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Chasing Summer: A Novel
“A sparkling summer novel, and a gorgeous getaway to the beaches, vineyards, and rustic charms of Prince Edward County. Chasing Summer is an engaging ode to first love, creative ambition, friendship, family, and forgiveness.” – Kerry Clare, author of Definitely Thriving
Two summer flings, one tiny town, zero chance of sticking to the script.
When down-on-love screenwriter Elise Hunter moves to idyllic Prince Edward County for the summer, she wonders if she’ll ever find the kind of romance she’s so good at writing about. The last thing she expects is to fall for not one but two attractive suitors.
A chance encounter with Ben, a charming and handsome actor, during her sister’s bachelorette party presents an Ben offers to be her fake wedding date to appease her nightmare mother, if Elise will be a writing teacher at his family’s theatre camp. The deal is on!
But when she moves into her idyllic lakefront summer cabin, Elise discovers that her neighbour is the first man she ever fell in love with. Dave is just as handsome as she remembers, but he also ghosted her. Can she trust him again? Or is Ben the better choice?
As Elise tries to work through her unresolved feelings for Dave, her fake feelings for Ben start to feel real, leaving her torn between the love of her life and the opportunity to start over with someone new.
Two summer flings, one tiny town, zero chance of sticking to the script.
When down-on-love screenwriter Elise Hunter moves to idyllic Prince Edward County for the summer, she wonders if she’ll ever find the kind of romance she’s so good at writing about. The last thing she expects is to fall for not one but two attractive suitors.
A chance encounter with Ben, a charming and handsome actor, during her sister’s bachelorette party presents an Ben offers to be her fake wedding date to appease her nightmare mother, if Elise will be a writing teacher at his family’s theatre camp. The deal is on!
But when she moves into her idyllic lakefront summer cabin, Elise discovers that her neighbour is the first man she ever fell in love with. Dave is just as handsome as she remembers, but he also ghosted her. Can she trust him again? Or is Ben the better choice?
As Elise tries to work through her unresolved feelings for Dave, her fake feelings for Ben start to feel real, leaving her torn between the love of her life and the opportunity to start over with someone new.
Audible Audio
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 26, 2026
My grabby hands were completely out for this summery cover, the Prince Edward County setting, and the promise of a love triangle! And I think the love triangle was probably the strongest part for me. I definitely had a clear favourite, and I had a feeling he’d be the endgame choice, but I appreciate that it wasn’t painfully obvious from the start who Elise would end up with.
But overall, everything felt very underdeveloped, with a lot of telling versus showing. The story was juggling so many different things at once: fake dating Ben (the celebrity love interest), a second chance situation with David (the man who ghosted her ten years ago), the theatre camp, the family drama, and Elise’s career as a screenwriter for Christmas romances. There was a lot happening.
Even the setting itself wasn’t as immersive as I hoped for. With it compared to Carley Fortune, I really expected to FEEL those Canadian rural summer vibes, but it seemed like the story kept pulling away from Prince Edward County so Elise could deal with conflicts back in Toronto. Again, it was just a little all over the place. I never really settled in.
(spice level: 2 open-door scenes, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
But overall, everything felt very underdeveloped, with a lot of telling versus showing. The story was juggling so many different things at once: fake dating Ben (the celebrity love interest), a second chance situation with David (the man who ghosted her ten years ago), the theatre camp, the family drama, and Elise’s career as a screenwriter for Christmas romances. There was a lot happening.
Even the setting itself wasn’t as immersive as I hoped for. With it compared to Carley Fortune, I really expected to FEEL those Canadian rural summer vibes, but it seemed like the story kept pulling away from Prince Edward County so Elise could deal with conflicts back in Toronto. Again, it was just a little all over the place. I never really settled in.
(spice level: 2 open-door scenes, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2026
Title:
Chasing Summer
Author: Frankie Scott
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 26, 2026
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from HarperCollins Canada and HaperCollins Canada Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Nostalgic • Breezy • Cluttered
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When down-on-love screenwriter Elise Hunter moves to idyllic Prince Edward County for the summer, the last thing she expects is to fall for not one but two attractive suitors. But will she find the kind of romance she’s so good at writing about? And if so, who will she choose?
Elise’s passion is making movies, but while she excels at writing romance, she’s not interested in dating losers just so she can be in a relationship—she has bigger plans.
Unfortunately, those plans fall through when she’s unexpectedly fired on set, right in front of Ben, the charming star. But a chance encounter with him during her sister’s bachelorette party presents an opportunity: Ben offers to be her fake wedding date to appease her nightmare mother, if Elise will be the writing teacher at Ben’s family theatre camp in beautiful Prince Edward County. The deal is on!
She gives herself the summer to figure out who she wants to be, not to mention have some sexy experiences to fuel her writing. But on the day she moves into the idyllic lakefront summer cabin, she discovers that her neighbour is the first man she ever fell in love with. Dave is just as handsome as she remembers, but he also once ghosted her. Can she trust him again? Or is Ben the better choice?
As Elise tries to work through her unresolved feelings for Dave, her fake feelings for Ben start to feel real, leaving her torn between the love of her life and the opportunity to start over with someone new.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Writing under the new pen name Frankie Scott, Canadian author Zoe Whittall, switches gears with her debut romance novel, Chasing Summer. While I don't know the author personally, her father was my third grade teacher, so anytime she writes a new book it's an instant add to my list of books to read. And I was especially excited for this one with in being set in Ontario's Prince Edward County.
While I loved getting all of the little references to places I am aware of or have been before in that part of Ontario, I cannot truly say that it transported me to Prince Edward County, which is what I was really craving. I also had a hard time buying into any of the romance, throughout most of the book, I honestly thought Elise would choose herself because there seemed to be lacking any real chemistry.
But the biggest thing this book gets wrong is juggling way too many plotlines. There's second chance romance, fake dating, self-discovery, family drama, and camp vibes, yet none of these threads is able to be fully fleshed and ends up keeping the reader at a distance as a result.
The audiobook, narrated by Jean Ann Douglass, had good pacing and gave a nostalgic vibe, but I had difficulty distinguishing between characters, which made for a bumpy journey as I kept having to backtrack to make sure I wasn't missing out.
Chasing Summer has good summer vibes despite being somewhat of an underwhelming story. In all honesty, I think it would have made a better TV movie than it did a book. Those who attended summer theatre camps will definitely get more out of romance than I certainly did. Even though I didn't love this one, I will continue to pick up this author's books under either pen name.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• love triangles
• Prince Edward County
• camp vibes
⚠️ CW: sexual content, toxic relationship, death, sibling death, chronic illness, diabetes, medical trauma, grief, cursing, alcohol
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Ambition is not an identity."
Author: Frankie Scott
Genre: Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: May 26, 2026
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from HarperCollins Canada and HaperCollins Canada Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Nostalgic • Breezy • Cluttered
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When down-on-love screenwriter Elise Hunter moves to idyllic Prince Edward County for the summer, the last thing she expects is to fall for not one but two attractive suitors. But will she find the kind of romance she’s so good at writing about? And if so, who will she choose?
Elise’s passion is making movies, but while she excels at writing romance, she’s not interested in dating losers just so she can be in a relationship—she has bigger plans.
Unfortunately, those plans fall through when she’s unexpectedly fired on set, right in front of Ben, the charming star. But a chance encounter with him during her sister’s bachelorette party presents an opportunity: Ben offers to be her fake wedding date to appease her nightmare mother, if Elise will be the writing teacher at Ben’s family theatre camp in beautiful Prince Edward County. The deal is on!
She gives herself the summer to figure out who she wants to be, not to mention have some sexy experiences to fuel her writing. But on the day she moves into the idyllic lakefront summer cabin, she discovers that her neighbour is the first man she ever fell in love with. Dave is just as handsome as she remembers, but he also once ghosted her. Can she trust him again? Or is Ben the better choice?
As Elise tries to work through her unresolved feelings for Dave, her fake feelings for Ben start to feel real, leaving her torn between the love of her life and the opportunity to start over with someone new.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Writing under the new pen name Frankie Scott, Canadian author Zoe Whittall, switches gears with her debut romance novel, Chasing Summer. While I don't know the author personally, her father was my third grade teacher, so anytime she writes a new book it's an instant add to my list of books to read. And I was especially excited for this one with in being set in Ontario's Prince Edward County.
While I loved getting all of the little references to places I am aware of or have been before in that part of Ontario, I cannot truly say that it transported me to Prince Edward County, which is what I was really craving. I also had a hard time buying into any of the romance, throughout most of the book, I honestly thought Elise would choose herself because there seemed to be lacking any real chemistry.
But the biggest thing this book gets wrong is juggling way too many plotlines. There's second chance romance, fake dating, self-discovery, family drama, and camp vibes, yet none of these threads is able to be fully fleshed and ends up keeping the reader at a distance as a result.
The audiobook, narrated by Jean Ann Douglass, had good pacing and gave a nostalgic vibe, but I had difficulty distinguishing between characters, which made for a bumpy journey as I kept having to backtrack to make sure I wasn't missing out.
Chasing Summer has good summer vibes despite being somewhat of an underwhelming story. In all honesty, I think it would have made a better TV movie than it did a book. Those who attended summer theatre camps will definitely get more out of romance than I certainly did. Even though I didn't love this one, I will continue to pick up this author's books under either pen name.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• love triangles
• Prince Edward County
• camp vibes
⚠️ CW: sexual content, toxic relationship, death, sibling death, chronic illness, diabetes, medical trauma, grief, cursing, alcohol
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Ambition is not an identity."
June 2, 2026
“Chasing Summer” by Frankie Scott
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🎙️ Narrator: Jean Ann Douglass
📚 Pub Date: 05.26.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Chasing Summer” by Frankie Scott is an endearing romance novel full of self-reflection and discovery.
After finding herself suddenly and surprisingly unemployed, Elise decides to spontaneously take a position at a summer theatre camp following a job offer from Ben, who is an actor that she knows. Though Elise has a firm “no dating actors” policy, she finds herself swayed as Ben flirts with her in a way that makes her question if there could be more to their relationship.
This summer position brings back memories of Elise being a camp counsellor at a theatre camp when she was 19, where she first fell in love, and where her heart was badly broken at the end of that summer. Ironically, this summer she runs into her first love, Dave, from that fateful summer camp in her youth, and she ends up spending the summer in the cabin next door to him.
Elise chooses to spend the summer finding herself, writing a new script, and getting out of her routine. And though she does do all of those things, she also spends a lot of time reflecting on what she really wants out of life and a relationship. (Possibly too much time overthinking everything!)
Elise’s sister’s wedding also takes place during this same summer of personal unrest for Elise. Dealing with family drama, and learning unexpected secrets about their childhood makes her summer even more challenging.
With two love interests, she is constantly comparing the two men and imagining what her life would be like if she settled down with either of them. I did feel that the back and forth between the Ben and Dave went on longer than necessary, but I appreciated Elise’s personal growth and the way that the book ended.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Jean Ann Douglass, was really great to listen to.
Thank you to Frankie Scott, Jean Ann Douglass, NetGalley & HarperCollins Canada Audio for the Listener Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#ChasingSummer
#FrankieScott
#JeanAnnDouglass
#NetGalley
#HarperCollinsCanadaAudio
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🎙️ Narrator: Jean Ann Douglass
📚 Pub Date: 05.26.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Chasing Summer” by Frankie Scott is an endearing romance novel full of self-reflection and discovery.
After finding herself suddenly and surprisingly unemployed, Elise decides to spontaneously take a position at a summer theatre camp following a job offer from Ben, who is an actor that she knows. Though Elise has a firm “no dating actors” policy, she finds herself swayed as Ben flirts with her in a way that makes her question if there could be more to their relationship.
This summer position brings back memories of Elise being a camp counsellor at a theatre camp when she was 19, where she first fell in love, and where her heart was badly broken at the end of that summer. Ironically, this summer she runs into her first love, Dave, from that fateful summer camp in her youth, and she ends up spending the summer in the cabin next door to him.
Elise chooses to spend the summer finding herself, writing a new script, and getting out of her routine. And though she does do all of those things, she also spends a lot of time reflecting on what she really wants out of life and a relationship. (Possibly too much time overthinking everything!)
Elise’s sister’s wedding also takes place during this same summer of personal unrest for Elise. Dealing with family drama, and learning unexpected secrets about their childhood makes her summer even more challenging.
With two love interests, she is constantly comparing the two men and imagining what her life would be like if she settled down with either of them. I did feel that the back and forth between the Ben and Dave went on longer than necessary, but I appreciated Elise’s personal growth and the way that the book ended.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Jean Ann Douglass, was really great to listen to.
Thank you to Frankie Scott, Jean Ann Douglass, NetGalley & HarperCollins Canada Audio for the Listener Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#ChasingSummer
#FrankieScott
#JeanAnnDouglass
#NetGalley
#HarperCollinsCanadaAudio
May 26, 2026
2.75⭐️
I really wanted to love this romance set between Prince Edward County and Toronto, but unfortunately this one just didn’t fully land for me.
Elise gets fired from her screenwriter job and gets the opportunity to be a theatre summer camp counselor and teach kids about screenwriting for the summer. While there, she finds herself torn between Ben, the charming golden-boy actor whose family owns the camp, and David, the boy who broke her heart years ago as a teenager.
I absolutely loved all the Canadian references and settings and the light, summer-scape, breezy tone it had to it. The romance was set up with two potential love interests, but Ben seemed very underdeveloped compared to David, and his interactions with Elise stayed surface level, which really hinted at David being the endgame. Elise was a particularly frustrating character. She just seemed very confused and kept making what seemed like erratic decisions while looking to everyone else to take the lead. There were also a lot competing plot lines to follow: family drama, unhealed hurt, fake dating, and a love triangle. I ended up having trouble connecting to it all and felt like nothing ever got fully resolved.
I also struggled with the audiobook narration. I had a hard time distinguishing between the various characters’ voices, both male and female, to the point that I ended up switching to the physical book fairly early on because I couldn’t consistently follow who was speaking.
Overall, this is a fun, easy summer read with theatre/summer camp themes, charming Canadian settings, and romance at its core. I think former theatre kids, summer camp lovers, and readers looking for a distinctly Canadian romance will likely enjoy this one more than I did.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Canada Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.
I really wanted to love this romance set between Prince Edward County and Toronto, but unfortunately this one just didn’t fully land for me.
Elise gets fired from her screenwriter job and gets the opportunity to be a theatre summer camp counselor and teach kids about screenwriting for the summer. While there, she finds herself torn between Ben, the charming golden-boy actor whose family owns the camp, and David, the boy who broke her heart years ago as a teenager.
I absolutely loved all the Canadian references and settings and the light, summer-scape, breezy tone it had to it. The romance was set up with two potential love interests, but Ben seemed very underdeveloped compared to David, and his interactions with Elise stayed surface level, which really hinted at David being the endgame. Elise was a particularly frustrating character. She just seemed very confused and kept making what seemed like erratic decisions while looking to everyone else to take the lead. There were also a lot competing plot lines to follow: family drama, unhealed hurt, fake dating, and a love triangle. I ended up having trouble connecting to it all and felt like nothing ever got fully resolved.
I also struggled with the audiobook narration. I had a hard time distinguishing between the various characters’ voices, both male and female, to the point that I ended up switching to the physical book fairly early on because I couldn’t consistently follow who was speaking.
Overall, this is a fun, easy summer read with theatre/summer camp themes, charming Canadian settings, and romance at its core. I think former theatre kids, summer camp lovers, and readers looking for a distinctly Canadian romance will likely enjoy this one more than I did.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Canada Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.
May 14, 2026
*Review of ARC audiobook from NetGalley*
Chasing Summer feels like a classic a made for TV movie, where the FMC being a screen writer for Christmas romance movies and then ends up living her own romance while in Prince Edward County, a small town getaway along Lake Ontario while teaching at a Film camp. I was really looking forward to reading this summer romance but felt like the entire arc was relatively superficial. The problems Elise was having in her life, like with her mom were never truly resolved. The book continued on as though we didn’t need further explanation, meanwhile at times there was more details. It sets up to be a why choose, but I felt that one of the men never stood a chance. It was very clear throughout who she would end up with. At the end he makes a grand gesture, as with all romances, but we never get into them talking more about it or working through more of the issues that were raised - it was just we’ll deal with it. Because of this lack of depth, I wasn’t able to sink my teeth into this one as much as I had hoped I would. While I was entertained enough to keep listening and hoping that somehow she wouldn’t chose the obviously wrong man, I can’t justify rating this more than 2.5/5⭐️ rounded up for GoodReads. It’s a fast paced romance, with subtle overarching themes of self growth, forced proximity, reconnection. Good way to dip my toes into the summer romances.
Chasing Summer feels like a classic a made for TV movie, where the FMC being a screen writer for Christmas romance movies and then ends up living her own romance while in Prince Edward County, a small town getaway along Lake Ontario while teaching at a Film camp. I was really looking forward to reading this summer romance but felt like the entire arc was relatively superficial. The problems Elise was having in her life, like with her mom were never truly resolved. The book continued on as though we didn’t need further explanation, meanwhile at times there was more details. It sets up to be a why choose, but I felt that one of the men never stood a chance. It was very clear throughout who she would end up with. At the end he makes a grand gesture, as with all romances, but we never get into them talking more about it or working through more of the issues that were raised - it was just we’ll deal with it. Because of this lack of depth, I wasn’t able to sink my teeth into this one as much as I had hoped I would. While I was entertained enough to keep listening and hoping that somehow she wouldn’t chose the obviously wrong man, I can’t justify rating this more than 2.5/5⭐️ rounded up for GoodReads. It’s a fast paced romance, with subtle overarching themes of self growth, forced proximity, reconnection. Good way to dip my toes into the summer romances.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced listening copy of Chasing Summer in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing Summer was an enjoyable summer romance that surprised me in a few ways.
One of the things I appreciated most was how realistic the relationships felt. Even with familiar romance elements like fake dating and a love triangle, nothing felt overly dramatic, forced, or cheesy. The characters felt like real people trying to navigate complicated emotions and life decisions, which made it easy to become invested in Elise’s journey.
I also enjoyed the setting of Prince Edward County and the behind-the-scenes glimpses into the movie industry. Both added a unique backdrop to the story and helped it stand out from other contemporary romances.
What worked especially well for me was the love triangle. This is not always a trope I enjoy, but it was handled thoughtfully here. I genuinely liked both Ben and Dave, and for much of the book I wasn’t sure who Elise would ultimately choose. Romance readers can often predict the ending early on, but this story kept me guessing longer than most.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jean Ann Douglass, who did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life. The narration added to my enjoyment of the book and made for an engaging listening experience.
If you’re looking for a romance that balances emotional authenticity with summer charm, Chasing Summer is well worth picking up.
Chasing Summer was an enjoyable summer romance that surprised me in a few ways.
One of the things I appreciated most was how realistic the relationships felt. Even with familiar romance elements like fake dating and a love triangle, nothing felt overly dramatic, forced, or cheesy. The characters felt like real people trying to navigate complicated emotions and life decisions, which made it easy to become invested in Elise’s journey.
I also enjoyed the setting of Prince Edward County and the behind-the-scenes glimpses into the movie industry. Both added a unique backdrop to the story and helped it stand out from other contemporary romances.
What worked especially well for me was the love triangle. This is not always a trope I enjoy, but it was handled thoughtfully here. I genuinely liked both Ben and Dave, and for much of the book I wasn’t sure who Elise would ultimately choose. Romance readers can often predict the ending early on, but this story kept me guessing longer than most.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jean Ann Douglass, who did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life. The narration added to my enjoyment of the book and made for an engaging listening experience.
If you’re looking for a romance that balances emotional authenticity with summer charm, Chasing Summer is well worth picking up.
Want to Read
February 21, 2026Prince Edward County, aka one of my favourite places on earth?! Sign. Me. Up.
July 8, 2026
-the one who got away VS a new potential romantic rival
-less of a love triangle and more like two dates with two different men within like two weeks time and then just crossing paths with them both cause they all work together and are living in a small town.
-warm & cozy, some serious issues of being forced to grow up too soon and the impact of parental expectations as an adult
-the wedding of FMC's lesbian sister 🏳️🌈♥️
-Small town lake life
-misogyny in the workplace
With the first line of the description of this book mentioning that she falls for two men I really thought that there'd be more of a love triangle. I picked my favorite man from the very beginning and it didn't change or even waver towards the other man at all.
I also had no idea going into this that it was a Canadian author AND set in Canada, so that was a neat surprise. I always love reading Canadian authors, even if unintentionally and will definitely be looking into her bibliography.
I absolutely cackled at these two quotes:
-"My dream is to make it big enough in America that they ask me to host the Junos."
-"The AD, Assistant Director, looked like a hostage. The second AD had to take off his Apple watch because it kept telling him to stop running so fast while he was standing in place."
This is warning that I'm about to make open ended statements about the end of the novel, read on if you'd like, or stop here if you don't even like the suggestion of a potential spoiler.
-By the end I actually wanted her to listen to her mother and be alone (it's a romance tho, so like she haaaad to end up with someone though)
-I preferred the other man.
-I feel like there's still soooo much the couple didn't have figured out.
-less of a love triangle and more like two dates with two different men within like two weeks time and then just crossing paths with them both cause they all work together and are living in a small town.
-warm & cozy, some serious issues of being forced to grow up too soon and the impact of parental expectations as an adult
-the wedding of FMC's lesbian sister 🏳️🌈♥️
-Small town lake life
-misogyny in the workplace
With the first line of the description of this book mentioning that she falls for two men I really thought that there'd be more of a love triangle. I picked my favorite man from the very beginning and it didn't change or even waver towards the other man at all.
I also had no idea going into this that it was a Canadian author AND set in Canada, so that was a neat surprise. I always love reading Canadian authors, even if unintentionally and will definitely be looking into her bibliography.
I absolutely cackled at these two quotes:
-"My dream is to make it big enough in America that they ask me to host the Junos."
-"The AD, Assistant Director, looked like a hostage. The second AD had to take off his Apple watch because it kept telling him to stop running so fast while he was standing in place."
This is warning that I'm about to make open ended statements about the end of the novel, read on if you'd like, or stop here if you don't even like the suggestion of a potential spoiler.
-By the end I actually wanted her to listen to her mother and be alone (it's a romance tho, so like she haaaad to end up with someone though)
-I preferred the other man.
-I feel like there's still soooo much the couple didn't have figured out.
May 26, 2026
Book Name: Chasing Summer
Author: Frankie Scott
***ALC Review***
⭐️Rating: (3.5/5)
Thank you @netgalley & @HarperCollins Canada Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing Summer is a Canadian summer romance set in Prince Edward County and Toronto, following Elise Hunter, a screenwriter who loses her job and ends up spending the season at a theatre camp, where she becomes caught in a love triangle between Ben, a charming actor, and David, her first love who reappears unexpectedly.
As a Canadian girlie, I really enjoyed this being my first book set in Canada, it made the reading experience feel extra familiar and fun. The Ontario summer setting, especially Prince Edward County, really gave it that warm, nostalgic, cottage-season feel.
I also appreciated Elise’s personal growth, particularly her decision to stand up to her boss despite the consequences, and her journey of figuring herself out while also trying to reconnect with her family. Those parts of her story felt more compelling than the romance at times.
That said, I struggled a bit with the romance overall. Ben felt quite underdeveloped, which made it hard to fully invest in that side of the love triangle, and some of Elise’s decisions felt a little frustrating or unclear because of that.
I also had occasional trouble distinguishing between characters in the audiobook narration, which made some dialogue scenes harder to follow.
Overall, it’s a light, easy summer read with strong Canadian vibes and self-discovery elements, but the romance and character depth didn’t fully land for me.
Author: Frankie Scott
***ALC Review***
⭐️Rating: (3.5/5)
Thank you @netgalley & @HarperCollins Canada Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Chasing Summer is a Canadian summer romance set in Prince Edward County and Toronto, following Elise Hunter, a screenwriter who loses her job and ends up spending the season at a theatre camp, where she becomes caught in a love triangle between Ben, a charming actor, and David, her first love who reappears unexpectedly.
As a Canadian girlie, I really enjoyed this being my first book set in Canada, it made the reading experience feel extra familiar and fun. The Ontario summer setting, especially Prince Edward County, really gave it that warm, nostalgic, cottage-season feel.
I also appreciated Elise’s personal growth, particularly her decision to stand up to her boss despite the consequences, and her journey of figuring herself out while also trying to reconnect with her family. Those parts of her story felt more compelling than the romance at times.
That said, I struggled a bit with the romance overall. Ben felt quite underdeveloped, which made it hard to fully invest in that side of the love triangle, and some of Elise’s decisions felt a little frustrating or unclear because of that.
I also had occasional trouble distinguishing between characters in the audiobook narration, which made some dialogue scenes harder to follow.
Overall, it’s a light, easy summer read with strong Canadian vibes and self-discovery elements, but the romance and character depth didn’t fully land for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was very excited to read this book because I love summer romances. This one takes place in Prince Edward County, a region I have visited before so I was expecting to feel the summer vibes and a cute romance. Unfortunately, it did not deliver for me. I felt like the story was always surface level. All the conflicts that the characters might have were resolved without deep conversations or without any conversations at all which bothered me.
Elise’s relationship with her mom is a big part of the story, but the ending was very disappointing. Once again, no real conversations about their issues took place between the two.
As for the romance, it was not my favourite. I hate miscommunication and there was a lot in this story. While the characters had conversations, once again, they didn’t go deep and try to really understand what the issue might be.
My favourites stories are when the characters undergo a lot of character growth. This story did not have that. While Elise might feel like she had a transformative summer at the Camp, she still hadn’t address the real issues with her mom and with her dad. As for the man she chooses, to raise that many issues before dating for real and then just ending without us knowing how they worked through that left me really disappointed and unconvinced by the romance.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
Elise’s relationship with her mom is a big part of the story, but the ending was very disappointing. Once again, no real conversations about their issues took place between the two.
As for the romance, it was not my favourite. I hate miscommunication and there was a lot in this story. While the characters had conversations, once again, they didn’t go deep and try to really understand what the issue might be.
My favourites stories are when the characters undergo a lot of character growth. This story did not have that. While Elise might feel like she had a transformative summer at the Camp, she still hadn’t address the real issues with her mom and with her dad. As for the man she chooses, to raise that many issues before dating for real and then just ending without us knowing how they worked through that left me really disappointed and unconvinced by the romance.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.
June 28, 2026
Screenwriting workaholic Eloise, single for five years and newly unemployed, undergoes a quarter-life crisis in which she accepts a six week gig at a theatre day camp and draws up a bucket list of self-care, including dips in the lake and working on her screenplay.
Distracting her from this idyllic existence in Ben, an actor she met on set, whose family happens to own a winery-slash-theatre camp in Prince Edward County. And Dave, the boy she loved two decades ago, who happens to be the handyman fixing up the camp. And a single father with part-time custody.
And distracting her from this is her sister's upcoming wedding, her obnoxious, passive-aggressive mother, going through a three-quarter-life-crisis, and a steady internal dialogue about who to choose.
If it sounds like there's a lot happening, there is. It makes this a little denser than a beach read.
The dialogue here sparkles, and the spicy scenes are believable. It does suffer a little from a common problem with rom-coms: it has a lot of handwringing, internal and external, which can get a bit repetitive.
It's not so much a surprise when Elise makes her choice - one of the love interests is SO MUCH more developed than the other. But it comes to a satisfying end, even if the epilogue is a little too neatly wrapped up.
Distracting her from this idyllic existence in Ben, an actor she met on set, whose family happens to own a winery-slash-theatre camp in Prince Edward County. And Dave, the boy she loved two decades ago, who happens to be the handyman fixing up the camp. And a single father with part-time custody.
And distracting her from this is her sister's upcoming wedding, her obnoxious, passive-aggressive mother, going through a three-quarter-life-crisis, and a steady internal dialogue about who to choose.
If it sounds like there's a lot happening, there is. It makes this a little denser than a beach read.
The dialogue here sparkles, and the spicy scenes are believable. It does suffer a little from a common problem with rom-coms: it has a lot of handwringing, internal and external, which can get a bit repetitive.
It's not so much a surprise when Elise makes her choice - one of the love interests is SO MUCH more developed than the other. But it comes to a satisfying end, even if the epilogue is a little too neatly wrapped up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a local, seeing Toronto and Prince Edward County rendered so vividly was a total highlight. The setting truly felt like a character of its own.
The core themes—healing from the past and self-discovery—are wonderful. I enjoyed the cast and found the characters distinct and loving in their own ways, even the difficult ones. It starts off with a very strong hook and a great premise.
My frustration was, while the ideas are solid, the execution felt a bit messy, especially in the second half. The story became weighed down by too many competing plot lines (family drama, past hurts, fake dating, and a love triangle). Conflict often felt manufactured, with communication issues arising where they didn't seem natural. I found myself frustrated with the protagonist’s circular growth; she would solve a problem only to be conflicted by the exact same issue a chapter later.
The chapters are quite long, which made the pacing feel slow. The ending felt a bit rushed and left some of the deeper issues without a truly satisfying resolution.
Great ideas and a beautiful local setting, truly set the summertime vibe, but the execution and pacing struggled to keep up.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the arc.
The core themes—healing from the past and self-discovery—are wonderful. I enjoyed the cast and found the characters distinct and loving in their own ways, even the difficult ones. It starts off with a very strong hook and a great premise.
My frustration was, while the ideas are solid, the execution felt a bit messy, especially in the second half. The story became weighed down by too many competing plot lines (family drama, past hurts, fake dating, and a love triangle). Conflict often felt manufactured, with communication issues arising where they didn't seem natural. I found myself frustrated with the protagonist’s circular growth; she would solve a problem only to be conflicted by the exact same issue a chapter later.
The chapters are quite long, which made the pacing feel slow. The ending felt a bit rushed and left some of the deeper issues without a truly satisfying resolution.
Great ideas and a beautiful local setting, truly set the summertime vibe, but the execution and pacing struggled to keep up.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the arc.
July 6, 2026
THANKYOU NETGALLY FOR THE AUDIO ARC
**4 stars**
I really enjoyed *Chasing Summer*. The premise was easy to get into, and I liked following Elise as she was caught between Ben and Dave. I enjoyed the romance and the love triangle, and I liked how it added tension to the story without making it feel too overdone. It kept me invested in Elise’s choices and made me want to keep reading to see how everything would work out.
I do wish there had been a bit more of a glimpse into their afterward story. I would have loved more of an epilogue showing what happened next, because I felt invested enough in the characters that I wanted a little more closure after everything.
The thing that made this book the most enjoyable for me was definitely the Prince Edward County setting. As someone local to PEC, it was so easy to picture the story taking place. The shops, roads, restaurants, and local spots that were mentioned made the book feel so familiar and real. It was fun being able to recognize the atmosphere and imagine the characters actually walking through those places or driving those roads. That personal connection to the setting added so much charm to the story for me and made it even easier to get pulled in.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance with a fun love triangle, a strong summer feeling, and a setting that made the whole story come alive. A solid 4-star read.
**4 stars**
I really enjoyed *Chasing Summer*. The premise was easy to get into, and I liked following Elise as she was caught between Ben and Dave. I enjoyed the romance and the love triangle, and I liked how it added tension to the story without making it feel too overdone. It kept me invested in Elise’s choices and made me want to keep reading to see how everything would work out.
I do wish there had been a bit more of a glimpse into their afterward story. I would have loved more of an epilogue showing what happened next, because I felt invested enough in the characters that I wanted a little more closure after everything.
The thing that made this book the most enjoyable for me was definitely the Prince Edward County setting. As someone local to PEC, it was so easy to picture the story taking place. The shops, roads, restaurants, and local spots that were mentioned made the book feel so familiar and real. It was fun being able to recognize the atmosphere and imagine the characters actually walking through those places or driving those roads. That personal connection to the setting added so much charm to the story for me and made it even easier to get pulled in.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance with a fun love triangle, a strong summer feeling, and a setting that made the whole story come alive. A solid 4-star read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read this in advance. The opinions in this review are my own.
I love that this book takes place in Canada and it has a light, summery feel to it. The main character has a lot of conflicts to navigate - a difficult boss, family drama, unhealed hurt, and romance struggles. I liked that the FMC stands up to her boss despite the backlash she knows she'll probably face. I liked watching her journey to understand herself while also trying to reconnect with her family.
However, there was a lot going on, and so I felt a bit lost through it all, and I couldn't connect with it as much. I enjoy when a character is explored at deeper levels and some layers are pulled back so that you feel like you know them better as they discover themselves. I think this was done to a certain degree, but just not quite enough for me.
The pacing also felt slow, which disconnected me further from the story. That said, it was a light, summer read, and I loved the local setting.
I love that this book takes place in Canada and it has a light, summery feel to it. The main character has a lot of conflicts to navigate - a difficult boss, family drama, unhealed hurt, and romance struggles. I liked that the FMC stands up to her boss despite the backlash she knows she'll probably face. I liked watching her journey to understand herself while also trying to reconnect with her family.
However, there was a lot going on, and so I felt a bit lost through it all, and I couldn't connect with it as much. I enjoy when a character is explored at deeper levels and some layers are pulled back so that you feel like you know them better as they discover themselves. I think this was done to a certain degree, but just not quite enough for me.
The pacing also felt slow, which disconnected me further from the story. That said, it was a light, summer read, and I loved the local setting.
June 14, 2026
Chasing Summer is an intelligent and funny Canadian romcom offering a new blend of what we like in Carley F (iconic setting; feminist characters), Annabel M (pining and dining) and Emily H (fake dating and raw self-discovery).
There are two attractive men who offer not just different personalities and looovve styles, but completely different futures, and our screenwriter heroine Elise had to figure out what she wants, all while surprising herself by enjoying a last-minute gig at a drama day camp for teens and negotiating overdue reconciliation with her absentee mother. Setting this in Prince Edward County, Ontario gave Frankie Scott lots of summer scenery and vignettes to use - lake swimming, wineries, a drive-in movie and an outdoor wedding. Fun!
And a well-written cast of friends. I loved Elise’s hustle and sincere efforts to figure out her life and family. I only liked one of the love interests, which gave me stakes. The writing is excellent, the humour original, the cultural refs fresh.
There are two attractive men who offer not just different personalities and looovve styles, but completely different futures, and our screenwriter heroine Elise had to figure out what she wants, all while surprising herself by enjoying a last-minute gig at a drama day camp for teens and negotiating overdue reconciliation with her absentee mother. Setting this in Prince Edward County, Ontario gave Frankie Scott lots of summer scenery and vignettes to use - lake swimming, wineries, a drive-in movie and an outdoor wedding. Fun!
And a well-written cast of friends. I loved Elise’s hustle and sincere efforts to figure out her life and family. I only liked one of the love interests, which gave me stakes. The writing is excellent, the humour original, the cultural refs fresh.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
This book completely captured the feeling of a nostalgic summer romance. 🌊☀️ From the small-town Prince Edward County setting to the emotional pull of first love, Chasing Summer had me hooked trying to figure out who Elise would choose in the end.
Elise’s journey felt so real — caught between the comfort of a first love that never fully faded and the possibility of something new. The story really leans into the idea that first love never truly dies, and I loved how emotional and layered that felt throughout the book.
The detailed writing made the setting come alive so vividly that I felt like I was spending the summer lakeside with the characters. The tension between Dave and Ben kept me invested the entire time, and I genuinely went back and forth trying to decide who I wanted Elise to end up with. 👀
☀️ Summer romance
💌 Fake dating
🏡 Small-town vibes
❤️ First love / second chance romance
🎭 Love triangles that actually keep you guessing
This book completely captured the feeling of a nostalgic summer romance. 🌊☀️ From the small-town Prince Edward County setting to the emotional pull of first love, Chasing Summer had me hooked trying to figure out who Elise would choose in the end.
Elise’s journey felt so real — caught between the comfort of a first love that never fully faded and the possibility of something new. The story really leans into the idea that first love never truly dies, and I loved how emotional and layered that felt throughout the book.
The detailed writing made the setting come alive so vividly that I felt like I was spending the summer lakeside with the characters. The tension between Dave and Ben kept me invested the entire time, and I genuinely went back and forth trying to decide who I wanted Elise to end up with. 👀
☀️ Summer romance
💌 Fake dating
🏡 Small-town vibes
❤️ First love / second chance romance
🎭 Love triangles that actually keep you guessing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
It’s always fun when a story is set in a place you know. Prince Edward County is a beautiful backdrop for this lovingly Canadian romance.
Sometimes it feels the world just throws you in the right place at the right time. Elise is given an opportunity that allows her to heal parts of her past, while building towards the future.
Although I understand the role Ben plays in the story, I just never felt like I actually knew him as a character, no real depth to him. So the decision points with him never truly felt real to me. At time Elise’s decision points were frustrating and seemed based in very little.
That said, I enjoyed this little romp through PEC and getting to meet all the fun and loving people who surround Elise, she has an amazing support system with an eclectic group of characters. If they learn some lessons along the way, they only become stronger for it.
It’s always fun when a story is set in a place you know. Prince Edward County is a beautiful backdrop for this lovingly Canadian romance.
Sometimes it feels the world just throws you in the right place at the right time. Elise is given an opportunity that allows her to heal parts of her past, while building towards the future.
Although I understand the role Ben plays in the story, I just never felt like I actually knew him as a character, no real depth to him. So the decision points with him never truly felt real to me. At time Elise’s decision points were frustrating and seemed based in very little.
That said, I enjoyed this little romp through PEC and getting to meet all the fun and loving people who surround Elise, she has an amazing support system with an eclectic group of characters. If they learn some lessons along the way, they only become stronger for it.
Read
June 3, 2026This is a slow burn second chance romance. Elise is a screenwriter and she moves to a small town to be the writing teacher at a summer camp. Ben, the lead actor on her last project offers her the job at his family’s camp. When she arrives she soon learns her next door neighbour is her first love. As Elise spends the summer working at the camp and writing her next screenplay in her free time she realizes she needs to make a difficult choice between Ben and Dave. Even though Dave ghosted her all those years ago she can’t help her current attraction to him but Ben offers her a plan for a great life. I loved the setting and descriptions of the small town and countryside of Prince Edward County in Canada. It sounded idyllic! Overall the story was a bit too slowly paced for me and I would have liked a bit more character development.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5⭐️Rounded up
I really loved reading a romcom set in my own backyard in Ontario. ❤️🇨🇦 The references and locations throughout had me feeling giddy and relating to the story in a really cute way.
Beyond that, I wanted to love this story but it fell flat for me. I wanted yearning and tension but our FMC just seemed to be confused and looking to follow everyone else’s lead but her own, and no one was really taking the lead so I didn’t connect with the romance at all.
I think theatre kids turned elder millennials will probably enjoy the plot and environment of a playwright turned acting camp teacher but unfortunately this one didn’t land for me.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.
I really loved reading a romcom set in my own backyard in Ontario. ❤️🇨🇦 The references and locations throughout had me feeling giddy and relating to the story in a really cute way.
Beyond that, I wanted to love this story but it fell flat for me. I wanted yearning and tension but our FMC just seemed to be confused and looking to follow everyone else’s lead but her own, and no one was really taking the lead so I didn’t connect with the romance at all.
I think theatre kids turned elder millennials will probably enjoy the plot and environment of a playwright turned acting camp teacher but unfortunately this one didn’t land for me.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I enjoyed this women's lit/summer second chance romance set in Prince Edward County, Ontario quite a lot. While the love triangle aspect of the story wasn't my favorites -- I couldn't get enough of they Canadian setting, summer camp nostalgia and all the Millennial pop culture references. Full of emotional depth, family drama, career growth/ambitions and the perfect touch of romantic shenanigans. It was okay on audio (the narrator wasn't my fav and they misprounced some places/cultural Canadianisms) but I'd still recommend this one for fans of Hallmark movies and authors like Carley Fortune. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2026
Chasing Summer had me from the cover art! This is a second chance romance set in Prince Edward County in Ontario Canada and it is a place I have always wanted to visit. Hopefully I will visit soon as I live in Ontario. The setting is perfect and return to camp is a perfect way to reconnect your first love. The plot centering around the film industry and the writers was a new connection for me. I enjoyed the plot and the characters in this perfect summer read. The narration was well done and easy to listen to.
Thank you Net Galley, Frankie Scott and Harper Collins Audio for the opportunity to preview this audiobook. The opinions shared are my own.
Happy Pub Day Frankie Scott!
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Thank you Net Galley, Frankie Scott and Harper Collins Audio for the opportunity to preview this audiobook. The opinions shared are my own.
Happy Pub Day Frankie Scott!
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
July 13, 2026
I can see why this is compared to Carley Fortune. I’m surprised at the hurried editing and sloppy proofreading; a lot of mistake in the copy, missing words and strange grammar.
The book itself has me hooked, loved the descriptions of PEC but craved a little more of that. Also the ending was very hurried! Everything just felt like it needed a little bit more fleshing out. Either that or more on the love triangle and less introducing so many other things (kids at the camp! Little guy Finn! Annoying mother! About to be wed sister! Read to give everyone hugs now Neve! Toronto life! So on and so forth) that aren’t seen all the way through or aren’t resolved or just fleshed out.
Still, loved the book, excellent summer romance, perfect beach read.
The book itself has me hooked, loved the descriptions of PEC but craved a little more of that. Also the ending was very hurried! Everything just felt like it needed a little bit more fleshing out. Either that or more on the love triangle and less introducing so many other things (kids at the camp! Little guy Finn! Annoying mother! About to be wed sister! Read to give everyone hugs now Neve! Toronto life! So on and so forth) that aren’t seen all the way through or aren’t resolved or just fleshed out.
Still, loved the book, excellent summer romance, perfect beach read.
June 2, 2026
An emotional read, with real feelings. This has force proximity, fake dating, second chance.
Elise is helping her sister with her wedding and making sure everything goes smooth until the big day!
However, meanwhile she is learning to reconnect with herself and write a new story for her.
In order to avoid confrontation with her mom, she fakes dates an actor from one of the movies she wrote as well as work for him during the summer
To her surprise her first love is in the proximity.
Elise deals with reconnecting with her feelings but also her mom.
thank you HarperCollins Canada, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy.
Elise is helping her sister with her wedding and making sure everything goes smooth until the big day!
However, meanwhile she is learning to reconnect with herself and write a new story for her.
In order to avoid confrontation with her mom, she fakes dates an actor from one of the movies she wrote as well as work for him during the summer
To her surprise her first love is in the proximity.
Elise deals with reconnecting with her feelings but also her mom.
thank you HarperCollins Canada, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy.
May 29, 2026
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Chasing Summer is such a fantastic book! It offers real-life, relatable situations so well, and I fell in love with the characters and their relationships. They all bring something so unique to the table, which makes it easy for different readers to find a piece of the story they can truly connect with. This book had me reminiscing about my camp days and those summer crushes. The setting of Prince Edward County is picturesque and everyone should visit at least once. Who doesn't love happy endings?
Chasing Summer is such a fantastic book! It offers real-life, relatable situations so well, and I fell in love with the characters and their relationships. They all bring something so unique to the table, which makes it easy for different readers to find a piece of the story they can truly connect with. This book had me reminiscing about my camp days and those summer crushes. The setting of Prince Edward County is picturesque and everyone should visit at least once. Who doesn't love happy endings?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved the premise of this one, and was drawn to the familiar setting - living just a stone’s throw from the County made it a fun read! The writing was quite spare for the genre, but I found that refreshing. I loved the layers beyond the romance element, with ride-or-die friendships, a complex mother-daughter relationship, and career ambition. And let’s not forget the cat! I don’t consider myself a cat person per se, but all the stars for Okanagan!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first fake dating romance and now I totally get the hype 😂 The Canadian setting in Prince Edward County was honestly one of my favourite parts. Cozy lake vibes, summer romance, complicated feelings, and a love triangle that actually kept me invested the whole time.
I loved watching Elise try to figure out what she really wanted while balancing her past with the possibility of something new 💛
I loved watching Elise try to figure out what she really wanted while balancing her past with the possibility of something new 💛
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story is delightful, its like being in a hallmark movie. Its a feel good story about a woman who is going through a bump in the road and ends up teaching writing to some theater summer camp kids. Here she is faced with her first love and a new live interest.
Its fun watching her navigate her past while exploring the new her. Add in some family drama/trauma?, some farm animals, and christmas movie references and you have the perfect summer love story.
Its fun watching her navigate her past while exploring the new her. Add in some family drama/trauma?, some farm animals, and christmas movie references and you have the perfect summer love story.
May 27, 2026
Tough to tell if it was the narrator or the writing, but the dialogue felt so stilted and unrealistic (and definitely the narrator has never been to Canada based off the way they pronounced things - it's not OH-she-wa lol). Everything just felt a little flat, like the characters were written to be the perfect versions of people, and then things wrap up too nicely with no hurt feelings at all, in an inauthentic way, not a romcom way. Just disappointed overall.
June 25, 2026
The beginning was quite slow and I almost DNF'd it until a good 20% of the way through, when I realized it was actually a more nuanced story than the first chapters set it out to be. At times it was confusing to pick back up after a day or two because there is a lot going on. The audiobook narrator was quite good (though definitely a narrator vs a voice actor) and I ended up enjoying the book overall, but probably will not think about it again.
July 2, 2026
This was cute. I liked that it was set in Prince Edward County - fun to read more of a local location. I did find I wasn’t overly committed - it took me awhile to get through this one. This was a - who is she going to choose: the new fun guy or go for the second chance guy- story. In some ways it dragged on, but the ending wrapped up SO fast. It was a bit of whiplash at the end for how quick things were tied in a bow.
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