The Summer Share

by Jenn McKinlay

When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van. An unexpected inheritance from her Pops brings Hannah to Cape Split, North Carolina, where she learns she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his Gramps.

As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover the house was once home to a timeless love story. Soon, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past may be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.

Hannah thought one summer at the Split would be enough, except it isn’t like any place she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—and she’s thinking about putting down some roots. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community the same way or their first summer share might also be their last.

Genres: Romance, Summer, Fiction, Summer Reads, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some books that feel like a vacation, and this is one of them. From the very first pages, I felt transported to a sunlit stretch of coastline where the air smells like salt, the waves keep rhythm with your heartbeat, and an old, weathered beach house holds more secrets than you initially expect.

What begins as a chaotic inheritance situation gradually unfolds into a story about loss, healing, and the courage to start over. Hannah Spencer arrives in Cape Split with her vintage van, her towering Great Dane, and a life defined by movement. She has spent years drifting from place to place, collecting experiences instead of possessions, never fully allowing herself to settle. Simon O’Malley, on the other hand, comes carrying responsibility, financial pressure, and a deep sense of duty toward his family. When they discover they have inherited the same beach house, sparks fly immediately, not just from irritation, but from two very different worldviews colliding in one fragile, peeling cottage.As they are forced to spend the summer together repairing the house, something unexpected happens.

Hammer by hammer, paint stroke by paint stroke, their defensiveness softens. The house itself seems to breathe with them, revealing layers of its past and a beautiful love story that lingers within its walls. Watching Hannah and Simon navigate their growing connection while wrestling with their personal fears was both tender and deeply satisfying.

Their romance does not feel rushed or artificial, it grows naturally through shared memories, humor, and moments of quiet honesty.I was especially moved by how the story explores the idea of belonging. Hannah slowly realizes that freedom does not have to mean loneliness, and Simon learns that security does not have to mean sacrifice of joy.

The beach town, its warm residents, and the history embedded in the house create a comforting backdrop that made me want to linger long after I finished reading.And of course, Dude deserves his own spotlight. His presence adds humor, warmth, and a surprising emotional depth that made many scenes even more memorable.

This is not just a light summer romance. It is a heartfelt reflection on family, second chances, and the bravery it takes to choose love over fear. By the final chapters, I felt genuinely invested in both characters and reluctant to leave them behind.

A very sincere thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt, charming, and thoroughly enjoyable romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Jenn McKinlay's cozy mysteries for nearly a decade, but I also enjoy her romcoms. The Summer Share is her newest romance book where the inheritance of a summer house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is at play. Two families learn a surprising secret, and a member of each falls for the other. Easy romance. No major drama. Slow boil until it's not. A few elaborate physical scenes that leave you a little hot-n-bothered. Definitely a perfect read for someone just waiting for a second chance at romance and not expecting it to show up in the way it does.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (Semi-Hiatus-attempting return)]

ARC provided via Berkley Pub and NetGalley all thoughts are my own.

Hoping I love this! 🤞🏼

💖Forced Proximity
☀️Enemies to Lovers
🏠Grumpy x Sunshine
💖Opposites Attract
☀️He Falls First
🏠Vacation/Summer Romance
💖Small Town Romance
☀️Shared Inheritance / Co-Ownership
🏠Renovation / Fixer-Upper (HGTV vibes)
💖Starting Over
☀️Family Secrets / Grandpa Mysteries

Exp pub date - 5/26/26

✴︎a˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah and Simon both believe they’re the sole heir to their grandfather’s beach house—but when they arrive, they’re in for a surprise. How can they both inherit the same house, and what will they decide to do with it?

This one was really sweet. Watching Hannah and Simon uncover the past—through exploring the house and connecting with the neighbors—was such a fun way to see their relationship develop. Their shared (and individual) trauma plays a big role in how they bond, which adds some emotional depth to their dynamic.

The overall vibe is incredibly cozy. The neighbors create a kind of found family that’s warm, funny, and welcoming, and honestly, they were one of my favorite parts. And the dogs—Frank and Dude, a pug and a Great Dane being best friends—were ridiculously cute.

That said, the romance itself felt a bit lacking for me. The pacing didn’t quite work—it was very slow for most of the book, and then the relationship progressed really quickly at the end, which made it feel less developed than I wanted. I’m used to more tension from McKinlay, and this one just didn’t quite deliver in that area.

But as a cozy, found-family story about uncovering the past, it really works.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zella Funkhouser · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thanks to Edelweiss for the chance to read this as an ARC!

This was SO GOOD! You will not only fall in love with the FMC and MMC, but with every single character in the book. I found myself wishing I had known Pops and Gramps in real life. They worked so hard to create a beautiful life for themselves and their grandchildren, even after that passed.

This was a 10/10 read.

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!

📖 Book Review 📖 It’s a concept so over-the-top wild yet an oddly conceivable concept; a loved dies and truths are revealed when the will is read. For Hannah and Simon, they each learn they have inherited their grandfather’s beloved beach house - and it just so happens to be the shared inheritance. Tensions are high from the start between these two… and the chemistry works…because nothing brings about a slow summer burn like forced proximity and uncovering buried family secrets.

Jenn McKinlay’s writing is delightfully breezy, adding perfectly timed comedic breaks that fluctuate between witty banter and scenes with best-supporting character, Dude, the harlequin Great Dane. While both Hannah and Simon carry extensive battle wounds into the cottage, nothing brings about healing like salt air and a beautifully cathartic tale unfolds in The Summer Share. Just like those warm summer days, I was flipping through the chapters at lightning speed, unable to put this one down.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰]

Hannah + Simon

They've both inherited half of a summer sea-side house from their respective grandfathers.
They don't know each other and didn't know that their grandpas shared this beloved house.
And now they have to live in it for two months and then decide what to do with it.
Easy. Hannah wants to keep it and live there with her huge dog.
And Simon? He needs to sell it to make sure he has enough money to take care of his brother.

LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ....

══════════════════




So adorable!
This book brings us so many cute tropes and #hashtags in one great love story. Forced Proximity. Enemies to Lovers. Grumpy Sunshine. HGTV. Summer. Grandpa Mysteries. Family Secrets. Starting Over. Amazing Dog. Great Neighbors. Cute Small Town. And so much more!
I loved reading this. It was so funny and sweet and a bit mysterious and sad and heartbreaking.
But just so beautiful and sweet and you can't help but fall in love with the place and the whole cast and all those amazingly hilarious and heartwarming scenes with Dude the dog.

I loved it!
And I would so love to see this on TV one day!
Plus - I wouldn't mind reading the story of Simon's sister next!

THE SUMMER SHARE was such a sweet love story! Adorable, funny, sparky, sweet, mysterious, HGTV-ish and a bit sad and heartbreaking .... I adored the dog! And I loved reading this! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Simon and Dude - these two are MINE!

If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!


💜 💜

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Hannah is a content creator who travels the country in a van. Simon is an insurance salesman in his family's company. When each of their grandfathers die they leave half an ocean cottage to their grandkids.
Neither Hannah nor Simon is thrilled at sharing their inheritance: she wants to keep the house and he wants to sell it. As the wills stipulate they have to live there for two months, they begrudgingly agree. They are both stubborn and wary of relationships. But as they start to fix up the house, and get to know the neighbors and each other, things get cozy.
Hannah and Simon learn about the love story that was based in the cottage and slowly start to count on each other. But still, their ideas about the house differ.
I enjoyed this book. Hannah and Simon's path toward each other seemed realistic. And they both had reasons for doubt regarding the other. But at heart, they are both good people who deserve support and love. I really loved their desire to find out about their grandfathers and get to know the community that the older men loved so much. I would definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.

[Dayle (the literary llama) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

The beginning is excellent. And there was a lot to like, love, and enjoy throughout. But it also mellowed way too soon and the villainy came way too late, almost cartoonish in its delivery, and was over before it even began. I was missing some conflict and shenanigans in the middle. Still, I really liked watching the leads learn more about their grandfathers. And Dude was the real star of the story.

Overall, pleasant enough and worth the read but didn’t make a huge impression.

* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher

[Samantha Coursey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Jenn McKinlay for this arc!!!

2.75 ⭐️
3 felt too high and 2.5 felt too low. I personally did not connect to our two MCs. I felt more connected to their granddads and the side characters. I think not really connecting to the MCs made me uninterested. I thought the backgrounds for the characters were great, but their personalities fell flat to me.

Good book to start to get into the summer vibes tho!

[Apryl Breitbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this wonderful romcom!

I loved this one. The book felt like a vacation and I binged it in a weekend.
The whole premise of the book was original and interesting enough that I was entertained throughout, and rooting for the main characters.
It began as a chaotic inheritance situation then turned into a story about loss, healing, found family, forced proximity, and the courage to start over.

This will be a fun read this Summer when the book comes out end of May 2026.

[Ashley Flippin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this title.
Hannah and Simon find that they are co owners of a cute little cottage in the Outer Banks after the deaths of their grandfathers. They soon find out information about their grandfathers that shocked them.
Throughout this story they work out their grief and issues from their past. They build themselves a community and through the forced proximity, they fall in the love. This was such a sweet story and was written beautifully. Also, Dude was my favorite character ❤️

[Sara Mion · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it gets warm outside, I can’t help but want to read nothing but fun summer romances, this book was perfect to kick off my summer reading!

It was sweet and fun, with some twists and turns along the way as family secrets are revealed and Hannah and Simon learn why they have both been asked to come here to the home their grandfathers (now passed) owned.

It turns out, their grandfathers (different families, I was nervous at first!) owned this beach house together, without their families knowing they even knew each other. And it’s been left to their grandchildren, Hannah and Simon, provided that they spent several months living in it.

Hannah, a travel influencer is delighted. A place to put down some roots could not come at a better time.

Simon, wants to sell, and get back to taking care of his brother.

So of course these two on opposing ends of the spectrum are forced into sharing the house while they work this out. As expected, the enemies slowly become lovers as they learn the truth about how their grandfathers came to own this home together.

Sweet, bright, funny, the perfect beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for small town, coastal charm - the The Summer Share is the book for you. It is a perfect read for the summer. It will take you on a vacation getaway and having you rooting for love at the same time. And laughing out loud at Dude. He's a character and a delight.

The story opens with Hannah and Simon having the strangest of meet cutes only to find out that they have both inherited the summer house. The house had been owed by their grandfathers and had passed the house on to Hannah and Simon upon both of them passing away. This easily could have been set up to be an enemies to lovers story given that Hannah and Simon wanted to do opposite things with the house. But instead of honing in on enemies to lovers, we got to watch the two characters become friends and then fall in love.

Hannah is whimsical and has been searching for a home for the last 5 years. What had she been doing before she showed up at the summer house? Traveling the country as a travel blogger. She was trying to find herself, while also running away from the pain of a failed relationship. Simon, on the other hand, is your typical Type A, self sacrificing type. Both of them were in search of something. A home. A way to provide for their family. How could they ever find the middle ground so that neither ended up giving up most what they wanted.

These two are forced to spend the two months of the summer in the house. What they did during the two months was entirely up to them. Hannah wanted to fix it up and live there. Simon wanted to clean it and get it ready to sale. But as they began the task of cleaning out the house, they both began to learn things about their grandfathers and themselves. Exposing the house allowed for both Simon and Hannah to expose themselves. It happened in shared looks and small gestures. Making the romance feel organic and natural. As they each come to rely on the other, it becomes evident that they are both searching for the other. A sense of purpose. A sense of belonging. A home.

The other thing Hannah and Simon uncovered were secrets and missing parts of their grandfathers lives. Each secret and development was handled with care and grace. I especially loved how as each character found something, it altered the course of their grief. Grief is never linear and I found that the discovery of cufflinks or saved artworks, gave both Hannah and Simon's grief the space to breathe and adapt. I feel that far too often, those small things and how they impact grief can be overlooked or forgotten for the sake of the story or the romance. But Jenn McKinlay let the grief in those moments take the forefront. She also never shied away from exploring the hurt and anger that can come with the not knowing of a loved one. The missing pieces. The secrets. The unknown. I felt like the grief portrayal was so beautifully done.

The town and the residents added an extra layer to this story. It elevated the small town charm in the best ways possible. It showed how finding your space and community can give you the place to belong. To fit. I loved that Hannah and Simon were welcomed because they were the grandkids. There was no shutting them out for being there now. They knew them through the grandfathers words and loved Hannah and Simon because the grandfathers loved them. It's small reminder that community and love and belonging can come from the places you least expect it.

This book is all about finding yourself, learning to belong, and opening yourself up to love. It's an absolute must read for the summer. And I hope the characters pop up later because I would love to know what happened to Charlie and Lorelai.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this early ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all the makings of an enjoyable summer rom-com - two people, each suffering from the loss of their grandpa, head to his fishing retreat in the Outer Banks they've inherited - only to find that they've each inherited half of the home their grandpas shared. Simon wants to sell, Hannah doesn't. The will stipulates that they both have to stay in the home for 8 weeks before deciding what to do about it. And they're both undeniably attracted to the other.

There were definite things to enjoy about this book, like the great dane Duke, the slowly building love story, the neighbors who welcome the main characters into their lives. This book is perfect for picking up for 20 minutes at the pool or the beach this summer and ideal for the reader who doesn't want to get sucked in to a book and not be able to put it down. It's a slow burn romance and when it finally burns, it spares no detail. (Spice alert!)

I thoroughly enjoyed the ending - you know the characters so well at this point and are rooting hard for things to resolve in all the conflicts of the story.

Tropes: forced proximity, only one beach cabin, learning to love and trust again, goals-at-odds.

However: this book moved very slowly and was very hard for me to get into as it established itself. I've been having a hard time with this in books lately, so it might just have been me. This book felt like some of the thought processes the characters had and the author took us through were redundant, and that may be in part because it's dual POV; but also because it's setting the scene for a full 30 percent of the book and in what could have been condensed down to about 10% of the book. Yes, they were figuring out that there were secrets in the past that they wanted to uncover and there was the obvious conflict of he wants to sell and she doesn't, but it felt like as a reader I kept on getting caught up in eddies in the story that would either make me fall asleep, or feel discouraged from wanting to continue reading, especially in the beginning as I had to wait for the characters to be willing to be vulnerable with each other and things to progress. Once the physical element of the main characters' relationship had started, things picked up, but the relationship progression also spares no detail, and with the story moving slowly generally, I'll admit I had to slog through it the beginning and at a few other points in the story.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah has spent the last five years of her life on the road with her loveable Great Dane, Dude, living in her van and sharing her life on social media. When her grandfather, Pops, passes away and leaves his house in the Outer Banks to her, she is thrilled to finally have a place to call home. When she arrives, she is shocked to find out that she only owns half the house--the other half is owned by Simon, whose grandfather, Gramps, also recently passed away and shared the house with Hannah's grandfather. The complication: the two of them must mutually decide what to do with the house and they must each spend a minimum of two months there before making a decision. Hannah and Simon both have their own plans for the house and are determined to convince the other person to see it there way. They just aren't prepared for the feelings they will develop for one another during their summer house share.

I liked the story, but I didn't love it. Hannah and Simon both had complicated backstories which helped to make their characters fuller and more relatable. I loved reading about them going through the house and discovering more about their grandfathers and in turn learning about themselves. The OBX setting was delightful and I loved the strength of the neighborhood characters coming together to support one another for any need. I just didn't see enough of the spark between Hannah and Simon. They exclusively called each other by their last names which made the relationship feel more impersonal than it really was. Third act breakups are one of my least favorite romance tropes, so I also didn't like that a new character was thrown in during the last 20% of the story to try to force one.

I love Jenn McKinlay, I think she is a great author and I have enjoyed many of her other books. Don't let me opinion sway you if this book feels perfect for you.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of The Summer Share. Publication date: May 26, 2026.

[Darcy DecantingBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay
Releasing May 26, 2026
Rating: Loved

Hannah and Simon – each thinks they’ve inherited their grandfather’s Outer Banks beach cottage. But when they show up, they find out they’re co-owners. And the grandpas left a requirement: they have to live together in the house for the summer before deciding what to do with it for good.

Hannah’s been living on the road for years and so excited for a sentimental place to put down some roots. Simon needs the money from selling the house to take care of his special-needs brother. The attraction is there from the start, but there’s also some distrust and a few enemy vibes (not full-blown enemies to lovers though).

Loved it! The vibes really drew me into this one, with the beachy small town, found family in the community, the MCs piecing together their grandfathers’ lives and love, the hominess of the cottage, and the warmth and love emanating from the pages. Both MCs were genuinely good people trying to figure things out, and I was really invested in their story and how they worked through their issues. I felt like I was at the cottage with them (wish I was) absorbing the balmy sea air and putting my reality on hold.

And if you’re a dog lover, Dude the great dane is an absolute charmer. Who doesn’t love a giant goofball sidekick???

Perfect for people who love small beach towns, found family, forced proximity, slow burn (for a while), coziness, a little spice, family dynamics, and happily ever after.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for my advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

QOTD: What’s something big you’ve shared with someone else and how did it go? House, room, car, boat, vacation, something else? Or, mid week check-in—how are you doing? What’s happening in your world?

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

"The Summer Share" by Jenn McKinlay is.... fine. I wish I had connected with the main characters more in the beginning. I will admit, as the book goes on, I did find myself enjoying them being together. Hannah and Simon are thrown into an impossible situation when they each inherit what they think is their grandfather's summer vacation home in the Outer Banks, only to discover they actually only inherited *half* of the property. Their grandfathers stipulated that, in order to inherit the home, Hannah and Simon need to spend two months in the property together before they decide what to do with it. As they spend more time together and divulge what they want and who they really are to one another, they begin to fall in love. Simultaneously, they discover that their grandfathers were not who they said they were. These "twists" were pretty predictable, but I did enjoy Hannah and Simon learning about the grandparents they loved so much. Hannah and Simon also find a sense of community where their grandparents did in this small town, where neighbors actually interact with and help one another. The "found family" aspect really worked for me. The pacing can be a little bit slow at times, but the "big" moments in the middle and end of the book make up for it. I really think the issues are in the first part of the book the most. In the end, I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, and it is quite cute, but for me, I likely won't remember that I read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jenn McKinlay, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hannah and her dog, Dude, have been living out of her van for the last five years. Finally feeling like she is ready to put down roots, Hannah is looking forward to moving into her late grandfathers fishing cottage that she has inherited. Finding a handsome stranger claiming to be the one inheriting the cottage from his grandfather was not in the plan. Simon has plans to sell his grandfathers cottage to help take care of his family, but his new co-owner refuses to. Being forced to spend two months living under the same roof before they can make a final decision, Hannah and Simon- and Dude, grow close while trying to understand what the truth is between their grandfathers.
I really liked the premise of this book. I love when two seemingly opposite people are forced to spend time together. I liked both of our main characters, and I really adored their little community on the Split. However, I think the execution wasn’t there for me. I feel like Hannah and Simon didn’t have very distinct voices. In one POV one character would have a thought, and then the next POV the other character would have the same thought almost verbatim. I know the characters were opposites, but I wish I felt it more in their POVs.
I also wish we learned more of the backstory of Billy and Bobby. It felt like we got crumbles and we kept hearing about this great love, but we never got the full details. I also have a hard time accepting that these two successful and savvy men would not have been able to figure out a solution as to why there was so much secrecy between them. At the end of the day, I needed more!!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Share was such a fun, easy read that completely pulled me in. The story had a fantastic flow, and I found myself flying through the pages.

Hannah and Simon were absolutely delightful main characters. They were both so easy to like, and I really enjoyed their dynamic. The slow-building simmer between them made the romance feel natural and engaging without being rushed.

One of my favorite highlights was Dude the dog—he completely stole the show for me! His personality added so much charm and playfulness to the story, making an already enjoyable book even more memorable.

I also loved the supporting cast. The neighborhood and small-town feel were so well done that it honestly felt like a place I’d want to pack up and move to. The side characters added warmth and depth, and I especially appreciated the moments involving Simon’s brother, which brought in some realistic conflict. Those harder moments felt relatable and grounded, adding balance to the lighthearted tone.

The North Carolina setting was another standout. Between the backdrop, the backstory of why the characters were there, and the unfolding story during their stay, everything came together in a really satisfying way.

Overall, this is a charming, feel-good romance with heart, humor, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Definitely one I’d recommend if you’re looking for something light, engaging, and full of personality this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jenn McKinlay brings the reader a stand-alone contemporary romance with 'The Summer Share'. Free-spirited travel influencer, Harriet Spencer has spent the last five years traveling to National Parks. When she inherits a beach house from her Pops in Cape Split, North Caronlina, she hopes that will be a permanent home for her. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that her inheritance is only for half the house with the other half going to Simon O'Malley who inherited the other half from his Gramps.

Simon has been working for an insurance company after giving up his illustrating dreams to help support his brother who has suffered a traumatic brain injury. As they work on clearing out the house and making repairs while deciding if they will keep the house or sell it, they discover a timeless romance between the two older men. As they recreate the past, they discover that they may have a future together.

The book pulled me in with the comedic charm from the start. However, as the characters start to deal with the grief of losing their loved ones, it lost some of that charm. I could have used some more comedy. It had some witty dialogue between the characters and the hijinks from Dude, her Great Dane kept me smiling. It also had small town charm and family drama in spades. The relationship between the main characters steadily built which I appreciated.

Would love to see more novels in this quaint small town including Simon's sister.

[sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: finding the person that treats you right
🎶 Song: more - halsey
📖 Favourite Quote: "I need you to know that whenever and wherever I’m with you, I am home."
📚 Would I recommend? gosh YES
💬 tldr thoughts: I never wanted this book to end

In the package:
📦 forced proximity
📦 shared inheritance
📦 family secrets
📦 he falls first

Plot: Simon and Hannah discover they’ve inherited the same beach house. Simon wants to sell the house while Hannah wants to keep it and they have two months to make their decision. As sparks begin to fly and they discover some family secrets, their decision might be harder than they think.

Thoughts: I will always love a sweet and tender romance book and this is exactly what this book was. Two strangers brought together by unfortunate events and fall in love. I loved everything about this book, the characters (except for the dad iykyk), the plot, the mystery and the banter. Both Hannah and Simon are dealing with a lot in their lives, and seeing them open up to each other and rely on one another over time was so sweet. Add this to your tbr for your next summer read!

My only complaint is there wasn't any epilogue, but that's just me being greedy because I wanted more Hannah and Simon 😩

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Amanda Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic Comedies are promises to make us feel good- to laugh out loud while falling in love. The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay beautifully fulfills that promise with characters who feel refreshingly authentic and real- inviting us to share their experiences. The Summer Share tells the story of Hannah and Simon, who each inherit one half of a beach-front property in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The terms of their inheritance state that they both must live in the house for two months before deciding whether to keep the quaint cottage or sell the property. This forced-proximity, grumpy-sunshine story was thoughtfully paced, and as Hannah and Simon slowly reveal themselves to each other and learn more about the men who passed the house to them, I became so invested I couldn’t put the book down. McKinlay handles themes such as grief, infertility, infidelity, medical trauma, and loss with care and compassion and reminds us that a happy ending doesn’t always look the way we expect. The story illustrates that family is not only something that we are born into, but also something that we create, and perhaps recreate, throughout our lives. In the end, the Summer Share is about finding happiness and holding on tight. I would highly recommend this book!!

Thank you to the Berkley Publishing Group, Jenn McKinlay, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheSummerShare #NetGalley

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that leaves your heart filling so happy and full.

Watching Hannah and Simon story unfold through exploring the house they inherited from their grandparents will was such an emotional ride. First with watching them work through their own traumas and rediscovering themselves. Then being able to discover the secret love story their grandparents had was such an incredible experience. I was so enthralled with both stories that I just never wanted to end.

Which leads me to my only con, and the reason I only gave it 4⭐️. I loved this book so much that I wanted it to have and epilogue. Heck, I’ll even say it needed an epilogue (mainly for selfish reasons) because I want to see how all the characters were after a few years.

But I digress, back to the good. The romance was fantastic. It was a slow burn, filled with yearning and tension. You could feel how deeply these two characters cared for one another. They were so connected emotionally and it was heartwarming to witness. Another amazing component of this book was, the found family. All of Hannah & Simon’s neighbors were fantastic. I was worried at first about how much they were involved. But them being there was necessary for both Simon & Hannah to heal.

Overall, this is one of my top favorites by Jenn McKinlay and I 100% recommend it to everyone! Lastly big Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van until an inheritance brings her to Cape Split, North Carolina. It's here that she learns she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house, or rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his Gramps. As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover the house was once home to a timeless love story. Hannah thought one summer at the Split would be enough, except it isn’t like any place she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known....

Overall, The Summer Share is a cute story with an entertaining premise. Hannah and her dog, Dude, were a riot. And yes, Dude completely stole the show. Also, the fact that Hannah was a van-lifer was a huge hit for me, as that's been one of my latest Instagram obsessions. Aside from that, I loved the enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity vibes between Hannah and Simon. Their intentions were in the right place, but when it comes to the beach house...well, that's one thing they definitely don't see eye to eye on. Despite the slow pacing of Hannah and Simon's story, I enjoyed watching these two navigate the obstacles life threw at them as they fell in love when they least expected it.

All in all, a cute, summer read.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

[Deidre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simon & Hannah have inherited a beach house on North Carolina's outer banks, but neither of them has ever met the other. Simon is an insurance agent with loads of family baggage. Hannah is a social influencer who lives in a van with her dog and is recovering from a shit marriage and infertility issues. They are about to discover their grandfathers were in a secret gay relationship and owned this fixer upper together. While sorting through the house's contents and visiting the neighbors they unravel the mystery of their grandfather's relationship.

I will say there's a lot more gay-grandpa drama than I really wanted in a grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, spicy summer romance and it had a hard time keeping my attention until about halfway through when the sparks finally caught fire. These two people find healing and found family in this seaside community and a new perspective on their personal happiness. I love the ways all the ways put each other first.

Dude the dog and his buddy Frank are a cute addition, as well as a rogue bat, treacherous tandem bike, and Simon's charming siblings. You'll be rooting for them to claim their happiness and, unlike most other romance authors, McKinlay doesn't make the reader suffer through a breakup to get there - THANK YOU!

Pick up this solid summer read if you crave some family drama, spicy love scenes in a beach cottage, and nosy neighbors with good hearts.

[Madison Beardslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Pub for this copy!
jenn mckinlay, what did you DO to me?? 😭
the concept alone had me hooked from the jump. hannah and simon each inherit 50% of their grandfathers' beloved beach cottage in cape split, nc, a place steeped in a love story that predates them both. it's a little wild, a little whimsical, and somehow completely believable, and i was fully obsessed with every second of it. forced proximity + shared inheritance + uncovering a hidden love story buried in the walls of an old cottage?? sign me UP.
but here's the thing, and i really mean this, this book hit way deeper than i expected from a romance. it's about grief, and found family, and what it means to finally let yourself put down roots somewhere. it gave me total emily henry vibes in the best way. like yes there's a slow burn, yes there's swoony moments, but at its core it's just… really beautifully human? the community around the Split felt so lived-in and warm and i genuinely didn't want to leave it.
and i have to be a little biased here, i grew up going to the outer banks and i go back almost every summer still, so reading about the NC coast and all those familiar atmospheric details just hit DIFFERENT for me. 🥹 i could smell the salt air. i could picture every scene. it genuinely felt like coming home in the best possible way.
if you love emily henry, abby jimenez, or any book that makes you feel like you've found your people, please pick this up.

[Alex Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkley Romance for the ARC of this book! I have read all of Jenn McKinlay's books and this one, once again, proved why she is an author I continue to come back to. She writes fantastic and relatable characters whose connections feel both organic and realistic! I was rooting for the main characters in this book the whole time and the premise was original enough that I was thoroughly entertained throughout! I will definitely be recommending this one to my friends and followers! If you enjoy authors like Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry and similar, this would be a fantastic book to try and then you'd likely want to read all of McKinlay's backlist too!

The book follows Hannah. a van life influencer, who has recently inherited her grandpa's fishing cottage in Cape Split, NC. She is thrown for a loop when she arrives to find Simon already there. It turns out that they inherited the house together and have to work out what to do with it now. They have very differing opinions and drastically different personalities. As they navigate their shared circumstance with Hannah's trusty Great Dane by their side, plus all of the fun neighbors, they realize that maybe they like each other more than they originally thought! A delight of a book that you should definitely pick up! Five stars!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shared inheritance, a fixer-upper cottage, and one unforgettable summer—The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay is a touching, heartfelt story about family, community, and discovering what “home” truly means. When free-spirited Hannah and practical Simon inherit halves of their grandfathers’ beach house in a charming North Carolina town, they’re forced to live together for three months before they can claim it. Hannah wants to stay, Simon wants to sell—but as they repair the house and uncover their grandfathers’ history, they may also begin to rethink their own plans.

From the start, Hannah and Simon’s banter and tension are irresistible, but this story goes deeper than a typical summer romance. It beautifully explores grief, loss, and self-discovery, with a romance that unfolds naturally and feels fully earned. The vibrant cast of neighbors—and one delightfully goofy dog—bring the community to life in a way that makes you want to step right into the story.

At its heart, this is a novel about love in all its forms: romantic, familial, and the kind that ties us to a place. Tender, warm, and quietly emotional, The Summer Share is a perfect summer read that will stay with you long after the final page.

The Summer Share releases on 05/26/26.

Thank you to Berkley and PRH for this advance reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kristen | CozyNovelTea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book felt like a vacation. Aside from a little drama at the end, it’s a very calm book and it’ll be a perfect beach read!

This beach house is an opportunity. While Hannah is a travel content creator who longs to put down roots, Simon wants to sell the property so he can take care of his brother making them at odds as they each own 50% of the house.

During their require two months living in the house, Hannah and Simon learn a secret about their grandfathers which has them working together to uncover the past. As they spend time together, they start caring for each other and eventually give in to their attraction (it’s a slow burn).

During their required two months living in the house, Hannah and Simon connect with their very lovable neighbors and build a community. Not only are they able to worth through their grief and begin healing, but they each find something they’ve been missing.

Falling in love is just the icing on the cake.

You’ll root for Hannah and Simon because they’re both so easy to like. Honestly, every character, aside from Simon’s dad, is and they all bring a lot to the story.

I sort of expected there to be more drama with Simon’s dad but I’m also glad it didn’t drag out because I legit hated him. 😂