You're So Last Summer

by Sonia Palermo

He was never just a phase.


Gia Perelli has built a life out of food—and made a name for herself doing it. From restaurant reviews to dreamy recipe reels, her perfectly plated world is thriving. But when the guest chef at the hottest new spot in town turns out to be Charlie Andersen—the boy who broke her heart at her brother’s funeral, then disappeared before the dirt had even settled—Gia’s carefully curated calm goes up in flames.

Charlie was never just a crush. He was her first love, her biggest heartbreak, and the reason her summer never really ended.

Now he’s back—older, hotter, and still holding the pieces of a past Gia’s never quite put down.

Between simmering grief, kitchen heat, and a side of unresolved feelings, Gia has to decide: can she serve up forgiveness for the boy who ghosted when she needed him most? Or is he just... so last summer?

This spicy second-chance romance is for the elder emos, the foodies, and the ones who never stopped wondering what if.

284 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2025

About the author

Sonia Palermo writes spicy contemporary, paranormal, and erotic romance. When she’s not immersed in writing, she enjoys cosying up on the sofa with a cup of tea and indulging in a good horror or romance movie. A true beach lover, Sonia finds inspiration along the beautiful south coast of England, where she lives.

Reviews

[Destiny Gurney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute story about two people who found each other again after hurting each other 12 years ago. A come back together story where there’s a few bumps along the way but in the end everything works out. The spicy parts were good and not over the top. The only thing with this book that was lost on me was that I feel like the story misses a prologue that explains what happened 12 years ago for them to split up. The story goes on without ever really explaining how she ended up with her brothers best friend to begin with and why the brothers death affected them so greatly that he moved to a different country. There’s unanswered questions but it’s overall a cute story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I beta read this for Sonia.

I absolutely LOVED this one. We love a respectful king and a black cat FMC. The humour, the world building, the internal battles both MCs face, the spice…my girl has smashed it!!

Enemies to lovers
Brother’s best friend
Second Chance
Black Cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC

Coming Summer 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Nicole Merriman · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’re So Last Summer is a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged second-chance romance that weaves together grief, passion, and healing into a story that lingers well beyond the final page.

Gia has built a life around food, thriving in her culinary career. But when Charlie—the boy who shattered her heart and disappeared after her brother’s funeral—returns as the new guest chef in town, her carefully built world begins to unravel. What unfolds is a story about more than just rekindling love; it’s about facing loss, processing trauma, and finding the courage to start again.

This book hit me hard in the best way. The grief and trauma Gia and Charlie carry feel raw and real, and the weight of their struggles resonated deeply. Their interactions crackle with tension, frustration, and undeniable chemistry. Even when the pain of their past made reconciliation feel impossible, I couldn’t help but root for them.

While the story dips into heavy emotions, the payoff is worth every moment. Their happily ever after feels hard-won and heartfelt, leaving me both satisfied and a little teary-eyed.

For readers who love second-chance romance, emotional angst, and foodie backdrops, You’re So Last Summer serves up the perfect recipe: heartbreak, spice, and a love that proves some flames never burn out.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. The story swept me through so many emotions—from rocky beginnings and tragic loss to second chances, new adventures, and a beautifully sweet conclusion. Gia’s sass was a highlight, and while I adored Charlie, his lack of communication had me shouting at my Kindle. The ending did feel slightly rushed—I would’ve loved to see more of their time in Rome—but overall, this was a quick, charming read with an engaging writing style.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

You’re So Last Summer is a beautifully written, emotionally charged second-chance romance that blends grief, passion, and healing into a story that lingers long after the last page.

Gia has built her life around food, carving out a thriving career in the culinary world. But when Charlie—the boy who broke her heart and disappeared after her brother’s funeral—shows up as the new guest chef in town, her carefully curated world starts to unravel. What follows is a story that’s as much about processing trauma and loss as it is about rekindling love.

This book hit me hard at times. The grief and trauma both Gia and Charlie carry felt raw and authentic, and I truly felt the weight of their struggles. Their scenes together are electric—charged with tension, frustration, and undeniable chemistry. I was rooting for them the entire time, even when their past pain made the path to reconciliation feel impossible.

While parts of the story are heavy, the payoff is absolutely worth it. Their happily ever after feels earned, and it left me satisfied and a little teary-eyed.

For fans of second-chance romance, emotional angst, and foodie settings, You’re So Last Summer delivers the perfect recipe: heartache, spice, and a love story that proves some flames never burn out.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brittney DeMarco · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️
I got to read this book as an ARC and thought the plot was really good but I found this book hard to follow sometimes. I liked how there wasn’t any tip toeing into the plot in the beginning, but then the ending was so rushed and you don’t even know how Rome ended or how far past Rome they are. I also couldn’t remember for anything where the story took place. I went back and skimmed the first few chapters but couldn’t find it. Overall, I would still recommend because it was a good read and had some spice to it. This was my first book by this author and I would try some of her other books.

[Indie · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it !! an emotional roller coaster, heart breaking, grief and so much more !!! love Gia and Charlie.. this is their heartbreaking second chance story... first love, only love... the funeral of her brother and his best friend... and then, he was gone... just gone ... gone... that was twelve years ago... they have moved on... he's a chef being showcased in his home town... and she's built her world around food... the shock... the grief... the heart ache... it's all come back for both of them... so heart breakingly good !!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Isabelle Proulx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes us feel a maelstrom of emotions! From the beginning, we feel what Gia feels. I felt like I was in her shoes because I was so invested! As I read, my little heart had a lot of compassion for Charlie; for his way of reacting to a traumatic event. Gia and him have undeniable chemistry and by finishing the book, I wished I had more of these two! A beautiful book, cute and sentimental. And let's not forget the spicy moments.... It was hot and so well written! I would have taken even more!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hollie Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit, I didnt expect to love this book as much as I did! I couldn't put it down and finished this in a day
All the charcters, even with their faults, are so loveable and relatable. I love Gia and Charlie so much. This was just such a lovely, and easy read
I find a lot of romances difficult to get into, but this was perfect.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amelia Geisinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was brilliant! sonia-i have not read any of your books before this one and now i am intrigued to dive into your other books. gia and charlie's love was incredibly well written out. the scenes in this book were very detailed and just what i was looking for out of this book. the cover makes me want to add the physical book into my home library. it took no time to read and very easy to get through. 10/10 recommend this book for anyone!

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

You’re So Last Summer was a mixed bag for me. The opening was confusing, like I’d missed an important prologue, and it took a while to find my footing. Once the middle hit, though, I was all in—the pacing smoothed out, the characters shined, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Sadly, the ending didn’t keep that momentum. It wrapped up so quickly that it felt rushed, leaving me wanting more depth and resolution. A decent read overall, but it peaked in the middle and never quite recovered.

[Fruzsi Magyari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from Sonia Palermo.

The story overall was great, moving, great banter and chemistry between Gia and Charlie.
You could feel the hurt turn into love for eachother.

At the end it felt a bit rushed, but also it doesn’t have filler chapters, or unnecessary plot twists.

It was a great read overall, if you want good banter, great s*xual chemistry and a little heartache, than it is a wonderful pick for you!

[Danielle Muy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wanna say, the female lead is hot in this one. Takes no ish and is all of us in one way or another but she also has it hard for this man. The way he acts like he has no clue why she is so mad....just get it together hahah

I have loved every Sonia book that I have read and I was thankful, based on the cover that she stuck with the darker side of writing but I do, LOVE, the cover.

Just please....explain what happened years ago. We got hints but it was never really clear.

[Tracy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet and spicy story hits that perfect balance of warmth and heat, delivering a romance that feels both cozy and undeniably charged. If you’re craving a romance that feels swoon-worthy yet comforting, this pick is a solid bet. Highly recommended for fans of romance with a suggestive spark.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica Steed · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟
This very much felt like a love letter to the elder emos that are still feeling everything.
Its a very sweet story of dealing with grief and second chances. He feeds her and does a bit of groveling. She's sassy and doesn't let him just get away with everything. She also doesn't comprises her dreams.
I read this in day an throughly enjoyed it the whole time

[Brandi Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance with two people who were lost in grief and anger for over a decade and a chance encounter brings them back together. They had a lot of healing to do together and individually with some angst and pasiion thrown in, but in the end they ended up right where they were always supposed to be. True love for the win!
Dual POV
Spice 2/5

[Virginia Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book as an arc and have a lot of mixed feelings. Miscommunication trope is one of my least favorites. If the book wouldn’t exist if the main characters just had an adult conversation, it’s hard for me to enjoy the storyline. That’s what this book was. I did like the character development, and how the book showed healthy and unhealthy grief coping.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in one sitting. Beautifully written! I love the characters, their history and their ongoing story. Would definitely recommend for anyone looking for heart warming story with a little spice mixed in ☺️

[Samantha Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vibes and aesthetics of this book were so good. The loss and grief really added another layer to this couple's journey for me. I think it was a good balance between sweet, spicy and sadness. The HEA was very rewarding as well. This is a solid read for me.

[TJ Gamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burn and a second chance romance together are the best. Love that Gia and Charlie got out of their own way to make their relationship work. I could have done without the third act breakup though.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth Haislip · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked if but was confused at first so it took me a minute to get into the story.. but it got a lot better in the middle and after that it was hard to put down!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joshea B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The spice in this book really hit—it definitely awakened something in me. Quick, steamy, and unforgettable! I enjoyed the storyline and kept my interest from the beginning to end!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need justice for Gia, but i also love Charlie. This was such a good read. Their relationship came together exactly how i wanted it to, and I’m so happy i read it. i enjoyed how their story flowed and the twists it took.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lexi Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

The angst, the banter, the swoons, the spice… it’s all there and dare I say it is all *chefs kiss*

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Gia and Charlie. Charlie is Gia's brothers best friend.
Charlie disappears for 12 years then randomly shows up in the same place as her she doesn't know how to feel.
I loved the love/hate chemistry between them and I was rooting for them the whole time. The writing was on point and plot kept me hooked saying...just one more chapter! 100% recommend.

[Natasha Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had so many emotions! From rocky beginnings, second chances, tragic losses, new adventures, and the sweetest happy ending. This book gave me all the “full circle” vibes! I loved how sassy Gia was and although I loved Charlie, I was screaming at my kindle for his lack of communication. The ending felt a bit rushed, I would’ve loved to have seen a little more of their time in Rome to better wrap up their happy ending. Overall it was a cute, quick read and I enjoyed the writing style.

[Vima · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started so well, building up the tension between the characters and developing what could have been a complex story of grief and love, but between the big secret reveal of Charlie in the second act (which was an absolute let down, he built it up to be this giant thing) and the third act conflict and resolution feeling rushed at best, and clumsy at worst, it really turned me off from the book. I almost DNFd it a few times but wanted to finish it given that it is an ARC. The characters acted like young adults (20 year olds) when, if my math doesn't fail me, they were 30 and 31. The lack of maturity between each one of them, including Olive, was infuriating. The way they kept trying to live like they were 18, and the excessive use of the word cringe, made it, ironically, cringe. This story could have benefited from a few extra chapters to really flesh out the third act.