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Burnout Summer: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26For fans of Tessa Bailey, Emily Henry, and Elle a beachy friends-to-lovers romance through a post-grad journey that will have listeners cheering (and falling in love!) along.
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 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 returning to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
A Macmillan Audio production from Saturday Books.
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 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 returning to the corporate grind—or falling into his forbidden arms and setting her old life ablaze.
A Macmillan Audio production from Saturday Books.
Audible Audio
Expected publication May 12, 2026
21165 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Ramirez
1 book86 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 287 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.
May 1, 2026
This is a nice, sweet, very predictable friends-to-lovers romance. There is little new in this book but it was an enjoyable light read with some sweet tension and an ideal MMC.
The book does a good job of presenting the very real and current challenges for 20-somethings in finding personally rewarding work when they are burdened by overwhelming student loan debt and are living paycheck to paycheck.
The FMC, Cam, is trying to deal with the stress of her personal debt and her own sense of hopelessness after being fired. She lands in a Rhode Island beach town with one of her college besties and our MMC, Danny, who clearly loves her. Everyone sees this but Cam. Everyone.
Cam’s financial and career struggles are real but the problem is they are her entire personality. She internalizes, complains and physically cries constantly about her two biggest fears - her debts and losing her group of college best friends. Yet, these are the two main things she actively neglects. She is so self-focused, even when she’s acknowledging her selfishness, that it’s difficult to see her appeal to Danny or to feel compelled by her.
The book does pick up after the mid-point when the miscommunication between the MCs that is pervasive through the first half is finally put to rest. Although the scenic beach setting on the Rhode Island coast is dreamy, there is too much day-to-day detail for me about everyone’s goings on and what’s for breakfast. There is good romantic tension between the MCs and the MMC is very sweet. The epilogue is a blatant setup for a follow up book for a supporting character when I would have rather had more closure on the two MCs.
Overall, this was a nice, sweet story - great light summer read. You won’t see anything new or different but it does have a nice HEA and there are some good feels along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jenna Ramirez for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.
The book does a good job of presenting the very real and current challenges for 20-somethings in finding personally rewarding work when they are burdened by overwhelming student loan debt and are living paycheck to paycheck.
The FMC, Cam, is trying to deal with the stress of her personal debt and her own sense of hopelessness after being fired. She lands in a Rhode Island beach town with one of her college besties and our MMC, Danny, who clearly loves her. Everyone sees this but Cam. Everyone.
Cam’s financial and career struggles are real but the problem is they are her entire personality. She internalizes, complains and physically cries constantly about her two biggest fears - her debts and losing her group of college best friends. Yet, these are the two main things she actively neglects. She is so self-focused, even when she’s acknowledging her selfishness, that it’s difficult to see her appeal to Danny or to feel compelled by her.
The book does pick up after the mid-point when the miscommunication between the MCs that is pervasive through the first half is finally put to rest. Although the scenic beach setting on the Rhode Island coast is dreamy, there is too much day-to-day detail for me about everyone’s goings on and what’s for breakfast. There is good romantic tension between the MCs and the MMC is very sweet. The epilogue is a blatant setup for a follow up book for a supporting character when I would have rather had more closure on the two MCs.
Overall, this was a nice, sweet story - great light summer read. You won’t see anything new or different but it does have a nice HEA and there are some good feels along the way.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jenna Ramirez for the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts.
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.
April 6, 2026
Burnout Summer
By: Jenna Ramirez
- friends to lovers
- college friend group
- slow burn
- he falls first
- small beach town vibes
- pub date: 5/12/2026
Camille “Cam” Luna is a twenty-something who’s burnt out from the never-ending climb of the corporate world, drowning in debt, and struggling with the changes in her friend group post-college. When suddenly getting fired leads to her rock bottom — getting arrested — one of her best friends, Danny Brennan, bails her out and invites her to spend the summer with him in Elswick, Rhode Island, where he runs his uncle’s seaside restaurant. As Cam spends long days by the ocean, reconnecting with Danny, working at his restaurant, and writing now that she finally has the time, she begins to discover her true self, redefine what success means, and find that the path she always chased might not be the one that makes her happy.
This book had me HOOKED!! The chemistry between Danny and Cam was just too good, I couldn’t stop reading! Elswick was charming and I just loved the cozy beach town vibes & endearing friend group!
Content/trigger warnings: grief & loss, financial struggle & debt, and mental health struggles (depression & a panic attack)
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!
By: Jenna Ramirez
- friends to lovers
- college friend group
- slow burn
- he falls first
- small beach town vibes
- pub date: 5/12/2026
Camille “Cam” Luna is a twenty-something who’s burnt out from the never-ending climb of the corporate world, drowning in debt, and struggling with the changes in her friend group post-college. When suddenly getting fired leads to her rock bottom — getting arrested — one of her best friends, Danny Brennan, bails her out and invites her to spend the summer with him in Elswick, Rhode Island, where he runs his uncle’s seaside restaurant. As Cam spends long days by the ocean, reconnecting with Danny, working at his restaurant, and writing now that she finally has the time, she begins to discover her true self, redefine what success means, and find that the path she always chased might not be the one that makes her happy.
This book had me HOOKED!! The chemistry between Danny and Cam was just too good, I couldn’t stop reading! Elswick was charming and I just loved the cozy beach town vibes & endearing friend group!
Content/trigger warnings: grief & loss, financial struggle & debt, and mental health struggles (depression & a panic attack)
Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!
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.
May 6, 2026
A friends to lovers summer romance that deals with also some really real world situations. Camille, Cam, has a corporate career…or at east she did. She also has a lot of student loan debt and credit card debt. When a night out Lance, her in jail, her best friend Danny comes all the way to pick her up. Danny since college has had it a lot “easier”. He inheritance Beau’s restaurant after his uncle died. Now after Beau has saved Cam he invites her back to Road Island to let her stay and recover from her burnout.
I could tell this was a debut. And I feel like I could tell this was a debut due to how the writing was please let me explain. I started off with this one just listening to the audio and I feel like as I was listening to the narration there’s a specific way the flow of talking happens and it didn’t feel as fluid to me. It still was really good. But as this is a duet narration, it just felt also a little off not the narrators, but the writing at times. I don’t know if any one else feels the same way as me but it was mostly for the beginning of the book that I felt this way I didn’t feel this way throughout the whole entire book.
I really liked Danny’s character. In this situation, we have a he falls first. Well, he has fallen first and he fell a long time ago, baby. He just wants to help her. He’s so kind and he’s very patient. I need to find myself a Danny. Now Camille, I liked her. I think she was OK. I wish there was more character growth. I feel like how many times her student debt was talked about, and that’s so fair, it started giving me anxiety. Which is not really how I want to feel when I read a book.
I did like the chemistry between Danny and Camille their banter, their friendship.
The narrators were fantastic Michael Gallagher is somebody I am familiar with and he did a fantastic job as always pacing the tone of his voice matched Victoria Villareal very well. Very easy listen to it high rates of speed, pleasant even at lower rates of speed and just a fantastic performance overall. It was seamlessly cut together. The production was very well done.
Thank you to MacMillan audio and St Martins Press|Saturday Books for the complimetnary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I could tell this was a debut. And I feel like I could tell this was a debut due to how the writing was please let me explain. I started off with this one just listening to the audio and I feel like as I was listening to the narration there’s a specific way the flow of talking happens and it didn’t feel as fluid to me. It still was really good. But as this is a duet narration, it just felt also a little off not the narrators, but the writing at times. I don’t know if any one else feels the same way as me but it was mostly for the beginning of the book that I felt this way I didn’t feel this way throughout the whole entire book.
I really liked Danny’s character. In this situation, we have a he falls first. Well, he has fallen first and he fell a long time ago, baby. He just wants to help her. He’s so kind and he’s very patient. I need to find myself a Danny. Now Camille, I liked her. I think she was OK. I wish there was more character growth. I feel like how many times her student debt was talked about, and that’s so fair, it started giving me anxiety. Which is not really how I want to feel when I read a book.
I did like the chemistry between Danny and Camille their banter, their friendship.
The narrators were fantastic Michael Gallagher is somebody I am familiar with and he did a fantastic job as always pacing the tone of his voice matched Victoria Villareal very well. Very easy listen to it high rates of speed, pleasant even at lower rates of speed and just a fantastic performance overall. It was seamlessly cut together. The production was very well done.
Thank you to MacMillan audio and St Martins Press|Saturday Books for the complimetnary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 29, 2026
Camille is a 25 year old who just got fired from a corporate job that she found soul-sucking and ends up in jail with her best friend Danny to bail her out. Without any plans of what to do next, Danny invites Camille to come spend the summer with him in Elswick, Rhode Island and try to figure out what makes her happy again.
I will say I found this a little bit slow to get into, and for about the first 30-40% of the book I found Cam to be insufferably selfish, to the point that I was like girl I understand we’re all busy but you didn’t know basic details about your friends’ lives even though you focus on them to an unhealthy degree??
In spite of the slow start and Cam being incredibly self-centered at first, she does start to see the error of her ways thanks to the help of our local heartthrob Danny. I love Danny, he’s such a golden retriever character who’s so sure of himself and how he wants to live his life, it’s refreshing when compared to Cam’s overwhelming anxiety. He also literally has a golden retriever so there’s that.
Overall, this was a fun romance with a lot of relatable moments about being in your twenties and realizing that your friends won’t be close anymore, your relationships will change, and maybe those goals you’ve been working toward don’t actually fit you anymore, and I’d definitely recommend it, with the caveat that you need to be patient for Cam’s redemption arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I will say I found this a little bit slow to get into, and for about the first 30-40% of the book I found Cam to be insufferably selfish, to the point that I was like girl I understand we’re all busy but you didn’t know basic details about your friends’ lives even though you focus on them to an unhealthy degree??
In spite of the slow start and Cam being incredibly self-centered at first, she does start to see the error of her ways thanks to the help of our local heartthrob Danny. I love Danny, he’s such a golden retriever character who’s so sure of himself and how he wants to live his life, it’s refreshing when compared to Cam’s overwhelming anxiety. He also literally has a golden retriever so there’s that.
Overall, this was a fun romance with a lot of relatable moments about being in your twenties and realizing that your friends won’t be close anymore, your relationships will change, and maybe those goals you’ve been working toward don’t actually fit you anymore, and I’d definitely recommend it, with the caveat that you need to be patient for Cam’s redemption arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!
May 6, 2026
3.5 stars rounded down. Thank you Jenna & NetGalley for the opportunity to share my thoughts!
Camille and Danny, Danny and Camille. A friends-to-lovers I saw coming, but I knew I (and they) were going to have to put in some work to get there. Jenna hooks you right off that bat with a relatable FMC, a situation you hope won't happen to you, but it is well within the realm of possibility. A group of friends endear themselves to you immediately, you learn that there has been a rift in the friendship between them as they've grown older that squeezes your heart. Cue Danny. He saves the day (and the book, in my opinion).
These characters had palpable tension right off the bat. There was banter, some obliviousness (okay, a lot of it), stakes, tension, and so many funny moments I lost count. I knew from the beginning that I wanted these two to meet the other where they were at and fall in love, but there were so many obstacles. I truly couldn't put the book down for how much I enjoyed the dialogue and the slow-burn, and the angst.
I think it falls short in a few categories, namely character growth. Camille really struggled to maintain my support. I know she was supposed to be a mess, but it truly got to the point where she was being so dense for an adult, and so willfully obtuse that it started to pull me out of the story. I almost began to wonder if Danny deserved better, because oh my goodness did Camille really need to get her life and mind and heart in order.
That being said, he is a truly wonderful character who provided all the love, support, and understanding he could have given the situation. Arguably more than was deserved. I'm happy these two eventually got it right, but I would have enjoyed seeing some more teamwork from these two than a constant back and forth of wills, and endless stupid arguments that really made no sense for a character (the FMC) who was supposedly so smart.
Otherwise, though, a bingeable romance that has some great potential to be a hit this summer.
Camille and Danny, Danny and Camille. A friends-to-lovers I saw coming, but I knew I (and they) were going to have to put in some work to get there. Jenna hooks you right off that bat with a relatable FMC, a situation you hope won't happen to you, but it is well within the realm of possibility. A group of friends endear themselves to you immediately, you learn that there has been a rift in the friendship between them as they've grown older that squeezes your heart. Cue Danny. He saves the day (and the book, in my opinion).
These characters had palpable tension right off the bat. There was banter, some obliviousness (okay, a lot of it), stakes, tension, and so many funny moments I lost count. I knew from the beginning that I wanted these two to meet the other where they were at and fall in love, but there were so many obstacles. I truly couldn't put the book down for how much I enjoyed the dialogue and the slow-burn, and the angst.
I think it falls short in a few categories, namely character growth. Camille really struggled to maintain my support. I know she was supposed to be a mess, but it truly got to the point where she was being so dense for an adult, and so willfully obtuse that it started to pull me out of the story. I almost began to wonder if Danny deserved better, because oh my goodness did Camille really need to get her life and mind and heart in order.
That being said, he is a truly wonderful character who provided all the love, support, and understanding he could have given the situation. Arguably more than was deserved. I'm happy these two eventually got it right, but I would have enjoyed seeing some more teamwork from these two than a constant back and forth of wills, and endless stupid arguments that really made no sense for a character (the FMC) who was supposedly so smart.
Otherwise, though, a bingeable romance that has some great potential to be a hit this summer.
April 22, 2026
4.5/5. This one had me in my feels and remembering how scary learning how to adult was after college. The friendship between Cam and Danny stood out to me. I loved the way he showed up for her and quietly supported her. I also appreciated the way he called her out on her sh*t. I loved the way Cam reminded him of who he was and what he loved. Their friendships with Drew, Morgan, and Cory were messy and complicated, but also grounded and real. Cam was so hard on herself and also very selfish and self serving, so it took me a minute to root for her. I do think she took advantage of Danny at times, and I’m glad Esme was there to call her on it. I did sometimes feel like Danny was too passive about his life and his feelings for Cam. The plot was perfectly timed and kept me turning pages. The ending was sweet and wrapped up the story well. Thanks to Saturday Books for this ARC copy!
April 30, 2026
This gave me alllll the summer vibes. Loved the plot for this one! Camille’s life is kinda crumbling in front of her eyes…she loses her job, she’s out of a lease in a few weeks with nowhere to go, and she has a meltdown and gets arrested. She calls her best friend to help, and he comes to the rescue and offers her a place to land on her feet in Rhode Island, where she soon starts piecing her life back together and develops feelings for him.
Honestly, I love a friends-to-lovers trope, especially when the male has been secretly pining for years.
My only issue was with Camille. I thought she was SO selfish and self absorbed. I honestly felt so sorry for Danny, because he was so UNSEEN by all of their friend group, but especially Camille. Overall, I loved how this played out, and rooted for Danny’s happy ending!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the advanced listen ❤️
Honestly, I love a friends-to-lovers trope, especially when the male has been secretly pining for years.
My only issue was with Camille. I thought she was SO selfish and self absorbed. I honestly felt so sorry for Danny, because he was so UNSEEN by all of their friend group, but especially Camille. Overall, I loved how this played out, and rooted for Danny’s happy ending!
Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the advanced listen ❤️
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.
May 7, 2026
Burnout Summer was such an easy read to sink into and a solid choice for a summer escape. I enjoyed reading about Camille’s journey from a stuffy corporate environment to a more down to earth and optimistic outlook because her quarter life crisis felt relatable. The East Coast town setting was such an atmospheric backdrop for the friends to lovers trope and those found family vibes I always enjoy. Danny was such a good MMC, and the tension between him and Camille was really well done.
3.5
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC!
3.5
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC and ALC!
April 9, 2026
First, thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Jenna Ramirez for this ARC!
As far as debut novels go, this had a lot of great pieces. The chemistry between Cam and Danny was so good. Danny was such a lovable character and he was the standout in this book and what made it the 3 stars. I enjoyed their friends to lovers path and the small town beach setting really was a great back drop!
I did like the concept of the whole book! Being burned out and not knowing where your life is going in your twenties is something so common. And being in debt and struggling with student loans, are all very real topics most of us face. I liked how that was a part that played in so much of Can decision making.
But unfortunately there were so many pieces that had me disappointed in this book and fell short. Although I enjoyed the concept of Cams struggles and it being important driving piece, I didn’t need to read it in every other paragraph. It felt too repetitive and almost like beating a dead horse.
Cam had very little character development which was a big disappointment for me because there was so much room to grow for her. At times the pacing felt slow and at times it was too rushed. It was never consistent.
I also had a very hard time with it being in 3rd person POV. I think it would have felt more depth if it was 1st person point of you. I would have loved Danny’s POV but I understand why that wasn’t there. But I think 3rd person point of you made it also feel disconnected.
The friend group dynamic felt tense and I just didn’t see how that friend group stayed friends because it felt like there was so much resentment there.
Danny was the brightest spot in the book and why I kept reading (also because I can’t DNF). He made this book.
There are SO many hints of good…a summer escape, change in direction of life, found family and love, second chances…but in all areas it fell so short.
And it seems like this will be an interconnected stand alone with the Epilogue being about Drew…although it’s intriguing to see how the friend dynamics change I don’t know if I will be tuning in.
As far as a debut novel goes, it has potential and I hope the follow ups shine much brighter!
2.5 stars. Rounding down.
As far as debut novels go, this had a lot of great pieces. The chemistry between Cam and Danny was so good. Danny was such a lovable character and he was the standout in this book and what made it the 3 stars. I enjoyed their friends to lovers path and the small town beach setting really was a great back drop!
I did like the concept of the whole book! Being burned out and not knowing where your life is going in your twenties is something so common. And being in debt and struggling with student loans, are all very real topics most of us face. I liked how that was a part that played in so much of Can decision making.
But unfortunately there were so many pieces that had me disappointed in this book and fell short. Although I enjoyed the concept of Cams struggles and it being important driving piece, I didn’t need to read it in every other paragraph. It felt too repetitive and almost like beating a dead horse.
Cam had very little character development which was a big disappointment for me because there was so much room to grow for her. At times the pacing felt slow and at times it was too rushed. It was never consistent.
I also had a very hard time with it being in 3rd person POV. I think it would have felt more depth if it was 1st person point of you. I would have loved Danny’s POV but I understand why that wasn’t there. But I think 3rd person point of you made it also feel disconnected.
The friend group dynamic felt tense and I just didn’t see how that friend group stayed friends because it felt like there was so much resentment there.
Danny was the brightest spot in the book and why I kept reading (also because I can’t DNF). He made this book.
There are SO many hints of good…a summer escape, change in direction of life, found family and love, second chances…but in all areas it fell so short.
And it seems like this will be an interconnected stand alone with the Epilogue being about Drew…although it’s intriguing to see how the friend dynamics change I don’t know if I will be tuning in.
As far as a debut novel goes, it has potential and I hope the follow ups shine much brighter!
2.5 stars. Rounding down.
May 8, 2026
Sweet, engaging, and romantic!
𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 is a heartfelt, charming story that follows the disillusioned Camille as she struggles to navigate a draining career, mounting student debt, the fallout of a devastating breakup, and the growing attraction she has for Danny, a longtime friend who offers her a safe place to regroup with no strings attached.
The writing is smooth and effortless. The characters are supportive, kind, and hardworking. And the plot weaves together a captivating tale of introspection, friendship, humour, awkward moments, hard truths, misunderstandings, patience, intimacy, and unconditional love.
Overall, 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 is a cute, uplifting, satisfying read by Ramirez that beautifully explores friendship, self-discovery, healing, and the courage to pursue happiness and follow your dreams.
𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 is a heartfelt, charming story that follows the disillusioned Camille as she struggles to navigate a draining career, mounting student debt, the fallout of a devastating breakup, and the growing attraction she has for Danny, a longtime friend who offers her a safe place to regroup with no strings attached.
The writing is smooth and effortless. The characters are supportive, kind, and hardworking. And the plot weaves together a captivating tale of introspection, friendship, humour, awkward moments, hard truths, misunderstandings, patience, intimacy, and unconditional love.
Overall, 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 is a cute, uplifting, satisfying read by Ramirez that beautifully explores friendship, self-discovery, healing, and the courage to pursue happiness and follow your dreams.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.0⭐
(+) :
- Going to preface this review by being pretty transparent about one thing and that one thing being that longtime-friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes. Is that an unpopular opinion? Possibly. But it’s my cross to bear. BUT to be fair, I’m also pretty critical when I think the trope is done poorly and I think this iteration of the trope is good. There are definitely criticisms I have for their friendship as a foundation that I’ll talk about later, but I get their chemistry and I especially get the appeal of Danny.
- Danny is great. I love Danny. I love how he’s evolved off the page from when we’ve met him, but Cam did know him when he was still a burnout and so we get to see the evolution through that lens. Which, then informs her evolving feelings. It works. And I love him.
- This friend group was toxic as shit but oh boy did it make me nostalgic for my own tight knit friend group like this. Some of them have hit their expiration point while another has very much not and for that one I just wanted to call them all after reading this and tell them I loved them.
- Listen, this may brand me as a freak. But I *loved* the vibrator scene. It was hot as shit. Don’t look too deeply into my soul, anyone. It just a tinge of the caretaking micro-trope and you know what *you know what*...I’m okay with it.
- This is a really small thing, but this is quite possibly the best integration of a dog character in a rom-com I’ve read. Most of the time the dog is written like a cartoon, but Reggie just felt like an organic add.
- Beau’s was also really well done. I *felt* that restaurant, I could smell it, sense the atmosphere. As someone who worked in restaurants like that, I just felt very much transported back to my server era.
- I think this title is clever. Especially because it’s a double meaning for burnout. Which…honestly took me too long to clock and I’m mildly embarrassed. .
(-) :
- This is hard to articulate entirely, but this book is written in third person POV but it…*feels* like it should be in first POV. And a lot of the time I forgot it was in third person. And it was distracting. It almost felt like it was written in first person and then every “I” was search & replaced with the character names.
- The first 30-40% of the book was way clunkier than the rest. Once it hit the first explicit scene, it was on way more solid footing. I’m not sure why this was. But second half of the book just cruised for me.
- Alright, elephant in the room: Cam sucks. Cam is SUPPOSED to suck, so her making bad decisions makes sense for who she is and where she is in life. And when I was in my early-mid twenties I was making stupid decisions and assuming the worst. But I wish we got just…a bit more growth for her. She also does act like a really entitled princess a bit of the time for some reason. I mean, they all do.
- Yeah that deserves its own point. These characters come from a lot of privilege and it’s barely addressed or…sometimes noticed? It was hard to ignore sometimes.
- The extended miscommunication over the ex Cory was tiring. They broke up four years ago. I get that there can still be pain, but this is too much. And also…I didn’t love the nature of Cam’s relationship with all of the men. I don’t think it would be something she would be blamed for. These dudes need to chill, damn.
- I get it. Cam has debt. WE GET IT. MOST of us have college debt. That should be a point of empathy for the reader to Cam. But it isn’t Because it just keeps getting hammered home. I can understand Cam feeling like an island with a bunch of friends who have don’t have debt. But that is not how it’s approached.
- This cover is…whatever. I don’t think it’s terrible but I don’t think it’s interesting. Maybe it looks better in person. I just wish Beau’s was showcased
(?) :
- Why was the choice to make them 26? Was it to be as much time out of college as time spent in college? I just feel like these characters read slightly younger than they were supposed to be.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Yes. I found Drew to be a pissant but I loved Esme and I’m assuming that is the setup from the secondary epilogue.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Hm. I think they cna make it for a few decades before running into any road bumps. But dear lord friends go to therapy. Especially Cam.
*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Hook, Line, and Sinker' by Tessa Bailey
- 'No Place Like You' by Jillian Meadows
- 'Happy Ending' by Chloe Liese
- 'Passion Proejct' by London Sperry
- 'Take a Hint, Dani Brown' by Talia Hibbert
(+) :
- Going to preface this review by being pretty transparent about one thing and that one thing being that longtime-friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes. Is that an unpopular opinion? Possibly. But it’s my cross to bear. BUT to be fair, I’m also pretty critical when I think the trope is done poorly and I think this iteration of the trope is good. There are definitely criticisms I have for their friendship as a foundation that I’ll talk about later, but I get their chemistry and I especially get the appeal of Danny.
- Danny is great. I love Danny. I love how he’s evolved off the page from when we’ve met him, but Cam did know him when he was still a burnout and so we get to see the evolution through that lens. Which, then informs her evolving feelings. It works. And I love him.
- This friend group was toxic as shit but oh boy did it make me nostalgic for my own tight knit friend group like this. Some of them have hit their expiration point while another has very much not and for that one I just wanted to call them all after reading this and tell them I loved them.
- Listen, this may brand me as a freak. But I *loved* the vibrator scene. It was hot as shit. Don’t look too deeply into my soul, anyone. It just a tinge of the caretaking micro-trope and you know what *you know what*...I’m okay with it.
- This is a really small thing, but this is quite possibly the best integration of a dog character in a rom-com I’ve read. Most of the time the dog is written like a cartoon, but Reggie just felt like an organic add.
- Beau’s was also really well done. I *felt* that restaurant, I could smell it, sense the atmosphere. As someone who worked in restaurants like that, I just felt very much transported back to my server era.
- I think this title is clever. Especially because it’s a double meaning for burnout. Which…honestly took me too long to clock and I’m mildly embarrassed. .
(-) :
- This is hard to articulate entirely, but this book is written in third person POV but it…*feels* like it should be in first POV. And a lot of the time I forgot it was in third person. And it was distracting. It almost felt like it was written in first person and then every “I” was search & replaced with the character names.
- The first 30-40% of the book was way clunkier than the rest. Once it hit the first explicit scene, it was on way more solid footing. I’m not sure why this was. But second half of the book just cruised for me.
- Alright, elephant in the room: Cam sucks. Cam is SUPPOSED to suck, so her making bad decisions makes sense for who she is and where she is in life. And when I was in my early-mid twenties I was making stupid decisions and assuming the worst. But I wish we got just…a bit more growth for her. She also does act like a really entitled princess a bit of the time for some reason. I mean, they all do.
- Yeah that deserves its own point. These characters come from a lot of privilege and it’s barely addressed or…sometimes noticed? It was hard to ignore sometimes.
- The extended miscommunication over the ex Cory was tiring. They broke up four years ago. I get that there can still be pain, but this is too much. And also…I didn’t love the nature of Cam’s relationship with all of the men. I don’t think it would be something she would be blamed for. These dudes need to chill, damn.
- I get it. Cam has debt. WE GET IT. MOST of us have college debt. That should be a point of empathy for the reader to Cam. But it isn’t Because it just keeps getting hammered home. I can understand Cam feeling like an island with a bunch of friends who have don’t have debt. But that is not how it’s approached.
- This cover is…whatever. I don’t think it’s terrible but I don’t think it’s interesting. Maybe it looks better in person. I just wish Beau’s was showcased
(?) :
- Why was the choice to make them 26? Was it to be as much time out of college as time spent in college? I just feel like these characters read slightly younger than they were supposed to be.
WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Yes. I found Drew to be a pissant but I loved Esme and I’m assuming that is the setup from the secondary epilogue.
(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Hm. I think they cna make it for a few decades before running into any road bumps. But dear lord friends go to therapy. Especially Cam.
*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!
SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Hook, Line, and Sinker' by Tessa Bailey
- 'No Place Like You' by Jillian Meadows
- 'Happy Ending' by Chloe Liese
- 'Passion Proejct' by London Sperry
- 'Take a Hint, Dani Brown' by Talia Hibbert
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Listen, I have read many, many stories about women on the verge of a full-blown spiral. But Camille Luna doesn’t just spiral, she cartwheels off the corporate cliff, does a backflip into student loan debt, and lands herself in a holding cell with a bruised ego and no plan. And honestly? Relatable. Not because I’ve been arrested, but because I’ve definitely cried in an HR meeting while pretending my life was “on track.”
Enter: Danny Brennan. The one member of their college friend group who was always a little too chill, a little too pretty, and a little too into surfing metaphors. And now he’s a reformed burnout with a restaurant, a rescue dog, and the kind of emotional stability that makes you rethink every man you’ve ever dated. I would like to report a wellness emergency. Mine. I need to be medically removed from his scenes before I propose.
The setup is classic friends to lovers, but it’s got a spicy little twist of “wow, I completely underestimated you and now I’m dangerously attracted to your forehead vein while you’re sautéing scallops.” Camille takes the world's worst week and trades it for a summer in Elswick, Rhode Island, which is aggressively charming in that way that makes you want to quit your job and open a candle shop by the sea. She's broke, overwhelmed, and carrying enough emotional baggage to qualify as a TSA hazard, but Danny makes space for all of it with the patience of a man who has been low-key in love since senior year and is just waiting for her to catch up.
Camille, to be clear, is... a lot. She’s selfish, scattered, deeply insecure, and sometimes so obsessed with “doing it right” that she steamrolls anyone trying to help her. I wanted to throttle her and hug her at the same time, which I think is the point. She’s not a Pinterest-mood-board heroine. She’s messy, like... “I peaked in college and now I’m rage-Googling career paths at 2AM” messy. And while her pity parties could run a bit long, her growth arc does deliver. She gets called out, she listens, she changes, and by the end, I actually believed she deserved Danny’s soft little heart.
Speaking of which. Danny is a golden retriever wrapped in a linen shirt. He cooks, he listens, he knows how to flirt without being weird about it, and he runs a restaurant called Beau’s that somehow isn’t pretentious despite serving beet salads. The man uses his words. He respects her space. And when things finally get physical, it is intimate in the “my hands remember you before my mouth can form a sentence” kind of way. Give this man a national holiday.
Plot-wise, the pacing dips a little in the middle. Some chapters feel like someone left the “slice of life” faucet running and forgot to turn it off. But it builds a strong vibe. Hot summer nights, found family, those weird friend group dynamics that refuse to die, and the ache of realizing everyone’s moving at their own speed now. It’s less about romance fireworks and more about quiet, hard-won choices. Like choosing yourself without ghosting the people who love you.
And look, I won’t spoil the hookup scene... but I will say there is a moment involving a very poorly placed tattoo and a vibrator that made me laugh so hard I choked on my wine. Five stars for chaos, one star for realism, overall an iconic scene that belongs in the Hall of Fame for Messy Girl Shenanigans.
Four stars, easily. Not because it’s perfect. It’s not. But because it’s honest, heartfelt, and leaves you believing that starting over with nothing but a duffel bag, a seagull-infested town, and a man who loves you is actually... kind of the dream?
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I regret to inform you that I am now romantically invested in a fictional restaurant and it’s your fault.
Enter: Danny Brennan. The one member of their college friend group who was always a little too chill, a little too pretty, and a little too into surfing metaphors. And now he’s a reformed burnout with a restaurant, a rescue dog, and the kind of emotional stability that makes you rethink every man you’ve ever dated. I would like to report a wellness emergency. Mine. I need to be medically removed from his scenes before I propose.
The setup is classic friends to lovers, but it’s got a spicy little twist of “wow, I completely underestimated you and now I’m dangerously attracted to your forehead vein while you’re sautéing scallops.” Camille takes the world's worst week and trades it for a summer in Elswick, Rhode Island, which is aggressively charming in that way that makes you want to quit your job and open a candle shop by the sea. She's broke, overwhelmed, and carrying enough emotional baggage to qualify as a TSA hazard, but Danny makes space for all of it with the patience of a man who has been low-key in love since senior year and is just waiting for her to catch up.
Camille, to be clear, is... a lot. She’s selfish, scattered, deeply insecure, and sometimes so obsessed with “doing it right” that she steamrolls anyone trying to help her. I wanted to throttle her and hug her at the same time, which I think is the point. She’s not a Pinterest-mood-board heroine. She’s messy, like... “I peaked in college and now I’m rage-Googling career paths at 2AM” messy. And while her pity parties could run a bit long, her growth arc does deliver. She gets called out, she listens, she changes, and by the end, I actually believed she deserved Danny’s soft little heart.
Speaking of which. Danny is a golden retriever wrapped in a linen shirt. He cooks, he listens, he knows how to flirt without being weird about it, and he runs a restaurant called Beau’s that somehow isn’t pretentious despite serving beet salads. The man uses his words. He respects her space. And when things finally get physical, it is intimate in the “my hands remember you before my mouth can form a sentence” kind of way. Give this man a national holiday.
Plot-wise, the pacing dips a little in the middle. Some chapters feel like someone left the “slice of life” faucet running and forgot to turn it off. But it builds a strong vibe. Hot summer nights, found family, those weird friend group dynamics that refuse to die, and the ache of realizing everyone’s moving at their own speed now. It’s less about romance fireworks and more about quiet, hard-won choices. Like choosing yourself without ghosting the people who love you.
And look, I won’t spoil the hookup scene... but I will say there is a moment involving a very poorly placed tattoo and a vibrator that made me laugh so hard I choked on my wine. Five stars for chaos, one star for realism, overall an iconic scene that belongs in the Hall of Fame for Messy Girl Shenanigans.
Four stars, easily. Not because it’s perfect. It’s not. But because it’s honest, heartfelt, and leaves you believing that starting over with nothing but a duffel bag, a seagull-infested town, and a man who loves you is actually... kind of the dream?
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I regret to inform you that I am now romantically invested in a fictional restaurant and it’s your fault.
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.
May 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!
Since this is Jenna Ramirez’s first novel, I went in completely unfamiliar with her work. Honestly, what first caught my attention was the title, specifically the word Burnout (because, well… I am currently feeling a little burnt out at work and could absolutely use a summer vacation haha). Second, the cover is basically a collage of all my favorite colors. So obviously, I needed to know what this was about. It felt like it was made for me.
Once I dove in, I realized that while the cover and title pulled me in, the story kept me there. It did not disappoint.
What to expect:
Friends to lovers (my FAVORITE trope this year so far)
Small East Coast beach town vibes (I’m from NY, so this felt familiar and comforting)
He falls first (Danny… sigh… my heart)
Gen Z struggles done well (you could not pay me enough to relive that era… student debt, UGH)
Quarter-life crisis energy
Slow burn
Danny completely stole the show for me. He’s kind, level-headed, patient, forgiving (maybe a little too forgiving?), and honestly the perfect boyfriend. Cam… her anxiety and insecurities are pretty crippling. There were definitely parts of her I could relate to though. Graduating college, drowning in debt, working a soul-sucking job, feeling the pressure of life closing in. I get where she’s coming from. That said, her inner dialogue did feel a bit repetitive at times.
Jenna Ramirez (I still can’t believe this is her debut) absolutely nails that “what am I even doing with my life?” feeling that comes with your 20s. Especially when it feels like everyone else has it figured out and you’re just… trying to keep up. That stuck, watching-everyone-else-move-forward feeling? Painfully accurate.
Danny and Camille had such a strong foundation as friends, and I understood why she hesitated to risk that. After her last breakup fractured the friend group, she was already carrying a lot of guilt. But the chemistry between Danny and Cam was impossible to ignore. You could feel it building the entire time.
Cam definitely had a habit of getting in her own way (relatable), but Danny was her balance. He was steady, grounding, and always there. The kind of person who makes everything feel a little less overwhelming. He showed up for her in exactly the ways she needed, even when she wasn’t making it easy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. The characters, the setting, the beach town restaurant vibes, all of it was thoughtfully done. Jenna’s writing is simple but incredibly visual, which I loved. One of my favorite things is being able to clearly picture what the characters are experiencing, and this delivered on that.
Honestly, this would have hit even harder for me about 15 years ago when I was just graduating and navigating my own anxiety and uncertainty. Now, working with people in their early 20s who are going through similar struggles, this feels like a book I’d genuinely recommend.
If this sounds like your kind of read, add it to your TBR. Releases 5.12.26 :)
Happy reading!
Since this is Jenna Ramirez’s first novel, I went in completely unfamiliar with her work. Honestly, what first caught my attention was the title, specifically the word Burnout (because, well… I am currently feeling a little burnt out at work and could absolutely use a summer vacation haha). Second, the cover is basically a collage of all my favorite colors. So obviously, I needed to know what this was about. It felt like it was made for me.
Once I dove in, I realized that while the cover and title pulled me in, the story kept me there. It did not disappoint.
What to expect:
Friends to lovers (my FAVORITE trope this year so far)
Small East Coast beach town vibes (I’m from NY, so this felt familiar and comforting)
He falls first (Danny… sigh… my heart)
Gen Z struggles done well (you could not pay me enough to relive that era… student debt, UGH)
Quarter-life crisis energy
Slow burn
Danny completely stole the show for me. He’s kind, level-headed, patient, forgiving (maybe a little too forgiving?), and honestly the perfect boyfriend. Cam… her anxiety and insecurities are pretty crippling. There were definitely parts of her I could relate to though. Graduating college, drowning in debt, working a soul-sucking job, feeling the pressure of life closing in. I get where she’s coming from. That said, her inner dialogue did feel a bit repetitive at times.
Jenna Ramirez (I still can’t believe this is her debut) absolutely nails that “what am I even doing with my life?” feeling that comes with your 20s. Especially when it feels like everyone else has it figured out and you’re just… trying to keep up. That stuck, watching-everyone-else-move-forward feeling? Painfully accurate.
Danny and Camille had such a strong foundation as friends, and I understood why she hesitated to risk that. After her last breakup fractured the friend group, she was already carrying a lot of guilt. But the chemistry between Danny and Cam was impossible to ignore. You could feel it building the entire time.
Cam definitely had a habit of getting in her own way (relatable), but Danny was her balance. He was steady, grounding, and always there. The kind of person who makes everything feel a little less overwhelming. He showed up for her in exactly the ways she needed, even when she wasn’t making it easy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. The characters, the setting, the beach town restaurant vibes, all of it was thoughtfully done. Jenna’s writing is simple but incredibly visual, which I loved. One of my favorite things is being able to clearly picture what the characters are experiencing, and this delivered on that.
Honestly, this would have hit even harder for me about 15 years ago when I was just graduating and navigating my own anxiety and uncertainty. Now, working with people in their early 20s who are going through similar struggles, this feels like a book I’d genuinely recommend.
If this sounds like your kind of read, add it to your TBR. Releases 5.12.26 :)
Happy 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 NetGalley
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. A break from real life and a summer spent on the beach in a coastal town. Old friends reuniting with the sparks of new romance. Starting over and figuring yourself out anew. A promising premise.
After an all-time low of losing her job, getting arrested, and having no place to go, Camilla, aka Cam, jumps at the chance to spend the summer waitressing, writing, beaching and figuring her next steps at her old college friend Danny's restaurant.
It's clear Cam has a lot to figure out- several years post graduation her life is not as it should be- and shockingly enough, Danny, the easygoing and least ambitious guy friend from her university gang actually does. It's also clear that Cam and Danny have mad chemistry and it's less of a 'will they or won't they' but more of a 'when will it happen'.
Here's what worked for me:
I do like stories that focus on the changing relationships between post-college friend groups as they move into the real world. It's especially interesting when you know one has been pining over the other for years, as in Danny who so obviously has lasting feeling for Cam.
I was also rooting for Danny and Cam- Danny was an absolute sweetheart- and their relationship progression and spice was A++.
Here's what didn't work for me:
I get that so much of the novel grounds itself in the idea of Cam and her college friend group of five, but the first third of the story was spent primarily reminiscing about Cam and Danny's college days and it felt a little bit like the literary embodiment of when someone tells a joke that you don't get and they respond 'I guess you had to be there'.
There's also a really strong emphasis on Cam needing to have her life figured out by the time she's 26, which is unrealistically young. This seems to be echoed by her friends around her who are getting promotions, getting married (which is still relatively young)... in turn, because Cam has spent so much time being career focused she also realizes she's been a bad friend. Even despite this, it takes many knocks to her head for her to come to the realization that if she wasn't happy with her previous career-tracked, no balance life, she shouldn't be returning to it.
While I understand the importance of friends, this friend group seemed almost unhealthy with the way they were so dependent on each other, even making life altering decisions solely not to make the other friends mad. Due to all of the above, Cam's constant panic, crying and emotional rollercoasters got frustrating real fast.
Overall, this book might resonate better with readers in their 20's or readers who are going through the same sort of life events. Danny was a real gem though, great book boyfriend material. 3.5⭐ rating.
After an all-time low of losing her job, getting arrested, and having no place to go, Camilla, aka Cam, jumps at the chance to spend the summer waitressing, writing, beaching and figuring her next steps at her old college friend Danny's restaurant.
It's clear Cam has a lot to figure out- several years post graduation her life is not as it should be- and shockingly enough, Danny, the easygoing and least ambitious guy friend from her university gang actually does. It's also clear that Cam and Danny have mad chemistry and it's less of a 'will they or won't they' but more of a 'when will it happen'.
Here's what worked for me:
I do like stories that focus on the changing relationships between post-college friend groups as they move into the real world. It's especially interesting when you know one has been pining over the other for years, as in Danny who so obviously has lasting feeling for Cam.
I was also rooting for Danny and Cam- Danny was an absolute sweetheart- and their relationship progression and spice was A++.
Here's what didn't work for me:
I get that so much of the novel grounds itself in the idea of Cam and her college friend group of five, but the first third of the story was spent primarily reminiscing about Cam and Danny's college days and it felt a little bit like the literary embodiment of when someone tells a joke that you don't get and they respond 'I guess you had to be there'.
There's also a really strong emphasis on Cam needing to have her life figured out by the time she's 26, which is unrealistically young. This seems to be echoed by her friends around her who are getting promotions, getting married (which is still relatively young)... in turn, because Cam has spent so much time being career focused she also realizes she's been a bad friend. Even despite this, it takes many knocks to her head for her to come to the realization that if she wasn't happy with her previous career-tracked, no balance life, she shouldn't be returning to it.
While I understand the importance of friends, this friend group seemed almost unhealthy with the way they were so dependent on each other, even making life altering decisions solely not to make the other friends mad. Due to all of the above, Cam's constant panic, crying and emotional rollercoasters got frustrating real fast.
Overall, this book might resonate better with readers in their 20's or readers who are going through the same sort of life events. Danny was a real gem though, great book boyfriend material. 3.5⭐ rating.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Burnout Summer captures that feeling of burnout where technically you’ve done everything right, but you still end up feeling a little lost. There’s also this breezy, beachy charm that makes it feel like a rom-com on the surface, but there’s a deeper ache underneath that really stuck with me.
Camille Luna (Cam) is not at her best when we meet her. She’s spiraling, freshly unemployed, drowning in debt, and making questionable decisions (ending up in jail is… a low point). But that’s kind of the point. Her messiness feels very real for a 25-year-old trying to figure life out, even when it’s frustrating to sit inside her head at times. Or a lot of the time. She’s self-focused, a little stuck, and not always easy to root for, but I appreciated that the story didn’t try to smooth out those rough edges.
Enter Danny Brennan: certified golden-retriever energy, longtime friend, and the emotional anchor of the story. Their friends-to-lovers dynamic is easily the highlight. There’s history, comfort, tension, and that slow, inevitable shift that makes you want to scream “JUST KISS ALREADY.” Danny is patient to a fault, endlessly supportive, and honestly a little too perfect at times, but it works because he brings warmth and stability to Cam’s chaos. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this book with characters only like Cam, so Danny was a good counterpart.
The setting absolutely shines. Elswick’s seaside atmosphere, the restaurant hustle, late-night conversations, and introspection all create that “maybe this summer will fix me” vibe. It’s immersive in the best way. It’s equal parts escapism AND self-discovery.
What really elevates this beyond a standard summer romance is how grounded it feels in real post-grad anxieties: student loans, career dissatisfaction, shifting friendships, and the weird limbo of early adulthood. It nails that Gen Z “what am I doing with my life?” energy without feeling forced.
That said, I didn’t fully emotionally connect the way I wanted to. Cam’s internal loop can get repetitive, and there were moments where I wanted more growth from her sooner or for Danny to push back just a little more. The romance is sweet and satisfying, but it didn’t quite hit that full swoon level for me.
Still, this is a strong, engaging read with a lot of heart. If you love messy heroines, seaside settings, and soft, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romances with real-life stakes, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s a warm, wistful summer story about burning out, starting over, and maybe (just maybe) finding your way back to yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for this eARC!
Camille Luna (Cam) is not at her best when we meet her. She’s spiraling, freshly unemployed, drowning in debt, and making questionable decisions (ending up in jail is… a low point). But that’s kind of the point. Her messiness feels very real for a 25-year-old trying to figure life out, even when it’s frustrating to sit inside her head at times. Or a lot of the time. She’s self-focused, a little stuck, and not always easy to root for, but I appreciated that the story didn’t try to smooth out those rough edges.
Enter Danny Brennan: certified golden-retriever energy, longtime friend, and the emotional anchor of the story. Their friends-to-lovers dynamic is easily the highlight. There’s history, comfort, tension, and that slow, inevitable shift that makes you want to scream “JUST KISS ALREADY.” Danny is patient to a fault, endlessly supportive, and honestly a little too perfect at times, but it works because he brings warmth and stability to Cam’s chaos. I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this book with characters only like Cam, so Danny was a good counterpart.
The setting absolutely shines. Elswick’s seaside atmosphere, the restaurant hustle, late-night conversations, and introspection all create that “maybe this summer will fix me” vibe. It’s immersive in the best way. It’s equal parts escapism AND self-discovery.
What really elevates this beyond a standard summer romance is how grounded it feels in real post-grad anxieties: student loans, career dissatisfaction, shifting friendships, and the weird limbo of early adulthood. It nails that Gen Z “what am I doing with my life?” energy without feeling forced.
That said, I didn’t fully emotionally connect the way I wanted to. Cam’s internal loop can get repetitive, and there were moments where I wanted more growth from her sooner or for Danny to push back just a little more. The romance is sweet and satisfying, but it didn’t quite hit that full swoon level for me.
Still, this is a strong, engaging read with a lot of heart. If you love messy heroines, seaside settings, and soft, slow-burn friends-to-lovers romances with real-life stakes, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It’s a warm, wistful summer story about burning out, starting over, and maybe (just maybe) finding your way back to yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saturday Books for this eARC!
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