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Side A: Summer Heart: An 80s Friends-to-Lovers Summer Romance
Summer. Nashville. 1986.
A hookup in a record shop turns into a complicated mess. Get ready for a hot, nostalgic summer romance about love, friendship, and learning to trust your own heart when it would be easier not to.
ELLE
I ran from my polished, traumatic Southern upbringing to find myself, and I'm not going back. I learned early how to protect my heart. How to stay light, unattached, and free after growing up with expectations that were traps, not choices.
But then I walk into that record shop and find him behind the counter. And then I took him into the listening booth, and we...
What a mess.
We're supposed to be friends. I'm trying to keep my hands off him, I promise. But somewhere between long talks, inside jokes, and our irresistible chemistry, I'm falling hard. Sam Greene is the soundtrack to my summer, and I'm suddenly wondering what it would be like to choose love on my own terms.
SAM
I am freshly single, newly graduated, and determined to keep things simple. This summer is supposed to be easy. Until Elle walks into my life and changes everything.
Being friends is safe. Wanting her is unavoidable. One kiss makes it impossible to pretend otherwise, and I am done choosing what's easy over what's real.
***
Set against the electric backdrop of the 1980s, with mixtapes, found family, and slow-burning desire, Summer Heart is a steamy, emotional friends-to-lovers romance about choosing yourself, risking your heart, and finding home when you least expect it.
[Formerly released as The Not So Nice Girl]
A hookup in a record shop turns into a complicated mess. Get ready for a hot, nostalgic summer romance about love, friendship, and learning to trust your own heart when it would be easier not to.
ELLE
I ran from my polished, traumatic Southern upbringing to find myself, and I'm not going back. I learned early how to protect my heart. How to stay light, unattached, and free after growing up with expectations that were traps, not choices.
But then I walk into that record shop and find him behind the counter. And then I took him into the listening booth, and we...
What a mess.
We're supposed to be friends. I'm trying to keep my hands off him, I promise. But somewhere between long talks, inside jokes, and our irresistible chemistry, I'm falling hard. Sam Greene is the soundtrack to my summer, and I'm suddenly wondering what it would be like to choose love on my own terms.
SAM
I am freshly single, newly graduated, and determined to keep things simple. This summer is supposed to be easy. Until Elle walks into my life and changes everything.
Being friends is safe. Wanting her is unavoidable. One kiss makes it impossible to pretend otherwise, and I am done choosing what's easy over what's real.
***
Set against the electric backdrop of the 1980s, with mixtapes, found family, and slow-burning desire, Summer Heart is a steamy, emotional friends-to-lovers romance about choosing yourself, risking your heart, and finding home when you least expect it.
[Formerly released as The Not So Nice Girl]
304 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
About the author
Skye McDonald
24 books178 followersSkye McDonald writes contemporary romance for women who are done settling in love, in life, and in who they’re allowed to be.
Her stories are steamy, emotionally layered, and deeply character-driven, featuring heroines who are messy, resilient, and learning the hard way
that self-worth changes everything.
Happily-ever-after is real.
It'a about loving yourself first.
From small towns to high-stakes hockey worlds, Skye’s books blend undeniable chemistry with emotional growth that actually costs something.
And the men? They don’t just fall hard. They rise to meet her.
Her stories are steamy, emotionally layered, and deeply character-driven, featuring heroines who are messy, resilient, and learning the hard way
that self-worth changes everything.
Happily-ever-after is real.
It'a about loving yourself first.
From small towns to high-stakes hockey worlds, Skye’s books blend undeniable chemistry with emotional growth that actually costs something.
And the men? They don’t just fall hard. They rise to meet her.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 31, 2026
80’s nostalgia is the best in this story about Sam and Ella. They both have layers and depths .
She’s not just a little debutant runaway who’s broken a nail . She’s not either an epic fail at life ,she’s had strife and dealt with it well even been through hell. Peruvian style that doesn’t make you smile.
He’s not just another nice boy who wants to fall in love . Far from it as he’s coming off an on off toxic relationship and is far from wanting to go there again…But when your head is turned there’s nothing else to do… make friends at least.
They’re both leaving bad pasts behind . She’s pretty he’s kind. What happens when the music starts being played and in a sound booth you’re dreaming of being laid? Maybe dreams do come true . But in a sound booth. Phew 😮💨
But hold the phone it’s not end zone or in the middle and they don’t all of a sudden start to diddle his wick in her slick . Back up a bit and they’re good friends . That’s all they be ,friendly with a connection ,just the friendship affection. So what happens to make them more? I hear you implore . Well if music be the food of love . These friends to more are what two hearts beat for.
Great immersive writing by Skye McDonald’s pen and I’m not lying I loved reminiscing about a few tunes from way back when too. It’s a wonderful storyline ,the characters divine . The way the story flows is great too ,starting off mates and then more . This is a trope I adore when done well . And this book is swell . Ticks all the boxes too . Don’t take my word for it but. Why don’t you read it too. Then you’ll see ,it’s heavenly.
She’s not just a little debutant runaway who’s broken a nail . She’s not either an epic fail at life ,she’s had strife and dealt with it well even been through hell. Peruvian style that doesn’t make you smile.
He’s not just another nice boy who wants to fall in love . Far from it as he’s coming off an on off toxic relationship and is far from wanting to go there again…But when your head is turned there’s nothing else to do… make friends at least.
They’re both leaving bad pasts behind . She’s pretty he’s kind. What happens when the music starts being played and in a sound booth you’re dreaming of being laid? Maybe dreams do come true . But in a sound booth. Phew 😮💨
But hold the phone it’s not end zone or in the middle and they don’t all of a sudden start to diddle his wick in her slick . Back up a bit and they’re good friends . That’s all they be ,friendly with a connection ,just the friendship affection. So what happens to make them more? I hear you implore . Well if music be the food of love . These friends to more are what two hearts beat for.
Great immersive writing by Skye McDonald’s pen and I’m not lying I loved reminiscing about a few tunes from way back when too. It’s a wonderful storyline ,the characters divine . The way the story flows is great too ,starting off mates and then more . This is a trope I adore when done well . And this book is swell . Ticks all the boxes too . Don’t take my word for it but. Why don’t you read it too. Then you’ll see ,it’s heavenly.
March 1, 2026
Skye McDonald's Side A: Summer Heart is great read to kick off the beach reading season, unless you are like me and need beach reading all year round! McDonald takes us to the mid 80s where things are Top Gun and Pretty in Pink are the soundtracks for the preps, and the cool kids are enjoying the Cure and the Peppers.
Elle has come to Nashville after a nomadic life in South America. She served in remote villages, and spent years hiding from connections and family. Her return to the US to live with her childhood best friend, sends ripples through the Nashville friend group. Mostly because she develops an intense attraction to one of the twins, Sam.
Sam is coming off a long on-again/off-again relationship and is not looking to start much with anyone over the summer, but one look at Elle, and Sam is struck; struck hard, and permanently. He knows Elle is running from something or someone, and he still falls for her. Keeping their attraction and growing romance a secret, also adds some layers to the story.
McDonald's supporting characters, swirl around Sam and Elle as they try to find a way to move forward with their incredible attractions and career desires. The characters create humor, alleviate tension, and help mirror the journey that Elle and Sam are on.
I enjoyed this book. I think the sequel Side B: Summer Hate is more my level of spiciness, but both books in the series should be downloaded and put on your reader for a fun blast back to the past.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Elle has come to Nashville after a nomadic life in South America. She served in remote villages, and spent years hiding from connections and family. Her return to the US to live with her childhood best friend, sends ripples through the Nashville friend group. Mostly because she develops an intense attraction to one of the twins, Sam.
Sam is coming off a long on-again/off-again relationship and is not looking to start much with anyone over the summer, but one look at Elle, and Sam is struck; struck hard, and permanently. He knows Elle is running from something or someone, and he still falls for her. Keeping their attraction and growing romance a secret, also adds some layers to the story.
McDonald's supporting characters, swirl around Sam and Elle as they try to find a way to move forward with their incredible attractions and career desires. The characters create humor, alleviate tension, and help mirror the journey that Elle and Sam are on.
I enjoyed this book. I think the sequel Side B: Summer Hate is more my level of spiciness, but both books in the series should be downloaded and put on your reader for a fun blast back to the past.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2026
Not gonna lie, I totally go for character-driven romance. In SIDE A: SUMMER HEART, it’s all about the characters, especially Sam, the MMC, and Elle, the FMC. And the music. Set to a backdrop of great ‘80s tunes, Sam and Elle go from friends to lovers in a slower-burn romance. The sexytime is hot.
I think I would have been friends with their friend group, because these people are fun to hang out with. Elle is not just a dropout debutante; she’s made some hard choices and worked in Peru. Sam is not just a goof; he’s deep and capable of deep love. I also liked Mac, who has a great talent for matching moods to the right tunes. There’s a lot of’80s flavor, not least in those godawful bridesmaids dresses complete with hats.
I’m looking forward to the sequel because it’s set in 1996, which is totally my era. But this was a good flashback to a time where technology may have been simpler, but human nature remains the same.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think I would have been friends with their friend group, because these people are fun to hang out with. Elle is not just a dropout debutante; she’s made some hard choices and worked in Peru. Sam is not just a goof; he’s deep and capable of deep love. I also liked Mac, who has a great talent for matching moods to the right tunes. There’s a lot of’80s flavor, not least in those godawful bridesmaids dresses complete with hats.
I’m looking forward to the sequel because it’s set in 1996, which is totally my era. But this was a good flashback to a time where technology may have been simpler, but human nature remains the same.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 10, 2026
This is a book that will take you right back into the 80ies - if you are old enough to have been alive then ;-) I was just a child in the 80ies but I listened to a lot of the music and watched all the movies that were referenced in the book so this book really took me back to that.
The story was entertaining, the MMC was a perfect book boyfriend and the FMC was mostly relatable (I could not really understand why Elle was acting the way she was until I learned more about her past). I LOVED all the refereces to the 80ies and will definitely be reading the second book in the series hoping to get another blast from the past.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story was entertaining, the MMC was a perfect book boyfriend and the FMC was mostly relatable (I could not really understand why Elle was acting the way she was until I learned more about her past). I LOVED all the refereces to the 80ies and will definitely be reading the second book in the series hoping to get another blast from the past.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 12, 2026
“Side A: Summer Heart” is a wonderful, emotional journey into the 80’s with a well-written slow-burn, steamy, nostalgic, friends to lovers romance that is entertaining and heart-felt. I loved the layered characters and connection of friends, friends like family, siblings, and the family that is your support and your safe place through all things. The growth of the characters, including, the main characters of Elle and Sam made this story even more enjoyable with its seamless connection in telling of their journey, from friends to lovers to their happy ever after. The music and movie references were a bonus in their journey but their love story was the star. I thoroughly enjoyed “Side A: Summer Heart” (Book 1 of the Love & Mixtapes series) and highly recommend it as worthy read.
July 8, 2026
I have mixed and neutral feelings about this book.
Elle and Sam meet at a record store, immediately get hot and heavy, and then spend most of the book pretending to be friends.
Elle has traumatic history with an ex boyfriend and this affects how she sees herself and her worth. Sam sees her as the perfect person for him.
It looks like this is the first book in a series. It's set in the 80's, which other than the 90's had the best music.
"This is the last time I leave you unkissed." My favorite quote from the book.
Elle and Sam meet at a record store, immediately get hot and heavy, and then spend most of the book pretending to be friends.
Elle has traumatic history with an ex boyfriend and this affects how she sees herself and her worth. Sam sees her as the perfect person for him.
It looks like this is the first book in a series. It's set in the 80's, which other than the 90's had the best music.
"This is the last time I leave you unkissed." My favorite quote from the book.
Did Not Finish
February 27, 2026DNF 27% on kindle. I was excited for the 80s nostalgia, but in the end sadly wasn’t enough to keep me reading. I wasn’t a huge fan of how quickly the steamy vibes came on and all the talk of getting high in the friend group. That may have been more of an 80s vibe than I realize or just a different lifestyle than mine growing up so not relatable for me.
July 25, 2026
I’m a 90s baby and I love anything with nostalgia. I love that this book starts in 1986 and they have everything that we did within the “90s”. From friend groups, to landlines, to record/cassette stores and love. I love reading about Sam and Elle’s love story and their new beginnings. I definitely couldn’t put this book down and I can’t wait to read about Jennifer & Alex next.
August 9, 2026
I absolutely loved this book.
It was very well written. I loved all the characters especially Elle.
It was very well written. I loved all the characters especially Elle.
January 30, 2026
I am a sucker for anything that takes place in the 80's or 90's
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews