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Burnout Summer: A Novel
For 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
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Jenna Ramirez
1 book115 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 from Saturday Books.
Her debut novel, Burnout Summer, is available from Saturday Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
May 26, 2026
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:
medium blog
May 19, 2026
4.5 stars!
here's the thing, i would protect danny with MY LIFE!!! this man is one of the sweetest most caring men ever. the way he loves camille with his entire being but also sets it aside because at the end of the day, all he wants is for her to be happy 😩 god i love him!!!!!
i really enjoyed this book. it was a great reflection on the emotional turmoil and very real weight and exhaustion of trying to find your way in your 20s. this idea that we have to cross certain finish lines by a specific age and wrestling with the emotions of failing to even get close to the finish line. seeing all your friends or classmates cross with ease. feeling stuck in a job you don't even like. pushing aside what you really want because money and living feels impossible. jenna ramirez captured all of those complex feelings so so well in this book.
it was honestly so refreshing to see camille let herself go and let herself enjoy life again. and danny never stopped pushing her to go after what she's truly passionate about and what she truly enjoys doing. i love love love how we could feel how freeing that was for camille.
absolutely love the friend group and how they worked through different challenges and obstacles, always supporting and loving one another. and of course i adore camille & danny!! their relationship was a process & i loved watching it unfold 🥹 the way they love each other exactly for who they are !!!!!!
thank you so much St. Martins Press & Saturday Books for the arc! this is my honest review.
here's the thing, i would protect danny with MY LIFE!!! this man is one of the sweetest most caring men ever. the way he loves camille with his entire being but also sets it aside because at the end of the day, all he wants is for her to be happy 😩 god i love him!!!!!
i really enjoyed this book. it was a great reflection on the emotional turmoil and very real weight and exhaustion of trying to find your way in your 20s. this idea that we have to cross certain finish lines by a specific age and wrestling with the emotions of failing to even get close to the finish line. seeing all your friends or classmates cross with ease. feeling stuck in a job you don't even like. pushing aside what you really want because money and living feels impossible. jenna ramirez captured all of those complex feelings so so well in this book.
it was honestly so refreshing to see camille let herself go and let herself enjoy life again. and danny never stopped pushing her to go after what she's truly passionate about and what she truly enjoys doing. i love love love how we could feel how freeing that was for camille.
absolutely love the friend group and how they worked through different challenges and obstacles, always supporting and loving one another. and of course i adore camille & danny!! their relationship was a process & i loved watching it unfold 🥹 the way they love each other exactly for who they are !!!!!!
thank you so much St. Martins Press & Saturday Books for the arc! this is my honest review.
May 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC 🎧💞
4 ⭐️, 2 🌶️🌶️
I’m a SUCKER for a beach town romance 🧡. FMC Camille (Cam) Luna has hit rock bottom, and is invited to spend the summer with friend MMC Danny in Rhode Island helping out with his inherited bar/restaurant. In the ultimate friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance Cam rediscovers her love of writing, and makes amends with her estranged friend group all while her relationship with Danny blossoms into more than just friendship. Danny is a nugget-baby angel come to life and is kind, funny and empathetic- the ULTIMATE book boyfriend 💖. The story flowed nicely and I felt like there was just the right amount of spice (and that is saying A LOT for someone who has a high spice tolerance 🌶️ ❤️🔥).
🎧 the DUET audio performance was EXCELLENT and I really enjoyed both narrators (Victoria Villareal & Michael Gallagher). This was such a pleasant story to listen to, I was immediately relaxed and locked in whenever I had it on in the background. The hours flew by while listening to this one.
My only critique was with the friend group itself. It felt like they all were laying the blame on them growing apart on Cam and I didn’t like that at all. I felt like she was very good at being accountable for her portion of the friendships once it was brought to her attention, but it didn’t seem like the rest of the group did much self-reflection and that felt unfair at times. Friendships can be messy sometimes and they ebb and flow. I think this book did a good job of illustrating the complications that come along in friend groups ❤️🩹.
Overall, it turns out that I actually DO like friends-to-lovers and slow-burn tropes when they are as well-written as this story. I guess you just need the write author to bring those tropes to life in a meaningful way. I LOVED the multi-cultural representation as well. This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last 💫.
4 ⭐️, 2 🌶️🌶️
I’m a SUCKER for a beach town romance 🧡. FMC Camille (Cam) Luna has hit rock bottom, and is invited to spend the summer with friend MMC Danny in Rhode Island helping out with his inherited bar/restaurant. In the ultimate friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance Cam rediscovers her love of writing, and makes amends with her estranged friend group all while her relationship with Danny blossoms into more than just friendship. Danny is a nugget-baby angel come to life and is kind, funny and empathetic- the ULTIMATE book boyfriend 💖. The story flowed nicely and I felt like there was just the right amount of spice (and that is saying A LOT for someone who has a high spice tolerance 🌶️ ❤️🔥).
🎧 the DUET audio performance was EXCELLENT and I really enjoyed both narrators (Victoria Villareal & Michael Gallagher). This was such a pleasant story to listen to, I was immediately relaxed and locked in whenever I had it on in the background. The hours flew by while listening to this one.
My only critique was with the friend group itself. It felt like they all were laying the blame on them growing apart on Cam and I didn’t like that at all. I felt like she was very good at being accountable for her portion of the friendships once it was brought to her attention, but it didn’t seem like the rest of the group did much self-reflection and that felt unfair at times. Friendships can be messy sometimes and they ebb and flow. I think this book did a good job of illustrating the complications that come along in friend groups ❤️🩹.
Overall, it turns out that I actually DO like friends-to-lovers and slow-burn tropes when they are as well-written as this story. I guess you just need the write author to bring those tropes to life in a meaningful way. I LOVED the multi-cultural representation as well. This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last 💫.
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 ☀️
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!
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.
May 18, 2026
⭐️ 5/5. I think @jennaramirezbooks hot summer romance, Burnout Summer, will be this year’s Emily Henry summer romance!
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review! This is a dual-narration where the narrators did an amazing job using different voices for the different characters and immersing me in the story!
Cam is 4 years out of college, her friend group still hasn’t fully recovered from her breakup with her college boyfriend Korey, she has just been fired from her corporate marketing job she hates, and she is in jail for a misdemeanor that really was a huge misunderstanding. Cue one of her best friends, Danny, who has just driven 7 hours from Rhode Island to DC to pick her up from jail and her quarter-life crisis. Suddenly stuck with no job, an ending lease, and a huge pile of student loans and credit card debt, Cam doesn’t know where to turn; until Danny convinces her to spend the summer in Rhode Island with him working at his restaurant and trying to recover from her bad case of burnout.
As the days in Rhode Island full of shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, a reignited passion for writing, and laughter with Danny fly by, Cam starts to wonder what she really wants from life, and what she can afford to want. Can she leave the security of the corporate world behind? Can she give in to her budding feelings for Danny, even if it could fracture their finally-healing friend group?
I absolutely loved this story and Danny is a top book boyfriend and amazing human. Frankly, he is too good for Cam for a lot of the book as she works through issues of being self-absorbed. However, she also functions in a way that is primarily motivated by her fears, and I personally know what it’s like falling into that trap. But Danny is able to slowly help her step out of making decisions only motivated by fear, and he sticks by her side in the ultimate slowburn summer beachy romance.
This book gave off major Emily Henry energy by mixing summer vibes, witty and well-developed characters, and real, deep emotions. It has the “main character is a writer and we’re at the beach” theme from Beach Read, the “dedicated friend group but then two people in the friend group break up” theme from Happy Place (and not the crazy miscommunication), and the “friends to lovers slowburn” of People We Meet on Vacation.
Also, there is a moment where the MMC, Danny, finally says, “F*ck it.” And I know how all is book girlies feel about that!
And, it ends with a perfect setup for a sequel about Drew, one of the other friends in their college friend group. Jenna, please tell me you’re writing a sequel!!
Also, shoutout to Jenna for using actual chapter names and not just numbers. That’s something that is so underrated and needs to make more of a comeback!
Thank you @macmillan.audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review! This is a dual-narration where the narrators did an amazing job using different voices for the different characters and immersing me in the story!
Cam is 4 years out of college, her friend group still hasn’t fully recovered from her breakup with her college boyfriend Korey, she has just been fired from her corporate marketing job she hates, and she is in jail for a misdemeanor that really was a huge misunderstanding. Cue one of her best friends, Danny, who has just driven 7 hours from Rhode Island to DC to pick her up from jail and her quarter-life crisis. Suddenly stuck with no job, an ending lease, and a huge pile of student loans and credit card debt, Cam doesn’t know where to turn; until Danny convinces her to spend the summer in Rhode Island with him working at his restaurant and trying to recover from her bad case of burnout.
As the days in Rhode Island full of shifts at the restaurant, dips in the ocean, a reignited passion for writing, and laughter with Danny fly by, Cam starts to wonder what she really wants from life, and what she can afford to want. Can she leave the security of the corporate world behind? Can she give in to her budding feelings for Danny, even if it could fracture their finally-healing friend group?
I absolutely loved this story and Danny is a top book boyfriend and amazing human. Frankly, he is too good for Cam for a lot of the book as she works through issues of being self-absorbed. However, she also functions in a way that is primarily motivated by her fears, and I personally know what it’s like falling into that trap. But Danny is able to slowly help her step out of making decisions only motivated by fear, and he sticks by her side in the ultimate slowburn summer beachy romance.
This book gave off major Emily Henry energy by mixing summer vibes, witty and well-developed characters, and real, deep emotions. It has the “main character is a writer and we’re at the beach” theme from Beach Read, the “dedicated friend group but then two people in the friend group break up” theme from Happy Place (and not the crazy miscommunication), and the “friends to lovers slowburn” of People We Meet on Vacation.
Also, there is a moment where the MMC, Danny, finally says, “F*ck it.” And I know how all is book girlies feel about that!
And, it ends with a perfect setup for a sequel about Drew, one of the other friends in their college friend group. Jenna, please tell me you’re writing a sequel!!
Also, shoutout to Jenna for using actual chapter names and not just numbers. That’s something that is so underrated and needs to make more of a comeback!
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.
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 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.
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 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.
May 16, 2026
Updated after reading the audiobook
⭐ (Story) 4
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 23, 28
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2.5
👫 Danny + Milly
📚 Tropes/Themes: forced proximity, just for the summer, friends to lovers, is always been you, finding yourself/coming of age-ish, starting over
👀 Single POV 3rd person
🎙️ Duet narration (Michael Gallagher + Victoria Villareal)
⏰ Approx 5 hours @ 2x
💔 Content warnings: being arrested
🎀 Special editions: none
All right, I had to sit with this book for a little bit before I could write my review. First of all, I did originally dnf the ebook because I was having a hard time staying focused, but I noticed that the audiobook was available on netgalley and decided to try again with that. Obviously since I finished that was a better experience 😂
I think the best way to describe this story is it's a love letter to Gen Zers who are currently studying to find their place as newly(ish) minted adults in this world. And I think that if I were currently 26 I would have had a much different reaction to this story. Unfortunately I'm an elder millennial...practically Gen X...so I have a much different perspective now.
I do remember being this age and working through the separation trauma of leaving college. And I genuinely mean trauma - college was the first place I felt I belonged and found my group and frankly when I had to move home to start over it was akin to a death. But looking back now I can see it for what it is: life ebbs and flows and changes, and that's ok.
And financially, I've literally lived through nearly the same thing. Deferment for economic hardship, maxing out cc's, impulse purchases because of the momentary thrill. Even worse, I pursued a college degree I really wanted, but ended up not wanting to do that as a career by the end 😂 HOWEVER the FMC def needs to shoulder the blame some here. (I ended up attending what was essentially a trade school)
Anyway, all those long ass paragraphs to say I definitely get where Cam is coming from, But the emotional impact that that this had on me was much more subdued than it probably would have been if I read this in my 20s.
That's not to say this is badly written or anything, actually I think it's really well done, hence giving it four stars. Just that, it's a stage of life and it will most likely change and end and you'll get through it. I also did not expect this to end up being a series- or at least the epilogue from Drew's perspective makes me think it's going to be a series. I'm genuinely undecided if I'll read it but it definitely won't be an ARC read with a timeline.
As for the narrators, it was such a pleasant surprise to see that it was duet for a single POV. The narrators did a great job, although sometimes I found it hard to differentiate between the different guy voices.
Dnf @23%
I find myself continually picking another book to read over this one, and sorta dreading the thought of having to finish it. I guess it's just not grabbing me?
⭐ (Story) 4
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 1.5
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 23, 28
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 2.5
👫 Danny + Milly
📚 Tropes/Themes: forced proximity, just for the summer, friends to lovers, is always been you, finding yourself/coming of age-ish, starting over
👀 Single POV 3rd person
🎙️ Duet narration (Michael Gallagher + Victoria Villareal)
⏰ Approx 5 hours @ 2x
💔 Content warnings: being arrested
🎀 Special editions: none
All right, I had to sit with this book for a little bit before I could write my review. First of all, I did originally dnf the ebook because I was having a hard time staying focused, but I noticed that the audiobook was available on netgalley and decided to try again with that. Obviously since I finished that was a better experience 😂
I think the best way to describe this story is it's a love letter to Gen Zers who are currently studying to find their place as newly(ish) minted adults in this world. And I think that if I were currently 26 I would have had a much different reaction to this story. Unfortunately I'm an elder millennial...practically Gen X...so I have a much different perspective now.
I do remember being this age and working through the separation trauma of leaving college. And I genuinely mean trauma - college was the first place I felt I belonged and found my group and frankly when I had to move home to start over it was akin to a death. But looking back now I can see it for what it is: life ebbs and flows and changes, and that's ok.
And financially, I've literally lived through nearly the same thing. Deferment for economic hardship, maxing out cc's, impulse purchases because of the momentary thrill. Even worse, I pursued a college degree I really wanted, but ended up not wanting to do that as a career by the end 😂 HOWEVER the FMC def needs to shoulder the blame some here. (I ended up attending what was essentially a trade school)
Anyway, all those long ass paragraphs to say I definitely get where Cam is coming from, But the emotional impact that that this had on me was much more subdued than it probably would have been if I read this in my 20s.
That's not to say this is badly written or anything, actually I think it's really well done, hence giving it four stars. Just that, it's a stage of life and it will most likely change and end and you'll get through it. I also did not expect this to end up being a series- or at least the epilogue from Drew's perspective makes me think it's going to be a series. I'm genuinely undecided if I'll read it but it definitely won't be an ARC read with a timeline.
As for the narrators, it was such a pleasant surprise to see that it was duet for a single POV. The narrators did a great job, although sometimes I found it hard to differentiate between the different guy voices.
Dnf @23%
I find myself continually picking another book to read over this one, and sorta dreading the thought of having to finish it. I guess it's just not grabbing me?
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.
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!
June 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The overall concept of this book is one that I absolutely adore. A guy rushing in to help his college friend when she’s at a dead end and desperately needs a fresh start? Sign me up. I was fully expecting forced proximity, living together, and all the feelings that come with it.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would.
My biggest issue was the FMC. She came across as very self-involved and seemed to think everything revolved around her. It made it difficult for me to connect with her, especially when the MMC was constantly showing up for her and doing so much to support her.
The MMC was honestly the saving grace of this book. From the very beginning, it was obvious how much he cared about her, and I loved watching him quietly show his feelings through his actions. The problem was that she seemed completely oblivious to both his feelings and her own. It took until the last twenty pages for her to finally realize she loved him, and by that point it felt rushed rather than satisfying.
While I enjoyed the premise and really loved the MMC, the romance never fully delivered for me because of the imbalance between the characters. The ending definitely hints that there could be another book, and I’m still on the fence about whether I’d pick it up.
The overall concept of this book is one that I absolutely adore. A guy rushing in to help his college friend when she’s at a dead end and desperately needs a fresh start? Sign me up. I was fully expecting forced proximity, living together, and all the feelings that come with it.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would.
My biggest issue was the FMC. She came across as very self-involved and seemed to think everything revolved around her. It made it difficult for me to connect with her, especially when the MMC was constantly showing up for her and doing so much to support her.
The MMC was honestly the saving grace of this book. From the very beginning, it was obvious how much he cared about her, and I loved watching him quietly show his feelings through his actions. The problem was that she seemed completely oblivious to both his feelings and her own. It took until the last twenty pages for her to finally realize she loved him, and by that point it felt rushed rather than satisfying.
While I enjoyed the premise and really loved the MMC, the romance never fully delivered for me because of the imbalance between the characters. The ending definitely hints that there could be another book, and I’m still on the fence about whether I’d pick it up.
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.
May 14, 2026
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. The setting was easily the strongest part for me. The seaside town atmosphere was picturesque, the restaurant backdrop was fun and I could absolutely picture the salty air, late summer nights and beach town charm woven throughout the story.
Unfortunately, the characters and dialogue just didn’t work. Danny never felt believable as a 26 year old man. Almost every conversation turned into some kind of life lesson or philosophical speech. After a while it started to feel unnatural and repetitive instead of meaningful.
There was one scene that genuinely made me laugh, but outside of that, most of the humor and emotional moments fell flat for me. A few parts even crossed into cringey territory, which pulled me out of the story completely.
Overall, this one had a great setting and an interesting premise, but the execution just wasn’t there for me.
Unfortunately, the characters and dialogue just didn’t work. Danny never felt believable as a 26 year old man. Almost every conversation turned into some kind of life lesson or philosophical speech. After a while it started to feel unnatural and repetitive instead of meaningful.
There was one scene that genuinely made me laugh, but outside of that, most of the humor and emotional moments fell flat for me. A few parts even crossed into cringey territory, which pulled me out of the story completely.
Overall, this one had a great setting and an interesting premise, but the execution just wasn’t there for me.
June 3, 2026
Burnout Summer has one of my favorite covers of the summer, but unfortunately the story didn't work for me. I was unable to root for anyone in this book, and I don't feel like anyone in this story will still be friends in 10 years. I had high hopes, but the immature characters ruined this for me.
A note for anyone considering the audiobook - it was third person dual narration, so it was jarring to have the male character jump in for his lines due to the choice of tense.
It made for a really entertaining book club discussion, so that is a redeeming factor... kinda.
Thank you Saturday Books for the free e-arc.
A note for anyone considering the audiobook - it was third person dual narration, so it was jarring to have the male character jump in for his lines due to the choice of tense.
It made for a really entertaining book club discussion, so that is a redeeming factor... kinda.
Thank you Saturday Books for the free e-arc.
June 5, 2026
(4.5 stars) Thank you @saturdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook! #macaudio2026
For the four years since her graduation, Camille Luna has been caught in a vicious cycle - a soul-sucking grind up the corporate ladder, debilitating student loans, and a cost of living that has her struggling to make ends meet. Then even that implodes and Danny Brennan, her college friend who was more burnout than corporate climber, ends up picking her up from jail. Danny convinces Cam to join him for the summer in Rhode Island where he inherited a beachside restaurant. She’ll have a moment to breathe and plan her next steps. What unfolds is a transformative summer of healing, personal revelations and new-found feelings.
If this book had been in existence when I was 22, I may very well have taken a different path early in my career! The focus on finding your passion and focusing on happiness over typically-interpreted success is really lovely. On top of that, how can you not love a friends-to-lovers story where he has literally been down bad THE WHOLE TIME combined with a complicated and sincere coming of age college found family, a beach setting, a cute dog, tattoos a MMC with SL glasses? Yeah, this is a great one.
🎧 On audio: Michael Gallagher and Victoria Villareal are really, really excellent in this performance. I absolutely adored it. (10 hrs and 16 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
For the four years since her graduation, Camille Luna has been caught in a vicious cycle - a soul-sucking grind up the corporate ladder, debilitating student loans, and a cost of living that has her struggling to make ends meet. Then even that implodes and Danny Brennan, her college friend who was more burnout than corporate climber, ends up picking her up from jail. Danny convinces Cam to join him for the summer in Rhode Island where he inherited a beachside restaurant. She’ll have a moment to breathe and plan her next steps. What unfolds is a transformative summer of healing, personal revelations and new-found feelings.
If this book had been in existence when I was 22, I may very well have taken a different path early in my career! The focus on finding your passion and focusing on happiness over typically-interpreted success is really lovely. On top of that, how can you not love a friends-to-lovers story where he has literally been down bad THE WHOLE TIME combined with a complicated and sincere coming of age college found family, a beach setting, a cute dog, tattoos a MMC with SL glasses? Yeah, this is a great one.
🎧 On audio: Michael Gallagher and Victoria Villareal are really, really excellent in this performance. I absolutely adored it. (10 hrs and 16 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
May 19, 2026
Burnout Summer was billed as a book for fans of Emily Henry, Tessa Bailey, and Elle Kennedy. I love all of those authors, and I also love the friends to lovers trope, books set on the beach, AND a good quarter life crisis novel. Burnout Summer *should* have been a total grand slam for me, and while there were moments that I really enjoyed, I also found myself picking up my phone to doomscroll rather than read WAY more often than usual.
I may just be too far removed from my 20’s now, but I found Cam to be a little bit difficult to root for. I don’t usually mind romances written in third person, but I wonder if THIS book being written in first person perspective might have helped the reader feel a bit more sympathetic towards Cam and her self-centeredness? There’s a moment towards the end where she’s describing the way that her internal anxiety has affected her, and I think if we’d been able to “hear” that anxiety from her perspective from the beginning, we might have better understood (or at least sympathized with) some of her choices and hesitancies.
Additionally, there were a couple of instances of inconsistencies within the ARC. For example, Danny was wearing briefs during one interaction, but then was suddenly in boxers a page later. I have not verified whether those moments made it to the final published copy, but they really took me out of the moment while reading.
All that said, although this book wasn’t necessarily a great fit for me, I think people who are ages 18-25 (ish) might enjoy this one a bit more than I did, especially those who have experienced the college to corporate grind. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to readers in that demographic.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I may just be too far removed from my 20’s now, but I found Cam to be a little bit difficult to root for. I don’t usually mind romances written in third person, but I wonder if THIS book being written in first person perspective might have helped the reader feel a bit more sympathetic towards Cam and her self-centeredness? There’s a moment towards the end where she’s describing the way that her internal anxiety has affected her, and I think if we’d been able to “hear” that anxiety from her perspective from the beginning, we might have better understood (or at least sympathized with) some of her choices and hesitancies.
Additionally, there were a couple of instances of inconsistencies within the ARC. For example, Danny was wearing briefs during one interaction, but then was suddenly in boxers a page later. I have not verified whether those moments made it to the final published copy, but they really took me out of the moment while reading.
All that said, although this book wasn’t necessarily a great fit for me, I think people who are ages 18-25 (ish) might enjoy this one a bit more than I did, especially those who have experienced the college to corporate grind. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to readers in that demographic.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.
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.
May 29, 2026
3.5 stars! Cute romance with some very relatable themes (student debt, adult friendships, anxiety!!)
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 28, 2026
[arc review]
i thought this books was okay. it’s a good spring to summer read, but i also didn’t think it was anything to write home about.
i think where it didn’t go so great for me was camille. she felt very self-absorbed but in an anxious way, if that makes sense. she was so worried about herself and what other people would think of her because she was no longer a 9-5 corporate girlie. on the other hand, i though danny was a great character and i’m glad he was finally able to sit down with camille and explain himself because it didn’t really seem like he could when the friend group was still in college.
i thought this books was okay. it’s a good spring to summer read, but i also didn’t think it was anything to write home about.
i think where it didn’t go so great for me was camille. she felt very self-absorbed but in an anxious way, if that makes sense. she was so worried about herself and what other people would think of her because she was no longer a 9-5 corporate girlie. on the other hand, i though danny was a great character and i’m glad he was finally able to sit down with camille and explain himself because it didn’t really seem like he could when the friend group was still in college.
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 24, 2026
Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez felt like a love letter to every high-achieving woman who has quietly wondered, Wait… is this it?
Camille’s life looks successful on paper, but internally she’s exhausted, disconnected, and running on fumes. The setup immediately hooked me because it captured something I think a lot of people experience but don’t always have language for: burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like functioning. Showing up. Doing what you’re “supposed” to do while slowly feeling less and less like yourself.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book. The seaside setting, slower pace, restaurant life, and the feeling of stepping outside your normal environment created that classic summer-reset energy. Danny was such a refreshing love interest too. He wasn’t written as someone who swoops in and fixes her life. Instead, he represented possibility, ease, and permission to question whether the life she built was actually the life she wanted.
As a therapist, one of my favorite parts was that underneath the romance, this felt like a story about identity, expectations, and burnout recovery. Camille isn’t just choosing between two men or two places. She’s choosing between obligation and authenticity. Between performing competence and allowing herself to want something different.
I also appreciated that the book didn’t frame rest as laziness or treat burnout like something solved with one beach summer and a cute guy. There was more nuance than that.
My only critique is that at times I wanted a little more emotional depth in certain moments and conversations because the themes deserved to sit a bit longer.
Overall, if you love:
☀️ summer escape vibes
❤️ friends-to-lovers
🌊 coastal settings
📚 quarter-life crisis + self-discovery
✨ stories about rebuilding a life that actually fits you
…I’d recommend this one.
Therapist takeaway: Burnout recovery isn’t always about blowing up your life. Sometimes it starts with asking, “If nobody expected anything from me… what would I actually want?”
Camille’s life looks successful on paper, but internally she’s exhausted, disconnected, and running on fumes. The setup immediately hooked me because it captured something I think a lot of people experience but don’t always have language for: burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like functioning. Showing up. Doing what you’re “supposed” to do while slowly feeling less and less like yourself.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book. The seaside setting, slower pace, restaurant life, and the feeling of stepping outside your normal environment created that classic summer-reset energy. Danny was such a refreshing love interest too. He wasn’t written as someone who swoops in and fixes her life. Instead, he represented possibility, ease, and permission to question whether the life she built was actually the life she wanted.
As a therapist, one of my favorite parts was that underneath the romance, this felt like a story about identity, expectations, and burnout recovery. Camille isn’t just choosing between two men or two places. She’s choosing between obligation and authenticity. Between performing competence and allowing herself to want something different.
I also appreciated that the book didn’t frame rest as laziness or treat burnout like something solved with one beach summer and a cute guy. There was more nuance than that.
My only critique is that at times I wanted a little more emotional depth in certain moments and conversations because the themes deserved to sit a bit longer.
Overall, if you love:
☀️ summer escape vibes
❤️ friends-to-lovers
🌊 coastal settings
📚 quarter-life crisis + self-discovery
✨ stories about rebuilding a life that actually fits you
…I’d recommend this one.
Therapist takeaway: Burnout recovery isn’t always about blowing up your life. Sometimes it starts with asking, “If nobody expected anything from me… what would I actually want?”
May 13, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a cute little summer romance! As said in my last review, I’m a huge friends to lovers fan, so I knew this one would hit. I liked the concept of a college friend group that has since gone their separate ways and two of them reconnect.
The Rhode Island setting was gorgeous and atmospheric. Even the bar that is featured so prominently is described so well that I could clearly imagine it in my head. I really loved the detail that went into describing the setting.
Cam is an interesting FMC, and while I can see how she would annoy some readers, to me she is very representative of a girl in these times trying to find herself in her 20s. She’s financially drowning and unsure what to do. Her inner dialogue admits several times that she knows her thoughts are self-centered and wants to do better—and that’s so real. I wish, however, that she was less co-dependent on her college friends from four years past. This started to feel like an obsession as the book went on and all she could think about maintaining.
I thought the romance was very sweet. Danny is the ultimate golden retriever and definitely my favorite character in the book 🥹 There is one kind of strange and cringey spicy scene 🥴 but other than that I thought his yearning for Cam really MADE the romance aspect of the book.
It seems like the author is setting this up for at least one more book and I will read it for sure!
🎧The audio here was good, although I felt like the male narrator sounded maybe a little older than how I viewed Danny (obviously a me thing). I enjoyed the female narrator! I’d say audio or eyeball reading would work well for this one.
This was a cute little summer romance! As said in my last review, I’m a huge friends to lovers fan, so I knew this one would hit. I liked the concept of a college friend group that has since gone their separate ways and two of them reconnect.
The Rhode Island setting was gorgeous and atmospheric. Even the bar that is featured so prominently is described so well that I could clearly imagine it in my head. I really loved the detail that went into describing the setting.
Cam is an interesting FMC, and while I can see how she would annoy some readers, to me she is very representative of a girl in these times trying to find herself in her 20s. She’s financially drowning and unsure what to do. Her inner dialogue admits several times that she knows her thoughts are self-centered and wants to do better—and that’s so real. I wish, however, that she was less co-dependent on her college friends from four years past. This started to feel like an obsession as the book went on and all she could think about maintaining.
I thought the romance was very sweet. Danny is the ultimate golden retriever and definitely my favorite character in the book 🥹 There is one kind of strange and cringey spicy scene 🥴 but other than that I thought his yearning for Cam really MADE the romance aspect of the book.
It seems like the author is setting this up for at least one more book and I will read it for sure!
🎧The audio here was good, although I felt like the male narrator sounded maybe a little older than how I viewed Danny (obviously a me thing). I enjoyed the female narrator! I’d say audio or eyeball reading would work well for this one.
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.
May 20, 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.
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of book I wish I could have read when I graduated college. The complicated friend groups, the hustle and the grind expectations, the towering student loan debt and difficulty talking about all of those topics!!! While I didn't agree with Camille on all of her actions, she was incredibly brave to take that summer with Danny and let her eyes be open to more possibilities about what her future could look like. And Danny - THAT man, our patient king! If only we could all be so lucky to have a Danny in our lives, even the platonic friend version of him. He wasn't afraid to do things differently, see successes and wins that others overlooked, and truly want the best for all of his friends.
I wish I could head to Elswick and spend the evening at Beau's, but instead I'll just have to reread Burnout Summer!
Thank you, Saturday Books, for the gifted copy!
Honestly, this is exactly the kind of book I wish I could have read when I graduated college. The complicated friend groups, the hustle and the grind expectations, the towering student loan debt and difficulty talking about all of those topics!!! While I didn't agree with Camille on all of her actions, she was incredibly brave to take that summer with Danny and let her eyes be open to more possibilities about what her future could look like. And Danny - THAT man, our patient king! If only we could all be so lucky to have a Danny in our lives, even the platonic friend version of him. He wasn't afraid to do things differently, see successes and wins that others overlooked, and truly want the best for all of his friends.
I wish I could head to Elswick and spend the evening at Beau's, but instead I'll just have to reread Burnout Summer!
Thank you, Saturday Books, for the gifted copy!
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