Summer State of Mind

by Kristy Woodson Harvey

“Queen of the beach read,” (Cosmopolitan) New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Summer, Summer Reads, Contemporary, Southern, Summer Romance

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of eleven novels including A Happier Life, The Summer of Songbirds, and The Peachtree Bluff Series. Many of her books have been optioned or are in development for television and film and have received numerous accolades, including Good Morning America’s Buzz Pick, Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Reads, Katie Couric’s Featured Books, and Joanna Garcia Swisher’s The Happy Place Read. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize.

A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Southern Living, Parade, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, and many more. She also holds a master’s in English, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature.

Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction with fellow New York Times Bestselling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, and Patti Callahan Henry. She is also the co-founder of the interiors site Design Chic, with her mom, Beth Woodson.

She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband, son, and dog, Salt, where she is (always!) working on her next novel.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME, THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL😍😍💓💓!!!!!!!!!


🌞🌺🌊🐚🌅As a North Carolinan, I need to meet the Queen of Beach Reads🌞🌺🌊🐚🌅 !!!!!!!!!!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly, Summer State of Mind was a big miss for me 😩 Especially coming off last year’s release that was a 5 star for me!

This did not feel like a beach read at all. So much drama. Even some ethical questions towards the end? I don’t know. For me, this story felt pretty convoluted. The romance was instantaneous and lacked emotion and depth. I found Daisy to be a pretty insufferable main character that was hard to connect with. I’m bummed to report a less than favorable review but I also can’t seem to give it any less than 3 stars because I’ve had good luck with Kristy’s books in the past but this one was just off.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, isn’t this cover adorable? Love the Easter egg she shared with readers before the reveal. Kristy, her husband and dog Salt providing inspiration for this cover!

Daisy, a burnt out NCIU nurse returns to Cape Carolina. On her first day in her new job, a local man Mason has found an abandoned baby and Daisy is smitten with this baby.

When they meet and experience this little one, their chemistry is obvious. Mason is the local baseball coach and is trying to move past is bad boy past.

Daisy is determined to foster this little girl and hoping to adopt her. They each work together to help this little girl and will discover an unexpected love for her and possibly each other.

Add in some family drama, local characters and the charm of small town North Carolina this novel is magical. Woodson knows how to draw her readers in with small town charm.

Already preordered to add to my other novels by Woodson. If you have not read her books I highly recommend them all.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a reason Kristy Woodson Harvey wears the crown as the Queen of the Beach Reads, y’all, because she’s done it again! Summer State of Mind is another beautiful family drama you’ll want to pack in your beach bag as Harvey sweeps you away to coastal North Carolina, leaving you longing for sunshine, salt air, and a big glass of sweet tea.

When a rising star high school baseball player and his coach, Mason Thaysden, find an abandoned newborn baby in a dumpster, their world changes forever. After rushing the baby to the hospital, they meet Daisy, a darling young NICU nurse who’s just moved to the small town. What follows is a touching, emotional story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Harvey fans will be thrilled to see some familiar faces return from her New York Times bestselling Under the Southern Sky, as Mason and his quirky, big hearted family steal the spotlight once more; especially the delightful Aunt Tilley. In true Harvey fashion, every character is layered, charming, and faced with decisions that tug at the heart. At one point, it seems like everyone’s keeping secrets, and you can’t help but wonder… will it all blow up in their faces, or will this coastal crew truly find their perfect summer state of mind?

At its heart, this is a story about what it really means to be a family, and how sometimes, the people who choose you can love you just as fiercely as the ones you’re born into. Harvey is at her best when writing about strong Southern women with moral dilemmas and the messy, beautiful choices they have to make, and she absolutely shines here.

I can’t wait to see Summer State of Mind tucked into beach bags everywhere this May… just in time for Mother’s Day weekend. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge... get those preorders in, friends!)

A big thanks to Gallery Books for the early peek at this heartwarming Southern gem.

[A Mountain Man’s Point of Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to say thank you for the opportunity to be able to read this book before it’s released and give a review. This will be the first book I have read of Kristy Woodson Harvey. I can tell you that I will be adding more of her books to my TBR.

This is not a typical book I would normally read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a man that does not get very emotional, this book had a few chapters that were very tough for me to get through. It struck home for me… being a father and imagining myself going through what the characters in this book went through. I fell in love with the characters, and absolutely loved Aunt Tilley.

I’d like to encourage any manly men that think this may be just a woman’s book to pick it up and read it- it is well worth the read. This is a five star review. It had me completely captivated and couldn’t put the book down till it was done.

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!

📖 Book Review 📖 I read this book in December so I was certainly not in a summer state of mind but I had just returned from a vacation to the low country so I had Carolina on my mind and obviously this one immediately moved to the top of my TBR list. There is something magical about the coast that draws people in from all walks of life and when life reaches its breaking point for NICU nurse Daisy, she starts fresh in Cape Carolina. But when she bonds with a newborn abandoned in a dumpster on the first day of her new job, she quickly realizes that small town life is not as quiet as anticipated.

Sometimes people come into our lives in the most unexpected ways, and hitting things off with local high school baseball coach Mason was not on her bucket list. Neither was falling immediately in love with this little baby in need of love and a caregiver. But it certainly takes a village and Cape Carolina is just that. The roots of a Southern town run deep and Kristy Woodson Harvey delivers yet another beautifully emotive read that channels the connections that run like the waterways of this enchanting coastline.

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the description, I knew I would love this one and KWH delivered a masterpiece yet again! Baseball, babies, and a romance to die for, this is THE summer year of 2026!

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @uplitreads @netgalley #partner for the gifted copy.

Daisy is a NICU nurse decides it is time for a change after losing a patient in Charlotte. She flees to the coastal community of Cape Carolina On her first day on the job an abandoned baby comes into the hospital and so does the areas most eligible bachelor. She loves his family, his community and falls for him fast. Can she overcome the traumas for her past family relationships and keep her relationship with Mason in tact? Are some secrets worth keeping?

This story was exactly what I was looking for in a beach read. It was small town, southern charm vibes with romance mixed in. The sense of community and family love is overwhelming. The tie that binds.

[Corinne Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous, light-hearted read set in a Carolina beach town. When an abandoned baby (trigger warning that some may be put off with how this baby was abandoned) brings two people together, it was written in the stars that they should be together. However, things don't always fall in to place quite so easily, and Daisy & Mason have to muddle through some of their past issues before they can commit to one another. And to round out the wonderful cast of characters is Tilly, who sometimes has "spells" of where she enters into her own realities and leaves others calling her eccentric. She had her own past issues to deal with, but they all are surrounded by a very close-knit family & community that left my heart feeling warm, or like Tilly said, "a summer state of mind."

Many thanks to NetGalley & Gallery Books for the opportunity to read an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Delaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sad to say this is not one I’ll be recommending. While I’ve come to expect an emotionally packed beach read, this is not it. There are so many ethical questions here that just weren’t handled well by the characters, in my opinion. The romance was also very insta love which does not work given everything else that was going on. Heavy topics that are seemingly intended to be lighthearted, lacked a lot of real emotion to captivate me and make me believe the story.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Holly McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting to revisit characters from Under the Southern Sky felt like catching up with old friends, and Kristy Woodson Harvey pulled me right back into their world. Her writing is so vivid and warm that you really feel like you’re there with the characters. Daisy and Mason’s love story was beautiful, raw and emotional in all the best ways. I also love connecting deeper with Tilly and understanding her story. Summer State of Mind quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year, it was easily a 5 ⭐️ read for me and I cannot recommend it enough!

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come on sites not corporately-owned, but couldn't not leave 5 stars for this gorgeous gem. KWH's best yet.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so lucky to get my hands on an arc of this book! It meant I got to bring one of my very favorite authors, and one of the queens of the beach book, on my Caribbean cruise with me. There was a lot of snow on the ground at home but it felt like summer onboard and Kristy’s books are always a great fit for “the summer state of mind” aren’t they?

Daisy gets pulled to Cape Carolina by a hospital job offer and partly because she was running from the pain caused by her last job.
Daisy has some fond memories of the town so it feels like a sign.

Mason is a former baseball star. He’s been back in his hometown since an injury that ended his career as a player. He’s been a coach ever since and he’s a great one.
But he’s a bit haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and this is in large part because everyone sees him as a womanizer. He doesn’t want to be tbr guy anymore.

Mason and Daisy meet on her first day at the NICU when Mason discovers an abandoned newborn baby! He rushes to the hospital and the baby is saved. They both keep checking on the baby and both grow attached to her and to each other. It feels like a possible insta family because Daisy and Mason definitely have insta love.
But of course the baby actually belongs to somebody. And what will happen if the baby’s biological parents come forward?

This was a rather emotional story at times. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like Daisy a lot of the time. She definitely made some morally grey decisions.
I’d say that I found Mason quite lovable and I did route for them as a couple.

I appreciated getting to revisit Tilley from a previous book too. She had a great story in this book.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind is a heartwarming novel about family, secrets (so many secrets!), and finding one’s true love. Shortly after moving to the small town of Cape Carolina, Daisy, an ICU nurse hoping to escape the hectic pace of working in a big hospital, she takes on the care of an abandoned newborn baby girl. That baby becomes the catalyst for the rest of its story, bringing people together, and bringing both joy and heartache to the people whose lives are turned upside down by her birth and subsequent abandonment. There are many highs and lows in this big family and their small town, and the secrets, confessions and revelations kept me turning pages to see how it all turns out. I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about generational family drama! This book will keep you engaged. The family estate almost feels like a character in the book. Enter aunt Tilly, this story’s kooky character.

I was swooning at the chapter when baseball practice turned into extreme makeover home edition, talk about a feel good subplot.

The characters all keep showing up for each other and the different subplots kept me engaged. Overall I always love Kristy Woodson Harvey’s books and finished this in a few days. She is an auto but author for me. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a widget of this book.

[Cindi_loves_to_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey completely transported me to the North Carolina coastal setting of Cape Carolina. Kristy introduced us to this beautiful setting in her book Under the Southern Sky and I love that in Summer State of Mind we get to revisit the characters that I fell in love with (Aunt Tilley) and meet some new ones.

We meet Daisy who has recently moved to Cape Carolina. On her first day as a NICU nurse, Mason, the high school baseball coach, discovers an abandoned baby girl, and that horrible situation brings these two together. As sparks begin to fly between Daisy and Mason, she is also fighting her attachment to the baby girl and her own past. Mason's family, including his Aunt Tilley become attached to Daisy as well. Incredibly written to bring the emotions of what you'd feel if this happened to you.
This book has so many layers and each chapter tells a part of the story of these unique and beloved characters. This book reminds me what it means to be a family. And family can be who you choose. I absolutely fell in love with this family in Under the Southern Sky and love that the author continues their story with characters you love and how family and community come together.
With her attachment to the baby, Daisy sets off on a journey to make sure this little girl has a home. No spoilers here. I highly recommend this beautiful story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the arc Goodreads. This book is told from 3 points of view. Sometimes when this is done I don’t enjoy one of the views. This book I enjoyed all three stories and loved how everything was woven together. It’s a story about family and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Kristen McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley for A Summer State of Mind. I’ve read many books from Kristy Woodson Harvey over the years so I was excited to dive into this one. It was a very cute book. A great summer time read that Kristy is known for. I struggled with parts of the book though, to be honest. I know it’s fictional… but the main character is a nurse and the amount of patient information (past and present patients) that the character gave out on a regular to community people made me lose interest and respect for the character. Again, I know it’s fictional. It was hard to put aside my healthcare knowledge for this one though. I did like all of the other supporting characters. Can Tilley have her own book? How fun would that be to read?!? The confidentiality flaws dinged a star for me but it’s still a four star read. 100% would recommend. Thank you for the ARC!

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Pub: 5/5/26
5☆

No synopsis because I went in totally blind and loved leaving my heart and complete trust in the hands of Harvey. 🩵

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚?
There is nothing that makes me feel the deep emotional feels quite like reading a KWH novel, and this was another profound example. Summer State of Mind was a beautifully written story that was so perfectly developed and paced to keep you throughly charmed through out. I tried to pace myself but struggled because I just could not get enough of Mason, Daisy (and what ultimately brought them together), the sweet romance, the messy family drama, the found family, and the second chances. A.K.A Tilly! I just love that woman so much. Returning to Cape Carolina, getting more of her, and seeing Amelia and Parker again made my heart so happy. If you’ve read Under the Southern Sky, you will be thrilled to see them once again. It felt like the sweetest homecoming. If not, don’t worry, but maybe add UTSS to your TBR because it’s another KWH must read.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩?
The strong message of family bonds, and not just those by blood! 🫶🏻

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠?
Readers Who Love:
🩵 Southern Fiction
🩵 Sweet Summer Romance
🩵 Small Town NC
🩵 Family Choas
🩵 Ethical Dilemmas
🩵 Feeling ALL the Feels
🩵 Title “Aha” Moments


Absolutely would recommend! From cover to cover this was definitely Kristy at her finest and once again will be one of THE reads of the summer. Beach bags everywhere get ready! This is one I will without a doubt reread with the audio once it’s available.

Thank you to Gallery Books and UpLit Reads for the gifted copies. And to Andrea @chicagobooklover for the buddy read.

[Alissa Manning-Telisak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey is an incredibly touching novel set in a small southern town. Daisy, a nurse searching for a fresh start, meets Mason, a high school coach. Together they discover an abandoned baby—a moment that changes everything. They uncover secrets that could impact the entire community. There are so many layers to this story and it ranges from heartbreak to hope. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster!!! This is one that will stay with me for a long time!! Easily my favorite KWH novel yet!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read Summer State of Mind!

[Christy Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my most favorite authors for a reason, and this book gives me another reason to love her writing. It was nice to get to visit with characters I was already familiar with from a previous novel of hers. This story is a clear study of the family, how things can get terribly messy, but love and family prevail. I hope Harvey finds it in her heart to make this a trilogy so that we can learn the rest of the story.

[Kristy Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re reading this, that means you’ve probably either read SUMMER STATE OF MIND already or you’re thinking about it. Thank you so much for that! I am so grateful to every single person who has ever read my books. It is because of you that I get to be here, now, telling you about my (lucky!) thirteenth novel. And, let me tell you: I am over-the-moon to share my beloved NICU nurse Daisy, charming-yet-flawed (and super hunky!) injured former baseball star Mason, quirky, eccentric but totally endearing Aunt Tilley, and the precious abandoned baby that brings them all together in ways they never could have imagined.

Two of my favorite love stories come together on these pages. It’s full of romance and small-town antics, southern accents and unlikely friendships, cheerleaders at a baseball game, (Breaking all the rules!) and my first ever community theater production on page! I had so darn much fun writing it. I hope you have just as much fun reading!

In some ways, this novel is a return for me. In others it is a departure. A return because I revisit dreamy Cape Carolina, the setting of my very first New York Times Bestseller and a deeply personal book for me, Under the Southern Sky. I am returning to Aunt Tilley—a secondary character from that book that I got perhaps the most emails about of any character I’ve ever written. Readers wanted more of her! And, as it turns out, so did I! Mason, my high school baseball coach, who has struggled deeply for years since an injury stole his big dreams of going pro, wasn’t a character I planned to revisit. I adored him, wanted to see him get his happy ending but never actually planned on writing it. Somehow, when I started writing my brand-new protagonist, Daisy, Mason simply was the man I saw for her. And then there were so many echoes between Daisy’s story and Tilley’s, and… well, it continued to unfold from there.

But the reason I say it was a departure was because, often, I show readers a character who has had some defining moment happen to her off the page or on page one, and the novel is the process of her getting her life back together. Here, we see these characters fall apart and put the pieces back together in real time, sometimes more than once. I’m not sure it was a conscious choice, but something about that journey feels so true to me. Because none of us is one thing. We aren’t all good or all bad, always the hero or always the villain. These characters make bold choices, some selfish, some selfless. But it’s how they heal. It’s how they become great by the end. And so it is with all of us, I believe. Our family, our friends, Martha Stewart… We don’t love them because they’re perfect. We love them because they’re real. We stick by them through the bumpy parts and they do the same for us. At least, if we’re really lucky.

My books almost always surround characters who have an ethical dilemma before them. Because, so often, while we like to believe there’s the “right” answer and the “wrong” answer, I have found in my own life that, in any choice, in any situation, there are generally about a million shades of gray. Each of these characters comes to a moment—or have to relive a moment from the past—where he or she reached a fork in the road. And there is no perfect answer, no “right for everyone.” What then? How do you decide when your back is up against the wall? To me, there is magic in that messiness. And sometimes heartbreak too. But, if you’ve read my books before, you know that I like nothing more than to tie it up by the end, deliver a happy ending, or at least a satisfying one.

At any rate, thanks for spending time with these characters, for adding this book to, if you’re like me, an already precariously leaning nightstand stack. I hope you love it. I hope it makes you think about some of your best moments—and maybe some of the ones you have overcome to get where you are today, too. But, most of all, I hope this book leaves you in a SUMMER STATE OF MIND.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristy Woodson Harvey’s Summer State of Mind really said “here’s your breezy coastal escape” and then proceeded to emotionally unravel me with grief, secrets, and one tiny abandoned baby that changed everything before I even had time to get comfortable.
Published by Gallery Books—huge thank you to the publisher and UpLit Reads for the gifted book.

This is women’s fiction with a romantic thread, but calling it a “light beach read” feels like a bold misrepresentation of the emotional rollercoaster I willingly boarded. Daisy, a burnt-out NICU nurse running on grief and guilt, escapes to Cape Carolina hoping for something quieter, something gentler. Instead, she walks straight into a moment that alters her entire trajectory—when Mason, a former baseball golden boy turned small-town coach, brings in an abandoned newborn who instantly becomes the center of everything. And then there’s Aunt Tilley, who is somehow both the comic relief and the emotional core of this story—eccentric, tender, and holding more truth than anyone gives her credit for.

What hit me hardest is how this story lives in the gray. There are no easy answers here—just people trying to do the right thing while carrying their own pain, and sometimes getting it wrong anyway. Daisy is messy in the most human way. She made choices that had me pausing, questioning, maybe even judging a little… and then immediately understanding. Because when love, loss, and longing collide, logic doesn’t always get a say. Her attachment to the baby isn’t just plot—it’s emotional gravity. You feel how deeply she needs something good to hold onto, even when it complicates everything.

Mason, on the other hand, brings this steady, grounding energy that balances Daisy’s intensity. He’s not perfect—he’s carrying his own regrets and the weight of who he used to be—but there’s something so quietly dependable about him. Their connection doesn’t feel like fireworks; it feels like exhaling after holding your breath for too long. It’s imperfect, a little rushed at times, but rooted in something real. And the town of Cape Carolina? It’s practically a character itself—full of porch conversations, long memories, and a community that will absolutely know your business… but also show up when it matters most.

And Aunt Tilley… I need a moment for her. Every scene she’s in feels layered with humor and heartbreak. She’s unpredictable, a little chaotic, but also deeply symbolic of the book’s core message: that life doesn’t move in straight lines, and healing rarely looks the way you expect it to. Her storyline quietly weaves through everything, adding depth that sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

“Summer state of mind.”

On the surface, it sounds light—like sunshine and salt air—but by the end, it feels earned. It becomes less about a season and more about a choice. Choosing hope. Choosing connection. Choosing to stay, even when running would be easier.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a 5-star read for me—emotional, layered, and the kind of story that lingers long after you close the book. It’s perfect for readers who want their summer reads to have depth, who don’t mind sitting in discomfort for a payoff that feels honest and earned. If you love Southern fiction, found family, complicated characters, and stories that blur the line between right and wrong while still delivering heart… this one absolutely belongs in your beach bag.

Tell me—do you trust characters more when they make messy, questionable choices… or do you need them to get it right the first time?

#SummerStateOfMind #KristyWoodsonHarvey #GalleryBooks #UpLitReads #WomensFiction #SouthernFiction #FiveStarRead #BookReview #Bookstagram #BeachReads #EmotionalReads #FoundFamily #SmallTownFiction #MustReadBooks #2026Reads

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars
Summer State of Mind swept me to the NC coast & right to Cape Carolina—the sunshine, the community, the characters I adore. Daisy’s story is tender, and full of the kind of found‑family magic Kristy Woodson Harvey writes so well. A beautiful reminder that family is something we build with love.

We follow Daisy, newly settled in Cape Carolina and stepping into her role as a NICU nurse. On her very first day, fate intervenes: Mason, the high school baseball coach, discovers an abandoned baby girl, and that heartbreaking moment becomes the thread that pulls Daisy and Mason together. Their connection sparks quickly, but Daisy’s growing attachment to the baby—and the shadows of her own past—add a tender complexity to her journey. Mason’s family, especially Aunt Tilley who wraps Daisy in the kind of warmth and acceptance that feels like coming home.

This story is beautifully layered, each chapter reveals another facet of these characters—their hopes, their hurts, their quiet acts of love. It’s a reminder that family isn’t just the one you’re born into; it’s the one you build, the one that chooses you right back. I adored this family and it’s such a joy to see their story continue with even more heart, humor, and community.
As Daisy fights for the future of the baby girl she’s grown to love, her journey becomes both emotional and deeply human. No spoilers, but it’s handled with so much grace.

A heartfelt, and utterly charming story. A story that explores what it truly means to be a family. Kristy Woodson Harvey has such a gift for blending breezy summer vibes with real emotional depth and characters you can’t help but root for. You can read this as a standalone, but experiencing both books makes the themes of family, love, and community land even more powerfully.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story is set in Cape Carolina, a lovely coastal community and centers around the Thaysden Family, primarily 35 something Mason. He, with his parents, a slightly touched aunt, a good friend of his mother’s, and his brother’s family all live on a lovely property on the shore, the setting feels pretty idyllic. The family is interwoven in known and unknown ways that unfold throughout. Mason Thaysden was a Highschool baseball star with big dreams but an incident his senior year left him unable to pitch. However, he went off to college, was a lost soul and a cad but is now back in Cape Carolina where he is the coach of the Highschool baseball team. He is passionate about his job as coach, which is a piece of a greater puzzle for Mason as he is finally finding himself.

Daisy Stevens is a burnt out NICU nurse who has transferred to Cape Carolina to get her wits back about her after the loss of a tiny patient. This is all the perfect set up for when Mason and his Highschool pitching star, Drew, find a baby in a dumpster and deliver the baby to the hospital. Daisy is in love, with the baby, maybe with Mason.

Meanwhile, there is a lot of other things going on, yet the story is very readable and easy to follow. Ultimately, the power of love is tested on many fronts. Like a true Rom Com (Author Katherine Center said it!) it leads to a fairly neat and sweet end but not without some expected hurdles and heartaches. Despite feeling somewhat predictable, the characters were likable and dealing with some big issues that would challenge anyone. Abandoned baby, childhood abandonment, mental illness, teenage pregnancy - some big hurdles for any book, but it worked here in a sensitive and realistic way in spite of being a relatively light read. It feels like Steel Magnolias, I think I’d like to live in Cape Carolina with this cast of characters if I could. I found them very easy to root for.

[Rachel (storybookcorner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, grab the tissues. This novel, while maybe not the summer beach read you'd expect from our Beach Read Queen will pack a punch like no other. You won't want to stop reading. I'm an auto reader of any book KWH writes, so honestly I didn't have a clue what this book was about. I went in completely blind and didn't even read the synopsis of this novel. Gut punch! Gut punch! Gut punch! Holy moly!!!!

This novel has so much drama, family issues, and heartbreak, but it's equally heartwarming and redemptive. If you are a NICU nurse, a current or former foster/adoptive parent, a child with childhood trauma, or just family dysfunction in general then I believe this book will resonate with you on a different level. It may very well be a healing balm to your soul that you didn't know you needed.

I may have struggled with the ethical decisions at times, BUT if your a foster parent or have ever been a foster parent then I guarantee you will relate to Daisy and her emotional state. I speak from experience and I can tell you that fostering whether short term or long term is incredibly hard. It's impossible to not be attached to precious children in your care. I feel like unless you have fostered children this is one area of the book that might be impossible to understand. It's not the same as birthing children at all, unless you have placed your child up for adoption.

This novel grabbed me from page one and wouldn't let go. I laughed, I cried, and at times I was angry, but the ending will leave you smiling and maybe some happy tears. I highly recommend this novel and if you're able to read poolside with a nice fruity drink or with your toes dug in the sand it might just make the emotional parts a little easier to bare.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Samantha Tiernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED “Summer State of Mind” by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Summer State of Mind is the perfect beach read to get you ready for warmer weather.
One night after baseball practice, a star baseball player (Drew) and his coach (Mason) hear noises coming from a dumpster by the baseball fields. They discover a newborn baby in the dumpster. After rushing the baby to the local hospital, they meet Daisy, a NICU nurse that has just moved to town. Sparks start flying between Mason and Daisy. According to North Carolina law, the baby’s parents have 60 days to claim it before the baby can be put up for adoption. Mason and Daisy start investigating and soon put the pieces together on who the baby’s parents are. During this time, Daisy fosters the baby and becomes attached. Daisy starts struggling with coming clean about who the parents are as she wants to keep this baby for herself.
Mason has his own baggage to bring to the relationship. A once pro baseball player turned high school coach has always been the talk of the town and kind of a ladies’ man. Mason introduces Daisy to his huge family, and they immediately fall in love with her. Masons Aunt Tilley has always been a bit kooky. She seems to always find herself stuck in the past. She often pretends she is someone else and dresses in wild clothing. Tilleys story will leave readers flying through the pages to find out why she is the way she is. Tilley has family secrets of her own that she struggles with staying hidden.
This book has so many layers and each character tells a part of the story. This book reminds me of what it means to be a family. And the unexpected family that you choose. Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars out of 5 stars. This was an absolutely fabulous read.

[Cristina Montero]

This book feels like wrapping yourself in a warm hug and it might just be my new favorite of Kristy’s.

There’s a little bit of everything here: mystery, romance, love, and such a strong sense of family. One of my favorite parts was Mason’s big family dynamic—it added so much heart and depth to the story and made the entire world feel so lived-in and real.

The writing is filled with warmth and emotion, and I found myself completely pulled into Daisy’s journey—from starting over to navigating unexpected challenges and connections that change everything.

If you’ve read all of Kristy’s books like I have, keep an eye out for the character Easter eggs from Under the Southern Sky such a fun surprise. Both books are complete standalones, but I love those crossover moments. It feels like catching up with old friends.

A few weeks ago on my annual book club retreat to Arizona, I read this entire book on the airplane and it gave me the sweetest little glimpse of summer before the season even started. Between that and my first pool day of the year, this story completely set the tone for the trip.

Spring is my favorite time of year, emerging from the cold, full of new growth and new beginnings (and of course, my birthday 💁🏻‍♀️) and this book felt like the perfect way to step into that season.

Thank you so much to @kristywharvey for the advanced copy and to @uplitreads for letting me be part of this book tour—it truly means so much.

As someone born and raised in North Carolina, I’ll always have a soft spot for books set in my home state. And with so many bookish nurse friends in my life, I especially loved reading about a character in that role.

✨ You absolutely must read this one when it comes out on 5/5!

[erin (readingwithremy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind is a beautifully written story about family in a fantastic North Carolina coastal setting. This book will transport you to Cape Carolina and you won't want to leave. I fell in love with Cape Carolina in Under the Southern Sky and I love that in Summer State of Mind we return and see Mason's story, along with more of Aunt Tilley.

Daisy has moved to Cape Carolina, looking for a little quieter life but on her first day as a NICU nurse, Mason, the high school baseball coach, discovers an abandoned baby, and it brings these two together. As sparks fly between Daisy and Mason, she is also fighting her attachment to the baby girl and her own past. Daisy also starts to fall in love with Mason's family, including his Aunt Tilley who has secrets of her own.

This book is layered and looks at what does it mean to be a family. I fell in love with this family in Under the Southern Sky, so I feel like I'm coming back home reading this book. KWH has the best mix of a summer beach read with emotional depth and characters you love. You don't need to read Under the Southern Sky first, but I think reading both helps you fully understand the themes of family and community.

This book reminds me of her earlier books and that life is beautiful, yet complicated and I loved Summer State of Mind. I can't wait to see everyone reading it this summer!

The biggest thanks to Gallery for an advance copy of Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey. I binged this the day I got it and I know I'll read it again before May 5th!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer State of Mind is a sweet, comforting novel that feels very much in line with Kristy Woodson Harvey’s usual work, with its focus on family, love, and small-town connections.

I really enjoyed the three perspectives. Tilley often felt older than her fifty-six years, which I know was intentional, though I occasionally struggled to fully reconcile that. Daisy, on the other hand, was very easy to like. Her questionable choices felt realistic and (at times) relatable, and I appreciated how human she was. Mason was also a likable leading man, though I personally would have loved just a little more swoon from him. And the side characters were a standout for me—getting to see familiar faces from Under the Southern Sky again was such a fun surprise.

The title gave me slightly different expectations than what the book delivered. While the setting absolutely makes you want to pour a glass of sweet tea, grab a slice of pie, and settle into this charming town, it didn’t quite capture a full-on “summer state of mind” for me.

That said, the setting itself is wonderful, and I can easily see many readers picking this up at the start of summer and enjoying the ride. I was hoping for a bit more emotional depth, especially from Daisy and Mason. While this isn’t my favorite of Harvey’s novels and didn’t quite deliver a big “wow” moment, it was still an easy, cozy, and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.