Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights

by Celeste Dador, C.C. Dador

Named one of Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Reads of 2026, Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights is a swoony debut YA romance about First Daughter Abby Cary-Alzona’s summer of self-discovery, small-town charm, and unexpected love.

All Abby wants is one normal summer before college. No headlines. No drama. Just a chance to breathe.

But when a run-in at the White House with Gabriel Calabrese—a maddeningly carefree small-town photographer—spirals into a pizza delivery scandal that makes front-page news, Abby’s plans disappear overnight. To escape the fallout, she’s sent to a charming country inn run by Gabriel’s family.

Now she’s stuck with the last person she wants to see.

As Abby and Gabriel team up to save his family’s Fourth of July festival—and tackle Abby’s secret summer bucket list—sparks begin to fly. Especially when he helps her experience all the “real” teen moments she’s missed: parties, picnics… and maybe even a first kiss.

Perfect for readers who love:
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Reluctant royalty
• Small-town charm reminiscent of Gilmore Girls

A cozy, heartfelt story that explores familial expectations and what it means to choose a life—and love—on your own terms.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Summer, Summer Reads, Young Adult Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 12, 2026

About the author

Celeste "C.C." Dador writes cozy rom-coms with festive flair. Much like her background in event coordination, she’s all about small details, big feelings, and making sure her readers are absolutely having their best day. Celeste lives in the Washington, D.C. area, where she blends her love of romance and public service into her stories. Still, she’ll always claim California girl status. Like many of her characters, she’s proudly Filipino American and passionate about inclusive, joy-filled love stories. When writing adult romance, which includes a dash of spice, she uses the pen name C.C. Dador.

Reviews

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights by Celeste Dador hooked me with the diverse representation and completely had me at hello. If you love Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries, you'll love this story—but instead of being the Princess of Genovia, the FMC is the daughter of a female president. And yes, the First Lady in office is Filipina! The BIPOC representation from the cover and blurb alone had me so excited, and I just had to read it.

Celeste delivers with a sweet, cozy contemporary YA read that feels exactly like a nostalgic 4th of July TV sitcom special. If you like television shows like Gilmore Girls, relaxing summertime reads, or change-and-grow themed rom-coms like The Princess Diaries, this is right up your alley.

The female main character is driven and ambitious, focused on her future goals. Before her senior year kicks off, she creates a classic summer bucket list of everything she wants to accomplish. It weaves in beautiful themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and identity, leading to a charming summer storyline full of young love and sunny, lighthearted energy.

The story is sweet and charming, without any heavy, stressful angst. Reading this almost felt like the same vibe of watching a beloved TV sitcom, but a Fourth of July seasonal themed episode. If you're searching for a sweet, comforting, and breezy romance to slip into your beach bag (or your audiobook TBR), this is a wonderful choice if you're looking for a 4th of July themed read.

Perfect if you love:
❤️ Gilmore Girls
✨️ 4th of July themed TV Sitcom Episodes
👑 The Princess Diaries
💕 Nostalgic romcoms
✨️ YA Summer Romance stories
💖 BIPOC Representation
🎆 First Lady President is Filipina!
✨️ Diverse Lead Characters

[alexandra ౨ৎ {matching with ash} [the great divide] · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆3

⋆ no spoilers ⋆

now playing:

sparks fly - taylor swift
01:56 ━━━━●───── 03:27
      ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ↻    

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

❛❛ the way you move is like a full on rainstorm ❜❜

𓇼⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

• ꒰ pre-read ꒱ •
this cover is sooo cute!! hopefully the story will be the same :)

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

❛❛ drop everything now / meet me in the pouring rain ❜❜

𓇼⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

• ꒰ overall thoughts ꒱ •
this book was honestly just the most adorable thing ever! it was such a cute and sweet romance! the whole bucket-list idea for the plot was such a good idea, and i thought it was really smart how she incorporated it into the story. but i have to admit that the book was a bit on the simpler side, which is why i’m giving it a lower rating. it’s definitely more of a “feel-good story” that you can just read fast. like it’s perfect for when you’re just in the mood for something light. overall, it was a fun read, but i just wish there was a bit more depth to it.

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

❛❛ ‘cause i see, sparks fly, whenever you smile ❜❜

𓇼⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

• ꒰ ratings ꒱ •
plot ♡ 3/5
spice ♡ 1/5 kissing
cursing ♡ 0/5

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

❛❛ my mind forgets to remind me, you’re a bad idea ❜❜

𓇼⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

• ꒰ characters ꒱ •

—▷ abby
i honestly adore abby!! i was so happy for her when she finally got to step out of her comfort zone and live like a real teenager! it helped me realize how different life is to be famous! she is the kind of girl who is kind of a quiet observer in the group, but in a way that makes her stand out once you start paying attention. but gabriel helps her live her life as a teenager! i also love how she notices the small details in people :) what i dont love is that she can be too passive sometimes.. she will just let things happen around her without doing anything. like girllll do somethinggg!! also she avoids confrontation AT ALL COSTS!

—▷ gabriel
hometown bad boy hehehehehhe!! i loved how he helped abby be able to explore the world around her!! he’s really chill and laid back ifykyk!! i loved how he’s soooo protective of his friends!! but he is kind of frustrating! he is very stubborn and closed off sometimes. he tends to push people away when he’s overwhelmed. and he overthinks everything (like meeee)!

—▷ president
why is the president so chill.. i feel like usually presidents are very professional but not abby’s dad!! he is sooo funny and casual. and when there were chaotic scenes he stayed so calm and put together like how do you do that???

𓆉⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

❛❛ kiss me on the sidewalk / take away the pain ❜❜

𓇼⋆｡˚⋆❀ ⋆.˚.

• ꒰ recommendations ꒱ •
age ⋆°•☁︎⋆ 11+
interests ⋆°•☁︎⋆ celebration, famous, bucket list
genre ⋆°•☁︎⋆ romance
𓂃𓂃𓂃 𓇼𓂃𓂃𓂃 𓆉𓂃𓂃𓂃𓇼 𓂃𓂃𓂃

thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! i hope it was helpful in your reading experience. if you enjoyed this review, please consider following me to receive more valuable reviews! xoxo, alexandra ୨୧
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sweet , feel good romantic summer read , pick this one up !! I was completely charmed by the presidents daughter Abby and her summer bucket list. Also totally in love with the President being a strong family oriented woman !! This book brought up the nostalgia of those fun 90s style movies where the good natured teens just want to have some good summer fun. Abby reminds me of that kid that makes the lists and thinks they have to be on their best behavior and discovers along the way of trying to complete her summer bucket list how to really enjoy themselves and make connections. This book was just such good nostalgic comfort fun.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independence day romance? I can honestly say I think this is new!
I seriously should be reading this on the Fourth of July. Preferably next to a swimming pool, with a hot dog.

This book combines several things that I love.
- Checking off a bucket list.
- The “famous/important person enjoys learning how to live a normal life” thing.
- nostalgic vibey small-town summer.
- Last but not least, this ALSO has teenagers working together to support a small community and help out with an important event.

Are you kidding? This checks like, a lot of boxes for me.
A ton of things I think make for a great, and super cute young adult romance.

There is somewhat of a love triangle going on here (sort of. In theory), which leads to a slight miscommunication\one person thinks that something is going on when it really isn’t trope.
I don’t usually love this, but I wouldn’t really say that its existence in this is super overwhelming, so it was fine to me.

I felt for Abby, and how much she was effected by the life she was living.
She clearly had a lot of expectations placed on her, and wasn’t allowed to do… basically anything at all.
Imagine getting caught ordering a pizza, and being sent away to a random small town for an entire summer. As a teenager. Be so for real right now.

While I liked Abby a lot, I wish we got a little bit more character development from with Gabriel.
I didn’t not like his character, but I feel like he was somewhat surface level- so I didn’t connect with him as much.
I was happy to focus on Abby’s story though.

Random note: but how was nobody remotely phased that the first daughter just showed up and started hanging out with them?
Not a critique- I just thought it was funny!

Cute story overall, and filled with a lot of aspects that I love.
A solid YA summer romance!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children’s Books | Delacorte Romance and author Celeste Dador, for providing me with the eARC of “Stars, Stripes and Summer Nights”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: May 12, 2026

[Book Girlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, wait, this was such a cute book! I loved the FMC and the love interest was so sweet. There was nothing toxic between them and even when they were upset at each other, they never took it out on each other or anyone else.
Final rating: 4/5

Trope(s): He's small town, she's big city; forced proximity; opposites attract; small town charm; bucket list

Explicit rating: 1/5: There are a bunch of brief kisses but never in much detail and there was no cursing.

Favorite character: Elle- She's the FMC's younger sister and she was a ball of sunshine, so much fun to read about through Abby's eyes, and had good advice!

Would I recommend?: Yes, this was such a fun little summer romance mainly set in a small town. Definitely a page-turner! I hope who ever else reads this also enjoys it!

Thanks for reading my review lovelies and have a fantastic evening!

[Jaida · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Now Playing ♡ The Star-Spangled Banner
1:29 ──●── 3:59

The writing was a little juvenile for me and it was also pretty modern using lots of Gen Z slang. The ending was also left pretty unresolved and left me with a lot of questions but honestly I don't really care enough to need answers. Overall this book was pretty cute and patriotic but I wouldn't really recommend it unless you just want a little patriotic coming-of-age summer romance as a pallet cleanser.

“Say, can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?”

The Characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abigail “Abby” ~ She was alright I guess.

Gabriel “Gabe” ~ He was kinda just a basic token “hot but sensitive boy”.

Elle ~ She was so annoying honestly.

Oliver ~ he was low-key terrible for most of the book, just so annoying.

“Whose broad stripes and bright stars. Through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched. Were so gallantly, yeah, streaming?”

What To Expect
🎆 Patriotic
🇺🇲 YA Romance
🦅 Summer Vibes
🎆 Coming-of-age
🇺🇲 First Daughter FMC
🦅 Bucket List

“And the rockets' red glare. The bombs bursting in air. Gave proof through the night. That our flag was still there”

Quotes
~~~~~~~
(Honestly I just don't care enough)

“O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave”

Content
~~~~~~~
❤️‍🔥Romance| several kisses with minimal details, blushing, very mild innuendos, lots mentions of first kisses and kissing, Abby constantly comments on how hot and how much of a smokeshow Gabriel is,

🤬Language| a cut off sh-, maybe one other really mild “swear”,

🗡️Violence| none really.

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ| a pride flag is seen because a lot of the book takes place in June, a character is only ever referred to with they/them pronouns,

✝️Religion/Spirituality| none that I recall.

🍷Alcohol/Drugs| mentions of drinking and alcohol,

⚠️Other| injury, mild medical treatment, death of parent recounted, mild grief,

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.

This was such a sweet debut novel!

I loved the premise. It’s about the daughter of the president who is sent to a small town for the summer and falls for a local boy. Small town + summer romance = my kind of book!

As a Filipino, I loved all the Filipino representation. Both the leads, Abby and Gabriel, are Filipino. I loved that Abby’s Filipino mom was the president. That was so refreshing to see!

This book delivered on small town vibes. It’s set in the fictional town of Mystic Hollow and it was adorable. The inn Gabriel’s family owned sounded so quaint. I wish I could stay there!

The romance was also well done. Abby and Gabriel made a great couple. They complemented each other well. Their romance had the right blend of sweet moments and drama which made it the perfect teen romance.

I would love to see this book turned into a movie someday. It would translate well to the big screen.

This was the author’s debut and I was so impressed by it. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Overall, if you’re looking for something cute and light to read for the summer, pick this one up!

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

After a minor media scandal, First Daughter of the United States Abby Alzona is banished to a rundown inn in a small Virginia town for the summer until things cool off. But Abby makes lemons into lemonade by embracing her chance to be a normal teen: planning an Independence Day festival, going to barbecues and pool parties, and maybe even having her first kiss. I have a feeling a lot of us will be looking for a little escapism from the current political climate in 2026, and this delightful YA Fourth of July romance about the daughter of the first Filipina American president is just the palate cleanser we all need. —Susie Dumond

[aundrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

i couldn’t stand the mc, couldn’t care less about the plot, and the vibes were not hitting for me 😭

what the hell is this:
“He winces. His face is the very definition of awk.”

“Gabriel’s expression goes from shock to the IRL version of a laugh-cry emoji.”

“But because it’s me—clumsy Abby—trying to escape, I promptly bump into Gabriel Calabrese. I take a deep breath as I lift my eyes to meet his.”
“Clumsy-rella I am, I slip on a rock on the lake bottom and take a little dive into the water.” SPARE ME 🙏

i’m not gonna complain about anything else bro it’s not worth it

thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review :)

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

: huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. all thought are my own.

3.75

if one of those "red white and blue" popsicles melted and was turned into dead trees it would be this book. and i mean that with a compliment! this book was nothing short of a fun little time. if you want a book to read during the summer while the world collapses around you then this would be perfect.

i slightly regret waiting to write my review because this is one of those books you download or pick up to have a hehehaha time and then honestly forget about. which is exactly what i needed at the time i read this book. i loved the vibes of this book but mainly our fmc, abby, really pissed me off. she just genuinely got on my nerves sometimes but she did have some growing parts. our love interest, gabriel did have me giggling because he just was such a cute love interest with such a big heart. he had humor and a photography hobby? yes. i'm not gonna say hot because these characters are babies 😭😭 so i felt old reading it but aside from that.

i loved the filipino american rep because i feel like we do NOT see that in books and can we please represent minority groups??? pls??? it's really not that hard. i just wish we could have drawn out some more on that 😭 idk i feel like it could have popped out more and added so much to the romance. esp with it being labeled "a patriotic romance" you know? like let's *waves hands*

anyways, everything about this book was swoonworthy like a glass of sweet tea and had the ultimate summer vibes. a few things like oliver (our "not love interest" but abby's childhood bestie) being in the picture because of media and some other unrealistic but realistic things like calling a certain plot point "pineapplegate" which...seems a bit too on the nose considering pizza gate and i wasn't a fan of that but that's me !!! maybe i'm too educated.

cutesy book all around, pick this up if you want a fun read for the summer. xx happy reading

[✰ Stella ✰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 🎇

Not bad for a debut, honestly. Abby just annoyed me a lot. Great for a summer read, but definitely nothing unforgettable

[Lauren Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute, wholesome read perfect for young teens who want a swoony romance with zero spice (just a little kissing.) I enjoyed the perspective of the FDOTUS as she navigates her summer bucket list with her FDOTUS duties and expectations. There’s a love triangle with the FDOTUS, SSOTUS and an artsy, handsome small town boy. Super G rated. The author nailed small town charm in the form of Mystic Hollow— very Stars Hollow for all you Gilmore Girls fans. A great read for fans of Becky Dean and Kasie West.

[Caitie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars.

Yikes, this book was…something. I’m usually a sucker for books about teens who have a connection to the White House, but this didn’t work for me at all. It should’ve been better—two girls as first daughters—but no. It felt too lighthearted and silly. I also don’t think you can get food delivered to the White House, so that plot point doesn’t fully make sense to me.

Too much annoying slang (more than I think a teen would use in an actual conversation) and I didn’t feel like I actually got to know the main character. She had no personality in my opinion, all we do know is that she makes lists and likes to impress people. I just couldn’t do it.

[Honora · Rating 4 out of 5]

big thanks to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own

Well, I think it was perfect that as I read the epilogue my mom was playing America The Beautiful on the piano downstairs.

The vibes were so there with this story! Definitely summer-y and America-y so that was super cute. There was more than a healthy dose of cringe (Girl was obsessing over his face from day one, and every day after that) but ya know it was still cutesie and I loved Gabriel so much.

Oliver is a jerk. Yep. Enough said.

Abby was definitely annoying at times, but it's okay because Elle exists. 🫶🏼 Elle is such a queen but also she's me if I was the daughter of the President of the U.S. and she just generally slayed. (The matchmaking went crazy.)

I definitely enjoyed this story! It would be such a cute Independence Day read. Definitely recommend! (And no spice and very minimal swearing - like two words that I can remember, if that.)

[Shiloh Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up because the cover is pretty and i really wanted to like this book

the fourth of july theme was cute and i liked the small town vibe, but most of the characters felt really underdeveloped, and I wish Abby's arc had had more of a punch to it. this just felt like one of those fluffy YA romances that don't have much substance to them, and you just read it as a palate cleanser or something. ig there's nothing inherently wrong with that but I WANT MORE YA ROMANCES WITH SUBSTANCE!!!! GIVE ME MORE!!!!

there were also sweet moments to the romance (and i appreciated that it's no spice) but most of the time i was just pacing my room and laughing out loud because the characters ACT LIKE FOURTEEN YEAR OLDS 😭 WHAT ARE WE DOING GUYS
also with the whole "practice kissing" conversation... why did Gabe switch up from being really ticked off and avoiding her after the first time and then being totally okay with it at the picnic and everything else 🫥
AND the idiotic misunderstanding at the end from abby 🙄 i was literally resisting the urge to throw the book across the room because it was so obvious that it wouldn't have been gabe but she just got all dramatic and left when she could have let him say more than two words and thought for FIVE SECONDS like the mature 18 year old she's supposed to be

but like i said the characters act like fourteen year olds 😀

also i'm so sorry but oliver is such a cardboard cutout character 😭 man had no personality or substance to him, and what's with abby always calling him her bestie when i saw nothing to show that???? they always say they're best friends and they're both the children of high ranking government officials but that's literally it?? sure they're both Type A and have certain expectations but that doesn't make someone your best friend? they never had any meaningful conversations, abby never seemed to talk to him about the pressure she was feeling given her mom's the president, and they were always just in close proximity to each other but their relationship had as much chemistry as a bottle of olive oil

anywhoosers there were some sweet moments with Abby and Gabe but i'm really disappointed that this book didn't have more substance to it... i feel robbed

also authors who try to write "lowkey" and "#lifegoals" in their YA books when it doesn't fit the character voice at all will always be cringe to me 🫠 how did your editor not cut that

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐ #Gifted Review

🇺🇸 For Fans of a:
- young adult romance
- president’s daughter
- opposites attract
- fourth of July
- small town
- summer romance
- bucket list
- kissing only

✏️ Spoiler-Free #Gifted Review
After some bad press over a pizza order, Abby (daughter of the USA president) is banished to a small town where she has to balance completing her bucket list with a budding romance and her family (National) duties.

Not only was this book romantic, but it did such a great job of balancing the reality of her being on display every moment of her life, with the beautifully captured intimate moments of friendship, love, and family. Plus, every character felt fully formed so it the story felt deeper than just a cozy romance.

I loved seeing Abby get to experience normal teenager things like having fun with new friends, parties, and romance —all while staying safe (and within direct line of vision from her personal bodyguards!)

It was the kind of book that I can happily read with my younger cousins (middle to high school age) because it’s interesting, has romance and conflict, but nothing too adult for them.

I was craving a sweet, small town romance with character growth and no spice, and this book delivered on everything.


🖤 Thank you to author Celeste Dador, publisher Delacorte Romance, and Books Forward PR for the gifted finished copy.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (May 2026)
⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay you already know 4 stars ⭐! This was the perfect 4th of July holiday romance! And perfect for the country's 250th Birthday!

This reminded me so so much of The First Daughter movie! There were some copy and paste scenes lol; however I didn't mind, I loved it! I loved that there was a lot of representation for what it's like to be the President's daughters. I also really loved Nessa and Shaw their bodyguards; they were hilarious.

Now Gabriel, he was an amazing MMC. The way he just loved taking pictures of her and admiring her throughout their journey of completing the bucket list. Which the bucket list was another awesome trope we got in this book. Their little adventures and journeys they would take were adorable and was what made the book. The ending was also somewhat unique and I really appreciated that!

I think the author has a lot of potential especially this being her debut novel. I would love to see kind of an interconnected standole set of books in the town Mystic Hollow. Like maybe we can get a different season with a holiday for each character. *hint hint* her sister Elle's book maybe????

⭐🎆🍦📷

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute fun summer clean teen romance

[Rylie Boston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad! Cute summer read! 🇺🇸🎆✨📷

[Brendasbooksandhobbies · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, cute read just perfect for July

[Maya Irons · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I talk about the book, I want to acknowledge that this is the author's debut novel. Getting a book published is a Herculean feat of its own, so it is a really awesome accomplishment to have one's work out into the world and in the hands of readers.

Overall, I was drawn in by the first daughter/civilian dynamic of the main characters. However, I was just so thrown by their dynamic that I almost didn't root for them to get together by the end of the book. The FMC creates a summer bucketlist and the MMC decides to help her if she also lets him use her as a muse for his photography. When they kiss for the first time, they call it "practice," but the FMC still holds onto that even after she tells the MMC that she doesn't like the guy everyone expects her to end up with! And he doesn't even hear her out when she is trying to be honest with him. It was like a "will they/won't they" that just didn't translate well in the scenes.

I hope this author continues to write so there will be more opportunities to develop her voice and storytelling. On to the next...

[Readingbythepool · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun summer read. ☀️🇺🇸📚

Abby Cary-Alzona is the First Daughter, but what she really wants is one normal summer to just be a regular teenager. After a pizza delivery scandal lands her in the headlines (yes… a pizza delivery scandal 😂), her plans change and she ends up spending the summer in Mystic Hollow instead.

And that’s where things get really fun.

Abby has a secret summer bucket list she’s never told anyone about, and Gabriel, who lives in Mystic Hollow ends up helping her start checking things off. I loved watching their relationship unfold, and the bucket list angle made this especially fun.

This was sweet, charming, and honestly just a perfect warm-weather read. I loved the First Family/political angle too (former Poli Sci major here, so of course I was into that 🇺🇸). It had romance, summer adventure, a little scandal, and so much hear

This felt like the kind of book that would be perfect to read by the pool, toss in a beach bag, or save for the Fourth of July. I highly recommend reading this one.

Thank you to Delacorte Romance, Love Underlined, and the author for the gifted ARC 🩵

[A.M. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This summer romance by Celeste Dador has all the banter, all the swoony moments, and so many laughs that you will be kicking your feet for more. When the world feels like it is burning down it's nice to take a moment to escape and celebrate what this country could be with this stunning Fourth of July romance.
An outstanding debut!

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet summer romance and I think teen readers are going to absolutely love it. It has that extra charm that comes from the small town vacation vibes, balanced with characters whose lives are far more complicated because of who their parents are.

At its core, it’s the classic story of a U.S. president’s daughter wanting to experience life as “a regular teen,” and “acting out” by doing the kind of everyday things most of us never think twice about. Even something as simple as ordering a pizza turns into a whole adventure.

I was able to fully immerse myself in this one thanks to the complimentary eARC from Random House Children’s via NetGalley and the gifted audio from the PRH Audio Influencer Program. While the dual format didn’t necessarily add anything extra to the experience for me, I still enjoyed getting lost in the quaint world and summer atmosphere.

While I love YA for myself beyond simply accessing it for younger readers, this is one that definitely feels best suited for its intended audience. Romantic teens are going to eat this one up. For the audiobook it was narrated by Ferdelle Lauren Capistrano who did a fab job!

I also appreciated that the romance felt completely age appropriate, even if the characters are living lives that very few people will ever actually experience.

[Kamryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun summery read!

I really just loved every minute of it! Our FMC is the first daughter navigating life while just wanting to be “normal” this is a trope I’ve really never read before and it was so refreshing and fun!

A lovely, light hearted rom-com!

[Anna Bruhn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought about giving this one star, but it felt too mean.

[Jenna Elizabeth ×͜× · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the cutest little wholesome YA summer themed romance books I’ve read in a while!

[Dayanara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, cute, easy, and fun all summer vibes read!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sparkling summer fun debut!

[Lynn Meeuwissen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Booked with the Emilys, Celeste Dador and Delacorte Romance for the #gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

After First Daughter Abby gets caught on camera having a pizza delivered to the White House and having a strong (visual) opinion on the pineapple on top of it, her parents send her off to a small town to spend the summer out of the spotlight with her aunt. She did not expect to see the guy who ordered the pizza to be there too... This was such a cute story about navigating expectations and dreams, finding yourself and falling in love for the first time, that truly came to live thanks to the cinematic descriptions.

If you like a swoony YA romance about the First Daughter’s summer of self-discovery with small-town charm and unexpected love, Filipino American representation, Gilmore Girls’ charm meets summer romance and a royal romance with an American twist, you have to get your hands on a copy of this book ASAP! 💙