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Halloween Town #1
Summerween
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jul 26Halloween just got hotter…Professional dancer Wren Callahan’s plan for the summer is sip margaritas by the lake, bask in anonymity, and dodge any drama from her ex. Instead, her meddling godmother Luna –Halloween Town’s mayor and resident white witch – ropes her into choreographing a teen performance at the first Summerween festival.
Her most challenging student? Dane – a burned-out former trauma surgeon hiding out for the summer in Halloween Town. Despite his two left feet, he’s determined to prove to some of the uptight locals that guys can – and should – express themselves through dance.
As they learn new steps, and more about each other, will Summerween season work its magic on them? Or will the skeletons in their closets keep them apart?
💞 Friends to lovers
💃🕺Forced proximity
👻🌞Halloween in summer
🗼🏠Small-town setting
Her most challenging student? Dane – a burned-out former trauma surgeon hiding out for the summer in Halloween Town. Despite his two left feet, he’s determined to prove to some of the uptight locals that guys can – and should – express themselves through dance.
As they learn new steps, and more about each other, will Summerween season work its magic on them? Or will the skeletons in their closets keep them apart?
💞 Friends to lovers
💃🕺Forced proximity
👻🌞Halloween in summer
🗼🏠Small-town setting
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 16, 2026
About the author
Joss Wood
651 books396 followersJoss Wood loves books and travelling— especially to the wild places of Southern Africa and, well, anywhere.
She’s a wife, a mom to two teenagers, and is bossed around by two cats and a Great Dane X the size of a baby cow. After a career in local economic development, she now writes full time.
Be sure to follow Joss on BookBub for the latest on my releases https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joss-...
She’s a wife, a mom to two teenagers, and is bossed around by two cats and a Great Dane X the size of a baby cow. After a career in local economic development, she now writes full time.
Be sure to follow Joss on BookBub for the latest on my releases https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joss-...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This definitely had all the summerween vibes, from creepy cocktails by the lake to freaky festival fun, I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this book, especially since I had so much fun reading this in the middle of a heatwave haha!
Just note, this book isn't a paranormal romance or monster related- there'll be no 'Halloweentown' Benny's hanging around in taxi's in this book, or flirty werewolves. It's mostly human.
The book follows Wren, a dance choreographer who's temporarily moving back home to H-town (a town obsessed with all things Halloween, and may or may not be haunted) for some recharging, especially after being let down badly by her previous crush. As soon as she returns, she meets Alex, a hot trauma surgeon/ doctor who's also in town for some R&R. The pair are sneakily forced together to perform and encourage kids to perform at the Summerween festival, and obviously the chemistry and attraction builds between them- as well as the ghosts setting them up!
I enjoyed the deeper elements to this story, though a lot of it is just fun and spicy, Wren's troubled past and Alex's trauma from being a doctor in war settings is evident. The pair struggle blindly through trying to open up and help each other, finding peace and security within each others' presence. Their romance is definitely spicy, however the third act breakup did kind of annoy me. I could see how it targeted on both of their weaknesses, however I think Wren was in the wrong and was unreasonable. I could get past it, however, and was glad to read the sweet reunion and happy ending.
Overall, this was a cutely creepy, summery read, great for anyone looking for some Halloween in the sun, and a couple who'll be sure to have you rooting for them!
4/5 🌟
This definitely had all the summerween vibes, from creepy cocktails by the lake to freaky festival fun, I really enjoyed the atmosphere in this book, especially since I had so much fun reading this in the middle of a heatwave haha!
Just note, this book isn't a paranormal romance or monster related- there'll be no 'Halloweentown' Benny's hanging around in taxi's in this book, or flirty werewolves. It's mostly human.
The book follows Wren, a dance choreographer who's temporarily moving back home to H-town (a town obsessed with all things Halloween, and may or may not be haunted) for some recharging, especially after being let down badly by her previous crush. As soon as she returns, she meets Alex, a hot trauma surgeon/ doctor who's also in town for some R&R. The pair are sneakily forced together to perform and encourage kids to perform at the Summerween festival, and obviously the chemistry and attraction builds between them- as well as the ghosts setting them up!
I enjoyed the deeper elements to this story, though a lot of it is just fun and spicy, Wren's troubled past and Alex's trauma from being a doctor in war settings is evident. The pair struggle blindly through trying to open up and help each other, finding peace and security within each others' presence. Their romance is definitely spicy, however the third act breakup did kind of annoy me. I could see how it targeted on both of their weaknesses, however I think Wren was in the wrong and was unreasonable. I could get past it, however, and was glad to read the sweet reunion and happy ending.
Overall, this was a cutely creepy, summery read, great for anyone looking for some Halloween in the sun, and a couple who'll be sure to have you rooting for them!
4/5 🌟
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was SO cute and such a fun, cozy little escape. The concept alone was adorable because a town where Halloween exists year round is something I would truly love! I absolutely LOVE the idea of Halloween all year round because I think most of us secretly wish that existed, and it made this feel super comforting in the best way and combined the best fall and summer vibes into one.
Wren and Dane were adorable together too. Their chemistry felt sweet and easy, and the whole book just had this really charming energy to it. I also loved how fun and lighthearted everything felt within the book. I do feel like it is definitely more of a cozy escapism romance than a super emotional or high stakes story, which I actually liked because sometimes all I want is to just get away for few hours and imagine a different world like this one.
I do think I struggled a little with the third person POV though. I kept wishing this had been dual first person because I would’ve loved to feel even more connected to both Wren and Dane and understand exactly their mindset throughout the book. I think that would’ve elevated the romance for me a bit more. And while I enjoyed the low stakes slice of life feel, there also wasn’t a ton happening outside of them just having a fun summer together, so if someone really wants a plot heavy romance, this probably won’t be that.
The cover is asbolutely adorable and fits the theme of the book so well. This was cute and fun and truly just a book for escapism, which is necessary sometimes!
Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Wood, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
Wren and Dane were adorable together too. Their chemistry felt sweet and easy, and the whole book just had this really charming energy to it. I also loved how fun and lighthearted everything felt within the book. I do feel like it is definitely more of a cozy escapism romance than a super emotional or high stakes story, which I actually liked because sometimes all I want is to just get away for few hours and imagine a different world like this one.
I do think I struggled a little with the third person POV though. I kept wishing this had been dual first person because I would’ve loved to feel even more connected to both Wren and Dane and understand exactly their mindset throughout the book. I think that would’ve elevated the romance for me a bit more. And while I enjoyed the low stakes slice of life feel, there also wasn’t a ton happening outside of them just having a fun summer together, so if someone really wants a plot heavy romance, this probably won’t be that.
The cover is asbolutely adorable and fits the theme of the book so well. This was cute and fun and truly just a book for escapism, which is necessary sometimes!
Thank you to NetGalley, Joss Wood, and One More Chapter for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter by Harper Collins for this ARC!
When I first picked up Summerween by Joss Wood, I was expecting a 'silly little romance'. And while that was exactly what I was in the mood for, these kinds of books sometimes turn out to be too simple or cringey for me. Happily, that wasn't the case at all! This book surprised me in the best possible way.
The story takes place in Solstice Springs, called 'H-town' by the insiders because it’s Halloween all year round. From the very first page, it felt like I had stepped into a Halloweeny version of Stars Hollow. The town is filled with quirky locals, like Marigold and Earl, who immediately gave me major Babette and Morey vibes from Gilmore Girls.
What made the story extra dynamic was the shifting perspective. We get the POVs of FMC Wren and MMC Dane, but there is also a side group watching the romance unfold. One member of that group has a specific connection with Dane, and I enjoyed watching this extra layer unfold.
What resonated with me the most, though, was Dane's character. I saw so much of myself in his career struggles and ended up highlighting a lot of his quotes because they were so relatable. The familiarity with my own career path gave the story that perfect touch of depth.
Overall, Summerween is a sweet, summery small-town romance with a unique setting that fits the plot perfectly. I gave it 3.75 stars on Fable but since that's not possible here, I'm rounding it up to 4 stars, and I’m already looking forward to the second book about Wren’s best friend, Poppy!
When I first picked up Summerween by Joss Wood, I was expecting a 'silly little romance'. And while that was exactly what I was in the mood for, these kinds of books sometimes turn out to be too simple or cringey for me. Happily, that wasn't the case at all! This book surprised me in the best possible way.
The story takes place in Solstice Springs, called 'H-town' by the insiders because it’s Halloween all year round. From the very first page, it felt like I had stepped into a Halloweeny version of Stars Hollow. The town is filled with quirky locals, like Marigold and Earl, who immediately gave me major Babette and Morey vibes from Gilmore Girls.
What made the story extra dynamic was the shifting perspective. We get the POVs of FMC Wren and MMC Dane, but there is also a side group watching the romance unfold. One member of that group has a specific connection with Dane, and I enjoyed watching this extra layer unfold.
What resonated with me the most, though, was Dane's character. I saw so much of myself in his career struggles and ended up highlighting a lot of his quotes because they were so relatable. The familiarity with my own career path gave the story that perfect touch of depth.
Overall, Summerween is a sweet, summery small-town romance with a unique setting that fits the plot perfectly. I gave it 3.75 stars on Fable but since that's not possible here, I'm rounding it up to 4 stars, and I’m already looking forward to the second book about Wren’s best friend, Poppy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publishing team for allowing me to get an advanced copy!
First I just want to say how excited and interested I was by the premise of this book. It sounded so cute and fun and practical magic-esque. There was so much potential.
However, I think it fell a little short. There’s multiple info dumps right off the bat that made it hard to follow and get into the story easily. The ghost perspective came out of nowhere and had me questioning what was happening until I reread a few times. I think the vibe of the ghost pov was definitely cute but wasn’t quite met. Silas’s focus felt a little forced and random especially with him crossing over at the end.
I felt like there really wasn’t a specific plot to progress as well. Like, the entire book just seemed to be townspeople attending summer events and that’s it. It also wasn’t my cup of tea how the big “climax” or third act breakup was Wren not wanting him to leave and go save lives without defining their relationship first. Like, girl he’s got bigger things to worry about.
However, there were many things to highlight as well! Dane and Wren had great chemistry and a cute build up. The towns setup was amazing. It truly felt like a real spooky small town that made me wish I could climb into the book and move in. The spicy scenes were so well done and unexpected. I originally thought this was a cute YA vibe but I loved it!
I will definitely be checking out Poppy’s book when it comes out!
First I just want to say how excited and interested I was by the premise of this book. It sounded so cute and fun and practical magic-esque. There was so much potential.
However, I think it fell a little short. There’s multiple info dumps right off the bat that made it hard to follow and get into the story easily. The ghost perspective came out of nowhere and had me questioning what was happening until I reread a few times. I think the vibe of the ghost pov was definitely cute but wasn’t quite met. Silas’s focus felt a little forced and random especially with him crossing over at the end.
I felt like there really wasn’t a specific plot to progress as well. Like, the entire book just seemed to be townspeople attending summer events and that’s it. It also wasn’t my cup of tea how the big “climax” or third act breakup was Wren not wanting him to leave and go save lives without defining their relationship first. Like, girl he’s got bigger things to worry about.
However, there were many things to highlight as well! Dane and Wren had great chemistry and a cute build up. The towns setup was amazing. It truly felt like a real spooky small town that made me wish I could climb into the book and move in. The spicy scenes were so well done and unexpected. I originally thought this was a cute YA vibe but I loved it!
I will definitely be checking out Poppy’s book when it comes out!
Read
May 24, 2026Summerween is a charming and emotionally uplifting romance that blends humor, chemistry, and small town magic into a thoroughly entertaining reading experience. Joss Wood creates a story filled with warmth, playful energy, and heartfelt character dynamics, making the novel feel both comforting and deeply engaging from beginning to end.
What makes the book especially enjoyable is the natural chemistry between Wren and Dane. Their evolving connection unfolds through humor, vulnerability, and emotional growth, creating a romance that feels authentic and emotionally satisfying. The forced proximity dynamic and dance centered storyline add both tension and charm, while the emotional depth behind the characters keeps the relationship grounded and relatable.
The small town atmosphere also adds tremendous personality to the story. Halloween Town feels vibrant, quirky, and immersive, giving the novel a cozy yet energetic backdrop that perfectly complements the romance. The Summerween festival concept adds a unique and memorable layer that makes the story stand out even further.
Warm, entertaining, and emotionally engaging, Summerween is a delightful contemporary romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy small town settings, friends to lovers dynamics, playful banter, and uplifting romantic storytelling.
What makes the book especially enjoyable is the natural chemistry between Wren and Dane. Their evolving connection unfolds through humor, vulnerability, and emotional growth, creating a romance that feels authentic and emotionally satisfying. The forced proximity dynamic and dance centered storyline add both tension and charm, while the emotional depth behind the characters keeps the relationship grounded and relatable.
The small town atmosphere also adds tremendous personality to the story. Halloween Town feels vibrant, quirky, and immersive, giving the novel a cozy yet energetic backdrop that perfectly complements the romance. The Summerween festival concept adds a unique and memorable layer that makes the story stand out even further.
Warm, entertaining, and emotionally engaging, Summerween is a delightful contemporary romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy small town settings, friends to lovers dynamics, playful banter, and uplifting romantic storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Solstice Springs is the kind of town I want to live in. Watermelon jack-o-lanterns, skeletons in Hawaiian shirts, and Halloween all year round. Joss Wood created something really special here, and I loved every minute of it.
Wren and Dane had instant chemistry without falling into insta-love, which is a really hard balance to pull off. They actually took time to open up to each other, and it made the relationship feel real instead of rushed.
I also loved the multiple POVs from Wren, Dane, and the ghosts. Every perspective added something meaningful, and the ghost storyline ended up hitting me emotionally harder than I expected. I actually got a little teary by the end.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that there were a few moments where I personally had to pause and reread sections to make sure I was following everything correctly. That could very easily be a me thing, but it happened a few times and pulled me out of the flow.
I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wren and Dane had instant chemistry without falling into insta-love, which is a really hard balance to pull off. They actually took time to open up to each other, and it made the relationship feel real instead of rushed.
I also loved the multiple POVs from Wren, Dane, and the ghosts. Every perspective added something meaningful, and the ghost storyline ended up hitting me emotionally harder than I expected. I actually got a little teary by the end.
My only reason for not giving this five stars is that there were a few moments where I personally had to pause and reread sections to make sure I was following everything correctly. That could very easily be a me thing, but it happened a few times and pulled me out of the flow.
I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well this book is spicier than a PSL! It is also surprisingly heartfelt and unexpectedly sweet. Many of the characters are, if not relatable, very understandable. The story is entertaining. It has some tropes, but is also surprising - I did not expect the multiple, varied POV’s written by the author, but I enjoyed them all! The parallels between a couple of the main male characters is interesting, and was a highlight for me, as I found myself wondering what they would do/what would happen. The prose is sometimes too repetitive for my liking but overall I quite enjoyed this story about a small town’s big characters learning to open themselves up to love, dealing with past trauma, and what family can look like. I look forward to reading the next book to find out what happens with Wren’s BFF Poppy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a charming and fun read. Joss Wood created the perfect Summerween setting,
H-Town is full of so much personality. I wanted to pack my bags and move immediately.
Wren and Dane’s relationship felt so natural and heartfelt, with just the right balance of sweetness and emotion. this is the ultimate comfort read. I loved every second of this book. 🎃☀️💖
H-Town is full of so much personality. I wanted to pack my bags and move immediately.
Wren and Dane’s relationship felt so natural and heartfelt, with just the right balance of sweetness and emotion. this is the ultimate comfort read. I loved every second of this book. 🎃☀️💖
May 21, 2026
This was such a cute book to kick off my summer reading! I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews