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Heart Beach #1
The Summer Girlfriend
A stand-in girlfriend and a handsome business heir find that their fake summer fling is feeling way too real in this new romance by USA Today bestselling author Kristina Forest.
Noelle Lewis doesn’t have time for long walks on the beach, brunch with the girls, or summer vacations. She’s too busy saving up to go back to college. After recently getting laid off from her bookseller job, her main gig is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough for the upcoming semester’s tuition. But then the perfect, if not unconventional, opportunity arises…
Jeremiah Smith II, grandson of the founder of Smith’s Sweets—a well-known baked goods company—once lived a life of frivolity. Since his grandfather’s death, Jeremiah’s tried to clean up his act, but it’s hard to focus when his family requests that he join them at their summer house in Heart Beach, New Jersey, where his most painful memory lies. To avoid going there, Jeremiah claims he already has plans with his girlfriend, and of course, his family tells him to bring her. The problem? Jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.
After a chance meeting, Noelle and Jeremiah come to an agreement. He’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use that money toward her tuition. She figures it will be quick, easy money, but as it turns out, Jeremiah’s family is lovely, and Jeremiah is even lovelier. Soon, a weekend agreement turns into an entire summer, and Noelle and Jeremiah will have to keep their hearts in check, or else it’s sink or swim for them both.
Noelle Lewis doesn’t have time for long walks on the beach, brunch with the girls, or summer vacations. She’s too busy saving up to go back to college. After recently getting laid off from her bookseller job, her main gig is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough for the upcoming semester’s tuition. But then the perfect, if not unconventional, opportunity arises…
Jeremiah Smith II, grandson of the founder of Smith’s Sweets—a well-known baked goods company—once lived a life of frivolity. Since his grandfather’s death, Jeremiah’s tried to clean up his act, but it’s hard to focus when his family requests that he join them at their summer house in Heart Beach, New Jersey, where his most painful memory lies. To avoid going there, Jeremiah claims he already has plans with his girlfriend, and of course, his family tells him to bring her. The problem? Jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.
After a chance meeting, Noelle and Jeremiah come to an agreement. He’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use that money toward her tuition. She figures it will be quick, easy money, but as it turns out, Jeremiah’s family is lovely, and Jeremiah is even lovelier. Soon, a weekend agreement turns into an entire summer, and Noelle and Jeremiah will have to keep their hearts in check, or else it’s sink or swim for them both.
400 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Kristina Forest
13 books3,077 followersKristina Forest is the USA Today bestselling author of romances for both teens and adults. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at The New School and she can often be found rearranging her bookshelf.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 782 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I literally can't wait for it to be summer so I can reread this. This had everything I look for in a romance book.
The book is written in 3rd POV, which I really liked because it gave us a bigger scope of the story rather than the usual first pov in romance books. The prologue takes us back to the mid-1970s, where we meet Jeremiah’s grandparents just as they’re starting their bakery, Smith’s Sweets, which is honestly one of the sweetest origin stories you could imagine. After the passing of his grandfather, Jeremiah leaves the family business out of grief and distances himself from his mom and siblings. His headstrong mom, Celeste, continues to encourage him to attend summers at Haven Beach with the rest of his family. Jeremiah, still grieving, continues to make excuses to not attend, such as spending time with a fake girlfriend, a lie that pleases his mother, until she wants to meet her
Noelle is a for-hire bridesmaid who is struggling to save up enough money to return to college and finish her degree, then become a librarian, after losing her scholarship. When she's let go from her bookstore job, fate has in store that Jeremiah walks in on the last day to purchase a book for his sister. After discovering her side hustle, Jeremiah presents the idea of hiring her as his girlfriend to abide by his lie, and ugh what a start of a romance!!
It was sooo sweet, fun, and filled with such summer vibes. Jeremiah and Noelle had great chemistry, and I loved their personalities and their treatment of each other. They were so relatable and authentic. The development of their relationship was really well-paced, and I loved seeing them fall in love throughout the summer. I think that the side characters were a great addition and really strengthened the story. I found that this book had none of the usual tropes that usually irritate me, and I don't think I cringed even once.
Also, I knew this was set in New Jersey, but it feels so weird having my small town continuously mentioned in a book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The book is written in 3rd POV, which I really liked because it gave us a bigger scope of the story rather than the usual first pov in romance books. The prologue takes us back to the mid-1970s, where we meet Jeremiah’s grandparents just as they’re starting their bakery, Smith’s Sweets, which is honestly one of the sweetest origin stories you could imagine. After the passing of his grandfather, Jeremiah leaves the family business out of grief and distances himself from his mom and siblings. His headstrong mom, Celeste, continues to encourage him to attend summers at Haven Beach with the rest of his family. Jeremiah, still grieving, continues to make excuses to not attend, such as spending time with a fake girlfriend, a lie that pleases his mother, until she wants to meet her
Noelle is a for-hire bridesmaid who is struggling to save up enough money to return to college and finish her degree, then become a librarian, after losing her scholarship. When she's let go from her bookstore job, fate has in store that Jeremiah walks in on the last day to purchase a book for his sister. After discovering her side hustle, Jeremiah presents the idea of hiring her as his girlfriend to abide by his lie, and ugh what a start of a romance!!
It was sooo sweet, fun, and filled with such summer vibes. Jeremiah and Noelle had great chemistry, and I loved their personalities and their treatment of each other. They were so relatable and authentic. The development of their relationship was really well-paced, and I loved seeing them fall in love throughout the summer. I think that the side characters were a great addition and really strengthened the story. I found that this book had none of the usual tropes that usually irritate me, and I don't think I cringed even once.
Also, I knew this was set in New Jersey, but it feels so weird having my small town continuously mentioned in a book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2026
5/5
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!! The writing is giving a mix between Carley Fortune and Emily Henry because it’s so picturesque. I could literally feel the sand beneath my toes. Heart Beach felt like Oak Bluffs and the love story gave me all the feels!!!
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!! The writing is giving a mix between Carley Fortune and Emily Henry because it’s so picturesque. I could literally feel the sand beneath my toes. Heart Beach felt like Oak Bluffs and the love story gave me all the feels!!!
June 16, 2026
it wouldn't be summer if i didn't try to love a romance.
i'm pleased to share it worked.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come)
i'm pleased to share it worked.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(review to come)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4! It was good! FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW (after my trip)!
I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary romance, this was pretty good. No immaturity, no goofiness, mature convos & just how I like it.
It’s also third person POV which I enjoy a lot.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Kristina Forest for the early eARC!
Publication date: June 9, 2026
I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary romance, this was pretty good. No immaturity, no goofiness, mature convos & just how I like it.
It’s also third person POV which I enjoy a lot.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Kristina Forest for the early eARC!
Publication date: June 9, 2026
June 14, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ this should have been a slam dunk hit for me with the tropes involved (and this gorgeous cover as a good omen), but the contents didn’t quite serve the vibrancy promised by the cover. don’t get me wrong — the book was all perfectly pleasant, but it read somewhat superficial, curated and clinical…so it was boring as hell as a result 😭. i really wanted to love this, so i’m sad to be even saying that and rating it this low.
the prologue had me HOOKED with the flashback to the 70s…but then everything that came after in the present-day world was just sort of tepid. it wasn’t a bad book necessarily, but it’s nothing i’d ever dare write home about. definition mid.
the writing style worked against me most. it was too simple, so everything came across perfunctory and told to me, rather than me experiencing what was going on between and around the characters, or feeling any sort of big feelings from this. at a minimum, i expected to at least be giddy about the romance, but it was just meh. maybe if there was a dash more lyricism, it would have helped some. everything felt so mechanical. even the attempts at humour fell flat. maybe it’s because i just came from another book that had effortless and genuinely laugh-out-loud humour in a romcom setting that the lack of it here stood out more, but the relevant lines and moments in this book paled in comparison.
the premise is nothing revolutionary: fake dating for mutually beneficial reasons. i typically like fake or arranged relationship tropes, so that’s why i was UP about this before cracking it open. throw in a rich man, and the recipe is supposed to get almost flop-proof. the chemistry between jeremiah and noelle was borderline non-existent though. no sparks, no electricity, no banked heat. barely any charm. everything was so stiff between them, to the point of feeling staged (even when the book was telling me that what they were feeling was real). it felt like i was reading about two too perfectly-programmed robots saying and doing all the right things at the right times, falling in like. also, the insert of the arrangement felt very planted. i would have liked to be eased into it more.
i also felt like there was a bit of a rush through particular moments, and had the writing forced me to sit with them a bit longer, i might have felt something. a kiss would happen and there was barely any embellishment to or seasoning in the writing. suddenly it was just over and i was like wait, that’s it? even the setting felt like a pop-up set and the interactions with the side characters felt unnatural. idk, but this writing really didn’t have any flair to it…
i can’t even spin a little something for each mc because honestly? both of them were bland characters. nice people for sure, and neither did anything offensive or infuriating, but they barely had discernible personalities nor did they feel like real people to me. they had a bit of an arc outside of the romance each, but i didn’t connect to any of the issues that they were both working through, and that’s because of the writing (not that the topics themselves aren’t ones i’ve read before and enjoyed elsewhere). i just didn’t feel emotionally activated by anything in here in any sort of way 🥲. the execution of their problems was very cookie cutter and surface-level.
one positive i can highlight is that the main characters were very mature and communicative. the mmc was also respectful, sweet and generous (i’ll always give a man his tens for dropping stacks 🤭).
alas, i’m quite disappointed. i desperately wanted to rate it even 3 stars when i got to the midpoint and digested the fact that i wasn’t engaged by this at all, but when i finished up, i had to look in the mirror and tell myself girl…you know what this was. it was my first book by this author, so i’m not encouraged to pick up the next one in the series or anything else by her, because a lot of my problems stem from the style in which the book was written (which is likely pervasive across her catalogue). it’s not even the fact that the book is written in third person either, because i have several examples that made me feel more than this one did (even if third is not my first choice when it comes to romance books). the writing style is just too cursory. if you’re someone who likes more straightforward and unadorned prose though, i don’t think you’ll have the same problems as me and could very well enjoy this as a light, innocuous summer read! it just didn’t hit for me *cries*.
the prologue had me HOOKED with the flashback to the 70s…but then everything that came after in the present-day world was just sort of tepid. it wasn’t a bad book necessarily, but it’s nothing i’d ever dare write home about. definition mid.
the writing style worked against me most. it was too simple, so everything came across perfunctory and told to me, rather than me experiencing what was going on between and around the characters, or feeling any sort of big feelings from this. at a minimum, i expected to at least be giddy about the romance, but it was just meh. maybe if there was a dash more lyricism, it would have helped some. everything felt so mechanical. even the attempts at humour fell flat. maybe it’s because i just came from another book that had effortless and genuinely laugh-out-loud humour in a romcom setting that the lack of it here stood out more, but the relevant lines and moments in this book paled in comparison.
the premise is nothing revolutionary: fake dating for mutually beneficial reasons. i typically like fake or arranged relationship tropes, so that’s why i was UP about this before cracking it open. throw in a rich man, and the recipe is supposed to get almost flop-proof. the chemistry between jeremiah and noelle was borderline non-existent though. no sparks, no electricity, no banked heat. barely any charm. everything was so stiff between them, to the point of feeling staged (even when the book was telling me that what they were feeling was real). it felt like i was reading about two too perfectly-programmed robots saying and doing all the right things at the right times, falling in like. also, the insert of the arrangement felt very planted. i would have liked to be eased into it more.
i also felt like there was a bit of a rush through particular moments, and had the writing forced me to sit with them a bit longer, i might have felt something. a kiss would happen and there was barely any embellishment to or seasoning in the writing. suddenly it was just over and i was like wait, that’s it? even the setting felt like a pop-up set and the interactions with the side characters felt unnatural. idk, but this writing really didn’t have any flair to it…
i can’t even spin a little something for each mc because honestly? both of them were bland characters. nice people for sure, and neither did anything offensive or infuriating, but they barely had discernible personalities nor did they feel like real people to me. they had a bit of an arc outside of the romance each, but i didn’t connect to any of the issues that they were both working through, and that’s because of the writing (not that the topics themselves aren’t ones i’ve read before and enjoyed elsewhere). i just didn’t feel emotionally activated by anything in here in any sort of way 🥲. the execution of their problems was very cookie cutter and surface-level.
one positive i can highlight is that the main characters were very mature and communicative. the mmc was also respectful, sweet and generous (i’ll always give a man his tens for dropping stacks 🤭).
alas, i’m quite disappointed. i desperately wanted to rate it even 3 stars when i got to the midpoint and digested the fact that i wasn’t engaged by this at all, but when i finished up, i had to look in the mirror and tell myself girl…you know what this was. it was my first book by this author, so i’m not encouraged to pick up the next one in the series or anything else by her, because a lot of my problems stem from the style in which the book was written (which is likely pervasive across her catalogue). it’s not even the fact that the book is written in third person either, because i have several examples that made me feel more than this one did (even if third is not my first choice when it comes to romance books). the writing style is just too cursory. if you’re someone who likes more straightforward and unadorned prose though, i don’t think you’ll have the same problems as me and could very well enjoy this as a light, innocuous summer read! it just didn’t hit for me *cries*.
June 9, 2026
“I know it’s only been one summer, but you live deep in here now, Noelle.” He placed his hand over his heart.
“I love you. I love you so much.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ” x ᴋᴀᴄᴇʏ ᴍᴜsɢʀᴀᴠᴇs
0:33 ─♥───────── 3:18
This was such a cute, easy read and the perfect summer romance. 😍 The fake dating premise immediately hooked me, and I loved watching Jeremiah and Noelle go from strangers to friends to something more. Their relationship developed so naturally, with all those little moments where they realized how much they enjoyed being around each other.
One of my favorite things about this book was how intentional they were with each other. They listened, paid attention, and genuinely cared about one another. Jeremiah was especially thoughtful, supportive, and respectful, which made him impossible not to love 🤭🤭
I also appreciated how mature they were when it came to their feelings. They were honest about their arrangement and communicated openly as things started to change between them. (I always love seeing characters actually talk to each other instead of creating unnecessary drama) 🙈
While the romance was wonderful, I felt like there was an even bigger story being told about family, forgiveness, and honesty. Jeremiah’s journey with his family was one of my favorite parts of the book. It was such a great reminder of how important it is to be truthful with the people who love us, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Watching him reconnect with his family and find his place with them again added so much heart to the story.
Overall, this was warm, sweet, and heartfelt with characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. A perfect book to pick up for a summery read 💖✨
favorite quotes ↓
“If you don’t forgive yourself, how can you ever move forward?”
“If we spend too much time thinking about the what-ifs, how can we ever accomplish anything?”
things to know about the book ↓
✨ summer romance
✨ fake dating
✨ written in 3rd person
✨ beach town setting
✨ slow burn
✨ strangers → friends → lovers
✨ family tension
✨ emotional growth
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 13, 23, 24, 25,
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🌊🌺 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
this is genuinely one of the prettiest covers!!
i'm ready for some fake dating + summer vibes <3
“I love you. I love you so much.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ” x ᴋᴀᴄᴇʏ ᴍᴜsɢʀᴀᴠᴇs
0:33 ─♥───────── 3:18
This was such a cute, easy read and the perfect summer romance. 😍 The fake dating premise immediately hooked me, and I loved watching Jeremiah and Noelle go from strangers to friends to something more. Their relationship developed so naturally, with all those little moments where they realized how much they enjoyed being around each other.
One of my favorite things about this book was how intentional they were with each other. They listened, paid attention, and genuinely cared about one another. Jeremiah was especially thoughtful, supportive, and respectful, which made him impossible not to love 🤭🤭
I also appreciated how mature they were when it came to their feelings. They were honest about their arrangement and communicated openly as things started to change between them. (I always love seeing characters actually talk to each other instead of creating unnecessary drama) 🙈
While the romance was wonderful, I felt like there was an even bigger story being told about family, forgiveness, and honesty. Jeremiah’s journey with his family was one of my favorite parts of the book. It was such a great reminder of how important it is to be truthful with the people who love us, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable. Watching him reconnect with his family and find his place with them again added so much heart to the story.
Overall, this was warm, sweet, and heartfelt with characters I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. A perfect book to pick up for a summery read 💖✨
favorite quotes ↓
“If you don’t forgive yourself, how can you ever move forward?”
“If we spend too much time thinking about the what-ifs, how can we ever accomplish anything?”
things to know about the book ↓
✨ summer romance
✨ fake dating
✨ written in 3rd person
✨ beach town setting
✨ slow burn
✨ strangers → friends → lovers
✨ family tension
✨ emotional growth
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 13, 23, 24, 25,
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🌊🌺 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
this is genuinely one of the prettiest covers!!
i'm ready for some fake dating + summer vibes <3
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.0 ★— Being generously paid to spend a summer fake dating a hot, wealthy guy is a dream scenario, and I’m supremely jealous of the main character of this book.
At 27, Noelle Lewis has had a rough couple of years, not being able to finish college after a regretful mistake and having to take care of her ailing mother. Determined to complete her degree and become a librarian, she works multiple jobs, one of which is being a bridesmaid for hire, giving her the acting and people skills to be the perfect fake girlfriend.
Jeremiah Smith II, the MMC, is the wealthy son of a prominent family and the respectful, conscientious man of any woman’s dreams. I can’t express how light and fun this was to read, as I got all the summery feelings in this decidedly un-summery time for me.
This story is told in a dual POV style, which I usually don’t prefer, but I really enjoyed it here because the MMC and his family are actually well developed! They’re an amazing part of the book, and seeing their bonds and relationships through Jeremiah’s perspective is a very important element of the story.
His family business, a large baked goods company started by his grandparents, is a narrative centerpiece, connecting him and his family members and their clear love tied up into it. The book also does a good job of portraying his complicated relationship with his grandfather, who is already dead at the beginning of the story. His lingering feelings there drive many of the emotions he’s grappling with.
And while in many stories I have to actively suspend my disbelief to buy into the whole fake dating setup, here I thought it made a lot of sense for him to find a fake girlfriend, as he deals with a lot of complicated emotions that make him want to maintain a certain façade for his family.
Now, while I really enjoyed this book, there were a few things I noticed. There were moments where I thought it lacked a bit of tension, or maybe just some of the more interesting, fun things that can come up with the fake dating trope.
Noelle and Jeremiah's first meeting felt so smooth that their move into fake dating was almost too seamless, and I think that removed some of the fun tension or banter that could have been developed between them. A lot of the zany, chaotic, and more interesting moments that the fake dating trope could invoke felt almost sidestepped, which zapped the story of a bit of charm and kept me from feeling more tension.
I also thought the sex scenes were a bit disappointing as they felt somewhat devoid of the personality both characters showed elsewhere, and I didn’t feel like they fully conveyed the very real attraction these two shared.
Otherwise, I’ll say again that I really liked how respectful the MMC was, and I thought his genuinely loving and supportive family dynamic was a joy to read. Also, seeing a heroine who’s been working hard finally be spoiled is always fun, which this book has plenty of!
____________
Thank you to the Berkley for the ARC.
At 27, Noelle Lewis has had a rough couple of years, not being able to finish college after a regretful mistake and having to take care of her ailing mother. Determined to complete her degree and become a librarian, she works multiple jobs, one of which is being a bridesmaid for hire, giving her the acting and people skills to be the perfect fake girlfriend.
Jeremiah Smith II, the MMC, is the wealthy son of a prominent family and the respectful, conscientious man of any woman’s dreams. I can’t express how light and fun this was to read, as I got all the summery feelings in this decidedly un-summery time for me.
This story is told in a dual POV style, which I usually don’t prefer, but I really enjoyed it here because the MMC and his family are actually well developed! They’re an amazing part of the book, and seeing their bonds and relationships through Jeremiah’s perspective is a very important element of the story.
His family business, a large baked goods company started by his grandparents, is a narrative centerpiece, connecting him and his family members and their clear love tied up into it. The book also does a good job of portraying his complicated relationship with his grandfather, who is already dead at the beginning of the story. His lingering feelings there drive many of the emotions he’s grappling with.
And while in many stories I have to actively suspend my disbelief to buy into the whole fake dating setup, here I thought it made a lot of sense for him to find a fake girlfriend, as he deals with a lot of complicated emotions that make him want to maintain a certain façade for his family.
Now, while I really enjoyed this book, there were a few things I noticed. There were moments where I thought it lacked a bit of tension, or maybe just some of the more interesting, fun things that can come up with the fake dating trope.
Noelle and Jeremiah's first meeting felt so smooth that their move into fake dating was almost too seamless, and I think that removed some of the fun tension or banter that could have been developed between them. A lot of the zany, chaotic, and more interesting moments that the fake dating trope could invoke felt almost sidestepped, which zapped the story of a bit of charm and kept me from feeling more tension.
I also thought the sex scenes were a bit disappointing as they felt somewhat devoid of the personality both characters showed elsewhere, and I didn’t feel like they fully conveyed the very real attraction these two shared.
Otherwise, I’ll say again that I really liked how respectful the MMC was, and I thought his genuinely loving and supportive family dynamic was a joy to read. Also, seeing a heroine who’s been working hard finally be spoiled is always fun, which this book has plenty of!
____________
Thank you to the Berkley for the ARC.
June 15, 2026
┆ ⤿ 🌊 ⌗ started: may 28, finished: june 14
4.75 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
⋆.˚ ★— ⓘ thank you berkley, kristina forest, and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
⤿ OUT ON JUNE 9!!
tropes to expect: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ third person pov
.ᐟ only one bed
.ᐟ summer romance
.ᐟ slow burn
.ᐟ he falls first, he falls even harder
summary ⋆˚࿔
the summer girlfriend follows noelle lewis, who works in a bookstore and takes on bridesmaid-for-hire jobs on the side to save up money so she can go back to college for her senior year and hopefully continue on to get her master’s.
after she gets laid off from her main job, noelle gets a golden opportunity to be jeremiah smith ii’s fake girlfriend. jeremiah, the golden rich boy and grandson of the founder of smith’s sweets, is trying to clean up his act after his grandfather’s death. but when his family asks him to come to their summer house in heart beach, new jersey, where one of his most painful memories happened, jeremiah says he already has plans with his girlfriend. the problem? jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.
after a chance meeting, noelle and jeremiah make a deal. he’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use the money toward her tuition. noelle thinks it’ll be quick and easy money, but jeremiah’s family ends up being lovely, and jeremiah is even lovelier.
thoughts ⋆˚࿔
using the word beautiful feels like an understatement for this book! kristina did such an amazing job making the fake dating and slow burn blend together so well. noelle and jeremiah’s story was sweet, soft, and had the perfect amount of tension that kept me wanting more.
i really enjoyed how noelle kept encouraging jeremiah to reconnect with his family, especially because he had been carrying so much regret for the past two years. she never pushed him in a harsh way, but instead helped him see that he still had time to heal, open up, and let the people who loved him back in. that part made their relationship feel even more meaningful because it wasn’t just about fake dating slowly turning real, but also about growth, forgiveness, and finding comfort in each other.
it was a breath of fresh air seeing that jeremiah wanted to treat noelle with the same love and care she gave for everyone except herself. he allowed her to be her safety net and i loved it so much. she deserved it after everything she went through.
the only reason why i kept it 4.75 instead of 5 stars is because of the super long chapters. i have an attention span of dory so it was getting hard for me lol. but other than that everything was perfect. i hope book 2 is about dylan cause oh his tension with annabel was sooo good!!
⋆.˚ ★ — characters
noelle lewis ⋆˚࿔
i love complicated fmcs who think they have to take care of everything by themselves, and i love it even more when everything slowly falls into place for them. that’s exactly the case for noelle. she was so easy to root for because she was trying so hard to keep everything together, even when life kept throwing more at her. between working at the bookstore, taking bridesmaid-for-hire jobs, saving up for college, and figuring out her future, noelle carried so much on her own. but what made her so special was that she never let that stop her from being kind, thoughtful, and open to love. watching her realize that she didn’t have to do everything alone was one of my favorite parts of the book. she deserved softness, support, and someone who saw how hard she was trying, and jeremiah gave her exactly that.
jermiah smith ⋆˚࿔
oh i loved him too. he had that golden rich boy charm, but underneath all of that, he was carrying so much pain and regret that made him feel so much more real. i loved seeing his softer side slowly come out with noelle. he was sweet, thoughtful, and trying so hard to be better, even when it was clear he didn’t fully know how to face everything he had been avoiding. his relationship with his family also made me love him more because you could see how much he cared, even when he was scared to reconnect with them. and the way he was with noelle? adorable. he gave her the softness and support she deserved, and i loved watching him fall for her without even realizing how deep he was already in.
4.75 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ arc review with no spoilers.
⋆.˚ ★— ⓘ thank you berkley, kristina forest, and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
⤿ OUT ON JUNE 9!!
tropes to expect: ⋆˚࿔
.ᐟ fake dating
.ᐟ third person pov
.ᐟ only one bed
.ᐟ summer romance
.ᐟ slow burn
.ᐟ he falls first, he falls even harder
“When you walk into a room, I feel like the sun is shining right on me. And you don’t even have to do anything; you’re just being yourself.
summary ⋆˚࿔
the summer girlfriend follows noelle lewis, who works in a bookstore and takes on bridesmaid-for-hire jobs on the side to save up money so she can go back to college for her senior year and hopefully continue on to get her master’s.
after she gets laid off from her main job, noelle gets a golden opportunity to be jeremiah smith ii’s fake girlfriend. jeremiah, the golden rich boy and grandson of the founder of smith’s sweets, is trying to clean up his act after his grandfather’s death. but when his family asks him to come to their summer house in heart beach, new jersey, where one of his most painful memories happened, jeremiah says he already has plans with his girlfriend. the problem? jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.
after a chance meeting, noelle and jeremiah make a deal. he’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use the money toward her tuition. noelle thinks it’ll be quick and easy money, but jeremiah’s family ends up being lovely, and jeremiah is even lovelier.
thoughts ⋆˚࿔
using the word beautiful feels like an understatement for this book! kristina did such an amazing job making the fake dating and slow burn blend together so well. noelle and jeremiah’s story was sweet, soft, and had the perfect amount of tension that kept me wanting more.
i really enjoyed how noelle kept encouraging jeremiah to reconnect with his family, especially because he had been carrying so much regret for the past two years. she never pushed him in a harsh way, but instead helped him see that he still had time to heal, open up, and let the people who loved him back in. that part made their relationship feel even more meaningful because it wasn’t just about fake dating slowly turning real, but also about growth, forgiveness, and finding comfort in each other.
it was a breath of fresh air seeing that jeremiah wanted to treat noelle with the same love and care she gave for everyone except herself. he allowed her to be her safety net and i loved it so much. she deserved it after everything she went through.
the only reason why i kept it 4.75 instead of 5 stars is because of the super long chapters. i have an attention span of dory so it was getting hard for me lol. but other than that everything was perfect. i hope book 2 is about dylan cause oh his tension with annabel was sooo good!!
⋆.˚ ★ — characters
noelle lewis ⋆˚࿔
i love complicated fmcs who think they have to take care of everything by themselves, and i love it even more when everything slowly falls into place for them. that’s exactly the case for noelle. she was so easy to root for because she was trying so hard to keep everything together, even when life kept throwing more at her. between working at the bookstore, taking bridesmaid-for-hire jobs, saving up for college, and figuring out her future, noelle carried so much on her own. but what made her so special was that she never let that stop her from being kind, thoughtful, and open to love. watching her realize that she didn’t have to do everything alone was one of my favorite parts of the book. she deserved softness, support, and someone who saw how hard she was trying, and jeremiah gave her exactly that.
jermiah smith ⋆˚࿔
oh i loved him too. he had that golden rich boy charm, but underneath all of that, he was carrying so much pain and regret that made him feel so much more real. i loved seeing his softer side slowly come out with noelle. he was sweet, thoughtful, and trying so hard to be better, even when it was clear he didn’t fully know how to face everything he had been avoiding. his relationship with his family also made me love him more because you could see how much he cared, even when he was scared to reconnect with them. and the way he was with noelle? adorable. he gave her the softness and support she deserved, and i loved watching him fall for her without even realizing how deep he was already in.
June 13, 2026
just finished this book and i needed this! it’s been hard getting out of my reading slump but this book? i flew through! i had a good time
June 17, 2026
The Summer Girlfriend is a light and breezy summer romance full of charm! The story follows Noelle, a bookseller saving up to finish her degree, and Jeremiah, heir to a bakery empire, as he hires Noelle to act as his fake girlfriend while he spends weekends with his family over the summer. This slow burn romance was just so sweet, the beach house setting and fake dating setup made for such a fun time. I loved how the small coastal town atmosphere bled into the lighthearted plot and gave way for so much fun summer activities and vibes. I also appreciated the hint of drama that was delivered, it was so needed and was the perfect balm to balance out the all too sweet book. This beach read is the ideal summer escape; each page is brimming with heart, charm, and swoon.
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read
June 16, 2026This sweet summer romance and 2026 Summer Reading Guide selection is bursting with bookishness and baked goods. Jeremiah has been avoiding his tight-knit family lately, claiming his (fictional) girlfriend has kept him too busy. Noelle makes decent money as a for-hire bridesmaid, but needs a lot more to pay tuition for her coveted library science degree. After a bookstore meet-cute, Jeremiah makes Noelle an offer: pretend to be his girlfriend at his family’s beach house for the weekend. That outing goes so well, they extend their fake fling for the whole summer. Noelle falls in love with the house, the family… and pretty soon she’s falling for Jeremiah as well. Little does she know, it’s mutual. This is a fun escapist read with a beach house setting that’s a character in its own right.
I enjoyed talking with Kristina Forest in What Should I Read Next 530: Nothing holds my attention like a romance.
I enjoyed talking with Kristina Forest in What Should I Read Next 530: Nothing holds my attention like a romance.
April 20, 2026
This was such a heartwarming story. Fake dating turned into a slow burn romance, with family growing pains and self acceptance. The romance was sweet and believable.
I went into this read expecting something light and fluffy. What we get instead is an emotional story that is very relatable. Two people with different upbringings both trying to figure out where they fit in. I really loved the family dynamic told in this story.
A perfect beach read. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review
I went into this read expecting something light and fluffy. What we get instead is an emotional story that is very relatable. Two people with different upbringings both trying to figure out where they fit in. I really loved the family dynamic told in this story.
A perfect beach read. Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review
May 19, 2026
some parts were a strong four and others were a high three so we’re landing here for now…
i just adore the sweet (no pun intended) romcoms that kristina forest is writing! all her characters are so wholesome and they genuinely deserve the love stories they are getting. her characters are always so mature, miscommunication seriously fears jeremiah and noelle, and that makes the story even better!!
fake dating is always a win, this was no different, but i do think i misread the synopsis when i got this arc because i thought there was going to be a wedding. is noelle a hired bridesmaid, yes, but there’s no wedding we go to. i did get over that but i’m always mourning a wedding in a book. these two strike up a deal when they meet on the day noelle gets fired, she’ll be his girlfriend for the summer and he’ll pay her which allows for her return to college. the deal was signed, by a maybe real lawyer, and the summer at heart beach was wonderful!
if you’re looking for the perfect relationship, when the girl reads her books out loud so be can be included and then he picks up the series and reads it anyway, this book has it! jeremiah and noelle were able to heal from their pasts and be each others soft places to land, isn’t that all we need??
i seriously loved them, this is a perfect beach read, and i will be back to heart beach when the inevitable novel about danny and amara is released!!
*thank you to netgalley and berkley for the copy!*
i just adore the sweet (no pun intended) romcoms that kristina forest is writing! all her characters are so wholesome and they genuinely deserve the love stories they are getting. her characters are always so mature, miscommunication seriously fears jeremiah and noelle, and that makes the story even better!!
fake dating is always a win, this was no different, but i do think i misread the synopsis when i got this arc because i thought there was going to be a wedding. is noelle a hired bridesmaid, yes, but there’s no wedding we go to. i did get over that but i’m always mourning a wedding in a book. these two strike up a deal when they meet on the day noelle gets fired, she’ll be his girlfriend for the summer and he’ll pay her which allows for her return to college. the deal was signed, by a maybe real lawyer, and the summer at heart beach was wonderful!
if you’re looking for the perfect relationship, when the girl reads her books out loud so be can be included and then he picks up the series and reads it anyway, this book has it! jeremiah and noelle were able to heal from their pasts and be each others soft places to land, isn’t that all we need??
i seriously loved them, this is a perfect beach read, and i will be back to heart beach when the inevitable novel about danny and amara is released!!
*thank you to netgalley and berkley for the copy!*
Want to Read
December 28, 2025this cover...omg
June 19, 2026
so he buys you books, listens to you yap about them, provides an endless supply of sweet treats, makes you tea, AND parallel parks the car so you don’t have to? that’s a forever boyfriend
June 15, 2026
Looking for an adorable, steamy summer romance? This was oh so cute and I adored it so. It's set at the Jersey Shore and we get all the beachy feels. The side characters were amazing as well as the romance. If your looking for your next summer romance, this is it.
June 21, 2026
✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: summer romance to more
🎶 Song: golden - harry styles
📖 Favourite Quote: "When you walk into a room, I feel like the sun is shining right on me."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a warm, sweet and summery read!
In the package:
📦 forced proximity
📦 fake dating
📦 family tension
Plot: Noelle is trying to save up to go back to college only she's just been let go from her job at the bookstore and is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough. On her last day at the bookstore she meets Jeremiah who has been lying to his family about having a girlfriend. They agree to fake date for the weekend but a weekend agreement quickly turns into an entire summer.
Thoughts: Let me start by saying what I loved the most about this book: the level of maturity between the characters was beyond refreshing. Their actions and the way they communicated with each other made this a great reading experience. The summer vibes were immaculate and this book also felt like a warm hug. The relationship progression felt natural and authentic and I loved how they read a book series together, it was so sweet 🥹 I also loved the side characters and Jeremiah's family. They were so welcoming and kind.
Tbh the only reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is because it's told in the 3rd person which I'm not a fan of. It really takes me out of the story.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted physical copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
🫧 Vibes: summer romance to more
🎶 Song: golden - harry styles
📖 Favourite Quote: "When you walk into a room, I feel like the sun is shining right on me."
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: a warm, sweet and summery read!
In the package:
📦 forced proximity
📦 fake dating
📦 family tension
Plot: Noelle is trying to save up to go back to college only she's just been let go from her job at the bookstore and is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough. On her last day at the bookstore she meets Jeremiah who has been lying to his family about having a girlfriend. They agree to fake date for the weekend but a weekend agreement quickly turns into an entire summer.
Thoughts: Let me start by saying what I loved the most about this book: the level of maturity between the characters was beyond refreshing. Their actions and the way they communicated with each other made this a great reading experience. The summer vibes were immaculate and this book also felt like a warm hug. The relationship progression felt natural and authentic and I loved how they read a book series together, it was so sweet 🥹 I also loved the side characters and Jeremiah's family. They were so welcoming and kind.
Tbh the only reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is because it's told in the 3rd person which I'm not a fan of. It really takes me out of the story.
Thank you BookSparks for the gifted physical copy!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
hehehe fake dating summer romance HEHEHEHEHE <3
need anything else be said? i absolutely fucking loved this. the perfect setting and perfect characters and perfect romance and perfect writing and oh my god i want more of them so bad i'm so excited for this to be a series!!!! give me the next one now!!!!
but in the meantime i'll be going to read literally any word that kristina forest has ever written k bye xx
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!!
need anything else be said? i absolutely fucking loved this. the perfect setting and perfect characters and perfect romance and perfect writing and oh my god i want more of them so bad i'm so excited for this to be a series!!!! give me the next one now!!!!
but in the meantime i'll be going to read literally any word that kristina forest has ever written k bye xx
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!!
June 13, 2026
a romance with actual mature characters and an fmc who lets a rich man help her with money problems instead of saying “I can do it myself” ? FINALLY 🙌🏻
this was SUCH a fun summer romance. I adore both main characters, they were so likable and I never got annoyed with either of them. the found family in this was also so cute and I love how it touched on grief, definitely a must read for summer
this was SUCH a fun summer romance. I adore both main characters, they were so likable and I never got annoyed with either of them. the found family in this was also so cute and I love how it touched on grief, definitely a must read for summer
June 18, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars
*rounded up
Oh my goodness, this is the perfect summer read. I was smiling throughout because Miah was a man down bad. The moment he started catching feelings for Noelle, I just knew this book was going to be completely unputdownable.
The Smith family is everything. They are the kind of family anyone would love to be a part of because they are so caring, warm, and loving. I especially adored the special moments they shared at their beach house. Those scenes gave this story such a cozy, feel-good atmosphere.
I also loved the way the family intentionally focused on supporting Black-owned businesses and using their success to help others. It added so much heart and purpose to the story and made me love the characters even more.
If you’re looking for the perfect beach read that is sweet, cozy, and impossible not to binge, this absolutely needs to be on your summer reading list.
*rounded up
Oh my goodness, this is the perfect summer read. I was smiling throughout because Miah was a man down bad. The moment he started catching feelings for Noelle, I just knew this book was going to be completely unputdownable.
The Smith family is everything. They are the kind of family anyone would love to be a part of because they are so caring, warm, and loving. I especially adored the special moments they shared at their beach house. Those scenes gave this story such a cozy, feel-good atmosphere.
I also loved the way the family intentionally focused on supporting Black-owned businesses and using their success to help others. It added so much heart and purpose to the story and made me love the characters even more.
If you’re looking for the perfect beach read that is sweet, cozy, and impossible not to binge, this absolutely needs to be on your summer reading list.
June 10, 2026
This book was like a breath of fresh air and it just FEELS like summer!! I loved both the FMC and MMC and I loved that they were able to easily communicate whenever there was an issue!
The fake dating trope was incredibly well in this book and I really enjoyed it! It was such a fun idea to make Noelle a bridesmaid for hire so she already had past experience of being in fake relationships.
I also loved the layers in the book! You don’t just get the romance you get everything going on with Jeremiah’s family! I found everything going on with the family business to be very compelling and I hope we get to hear more about it in future books!
Also the cover!!! It’s one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a minute and I’d pick up the book for that alone!
Overall, this was such a fun read and I highly recommend it!
Read if you like:
Fake dating
Summer romance
Beach town
Strangers to lovers
Family drama
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The fake dating trope was incredibly well in this book and I really enjoyed it! It was such a fun idea to make Noelle a bridesmaid for hire so she already had past experience of being in fake relationships.
I also loved the layers in the book! You don’t just get the romance you get everything going on with Jeremiah’s family! I found everything going on with the family business to be very compelling and I hope we get to hear more about it in future books!
Also the cover!!! It’s one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a minute and I’d pick up the book for that alone!
Overall, this was such a fun read and I highly recommend it!
Read if you like:
Fake dating
Summer romance
Beach town
Strangers to lovers
Family drama
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 12, 2026
If I could give this book 10 stars, I absolutely would. From the second page, I fell in love with this book. Maybe it was the way the characters loved one another. Or maybe it was the giddy feeling I was overcome with while Jeremiah and Noelle’s relationship blossomed as each page was turned. I love this book. This is def a book I can see myself reading again. Oh and it’s such a great beach read. In my mind I was on the beach that was on that movie inkwell but the gag was, I was on the train or in my reading chair with a yapping dog. I recommend all my lover girls who can love a book with .01% spice to read this. You’re welcome.
June 17, 2026
This was my first Kristina Forest book and absolutely will not be my last. I mostly binged this because I couldn’t get myself to stop thinking about these characters! Jeremiah and Noelle sold me on the fake dating trope- it was so well done. Their meet cute and continued way of being confidants was adorable! They were so naturally comfortable with each other throughout the entire book, I could feel the genuine friendship underlying the romance which just made it 10x better. Jeremiah was that man. He never once disrespected this woman and held her in such high regard, it was incredible. I fear I haven’t seen communication this good in sooo long and I desperately needed it. I crave characters who communicate like these two did- more plz!! Jeremiah’s family really resonated with me, and I could feel their genuine efforts to make those around them feel cared about. Amara’s relationship with Noelle melted me. I’m really crossing my fingers her book is next. I know this series will consume me. The slow burn romance here was so solid. I adored these two. This is the most perfect beach read. Romance of the summer!!!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for this gifted arc copy!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the author for this gifted arc copy!
June 8, 2026
5 ⭐️ - ARC Review!
Talk about the perfect summer read!!! This book gave me all the beachy, summertime vibes! What starts as a paid fake dating arrangement for a weekend quickly grows into something much bigger, as Noelle and Jeremiah find themselves navigating an unexpected summer long agreement while trying to ignore their growing attraction.
I absolutely loved watching their relationship develop. The chemistry, the tension, the sweet moments, and the emotional growth made this book so hard to put down. I absolutely loved Noelle and Jeremiah, this book had me smiling from beginning to end!!
This is the perfect summer romance. I can’t wait for the next book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Talk about the perfect summer read!!! This book gave me all the beachy, summertime vibes! What starts as a paid fake dating arrangement for a weekend quickly grows into something much bigger, as Noelle and Jeremiah find themselves navigating an unexpected summer long agreement while trying to ignore their growing attraction.
I absolutely loved watching their relationship develop. The chemistry, the tension, the sweet moments, and the emotional growth made this book so hard to put down. I absolutely loved Noelle and Jeremiah, this book had me smiling from beginning to end!!
This is the perfect summer romance. I can’t wait for the next book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2026
4.25 stars!!
i thought this was a super cute & fun fake dating summer romance!! the perfect read for summer (especially at the beach!!) and it made me want to get a summer home 🥹
i love jeremiah and noelle so much !! they had the sweetest friendship and the tension between them was so good
jeremiah is A MAN!! i love how much he cares for noelle and supports her in literally everything. also there is nothing hotter than a rich man who doesn't act rich and is actually incredibly humble and down to earth!!!!!!
the whole smith family was so precious and i love love love them
thank you so much Berkley Pub & Berkley Romance for the arc! this is my honest review.
i thought this was a super cute & fun fake dating summer romance!! the perfect read for summer (especially at the beach!!) and it made me want to get a summer home 🥹
i love jeremiah and noelle so much !! they had the sweetest friendship and the tension between them was so good
jeremiah is A MAN!! i love how much he cares for noelle and supports her in literally everything. also there is nothing hotter than a rich man who doesn't act rich and is actually incredibly humble and down to earth!!!!!!
the whole smith family was so precious and i love love love them
thank you so much Berkley Pub & Berkley Romance for the arc! this is my honest review.
June 1, 2026
Wow is this what a mature and respectful relationship between two adults who know how to communicate looks like?!
The Summer Girlfriend is the perfect cozy and sweet romance that takes place in Jersey. We follow Noelle who is trying to save up enough money to go back to college and is an aspiring librarian and is recently laid off from her bookseller job due to the book store not making enough to afford her. She’s also a bridesmaid for hire on the side which is how when Jeremiah II finds out that she’s out of a job and has experience being a “stand in”, he proposes that she become his fake girlfriend for the summer so his family doesn’t realize he’s been lying to them.
Jeremiah II is going through grief after his Pops passed away and is living with the guilt of their last exchange before his death. Due to this, he’s been avoiding going back to his family’s summer house from the guilt and blamed his absences on being with his new gf. When his mom tells him to come for the weekend and to bring her and by chance meets Noelle the fake dating begins
I can’t get over how flipping cute this book is. The Smith family is adorable and I loved how realistic the characters and their interactions felt. The drama was there in terms of how it affected the characters but it was resolved in such normal human way and that’s what made me adore this book so much.
Also give it up for my consent king Miah because I love this man DOWN. Patient, understanding, (rich), humble, and funny?! Obsessed with him
The Summer Girlfriend is the perfect cozy and sweet romance that takes place in Jersey. We follow Noelle who is trying to save up enough money to go back to college and is an aspiring librarian and is recently laid off from her bookseller job due to the book store not making enough to afford her. She’s also a bridesmaid for hire on the side which is how when Jeremiah II finds out that she’s out of a job and has experience being a “stand in”, he proposes that she become his fake girlfriend for the summer so his family doesn’t realize he’s been lying to them.
Jeremiah II is going through grief after his Pops passed away and is living with the guilt of their last exchange before his death. Due to this, he’s been avoiding going back to his family’s summer house from the guilt and blamed his absences on being with his new gf. When his mom tells him to come for the weekend and to bring her and by chance meets Noelle the fake dating begins
I can’t get over how flipping cute this book is. The Smith family is adorable and I loved how realistic the characters and their interactions felt. The drama was there in terms of how it affected the characters but it was resolved in such normal human way and that’s what made me adore this book so much.
Also give it up for my consent king Miah because I love this man DOWN. Patient, understanding, (rich), humble, and funny?! Obsessed with him
May 21, 2026
not really positive how i feel about this, i REALLY wanted to love it but i just didn’t. let’s start with what i did like: THE COVER. this cover is literally stunning & it’s what drew me to this book in the first place! this is my first book by kristina. JEREMIAH. i just know i would have the biggest crush on him irl like im embarrassed just thinking about it. THE MATURITY. the characters in this book were very mature and it was definitely a different experience than usual.
now what i didn’t like: this book (to me) read very clinically and robotically. because of that im just not convinced of their chemistry? i have mixed feelings. i think i both needed and wanted more out of this and it just fell flat for me.
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
now what i didn’t like: this book (to me) read very clinically and robotically. because of that im just not convinced of their chemistry? i have mixed feelings. i think i both needed and wanted more out of this and it just fell flat for me.
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
June 25, 2026
3.5/5⭐️ Rounding up because I have very conflicting feelings and am not fully sure where I'm landing on this one. On the one hand, The Summer Girlfriend is a beautiful love story as well as a story of family. The Smith family and their sweets stole my heart (and my stomach was growling while reading this). I liked that both Jeremiah and Noelle were mature characters and felt very genuine. It was easy to imagine them being real people with real struggles.
However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. This is written in third person which is not usually my preference in romance but can work when done really well. In this case, it ended up creating a level of detachment from the story for me as I didn't really feel like I was experiencing things alongside the characters. The writing also felt "telling instead of showing" at times which made certain moments of humor and emotion miss the mark.
I think this is a good romance novel and would definitely be interested in trying more from this author. I love the characters she writes but I want to feel more emotion when reading romance than this.
Thank you Berkley Romance for the free finished copy and eARC!
However, I struggled a bit with the writing style. This is written in third person which is not usually my preference in romance but can work when done really well. In this case, it ended up creating a level of detachment from the story for me as I didn't really feel like I was experiencing things alongside the characters. The writing also felt "telling instead of showing" at times which made certain moments of humor and emotion miss the mark.
I think this is a good romance novel and would definitely be interested in trying more from this author. I love the characters she writes but I want to feel more emotion when reading romance than this.
Thank you Berkley Romance for the free finished copy and eARC!
Read
May 29, 2026This is definitely a summer vibe. The story mostly takes place in a small beach town with a boardwalk and all the fun summer activities, which made it a fun setting to read about. I love a good fake dating trope and this one delivered. It also mixed in some friends to lovers elements and family drama that fit naturally into the story. I enjoyed Noelle and Jeremiah’s relationship and watching them fall for each other throughout the book. Each character had their own personal struggles to work through and I especially appreciated that Noelle stayed focused on her own goals instead of immediately putting the new relationship first. I was nervous going into this one because it’s a pretty thick book, but the pacing was great and I flew thought it. I’m looking forward to what this author puts out next!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
June 10, 2026
The Summer Girlfriend is a cute summer read. Noelle and Jeremiah develop a sweet romance while posing as fake romantic partners for the duration of a summer at Heart Beach. The plot and drama was relatively low stakes and wholesome. If you’re looking a beach read featuring endearing family and friendship dynamics this is a great pick!
Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy.
Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy.
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