Until Next Summer

by Allison Ashley

A teen starts to fall for the boy she and her best friend agreed was off-limits while building a relationship with the new guy in town at the same time in this “charming” (School Library Journal, starred review) seaside teen romance perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Summer in Cape Cod is what Amelia lives for. The months of June, July, and August are always reserved for three being inseparable from her best friend, Kat; spending as much time on the beach as possible; and admiring Myles Ford—her and Kat’s forever crush—from afar. But this summer, Kat is abandoning Amelia to get a head start on tennis training at her new boarding school, and without her, Amelia feels adrift.

Amelia distracts herself from her loneliness with her new waitressing job at Pearl’s, her town’s best seafood restaurant. There, she happens to work alongside Myles, who inexplicably seems to be interested in her. And when another boy comes into Amelia’s life as suddenly as a summer storm, Amelia will have to Should she explore something with Myles at the expense of a friendship that seems to be sinking fast, or take a chance on a boy who might not stick around for long?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Summer, Contemporary, Coming Of Age, Summer Reads, Young Adult Romance

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2026

About the author

Allison Ashley is a music-loving, coffee-drinking mom of two who loves love stories. She's an oncology pharmacist and spends her days focused on helping patients through the hardest thing life can throw at them. Her escape has always been books—specifically reading books about happiness, love, and laughter—and it was inevitable that she'd eventually write her own. She promises to always write stories with deep romance, intense connection, and humor…but most of all, that coveted happy ever after.

Reviews

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic young adult romance debut for Allison Ashley filled with all of the young love, summer fun, and burgeoning friendships a girl could want. Featuring a bit of a low-key love triangle and childhood friends to more, this story definitely has The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes. But most importantly, this young adult novel was an actual novel for young adults and not a new adult book in disguise (aka kissing only and relatable topics for YA). A perfect book to read poolside or at the beach.

Read if you like:
▪️friendship fiction
▪️love triangle
▪️friends to more
▪️relatable characters
▪️Jenny Han

Thank you Simon Teen for the advanced copy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

istg there better be a second book i think gregory might be the loml

full review to come :)

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun summer contemporary! It reminded me a bit of Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson since the main character Amelia has always been content to quietly shadow her more outgoing and social best friend Kat. When Kat moves away, Amelia suddenly has to develop a social life on her own.

I really liked the friendships that Amelia develops, particularly with her coworkers. They were always there for each other and I liked seeing her come out of her shell a bit and put herself out there to get to know people.

This also touched on the difficulty of keeping friendships with high school friends or whatnot. When people’s lives take them in different directions, it’s harder to manage a friendship. Kat and Amelia went from talking constantly to exchanging texts occasionally and a few brief phone calls. It was a very realistic depiction of a change in relationship.

The romance was interesting and not really what I expected. I also thought the romance ended on an interesting note. Usually with a love triangle, I will like one guy and hate the other, but while I did prefer one guy, I did like the other guy as well.

And of course, I loved the setting. Like Amelia, I am a thalassophile, so I loved her love of the ocean and how it recharged her. They did so much swimming and beach combing and sunbathing that it made me long to do the same (even though summer is still pretty far off from where I live).

From what I can tell, this was this author’s first YA book (she had previously written only adult books) and I can’t wait to read more YA books from her. I really enjoyed this one.

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia's plans for the summer with her best friend blow up when Kat unexpectedly leaves early for boarding school and the next few months stretch ahead into nothing. Her last night with Kat opens up possibilites for more-than-friends with two boys. Myles is obviously forbidden as a shared crush with Kat makes it impossible and Gregory is new to the area but just for the summer. As Amelia draws closer to both, she can't help but feel torn.
Amelia is how I wish I was as a teen. She's sharp, knows herself, what she likes and doesn't, but still dealing with messy emotions of a girl coming of age. I just want to give them all a hug. Every girl, no matter her age, needs a network and I love that she found Shelby and developed relationships with Myles and Gregory. It's such a perfect summery read that I devoured in a very short amount of time.
The way this ends... I need book two asap! I want to know more about the playlist!!, Amelia's friendship with Kat and how it all comes together. I think this is perfect for fans of Jennie Han, Kasie West, and Morgan Matson.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Mia Selvidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respectfully Allison, imma need a book 2 ASAP

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley was such a sweet and heartfelt summer read. I loved the Cape Cod setting and how it captured all the excitement, uncertainty, and emotions that come with growing up. Amelia felt relatable as she navigated friendship changes, first love, and figuring out what she truly wanted.

The story had the perfect balance of romance, friendship, and self discovery. I found myself rooting for Amelia as she faced difficult choices and learned that sometimes life does not go according to plan. The beach town atmosphere made this book feel like the perfect escape, and the characters kept me invested from beginning to end.

If you enjoy young adult romances filled with summer vibes, friendship drama, and heartfelt moments, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

10000/10!!! Favorite book of 2026 ! I have no words! There better be a second book. It ended with sorta of a plot twist but that might just be me !

It starts with Amelia and her best friend Kat . Kat is about to move to New York for tennis, so her and Amelia go to a party where Amelia meets Gregory. The new kid for the summer from Arizona. She also gives her number to Miles . The boy her and Kat have a crush on since they were little and they made a pack to never get together with him.

With Kat gone, Amelia finds herself liking both Gregory and Miles . With the summer coming, she has to pick who she wants to be with . Gregory who is about to move back to Arizona or Miles who is off limits and risk her friendship with Kat .

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had better be a series! I want to reach into the pages and shake Amelia a little, but I must have more of her story!

[genevieve glavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is literally the summer i turned pretty but done right.

soooo i really didn’t want to love this book but i lowkey did. as evidence i legit read this book in one day, only taking a break to wall macy 😭. pleaseeeee release a sequel because we all know this ending was not the right one. i will be waiting to find out what happens next summer in the cutest beach town know to man

[Jenny Murphy]

I’m sad about this but it’s my mistake. I bought this forgetting it’s a YA and it’s just a bit of a slower pace and I can’t handle the high school dialogue. 🥴 I love every other book by this author, though!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟cute and sweet YA romance. The love triangle was fun, but it seemed obvious to me which boy the main character is meant to be with. The summer vibes of the Cape Cod like coastal town were fun and easy to picture, and while I’m annoyed it’s set up for a sequel (because I wanted it to be resolved), I’m also excited to see what happens next with these characters.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying……WHAT WAS THAT ENDING!! She loses her friendship with Kat then dates Myles and is just friends with Gregory. What do you mean?? Like she obviously likes him because every time she is with Myles she thinks of Gregory. Ugh they would be so much better together and breaking the pact, big no no. And even though Kat did do those things like ignoring her and stuff but she said sorry and the main character didn’t even own up. Terrible. And thats so annoying……BECAUSE I LOVED THE PLOT LINE! Best friend leaves but ignores the main character while the main character is gaining friends and not being in a shadow. Really good. But that ending made it a four star. But don’t get me wrong I totally recommend!

[Ticey Geyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet YA! Perfect summer read for YA fans. I think those that loved The Summer I Turned Pretty will enjoy this, too!

[⋆ 𐙚 ̊. Sterling 𝜗𝜚₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Summer is a beautiful, atmospheric YA romance that perfectly captures the feeling of a transformative summer. I loved the Cape Cod setting and the emotional complexity of Amelia’s situation. The tension created by her off-limits crush on Myles while navigating a friendship change with Kat felt very real and relatable. It manages to be sweet while still dealing with the heavy choice between staying loyal to a best friend or following your heart. A great pick if you love a seaside setting and a heartfelt coming-of-age romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Summer is such a sweet, dreamy, coming-of-age story. Living in a small beach town, Amelia has always been content to be in her bestie’s shadow…until Kat moves away to go to a boarding school. Having lived in friends’ shadows myself, it was so satisfying to watch Amelia blossom into her true self, accepting her strong character, along with all the messy, angsty teen emotions.

Although I’ve never lived near a beach (very unfortunate), the summertime vibes, friendships, and experiences are so nostalgic. Watching Amelia navigate life without Kat, getting a job, making new friends, and dating (even a forbidden crush) was so entertaining and tugged on my inner younger self’s heart.

I loved how Amelia is very much into playlists and each chapter starts with a song title. This is the perfect summer-time read and is a must for Jenny Han fans.

Content: mild language, including one strong word; mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Brynn | readyourworriesaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison Ashley is one of my favorite adult romance authors, so I was thrilled to see she was writing a YA romance!

UNTIL NEXT SUMMER is the perfect love story to devour at the beach, pool, or lake 🌊

The love triangle trope really worked for me in this book, and it’s not usually a trope I enjoy!

Ashley created two lovely MMCs, which made it difficult to choose a favorite 🥰 I adored Myles and Gregory for different reasons. They both brought out new sides of Amelia and showed her that she could stand on her own two feet.

The author did a great job crafting the complicated friendship dynamics between Amelia and Kat. From navigating long distance to crushing on the same boy—it’s a friendship readers would be able to relate to.

Amelia had such wonderful taste in music 🎶 and I adored her love for animals 🐾

I hope many more YA (and adult) romances are in @authorallisonashley’s future 🩵

[Stephanie | stephonashelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: YA Romance

Format: Physical/Audio

4🌟 - I liked it!

Thank you @simonteen for the #gifted copy!

This was so cute!!! It’s giving The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes 🌊🐚☀️🦀💕

It gives you teenage angst, a summer romance, love triangle 👀, and friendship dynamics! This is such an easy poolside/beach read to pick up this summer!

I wanted a little more from the ending!! It almost felt too open-ended, and I wanted a little more resolution from all the storylines! I needed an epilogue or a sequel!

[clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

now listen!!! love triangles that end on this ooh what comes next note get on my nerves but 🤭 i ate this one up!

allison ashley is always a hit on my book, her contemporary romances are very dear to me, so i knew i would enjoy her ya story too, and it was everything i needed and more.

i loved this story and i can’t wait for the next book!

gregory, you’re the bestest boy ever. i love you!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher.

[Jordyn Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️!! Absolutely loved this book, i could feel the summer vibes radiating off the paper. I think Amelia is such a great FMC and I love that she’s not one dimensional and she was able to find herself more and more as the story progressed. I loved both of our MMCs and I like that they both had layers and things to unpack. And I really appreciate that Amelia realized her worth and maturely let the situation with Kat go. I don’t think Kat was a good best friend at all and she has some growing to do before she realizes she needs to apologize to Amelia. Hoping we get another book about these characters!!

[Melissa Sunsdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super cute and I loved it! It felt like the best parts of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I feel like the author left the door open for a sequel so fingers crossed… That’s the best review I can give: immediately wanting to read the sequel as soon as I read the last words!

[Julie Burdick · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️’s.. I wanted to jump inside this book and live there. I loved everything.. The beachy summer setting, the teenage, first time love, the FMC’s growth, the love triangle, and all the angsty, swoon worthy, yearning.

I think the reason the ratings aren’t higher is because it ended on a cliff hanger and it wasn’t clear if this was a standalone or the first of a series. I looked into it and am happy to say the author is currently working on book 2.. Yayyy!!

[Brittany | Brittany_the_Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! A great YA debut for this author :)

[Kayli Doyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Just feel conflicted over the ending. I’d like to think there is a sequel where Gregory gets the girl a few years down the road. Allison Ashley, pretty please?

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel brought the essence of summer into my soul. 💕☀️🌊

I imagine these characters won't leave my mind (and heart) any time soon 🫶

I neeeeeed the next novel!

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

the concept of asking your job if you can replace their generic radio taste with your supposed superior music taste only for one of your favourite artists to be revealed as BENSON BOONE.

[B]

DNF chapter two. Writing felt very juvenile and stilted.

[Denae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was the cutest! Perfect for “Summer I turned pretty” f or “To All the Boys I Loved Before” fans. It’s something I love about swoony YA romances that leave me feeling so giddy and warm. This one definitely had me cheesing and kicking my feet. I love watching young people “fall in love” and discover the “wonderful(lol)” world of dating.

This is the perfect summer read! If you are curating a summer TBR this should definitely be on your list! All the quintessential summer elements are present. It’s set in Cape Cod and gives the total small beach town feel. We have beach walking, ocean, bon fires, icecream, diner, sand volleyball, taco trucks- it literally screams everything summer!

Also, in adult romances I typically don’t enjoy a love triangle but in YA romances- I find them fun and sweet! I loved seeing Amelia blossom once Kat left. When Kat was there she stayed in the shadows but I loved seeing her finally come out her shell and discover herself! I wasn’t a huge fan of Kat

Read this if you love:
Swoony young love
New love
Summer vibes
Friends to lovers
Small town

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Summer
Allison Ashley
Pub 5/5/26

If you’re in the mood for a summer YA romance that brings all the beach vibes and will have you feeling nostalgic, look no further.

Until Next Summer was Ashley’s YA debut and it did not disappoint. Amelia’s story was sweet, messy, and engaging throughout. Although this can be enjoyed at any age, the younger readers will without a doubt find a strong connection with the realistic and relatable struggles of young love, friendships, and finding yourself.

What I enjoyed:
🏝️ YA Romance
🏝️ Coming Of Age
🏝️ Small Town
🏝️ Forced Proximity
🏝️ Friendships
🏝️ Nostalgia

I decided to go the audiobook route and would absolutely recommend. Kimberly Woods did a wonderful job bringing Ashley’s words to life.

Thank you Simon Audio for the free audiobook.

[Jess | jadecanread · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age young/new adult story with an unresolved ending. It hurts but also, I didn't hate it.

A small town high school girl's best friend moves away to another state for a different school. She's now alone, endeavors to uphold her bestie pact, while also discovering herself and boys for the first time lol.

There's a love triangle, a little bit of teenage drama, and small town vibes.

I'm definitely recommending this to my high school aged sister, but I wouldn't say I'd run to read the sequel (if there is one).

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re fun to be around when I’m happy, but safe to be around when I’m sad. And at the end of the day, you’re the kind of person I want on my side.” 🩵

I loved this book sooooo much! The setting, the characters and the general plot of the story was everything I love in a summer romance novel. If you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, then you will fall in love with this book too!

Now let’s talk about the love triangle. I absolutely adored both Gregory and Myles. They are both so sweet and thoughtful but they are just two completely different characters in terms of their hobbies/interests. And Amelia is stuck with such a hard decision because with Myles she has the no dating pact with Kat and with Gregory she knew he was always going to leave at the end of the summer. (I’m so glad I’m not in her position 😂)

There were so many cute scenes in this book that it had me smiling the entire time. I even teared up a bit at the ending because everything kind of ended abruptly and things were left open ended. I am so hoping we get a second book because I want more!

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the advanced copy! Until Next Summer releases on May 5th, so be sure to check it out!