What do you think?
Rate this book
Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A swoony, patriotic romance with
Gilmore Girls
charm—follow First Daughter Abby as she dives into a summer of surprises, small-town magic, and sparks with the boy who shakes up her world.
What if the person who turns your world upside down is exactly who you're meant to find?
All First Daughter Abby Alzona wanted was one normal night. But one impulsive pizza order later, she’s front-page news—and officially exiled to a Wi-Fi-free country inn for the summer, along with her little sister Elle.
The inn belongs to Gabriel Calabrese’s he’s sarcastic, camera-obsessed, and definitely not dazzled by presidential perks (also, kind of the reason for the whole pizza fiasco). But Abby’s determined to make the most of her time away from the White House—with a summer bucket list full of things real teens get to do. Pool parties. Picnics. Maybe even a first kiss.
As she and Elle dive into small-town life, Abby starts to see what makes Gabriel tick. And maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. . . .
What if the person who turns your world upside down is exactly who you're meant to find?
All First Daughter Abby Alzona wanted was one normal night. But one impulsive pizza order later, she’s front-page news—and officially exiled to a Wi-Fi-free country inn for the summer, along with her little sister Elle.
The inn belongs to Gabriel Calabrese’s he’s sarcastic, camera-obsessed, and definitely not dazzled by presidential perks (also, kind of the reason for the whole pizza fiasco). But Abby’s determined to make the most of her time away from the White House—with a summer bucket list full of things real teens get to do. Pool parties. Picnics. Maybe even a first kiss.
As she and Elle dive into small-town life, Abby starts to see what makes Gabriel tick. And maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for him. . . .
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
308 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 28, 2025
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
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
Read
January 7, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Stars. Stripes & Summer Nights" was a really cute book overall. I loved the conflict of family vs. self and how Abby just wanted to experience the life of a normal teen. The idea that kids can be kids and should be allowed to have mistakes or flaws really struck me. However, I will admit, there were times when I wanted to yell at Abby and tell her to just pay more attention to her surroundings and open her eyes (especially about Gabriel...). The other characters aside from Abby were really well written. I loved how down-to-earth Abby's mom (aka the president) was, and Gabriel was definitely one of the sweetest love interests I have seen, especially when you get past his rough exterior. Abby's sister, who actually had a really important role in pushing Abby out of her comfort zone, was also really fun. The underlying theme of grief and potential loss for the Calabrese family really added some gravity to the story, which was great. The romance was perfectly focused in the story, with a nice balance between Abby's love life and the deeper issues. Overall, "Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights" was an engaging, fast-paced beach read with some really good writing and problems that everyday teens can relate to (maybe not quite on that level, though). The emphasis on figuring out family and the future, not just finding love, was perfect. I definitely recommend if you are looking for a fun summer read. Abby will have you cheering for her all the way.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
November 4, 2025
Fans of Meg Cabot and Katherine McGee will love this YA novel about what happens when a first daughter finds herself in trouble and gets herself exiled to a small town in Virginia for the summer.
The book is a little slow paced at first, with the first 20% taking over just one night and starting the inciting incident, but quickly picks up once Abby and her sister, Elle, get to Mystic Hollow. I loved the feeling of summer days gone by, where communities would get together and have barbecues and fireworks, you might go hiking on a trail, and you can practically see the sparklers in the kid's hands as they run by.
The relationships are beautiful in the book as well. It is good to see a sisterly relationship that, while teasing, is still a good strong bond. The parents are still a presence and show that they love their children, and the aunt is a great motherly figure to have around. Gabe, as a love interest, is almost too perfect. His pizza taste non-withstanding, he is an ideal person to have around your daughters, creative, and overall a genuine guy. I wish we got to know a little bit more about him and what made him tick throughout the book.
Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read, a perfect summer romance that is hard to put down!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
The book is a little slow paced at first, with the first 20% taking over just one night and starting the inciting incident, but quickly picks up once Abby and her sister, Elle, get to Mystic Hollow. I loved the feeling of summer days gone by, where communities would get together and have barbecues and fireworks, you might go hiking on a trail, and you can practically see the sparklers in the kid's hands as they run by.
The relationships are beautiful in the book as well. It is good to see a sisterly relationship that, while teasing, is still a good strong bond. The parents are still a presence and show that they love their children, and the aunt is a great motherly figure to have around. Gabe, as a love interest, is almost too perfect. His pizza taste non-withstanding, he is an ideal person to have around your daughters, creative, and overall a genuine guy. I wish we got to know a little bit more about him and what made him tick throughout the book.
Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read, a perfect summer romance that is hard to put down!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Release Date: May 12,2026
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🇺🇸🎇 Holiday Romance
❌🌶️ No Spice
💕 Swoon Worthy
🇵🇭 Filipino-American Heritage
👩❤️👨 Forced Proximity
📋Bucket List Adventures
Abby Alzona is America’s First Daughter and she takes that role seriously but she can’t wait to relax and have a stress free filled summer! All will be made possible during her trip to Hawaii where she plans to check off the items on her bucket list, including getting her first kiss. Unfortunately, one night of normal fun and bad press gets her sent to a small-town where she is forced to be near the very same cute boy, Gabe, who caused her Hawaii plans to be cancelled in the first place.
This is such a cozy and swoony YA romance. The characters seemed very relatable and I found many aspects of Abby’s personality to be similar to mine when I was a teenager. The author did a great job at introducing multiple characters throughout the book without it being confusing and they were all very well developed. I truly enjoyed reading every bit of this book and can’t wait for others to read it too! @celestedador has made a fan out of me and I can’t wait to read what else she releases in the future.
Thank you to @netgalley and @delacorteromance for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🇺🇸🎇 Holiday Romance
❌🌶️ No Spice
💕 Swoon Worthy
🇵🇭 Filipino-American Heritage
👩❤️👨 Forced Proximity
📋Bucket List Adventures
Abby Alzona is America’s First Daughter and she takes that role seriously but she can’t wait to relax and have a stress free filled summer! All will be made possible during her trip to Hawaii where she plans to check off the items on her bucket list, including getting her first kiss. Unfortunately, one night of normal fun and bad press gets her sent to a small-town where she is forced to be near the very same cute boy, Gabe, who caused her Hawaii plans to be cancelled in the first place.
This is such a cozy and swoony YA romance. The characters seemed very relatable and I found many aspects of Abby’s personality to be similar to mine when I was a teenager. The author did a great job at introducing multiple characters throughout the book without it being confusing and they were all very well developed. I truly enjoyed reading every bit of this book and can’t wait for others to read it too! @celestedador has made a fan out of me and I can’t wait to read what else she releases in the future.
Thank you to @netgalley and @delacorteromance for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of Stars, Stripes, and Summer Nights!
December 30, 2025
This book is a really cute YA romance that’s all about living life to the fullest. I personally enjoyed the story a lot. It mainly focuses on the female main character trying to find herself and pushing herself out of her comfort zone, which is not easy considering she’s the daughter of the US president and very limited in what she can do.
The romance is more on the slower side, and I think readers who enjoy a softer, YA-style love story will really like this. There were some genuinely funny moments, but the book also touched on more serious topics, which gave the story a bit more depth.
I did have some trouble fully connecting with the characters, but that might just be an age thing for me at this point. Even so, I still had a good time reading it and stayed interested throughout.
There were a few moments that felt a little unrealistic, but honestly, it’s a YA book, so that didn’t bother me much.
Overall, this was a sweet, enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to young adult readers who like slower romances and stories about self discovery.
3,75
The romance is more on the slower side, and I think readers who enjoy a softer, YA-style love story will really like this. There were some genuinely funny moments, but the book also touched on more serious topics, which gave the story a bit more depth.
I did have some trouble fully connecting with the characters, but that might just be an age thing for me at this point. Even so, I still had a good time reading it and stayed interested throughout.
There were a few moments that felt a little unrealistic, but honestly, it’s a YA book, so that didn’t bother me much.
Overall, this was a sweet, enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to young adult readers who like slower romances and stories about self discovery.
3,75
December 8, 2025
A completely delightful YA romance starring the FDOTUS of the first Filipina American president! Abby just wants one summer as a normal teenager. After a minor mistake goes viral, she gets her chance at a normal teen summer while hiding out at in a small-town inn in Virginia. As the son of the inn owner shows her around town and helps her mark things off her "normal teen" bucket list, she realizes her life doesn't have to go exactly as planned. It's a charming Fourth of July romance that made me wish for summer in December.
November 23, 2025
i absolutely adored this book! the famous x not famous trope is one of my favorites. the setting being a small town where everyone knows everyone?!? absolute perfection!! i fell in love with the two main characters as well as everyone in the town. plot was very much giving princess protection program (disney channel movie) in the best ways possible!!
thank you netgalley for this beautiful ARC!!
thank you netgalley for this beautiful ARC!!
Want to read
August 30, 2024Aaron Sorkin meets Gilmore Girls and it's a romance? Very happily adding this to my TBR!
January 1, 2026
Gorgeous cover! And I utterly adore the title!
This one is good, not great, and a little unforgettable in a surprising way given that it's about POTUS's daughter. (Fictional, woman POTUS for the record.) There is nothing inherently wrong with this book, but it's like it wasn't "good enough" to keep me reading, which I feel bad saying. It was very fine. A 3.5 star rounded down. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't for me. It's a very YA Contemporary style writing that feels a little overwritten for the age bracket it's in, as opposed to a YA Romance style of writing more like Jenny Han and Lynn Painter.
I really enjoyed Abby as a character even if she felt a little caricature-esque as a Type A, smart, eldest daughter always on better-than-best behavior. The pineapple incident kicking off her whole punishment was incredibly over the top and mildly unbelievable especially when the rest of the book seemed like it was trying to be more believable/realistic.
I'm disappointed to not love this one more because the concept, cover, title, and overall vibes seemed delightful. I'll still be checking this author out in the future because just because this one wasn't a homerun doesn't mean the next one won't be! Very perfect for the summer, Gilmore Girls vibes to the extreme, and a fun take on the First Daughter as the FMC. I'd still recommend it to teenagers looking for a cute summer romance read with low expectations.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this one, especially since I'm not sure they gain much with this review. I really wanted to fall in love with this one, I swear!
This one is good, not great, and a little unforgettable in a surprising way given that it's about POTUS's daughter. (Fictional, woman POTUS for the record.) There is nothing inherently wrong with this book, but it's like it wasn't "good enough" to keep me reading, which I feel bad saying. It was very fine. A 3.5 star rounded down. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't for me. It's a very YA Contemporary style writing that feels a little overwritten for the age bracket it's in, as opposed to a YA Romance style of writing more like Jenny Han and Lynn Painter.
I really enjoyed Abby as a character even if she felt a little caricature-esque as a Type A, smart, eldest daughter always on better-than-best behavior. The pineapple incident kicking off her whole punishment was incredibly over the top and mildly unbelievable especially when the rest of the book seemed like it was trying to be more believable/realistic.
I'm disappointed to not love this one more because the concept, cover, title, and overall vibes seemed delightful. I'll still be checking this author out in the future because just because this one wasn't a homerun doesn't mean the next one won't be! Very perfect for the summer, Gilmore Girls vibes to the extreme, and a fun take on the First Daughter as the FMC. I'd still recommend it to teenagers looking for a cute summer romance read with low expectations.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this one, especially since I'm not sure they gain much with this review. I really wanted to fall in love with this one, I swear!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews