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Only So Many Summers
Not yet published
Expected 14 May 26
There’s something magical about the lake. Things always feel the same here.
Comforting. Stable. But this summer, everything will change.
For years, Mia Miller’s family has been spending one week every summer at the Agate Harbors lake resort in northern Minnesota. The trip not only brings her a break from her overbearing parents who don’t have any patience for her sensitivities and her sister who only cares about finding the next party, it’s the one time a year she gets to see her favorite person: Bower Hanson.
Since they were young, Bower and Mia have felt connected by a bond neither knows how to define. They treasure their time together when Mia comes to visit his grandparents’ resort. But when a night gone wrong as teenagers lands Bower in significant trouble, he and Mia lose all contact for years.
As an adult, Mia knows what she wants: a quick engagement with Archer, a guy her parents love. So what if he constantly tries to change her, claiming it’s all to help with her sensory processing disorder diagnosis? She can ignore the voice in the back of her head questioning if her fiancé is right for her…until her bachelorette party in Agate Harbors, where she runs into the last person she expected to see again.
Guarded and recovering from past wounds she has no idea about, Bower reminds Mia that he’s never wanted her to change a single thing about herself. Their connection reignites as quickly as it did all those years ago, but will it last beyond this week at the lake?
Only So Many Summers is the first book in the Agate Harbors series, told in two timelines and featuring a Minnesota lake resort setting, mental health rep, and a second chance at love (no cheating). There is adult content; see author’s website for a full list of content warnings.
Comforting. Stable. But this summer, everything will change.
For years, Mia Miller’s family has been spending one week every summer at the Agate Harbors lake resort in northern Minnesota. The trip not only brings her a break from her overbearing parents who don’t have any patience for her sensitivities and her sister who only cares about finding the next party, it’s the one time a year she gets to see her favorite person: Bower Hanson.
Since they were young, Bower and Mia have felt connected by a bond neither knows how to define. They treasure their time together when Mia comes to visit his grandparents’ resort. But when a night gone wrong as teenagers lands Bower in significant trouble, he and Mia lose all contact for years.
As an adult, Mia knows what she wants: a quick engagement with Archer, a guy her parents love. So what if he constantly tries to change her, claiming it’s all to help with her sensory processing disorder diagnosis? She can ignore the voice in the back of her head questioning if her fiancé is right for her…until her bachelorette party in Agate Harbors, where she runs into the last person she expected to see again.
Guarded and recovering from past wounds she has no idea about, Bower reminds Mia that he’s never wanted her to change a single thing about herself. Their connection reignites as quickly as it did all those years ago, but will it last beyond this week at the lake?
Only So Many Summers is the first book in the Agate Harbors series, told in two timelines and featuring a Minnesota lake resort setting, mental health rep, and a second chance at love (no cheating). There is adult content; see author’s website for a full list of content warnings.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 14, 2026
28 people are currently reading
2127 people want to read
About the author
Evi James
4 books72 followersEvi lives with her husband, two daughters, and numerous cats in Minnesota.
Come say hi on Instagram and Tiktok!
@evijamesauthor
Come say hi on Instagram and Tiktok!
@evijamesauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
REVIEW TO COME😍💞!!!!!!!!!
🐢🌊🥥🌺Perfect for fans of Emily Henry's People We Meet On Vacation🐢🌊🥥🌺!!!!!!!
🐢🌊🥥🌺Perfect for fans of Emily Henry's People We Meet On Vacation🐢🌊🥥🌺!!!!!!!
May 6, 2026
4⭐️
First off, thank you to Love PR and Evi James for the eARC!
This was such a wholesome childhood friends to lovers romance with the perfect cozy Minnesota cabin atmosphere. As someone from Minnesota, the setting felt especially comforting and nostalgic with the quiet lakes, small towns, and that feeling of home.
One of my favorite parts was the character growth. Every character felt changed by the end of the story (even the parents), but Mia and Bower’s journey stood out the most. No matter how much time passed or how far life pulled them apart, they always seemed to find their way back to each other, even after nine years, and that made their relationship feel incredibly heartfelt and real.
I also appreciated the care the author took when discussing SPD, PTSD, and dementia. The representation felt thoughtful, especially in showing the accommodations, patience, and support surrounding those experiences.
Mia and Bower’s romance was sweet and easy to become invested in. While parts of the relationship leaned a little insta love for me, I still loved watching them grow up together and eventually grow into the people they were meant to be for each other. Overall, this was a heartwarming story and I can’t wait to read the next one!
First off, thank you to Love PR and Evi James for the eARC!
This was such a wholesome childhood friends to lovers romance with the perfect cozy Minnesota cabin atmosphere. As someone from Minnesota, the setting felt especially comforting and nostalgic with the quiet lakes, small towns, and that feeling of home.
One of my favorite parts was the character growth. Every character felt changed by the end of the story (even the parents), but Mia and Bower’s journey stood out the most. No matter how much time passed or how far life pulled them apart, they always seemed to find their way back to each other, even after nine years, and that made their relationship feel incredibly heartfelt and real.
I also appreciated the care the author took when discussing SPD, PTSD, and dementia. The representation felt thoughtful, especially in showing the accommodations, patience, and support surrounding those experiences.
Mia and Bower’s romance was sweet and easy to become invested in. While parts of the relationship leaned a little insta love for me, I still loved watching them grow up together and eventually grow into the people they were meant to be for each other. Overall, this was a heartwarming story and I can’t wait to read the next one!
May 3, 2026
This was such a sweet, wholesome story with many great reps intertwined within the plot! I also loved the MN setting. There is just something so special about summers on a lake in Minnesota.
May 10, 2026
There’s just something about the childhood friends to lovers trope that gets me every single time, and Only So Many Summers by Evi James delivered it so beautifully.
What I loved most about this story was the way he always accepted her exactly as she was, her quirks, her feelings, her way of trying to overcome the differences she faced in life. He never tried to change her, only understand her. Watching him consistently make sure she felt heard, accepted, and loved made their connection feel so genuine and comforting.
Then when they reunite as adults, I loved seeing the roles shift a little as she realizes it’s now her turn to show up for him in the same way he always did for her. Their relationship felt full of patience, understanding, and a love that never really went away no matter how much time had passed.
This book was emotional, tender, and such a beautiful reminder that sometimes the right person has been there all along.
What I loved most about this story was the way he always accepted her exactly as she was, her quirks, her feelings, her way of trying to overcome the differences she faced in life. He never tried to change her, only understand her. Watching him consistently make sure she felt heard, accepted, and loved made their connection feel so genuine and comforting.
Then when they reunite as adults, I loved seeing the roles shift a little as she realizes it’s now her turn to show up for him in the same way he always did for her. Their relationship felt full of patience, understanding, and a love that never really went away no matter how much time had passed.
This book was emotional, tender, and such a beautiful reminder that sometimes the right person has been there all along.
May 7, 2026
Firstly, thank you to Evi James for providing me with an arc of Only So Many Summers!
I’ve read every book by Evi James and this is her first non paranormal romance. Set in MN, Mia and Bower connect over multiple summers at Bower’s family summer camp. After years apart, circumstance sees them thrown back together and we get to see their love story evolve.
This story deals with some very real and sensitive issues (dementia and SPD) and I thought they were written with a lot of consideration and respect.
This is definitely my favourite Evi James story so far, and I’m hoping we revisit Agate Harbours with sister Ruby!
I’ve read every book by Evi James and this is her first non paranormal romance. Set in MN, Mia and Bower connect over multiple summers at Bower’s family summer camp. After years apart, circumstance sees them thrown back together and we get to see their love story evolve.
This story deals with some very real and sensitive issues (dementia and SPD) and I thought they were written with a lot of consideration and respect.
This is definitely my favourite Evi James story so far, and I’m hoping we revisit Agate Harbours with sister Ruby!
May 10, 2026
ARC Read!! Let me tell you… this was a 13 hour BINGE read I am so grateful for the advanced copy of this book I absolutely loved the plot line
Our main character, Mia, has sensory processing disorder and the way Bower takes care of her and makes her feel seen and not weird was TOP TIER.
For all the girls who love a slow burn and time jumps… this one’s for you. They met at Bower’s family cabin retreat and for one week of summer every year they were inseparable. But when Bower disappears, what is Mia supposed to do? Was he really her everything or was it just romance by the lakeside? 💕💕
Our main character, Mia, has sensory processing disorder and the way Bower takes care of her and makes her feel seen and not weird was TOP TIER.
For all the girls who love a slow burn and time jumps… this one’s for you. They met at Bower’s family cabin retreat and for one week of summer every year they were inseparable. But when Bower disappears, what is Mia supposed to do? Was he really her everything or was it just romance by the lakeside? 💕💕
Review of advance copy
“There were only so many summers.
We had to choose how we spent them wisely.”
This book felt like standing on a dock at sunset with your chest hurting for reasons you can’t fully explain. The writing pulled me in immediately to the point where I genuinely felt like I was there—walking the shoreline, fishing off the lake, watching fireworks reflect across the water, breathing in that nostalgic summer air that somehow feels both comforting and devastating at the same time. It had this soft, warm atmosphere wrapped around some really emotional topics, and the combination worked so well for me. 🙂↕️
What really made this story hit harder was getting to see Mia and Bower from such a young age. Watching their friendship begin when they were so young added SO much depth to everything later on because it never felt surface level. You could feel years sitting between them in every interaction, every look, every memory. And honestly??? The longing in this book was kind of insane in the quietest way possible. 🥹
LIKE HELLO????? The ache in that alone already had me stressed. 😭😭😭
My heart absolutely went out to Mia throughout this entire story too. Watching her struggle with people constantly trying to make her feel like she needed to change herself to be “easier” or more acceptable genuinely made me so angry for her. The way her sensitivities were dismissed by the people closest to her hurt to read, especially seeing how it followed her into adulthood with her fiancé. (Archer you SUCK 😒) I spent so much of this book wanting to shake everyone around her and yell SHE IS FINE EXACTLY AS SHE IS. Which is exactly why Bower worked so well for me. He never treated her like she was too much. He never made her feel difficult to love. 🥹🫶🏼
And THAT is the kind of romance that gets me every. single. time.
I also really appreciated how carefully the book handled the dementia storyline with Betty because wow…that part hurt. 😭 Deeply. Having experienced something similar with my own grandmother, some scenes genuinely hit too close to home in the most bittersweet way. There’s this underlying grief throughout the story about time passing and memories changing and people slipping away little by little, and it added such a heavy emotional layer underneath all the summer nostalgia and romance.
Also important to me personally: NO cheating. Thank you. I was definitely nervous once I realized where the story was heading emotionally, but I loved that the book handled it the way it did because it allowed me to fully root for Mia and Bower without that tension hanging over everything. 😌👏🏼
My only real complaints were that the intimate scene felt a little sudden compared to the emotional buildup we’d gotten beforehand, and I do wish the ending had slowed down more. Things wrapped up pretty quickly once time started passing, and I wanted more of the messy in-between moments of Mia and Bower actually working through everything together instead of mostly jumping to the resolution.
But regardless, this book wrapped around my heart like the warmest, saddest little summer hug. Sweet, nostalgic, comforting, quietly heartbreaking. The kind of story that makes you miss places you’ve never been and people you haven’t even met.
And you best believe I'm already ready for some Ruby and Dean content in the next book 😼 eat em up girl
things to know about the book ↓
🛶 second chance
🛶 childhood friends → lovers
🛶 summer lake setting
🛶 NO cheating
🛶 virgin FMC
🛶 SPD rep
🛶 PTSD rep
🛶 dementia (side character)
🛶 soft yearning romance
🛶 dual POV
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, Luna Literary, Love Notes PR, & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
We had to choose how we spent them wisely.”
This book felt like standing on a dock at sunset with your chest hurting for reasons you can’t fully explain. The writing pulled me in immediately to the point where I genuinely felt like I was there—walking the shoreline, fishing off the lake, watching fireworks reflect across the water, breathing in that nostalgic summer air that somehow feels both comforting and devastating at the same time. It had this soft, warm atmosphere wrapped around some really emotional topics, and the combination worked so well for me. 🙂↕️
What really made this story hit harder was getting to see Mia and Bower from such a young age. Watching their friendship begin when they were so young added SO much depth to everything later on because it never felt surface level. You could feel years sitting between them in every interaction, every look, every memory. And honestly??? The longing in this book was kind of insane in the quietest way possible. 🥹
“Funny how every time I drove up here, I thought of him. It was hard not to. So many of my summer memories had him in them.
I shook my head.
It was time to make new summer memories. Good ones that didn’t end with me brokenhearted.”
LIKE HELLO????? The ache in that alone already had me stressed. 😭😭😭
My heart absolutely went out to Mia throughout this entire story too. Watching her struggle with people constantly trying to make her feel like she needed to change herself to be “easier” or more acceptable genuinely made me so angry for her. The way her sensitivities were dismissed by the people closest to her hurt to read, especially seeing how it followed her into adulthood with her fiancé. (Archer you SUCK 😒) I spent so much of this book wanting to shake everyone around her and yell SHE IS FINE EXACTLY AS SHE IS. Which is exactly why Bower worked so well for me. He never treated her like she was too much. He never made her feel difficult to love. 🥹🫶🏼
“It wasn’t just how beautiful she’d gotten in the nine years I’d been gone; it was just Mia—the way she took up space in a room, the way she looked at me—like I was a prize. It was addicting to be around her.”
And THAT is the kind of romance that gets me every. single. time.
I also really appreciated how carefully the book handled the dementia storyline with Betty because wow…that part hurt. 😭 Deeply. Having experienced something similar with my own grandmother, some scenes genuinely hit too close to home in the most bittersweet way. There’s this underlying grief throughout the story about time passing and memories changing and people slipping away little by little, and it added such a heavy emotional layer underneath all the summer nostalgia and romance.
Also important to me personally: NO cheating. Thank you. I was definitely nervous once I realized where the story was heading emotionally, but I loved that the book handled it the way it did because it allowed me to fully root for Mia and Bower without that tension hanging over everything. 😌👏🏼
My only real complaints were that the intimate scene felt a little sudden compared to the emotional buildup we’d gotten beforehand, and I do wish the ending had slowed down more. Things wrapped up pretty quickly once time started passing, and I wanted more of the messy in-between moments of Mia and Bower actually working through everything together instead of mostly jumping to the resolution.
But regardless, this book wrapped around my heart like the warmest, saddest little summer hug. Sweet, nostalgic, comforting, quietly heartbreaking. The kind of story that makes you miss places you’ve never been and people you haven’t even met.
And you best believe I'm already ready for some Ruby and Dean content in the next book 😼 eat em up girl
things to know about the book ↓
🛶 second chance
🛶 childhood friends → lovers
🛶 summer lake setting
🛶 NO cheating
🛶 virgin FMC
🛶 SPD rep
🛶 PTSD rep
🛶 dementia (side character)
🛶 soft yearning romance
🛶 dual POV
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, Luna Literary, Love Notes PR, & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Only So Many Summers 🌅
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Evi James for trusting me with this ARC!🫶🏻
Agathe Harbor is where all Mia's childhood summer's live.Just for this one summer week,she was able to break free from the overbearing family that she was born in,and spend time with her favorite person,Bower.
Bower and Mia were not childhood lovers nor friends nor anything,but they had a bond no one could define or break,until that day on the boat came,which ruined everything they could have ever been.
Starting this one,I did not really know what to expect.Small town,childhood lovers and something that ruined everything,sound amazing right? THANK GOD,IT DELIVERED PERFECTLY.🤏🏻
Personally,I fell in love with the summer aura and nostalgic vibes that this book has,and in an other life,I live somewhere in Slovenia and I read it in the evening after a swim at the lake.Going back into the story and the way it was unfolded,I loved that we manage to saw all the past scenes together and not scattered in the story.This made us not only love them more,but understand the depth of their connection and the dynamic of their relationship,something crucial for the story that was yet to come.
Getting into the characters,I will say that Bower has a special place in my heart.That boy overcome so many,got through as much,but in the end found the inner strength and courage to face them,in order to be with the woman he loves.Literally,the kind of men that we want to see.Continuing,through his story we had representation of what Veterans go through,after the war and how,wars and experiences like that can ruin them and the people that they have around him.
Mia,on the other side,who by the way has my name💅🏻 ,so it was AN EXPERIENCE for me reading a steamy romance book in which the main girl had my name but ANYWAY✨!,was such a sweet girl as kid and a beautiful woman that literally pushed everything away,in order to have the life SHE wants with the man SHE wants and not her family craved about her, (GO GIRL).
If I could describe their romance with one phrase,I would say that they were WORSE than lovers.We have years long of yearning , a full on slow burn love story,and even after that they had to defeat more things in order for them to be together in a healthy way.Did they achieved it?HELL YES🌝.
Long story short,if you love summers,romance,and heartbreaking stories Only So Many Summer is perfect for you.
Out On May,14th 🏞️
4⭐
Firstly,I want to thank LoveNotes PR & Evi James for trusting me with this ARC!🫶🏻
Agathe Harbor is where all Mia's childhood summer's live.Just for this one summer week,she was able to break free from the overbearing family that she was born in,and spend time with her favorite person,Bower.
Bower and Mia were not childhood lovers nor friends nor anything,but they had a bond no one could define or break,until that day on the boat came,which ruined everything they could have ever been.
Starting this one,I did not really know what to expect.Small town,childhood lovers and something that ruined everything,sound amazing right? THANK GOD,IT DELIVERED PERFECTLY.🤏🏻
Personally,I fell in love with the summer aura and nostalgic vibes that this book has,and in an other life,I live somewhere in Slovenia and I read it in the evening after a swim at the lake.Going back into the story and the way it was unfolded,I loved that we manage to saw all the past scenes together and not scattered in the story.This made us not only love them more,but understand the depth of their connection and the dynamic of their relationship,something crucial for the story that was yet to come.
Getting into the characters,I will say that Bower has a special place in my heart.That boy overcome so many,got through as much,but in the end found the inner strength and courage to face them,in order to be with the woman he loves.Literally,the kind of men that we want to see.Continuing,through his story we had representation of what Veterans go through,after the war and how,wars and experiences like that can ruin them and the people that they have around him.
Mia,on the other side,who by the way has my name💅🏻 ,so it was AN EXPERIENCE for me reading a steamy romance book in which the main girl had my name but ANYWAY✨!,was such a sweet girl as kid and a beautiful woman that literally pushed everything away,in order to have the life SHE wants with the man SHE wants and not her family craved about her, (GO GIRL).
If I could describe their romance with one phrase,I would say that they were WORSE than lovers.We have years long of yearning , a full on slow burn love story,and even after that they had to defeat more things in order for them to be together in a healthy way.Did they achieved it?HELL YES🌝.
Long story short,if you love summers,romance,and heartbreaking stories Only So Many Summer is perfect for you.
Out On May,14th 🏞️
4⭐
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 Stars | 2 Spice
"Young love didn't have to end - it could grow into something beautiful and real"
Only So Many Summers is a story about growing up in Minnesota and experiencing young summer love, only to have it torn away due to a series of mistakes. It is also a story about reconnecting later in life and realizing that the person who brings you happiness and who makes you want to be a better person could be the love of your life.
As someone who grew up in Minnesota, the land of 10,000+ lakes, I felt like I was at my favorite lake the entire time I was reading. It really was the one time my family could get away from the chaos of work and school...so I 100% agree with Mia's statement that it's an "escape for everyone". I really enjoyed how when they were kids, Bower was always there for Mia when she needed it. He understood her condition even if it wasn't diagnosed until later in life and he loved her despite it. It seemed that each summer both Bower and Mia had something to look forward to as both made each other happy. I do wish that there was more to Bower's background while they were separated, but for what's given, I understood the ramifications of what he went through. All I know is that considering what Bower is experiencing, it's Mia's turn to be there for him now.
When it comes to the other characters in this book, I definitely did not care for Archer or Mia's supposed friends. Ruby was amazing and I hope to see her more in the second book. The dementia part with Bower's grandmother definitely hit home for me because I have a grandparent who is experiencing it and I breaks my heart.
Overall, this was great book and I look forward to the next book in the Agate Harbors series. Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about second chance summer romance. The romance in this book is very slow burn but when it happens, it is so worth the wait :) I also recommend this book to readers who are looking for more mental health representation in their books. The PTSD and dementia representation was detailed well, but I do wish there was more mention of treatment/lack of treatment for it.
Thank you Evi for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
"Young love didn't have to end - it could grow into something beautiful and real"
Only So Many Summers is a story about growing up in Minnesota and experiencing young summer love, only to have it torn away due to a series of mistakes. It is also a story about reconnecting later in life and realizing that the person who brings you happiness and who makes you want to be a better person could be the love of your life.
As someone who grew up in Minnesota, the land of 10,000+ lakes, I felt like I was at my favorite lake the entire time I was reading. It really was the one time my family could get away from the chaos of work and school...so I 100% agree with Mia's statement that it's an "escape for everyone". I really enjoyed how when they were kids, Bower was always there for Mia when she needed it. He understood her condition even if it wasn't diagnosed until later in life and he loved her despite it. It seemed that each summer both Bower and Mia had something to look forward to as both made each other happy. I do wish that there was more to Bower's background while they were separated, but for what's given, I understood the ramifications of what he went through. All I know is that considering what Bower is experiencing, it's Mia's turn to be there for him now.
When it comes to the other characters in this book, I definitely did not care for Archer or Mia's supposed friends. Ruby was amazing and I hope to see her more in the second book. The dementia part with Bower's grandmother definitely hit home for me because I have a grandparent who is experiencing it and I breaks my heart.
Overall, this was great book and I look forward to the next book in the Agate Harbors series. Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading about second chance summer romance. The romance in this book is very slow burn but when it happens, it is so worth the wait :) I also recommend this book to readers who are looking for more mental health representation in their books. The PTSD and dementia representation was detailed well, but I do wish there was more mention of treatment/lack of treatment for it.
Thank you Evi for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advance Copy Received from the Author
This is an emotional wrecking ball in the best way possible. As the first book in the Agate Harbors series, Only So Many Summers, sets an incredibly high bar for a contemporary romance. Set against the nostalgic backdrop of a family-owned lakeside resort in Minnesota. This childhood-friends-to-lovers journey is raw, tender, and deeply moving.
The Story & Pacing:
The dual POV spans 14yrs, beginning in the past and transitioning seamlessly into the present. This timeline allows us to actually watch Mia and Bower growing up together, one week out of the summer, which makes their bond feel earned and incredibly deep. The author weaves a heavy emotional layer of grief throughout the book, exploring how time passes and memories slip away, which adds a beautiful grounded weight of the summer romance.
Characters & Representation:
What truly sets this book a part for me is its compassionate handling of sensitive topics:
Mia has spent her life feeling misunderstood by her parents and Archer, her fiancé. Diagnosed in her adult years with SPD, Bower was the only one who truly saw her, accepted her and made her feel heard during their summers together
Bower is navigating how to deal with his PTSD from his years as a Marine, while caring for his grandmother, who is slowly losing herself to dementia.
The role reversal in their adulthood is breathtaking. Seeing Mia step up to be his rock as he navigates his trauma and his grandmother’s illness is a testament to their unconditional love. Whether the author drew from personal experience or deep research, the representation of PTSD, SPD and dementia are handled with immense love and compassion.
The Vibe:
This is a “wholesome” but heavy read. It’s a second-chance romance that proves love can stand the test of time and the hardest trials life throws your way.
Things To Know
Tropes: Childhood Friends to Lovers; Second Chance; Found Family;
Steam: Mild Spice (Virgin FMC)
POV: Dual POV (Past to Present)
Content: PTSD & SPD representation, side character with dementia, swearing
If you want a story that will make you cry, cheer, and believe in love that never fades put this on your TBR list now.
This is an emotional wrecking ball in the best way possible. As the first book in the Agate Harbors series, Only So Many Summers, sets an incredibly high bar for a contemporary romance. Set against the nostalgic backdrop of a family-owned lakeside resort in Minnesota. This childhood-friends-to-lovers journey is raw, tender, and deeply moving.
The Story & Pacing:
The dual POV spans 14yrs, beginning in the past and transitioning seamlessly into the present. This timeline allows us to actually watch Mia and Bower growing up together, one week out of the summer, which makes their bond feel earned and incredibly deep. The author weaves a heavy emotional layer of grief throughout the book, exploring how time passes and memories slip away, which adds a beautiful grounded weight of the summer romance.
Characters & Representation:
What truly sets this book a part for me is its compassionate handling of sensitive topics:
Mia has spent her life feeling misunderstood by her parents and Archer, her fiancé. Diagnosed in her adult years with SPD, Bower was the only one who truly saw her, accepted her and made her feel heard during their summers together
Bower is navigating how to deal with his PTSD from his years as a Marine, while caring for his grandmother, who is slowly losing herself to dementia.
The role reversal in their adulthood is breathtaking. Seeing Mia step up to be his rock as he navigates his trauma and his grandmother’s illness is a testament to their unconditional love. Whether the author drew from personal experience or deep research, the representation of PTSD, SPD and dementia are handled with immense love and compassion.
The Vibe:
This is a “wholesome” but heavy read. It’s a second-chance romance that proves love can stand the test of time and the hardest trials life throws your way.
Things To Know
Tropes: Childhood Friends to Lovers; Second Chance; Found Family;
Steam: Mild Spice (Virgin FMC)
POV: Dual POV (Past to Present)
Content: PTSD & SPD representation, side character with dementia, swearing
If you want a story that will make you cry, cheer, and believe in love that never fades put this on your TBR list now.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌊Lake Resort Setting
🫶Childhood Friends to Lovers
🌊Vacation Shenanigans
🫶SPD Rep
🌊No One Understands Her But Him
🫶Marine MMC
🌊Teacher FMC
🫶"Don't Marry Him"
"Only So Many Summers" is the first installment of the Agate Harbor series by Evi James and it releases May 18th. OSMS takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of summer love story that turns into a happy ever after story of childhood friends finding one another on a second chance encounter. When I say, if your looking for a summer read sitting on the beach, by the lake or pool; this is for you.
Mia Miller and Bower Hanson's story starts thirteen years prior and brought up to their adult years at Agate Harbor. Mia suffers from sensory processing disorder(SPD) and when her family makes her think she seeks for attention, Bower makes her feel like a powerful queen. Evi writes her story so beautifully and you can tell the research and conversations that were had to make sure she represented SPD very well. The first act is very much a young adult genre but grows into a contemporary romance throughout the rest.
The character developement from the beginning thrpugh the end stand out. Mia's sister, Ruby; I can't wait for her book. She is a firecracker and I am here for it! The only reason I gave off half a star is because I didn’t really see the point of Archer's story line but thats just my opinion which could be different from someone else; completely fine!
Reading this story and understanding Mia and Bower always finding one another; having something to look forward to when coming back to Agate Harbor every summer rrwlly was telling of how it was always meant for them to end up together in their happy ever after; but prior life decisions would create the roadblocks any story needs for the plot and this was written well with Bower's one decision on one night. Their chemistry is bittersweet and intwined so well into "Only So Many Summers".
"There’d always been something I felt was missing. I could never put my finger on it, never give it a name…but now I knew what it was. I’d been waiting for Bower. He was my safe spot, my comfortable place."
🫶Childhood Friends to Lovers
🌊Vacation Shenanigans
🫶SPD Rep
🌊No One Understands Her But Him
🫶Marine MMC
🌊Teacher FMC
🫶"Don't Marry Him"
"Only So Many Summers" is the first installment of the Agate Harbor series by Evi James and it releases May 18th. OSMS takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of summer love story that turns into a happy ever after story of childhood friends finding one another on a second chance encounter. When I say, if your looking for a summer read sitting on the beach, by the lake or pool; this is for you.
Mia Miller and Bower Hanson's story starts thirteen years prior and brought up to their adult years at Agate Harbor. Mia suffers from sensory processing disorder(SPD) and when her family makes her think she seeks for attention, Bower makes her feel like a powerful queen. Evi writes her story so beautifully and you can tell the research and conversations that were had to make sure she represented SPD very well. The first act is very much a young adult genre but grows into a contemporary romance throughout the rest.
The character developement from the beginning thrpugh the end stand out. Mia's sister, Ruby; I can't wait for her book. She is a firecracker and I am here for it! The only reason I gave off half a star is because I didn’t really see the point of Archer's story line but thats just my opinion which could be different from someone else; completely fine!
Reading this story and understanding Mia and Bower always finding one another; having something to look forward to when coming back to Agate Harbor every summer rrwlly was telling of how it was always meant for them to end up together in their happy ever after; but prior life decisions would create the roadblocks any story needs for the plot and this was written well with Bower's one decision on one night. Their chemistry is bittersweet and intwined so well into "Only So Many Summers".
"There’d always been something I felt was missing. I could never put my finger on it, never give it a name…but now I knew what it was. I’d been waiting for Bower. He was my safe spot, my comfortable place."
Review of advance copy
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Let’s start with what worked so well: the setting. Minnesota lake life speaks to my heart and personal experiences. Summers here are spent leaving the Cities to head up north to be on the lake, so that sense of place, and the emotional weight tied to it, completely drew me in. It made the second chance romance feel even more meaningful, and I was fully bought into the story because of it.
I also really appreciated the care and insight given to Mia’s experience with SPD and Bower’s PTSD. The way they showed up for each other felt thoughtful and grounded, and it made me really want to root for them. Their struggles, along with the addition of Betty’s dementia, added a lot of emotional depth. The author’s note about including that experience made it all land even more. And I have to mention Ruby - I absolutely loved her and would be very invested in seeing more of her story (especially if it’s with Dean).
Where this didn’t fully work for me was mostly in the romance and structure. Archer’s role was a little frustrating. I tend to get tired of miscommunication-driven conflict when there is already so much of it from the flashbacks, and that element didn’t quite land here. The beginning also leaned a bit more YA in tone than I was expecting. While I did like the flashbacks and thought they were important, the way they were separated from the present-day storyline made the book feel like two different stories at times. I wonder if weaving them more consistently throughout would have helped with the overall flow.
If I’m being honest, the romance itself was probably my least favorite part. It leaned more toward insta-lust than a fully developed emotional connection for me, which made it harder to completely buy in.
Overall, though, this is a heartfelt, atmospheric read with a standout setting and emotionally resonant character work. If you love lake life, second chance stories, and layered family dynamics, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Let’s start with what worked so well: the setting. Minnesota lake life speaks to my heart and personal experiences. Summers here are spent leaving the Cities to head up north to be on the lake, so that sense of place, and the emotional weight tied to it, completely drew me in. It made the second chance romance feel even more meaningful, and I was fully bought into the story because of it.
I also really appreciated the care and insight given to Mia’s experience with SPD and Bower’s PTSD. The way they showed up for each other felt thoughtful and grounded, and it made me really want to root for them. Their struggles, along with the addition of Betty’s dementia, added a lot of emotional depth. The author’s note about including that experience made it all land even more. And I have to mention Ruby - I absolutely loved her and would be very invested in seeing more of her story (especially if it’s with Dean).
Where this didn’t fully work for me was mostly in the romance and structure. Archer’s role was a little frustrating. I tend to get tired of miscommunication-driven conflict when there is already so much of it from the flashbacks, and that element didn’t quite land here. The beginning also leaned a bit more YA in tone than I was expecting. While I did like the flashbacks and thought they were important, the way they were separated from the present-day storyline made the book feel like two different stories at times. I wonder if weaving them more consistently throughout would have helped with the overall flow.
If I’m being honest, the romance itself was probably my least favorite part. It leaned more toward insta-lust than a fully developed emotional connection for me, which made it harder to completely buy in.
Overall, though, this is a heartfelt, atmospheric read with a standout setting and emotionally resonant character work. If you love lake life, second chance stories, and layered family dynamics, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
"There were only so many summers.
We had to choose how we spent them wisely."
Bower and Mia had me going through all the emotions.
Starting from when they were children, running wild on the lake resort for a week. Understanding and loving each other in only a way children could. No understanding of rules and social norms, just what felt right to them.
Then we get teenage Mia and Bower. Who now understand the opposite gender and how peer pressure changed their relationship. How their week together was a different time for Bower since Mia was there for him to focus on. Without her, we saw Bower spiral and the unraveling of their relationship happen. What once was an easy friendship strained and turned empty.
Present day Mia changed even more. She succumbed to her parents' pressure and qas now with someone she didn't fully love or who didn't fully appreciate her. Bower hadn't reached out to her in 9 years, disappearing after that fateful summer. Now we get to see how adult responsibilities changed how Mia and Bower interacted. It was both heartbreaking and sweet to see them reconnect and fumble all over again.
Watch Betty change throughout the story was the hardest. To see a woman who welcomed Mia each summer and felt like the female support she always longed for change over the years to the point where she couldn't recognize anyone was heartbreaking. Im glad we got the small glimpse and see Betty do her last task before slipping deeper into her dementia: bring Mia and Bower back together after being part of the reason they were torn apart.
I loved how this story flowed. I both laughed, cried and rejoiced along with each character. Seeing Bower get help so he could be the partner he wanted to be for Mia was everything. Before she had to bend for everyone else. It was nice to see someone adapt for her instead. I hope Dean and Ruby are next. There is a story there that can't be left behind at the lake.
We had to choose how we spent them wisely."
Bower and Mia had me going through all the emotions.
Starting from when they were children, running wild on the lake resort for a week. Understanding and loving each other in only a way children could. No understanding of rules and social norms, just what felt right to them.
Then we get teenage Mia and Bower. Who now understand the opposite gender and how peer pressure changed their relationship. How their week together was a different time for Bower since Mia was there for him to focus on. Without her, we saw Bower spiral and the unraveling of their relationship happen. What once was an easy friendship strained and turned empty.
Present day Mia changed even more. She succumbed to her parents' pressure and qas now with someone she didn't fully love or who didn't fully appreciate her. Bower hadn't reached out to her in 9 years, disappearing after that fateful summer. Now we get to see how adult responsibilities changed how Mia and Bower interacted. It was both heartbreaking and sweet to see them reconnect and fumble all over again.
Watch Betty change throughout the story was the hardest. To see a woman who welcomed Mia each summer and felt like the female support she always longed for change over the years to the point where she couldn't recognize anyone was heartbreaking. Im glad we got the small glimpse and see Betty do her last task before slipping deeper into her dementia: bring Mia and Bower back together after being part of the reason they were torn apart.
I loved how this story flowed. I both laughed, cried and rejoiced along with each character. Seeing Bower get help so he could be the partner he wanted to be for Mia was everything. Before she had to bend for everyone else. It was nice to see someone adapt for her instead. I hope Dean and Ruby are next. There is a story there that can't be left behind at the lake.
Review of advance copy
*Review of advanced copy received from LoveNotes PR*
I’ll split this review into two parts: What I liked and what I didn’t.
What I liked: I adored all of the disability rep in this story, and the way the main characters held such care and respect for each other.
The setting was stunning. Doesn’t get much better than a summer at the lake!! Ruby and Dean also piqued my interest a lot, I’m excited to see where their relationship goes <333
Also really enjoyed the letters aspect at the very end, it gave the MMC a big redemption in my eyes after thinking he’d intentionally not contacted her during all those years apart.
Now, what I didn’t like:
This story was said to be a second-chance romance, and it just didn’t hit that mark for me. There was no “first chance” in my opinion, as the only hint of romance or a relationship between the characters was a single loaded glance/touch that made them wonder for a minute, and then that was it. Maybe if we got to see more flashback scenes of them as teenagers, it would’ve carried some more weight as a second-chance trope.
I also didn’t like the Archer storyline. He didn’t serve any major purpose, they were engaged for literally two chapters and then they’re over. Just seemed to cause more miscommunication between the main couple, and they’ve already had a lot of that so it didn’t really advance the plot in my opinion.
Lastly, it just felt like the main characters were lusting over eachother versus in love. They don’t see each other for almost a decade, and the sexual tension is strong, but the emotions just aren’t there. It takes them forever to just have a simple conversation and clear the air.
Overall, this was a decent read, maybe just not for me as I was unable to overlook a few plot lines I didn’t love. The writing was great and the characters had depth, so if you want an easy summer romance with a lot of miscommunication, you’d probably enjoy this!
I’ll split this review into two parts: What I liked and what I didn’t.
What I liked: I adored all of the disability rep in this story, and the way the main characters held such care and respect for each other.
The setting was stunning. Doesn’t get much better than a summer at the lake!! Ruby and Dean also piqued my interest a lot, I’m excited to see where their relationship goes <333
Also really enjoyed the letters aspect at the very end, it gave the MMC a big redemption in my eyes after thinking he’d intentionally not contacted her during all those years apart.
Now, what I didn’t like:
This story was said to be a second-chance romance, and it just didn’t hit that mark for me. There was no “first chance” in my opinion, as the only hint of romance or a relationship between the characters was a single loaded glance/touch that made them wonder for a minute, and then that was it. Maybe if we got to see more flashback scenes of them as teenagers, it would’ve carried some more weight as a second-chance trope.
I also didn’t like the Archer storyline. He didn’t serve any major purpose, they were engaged for literally two chapters and then they’re over. Just seemed to cause more miscommunication between the main couple, and they’ve already had a lot of that so it didn’t really advance the plot in my opinion.
Lastly, it just felt like the main characters were lusting over eachother versus in love. They don’t see each other for almost a decade, and the sexual tension is strong, but the emotions just aren’t there. It takes them forever to just have a simple conversation and clear the air.
Overall, this was a decent read, maybe just not for me as I was unable to overlook a few plot lines I didn’t love. The writing was great and the characters had depth, so if you want an easy summer romance with a lot of miscommunication, you’d probably enjoy this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Being a Minnesotan as well, I could picture this resort as a real place, and now I want to go!
Mia and Bower met when they were kids at the resort his grandparents owned, and her parents vacationed at for a week each summer. Through the first part of the book, we, as the reader, caught glimpses of their lives and the summers they both looked forward to. But at almost sixteen and seventeen, Mia and Bower parted for the last time when Bower was on a dangerous path, and his grandparents gave him a choice: enlist or leave the resort for good with no support. It's now nine years later, and Mia's back at the resort for her bachelorette party and Bower's home for good. One sighting of him makes Mia question everything, and when she returns two weeks later, she's sans a fiancée. But can they make it work, or are they destined to only be in love for a week over the summer?
Bower and Mia get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
This resort sounds so amazing and better than any lake my family ever took me to growing up. Though the cabin sounds just like the ones we used to stay at, even though we didn't visit the same lake every year. I loved how we got to see Mia and Bower together as kids and then as teenagers to see how well they were together. I was semi-surprised that Mia's parents were still together at the end of the book, as they didn't seem to like each other very much. I hope we get to see these two in the background of future books and that their love continues to grow as the summers go on, even if every day is like summer for them now. And I hope that Mia's sister gets a book in the series as well, as Ruby's pretty spunky and deserves love too!
I received an advance review copy from Luna Literary and Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Mia and Bower met when they were kids at the resort his grandparents owned, and her parents vacationed at for a week each summer. Through the first part of the book, we, as the reader, caught glimpses of their lives and the summers they both looked forward to. But at almost sixteen and seventeen, Mia and Bower parted for the last time when Bower was on a dangerous path, and his grandparents gave him a choice: enlist or leave the resort for good with no support. It's now nine years later, and Mia's back at the resort for her bachelorette party and Bower's home for good. One sighting of him makes Mia question everything, and when she returns two weeks later, she's sans a fiancée. But can they make it work, or are they destined to only be in love for a week over the summer?
Bower and Mia get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
This resort sounds so amazing and better than any lake my family ever took me to growing up. Though the cabin sounds just like the ones we used to stay at, even though we didn't visit the same lake every year. I loved how we got to see Mia and Bower together as kids and then as teenagers to see how well they were together. I was semi-surprised that Mia's parents were still together at the end of the book, as they didn't seem to like each other very much. I hope we get to see these two in the background of future books and that their love continues to grow as the summers go on, even if every day is like summer for them now. And I hope that Mia's sister gets a book in the series as well, as Ruby's pretty spunky and deserves love too!
I received an advance review copy from Luna Literary and Love Notes PR, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Evi James for the ARC!
“Agate Harbors had begun to feel like home to me. I felt safe here. I could be myself without having to worry about hiding the awkward parts of me.”
This line stayed with me long after finishing the book. That sense of safety, belonging, and being fully seen is truly the heart of this story, and it was beautifully done.
This was my first book by Evi James, and I went in knowing very little. I requested it for the mental health representation, especially SPD, and I was so glad I did. I was engaged from the beginning.
Evi does a wonderful job portraying the realities of living with SPD, PTSD, and dementia. The care in the language, the accommodations, and the way others respond felt intentional and, at times, very real. As someone who works in the mental health field, this aspect of the story resonated deeply with me. It was handled with empathy, nuance, and emotional honesty.
The setting was another standout. I love a summer-on-the-lake atmosphere, and this one felt immersive and comforting. Bower’s steady support and empathy toward Mia from the very beginning was incredibly touching. I also loved the side characters, especially Ruby and Dean, and would happily read more about them. Ruby’s growth throughout the story was particularly meaningful.
Mia and Bower’s relationship had a strong emotional foundation rooted in their shared history, and I enjoyed seeing them find their way back to each other. While I would have loved a bit more time spent on their reconnection in the present, their bond and care for one another were clear.
Overall, this was a heartfelt story centered on healing, belonging, and acceptance. It’s one that will resonate especially with readers who appreciate meaningful mental health representation and character-driven narratives.
“Agate Harbors had begun to feel like home to me. I felt safe here. I could be myself without having to worry about hiding the awkward parts of me.”
This line stayed with me long after finishing the book. That sense of safety, belonging, and being fully seen is truly the heart of this story, and it was beautifully done.
This was my first book by Evi James, and I went in knowing very little. I requested it for the mental health representation, especially SPD, and I was so glad I did. I was engaged from the beginning.
Evi does a wonderful job portraying the realities of living with SPD, PTSD, and dementia. The care in the language, the accommodations, and the way others respond felt intentional and, at times, very real. As someone who works in the mental health field, this aspect of the story resonated deeply with me. It was handled with empathy, nuance, and emotional honesty.
The setting was another standout. I love a summer-on-the-lake atmosphere, and this one felt immersive and comforting. Bower’s steady support and empathy toward Mia from the very beginning was incredibly touching. I also loved the side characters, especially Ruby and Dean, and would happily read more about them. Ruby’s growth throughout the story was particularly meaningful.
Mia and Bower’s relationship had a strong emotional foundation rooted in their shared history, and I enjoyed seeing them find their way back to each other. While I would have loved a bit more time spent on their reconnection in the present, their bond and care for one another were clear.
Overall, this was a heartfelt story centered on healing, belonging, and acceptance. It’s one that will resonate especially with readers who appreciate meaningful mental health representation and character-driven narratives.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I want to thank Luna Literary Management and Evi James for the gifted eARC of Only So Many Summers to read and provide my honest and spoiler free review!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
Can I please move to Agate Harbor?! It sounds like a beautiful dream place to be especially with being able to find agates on the beach which is something I absolutely love collecting. Besides my love for the world of Agate Harbor, I’ve also really fallen in love with Mia and Bower’s story.
The representation for SPD, PTSD and dementia were honestly so well done. Personally knowing people who have these different things really helped me relate a lot to this book. It felt like such a safe space while reading and I know I won’t forget about this story anytime soon. The concept of Mia and Bower having one week during every summer to spend time together as they grew up was honestly so cute. Friend to lovers isn’t usually my go to trope, but this one was done so well that I found myself smiling the entire time.
Seeing just how much Bower understood Mia and didn’t force her to change who she was, but instead went out of his way to accommodate things just to make sure she was comfortable is honestly the epitome of a soulmate. Seeing their friendship turn to something more as years go by was so sweet and made me cheer for their future together. I loved majority of the characters. Betty, Gill, Ruby and Dean were honestly all amazing and I loved the found family that these characters seemed to form around Mia and Bower. This book was a perfect summer romance read and I hope to experience Agate Harbor again soon.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
Can I please move to Agate Harbor?! It sounds like a beautiful dream place to be especially with being able to find agates on the beach which is something I absolutely love collecting. Besides my love for the world of Agate Harbor, I’ve also really fallen in love with Mia and Bower’s story.
The representation for SPD, PTSD and dementia were honestly so well done. Personally knowing people who have these different things really helped me relate a lot to this book. It felt like such a safe space while reading and I know I won’t forget about this story anytime soon. The concept of Mia and Bower having one week during every summer to spend time together as they grew up was honestly so cute. Friend to lovers isn’t usually my go to trope, but this one was done so well that I found myself smiling the entire time.
Seeing just how much Bower understood Mia and didn’t force her to change who she was, but instead went out of his way to accommodate things just to make sure she was comfortable is honestly the epitome of a soulmate. Seeing their friendship turn to something more as years go by was so sweet and made me cheer for their future together. I loved majority of the characters. Betty, Gill, Ruby and Dean were honestly all amazing and I loved the found family that these characters seemed to form around Mia and Bower. This book was a perfect summer romance read and I hope to experience Agate Harbor again soon.
May 12, 2026
Thank you Love Notes PR and Evi James for the eARC!
I LOVED the vibes of this book. From the beginning I was feeling all the nostalgia and I didn’t even have a lake resort that I went to as a kid! The setting was my absolute favorite part and I could picture it perfectly! I loved the backstory we got for both of the main characters at the beginning. I really felt it helped set up their romance later on. I also really loved the friends in the story and how supportive everyone was of each other. I truly felt like part of the family and fully immersed in Agate Harbor.
There were some things I wasn’t as fond of as well. I thought Bower had too many big issues weighing on him. I think we could have picked one that affected him instead of all three and still gotten the same results in the end. As for Mia, I don’t think the fiancé sub plot was needed. Or if it was I think it could have been drawn out longer. It seemed like she kinda jumped ship too fast for a man she hadn’t seen in 9 years and I just didn’t believe that would be accurate. Lastly, I wish some of the scenes were more in depth. I felt the two main characters could have explored their connection a bit deeper with words/actions instead of just blatantly stating what was happening. I love good communication in real life but I like a little build up in my books.
Overall, I did really enjoy the read and am looking forward to book 2 (which I am hoping stars Ruby and Dean). If you are looking for a cute summer romance read that is nostalgic and wholesome this is your book!
I LOVED the vibes of this book. From the beginning I was feeling all the nostalgia and I didn’t even have a lake resort that I went to as a kid! The setting was my absolute favorite part and I could picture it perfectly! I loved the backstory we got for both of the main characters at the beginning. I really felt it helped set up their romance later on. I also really loved the friends in the story and how supportive everyone was of each other. I truly felt like part of the family and fully immersed in Agate Harbor.
There were some things I wasn’t as fond of as well. I thought Bower had too many big issues weighing on him. I think we could have picked one that affected him instead of all three and still gotten the same results in the end. As for Mia, I don’t think the fiancé sub plot was needed. Or if it was I think it could have been drawn out longer. It seemed like she kinda jumped ship too fast for a man she hadn’t seen in 9 years and I just didn’t believe that would be accurate. Lastly, I wish some of the scenes were more in depth. I felt the two main characters could have explored their connection a bit deeper with words/actions instead of just blatantly stating what was happening. I love good communication in real life but I like a little build up in my books.
Overall, I did really enjoy the read and am looking forward to book 2 (which I am hoping stars Ruby and Dean). If you are looking for a cute summer romance read that is nostalgic and wholesome this is your book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars
I think this is my new favorite Evi James book! My Minnesota lake girl heart absolutely loved this book. I picked this up after DNFing a different book and I absolutely BREEZED through this one. It will be the perfect summer read for everyone by a lake!
The book follows Mia, starting off young and eventually into her adult years, as her family visits a lake resort every summer. Mia has sensory processing disorder that her family thinks of as 'peculiarities' and her just being dramatic/difficult. Evi James navigates this balance so well in the book the outward push back Mia gets with her own internal struggles.
Bower's grandparents own the resort Mia's family goes to every summer. Unlike her family, Bower understands Mia and her SPD, easily helping her accommodate (such as her yellow rain boots!). Bower ends up being slightly troubled when Mia is not around, ending up to him being arrested and shipped off to the military.
The book picks up when Mia goes back to the resort for her Bachelorette party...engaged to someone else. There, Mia and Bower connect again and it changes their lives once again.
This is such a great contemporary romance read! I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it!
Thank you Evi James for the early copy!
Tropes:
-Lakeside Resort Romance
-Friends to Lovers
-Second Chance
-"Don't Marry Him"
-Marine MMC x Teacher MMC
I think this is my new favorite Evi James book! My Minnesota lake girl heart absolutely loved this book. I picked this up after DNFing a different book and I absolutely BREEZED through this one. It will be the perfect summer read for everyone by a lake!
The book follows Mia, starting off young and eventually into her adult years, as her family visits a lake resort every summer. Mia has sensory processing disorder that her family thinks of as 'peculiarities' and her just being dramatic/difficult. Evi James navigates this balance so well in the book the outward push back Mia gets with her own internal struggles.
Bower's grandparents own the resort Mia's family goes to every summer. Unlike her family, Bower understands Mia and her SPD, easily helping her accommodate (such as her yellow rain boots!). Bower ends up being slightly troubled when Mia is not around, ending up to him being arrested and shipped off to the military.
The book picks up when Mia goes back to the resort for her Bachelorette party...engaged to someone else. There, Mia and Bower connect again and it changes their lives once again.
This is such a great contemporary romance read! I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it!
Thank you Evi James for the early copy!
Tropes:
-Lakeside Resort Romance
-Friends to Lovers
-Second Chance
-"Don't Marry Him"
-Marine MMC x Teacher MMC
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5 ⭐️
This was such a beautifully grounded summer romance—fast-paced, emotional, and incredibly immersive. I genuinely felt like I was right there at Agate Harbors the entire time.
Mia and Bower’s story is built on years of missed time and a connection that never really faded. Every summer, they had something. And when he disappears, everything shifts… until years later, when they find each other again at exactly the wrong time—and exactly the right one.
What stood out most for me was how real this story felt. Mia’s experience with SPD is written with care and authenticity, and it adds depth to how she moves through the world and relationships. Bower’s PTSD is also handled with a lot of honesty—nothing feels softened or romanticized, just human and raw in a very respectful way.
Together, Mia and Bower feel effortless in the way they understand each other. There’s history, growth, and a quiet kind of devotion that never fully disappears, even with time and distance.
🌿 What I loved:
☀️ Second chance romance
🏖️ Summer resort setting
💛 Childhood connection / missed years
🧠 Neurodivergent & mental health representation
🌊 Emotional, character-driven love story
💔 Slow emotional healing
This is the kind of summer read that feels both comforting and meaningful—like nostalgia, healing, and romance all wrapped together 🤍
This was such a beautifully grounded summer romance—fast-paced, emotional, and incredibly immersive. I genuinely felt like I was right there at Agate Harbors the entire time.
Mia and Bower’s story is built on years of missed time and a connection that never really faded. Every summer, they had something. And when he disappears, everything shifts… until years later, when they find each other again at exactly the wrong time—and exactly the right one.
What stood out most for me was how real this story felt. Mia’s experience with SPD is written with care and authenticity, and it adds depth to how she moves through the world and relationships. Bower’s PTSD is also handled with a lot of honesty—nothing feels softened or romanticized, just human and raw in a very respectful way.
Together, Mia and Bower feel effortless in the way they understand each other. There’s history, growth, and a quiet kind of devotion that never fully disappears, even with time and distance.
🌿 What I loved:
☀️ Second chance romance
🏖️ Summer resort setting
💛 Childhood connection / missed years
🧠 Neurodivergent & mental health representation
🌊 Emotional, character-driven love story
💔 Slow emotional healing
This is the kind of summer read that feels both comforting and meaningful—like nostalgia, healing, and romance all wrapped together 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoy reading a book from a local (MN) author with a Minnesota setting - so I was genuinely excited when I was given the chance to read this one early. If you're not from Minnesota, I think it's important to know how awesome Minnesota summers can be! To take this vibe and turn it into a second chance romance was smart :)
Our FMC, Mia, goes up to Agate Harbor for one week each summer (relatable as I went to Camper's Paradise from a week every summer when I was young and gave me memories for life!) - she finds this her escape from life and she gets to hang out with Bower, who she has a close friendship with. Then one summer one event changes everything and she loses contact with Bower.
Nine years later, she goes back up there to celebrate her bachelorette party and the bartender is lo and behold... Bower....
Tropes:
- Small Town Romance
- 2nd Chances
- Mental Health Rep
- "It's always been you"
I worried at first there was going to be a cheating trope (technically there isn't) but it plays out alright - it was mildly predictable but still held my interest right away - some of the side characters felt like we could've used a little more development (her parents) but I did like Bower's friends and family.
If you like Carley Fortune, I think you'd like this one too.
Thanks to Evi James and her team for the digital arc - opinions are my own.
Our FMC, Mia, goes up to Agate Harbor for one week each summer (relatable as I went to Camper's Paradise from a week every summer when I was young and gave me memories for life!) - she finds this her escape from life and she gets to hang out with Bower, who she has a close friendship with. Then one summer one event changes everything and she loses contact with Bower.
Nine years later, she goes back up there to celebrate her bachelorette party and the bartender is lo and behold... Bower....
Tropes:
- Small Town Romance
- 2nd Chances
- Mental Health Rep
- "It's always been you"
I worried at first there was going to be a cheating trope (technically there isn't) but it plays out alright - it was mildly predictable but still held my interest right away - some of the side characters felt like we could've used a little more development (her parents) but I did like Bower's friends and family.
If you like Carley Fortune, I think you'd like this one too.
Thanks to Evi James and her team for the digital arc - opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Only So Many Summer by Evi James
Agate Harbors book 1
If you need a beautiful, emotional and incredible endearing story READ THIS! A story about teenage soul mates, summer love and growing up! I truly adore this book with my whole heart!
This book starts 13 years in the past as Mia and Bower meet at the lake for 1 week every year as best friends. Mia a fun quirky girl suffering from sensory processing disorder. While her parents constantly try and correct her and not listen to her needs Bower doesn’t even question it. He just makes her life easier without even hesitating.
Bower with demons of his own, he looks forward to that one week in the summer that he can just be himself. He can just be with Mia and she never judges just accepts him wholly as himself.
As they continue to grow older circumstances change after 1 summer in their teens and things go drastically wrong. Never speaking again for years after. That is until Mia shows up engaged and incredibly unhappy. The only person other than her sister that seems to see through her facade is of course Bower.
But those wounds of Bowers they never went away they only got worse and now he’s pushing Mia away knowing he’s not good enough for her.
The way these 2 come back together will have you in tears.😭 oh my goodness my heart. This book is definitely one to be cherished and held close! 💕
Agate Harbors book 1
If you need a beautiful, emotional and incredible endearing story READ THIS! A story about teenage soul mates, summer love and growing up! I truly adore this book with my whole heart!
This book starts 13 years in the past as Mia and Bower meet at the lake for 1 week every year as best friends. Mia a fun quirky girl suffering from sensory processing disorder. While her parents constantly try and correct her and not listen to her needs Bower doesn’t even question it. He just makes her life easier without even hesitating.
Bower with demons of his own, he looks forward to that one week in the summer that he can just be himself. He can just be with Mia and she never judges just accepts him wholly as himself.
As they continue to grow older circumstances change after 1 summer in their teens and things go drastically wrong. Never speaking again for years after. That is until Mia shows up engaged and incredibly unhappy. The only person other than her sister that seems to see through her facade is of course Bower.
But those wounds of Bowers they never went away they only got worse and now he’s pushing Mia away knowing he’s not good enough for her.
The way these 2 come back together will have you in tears.😭 oh my goodness my heart. This book is definitely one to be cherished and held close! 💕
May 4, 2026
A new contemporary romance by Evi is the perfect summer ready by the lake. The story unfolds across various timelines. The progression of Mia's and Bower's friendship feels genuine, moving the story forward.
Mia has lived her life trying to live up to her parents expectations. Misunderstood as a child and often ignored, she finds solace in a boy that lives in the summer resort her family visits. Going on adventures and finding a sense of belonging. As she grows older, her feelings for the rebellious Bower do as well. When circumstances separates them, their reunion sparks a flame that neither can no longer ignore.
Bower is a wild spirit. Living with his grandparents at a summer resort, he befriends a shy but intricate girl whom he can be himself with. Every summer spent together is an adventure and when distance and time tears them apart, their reunion is anything but sweet. Dealing with PTSD he fears his trauma will deter anyone from loving him, especially the girl that got away.
Evi does an amazing job dealing with PTSD and SPD with compassion and care. Allowing the reader to witness the struggles and triumphs of her characters as they navigate their respective trauma. I loved the setting of the story, it speaks of core memories made as a family. I am so excited to read the next chapter in this series.
Mia has lived her life trying to live up to her parents expectations. Misunderstood as a child and often ignored, she finds solace in a boy that lives in the summer resort her family visits. Going on adventures and finding a sense of belonging. As she grows older, her feelings for the rebellious Bower do as well. When circumstances separates them, their reunion sparks a flame that neither can no longer ignore.
Bower is a wild spirit. Living with his grandparents at a summer resort, he befriends a shy but intricate girl whom he can be himself with. Every summer spent together is an adventure and when distance and time tears them apart, their reunion is anything but sweet. Dealing with PTSD he fears his trauma will deter anyone from loving him, especially the girl that got away.
Evi does an amazing job dealing with PTSD and SPD with compassion and care. Allowing the reader to witness the struggles and triumphs of her characters as they navigate their respective trauma. I loved the setting of the story, it speaks of core memories made as a family. I am so excited to read the next chapter in this series.
Review of advance copy
What a perfect time to read this book as summer approaches. I was absolutely in love with this book. Felt nostalgic for me too, living in Wisconsin and going up north for the summers with family. The author has a way of describing everything, where you feel like you’re there as well.
This book gave me all the feels, and I definitely shed some tears. I loved Mia and Bowers story, and couldn’t put this book down.
Mia spends a week every summer at a cabin up north with her family. This is where she meets Bower, whose family owns the resort. They spend every summer together, until a night gone wrong as teenagers lands Bower in trouble, and he and Mia lose all contact for years.
She does her best to try to move on and forget about him. It hurts her that he never tried to find or contact her. Years later, she meets someone new and is engaged. But decides to go back to her favorite place (the resort) for her bachelorette party. Not expecting to run into Bower, since he hasn’t been around for years. But he’s home from The Marines, and he doesn’t realize the bachelorette party they booked was his young love.
Be prepared to stay up late reading this one!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Evi James for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.
This book gave me all the feels, and I definitely shed some tears. I loved Mia and Bowers story, and couldn’t put this book down.
Mia spends a week every summer at a cabin up north with her family. This is where she meets Bower, whose family owns the resort. They spend every summer together, until a night gone wrong as teenagers lands Bower in trouble, and he and Mia lose all contact for years.
She does her best to try to move on and forget about him. It hurts her that he never tried to find or contact her. Years later, she meets someone new and is engaged. But decides to go back to her favorite place (the resort) for her bachelorette party. Not expecting to run into Bower, since he hasn’t been around for years. But he’s home from The Marines, and he doesn’t realize the bachelorette party they booked was his young love.
Be prepared to stay up late reading this one!
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Evi James for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What to Expect:
Small Town
Summer Childhood Friends
Right Person, Wrong Time
Coming "Home"
It's Always Been You
This might be my first book by Evi, but this will absolutely not be my last. I had the honor of beta reading Only So Many Summers, and rereading OSMS again as an arc. Throughout the story, there is a sense of comfort and familiarity that I love deeply.
Set in Agate Harbors, Bower and Mia are a summer friendship built over years. Mia's family has always gone up to Agate Harbors for their summer vacation where Bower's grandparents run a lake resort. For two weeks every summer, Mia and Bower spend as much time together, first as friends and in their last summer together, the possibility of maybe something more. But there are events that end the glimpse of what could have been, and the two are separated.
Several years later, Mia is back in Agate Harbor, but things are different. Mia is engaged and on her bachlorette party and Bower is home from overseas and taken over running the resort. Faced with seeing Bower again, Mia is forced to confront the what ifs.
I loved this book. At it's core, this book is about finding your home in a person who cares about you above all others. Mia struggled to find this in her family. While her parents loved her, they did not understand her sensory processing disorder and expectations for her were hard to manage. But Bower was different. He took care of her and listened to her, and I loved him for that. Now Bower, this man had some trauma that caused him to act out. Seeing him as a teenager versus the man he became was night and day. He was kind, caring but had demons he was fighting. I appreciate how raw and real his emotions and his struggles felt.
Thank you so much to Evi and Luna Literary for the early copy of Only So Many Summers! I am excited to see where the series will go!
Small Town
Summer Childhood Friends
Right Person, Wrong Time
Coming "Home"
It's Always Been You
This might be my first book by Evi, but this will absolutely not be my last. I had the honor of beta reading Only So Many Summers, and rereading OSMS again as an arc. Throughout the story, there is a sense of comfort and familiarity that I love deeply.
Set in Agate Harbors, Bower and Mia are a summer friendship built over years. Mia's family has always gone up to Agate Harbors for their summer vacation where Bower's grandparents run a lake resort. For two weeks every summer, Mia and Bower spend as much time together, first as friends and in their last summer together, the possibility of maybe something more. But there are events that end the glimpse of what could have been, and the two are separated.
Several years later, Mia is back in Agate Harbor, but things are different. Mia is engaged and on her bachlorette party and Bower is home from overseas and taken over running the resort. Faced with seeing Bower again, Mia is forced to confront the what ifs.
I loved this book. At it's core, this book is about finding your home in a person who cares about you above all others. Mia struggled to find this in her family. While her parents loved her, they did not understand her sensory processing disorder and expectations for her were hard to manage. But Bower was different. He took care of her and listened to her, and I loved him for that. Now Bower, this man had some trauma that caused him to act out. Seeing him as a teenager versus the man he became was night and day. He was kind, caring but had demons he was fighting. I appreciate how raw and real his emotions and his struggles felt.
Thank you so much to Evi and Luna Literary for the early copy of Only So Many Summers! I am excited to see where the series will go!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Gifted ARC✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
What a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of second chances and a love that spanned years.
THOUGHTS 💭
🛶 Our MMC Bower just “got” our FMC Mia. I loved reading about their sweet, uncomplicated friendship as children that turned into a VERY complicated love years later.
🌲 Reading this book reminded me of my own nostalgic childhood summers at the lake, which is stuffed full of wonderful memories and connections.
☀️ Bower and Mia went from an innocent friendship to a slow burn to a hot, full-on inferno.
🛶 The author made me feel all the things for these characters - as Mia learned about/navigated her Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD); as Bower shut down with his PTSD; as they tried to figure out if they could be each other’s person for forever.
🌲 The care with which Bower treated Mia and helped her do hard things related to her SPD, even when her own parents didn’t, was just 😭.
☀️ Dementia is so cruel and I cried my eyes out as our characters navigated a loved one not remembering who they are/finding them in a place they can’t remember getting to. I love when an author can make me feel so much for their characters.
Thanks so much to Evi James for the wonderful ARC of this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
What a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of second chances and a love that spanned years.
THOUGHTS 💭
🛶 Our MMC Bower just “got” our FMC Mia. I loved reading about their sweet, uncomplicated friendship as children that turned into a VERY complicated love years later.
🌲 Reading this book reminded me of my own nostalgic childhood summers at the lake, which is stuffed full of wonderful memories and connections.
☀️ Bower and Mia went from an innocent friendship to a slow burn to a hot, full-on inferno.
🛶 The author made me feel all the things for these characters - as Mia learned about/navigated her Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD); as Bower shut down with his PTSD; as they tried to figure out if they could be each other’s person for forever.
🌲 The care with which Bower treated Mia and helped her do hard things related to her SPD, even when her own parents didn’t, was just 😭.
☀️ Dementia is so cruel and I cried my eyes out as our characters navigated a loved one not remembering who they are/finding them in a place they can’t remember getting to. I love when an author can make me feel so much for their characters.
Thanks so much to Evi James for the wonderful ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I devoured this book! It sucked me in from the start. The first part of the book does read more like YA as it starts when Mia is a young child and her family starts going to Agate Harbors for a week every summer. Told in multiple timelines and POV this is a fast paced book. Living in northern Minnesota, of course I loved the setting. The book is very atmospheric, I could picture myself being on the lake.
I enjoyed learning about Mia's struggles and the ways that she found to accommodate them. I did feel that the Archer story line was a little unnecessary. I didn't find that it added much to the story and I think that Mia and Bower would have found themselves back together at some point, especially with their background and chemistry. I really enjoyed the side characters in this book as well, Mia's sister and Bower's grandparents and friends. I think that the relationships between them all made this book.
Crossing my fingers that since this is Agate Harbors #1 that we see Mia and Bower again, maybe in a book about her sister Ruby.
Thank you Evi James for an ARC of Only So Many Summers for an honest review.
I enjoyed learning about Mia's struggles and the ways that she found to accommodate them. I did feel that the Archer story line was a little unnecessary. I didn't find that it added much to the story and I think that Mia and Bower would have found themselves back together at some point, especially with their background and chemistry. I really enjoyed the side characters in this book as well, Mia's sister and Bower's grandparents and friends. I think that the relationships between them all made this book.
Crossing my fingers that since this is Agate Harbors #1 that we see Mia and Bower again, maybe in a book about her sister Ruby.
Thank you Evi James for an ARC of Only So Many Summers for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I was reading my ARC of Only So Many Summers by Evi James I could hardly put it down!!! I was thinking about this book while going about my day and couldn't wait to get back to it. I laughed at the antics of Bower, said awww at so many moments between the MMC and FMC, and totally related to Mia's neurodivergence. The tension building was next level, weaved through physical touch but also the mental anguish of two characters trying to overcome. When we finally got to the spice, I found myself wanting more, BUT the author did a brilliant job developing the relationship in real time. It made sense there was no more spice, that the conflict had to be resolved in the exact way it was, and that our two beautifully written main characters needed the time and space to come back together. I live and die for a happily ever after. Evi did a marvelous job building out the world of Agate Harbors, showing the depth of Bower and Mia, and revealing everything we needed about the plot in perfect timing. I hope we get more stories from Agate Harbors. I have strong suspicions we may hear more about Mia's sister, or perhaps one of Bower's brothers in arms - maybe both!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2026
4.5 Stars
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a fan of second chance romance (call me jaded), let alone a contemporary romance (the ones I usually find are so cheesy), but James put this one together so well that I can’t help enjoying this book.
Overall the work bundles heartwarming and heartbreaking elements together. Grandma Betty is the real hero here, and even as her health deteriorates she’s my favorite. Mia’s family’s annual trip to the lake brought back so many summer memories for me; it really gave me all the cozy feelings.
We see representations of mental disorders such as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and dementia. James highlights the individual struggles of those suffering from the conditions as well as the struggles for those closest to them, whether positive or negative.
Bower is caring in such a genuine way.
While I know the big boat scene was supposed to come across sweet and respectful that whole situation just gave me the ick. (I’m sure not everyone will feel that way.)
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a fan of second chance romance (call me jaded), let alone a contemporary romance (the ones I usually find are so cheesy), but James put this one together so well that I can’t help enjoying this book.
Overall the work bundles heartwarming and heartbreaking elements together. Grandma Betty is the real hero here, and even as her health deteriorates she’s my favorite. Mia’s family’s annual trip to the lake brought back so many summer memories for me; it really gave me all the cozy feelings.
We see representations of mental disorders such as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and dementia. James highlights the individual struggles of those suffering from the conditions as well as the struggles for those closest to them, whether positive or negative.
Bower is caring in such a genuine way.
While I know the big boat scene was supposed to come across sweet and respectful that whole situation just gave me the ick. (I’m sure not everyone will feel that way.)
Review of advance copy
4 ⭐️
Only So Many Summer made me FEEL in all the best ways. It was emotional, swoony, and easy to fly through. The summer getaway setting made it feel like the perfect escape.
Mia’s character really stood out to me. Her experience with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) felt genuine and thoughtfully written, and Bower’s PTSD was handled with the same level of care. Nothing about their struggles felt watered down. Evi showed us all the raw and ugly parts that made it feel very honest and and very real.
I also loved the history between Mia and Bower and the flashbacks to their years as kids. Even then, Bower understood her and always made her feel safe and supported. Their relationship felt steady, heartfelt, and mature, even at that age.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, and I’m excited to continue with the series. The PTSD and dementia representation were especially well done, and it’s definitely a great pick for summer reading.
Thank you Love Notes PR for an advanced reader copy of Only So Many Summers (publishing May 14, 2026).
Only So Many Summer made me FEEL in all the best ways. It was emotional, swoony, and easy to fly through. The summer getaway setting made it feel like the perfect escape.
Mia’s character really stood out to me. Her experience with SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) felt genuine and thoughtfully written, and Bower’s PTSD was handled with the same level of care. Nothing about their struggles felt watered down. Evi showed us all the raw and ugly parts that made it feel very honest and and very real.
I also loved the history between Mia and Bower and the flashbacks to their years as kids. Even then, Bower understood her and always made her feel safe and supported. Their relationship felt steady, heartfelt, and mature, even at that age.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, and I’m excited to continue with the series. The PTSD and dementia representation were especially well done, and it’s definitely a great pick for summer reading.
Thank you Love Notes PR for an advanced reader copy of Only So Many Summers (publishing May 14, 2026).
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