 2026 from Saturday Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 19, 2025
Beachside romance? Check. Friends-to-lovers tension? Check. Quarter-life panic and a messy heroine trying to piece her life together? Absolutely.
This novel had all the ingredients I usually fall headfirst into, and to its credit, it delivers a breezy setup that’s incredibly easy to sink into. The Rhode Island setting alone feels like a long exhale — ocean air, late-night shifts at a buzzing restaurant, and that familiar “maybe this summer will fix everything” energy that hooks you from the first chapter.
Camille Luna’s life collapses in record time: job gone, confidence shattered, friendships strained, and debt weighing on every decision she makes. Cue Danny Brennan, longtime friend and golden-retriever-level sweetheart, who swoops in with a couch, a job, and an open door when she needs it most. Their history gives the book its warmest spark, and watching their dynamic shift from comfortable to complicated is the kind of slow burn I always appreciate.
But — and this is where my rating lands at a firm three stars — I just could not connect with Camille the way I wanted to. Her self-absorption didn’t just peek through; it took center stage. I completely understand a character spiraling under pressure, I understand fear of failure, I understand feeling left behind… but her tunnel vision often made it difficult to feel invested in her journey. Danny, in contrast, feels like a character pulled straight out of a comfort-read: steady, patient, perceptive, and far too forgiving. Their chemistry works, but I sometimes found myself wishing he demanded a little more from her — or that she saw beyond herself sooner.
Still, the novel shines in its atmosphere: the restaurant scenes are vibrant, the side characters add color and humor, and the sense of starting over — really starting over — rings authentic. Even when I was frustrated with Camille, I could see exactly why she was overwhelmed, and the story captures that post-college limbo with honesty. The romance is tender, the pacing has an easy rhythm, and the summer setting is pure escapism.
This is a book I wanted to adore, and while I enjoyed the ride, the emotional disconnect with the heroine kept it from hitting the level of swoon I hoped for. But if you love messy growth arcs, seaside romance, and a loyal hero who has been quietly in love for years, this is still a satisfying, feel-good read to pick up.
A warm thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This novel had all the ingredients I usually fall headfirst into, and to its credit, it delivers a breezy setup that’s incredibly easy to sink into. The Rhode Island setting alone feels like a long exhale — ocean air, late-night shifts at a buzzing restaurant, and that familiar “maybe this summer will fix everything” energy that hooks you from the first chapter.
Camille Luna’s life collapses in record time: job gone, confidence shattered, friendships strained, and debt weighing on every decision she makes. Cue Danny Brennan, longtime friend and golden-retriever-level sweetheart, who swoops in with a couch, a job, and an open door when she needs it most. Their history gives the book its warmest spark, and watching their dynamic shift from comfortable to complicated is the kind of slow burn I always appreciate.
But — and this is where my rating lands at a firm three stars — I just could not connect with Camille the way I wanted to. Her self-absorption didn’t just peek through; it took center stage. I completely understand a character spiraling under pressure, I understand fear of failure, I understand feeling left behind… but her tunnel vision often made it difficult to feel invested in her journey. Danny, in contrast, feels like a character pulled straight out of a comfort-read: steady, patient, perceptive, and far too forgiving. Their chemistry works, but I sometimes found myself wishing he demanded a little more from her — or that she saw beyond herself sooner.
Still, the novel shines in its atmosphere: the restaurant scenes are vibrant, the side characters add color and humor, and the sense of starting over — really starting over — rings authentic. Even when I was frustrated with Camille, I could see exactly why she was overwhelmed, and the story captures that post-college limbo with honesty. The romance is tender, the pacing has an easy rhythm, and the summer setting is pure escapism.
This is a book I wanted to adore, and while I enjoyed the ride, the emotional disconnect with the heroine kept it from hitting the level of swoon I hoped for. But if you love messy growth arcs, seaside romance, and a loyal hero who has been quietly in love for years, this is still a satisfying, feel-good read to pick up.
A warm thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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November 22, 2025
“Are you lonely?” she asked quietly. “Aren’t we all a little lonely?”
A quarter-life-crisis leads to a second coming of age novel about a 25 year old Gen Z who finds herself fired because "her heart isn't in it" in her Corporate World job. Shortly thereafter she finds herself in jail for having a bit of a meltdown in the presence of a police officer. But Camille's Knight in Shining Armor comes in the form of her best friend Danny, who takes her back to her hometown and allows her the privilege of working at Beau's, his tavern, while she finds out what is next. Armed with a mountain of personal and student debt, Camille has done nearly everything right and is still not thriving.
“I’m not averse to seafood. It’s just . . . at the bottom of the list of food I want to eat.”
Camile, naturally, falls in love with Danny, who has some of the most romantic and gorgeous expressions of love. It is a best-friends-to-lovers trope with side characters who have a lot of potential. Her ex boyfriend Cory has found love and is getting married, but 2 other friends are about to have books of their own. I am sure this will be first in a series, and I can't wait to read the others. Ramirez absolutely captures the voice and the spirit of Gen Z, and brings the reader to the feeling of malaise we all feel at the point in which the government thinks we are an adult but the workforce very much treats us as a child. The characters are really quintessential 25 year olds and their voice and struggles are really authentic- Student loan debt and rent are 80% of her now non-existent income. Boomers and Millenials in the work force are very confused by Gen z not wanting to put work at the center of their world.
“Twenty-five is about figuring stuff out. It’s okay to be lost.”
I give this book an enthusiastic 4 stars- it is very well done as a debut and it is a romance that has some deeper themes. I look forward to what is coming next from this talented new voice in fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 12, 2026.
A quarter-life-crisis leads to a second coming of age novel about a 25 year old Gen Z who finds herself fired because "her heart isn't in it" in her Corporate World job. Shortly thereafter she finds herself in jail for having a bit of a meltdown in the presence of a police officer. But Camille's Knight in Shining Armor comes in the form of her best friend Danny, who takes her back to her hometown and allows her the privilege of working at Beau's, his tavern, while she finds out what is next. Armed with a mountain of personal and student debt, Camille has done nearly everything right and is still not thriving.
“I’m not averse to seafood. It’s just . . . at the bottom of the list of food I want to eat.”
Camile, naturally, falls in love with Danny, who has some of the most romantic and gorgeous expressions of love. It is a best-friends-to-lovers trope with side characters who have a lot of potential. Her ex boyfriend Cory has found love and is getting married, but 2 other friends are about to have books of their own. I am sure this will be first in a series, and I can't wait to read the others. Ramirez absolutely captures the voice and the spirit of Gen Z, and brings the reader to the feeling of malaise we all feel at the point in which the government thinks we are an adult but the workforce very much treats us as a child. The characters are really quintessential 25 year olds and their voice and struggles are really authentic- Student loan debt and rent are 80% of her now non-existent income. Boomers and Millenials in the work force are very confused by Gen z not wanting to put work at the center of their world.
“Twenty-five is about figuring stuff out. It’s okay to be lost.”
I give this book an enthusiastic 4 stars- it is very well done as a debut and it is a romance that has some deeper themes. I look forward to what is coming next from this talented new voice in fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 12, 2026.
January 23, 2026
Not gonna lie for the sake of NG, but I would have DNF’d Burnout Summer if it wasn’t for it being an ARC, and based on the description I believed this was totally up my alley. Glad I held on through the first 35% because once certain details were out the way, the electric tension and the will they, won’t they, I love so much could really begin. Now the over abundance of details is a very ME thing. Not the books. The details of this quaint East Coast town our FMC, Camille, finds herself staying with Danny, are enough to make me wanna move there. But for me, too much scenic detail or day to day mundane details stall a stories pacing. But for those who love and can get lost in the nuance of the details, you’ll be in heaven because author has a gift for it. Friends to lovers trope with a subplot of a quarter life crisis on page after page. Poor girl was not having a good year. All the secondary characters were fun to get to know, and I have a feeling we’ll be back here for another of the group. Yay! Definitely a recommend.
Thanks NetGalley. As always these opinions are my own.
Thanks NetGalley. As always these opinions are my own.
April 1, 2026
This just didn’t work for me at all.
Cam was a really tough main character to spend an entire book with. I get what the author was going for—quarter-life crisis, burnout, feeling stuck—but it came across as overwhelmingly self-focused. Instead of growing on me, she actually became more frustrating as the story went on. By the end, I was actively dreading being in her head.
Danny was the only bright spot. He’s thoughtful, steady, and clearly cares about the people around him, which only made it harder to watch how everything played out. The imbalance between them made the romance feel off from the start. I never felt the emotional pull you want from friends-to-lovers, which is disappointing because it’s a trope I usually love.
The friend group dynamic didn’t help either. It felt tense in a way that wasn’t compelling—just exhausting. There’s so much lingering resentment and weird loyalty that it stopped feeling believable. At some point, it really felt like they’d all be better off letting each other go.
And Chapter 24… I genuinely wish I could unread it. That moment completely took me out of the story and I couldn’t recover from it after.
There are hints of what this could have been—a beachy reset, found direction, second chances—but none of it landed. It just left me irritated more than anything else.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cam was a really tough main character to spend an entire book with. I get what the author was going for—quarter-life crisis, burnout, feeling stuck—but it came across as overwhelmingly self-focused. Instead of growing on me, she actually became more frustrating as the story went on. By the end, I was actively dreading being in her head.
Danny was the only bright spot. He’s thoughtful, steady, and clearly cares about the people around him, which only made it harder to watch how everything played out. The imbalance between them made the romance feel off from the start. I never felt the emotional pull you want from friends-to-lovers, which is disappointing because it’s a trope I usually love.
The friend group dynamic didn’t help either. It felt tense in a way that wasn’t compelling—just exhausting. There’s so much lingering resentment and weird loyalty that it stopped feeling believable. At some point, it really felt like they’d all be better off letting each other go.
And Chapter 24… I genuinely wish I could unread it. That moment completely took me out of the story and I couldn’t recover from it after.
There are hints of what this could have been—a beachy reset, found direction, second chances—but none of it landed. It just left me irritated more than anything else.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
“Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.”
☀️
Camille is slowly burning out. If it’s not one things, it’s another. She’s lost her job, lost her boyfriend and was recently arrested. Yikes. And she’s also neck-deep in student loans.
Her friend from college (who also bailed her out), Danny has a solution. He’s offering Cam a summer break from her current routine. His family has a restaurant along the coast of Rhode Island. Danny suggests that Cam should work the summer to focus on paying off her student loans. With all the time spent together in and out of work, it’s hard deny this is won’t be a steamy friends to lovers.
🏖️ 🌊❤️🔥
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance. Out May 12, 2026 ☀️
☀️
Camille is slowly burning out. If it’s not one things, it’s another. She’s lost her job, lost her boyfriend and was recently arrested. Yikes. And she’s also neck-deep in student loans.
Her friend from college (who also bailed her out), Danny has a solution. He’s offering Cam a summer break from her current routine. His family has a restaurant along the coast of Rhode Island. Danny suggests that Cam should work the summer to focus on paying off her student loans. With all the time spent together in and out of work, it’s hard deny this is won’t be a steamy friends to lovers.
🏖️ 🌊❤️🔥
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance. Out May 12, 2026 ☀️
March 22, 2026
Yall, I LOVED this book so much. I devoured it in two days because I just couldn't put it down.
Not only did this summery rom com have my absolute favorite trope (friends to lovers) and a fun cast of characters reminiscent of Friends, it's set it an small coastal town and gave all the Emily Henry vibes I love but with a diverse cast of characters.
Burnout Summer is all about dealing with post-grad woes (and crippling student loans), coping with a changing friend group dynamic, and learning about the little (big) things that bring you joy and ignite your passion.
The friends to lovers aspect was my favorite part of this story. Watching Cam and Danny's relationship develop throughout the story had me screaming and kicking my feet. It's the kind of romance that makes me throw the book across the room and then immediately pick it back up lol Danny was just so sweet and caring and charming and is now my new favorite book bf.
Cam was a frustrating fmc, but in a way where I appreciated her flaws and her imperfections. I really loved her character and related to her immensely. And she's also Jewish and Mexican American, so I really enjoyed reading about her growing up with a mixed cultural/religious identity.
I'm so excited for Burnout Summer to be out in the world (PUB DAY: May 12!!) and for everyone to join Cam and Danny in Elswick, Rhode Island!
And while yall wait for book one, I'm already itching to read what I think will be book two from Drew's pov (please let it be true!) 🤞🏼
Not only did this summery rom com have my absolute favorite trope (friends to lovers) and a fun cast of characters reminiscent of Friends, it's set it an small coastal town and gave all the Emily Henry vibes I love but with a diverse cast of characters.
Burnout Summer is all about dealing with post-grad woes (and crippling student loans), coping with a changing friend group dynamic, and learning about the little (big) things that bring you joy and ignite your passion.
The friends to lovers aspect was my favorite part of this story. Watching Cam and Danny's relationship develop throughout the story had me screaming and kicking my feet. It's the kind of romance that makes me throw the book across the room and then immediately pick it back up lol Danny was just so sweet and caring and charming and is now my new favorite book bf.
Cam was a frustrating fmc, but in a way where I appreciated her flaws and her imperfections. I really loved her character and related to her immensely. And she's also Jewish and Mexican American, so I really enjoyed reading about her growing up with a mixed cultural/religious identity.
I'm so excited for Burnout Summer to be out in the world (PUB DAY: May 12!!) and for everyone to join Cam and Danny in Elswick, Rhode Island!
And while yall wait for book one, I'm already itching to read what I think will be book two from Drew's pov (please let it be true!) 🤞🏼
November 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy! Burnout Summer is a novel set in a small beach town where Cam, college graduate fired from her corporate job, is given the opportunity to take a break and focus on finding herself. Cam has a very relatable story to many, college degree with substantial student debt, college friend groups that have drifted apart, and the mid-20s existential crisis.
The FMC did get on my nerves sometimes, the MMC was almost too perfect. Cam stressed far too much thinking she would break up the friend group and permeated though her entire being. This is a story of finding oneself and learning how to power through the stressors in life. As for the writing, it did get a little sloggy for a few chapters, but it picked up again. It’s a simple (in a good way) read so if you are looking for a light read, I would give this one a go! Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a lot of people I know.
The FMC did get on my nerves sometimes, the MMC was almost too perfect. Cam stressed far too much thinking she would break up the friend group and permeated though her entire being. This is a story of finding oneself and learning how to power through the stressors in life. As for the writing, it did get a little sloggy for a few chapters, but it picked up again. It’s a simple (in a good way) read so if you are looking for a light read, I would give this one a go! Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to a lot of people I know.
November 6, 2025
A fun read about new beginnings, changes, friends, and romance. Camille has been fired from her corporate job, and her best friend Danny says stay with me for the summer. She goes and he offers her a job at his bar/restaurant. During the summer they kiss once. A friend stops by and says send me your resume. A few weeks later Camille gets a job offer in another state. She and Danny have spent more time together. He tells her he’s always loved her. What?! What will she do? Stay or take the job because she has bills to bill?
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 15, 2025
My reviews holds some bias because this is a friend of a friend’s debut novel!
But! I had a great time with this. Cam and Danny have chemistry that jumps off the page both with each other and their friend group.
Cam is incredibly frustrating and selfish a lot of the time (in that way that many 20somethings are) and yet you can’t help but root for her. I saw a lot of myself in her, both my 25yo self and even myself now (which okay, kind of depressing but we move!)
Currently longing to have a breakdown, get arrested and move to a beach town with a friend!
Thank you to St Martin’s Press/Saturday Books and NetGalley for the eARC!
But! I had a great time with this. Cam and Danny have chemistry that jumps off the page both with each other and their friend group.
Cam is incredibly frustrating and selfish a lot of the time (in that way that many 20somethings are) and yet you can’t help but root for her. I saw a lot of myself in her, both my 25yo self and even myself now (which okay, kind of depressing but we move!)
Currently longing to have a breakdown, get arrested and move to a beach town with a friend!
Thank you to St Martin’s Press/Saturday Books and NetGalley for the eARC!
February 8, 2026
This took way longer than necessary for me to finish which is completely my fault, a reading funk and being lazy.
net galley arc 3/5 -- at some points I loved this book and at others I hated it. I thought the friends were bad friends at some parts which maybe was the point? The message is to follow your passions which I liked. I liked that Cam made the choice with Danny easily and not like it was a tough decision bc I think that would have made it hard to sell the love to me. I also love how the epilogue sets up for a Drew book.
net galley arc 3/5 -- at some points I loved this book and at others I hated it. I thought the friends were bad friends at some parts which maybe was the point? The message is to follow your passions which I liked. I liked that Cam made the choice with Danny easily and not like it was a tough decision bc I think that would have made it hard to sell the love to me. I also love how the epilogue sets up for a Drew book.
March 14, 2026
Thank you
📖 Book Review 📖 Some people struggle through mid-life, for others their quarter-life presents as the real dumpster fire. Cam falls into the latter category and her best friend Danny has just offered her a sabbatical summer for a chance to escape from the burnout that is her life. Jenna Ramirez reminds us that there are two constants whenever life gets tough: the beach and the people who love and support us. Burnout Summer is a heartwarming story that will have you rooting for love with sandy toes and salty waves crashing nearby…
📖 Book Review 📖 Some people struggle through mid-life, for others their quarter-life presents as the real dumpster fire. Cam falls into the latter category and her best friend Danny has just offered her a sabbatical summer for a chance to escape from the burnout that is her life. Jenna Ramirez reminds us that there are two constants whenever life gets tough: the beach and the people who love and support us. Burnout Summer is a heartwarming story that will have you rooting for love with sandy toes and salty waves crashing nearby…
November 19, 2025
So, I want to start by saying this book was not my culture, and other people may really enjoy it. As I was reading it, I was fairly confident the author was significantly younger than me (which the acknowledgments verified). I also live a rural life and this book was super caught up with big city business people pressure. I work in the hospitality industry which was consistently looked down on in valuation by the characters. I did really agree with much of the social commentary of the challenges of a 20 something in America that the author was illustrating. My issue was that these points were very overt and not elegantly laid out. I also struggled a lot with the fmc. She was not a very enjoyable human being to live inside the head of. While the author did spend some time showing the fmc thoughts and behaviors weren't ok, I really could have used a larger redemptive arc for her changing her behavior to make her more palatable. While college debt can absolutely be crippling, it's hard to feel sympathetic when her complaint is that she can't take a European vacation. The mmc was lovely, but honestly the dog takes the cake for the best character.
November 25, 2025
thanks to netgalley for the arc of burnout summer, a novel set in a small seaside town that feels like one of those summers you wish could last a little longer. it follows two best friends who are trying to put their lives back together while figuring out who they want to become.
tropes:
friends to lovers
slow burn
he falls first
grumpy/sunshine
forced proximity
quarter-life crisis
camille “cam” luna loses her job, ends up in debt that keeps her awake at night, and after one really bad day she even finds herself in a jail cell. the only person who comes to her side without thinking twice is danny, her best friend, who picks her up and takes her to elswick, where he runs a restaurant he inherited from his uncle. she needs to get away from everything, and he doesn’t ask anything in return: just that she stays with him for the summer. cam tries to sort out her thoughts, finds a job at danny’s place, and ends up facing a version of herself who tried too hard to please everyone and too little to understand what she really wants. around them, the old friend group tries to come together again after her breakup, and the summer becomes a chance to grow in a way that’s uncomfortable, imperfect, but necessary. it’s a story that moves slowly, but once you see where it’s going, it’s impossible not to follow it until the last page.
cam is a character that might divide because she’s written in a very realistic way: emotional, full of insecurities, often held back by the same fears she tries to ignore. she makes questionable choices, shuts down, and sometimes seems like she’s not learning fast enough, but that’s exactly what makes her believable. she’s a girl who falls often but still tries to get back up, even when she’d rather run away.
danny is the opposite: steady, patient, and always there. he’s the kind of character who doesn’t need big speeches to make you care about him, because he shows his affection through simple and constant gestures. it’s clear from the start that he’s been in love for years, even if he does everything he can not to put pressure on cam. his life is stable, with no open drama, and that’s why he becomes the steady point around which most of the story turns.
their relationship grows slowly and naturally, starting from a deep friendship that never really loses its weight, even when the attraction starts to show. they work because they talk, because they listen, and because their intimacy comes more from the small things they share than from big dramatic scenes. it’s a sweet romance that takes its time but offers some very tender moments.
jenna ramirez’s writing is simple, warm and very visual. you can feel that she wants to give space to the characters’ personal journeys more than to plot twists, and the summer setting is portrayed really well. in some parts she’s a bit too explicit when commenting on gen z and young adult struggles, and the third-person pov creates some distance, especially with a complicated character like cam, but overall the style flows and supports the emotions of the book. the story itself is quite predictable, but that doesn’t take away from the comfort it gives.
burnout summer is a novel about exhaustion, friendship, and second chances, without unnecessary drama or exaggeration. if you like a very slow friends to lovers with a summer that changes everything, it’s worth reading.
tropes:
friends to lovers
slow burn
he falls first
grumpy/sunshine
forced proximity
quarter-life crisis
camille “cam” luna loses her job, ends up in debt that keeps her awake at night, and after one really bad day she even finds herself in a jail cell. the only person who comes to her side without thinking twice is danny, her best friend, who picks her up and takes her to elswick, where he runs a restaurant he inherited from his uncle. she needs to get away from everything, and he doesn’t ask anything in return: just that she stays with him for the summer. cam tries to sort out her thoughts, finds a job at danny’s place, and ends up facing a version of herself who tried too hard to please everyone and too little to understand what she really wants. around them, the old friend group tries to come together again after her breakup, and the summer becomes a chance to grow in a way that’s uncomfortable, imperfect, but necessary. it’s a story that moves slowly, but once you see where it’s going, it’s impossible not to follow it until the last page.
cam is a character that might divide because she’s written in a very realistic way: emotional, full of insecurities, often held back by the same fears she tries to ignore. she makes questionable choices, shuts down, and sometimes seems like she’s not learning fast enough, but that’s exactly what makes her believable. she’s a girl who falls often but still tries to get back up, even when she’d rather run away.
danny is the opposite: steady, patient, and always there. he’s the kind of character who doesn’t need big speeches to make you care about him, because he shows his affection through simple and constant gestures. it’s clear from the start that he’s been in love for years, even if he does everything he can not to put pressure on cam. his life is stable, with no open drama, and that’s why he becomes the steady point around which most of the story turns.
their relationship grows slowly and naturally, starting from a deep friendship that never really loses its weight, even when the attraction starts to show. they work because they talk, because they listen, and because their intimacy comes more from the small things they share than from big dramatic scenes. it’s a sweet romance that takes its time but offers some very tender moments.
jenna ramirez’s writing is simple, warm and very visual. you can feel that she wants to give space to the characters’ personal journeys more than to plot twists, and the summer setting is portrayed really well. in some parts she’s a bit too explicit when commenting on gen z and young adult struggles, and the third-person pov creates some distance, especially with a complicated character like cam, but overall the style flows and supports the emotions of the book. the story itself is quite predictable, but that doesn’t take away from the comfort it gives.
burnout summer is a novel about exhaustion, friendship, and second chances, without unnecessary drama or exaggeration. if you like a very slow friends to lovers with a summer that changes everything, it’s worth reading.
December 22, 2025
📚Burnout Summer
✍🏻Jenna Ramirez
Blurb:
Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
As September approaches, Cam must decide between snuffing out the flames with Danny in order to keep her beloved friend group together and return to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
My Thoughts:
This novel may be just the book to give you a break from the cold temperatures outside with the slow burn romance, hot and spicy sex and the wonderful world building the author creates of a summer in a small town on the New England shore. The FMC did get on my nerves sometimes, the MMC was almost too perfect. Cam stressed far too much thinking she would break up the friend group and permeated though her entire being..When Camille Luna manages to get fired and arrested (a minor incident with a wayward lighter and a piece of trash) on the same day, it's her best friend Danny who comes to the rescue. He not only drives down to DC to pick her up but also offers to let her stay with him for the whole summer as she figures out what to do next. Once Cam gets to the picturesque town of Elswick, Rhode Island, where Danny owns and runs his deceased uncle's restaurant, she can finally relax and start to think about what she actually wants in her life.Burnout Summer perfectly captures the angst of being in your twenties, post college, when it feels like you're too old to be aimless but still too young to really know what you want in your life.
Thanks NetGalley, Saturday Books and Author Jenna Ramirez for the advanced copy of "Burnout Summer" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SaturdayBooks
#JennaRamirez
#BurnoutSummer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Jenna Ramirez
Blurb:
Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
As September approaches, Cam must decide between snuffing out the flames with Danny in order to keep her beloved friend group together and return to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
My Thoughts:
This novel may be just the book to give you a break from the cold temperatures outside with the slow burn romance, hot and spicy sex and the wonderful world building the author creates of a summer in a small town on the New England shore. The FMC did get on my nerves sometimes, the MMC was almost too perfect. Cam stressed far too much thinking she would break up the friend group and permeated though her entire being..When Camille Luna manages to get fired and arrested (a minor incident with a wayward lighter and a piece of trash) on the same day, it's her best friend Danny who comes to the rescue. He not only drives down to DC to pick her up but also offers to let her stay with him for the whole summer as she figures out what to do next. Once Cam gets to the picturesque town of Elswick, Rhode Island, where Danny owns and runs his deceased uncle's restaurant, she can finally relax and start to think about what she actually wants in her life.Burnout Summer perfectly captures the angst of being in your twenties, post college, when it feels like you're too old to be aimless but still too young to really know what you want in your life.
Thanks NetGalley, Saturday Books and Author Jenna Ramirez for the advanced copy of "Burnout Summer" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#SaturdayBooks
#JennaRamirez
#BurnoutSummer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & Jenna Ramirez for the Burnout Summer ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Mid-twenties Camille is going through a corporate career crisis and is whisked away to a charming Rhode Island town to spend her summer working through her burnout with long-time college bestie Danny, who, to the rest of the close-knit friend group, never quite cared about a career like the rest of time. However, Cam quickly learns that Danny has a lot going for him back in his hometown as a booming restauranteur and has to learn if she can get out of her own head about her life not going quite how she thought it would be at 25…
First and foremost, I’d like to bring attention to the fact that Cam is pretty annoying like the majority of the time… but I think the whole point is that, as readers, we SHOULD be finding her self-absorbed and “woe is me.” That further comes to light whenever Danny calls her out for being oblivious to the fact that the rest of the friend group HAD kept the group updated on life changes, but Cam was so wrapped up in herself that she never took notice to it. While Cam definitely was getting on my nerves with her woe-is-me attitude, I thought she was a very well-rounded, complex character with a lot of depth, and I applaud the author for that. And… I hate to say it… but I can see myself in Cam too. As someone who was a go-getter in high school and college with big career expectations, I could 100% see myself crashing out if I got into my career and realized that I hated it and the culture but felt like I was stuck and would waste a degree if I changed paths.
I think Ramirez does a fabulous job at really giving a lot of voice to a real fear that many people in their mid-twenties have. Everyone in their friend groups are at different stages of life - marriage, babies, career focused, health focused, traveling, poor, richer than expected. No one is in the same place, and when you have a friend group that begins freshman year of college, going through those life changes will change the group dynamics, and it’s hard to grasp when you don’t want things to change.
I’d also like to show some appreciation for Danny. What a man! I loved to see how Ramirez handled his own career and gave a voice that being in the service industry is not a failure and, in fact, can be better than the corporate world, despite a common belief that corporate is superior.
This review is a bit scattered all over the place, but all of this to say is that I highly enjoyed this novel and Ramirez’s way of writing delicate, raw, and real characters that can translate into the real world and help those who relate to the characters realize that life isn’t stagnant and you can always find yourself in a coastal town with a hot man and a dog to bring you back down to earth.
Mid-twenties Camille is going through a corporate career crisis and is whisked away to a charming Rhode Island town to spend her summer working through her burnout with long-time college bestie Danny, who, to the rest of the close-knit friend group, never quite cared about a career like the rest of time. However, Cam quickly learns that Danny has a lot going for him back in his hometown as a booming restauranteur and has to learn if she can get out of her own head about her life not going quite how she thought it would be at 25…
First and foremost, I’d like to bring attention to the fact that Cam is pretty annoying like the majority of the time… but I think the whole point is that, as readers, we SHOULD be finding her self-absorbed and “woe is me.” That further comes to light whenever Danny calls her out for being oblivious to the fact that the rest of the friend group HAD kept the group updated on life changes, but Cam was so wrapped up in herself that she never took notice to it. While Cam definitely was getting on my nerves with her woe-is-me attitude, I thought she was a very well-rounded, complex character with a lot of depth, and I applaud the author for that. And… I hate to say it… but I can see myself in Cam too. As someone who was a go-getter in high school and college with big career expectations, I could 100% see myself crashing out if I got into my career and realized that I hated it and the culture but felt like I was stuck and would waste a degree if I changed paths.
I think Ramirez does a fabulous job at really giving a lot of voice to a real fear that many people in their mid-twenties have. Everyone in their friend groups are at different stages of life - marriage, babies, career focused, health focused, traveling, poor, richer than expected. No one is in the same place, and when you have a friend group that begins freshman year of college, going through those life changes will change the group dynamics, and it’s hard to grasp when you don’t want things to change.
I’d also like to show some appreciation for Danny. What a man! I loved to see how Ramirez handled his own career and gave a voice that being in the service industry is not a failure and, in fact, can be better than the corporate world, despite a common belief that corporate is superior.
This review is a bit scattered all over the place, but all of this to say is that I highly enjoyed this novel and Ramirez’s way of writing delicate, raw, and real characters that can translate into the real world and help those who relate to the characters realize that life isn’t stagnant and you can always find yourself in a coastal town with a hot man and a dog to bring you back down to earth.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book was a giveaway by the author and publisher. It will be available in bookstores in May 2026.
Anyone who has ever lived through their 20s and 30s in the U.S. in the past 30 years, in this country's ever-enshittifying economy and socio-political drama (and thanks to Cory Doctorow for that wonderful word, btw!), will relate to something in Jenna Ramirez's friends-to-lovers romantic dramedy "Burnout Summer".
If you took the cast of "Friends" and dumped them in the Real World with Real World problems like ridiculous student loan debt, a shitty job market, and little hope, then you'd get an idea where Ramirez is going with her debut novel.
The novel starts with the protagonist, Camille "Cam" Luna, having just lost her corporate job and immediately getting arrested in a ridiculous (but weirdly believable, in these times) smoking infraction. She is sitting in a jail cell in the book's opening. (This kind of sets the tone for the rest of the book.)
An old college friend, Danny, bails her out and takes her back to his small beach town where he owns a popular bar & grille. He gives her the option of living in a guest house and working in the restaurant for the summer, until she's ready and able to get back on her feet. Desperate, she takes it.
Thus begins a sweet, occasionally funny, and emotional friends-to-lovers story about finding love and acceptance in a harsh world where there is little time for love and where acceptance is more often than not based on how much money you have in a savings account and how good your credit score is.
Cam is a likable enough romantic heroine, but, like most romantic heroines, seems pretty stupid in the ways of love and romance. She clearly can't see---the way literally everyone else can see---that Danny has been in love with her forever. Then again, this is probably more relatable than most of us care to admit.
There is also a classist element to Cam's blindness to Danny: she has a hard time respecting Danny because he doesn't have a desire to make millions in a high-paying corporate job, the way she and all their other college friends have tried to do. Danny's question to her---"Does it make you happy?"---is utterly beyond her comprehension, at first. Like an earworm, though, it echoes throughout the rest of the story.
I don't read a lot of these types of romantic stories, and my fondness for the romance genre is limited, to say the least. That said, "Burnout Summer" is a likable and relatable love story that will resonate with the 20- to 30-something crowd.
Anyone who has ever lived through their 20s and 30s in the U.S. in the past 30 years, in this country's ever-enshittifying economy and socio-political drama (and thanks to Cory Doctorow for that wonderful word, btw!), will relate to something in Jenna Ramirez's friends-to-lovers romantic dramedy "Burnout Summer".
If you took the cast of "Friends" and dumped them in the Real World with Real World problems like ridiculous student loan debt, a shitty job market, and little hope, then you'd get an idea where Ramirez is going with her debut novel.
The novel starts with the protagonist, Camille "Cam" Luna, having just lost her corporate job and immediately getting arrested in a ridiculous (but weirdly believable, in these times) smoking infraction. She is sitting in a jail cell in the book's opening. (This kind of sets the tone for the rest of the book.)
An old college friend, Danny, bails her out and takes her back to his small beach town where he owns a popular bar & grille. He gives her the option of living in a guest house and working in the restaurant for the summer, until she's ready and able to get back on her feet. Desperate, she takes it.
Thus begins a sweet, occasionally funny, and emotional friends-to-lovers story about finding love and acceptance in a harsh world where there is little time for love and where acceptance is more often than not based on how much money you have in a savings account and how good your credit score is.
Cam is a likable enough romantic heroine, but, like most romantic heroines, seems pretty stupid in the ways of love and romance. She clearly can't see---the way literally everyone else can see---that Danny has been in love with her forever. Then again, this is probably more relatable than most of us care to admit.
There is also a classist element to Cam's blindness to Danny: she has a hard time respecting Danny because he doesn't have a desire to make millions in a high-paying corporate job, the way she and all their other college friends have tried to do. Danny's question to her---"Does it make you happy?"---is utterly beyond her comprehension, at first. Like an earworm, though, it echoes throughout the rest of the story.
I don't read a lot of these types of romantic stories, and my fondness for the romance genre is limited, to say the least. That said, "Burnout Summer" is a likable and relatable love story that will resonate with the 20- to 30-something crowd.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🔎 ARC Book Review
Burnout Summer
@jennaramirezbooks
@saturdaybooks
@stmartinspress
@netgalley
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
🔎 My review
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez had ALL the ingredients that instantly pull me in ☀️📚💕
Not gonna lie… Cam tested my patience a little 😅 I just wanted her to OPEN HER EYES because Danny is literally perfect for her. Like sir is right there!! 🥹 But that tension? That slow realization? Worth it.
Cam and Danny have completely opposite personalities, yet somehow they balance each other in the best way. Watching their dynamic unfold felt real and earned — especially with the themes of exhaustion, friendship, and second chances woven throughout 💛
If you love a slow friends-to-lovers romance with heart, growth, and that “they’ve been meant to be” energy, this one’s for you ✨
#NetGalley
#BurnoutSummer
#JennaRamirez 📖
#FriendsToLovers
Burnout Summer
@jennaramirezbooks
@saturdaybooks
@stmartinspress
@netgalley
Publication Date: May 12th, 2026
My Rating:
🌟 4/5
👀Read if you like
Friends to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow Burn
Four years after graduation, life isn’t going the way Camille Luna expected. Her corporate career is soul-sucking, she's in debt from student loans, and her breakup with her ex has created a serious rift between her college best friends. When her spiraling lands her in jail for the night, it's Danny Brennan —the lovable burnout from their college clique— who bails her out and offers the perfect solution to her quarter-life crisis: a summer by the beach.
Cam is whisked away to Elswick, Rhode Island, where former slacker Danny has taken over his uncle’s restaurant and turned it into a seaside hotspot. But while Danny has grown into a devoted boss and dog dad, his carpe diem life philosophy is still as fiery as ever. The hazy summer days start to blur between shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, and a reignited passion for writing, all alongside Danny who makes her laugh like nobody else. Cam can't help but wonder —is it the salty waves that have her feeling so renewed, or is it the carefree friend she always overlooked? But summer can't last forever, and Cam's looming student debt reminds her at every turn that the frigid air of corporate office life is waiting.
🔎 My review
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez had ALL the ingredients that instantly pull me in ☀️📚💕
Not gonna lie… Cam tested my patience a little 😅 I just wanted her to OPEN HER EYES because Danny is literally perfect for her. Like sir is right there!! 🥹 But that tension? That slow realization? Worth it.
Cam and Danny have completely opposite personalities, yet somehow they balance each other in the best way. Watching their dynamic unfold felt real and earned — especially with the themes of exhaustion, friendship, and second chances woven throughout 💛
If you love a slow friends-to-lovers romance with heart, growth, and that “they’ve been meant to be” energy, this one’s for you ✨
#NetGalley
#BurnoutSummer
#JennaRamirez 📖
#FriendsToLovers
November 22, 2025
Advance copy for review thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It opens with a comparison of corporate life to prison that I honestly could not have related to more. SOLD. Then, it moved on to my not-so-secret dream of living out a lovely, simple life in a sweet east coast beach town. Extra sold!
I'll back up. The main character Cam (Corporate Camille), spends the summer with one of her best friends Danny, writing and waiting tables at his restaurant (inherited from his uncle) in a small beach town in the northeast. She's recovering from a layoff from a job she hated, as well as figuring out how to survive the huge student loans and credit card debt she has from the college where she found her best friends (yay!) and got a degree to prepare her for said hated job (boo). She realizes that she's burned out and that getting a similar job will just start the cycle over again, but of course, drama ensues as she navigates what she could do instead, a budding romance, and the evolution of her friend group after college.
This book was particularly timely for me because I, too, recently left corporate for what I hope will be the last time, and understand Cam's desire never to return. The description of the beach life was lovely, and Danny's restaurant filled with quirky characters sounds like so much fun.
I love the message in this book. The idea of leaving corporate and not doing the typical college to corporate to retirement thing IS getting more accepted, but not enough. The idea of this being ok and normal needs to be out there and this book does a great job of doing that.
Is Cam self-centered sometimes in the book? Yes, and she acknowledges this and works to change it. I'd say this is pretty typical mid-20s-in-crisis behavior. Did I know what was going to happen for much of the book? Yes. Did that bother me? No! The fun is in seeing the unfolding.
Great book. It's both an enjoyable read and an important message. Read it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It opens with a comparison of corporate life to prison that I honestly could not have related to more. SOLD. Then, it moved on to my not-so-secret dream of living out a lovely, simple life in a sweet east coast beach town. Extra sold!
I'll back up. The main character Cam (Corporate Camille), spends the summer with one of her best friends Danny, writing and waiting tables at his restaurant (inherited from his uncle) in a small beach town in the northeast. She's recovering from a layoff from a job she hated, as well as figuring out how to survive the huge student loans and credit card debt she has from the college where she found her best friends (yay!) and got a degree to prepare her for said hated job (boo). She realizes that she's burned out and that getting a similar job will just start the cycle over again, but of course, drama ensues as she navigates what she could do instead, a budding romance, and the evolution of her friend group after college.
This book was particularly timely for me because I, too, recently left corporate for what I hope will be the last time, and understand Cam's desire never to return. The description of the beach life was lovely, and Danny's restaurant filled with quirky characters sounds like so much fun.
I love the message in this book. The idea of leaving corporate and not doing the typical college to corporate to retirement thing IS getting more accepted, but not enough. The idea of this being ok and normal needs to be out there and this book does a great job of doing that.
Is Cam self-centered sometimes in the book? Yes, and she acknowledges this and works to change it. I'd say this is pretty typical mid-20s-in-crisis behavior. Did I know what was going to happen for much of the book? Yes. Did that bother me? No! The fun is in seeing the unfolding.
Great book. It's both an enjoyable read and an important message. Read it!
December 22, 2025
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez
Pub Date May 12, 2026 by St. Martin's Press / Saturday Books
I enjoyed this best friends to lovers trope with fun side characters.
This book is about mid 20 somethings trying to figure out what they want from life. As a 50 something, I am asking myself these same questions and could surprisingly relate.
It also kind of took me back to my mid 20's when I was trying to figure out life, working resort and restaurant jobs just trying to get by and pay bills, and my coworkers were my new friends/family.
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez is a story about Camille (Cam), who is going through a life crisis. She gets fired from her job and must figure out what's next for her but struggles to know what to do. Her college friend Danny comes to pick her up and offers her the chance to stay with him for the summer and sort things out.
She spends the Summer working and reflecting on her life and taking a break from the corporate world.
Cam wasn't my favorite, often times frustrating, but the friends that she felt like she was losing or had lost were always at the center of her thoughts and many of the decisions she was making were to please others.
The author did a nice job of building the problem and then unraveling everything until you see what Cam finally comes to realize about herself, what kind of person she wants to be, who she wants to be in her life and who she wants in her life. Danny was my favorite. He was charming, playful, and caring to the people in his life. One of my favorite parts of this book is the transformation of how each character viewed themselves and the friends viewed each other.
I would recommend for those that love slow burns and friends to lovers.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eArc
Pub Date May 12, 2026 by St. Martin's Press / Saturday Books
I enjoyed this best friends to lovers trope with fun side characters.
This book is about mid 20 somethings trying to figure out what they want from life. As a 50 something, I am asking myself these same questions and could surprisingly relate.
It also kind of took me back to my mid 20's when I was trying to figure out life, working resort and restaurant jobs just trying to get by and pay bills, and my coworkers were my new friends/family.
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez is a story about Camille (Cam), who is going through a life crisis. She gets fired from her job and must figure out what's next for her but struggles to know what to do. Her college friend Danny comes to pick her up and offers her the chance to stay with him for the summer and sort things out.
She spends the Summer working and reflecting on her life and taking a break from the corporate world.
Cam wasn't my favorite, often times frustrating, but the friends that she felt like she was losing or had lost were always at the center of her thoughts and many of the decisions she was making were to please others.
The author did a nice job of building the problem and then unraveling everything until you see what Cam finally comes to realize about herself, what kind of person she wants to be, who she wants to be in her life and who she wants in her life. Danny was my favorite. He was charming, playful, and caring to the people in his life. One of my favorite parts of this book is the transformation of how each character viewed themselves and the friends viewed each other.
I would recommend for those that love slow burns and friends to lovers.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eArc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for review.
Burnout Summer follows Cam and her group of friends as they navigate life after college and those first few years trying to get a career off the ground. Cam has had the worst day of her life at the beginning of the book, culminating with Cam sitting in a jail cell. Luckily for Cam, her friend Danny comes to her rescue and offers her the chance to take the summer to find herself, join him at his restaurant Beau's in Rhode Island, and regroup after a job loss. It's an offer Cam can't refuse.
Over the course of the summer, we get to know Cam, Drew, Danny, Cory and Morgan, with flashbacks to their college years sprinkled in. Cam is struggling both financially and personally, and finds herself comparing her life to her friends and coming up short. Cam sees her every choice as less than her friends, who are all successful, and can't help but feel adrift. She spends her summer hoping to find her passion and maybe get her life back on track, while waiting tables at Beau's. Along the way, she finds herself growing closer to Danny and wondering if there might be a future for her in Rhode Island beyond the summer.
I enjoyed the book, but there were parts that I found a bit repetitive and thought could have been trimmed down. Cam's financial issues were discussed at length, and while they provided needed context, it did get a bit overdone. And while I did enjoy the dynamics between the friends, I did find the "well, you kept a secret from me, and even though I did the same thing, it's different" trope a bit tired and trite.
The relationship between Danny and Cam was a high point for me, and I was pulling for them the whole book. The resolution of their story was very satisfying and overall the steamy scenes were quite hot.
This book has beach read written all over it and I found it to be a good story with some minor flaws. Three stars.
Burnout Summer follows Cam and her group of friends as they navigate life after college and those first few years trying to get a career off the ground. Cam has had the worst day of her life at the beginning of the book, culminating with Cam sitting in a jail cell. Luckily for Cam, her friend Danny comes to her rescue and offers her the chance to take the summer to find herself, join him at his restaurant Beau's in Rhode Island, and regroup after a job loss. It's an offer Cam can't refuse.
Over the course of the summer, we get to know Cam, Drew, Danny, Cory and Morgan, with flashbacks to their college years sprinkled in. Cam is struggling both financially and personally, and finds herself comparing her life to her friends and coming up short. Cam sees her every choice as less than her friends, who are all successful, and can't help but feel adrift. She spends her summer hoping to find her passion and maybe get her life back on track, while waiting tables at Beau's. Along the way, she finds herself growing closer to Danny and wondering if there might be a future for her in Rhode Island beyond the summer.
I enjoyed the book, but there were parts that I found a bit repetitive and thought could have been trimmed down. Cam's financial issues were discussed at length, and while they provided needed context, it did get a bit overdone. And while I did enjoy the dynamics between the friends, I did find the "well, you kept a secret from me, and even though I did the same thing, it's different" trope a bit tired and trite.
The relationship between Danny and Cam was a high point for me, and I was pulling for them the whole book. The resolution of their story was very satisfying and overall the steamy scenes were quite hot.
This book has beach read written all over it and I found it to be a good story with some minor flaws. Three stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Saturday Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Jenna Ramirez for an eARC of Burnout Summer!
5 (or honestly a million)⭐️
Four years after graduation, Camille is stuck in a soul-sucking corporate job, weighed down by student debt and a breakup that fractured her college friend group. After getting fired and a reckless night lands her in jail, she’s bailed out by Danny (one of her college besties) who invites her to spend the summer in his beach town, where he runs a thriving restaurant. As Cam swaps office life for beach days and rediscovers her passion for writing, she starts to see Danny differently. However, when summer ends, she must choose between returning to her unfulfilling life or risking everything for love and a fresh start.
Burnout Summer was so incredibly real. I don’t know if I’ve ever related to a character the way that I related to Cam. I turn 29 on Feb. 25 and I think this was the perfect time for me to read it as I enter the last year of my 20s and the reflection that comes with that. Jenna Ramirez perfectly described how I felt at 25 and 26. I think a lot of us can feel lost after college. We think that we are supposed to be in a certain place by a certain age, but the reality is that everyone is on their own timeline.
In addition to making me feel all of the feels, I laughed a lot with this one. Chapter 23 had me laughing out loud in public like a crazy person. I loved the whole friend group and wanted to know more about them and their unique personalities. Their history makes the dynamic a little complicated, but they clearly care about each other and want to work things out.
If I could go back in time and talk to my 25 year old self, I would bring a copy of this book. It healed something in me and it’s one that I will hold close to my heart.
5 (or honestly a million)⭐️
Four years after graduation, Camille is stuck in a soul-sucking corporate job, weighed down by student debt and a breakup that fractured her college friend group. After getting fired and a reckless night lands her in jail, she’s bailed out by Danny (one of her college besties) who invites her to spend the summer in his beach town, where he runs a thriving restaurant. As Cam swaps office life for beach days and rediscovers her passion for writing, she starts to see Danny differently. However, when summer ends, she must choose between returning to her unfulfilling life or risking everything for love and a fresh start.
Burnout Summer was so incredibly real. I don’t know if I’ve ever related to a character the way that I related to Cam. I turn 29 on Feb. 25 and I think this was the perfect time for me to read it as I enter the last year of my 20s and the reflection that comes with that. Jenna Ramirez perfectly described how I felt at 25 and 26. I think a lot of us can feel lost after college. We think that we are supposed to be in a certain place by a certain age, but the reality is that everyone is on their own timeline.
In addition to making me feel all of the feels, I laughed a lot with this one. Chapter 23 had me laughing out loud in public like a crazy person. I loved the whole friend group and wanted to know more about them and their unique personalities. Their history makes the dynamic a little complicated, but they clearly care about each other and want to work things out.
If I could go back in time and talk to my 25 year old self, I would bring a copy of this book. It healed something in me and it’s one that I will hold close to my heart.
March 2, 2026
☀️📚 ARC Review: Burnout Summer 📚☀️
Burnout Summer by debut author Jenna Ramirez** — 4 ⭐️**
I’m working my way through my ARCs and this one was such a delight. We meet a close-knit college friend group now navigating real life in their mid-20s — student loans, debt, messy relationships, shifting friendships, and the “is this really what adulthood is?” spiral. It felt very real and very relatable.
Cam, our FMC, is having a particularly tough year when one of her college besties, Danny offers her a summer reset. This is friends-to-lovers, slow burn, and very much a coming-of-age story (because let’s be honest… we’re still coming of age in our 20s).
Danny is peak golden retriever MMC — swoony, patient, he falls first, and spends the book quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) trying to make Cam see what’s been in front of her for so long. So many sweet moments.
Cam? Whew. I wanted to shake her at least 100 times. The self-doubt, the people-pleasing, the decisions based on what everyone else thinks — it was frustrating, but also painfully honest. I had to really work to sit in her perspective, and I think that’s what made her growth meaningful.
And can we talk about the setting? The charming Rhode Island beach town felt so vivid. I could picture the bar perfectly, and the beach scenes had me longing for late summer nights on the water. The author truly knows how to set a scene — it added so much warmth and atmosphere to the story.
The side characters were fantastic, and I’m guessing (hoping!) this kicks off a series because there’s so much more story to tell. Overall, a fun summer romance with heart and depth.
Thank you Jenna Ramirez, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the early read of this book. I can't wait for everyone to get to read it!
Burnout Summer by debut author Jenna Ramirez** — 4 ⭐️**
I’m working my way through my ARCs and this one was such a delight. We meet a close-knit college friend group now navigating real life in their mid-20s — student loans, debt, messy relationships, shifting friendships, and the “is this really what adulthood is?” spiral. It felt very real and very relatable.
Cam, our FMC, is having a particularly tough year when one of her college besties, Danny offers her a summer reset. This is friends-to-lovers, slow burn, and very much a coming-of-age story (because let’s be honest… we’re still coming of age in our 20s).
Danny is peak golden retriever MMC — swoony, patient, he falls first, and spends the book quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) trying to make Cam see what’s been in front of her for so long. So many sweet moments.
Cam? Whew. I wanted to shake her at least 100 times. The self-doubt, the people-pleasing, the decisions based on what everyone else thinks — it was frustrating, but also painfully honest. I had to really work to sit in her perspective, and I think that’s what made her growth meaningful.
And can we talk about the setting? The charming Rhode Island beach town felt so vivid. I could picture the bar perfectly, and the beach scenes had me longing for late summer nights on the water. The author truly knows how to set a scene — it added so much warmth and atmosphere to the story.
The side characters were fantastic, and I’m guessing (hoping!) this kicks off a series because there’s so much more story to tell. Overall, a fun summer romance with heart and depth.
Thank you Jenna Ramirez, Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the early read of this book. I can't wait for everyone to get to read it!
November 26, 2025
“𝙃𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙮 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝 𝙥𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥. 𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩, 𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”
Burnout Summer explores how happiness doesn’t always coincide with the path you are supposed to take. The FMC, Camille, gets fired from her first post college corporate job. With crippling student loan and credit card debt, she decides to spend the summer living and working with her college friend Danny to reset the burnout she’s experienced. Throughout the summer, she begins to enjoy life, and she picks up writing again. She has to navigate complicated feelings of her ex Cory being a member of their college friend group and having an upcoming wedding. Camille starts to develop feelings for Danny and has to navigate how that will affect her friend group. When another one of her college friends, Drew, helps her get another corporate job, will Camille risk another burnout or will she stay in Rhode Island with the life she spent all summer romanticizing about?
Cam wasn’t always the most likable character, but you do root for her to figure her life out. Danny is basically too perfect. I found myself laughing at some of their awkward situations, one in particular - IYKYK. This book held my attention and was an easy read! It definitely would be a great beach/summer read. The end sets up another book with the friend group, and I would definitely continue reading more about the other characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy!
Burnout Summer explores how happiness doesn’t always coincide with the path you are supposed to take. The FMC, Camille, gets fired from her first post college corporate job. With crippling student loan and credit card debt, she decides to spend the summer living and working with her college friend Danny to reset the burnout she’s experienced. Throughout the summer, she begins to enjoy life, and she picks up writing again. She has to navigate complicated feelings of her ex Cory being a member of their college friend group and having an upcoming wedding. Camille starts to develop feelings for Danny and has to navigate how that will affect her friend group. When another one of her college friends, Drew, helps her get another corporate job, will Camille risk another burnout or will she stay in Rhode Island with the life she spent all summer romanticizing about?
Cam wasn’t always the most likable character, but you do root for her to figure her life out. Danny is basically too perfect. I found myself laughing at some of their awkward situations, one in particular - IYKYK. This book held my attention and was an easy read! It definitely would be a great beach/summer read. The end sets up another book with the friend group, and I would definitely continue reading more about the other characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy!
February 6, 2026
***Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! ***
This is such an excellent debut novel! I really loved how relatable and realistic it felt from start to finish.
The story follows Camille, who is navigating her mid-twenties while feeling completely burned out. She’s drained by working in corporate America, struggling with student loan and credit card debt, and reeling from losing her job while trying to figure out what direction her life is supposed to take next. You really feel her panic and stress, because of this.
When Camille eventually leaves her life in DC and moves to a small town in Rhode Island where one of her male best friends from college lives, you can easily guess where parts of the story are headed, but I still was hooked. At times the book dragged a tiny bit but the slow-burn romance between Camille and Danny was worth the journey. Danny is genuinely so sweet, supportive, and patient.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how the author handled conflict. Camille and Danny have different worldviews and philosophies, the story shows them confronting those differences and also addressing times where Camille took him for granted over the course of their friendship.
In general, the friend group dynamics were another highlight. Because they all went to college together — including Camille’s ex— there’s a complicated emotional history that creates moments of tension. The way the story explores evolving friendships, changing life paths and that fear of being left behind felt incredibly authentic.
Overall, this is a book I wouldn’t hesitate recommending, and I can’t wait to read whatever the author writes next.
This is such an excellent debut novel! I really loved how relatable and realistic it felt from start to finish.
The story follows Camille, who is navigating her mid-twenties while feeling completely burned out. She’s drained by working in corporate America, struggling with student loan and credit card debt, and reeling from losing her job while trying to figure out what direction her life is supposed to take next. You really feel her panic and stress, because of this.
When Camille eventually leaves her life in DC and moves to a small town in Rhode Island where one of her male best friends from college lives, you can easily guess where parts of the story are headed, but I still was hooked. At times the book dragged a tiny bit but the slow-burn romance between Camille and Danny was worth the journey. Danny is genuinely so sweet, supportive, and patient.
One of my favorite parts of the book was how the author handled conflict. Camille and Danny have different worldviews and philosophies, the story shows them confronting those differences and also addressing times where Camille took him for granted over the course of their friendship.
In general, the friend group dynamics were another highlight. Because they all went to college together — including Camille’s ex— there’s a complicated emotional history that creates moments of tension. The way the story explores evolving friendships, changing life paths and that fear of being left behind felt incredibly authentic.
Overall, this is a book I wouldn’t hesitate recommending, and I can’t wait to read whatever the author writes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really wanted to enjoy this one more. I felt Camille was just too woe is me. Definitely is the most immature of her friends. Work is tough for everyone but like but she is in denial so long about her work making miserable..: nothing was stopping her from actively trying to find a new job like??? She just complained too much for me and I felt she only thought of herself. Constantly just not actually considering her words and actions towards Danny. He for real had a lot of patience. I don’t think she really grasped what Danny was saying and it took her so long to not do what bothered him for years.. being judgemental as fuck.
I can’t lie and say that I didn’t enjoy the book, I really did like the slow burn 🔥 and they did genuinely have good chemistry and a good foundation with each other. I just wished that Camille was a little more aware and not dense. That whole friendship is kinda fucked up and they are all at fault like saying they adults and all this but treating Camille as a child and sugarcoating everything. Treat her like a grown ass woman not a child. I dunno it would piss me off personally if SEVERAL of my friends were all talking behind my back and trying to act like a PR firm trying to make sure Camille didn’t know about the ex. You’d swear it was a couple months ago and not years.
I think 3.5 stars is a fair rating. I did enjoy it, I loved Danny but Camille just irked me too much and I felt we didn’t really get to see it properly play out like actually being a better person to Danny. The partner he deserves… it’s very rushed and it’s just accepted under the rug. I think that aspect could’ve maybe been a little longer
I can’t lie and say that I didn’t enjoy the book, I really did like the slow burn 🔥 and they did genuinely have good chemistry and a good foundation with each other. I just wished that Camille was a little more aware and not dense. That whole friendship is kinda fucked up and they are all at fault like saying they adults and all this but treating Camille as a child and sugarcoating everything. Treat her like a grown ass woman not a child. I dunno it would piss me off personally if SEVERAL of my friends were all talking behind my back and trying to act like a PR firm trying to make sure Camille didn’t know about the ex. You’d swear it was a couple months ago and not years.
I think 3.5 stars is a fair rating. I did enjoy it, I loved Danny but Camille just irked me too much and I felt we didn’t really get to see it properly play out like actually being a better person to Danny. The partner he deserves… it’s very rushed and it’s just accepted under the rug. I think that aspect could’ve maybe been a little longer
November 15, 2025
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC for an honest review.
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez is a story about a young woman, Camille Luna, who is going through a life crisis. She gets fired from her job and must figure out what's next for her but struggles to know what to do. Her college friend Danny comes to pick her up and offers her the chance to stay with him for the summer and sort things out in his Rhode Island beach home.
Camille was not my favorite character, she was often times frustrating because she just couldn't get out of her own way. However, the friends that she felt like she was losing or had lost were always at the center of her thoughts and many of the decisions she was making were to please others which ultimately never works out well for people. Ramirez did a nice job of building the problem and then unraveling everything until you see what Cam finally comes to realize about herself, what kind of person she wants to be, who she wants to be in her life and who she wants in her life. Danny was my favorite character. He was charming, playful, and caring to the people in his life. I loved how she developed his character. One of my favorite parts of this book is the transformation of how each character viewed themselves and the friends viewed each other.
I gave it a 4.5/5* I would have given it a 5* if I liked Cam and little bit more. I would recommend for those that love slow burns and friends to lover.
#BurnoutSummer #JennaRamirez #netgalley #StMartinsPress
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez is a story about a young woman, Camille Luna, who is going through a life crisis. She gets fired from her job and must figure out what's next for her but struggles to know what to do. Her college friend Danny comes to pick her up and offers her the chance to stay with him for the summer and sort things out in his Rhode Island beach home.
Camille was not my favorite character, she was often times frustrating because she just couldn't get out of her own way. However, the friends that she felt like she was losing or had lost were always at the center of her thoughts and many of the decisions she was making were to please others which ultimately never works out well for people. Ramirez did a nice job of building the problem and then unraveling everything until you see what Cam finally comes to realize about herself, what kind of person she wants to be, who she wants to be in her life and who she wants in her life. Danny was my favorite character. He was charming, playful, and caring to the people in his life. I loved how she developed his character. One of my favorite parts of this book is the transformation of how each character viewed themselves and the friends viewed each other.
I gave it a 4.5/5* I would have given it a 5* if I liked Cam and little bit more. I would recommend for those that love slow burns and friends to lover.
#BurnoutSummer #JennaRamirez #netgalley #StMartinsPress
November 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy.
When Camille Luna manages to get fired and arrested (a minor incident with a wayward lighter and a piece of trash) on the same day, it's her best friend Danny who comes to the rescue. He not only drives down to DC to pick her up but also offers to let her stay with him for the whole summer as she figures out what to do next. Once Cam gets to the picturesque town of Elswick, Rhode Island, where Danny owns and runs his deceased uncle's restaurant, she can finally relax and start to think about what she actually wants in her life. Unfortunately, one of those things might be a relationship with Danny--amidst Cam's core group of college friends, when she and her ex, Cory, broke up, it fractured the group in ways that they are only just starting to come out of. Will Cam risk the bonds of friendship again if it means possibly being with the love of her life?
BURNOUT SUMMER perfectly captures the angst of being in your twenties, post college, when it feels like you're too old to be aimless but still too young to really know what you want in your life. Ramirez also did an excellent job of showcasing how misunderstandings happen between friends, even in the world of easy access (cell phones). Cam and Danny's relationship was really nuanced in a way that enhanced the reading. This will be a great summer read for those who like romances with:
-friends to lovers
-he falls first
-getting the band back together
-forced proximity
Burnout Summer is out May 12, 2026
When Camille Luna manages to get fired and arrested (a minor incident with a wayward lighter and a piece of trash) on the same day, it's her best friend Danny who comes to the rescue. He not only drives down to DC to pick her up but also offers to let her stay with him for the whole summer as she figures out what to do next. Once Cam gets to the picturesque town of Elswick, Rhode Island, where Danny owns and runs his deceased uncle's restaurant, she can finally relax and start to think about what she actually wants in her life. Unfortunately, one of those things might be a relationship with Danny--amidst Cam's core group of college friends, when she and her ex, Cory, broke up, it fractured the group in ways that they are only just starting to come out of. Will Cam risk the bonds of friendship again if it means possibly being with the love of her life?
BURNOUT SUMMER perfectly captures the angst of being in your twenties, post college, when it feels like you're too old to be aimless but still too young to really know what you want in your life. Ramirez also did an excellent job of showcasing how misunderstandings happen between friends, even in the world of easy access (cell phones). Cam and Danny's relationship was really nuanced in a way that enhanced the reading. This will be a great summer read for those who like romances with:
-friends to lovers
-he falls first
-getting the band back together
-forced proximity
Burnout Summer is out May 12, 2026
November 22, 2025
"Sometimes, the best love stories are the slow-burning fires. Not the ones that ignite the quickest."
Burnout Summer is about a college graduate who is struggling with what her life is supposed to look like as an adult. With crippling student loan debt, a recent termination of employment, and a new arrest record, she has some actual evaluating in front of her. What is her life going to look like moving forward? How is she going to dig herself out of this hole? Is she even happy with her life anymore?
And how will the dynamic of her friendships change with recent revelations?
As an adult, I can genuinely say that I remember going through this evaluation myself. Everyone in their 20s has some existential crisis, and it's a bear trying to work through. I empathized with Camille's character and the realization that she was a self-absorbed friend who focused only on the negatives in her life.
"It's okay to be unsure about what you want. Because maybe the more valuable question is What do you need?"
Once I reached the 30% mark in this book, I had to put down all my other books and just devour the rest. The angst, the heartache, the... hope! We are all constantly growing individuals, and while we had a tidal wave of growth and discovery in our 20s, now we have the opportunity to bloom. Camille bloomed in Elswick, Rhode Island,
Never let your dreams die, hold onto hope, and demand your dreams to breathe.
Burnout Summer is about a college graduate who is struggling with what her life is supposed to look like as an adult. With crippling student loan debt, a recent termination of employment, and a new arrest record, she has some actual evaluating in front of her. What is her life going to look like moving forward? How is she going to dig herself out of this hole? Is she even happy with her life anymore?
And how will the dynamic of her friendships change with recent revelations?
As an adult, I can genuinely say that I remember going through this evaluation myself. Everyone in their 20s has some existential crisis, and it's a bear trying to work through. I empathized with Camille's character and the realization that she was a self-absorbed friend who focused only on the negatives in her life.
"It's okay to be unsure about what you want. Because maybe the more valuable question is What do you need?"
Once I reached the 30% mark in this book, I had to put down all my other books and just devour the rest. The angst, the heartache, the... hope! We are all constantly growing individuals, and while we had a tidal wave of growth and discovery in our 20s, now we have the opportunity to bloom. Camille bloomed in Elswick, Rhode Island,
Never let your dreams die, hold onto hope, and demand your dreams to breathe.
January 30, 2026
## The Story
The story is both a love story, and a sort of finding your true self story. It focuses equally on Cam’s development and the development of the love story between Danny and Cam. Really, the stories coincide with eachother, and it works.
The story also pays a lot of attention to the dynamics of the friend group, and Cam’s coming to grips with both her place in the group and the inevitability of change as they all get older and go to different places in their lives.
## Tropes
Friends to lovers
Corporate Girl + Laid Back Guy
## What I Thought
I really loved this book. The central romance is a beautiful slow burn, friends to lovers romance, that feels realistic while still aspirational. I mean, who wouldn’t want a hot best guy friend who secretly loved you for years to whisk you off your feet to his beautiful hometown where he runs a super cool, successful business? As cheesy as that sounds, it was still totally realistic.
But really what I loved about this book as it touched on so many of the struggles one might face in their mid twenties. Questions of fading friendships, missed opportunities, dreams, second chances.
By the time I was 25, I already had one kid, so you’d think I wouldn’t relate much at all. But the story is so universal, so relatable, I couldn’t help. I saw myself in Cam even if we were worlds apart.
I happily give this book 4 stars and would grab up anything else written by Jenna Ramirez.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
The story is both a love story, and a sort of finding your true self story. It focuses equally on Cam’s development and the development of the love story between Danny and Cam. Really, the stories coincide with eachother, and it works.
The story also pays a lot of attention to the dynamics of the friend group, and Cam’s coming to grips with both her place in the group and the inevitability of change as they all get older and go to different places in their lives.
## Tropes
Friends to lovers
Corporate Girl + Laid Back Guy
## What I Thought
I really loved this book. The central romance is a beautiful slow burn, friends to lovers romance, that feels realistic while still aspirational. I mean, who wouldn’t want a hot best guy friend who secretly loved you for years to whisk you off your feet to his beautiful hometown where he runs a super cool, successful business? As cheesy as that sounds, it was still totally realistic.
But really what I loved about this book as it touched on so many of the struggles one might face in their mid twenties. Questions of fading friendships, missed opportunities, dreams, second chances.
By the time I was 25, I already had one kid, so you’d think I wouldn’t relate much at all. But the story is so universal, so relatable, I couldn’t help. I saw myself in Cam even if we were worlds apart.
I happily give this book 4 stars and would grab up anything else written by Jenna Ramirez.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 16, 2025
This book has that perfect blend of waning friendships, lost love, and a sprinkle of self-loathing, all wrapped up in a warm, salty, seaside summer. It somehow manages to feel heavy and breezy at the same time, which is honestly my favorite flavor of chaos.
I won’t lie here... it took me a minute to warm up to Camille. She is deeply in her own way at the beginning, and I found myself begging her to just… breathe. But once it became clear that she was going to get a grip (eventually), I actually started rooting for her. The messy 20-something spiral was painfully real.
Danny, on the other hand, is the softest golden retriever MMC I’ve read all year. I adore him. He deserves good things only. He’s steady and patient and quietly in love in that way that just gets you.
I will say that the side characters stole the show for me. The friend group and the restaurant crew were all so fleshed out and full of personality even though they’re only orbiting the main story. They added so much heart and nuance to Cam’s whole unraveling and rebuilding process.
A messy FMC, a sunshiney MMC, beach town healing vibes, and a whole lot of quarter life turmoil were all things I thoroughly enjoyed about this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jenna Ramirez, and Saturday Books for the eARC of this book.
I won’t lie here... it took me a minute to warm up to Camille. She is deeply in her own way at the beginning, and I found myself begging her to just… breathe. But once it became clear that she was going to get a grip (eventually), I actually started rooting for her. The messy 20-something spiral was painfully real.
Danny, on the other hand, is the softest golden retriever MMC I’ve read all year. I adore him. He deserves good things only. He’s steady and patient and quietly in love in that way that just gets you.
I will say that the side characters stole the show for me. The friend group and the restaurant crew were all so fleshed out and full of personality even though they’re only orbiting the main story. They added so much heart and nuance to Cam’s whole unraveling and rebuilding process.
A messy FMC, a sunshiney MMC, beach town healing vibes, and a whole lot of quarter life turmoil were all things I thoroughly enjoyed about this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jenna Ramirez, and Saturday Books for the eARC of this book.
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