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Cece Downing's Start Over Summer: A Novel
A witty, heartfelt novel about a young woman who leaves everything behind to work on an oyster farm in a small New England town.
Recently fired from her dependable career as an actuary, and recovering from a messy breakup with her fiancé, thirty-two-year-old Cece Downing is holed up for the summer in New London, Connecticut, without a plan. Mounting financial debts soon force Cece to take the first job opportunity that comes her way—one she’s wholly unsuited for—as a deckhand on an oyster boat.
Surprisingly, Cece finds herself loving the working with her hands, breathing the fresh sea air, and learning the ins and outs of oyster farming. And despite her overbearing mother’s pleas to get a “real” job and reunite with her wealthy fiancé, Cece plunges headlong into an ill-advised romance with her neighbor, a shipyard worker named Morgan.
When a proposal for a new oyster farm off the town’s coastline throws the community into an uproar, pitting wealthy waterfront owners against blue collar workers, Cece finds herself caught in the middle. And as a family crisis forces her to reevaluate her reckless choices Cece must come to terms with what she’s willing to sacrifice for the life she wants to live.
Recently fired from her dependable career as an actuary, and recovering from a messy breakup with her fiancé, thirty-two-year-old Cece Downing is holed up for the summer in New London, Connecticut, without a plan. Mounting financial debts soon force Cece to take the first job opportunity that comes her way—one she’s wholly unsuited for—as a deckhand on an oyster boat.
Surprisingly, Cece finds herself loving the working with her hands, breathing the fresh sea air, and learning the ins and outs of oyster farming. And despite her overbearing mother’s pleas to get a “real” job and reunite with her wealthy fiancé, Cece plunges headlong into an ill-advised romance with her neighbor, a shipyard worker named Morgan.
When a proposal for a new oyster farm off the town’s coastline throws the community into an uproar, pitting wealthy waterfront owners against blue collar workers, Cece finds herself caught in the middle. And as a family crisis forces her to reevaluate her reckless choices Cece must come to terms with what she’s willing to sacrifice for the life she wants to live.
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Soon Wiley
4 books135 followersA native of Nyack, New York, Soon Wiley is the author of the novel When We Fell Apart. He currently teaches English in the upper school at Greenwich Country Day School, where he also serves as chair of the English department. He resides with his family in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
April 7, 2026
Thank you so much to Dutton Books and Penguin Random House for sharing this book with me in advance of its publication date!
I was so surprised to see many three and four star reviews on this book, because I absolutely loved it. A quick read, this is the story of Cece Downing, who is a bit of a hot mess and quite lost in her way following the loss of her high powered city job and the self-inflicted breakup with her financially well-off fiancé. Cece has just moved to New London, Connecticut, where she finds herself living in the pool house of a kooky older lady and working at an oyster farm, all with eyes on the gruff good-looking man up the road who works at the wharf.
It doesn’t take long for Cece’s summer of despair to turn into a summer of discovery as she finds herself navigating her two worlds and trying to figure out where she belongs amongst them.
I found this story to be well-paced and interesting. I loved Cece’s character, even when she was a bit frustrating. Maybe other reviewers never found themselves a hot mess in their 20’s and early 30’s (I find this hard to believe for anyone!), but I think Cece’s internal dialogue and path to self-discovery is very relatable. I loved her character arc, and the different personalities of the people in her life. And as a coastal New Englander, I particularly loved the themes of summer tourism and a working waterfront. And I really love oysters, and have even more respect for manner in which they make to my plate when I dine locally.
An excellent beach read, an excellent anytime read. I’m so happy I decided to give this one a few days in my head, and wish it much success!
I was so surprised to see many three and four star reviews on this book, because I absolutely loved it. A quick read, this is the story of Cece Downing, who is a bit of a hot mess and quite lost in her way following the loss of her high powered city job and the self-inflicted breakup with her financially well-off fiancé. Cece has just moved to New London, Connecticut, where she finds herself living in the pool house of a kooky older lady and working at an oyster farm, all with eyes on the gruff good-looking man up the road who works at the wharf.
It doesn’t take long for Cece’s summer of despair to turn into a summer of discovery as she finds herself navigating her two worlds and trying to figure out where she belongs amongst them.
I found this story to be well-paced and interesting. I loved Cece’s character, even when she was a bit frustrating. Maybe other reviewers never found themselves a hot mess in their 20’s and early 30’s (I find this hard to believe for anyone!), but I think Cece’s internal dialogue and path to self-discovery is very relatable. I loved her character arc, and the different personalities of the people in her life. And as a coastal New Englander, I particularly loved the themes of summer tourism and a working waterfront. And I really love oysters, and have even more respect for manner in which they make to my plate when I dine locally.
An excellent beach read, an excellent anytime read. I’m so happy I decided to give this one a few days in my head, and wish it much success!
June 28, 2026
Hmm, it took me a little while to get into this one. The beginning felt a bit aimless and slow, and I wasn't especially invested in all of Cece's reflections on her recent breakup and broken engagement. But as the story developed, I really grew to enjoy her summery journey of figuring out what she actually wanted out of life. There were some unexpected reveals, too!
After losing her job as an actuary (a job I knew nothing about before this, which was fun!), Cece takes a chance working as a deckhand on an oyster boat in New London, Connecticut. Going from statistics to oyster farming made for such a fun fish-out-of-water story! I loved seeing her slowly adapt to not only the more hands-on, gruelling work, but also the people around her, especially those who seemed determined to make her fail.
I'm such a sucker for books that romanticize unique careers or coastal lifestyles, and this absolutely scratched that itch. The oyster farm setting was easily one of my favourite parts. The story really picked up for me, too, once the love triangle dilemma became more apparent. It still lacked passion for me overall, but I loved the sweet perspective of seeing Cece's recklessness as courage rather than irresponsibility.
(spice level: closed door)
After losing her job as an actuary (a job I knew nothing about before this, which was fun!), Cece takes a chance working as a deckhand on an oyster boat in New London, Connecticut. Going from statistics to oyster farming made for such a fun fish-out-of-water story! I loved seeing her slowly adapt to not only the more hands-on, gruelling work, but also the people around her, especially those who seemed determined to make her fail.
I'm such a sucker for books that romanticize unique careers or coastal lifestyles, and this absolutely scratched that itch. The oyster farm setting was easily one of my favourite parts. The story really picked up for me, too, once the love triangle dilemma became more apparent. It still lacked passion for me overall, but I loved the sweet perspective of seeing Cece's recklessness as courage rather than irresponsibility.
(spice level: closed door)
June 6, 2026
A cute summer read that has a lot of heart!
The fact that it took place in CT made me so happy 🫶 It felt like if a hallmark movie were written really well and had an excellent plot, it was so addicting and I didn’t want to stop listening!
Add this to your summer tbrs ☀️
The fact that it took place in CT made me so happy 🫶 It felt like if a hallmark movie were written really well and had an excellent plot, it was so addicting and I didn’t want to stop listening!
Add this to your summer tbrs ☀️
February 23, 2026
This 30-something romance has an enticing cover that looks like it belongs in your beach bag.
I enjoyed how the author used oyster farming and the city of New London, CT in this story. As a swimmer, I also appreciated some of the life lessons about grit and perseverance the protagonist takes from her days swimming competitively. There are also some family dynamics at play - eldest daughter who is an over achiever with two parents who set high expectations (demands?) for her.
This is a classic choosing between the vapid rich guy versus the surprisingly well-read blue collar guy kind of romance. It works pretty well although predictable and not particularly passionate somehow.
What didn’t work so well … the repetition about the end of her swimming career, and her father pushing her all those years, the father’s business struggles and the mother who is resentful - this all felt a bit overworked in the story and needed some editing. Cece (the heroine) seems to have high moral standards for others, but she’s not honest herself and sometimes I felt like Bernard was left alone for very long periods and I’m not even a dog person. (Momma Kim’s feelings about NJ? Oh my. This Jersey girl had thoughts.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I enjoyed how the author used oyster farming and the city of New London, CT in this story. As a swimmer, I also appreciated some of the life lessons about grit and perseverance the protagonist takes from her days swimming competitively. There are also some family dynamics at play - eldest daughter who is an over achiever with two parents who set high expectations (demands?) for her.
This is a classic choosing between the vapid rich guy versus the surprisingly well-read blue collar guy kind of romance. It works pretty well although predictable and not particularly passionate somehow.
What didn’t work so well … the repetition about the end of her swimming career, and her father pushing her all those years, the father’s business struggles and the mother who is resentful - this all felt a bit overworked in the story and needed some editing. Cece (the heroine) seems to have high moral standards for others, but she’s not honest herself and sometimes I felt like Bernard was left alone for very long periods and I’m not even a dog person. (Momma Kim’s feelings about NJ? Oh my. This Jersey girl had thoughts.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 11, 2026
Cece Downings Start Over Summer
3⭐️
The title is pretty self explanatory, big city girl Cece is fired from her corporate risk management job and breaks off her engagement in the same day. She takes a job in a small town in new England and falls in love with the local rugged neighbor!
The good - the writing! I loved the writing style a lot! It was fast paced and I loved getting snapshots of Ceces past and the events that led up to her leaving nyc.
The bad - Cece. She’s actually unbelievably frustrating. Like I get it, if you need to start over then start over, 100%! That’s not at all what bothered me. My main issue was her lack of conviction on ANYTHING. The way she thinks/treats the people around her to only serve her own interests really got on my nerves. Example : Her landlady is a spitfire that Cece either uses or disparages unless she’s trying to get on her good side to not lose her poolhouse. And this behavior extends towards everyone in her life. At the beginning of the book she thinks she should try to be a better big sister but then spends most of the rest of the book annoyed that her sister is even calling her and thinking down on her sister for her choices in life (settling down/having children etc) it got sooooo old so fast. Im choosing not to keep ranting about her but there’s a lot more I could say.
The okay - Mason is mostly fine? Idk we don’t really learn anything about him until I sorta stopped caring. The single dad twist feels pretty obvious but the way it’s written into the story it’s like brought up and then just…dropped. She finds the clues and then we cut to a different day, no discussion no contemplation about any of it for chaptersssss.
The writing is good, the romance was cliche and didn’t engage me but most people picking this up know it’s going to be a cliche romance so that’s not really a bad thing?
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced digital copy
3⭐️
The title is pretty self explanatory, big city girl Cece is fired from her corporate risk management job and breaks off her engagement in the same day. She takes a job in a small town in new England and falls in love with the local rugged neighbor!
The good - the writing! I loved the writing style a lot! It was fast paced and I loved getting snapshots of Ceces past and the events that led up to her leaving nyc.
The bad - Cece. She’s actually unbelievably frustrating. Like I get it, if you need to start over then start over, 100%! That’s not at all what bothered me. My main issue was her lack of conviction on ANYTHING. The way she thinks/treats the people around her to only serve her own interests really got on my nerves. Example : Her landlady is a spitfire that Cece either uses or disparages unless she’s trying to get on her good side to not lose her poolhouse. And this behavior extends towards everyone in her life. At the beginning of the book she thinks she should try to be a better big sister but then spends most of the rest of the book annoyed that her sister is even calling her and thinking down on her sister for her choices in life (settling down/having children etc) it got sooooo old so fast. Im choosing not to keep ranting about her but there’s a lot more I could say.
The okay - Mason is mostly fine? Idk we don’t really learn anything about him until I sorta stopped caring. The single dad twist feels pretty obvious but the way it’s written into the story it’s like brought up and then just…dropped. She finds the clues and then we cut to a different day, no discussion no contemplation about any of it for chaptersssss.
The writing is good, the romance was cliche and didn’t engage me but most people picking this up know it’s going to be a cliche romance so that’s not really a bad thing?
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced digital copy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is an absolutely beautifully written story about a woman who loses her job and breaks up with her finance and moves to New England to work on an oyster farm. Having visited an Oyster Farm in Alaska, I loved the setting. Sometimes the story dragged and i felt like there were too many characters to keep track of, but overall an enjoyable read.
June 17, 2026
I am always a little suspicious of a man writing a romance, but the only thing more frustrating than a man written by a woman is a woman written by a man. Everything about Cece was written as if she were a man, and not a nice one at that.
Her drive for stability, financial comfort, and predictability was at odds with her decision to take a job at a Connecticut oyster farm after being let go from her actuary job and leaving her equally dull and rigid fiancé. She almost fetishizes her new, blue collar neighbor, Morgan, and uses him callously before going back to her fiancé. She treats her landlady like dirt, unless she needs something from her, in which case she's happy to take advantage of her kindness.
The pacing was super slow, the storylines repetitive, and there was zero chemistry whatsoever between Cece and either Jonathan or Morgan. The attempts to spice things up a bit with a single dad plot and secret past connection did nothing to move the story forward, and just felt thrown in for the sake of it. The way the class/political conflicts were portrayed was also uncomfortable, and I had a hard time figuring out if this was supposed to be satire or just a swing and a miss at working class cosplay.
This had a lot of potential with the setting and plot to be a heartfelt Summer read, but unfortunately read like a laundry list instead.
🦪 Thank you @duttonbooks for an advanced copy
Her drive for stability, financial comfort, and predictability was at odds with her decision to take a job at a Connecticut oyster farm after being let go from her actuary job and leaving her equally dull and rigid fiancé. She almost fetishizes her new, blue collar neighbor, Morgan, and uses him callously before going back to her fiancé. She treats her landlady like dirt, unless she needs something from her, in which case she's happy to take advantage of her kindness.
The pacing was super slow, the storylines repetitive, and there was zero chemistry whatsoever between Cece and either Jonathan or Morgan. The attempts to spice things up a bit with a single dad plot and secret past connection did nothing to move the story forward, and just felt thrown in for the sake of it. The way the class/political conflicts were portrayed was also uncomfortable, and I had a hard time figuring out if this was supposed to be satire or just a swing and a miss at working class cosplay.
This had a lot of potential with the setting and plot to be a heartfelt Summer read, but unfortunately read like a laundry list instead.
🦪 Thank you @duttonbooks for an advanced copy
July 12, 2026
I liked this book....I thought it was a good story and even though you kinda know how it was going to end, there were several possibilities. The Main character Cece is a women who does not have her shit together in the beginning, but in a wonderful way, finds her way. A couple of surprises that I didn't see coming.....
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you like women’s fiction with a sweet happily ever after, this is a great book to grab this summer.
The story follows Cece, a quintessential millennial who has always worked hard and been successful. That is until she is laid off and she starts to spiral, questioning her relationship, her career path, and all her past life choices. Throughout the story Cece wrestles with how to make choices for herself, instead of letting other people choice for her, and owning those decisions and outcomes.
What stood out to me the most was the writing itself. I really enjoyed Soon Wiley’s descriptions, especially all the water-related imagery and metaphors. And I liked how they highlighted the underlying messages (e.g., not judging people by their appearances, the most stable path isn't necessarily the right path for you). The story was evenly paced and the character arc was extremely well done. Which leads me to the other thing I really enjoyed in this book: Cece.
Cece’s character was incredibly relatable - flaws and all. For the majority of the book, she struggled to make decisions for her self, getting paralyzed by all the data (or lack there of) and also not wanting to take responsibility for past decisions and mistakes. At times I just wanted to shake some sense into her, but that’s partially because I can see parts of my past self in her. Who wasn’t a hot mess occasionally in their 20s and 30s? Who didn’t question everything at some point or another? Who hasn’t wanted someone else to make a decision when there isn’t a clear answer?
One heads up: if you go into this expecting a summer romance, you will be disappointed. Yes, there is a romantic interest and subplot, but that is not the main focus of the story, and as such the plot doesn’t overly focus on it.
Thanks to Soon Wiley and Dutton for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Cece, a quintessential millennial who has always worked hard and been successful. That is until she is laid off and she starts to spiral, questioning her relationship, her career path, and all her past life choices. Throughout the story Cece wrestles with how to make choices for herself, instead of letting other people choice for her, and owning those decisions and outcomes.
What stood out to me the most was the writing itself. I really enjoyed Soon Wiley’s descriptions, especially all the water-related imagery and metaphors. And I liked how they highlighted the underlying messages (e.g., not judging people by their appearances, the most stable path isn't necessarily the right path for you). The story was evenly paced and the character arc was extremely well done. Which leads me to the other thing I really enjoyed in this book: Cece.
Cece’s character was incredibly relatable - flaws and all. For the majority of the book, she struggled to make decisions for her self, getting paralyzed by all the data (or lack there of) and also not wanting to take responsibility for past decisions and mistakes. At times I just wanted to shake some sense into her, but that’s partially because I can see parts of my past self in her. Who wasn’t a hot mess occasionally in their 20s and 30s? Who didn’t question everything at some point or another? Who hasn’t wanted someone else to make a decision when there isn’t a clear answer?
One heads up: if you go into this expecting a summer romance, you will be disappointed. Yes, there is a romantic interest and subplot, but that is not the main focus of the story, and as such the plot doesn’t overly focus on it.
Thanks to Soon Wiley and Dutton for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2026
Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted copy of this audiobook (all opinions are mine)!
This book was such a great summer read! It was light and insightful, with lovable characters and lessons about love and life weaved into the story. And how gorgeous is that cover?! I was attracted to the colors that complement the summer vibes so well immediately.
As the title leads us to believe, this book was all about our FMC Cece starting over and boy did she ever. Though she frustrated me at times, I respected and appreciated her character and loved the journey we went on with her. I love a well fleshed out and relatable character and that’s exactly what Cece was! Her growth made her endearing and I really enjoyed all the ways she challenged herself in her new era (especially her work at the oyster farm). She had a lot of perseverance, grit, and determination and her character arc was just golden.
There is romance in this book and I thought it was really cool how we were on the journey to love with Cece. I could’ve seen it going a few different ways and my mind was spinning as much as Cece’s at times. I did like how it ended up and was very happy for Cece in the end.
Toward the end of the book, I did think things wrapped up a little more conveniently than reality would ever be, especially the third act conflict. Continuity went to the wayside there for a moment and I had a hard time believing everything that was happening at the end.. but I did still end up enjoying the story! I decided on four stars for this reason.
The production of the audiobook was great and I thought this was paced really well to compliment listening to it as opposed to eyeball reading. The narrator was very good and I could feel her enthusiasm for the story, and Cece, which is always a good feeling when listening to a book!
Thanks again to PRH Audio, make sure to add this to your summer reading lists! I’m happy I read it and overall really enjoyed this book.
This book was such a great summer read! It was light and insightful, with lovable characters and lessons about love and life weaved into the story. And how gorgeous is that cover?! I was attracted to the colors that complement the summer vibes so well immediately.
As the title leads us to believe, this book was all about our FMC Cece starting over and boy did she ever. Though she frustrated me at times, I respected and appreciated her character and loved the journey we went on with her. I love a well fleshed out and relatable character and that’s exactly what Cece was! Her growth made her endearing and I really enjoyed all the ways she challenged herself in her new era (especially her work at the oyster farm). She had a lot of perseverance, grit, and determination and her character arc was just golden.
There is romance in this book and I thought it was really cool how we were on the journey to love with Cece. I could’ve seen it going a few different ways and my mind was spinning as much as Cece’s at times. I did like how it ended up and was very happy for Cece in the end.
Toward the end of the book, I did think things wrapped up a little more conveniently than reality would ever be, especially the third act conflict. Continuity went to the wayside there for a moment and I had a hard time believing everything that was happening at the end.. but I did still end up enjoying the story! I decided on four stars for this reason.
The production of the audiobook was great and I thought this was paced really well to compliment listening to it as opposed to eyeball reading. The narrator was very good and I could feel her enthusiasm for the story, and Cece, which is always a good feeling when listening to a book!
Thanks again to PRH Audio, make sure to add this to your summer reading lists! I’m happy I read it and overall really enjoyed this book.
July 13, 2026
3.5/5 stars rounded up! 💫
In Cece Downing’s Start Over Summer, our namesake main character is a 32-year-old trained actuary who is working at an oyster farm in coastal Connecticut and living in a local’s poolhouse after being laid off from her NYC corporate job and separating from her fiancé.
At the beginning of this book, Cece was giving Rory Gilmore in her drop-out-of-Yale-breakdown era (but an early 30s version). It’s like, growing up, she worked tirelessly to get perfect grades and do everything by the book in order to have a stable and successful life – until some man told her she wasn’t good enough and so she had a menty b and moved into a poolhouse. However, Cece’s behavior comes off more selfish, with lots of lying, leading people on, and being dismissive of those who care about her.
For around the first quarter of the book, I didn’t find Cece particularly sympathetic. I almost DNF’d a few times. But, I reminded myself that this is her *start over summer* and held on hoping for character development. And while the start can feel a bit slow, things do pick up and our girl does some growing! I was glad I stuck with it!
Throughout the story, Cece navigates a career pivot, an erratic landlord, local politics, a broken engagement turned love triangle, and a family crisis, among other things. Along the way, Cece grows more honest and open-minded against the backdrop of a New England summer. The writing style was lovely and vivid, particularly when it comes to the coastal descriptions.
Overall, this is a delightful tale of the value of releasing your expectations and creating a life that fulfills you now (no matter what younger you may have thought your life should look like), with a healthy dose of (closed door) romance and impeccable Northeast summer vibes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dutton for this eARC! 💌
In Cece Downing’s Start Over Summer, our namesake main character is a 32-year-old trained actuary who is working at an oyster farm in coastal Connecticut and living in a local’s poolhouse after being laid off from her NYC corporate job and separating from her fiancé.
At the beginning of this book, Cece was giving Rory Gilmore in her drop-out-of-Yale-breakdown era (but an early 30s version). It’s like, growing up, she worked tirelessly to get perfect grades and do everything by the book in order to have a stable and successful life – until some man told her she wasn’t good enough and so she had a menty b and moved into a poolhouse. However, Cece’s behavior comes off more selfish, with lots of lying, leading people on, and being dismissive of those who care about her.
For around the first quarter of the book, I didn’t find Cece particularly sympathetic. I almost DNF’d a few times. But, I reminded myself that this is her *start over summer* and held on hoping for character development. And while the start can feel a bit slow, things do pick up and our girl does some growing! I was glad I stuck with it!
Throughout the story, Cece navigates a career pivot, an erratic landlord, local politics, a broken engagement turned love triangle, and a family crisis, among other things. Along the way, Cece grows more honest and open-minded against the backdrop of a New England summer. The writing style was lovely and vivid, particularly when it comes to the coastal descriptions.
Overall, this is a delightful tale of the value of releasing your expectations and creating a life that fulfills you now (no matter what younger you may have thought your life should look like), with a healthy dose of (closed door) romance and impeccable Northeast summer vibes.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dutton for this eARC! 💌
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Net galley for the ARC! While I enjoyed the setting and premise of the book (it seemed super promising!!!) I think some of it just kind of fell flat/ overdone for me. The whole idea of Cece starting over in a new town, new job, new lease on life was really interesting and I enjoyed the growth she had as a character. Some of my issues however were her really vague reasoning for ending her engagement in the beginning, I felt it was just kind of said and done and given a brief “he was too secure” reasoning that I felt just was kind of annoying. She then immediately meets the total opposite of her ex- fiancé and starts an emotionally unavailable but also still have feelings for me even though we agreed to keep this no strings attached relationship. Some of her behavior was just very surface level and unlike able.
The first half of the book was a little slow but enjoyable and the second half took this unexpected and I thought unnecessary turn when her new fling was kicked out of his boarding school because of her ex fiancé and almost had a weird revenge plot to that. I would have enjoyed the book more had it just focused on her finding her place in this post breakup world without some of the side plots that seemed just for the dramatics. Some of the dialogue around her swimming career and her relationship with her father were sooooooo present when her relationship with her father now was quite dull but she still held on to so much resentment that never actually got solved or said.
I think all in all I did enjoy aspects of this book and others were just blah to me. If it had more focus on cece now as she is and less of her parents relationship I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
The first half of the book was a little slow but enjoyable and the second half took this unexpected and I thought unnecessary turn when her new fling was kicked out of his boarding school because of her ex fiancé and almost had a weird revenge plot to that. I would have enjoyed the book more had it just focused on her finding her place in this post breakup world without some of the side plots that seemed just for the dramatics. Some of the dialogue around her swimming career and her relationship with her father were sooooooo present when her relationship with her father now was quite dull but she still held on to so much resentment that never actually got solved or said.
I think all in all I did enjoy aspects of this book and others were just blah to me. If it had more focus on cece now as she is and less of her parents relationship I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2026
A woman starting over in a small beach community with a shipyard single neighbor… sign me up!! I’m always drawn to books that take place along a coast, especially if it has small town vibes. I was excited to read this one since summer has just started.
Cece Downing has just ended her engagement with her fiancé and moves to New London, Connecticut, where she lands a job working at an oyster farm. Her neighbor down the street drives a beat up old truck and works at the shipyard. He grabs her attention each day as he drives by. When they met in person at the local bar, they hit it off and end up back at his place. After Cece is conflicted with what her family thinks she should do and what makes her happy. This contemporary romance is light on the romance and more heavy on the story of the people in this community. Those who like their romance books spicy will not find much in this book as it feels more like a Hallmark movie, especially with the rich fiancé making a return and the blue-collar love interest laying low while Cece works on what she wants. Cece seems to be very indecisive throughout the book, which at times was frustrating, but that being said, I still enjoyed this book. I read romance books as a break from my darker reads, and I don’t always need it to be spicy to enjoy it. There is not only drama with two love interests but also a political side to the town for those who want the oyster farm to expand and those who don’t, and that added to another layer of the story.
If you’re looking for a beachy hallmark movie type of book, you may enjoy this one.
Cece Downing has just ended her engagement with her fiancé and moves to New London, Connecticut, where she lands a job working at an oyster farm. Her neighbor down the street drives a beat up old truck and works at the shipyard. He grabs her attention each day as he drives by. When they met in person at the local bar, they hit it off and end up back at his place. After Cece is conflicted with what her family thinks she should do and what makes her happy. This contemporary romance is light on the romance and more heavy on the story of the people in this community. Those who like their romance books spicy will not find much in this book as it feels more like a Hallmark movie, especially with the rich fiancé making a return and the blue-collar love interest laying low while Cece works on what she wants. Cece seems to be very indecisive throughout the book, which at times was frustrating, but that being said, I still enjoyed this book. I read romance books as a break from my darker reads, and I don’t always need it to be spicy to enjoy it. There is not only drama with two love interests but also a political side to the town for those who want the oyster farm to expand and those who don’t, and that added to another layer of the story.
If you’re looking for a beachy hallmark movie type of book, you may enjoy this one.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain mild spoilers
I enjoyed that I didn't know where this story was going and that I was just along for the ride. I loved that it was a romance but also about finding your spark and doing what makes you happy.
Cece kept us on our toes, I was yelling and cheering for her and I was so here for her journey. Getting to see her grow and blossom was so worth it.
Jonathan and Morgan were our leading men and I enjoyed the tension of the love triangle. I was rooting for one more than the other, but I won't spoil it! We had to go through the whole process, but again I really appreciated the things Cece went through. Her storyline was so well done, I liked that she found herself and her passion and the romance was in addition to that.
The side characters and side stories in the book added so much depth. It was a well rounded book with so much going on besides just the romance.
This was a great book for anyone looking for a book about a women finding her way and making things happen with the extra bonus of finding herself a great man.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #CeceDowningsStartOverSummer #NetGalley
I enjoyed that I didn't know where this story was going and that I was just along for the ride. I loved that it was a romance but also about finding your spark and doing what makes you happy.
Cece kept us on our toes, I was yelling and cheering for her and I was so here for her journey. Getting to see her grow and blossom was so worth it.
Jonathan and Morgan were our leading men and I enjoyed the tension of the love triangle. I was rooting for one more than the other, but I won't spoil it! We had to go through the whole process, but again I really appreciated the things Cece went through. Her storyline was so well done, I liked that she found herself and her passion and the romance was in addition to that.
The side characters and side stories in the book added so much depth. It was a well rounded book with so much going on besides just the romance.
This was a great book for anyone looking for a book about a women finding her way and making things happen with the extra bonus of finding herself a great man.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #CeceDowningsStartOverSummer #NetGalley
June 17, 2026
Thanks to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the gifted e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!
Read this book if you like: small town Connecticut, starting over, finding yourself, oysters, and family drama
Spice: none
A week ago, thirty-something CeCe Downing had everything going for her—a job as an actuary, a wealthy fiancé, and a future mapped out for her. Now she’s lost her job, broken up with her fiancé, and finds herself renting a pool house in New London, CT, and working on an oyster farm. She’s never done manual labor before, and her coworkers don’t respect her. Cece wonders if she’s made a huge mistake. But over the summer she learns much about herself and the surrounding community, including her grouchy but ruggedly handsome neighbor, Morgan! And as summer comes to an end she’s faced with the choice of which version of her life she wants to live.
This is a slow burn and I mean slow! But I loved it. The setting drew me in. I could see the water, the town, and the oyster farm. I felt Cece’s frustration as she struggled to earn her place on her job. And I liked how raw and real her relationship with Morgan felt. I could relate to her struggle over whether to go back to her familiar, predictable life, or stay in the unknown. Overall I found it a very satisfying story of finding your true self and deciding what kind of life to live.
The narrator did an excellent job bringing all the characters with their various accents to life. Sound quality was excellent even at 2x.
Read this book if you like: small town Connecticut, starting over, finding yourself, oysters, and family drama
Spice: none
A week ago, thirty-something CeCe Downing had everything going for her—a job as an actuary, a wealthy fiancé, and a future mapped out for her. Now she’s lost her job, broken up with her fiancé, and finds herself renting a pool house in New London, CT, and working on an oyster farm. She’s never done manual labor before, and her coworkers don’t respect her. Cece wonders if she’s made a huge mistake. But over the summer she learns much about herself and the surrounding community, including her grouchy but ruggedly handsome neighbor, Morgan! And as summer comes to an end she’s faced with the choice of which version of her life she wants to live.
This is a slow burn and I mean slow! But I loved it. The setting drew me in. I could see the water, the town, and the oyster farm. I felt Cece’s frustration as she struggled to earn her place on her job. And I liked how raw and real her relationship with Morgan felt. I could relate to her struggle over whether to go back to her familiar, predictable life, or stay in the unknown. Overall I found it a very satisfying story of finding your true self and deciding what kind of life to live.
The narrator did an excellent job bringing all the characters with their various accents to life. Sound quality was excellent even at 2x.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️ My review: I like a "summer of reinvention" tale and had high hopes for Cece. She's an actuary who has been fired, broke off her engagement, and is isolating on the shore to get her act together. She starts to work for an oyster farm and she lives in an old hippie's pool house. Morgan is across the street and Cece begins a no strings attached fling with him. Then she gets dragged into the middle of the oyster farm expansion town fight.
I wanted to like this book but Cece and her complete indecision in all aspects of life was annoying. She wants a break from 9-5, then she interviews for a new job, she breaks off her engagement then she goes out with her ex fiance, she is hot for Morgan and then she's not, she hates manual labor, then it's all she lives for. It was a lot of back and forth and kind of boring. And the way everything meshes together (and pulls apart) at the end is pretty unrealistic. Some completely unrealistic connections and realizations come to light. Maybe this is what happens when a man writes a FMC.
Thank you to Dutton Publishing and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
I wanted to like this book but Cece and her complete indecision in all aspects of life was annoying. She wants a break from 9-5, then she interviews for a new job, she breaks off her engagement then she goes out with her ex fiance, she is hot for Morgan and then she's not, she hates manual labor, then it's all she lives for. It was a lot of back and forth and kind of boring. And the way everything meshes together (and pulls apart) at the end is pretty unrealistic. Some completely unrealistic connections and realizations come to light. Maybe this is what happens when a man writes a FMC.
Thank you to Dutton Publishing and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
April 27, 2026
This is a bright, uplifting story about second chances, self-growth and finding your way when life doesn’t go as planned. Soon Wiley’s writing is warm and engaging, this is the perfect summer read full of charm, hope and the promise of new beginnings.
I really loved Cece as a character, even when she was a little frustrating. Honestly, her “hot mess” moments felt incredibly real to me as someone who did not have their life figured out in my late 20s/early 30s. Her internal dialogue and path toward self-discovery felt very relatable. Her character arc is one of the strongest parts of the book, and I enjoyed the mix of side characters surrounding her because they all added something meaningful to her journey.
The setting was another highlight for me! Even without having been to New London, I could vividly picture it. The salt air, the local bar, the tight-knit community, the shipyard workers and college professors. It felt immersive in a way that made it easy to sink into, like you could step right into Cece’s story.
What I appreciated most, though, is this isn't your typical summer rom-com (even if the cover may lead you to believe that). At its core, it’s about figuring out what kind of life you actually want vs the one you always envisioned for yourself, even when that path might disappoint others. Cece’s journey is funny, heartfelt and sometimes frustrating in the most human way, which makes her growth all the more satisfying to watch. Definitely recommend picking this one up!
I really loved Cece as a character, even when she was a little frustrating. Honestly, her “hot mess” moments felt incredibly real to me as someone who did not have their life figured out in my late 20s/early 30s. Her internal dialogue and path toward self-discovery felt very relatable. Her character arc is one of the strongest parts of the book, and I enjoyed the mix of side characters surrounding her because they all added something meaningful to her journey.
The setting was another highlight for me! Even without having been to New London, I could vividly picture it. The salt air, the local bar, the tight-knit community, the shipyard workers and college professors. It felt immersive in a way that made it easy to sink into, like you could step right into Cece’s story.
What I appreciated most, though, is this isn't your typical summer rom-com (even if the cover may lead you to believe that). At its core, it’s about figuring out what kind of life you actually want vs the one you always envisioned for yourself, even when that path might disappoint others. Cece’s journey is funny, heartfelt and sometimes frustrating in the most human way, which makes her growth all the more satisfying to watch. Definitely recommend picking this one up!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Dutton for the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cece Downing's Start Over Summer is a story about a gal named, you guessed it, Cece, who has been fired and recently broke up with her fiance, and decides to try *checks notes* oyster farming in New England. Not the path I would've taken, but hey, Cece is Going Through It. In fact, I think that should've been the name of the book. I suppose she technically starts over (and over, and over) a few times,
All the men in this book kind of suck, and I couldn't figure out if it was a stylistic choice so we could feel better about our heroine, or not. The only character I liked has some unfortunate character development in the third act.
I was not a fan of the insta-love pitched as “love at first sight” or the sort of on-again-then-off-again situationships. The timeline varying back and forth with little to no heads up didn't help this confusion. Anyways, read this book if reading about other people's terrible decision-making helps you feel better about your own. It stressed me out too much to enjoy.
Cece Downing's Start Over Summer is a story about a gal named, you guessed it, Cece, who has been fired and recently broke up with her fiance, and decides to try *checks notes* oyster farming in New England. Not the path I would've taken, but hey, Cece is Going Through It. In fact, I think that should've been the name of the book. I suppose she technically starts over (and over, and over) a few times,
All the men in this book kind of suck, and I couldn't figure out if it was a stylistic choice so we could feel better about our heroine, or not. The only character I liked has some unfortunate character development in the third act.
I was not a fan of the insta-love pitched as “love at first sight” or the sort of on-again-then-off-again situationships. The timeline varying back and forth with little to no heads up didn't help this confusion. Anyways, read this book if reading about other people's terrible decision-making helps you feel better about your own. It stressed me out too much to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I continue to appreciate this author’s writing style. That said, I found it difficult to fully connect with the story. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, and many of them (including the main character) came across as unlikable.
I especially struggled with how the fiancé was portrayed. It was hard to see him as the villain, and I often found myself questioning the main character’s choices. At times, she seemed more focused on who might “take” her father rather than on his overall well-being. Throughout the story, she comes across as someone unsure of what she truly wants, yet willing to hurt those around her (whether it’s her fiancé, her love interest, or even her landlord) in the process.
While I admired the writing itself, the character dynamics made it challenging for me to feel fully invested.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I continue to appreciate this author’s writing style. That said, I found it difficult to fully connect with the story. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, and many of them (including the main character) came across as unlikable.
I especially struggled with how the fiancé was portrayed. It was hard to see him as the villain, and I often found myself questioning the main character’s choices. At times, she seemed more focused on who might “take” her father rather than on his overall well-being. Throughout the story, she comes across as someone unsure of what she truly wants, yet willing to hurt those around her (whether it’s her fiancé, her love interest, or even her landlord) in the process.
While I admired the writing itself, the character dynamics made it challenging for me to feel fully invested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cece Downing's Start Over Summer follows Cece Downing as she tries to rebuild her life after losing her job as an actuary, ending a relationship, and relocating to an oyster farm in Connecticut. Much of the story centers on Cece processing what she wants in life.
Throughout the book, Cece wrestles with what she truly wants. She goes back and forth often, unsure of her direction, and the narrative reflects that as she works through her uncertainty. The romantic thread, particularly her evolving feelings for Morgan, a shipyard worker, becomes part of her larger journey toward deciding what kind of future she wants for herself. While the premise is engaging, the story does feel repetitive at times as Cece circles the same questions and doubts. Still, her struggle to define her own path forms the emotional core of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Throughout the book, Cece wrestles with what she truly wants. She goes back and forth often, unsure of her direction, and the narrative reflects that as she works through her uncertainty. The romantic thread, particularly her evolving feelings for Morgan, a shipyard worker, becomes part of her larger journey toward deciding what kind of future she wants for herself. While the premise is engaging, the story does feel repetitive at times as Cece circles the same questions and doubts. Still, her struggle to define her own path forms the emotional core of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cece breaks up with her fiancé' and recently fired from her position as an actuary. She finds a room in New London, CT and is trying to figure out how to get her life back on track.
It is a stretch to believe that she is working as a deckhand on an oyster boat, but she is very determined to make this job work.
Last year we happened to be in New London, CT during the summer. We were able to spend several nights at Crocker's Boatyard in New London, CT (a highly recommended Harvest Host location where we parked the RV). So it was fun for me to "relive" last years vacation a bit. Definitely a great place for seafood!
I enjoyed this romance, it was a nice break from some of the other books I've been reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for approving my request to read Cece Downing's Start Over Summer in exchange for an honest review. Approx 368 pages, release date is June 16, 2026.
It is a stretch to believe that she is working as a deckhand on an oyster boat, but she is very determined to make this job work.
Last year we happened to be in New London, CT during the summer. We were able to spend several nights at Crocker's Boatyard in New London, CT (a highly recommended Harvest Host location where we parked the RV). So it was fun for me to "relive" last years vacation a bit. Definitely a great place for seafood!
I enjoyed this romance, it was a nice break from some of the other books I've been reading.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for approving my request to read Cece Downing's Start Over Summer in exchange for an honest review. Approx 368 pages, release date is June 16, 2026.
May 25, 2026
3.5/5. For Cece Downing, calculating and avoiding risk was literally her job. But after being fired from her actuary position in NYC and breaking up with her fiancé, she does nothing but take risks by moving to the small town of New London and working at an oyster farm. As she works through her premature midlife crisis (she’s only in her early thirties, after all), she just might discover that her biggest risks yield the greatest rewards.
I mean it as a big compliment when I say this is a great beach/pool read. The descriptions of a small-town New England summer were lovely. I wanted to be there with the characters, eating oysters and drinking white wine after a day on the boat. And I loved the smart but effortless writing style. The only thing that stops me from rating this higher is Cece herself. While I can relate to so many things she’s going through, her decisions and deceptions were really frustrating. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I mean it as a big compliment when I say this is a great beach/pool read. The descriptions of a small-town New England summer were lovely. I wanted to be there with the characters, eating oysters and drinking white wine after a day on the boat. And I loved the smart but effortless writing style. The only thing that stops me from rating this higher is Cece herself. While I can relate to so many things she’s going through, her decisions and deceptions were really frustrating. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
June 23, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up, bc not every read has to be mind blowing to be good. Would I reread? Maybe not, but I did enjoy the process of how the story unfolded.
Cece moves to New London to begin again after life throws her through some pretty chaotic hoops. She is fired from her actuary job. Undervalued by her fiance, she ends their engagement. Her settling into New London means shes is working in an oyster farm. I enjoyed how she navigates finding herself in all the change. I think who we are and what we value are determined by adversity. She was pretty immature in the beginning and middle. The reunion is when she turned things over for good. I appreciated her processing the event. The writing here turned an "okay" but to a "good" one. Considering content, I believe it's inoffensive to a larger audience and therefore would be received well for lots of people!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.
Cece moves to New London to begin again after life throws her through some pretty chaotic hoops. She is fired from her actuary job. Undervalued by her fiance, she ends their engagement. Her settling into New London means shes is working in an oyster farm. I enjoyed how she navigates finding herself in all the change. I think who we are and what we value are determined by adversity. She was pretty immature in the beginning and middle. The reunion is when she turned things over for good. I appreciated her processing the event. The writing here turned an "okay" but to a "good" one. Considering content, I believe it's inoffensive to a larger audience and therefore would be received well for lots of people!
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2026
Cece Downing’s Start Over Summer was such an easy, cozy read. The setting pulled me right in - a familiar small harbor town, fishing boats, salty air, and streets where everyone knows everyone. Living in a small coastal town myself, it felt especially familiar.
The story follows Cece as she steps into a new chapter of life, and I loved watching things slowly unfold for her over the course of the summer. It was thoughtful without being heavy…perfect to read with your morning coffee or while sitting outside in the evening when the air cools off. Spoiler alert: she ends up right where she’s supposed to be, and I love that.
If you enjoy stories about second chances, coastal towns, and characters finding their footing again, this is a really great one to pick up. A cozy, feel-good summer read.
The story follows Cece as she steps into a new chapter of life, and I loved watching things slowly unfold for her over the course of the summer. It was thoughtful without being heavy…perfect to read with your morning coffee or while sitting outside in the evening when the air cools off. Spoiler alert: she ends up right where she’s supposed to be, and I love that.
If you enjoy stories about second chances, coastal towns, and characters finding their footing again, this is a really great one to pick up. A cozy, feel-good summer read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this book, but Cece’s constant indecision made it difficult for me to connect with her character. She was engaged to a good man, had supportive parents who wanted her to achieve great things, and then suddenly leaves to work at an oyster farm—which honestly left me wondering, “What is going on?”
Things became even more frustrating when she developed feelings for a guy she met in town, only to turn around and go back to her ex-fiancé. I struggled to understand her choices, and instead of becoming more invested in her journey, I found myself growing increasingly annoyed.
The pacing didn’t help either. The story felt very slow, and many parts seemed repetitive, making it feel like the same conflicts were being revisited over and over again. By the end, I was more eager for the book to be finished than excited to see how it would end.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
Things became even more frustrating when she developed feelings for a guy she met in town, only to turn around and go back to her ex-fiancé. I struggled to understand her choices, and instead of becoming more invested in her journey, I found myself growing increasingly annoyed.
The pacing didn’t help either. The story felt very slow, and many parts seemed repetitive, making it feel like the same conflicts were being revisited over and over again. By the end, I was more eager for the book to be finished than excited to see how it would end.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm amazed that I got through this book, almost DNF'd it multiple times. What annoyed me the most was the fact that all the female characters were highly emotional in a ridiculous way that made no sense -- like they were all in the wrong (silly females!) and had to prove themselves to the men in the book. It was highly distasteful.
I felt no real emotional connections between any characters, everyone was just going through the motions, and the writing from chapter to chapter was abrupt. I wanted to love this book, it looked like a fun beach romcom. I did like the FMC working on an oyster farm, but alas, that was the only thing I liked.
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
I felt no real emotional connections between any characters, everyone was just going through the motions, and the writing from chapter to chapter was abrupt. I wanted to love this book, it looked like a fun beach romcom. I did like the FMC working on an oyster farm, but alas, that was the only thing I liked.
*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
June 22, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
I wanted to like this book so much but it just fell flat for me. I felt main character, Cece, was unrelatable and underdeveloped. I really wanted to relate to either her indecision about her career or her love life or family life, but it all came out stilted and disjointed. She just up and decides to work at an oyster farm and then ends up as a supervisor. I never saw any chemistry between her and Morgan other than physical and by the end they were living together. Then the dad went from underachieving spouse to unable to care for himself at all and living with the sister that was a minor mention. Overall, the pacing of the book was also very slow and it just wasn’t for me.
I wanted to like this book so much but it just fell flat for me. I felt main character, Cece, was unrelatable and underdeveloped. I really wanted to relate to either her indecision about her career or her love life or family life, but it all came out stilted and disjointed. She just up and decides to work at an oyster farm and then ends up as a supervisor. I never saw any chemistry between her and Morgan other than physical and by the end they were living together. Then the dad went from underachieving spouse to unable to care for himself at all and living with the sister that was a minor mention. Overall, the pacing of the book was also very slow and it just wasn’t for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
I think I loved the idea of this story more than the story itself. I loved exploring Cece’s midlife crisis, reading as she re-evaluates her priorities. She makes mistakes. She accidentally hurts people and has to make amends.
Where I struggled is the balance between plot and character study. Cece’s inner monologue gets repetitive, and at times we get POVs from other characters. It pulls away from the driving action, the town division of NIMBYs vs everyday people. The story struggles to keep an even footing, which brought me out of it.
Overall though it makes me miss New England summers a little bit. Not enough to brave the humidity but enough to maybe order some oysters this weekend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Soon Wiley, and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Where I struggled is the balance between plot and character study. Cece’s inner monologue gets repetitive, and at times we get POVs from other characters. It pulls away from the driving action, the town division of NIMBYs vs everyday people. The story struggles to keep an even footing, which brought me out of it.
Overall though it makes me miss New England summers a little bit. Not enough to brave the humidity but enough to maybe order some oysters this weekend.
Thank you to NetGalley, Soon Wiley, and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2026
I enjoyed this story and thought it was a cute, fairly quick read. We meet Cece, a risk averse woman who has spent her whole life following a meticulous plan. Until she loses her job as an actuary. She finds herself in the middle of an identity crisis, and upends her whole life. She moves to a new town and starts working as an oyster farmer. As the months go on, she ebbs and flows between going back to her old life and staying where she’s at. I enjoyed Cece’s character growth and the other characters in the book. I thought the pacing was overall good - there were some slow points and times I found myself wanting to yell at her. Ultimately, I was satisfied with the ending and can appreciate her journey. Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC.
Did Not Finish
April 13, 2026Thank you so much to Dutton, Soon Wiley and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I am sad to say that I have dnf'ed this book at 23%. I had a really hard time with the writing style of this book and the word choices that the author made when describing certain things within the story. The decisions that CeCe made were very unrealistic and took me completely out of the story, especially with the way she got with the MMC. It's not how women act after a long term break up like that and a kind of misogynistic view of women. The setting is great and the premise is great, but the execution isn't very well done.
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