Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights

by Celeste Dador

A 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. . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Romance, Summer, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Livvy 𝜗𝜚 {semi ia} · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕣 𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖

𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝟓𝟔%

୨ৎ 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 <3

‧₊ ̊💙✩ ₊ ̊🍉⊹♡

⋆｡𖦹 ˚"𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐢 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞𝐬" 𓇼 ˚｡⋆

°:•.🍒*.•🐠.•:°

"𝒢𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓃, 𝑔𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓃, 𝑔𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓈 𝐼 𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈"

⋆˚ 𓇼｡13+

☀︎ Romance 3/10 {Maybe a kiss, innuendo, crushes, tension}
☀︎ Cussing 2/10 {sh*t, h*ll, d*mn, a*s used very infrequently maybe a f*ck}
☀︎ Violence 1/10 {Water balloon fight, talk of how people are “obsessed” with the president}
☀︎ Tw’s {Loss of a loved one, monetary issues}

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"𝐻𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝒾𝓉, 𝒻𝑜𝒸𝓊𝓈, 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉"

☀️⋆｡˚𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀

I have so many mixed feelings about this book! In some aspects it was REALLY good and I enjoyed it but some parts made me cringe and want to stop reading. It was more about the vibes I was wanting at the time than the actual book itself. The concept was VERY interesting and the writing was good! I liked how it was all about the daughter of the FEMALE president! It was SO refreshing to see something NEW in a book! I feel like we mainly only see popular tropes but this one was so different and so cool! I really wish that I would have been in the mood for this one and this summer I will definitely get a copy for when I'm laying on the beach! I would definitely recommend this if you love romance! The bucket list thing is kind of cliche but I still think it's super cute!

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒"

☀️⋆｡˚𝓟𝓵𝓸𝓽

The plot was good! I think that at some parts it got off track and it would start talking about some random ass thing lol. I really liked how Abby was the first daughter of the president and everything but it felt so random at times and like it wasn't relevant. The romance also felt like a sub plot. It reminds me a lot of Love & Gelato. I liked the plot but it felt like it NEEDED to be read in summer! I don’t know everything about it because I only got a little over half way but yk lol.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"𝐼'𝓂 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒𝓃, 𝓈𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓀𝓎"

☀️⋆｡˚𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼

☀︎⋆࿔🏖️*:･𝓐𝓫𝓫𝔂

Ok so she was SO annoying imo 😭✌ I loved that as I’ve said 1000000000 times she was the daughter of a WOMAN president! That makes me SO SO SO happy! But otherwise she was SUPER whiny and annoying. Maybe as the book goes on she may have gotten better but I didn't get that far.

☀︎⋆࿔🏖️*:･𝓖𝓪𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓵

Omg so I actually REALLY lied him and the fact that he was a photographer 🥵 Like yes. He was so sweet but also so flirty it was giving Wes Bennett hehe but Abby was SO mean to him at first and I don't know why he even puts up with her like ughhhh. I just really liked him guysssss.



☀︎⋆࿔🏖️*:･𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼

I really liked her sister! And obv I LOVED Abbys mom the president 💕 I HATED that other guy tho. Oliver or what's his face. I hated him cos like bro. She just wanted pizza man 😫✌️

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"𝐵𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝓀𝒾𝓃 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉"

☀️⋆｡˚𝓦𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰

There were some things I didn't like about the writing but it wasn't horrible which is good. It was nothing memorable and I REALLY value good writing so this was just meh to me but it wasn't horrible.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"𝒴𝑜𝓊'𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝑔𝑜𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓃"

☀️⋆｡˚𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵

So yeah, it was cute, but I just wasn't in the mood!

‧₊ ̊💙✩ ₊ ̊🍉⊹♡

3★

🍒💙 pre read:

AHHHH OK I NEED ANOTHER SUMMER ROMANCE TO GET ME THROUGH THIS WINTER 😭✊ I’m so excited for this one it looks like such a cutey hehe 😋💋

[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 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

[Brooklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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.

[Tisha "Manic Reads" · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Krissbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for sending me a free eARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book follows Abby, the first daughter, who happens to get in a big scandal over ordering a pizza. As a way to keep her out of the media, Abby's parents send her to Mystic Hollows, a charming small town. The only catch? She will be living at the inn with Gabriel, the boy who got her in trouble to start with, but as the summer goes on, and Gabriel helps Abby check off her summer bucket list, Abby learns more about herself, and maybe even falls in love.

This was a very cute read. I enjoyed the plot. A summer bucket list is a quintessential YA and teen summer romance book trope, and it makes sense that Abby feels the need to have fun for once. Abby experiences good character growth throughout the book, and she learns that she doesn't have to follow a predictable blueprint for her life. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, especially Elle, Abby's younger sister. Gabriel was a good love interest. He was charming and cared about giving Abby normalcy. The romance was sweet and wholesome, definitely appropriate for YA audiences. Also, I can appreciate that at the end, Oliver did not have a hissy fit about Abby's relationship, and that they could truly just be friends.

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[sya ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise and the cover caught my attention right away, but this ended up being just an okay read for me. It was cute, and I really liked the setting, but overall it felt a bit too juvenile. I liked Abby and found her relatable, and I appreciated her growth, but I wanted more depth from her and the side characters to make the story more engaging and memorable. The romance was fine, but it didn’t leave a strong impression on me. It might just be that I’m no longer the target age for this kind of story. Still, it was a light and quick read, and I did enjoy parts of it. I think younger readers, especially those looking for a sweet summer romance read, would enjoy it more.

[Susie Dumond · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!

[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.

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great YA Contemporary debut, packed with small town charm, a clean YA romance, and a sheltered teenager's first summer adventures. We follow First Daughter, Abby, as she navigates her younger sister's shenanigans. Full review to follow

#StarsStripesSummerNights #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[The Humorous Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not amazing, but not bad either LOL This was light and fluffy with just enough intrigue to keep you reading. And it stayed clean, which is a plus, but was also a bit cheesy. And Abby is so annoying she gave me heart palpitations. It was okay nonetheless 🫡

[virany]

Aaron Sorkin meets Gilmore Girls and it's a romance? Very happily adding this to my TBR!

[Kandice Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great ya romance. I loved the characters and the growth that they had throughout the book. There was no language and no spice, just kisses. I would have no problem handing this book to my teen. The banter was great and overall a great book.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!