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The Summer Share
When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.
For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.
For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.
Audible Audio
First published May 26, 2026
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
72 books5,470 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
January 25, 2026
There are some books that feel like a vacation, and this is one of them. From the very first pages, I felt transported to a sunlit stretch of coastline where the air smells like salt, the waves keep rhythm with your heartbeat, and an old, weathered beach house holds more secrets than you initially expect.
What begins as a chaotic inheritance situation gradually unfolds into a story about loss, healing, and the courage to start over. Hannah Spencer arrives in Cape Split with her vintage van, her towering Great Dane, and a life defined by movement. She has spent years drifting from place to place, collecting experiences instead of possessions, never fully allowing herself to settle. Simon O’Malley, on the other hand, comes carrying responsibility, financial pressure, and a deep sense of duty toward his family. When they discover they have inherited the same beach house, sparks fly immediately, not just from irritation, but from two very different worldviews colliding in one fragile, peeling cottage.As they are forced to spend the summer together repairing the house, something unexpected happens.
Hammer by hammer, paint stroke by paint stroke, their defensiveness softens. The house itself seems to breathe with them, revealing layers of its past and a beautiful love story that lingers within its walls. Watching Hannah and Simon navigate their growing connection while wrestling with their personal fears was both tender and deeply satisfying.
Their romance does not feel rushed or artificial, it grows naturally through shared memories, humor, and moments of quiet honesty.I was especially moved by how the story explores the idea of belonging. Hannah slowly realizes that freedom does not have to mean loneliness, and Simon learns that security does not have to mean sacrifice of joy.
The beach town, its warm residents, and the history embedded in the house create a comforting backdrop that made me want to linger long after I finished reading.And of course, Dude deserves his own spotlight. His presence adds humor, warmth, and a surprising emotional depth that made many scenes even more memorable.
This is not just a light summer romance. It is a heartfelt reflection on family, second chances, and the bravery it takes to choose love over fear. By the final chapters, I felt genuinely invested in both characters and reluctant to leave them behind.
A very sincere thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt, charming, and thoroughly enjoyable romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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What begins as a chaotic inheritance situation gradually unfolds into a story about loss, healing, and the courage to start over. Hannah Spencer arrives in Cape Split with her vintage van, her towering Great Dane, and a life defined by movement. She has spent years drifting from place to place, collecting experiences instead of possessions, never fully allowing herself to settle. Simon O’Malley, on the other hand, comes carrying responsibility, financial pressure, and a deep sense of duty toward his family. When they discover they have inherited the same beach house, sparks fly immediately, not just from irritation, but from two very different worldviews colliding in one fragile, peeling cottage.As they are forced to spend the summer together repairing the house, something unexpected happens.
Hammer by hammer, paint stroke by paint stroke, their defensiveness softens. The house itself seems to breathe with them, revealing layers of its past and a beautiful love story that lingers within its walls. Watching Hannah and Simon navigate their growing connection while wrestling with their personal fears was both tender and deeply satisfying.
Their romance does not feel rushed or artificial, it grows naturally through shared memories, humor, and moments of quiet honesty.I was especially moved by how the story explores the idea of belonging. Hannah slowly realizes that freedom does not have to mean loneliness, and Simon learns that security does not have to mean sacrifice of joy.
The beach town, its warm residents, and the history embedded in the house create a comforting backdrop that made me want to linger long after I finished reading.And of course, Dude deserves his own spotlight. His presence adds humor, warmth, and a surprising emotional depth that made many scenes even more memorable.
This is not just a light summer romance. It is a heartfelt reflection on family, second chances, and the bravery it takes to choose love over fear. By the final chapters, I felt genuinely invested in both characters and reluctant to leave them behind.
A very sincere thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this heartfelt, charming, and thoroughly enjoyable romcom’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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April 5, 2026
I've been a fan of Jenn McKinlay's cozy mysteries for nearly a decade, but I also enjoy her romcoms. The Summer Share is her newest romance book where the inheritance of a summer house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is at play. Two families learn a surprising secret, and a member of each falls for the other. Easy romance. No major drama. Slow boil until it's not. A few elaborate physical scenes that leave you a little hot-n-bothered. Definitely a perfect read for someone just waiting for a second chance at romance and not expecting it to show up in the way it does.
May 28, 2026
Too slow of a plot and we circled around the same stuff over and over again.
The audio has male and female narrators and it was enjoyable at least.
The audio has male and female narrators and it was enjoyable at least.
March 24, 2026
Hannah and Simon both believe they’re the sole heir to their grandfather’s beach house—but when they arrive, they’re in for a surprise. How can they both inherit the same house, and what will they decide to do with it?
This one was really sweet. Watching Hannah and Simon uncover the past—through exploring the house and connecting with the neighbors—was such a fun way to see their relationship develop. Their shared (and individual) trauma plays a big role in how they bond, which adds some emotional depth to their dynamic.
The overall vibe is incredibly cozy. The neighbors create a kind of found family that’s warm, funny, and welcoming, and honestly, they were one of my favorite parts. And the dogs—Frank and Dude, a pug and a Great Dane being best friends—were ridiculously cute.
That said, the romance itself felt a bit lacking for me. The pacing didn’t quite work—it was very slow for most of the book, and then the relationship progressed really quickly at the end, which made it feel less developed than I wanted. I’m used to more tension from McKinlay, and this one just didn’t quite deliver in that area.
But as a cozy, found-family story about uncovering the past, it really works.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one was really sweet. Watching Hannah and Simon uncover the past—through exploring the house and connecting with the neighbors—was such a fun way to see their relationship develop. Their shared (and individual) trauma plays a big role in how they bond, which adds some emotional depth to their dynamic.
The overall vibe is incredibly cozy. The neighbors create a kind of found family that’s warm, funny, and welcoming, and honestly, they were one of my favorite parts. And the dogs—Frank and Dude, a pug and a Great Dane being best friends—were ridiculously cute.
That said, the romance itself felt a bit lacking for me. The pacing didn’t quite work—it was very slow for most of the book, and then the relationship progressed really quickly at the end, which made it feel less developed than I wanted. I’m used to more tension from McKinlay, and this one just didn’t quite deliver in that area.
But as a cozy, found-family story about uncovering the past, it really works.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 25, 2026
Hannah + Simon
They've both inherited half of a summer sea-side house from their respective grandfathers.
They don't know each other and didn't know that their grandpas shared this beloved house.
And now they have to live in it for two months and then decide what to do with it.
Easy. Hannah wants to keep it and live there with her huge dog.
And Simon? He needs to sell it to make sure he has enough money to take care of his brother.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ....
═══════════════
So adorable!
This book brings us so many cute tropes and #hashtags in one great love story. Forced Proximity. Enemies to Lovers. Grumpy Sunshine. HGTV. Summer. Grandpa Mysteries. Family Secrets. Starting Over. Amazing Dog. Great Neighbors. Cute Small Town. And so much more!
I loved reading this. It was so funny and sweet and a bit mysterious and sad and heartbreaking.
But just so beautiful and sweet and you can't help but fall in love with the place and the whole cast and all those amazingly hilarious and heartwarming scenes with Dude the dog.
I loved it!
And I would so love to see this on TV one day!
Plus - I wouldn't mind reading the story of Simon's sister next!
THE SUMMER SHARE was such a sweet love story! Adorable, funny, sparky, sweet, mysterious, HGTV-ish and a bit sad and heartbreaking .... I adored the dog! And I loved reading this! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Simon and Dude - these two are MINE!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
May 31, 2026
this book was basically the literary equivalent of a frozen drink with a tiny umbrella in it.
the characters were charming, the chemistry was effortless, and the romance had me smiling like an idiot more times than i’d like to admit. everything about this book was just fun. not in a loud, over-the-top way, but in that “one more chapter” way where suddenly you’re halfway through and wondering where the time went.
and can we please bring back romances that are allowed to be cute? because this book understood the assignment. the flirting was adorable, the tension was there, and i was fully invested in these two getting their act together.
did this fundamentally alter the trajectory of my life? no.
did i have an amazing time? yes.
sometimes that’s all i need.
perfect poolside reading, perfect palate cleanser, and exactly the kind of book i’d recommend when someone says they just want something fun!
thank you netgalley for the arc💕
the characters were charming, the chemistry was effortless, and the romance had me smiling like an idiot more times than i’d like to admit. everything about this book was just fun. not in a loud, over-the-top way, but in that “one more chapter” way where suddenly you’re halfway through and wondering where the time went.
and can we please bring back romances that are allowed to be cute? because this book understood the assignment. the flirting was adorable, the tension was there, and i was fully invested in these two getting their act together.
did this fundamentally alter the trajectory of my life? no.
did i have an amazing time? yes.
sometimes that’s all i need.
perfect poolside reading, perfect palate cleanser, and exactly the kind of book i’d recommend when someone says they just want something fun!
thank you netgalley for the arc💕
May 26, 2026
*** 5/26/26 *** Happy Publication Day! This is a HEA that ties in themes of community, family responsibilities and secrets, and some fairly spicy writing in some scenes. It uses a 'novel' plot concept for the book in that two people are each willed half of a summer home. Fans of North Carolina coastal areas will appreciate the setting. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review today's release. This is a good summer read for many romance aficionados, 3.5-stars rounded to 4 for me, as I don't like a lot of graphic scenes and the "meet cute" opener chapters moved a little slowly for me.
*** 5/19/26 *** Two-thirds of the way through this late May upcoming release - thank you NetGalley for the ARC to read and review! This is a romance based on a young woman and a young man each inheriting 1/2 of a vacation home that belonged to their grandfathers. She is a 'van-life' influencer, he sells insurance (but is really an award-winning artist!), and there is a prominent Great Dane dog, plus a charming, incredibly friendly community of people around them, which is always nice. Review coming soon.
*** 5/19/26 *** Two-thirds of the way through this late May upcoming release - thank you NetGalley for the ARC to read and review! This is a romance based on a young woman and a young man each inheriting 1/2 of a vacation home that belonged to their grandfathers. She is a 'van-life' influencer, he sells insurance (but is really an award-winning artist!), and there is a prominent Great Dane dog, plus a charming, incredibly friendly community of people around them, which is always nice. Review coming soon.
June 2, 2026
Dnf @ 75% because I just don’t care about these characters. I’m so bored. And the repetitive hang-ups are getting old.
December 27, 2025
A big thanks to Edelweiss for the chance to read this as an ARC!
This was SO GOOD! You will not only fall in love with the FMC and MMC, but with every single character in the book. I found myself wishing I had known Pops and Gramps in real life. They worked so hard to create a beautiful life for themselves and their grandchildren, even after that passed.
This was a 10/10 read.
This was SO GOOD! You will not only fall in love with the FMC and MMC, but with every single character in the book. I found myself wishing I had known Pops and Gramps in real life. They worked so hard to create a beautiful life for themselves and their grandchildren, even after that passed.
This was a 10/10 read.
February 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Jenn McKinlay for this arc!!!
2.75 ⭐️
3 felt too high and 2.5 felt too low. I personally did not connect to our two MCs. I felt more connected to their granddads and the side characters. I think not really connecting to the MCs made me uninterested. I thought the backgrounds for the characters were great, but their personalities fell flat to me.
Good book to start to get into the summer vibes tho!
2.75 ⭐️
3 felt too high and 2.5 felt too low. I personally did not connect to our two MCs. I felt more connected to their granddads and the side characters. I think not really connecting to the MCs made me uninterested. I thought the backgrounds for the characters were great, but their personalities fell flat to me.
Good book to start to get into the summer vibes tho!
January 18, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!
📖 Book Review 📖 It’s a concept so over-the-top wild yet an oddly conceivable concept; a loved dies and truths are revealed when the will is read. For Hannah and Simon, they each learn they have inherited their grandfather’s beloved beach house - and it just so happens to be the shared inheritance. Tensions are high from the start between these two… and the chemistry works…because nothing brings about a slow summer burn like forced proximity and uncovering buried family secrets.
Jenn McKinlay’s writing is delightfully breezy, adding perfectly timed comedic breaks that fluctuate between witty banter and scenes with best-supporting character, Dude, the harlequin Great Dane. While both Hannah and Simon carry extensive battle wounds into the cottage, nothing brings about healing like salt air and a beautifully cathartic tale unfolds in The Summer Share. Just like those warm summer days, I was flipping through the chapters at lightning speed, unable to put this one down.
📖 Book Review 📖 It’s a concept so over-the-top wild yet an oddly conceivable concept; a loved dies and truths are revealed when the will is read. For Hannah and Simon, they each learn they have inherited their grandfather’s beloved beach house - and it just so happens to be the shared inheritance. Tensions are high from the start between these two… and the chemistry works…because nothing brings about a slow summer burn like forced proximity and uncovering buried family secrets.
Jenn McKinlay’s writing is delightfully breezy, adding perfectly timed comedic breaks that fluctuate between witty banter and scenes with best-supporting character, Dude, the harlequin Great Dane. While both Hannah and Simon carry extensive battle wounds into the cottage, nothing brings about healing like salt air and a beautifully cathartic tale unfolds in The Summer Share. Just like those warm summer days, I was flipping through the chapters at lightning speed, unable to put this one down.
May 9, 2026
3.5 Stars
The beginning is excellent. And there was a lot to like, love, and enjoy throughout. But it also mellowed way too soon and the villainy came way too late, almost cartoonish in its delivery, and was over before it even began. I was missing some conflict and shenanigans in the middle. Still, I really liked watching the leads learn more about their grandfathers. And Dude was the real star of the story.
Overall, pleasant enough and worth the read but didn’t make a huge impression.
* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher
The beginning is excellent. And there was a lot to like, love, and enjoy throughout. But it also mellowed way too soon and the villainy came way too late, almost cartoonish in its delivery, and was over before it even began. I was missing some conflict and shenanigans in the middle. Still, I really liked watching the leads learn more about their grandfathers. And Dude was the real star of the story.
Overall, pleasant enough and worth the read but didn’t make a huge impression.
* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher
June 4, 2026
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
It's been a while since I have read a Jenn McKinlay book, so it was nice to get back into her worlds.
I liked the premise of the book, I loved the OBX setting.
I'm a sucker for an enemies to lovers book too, so Hannah and Simon hit all those notes for me.
I really liked the first half of the book, however to me, the second half fell away, ut this is just a me thing. I am not sure what it was though. It wasn't bad, I think maybe a lot of things got dragged out a bit longer than they needed to be?
It makes it sound like I didn't like the book, but I did.
I enjoyed the small town vibe of their house, their street. I love Simon's family - bar one - and the friends that Hannah and Simon make along the way.
Oh, and Dude. I freaking love everything about that pupper.
I would really like to get more about Simon's brother and sister in the future
It's been a while since I have read a Jenn McKinlay book, so it was nice to get back into her worlds.
I liked the premise of the book, I loved the OBX setting.
I'm a sucker for an enemies to lovers book too, so Hannah and Simon hit all those notes for me.
I really liked the first half of the book, however to me, the second half fell away, ut this is just a me thing. I am not sure what it was though. It wasn't bad, I think maybe a lot of things got dragged out a bit longer than they needed to be?
It makes it sound like I didn't like the book, but I did.
I enjoyed the small town vibe of their house, their street. I love Simon's family - bar one - and the friends that Hannah and Simon make along the way.
Oh, and Dude. I freaking love everything about that pupper.
I would really like to get more about Simon's brother and sister in the future
June 13, 2026
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay was such a cute beach read that I totally became invested in it. The book had dual alternating POV's between the two main characters, Hannah and Simon, who co-own the beach house left to them by their individual grandfathers. I loved the Outer Banks setting and the tight-knit community of Cape Split. The stand-out of the book is Duke, Hannah's harlequin Great Dane!
Read if you enjoy:
✨ coastal southern beaches
✨ enemies to friends to lovers
✨ grumpy/sunshine
✨ forced proximity
✨ small-town community
✨ family secrets
✨ medium spice level
✨ sea turtle hatchlings
Synopsis:
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.
For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced digital copy of the book.
Read if you enjoy:
✨ coastal southern beaches
✨ enemies to friends to lovers
✨ grumpy/sunshine
✨ forced proximity
✨ small-town community
✨ family secrets
✨ medium spice level
✨ sea turtle hatchlings
Synopsis:
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.
For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced digital copy of the book.
May 25, 2026
What a cutie cozy romcom with a little bit of suspense towards the end!!
I ended up really enjoying this one although it did pull on my heartstrings a bit 🥲 imagine after you lose a grandpa, he leaves you a property in his will. So you go find this cottage in Cape Split, NC, only to discover you actually are entitled to half of the house and the other half is to this …. absolute (but really cute) stranger?
Simon and Hannah both come from such difficult paths and are so guarded at the beginning but are determined to work together to clean up this cottage and make sense of why their grandfathers’ left them half a property each.
The community in this was so special. “Found family” is one of my favorite side stories in books and this one definitely has that. Plus Dude, the dog, I mean - he’s giant and perfect. And the best judge of character 😎
This one was super cute and it’s perfect for a summer read!! What a great one to read over MDW and even better - it releases tomorrow!!
I ended up really enjoying this one although it did pull on my heartstrings a bit 🥲 imagine after you lose a grandpa, he leaves you a property in his will. So you go find this cottage in Cape Split, NC, only to discover you actually are entitled to half of the house and the other half is to this …. absolute (but really cute) stranger?
Simon and Hannah both come from such difficult paths and are so guarded at the beginning but are determined to work together to clean up this cottage and make sense of why their grandfathers’ left them half a property each.
The community in this was so special. “Found family” is one of my favorite side stories in books and this one definitely has that. Plus Dude, the dog, I mean - he’s giant and perfect. And the best judge of character 😎
This one was super cute and it’s perfect for a summer read!! What a great one to read over MDW and even better - it releases tomorrow!!
May 29, 2026
Sweet with just a touch of spice. Simon and Hannah meet at the summer cottage they each thought that they had inherited. Once there, the details show they each have half a house and they have two months to convince the other to sell or stay. Discovering the secrets of why the inheritance was divided, opens the doors to their own secrets. A lovely story that reinforces my love of a found family theme.
.
.
May 26, 2026
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay is truly the perfect rom-com beach read! Hannah’s a free-spirited travel influencer who rolls into Cape Split, North Carolina, expecting to inherit her late grandpop’s beach house. Plot twist: she only owns fifty percent. The other half belongs to Simon, her total opposite who is strictly team "fix-it-and-flip-it." Forced to spend the summer tag-teaming DIY repairs on a crumbling cottage, they end up uncovering a historic love story built into the house itself and start catching some major feelings of their own!
Hannah and Simon’s slow burn chemistry is the absolute heart of this book. Watching them go from reluctant roommates to partners-in-crime while tackling DIY projects was so much fun, and their banter is completely top-tier. I loved the way the author was able to weave a gorgeous, nostalgic mystery about their grandfathers’ pasts into the renovation, giving the story so much emotional depth. Plus, the coastal small-town community of Cape Split is so vibrant and welcoming. The found family vibes are so real!
Of course, I can’t write a review without mentioning the real star of the show… Dude, Hannah’s hulking, goofy Great Dane! He travels everywhere with her in her vintage van and completely steals every single scene he’s in (starting with a hilarious moment where he accidentally knocks Simon right into the water!). Overall, this story is such a feel-good escape that just feels like summer!
Thank you Berkley Romance for the #free book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Hannah and Simon’s slow burn chemistry is the absolute heart of this book. Watching them go from reluctant roommates to partners-in-crime while tackling DIY projects was so much fun, and their banter is completely top-tier. I loved the way the author was able to weave a gorgeous, nostalgic mystery about their grandfathers’ pasts into the renovation, giving the story so much emotional depth. Plus, the coastal small-town community of Cape Split is so vibrant and welcoming. The found family vibes are so real!
Of course, I can’t write a review without mentioning the real star of the show… Dude, Hannah’s hulking, goofy Great Dane! He travels everywhere with her in her vintage van and completely steals every single scene he’s in (starting with a hilarious moment where he accidentally knocks Simon right into the water!). Overall, this story is such a feel-good escape that just feels like summer!
Thank you Berkley Romance for the #free book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
March 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: Hannah is a content creator who travels the country in a van. Simon is an insurance salesman in his family's company. When each of their grandfathers die they leave half an ocean cottage to their grandkids.
Neither Hannah nor Simon is thrilled at sharing their inheritance: she wants to keep the house and he wants to sell it. As the wills stipulate they have to live there for two months, they begrudgingly agree. They are both stubborn and wary of relationships. But as they start to fix up the house, and get to know the neighbors and each other, things get cozy.
Hannah and Simon learn about the love story that was based in the cottage and slowly start to count on each other. But still, their ideas about the house differ.
I enjoyed this book. Hannah and Simon's path toward each other seemed realistic. And they both had reasons for doubt regarding the other. But at heart, they are both good people who deserve support and love. I really loved their desire to find out about their grandfathers and get to know the community that the older men loved so much. I would definitely read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.
Neither Hannah nor Simon is thrilled at sharing their inheritance: she wants to keep the house and he wants to sell it. As the wills stipulate they have to live there for two months, they begrudgingly agree. They are both stubborn and wary of relationships. But as they start to fix up the house, and get to know the neighbors and each other, things get cozy.
Hannah and Simon learn about the love story that was based in the cottage and slowly start to count on each other. But still, their ideas about the house differ.
I enjoyed this book. Hannah and Simon's path toward each other seemed realistic. And they both had reasons for doubt regarding the other. But at heart, they are both good people who deserve support and love. I really loved their desire to find out about their grandfathers and get to know the community that the older men loved so much. I would definitely read more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance digital copy to review. These opinions are my own.
June 22, 2026
I'm sorry but I didn't care about anything except the dog
It was too slow and boring and everytime I had to read the words "pops" and "gramps" I wanted to rip my eyes out because these two are the most repeated words and guess what? The side story of "pops" and "gramps" was boring as well!!
There was no hot tension and no hype and generally, this book was not attractive at all and it only made me sleepy.
Was the general idea good? Yes. Was it written well? No.
It was too slow and boring and everytime I had to read the words "pops" and "gramps" I wanted to rip my eyes out because these two are the most repeated words and guess what? The side story of "pops" and "gramps" was boring as well!!
There was no hot tension and no hype and generally, this book was not attractive at all and it only made me sleepy.
Was the general idea good? Yes. Was it written well? No.
June 17, 2026
Overall, The Summer Share was a cute summery read. Hannah and Simon realize they are splitting half a vacation house in Outer Banks while learning the truth about their grandparents. A quarter of the book was arguing. There were a lot of stereotypes throughout the book.
June 7, 2026
This was such a fun, easy summer read. I realized after starting it that I’d actually already enjoyed some of this author’s cozy mysteries, which made so much sense because this story has that same warmth and charm. The forced proximity setup led to some really entertaining banter and funny moments, and the beach house setting gave the whole book such a cozy summer feel. Also, any book with a lovable Great Dane named Duke already has a special place in my heart 😂 Definitely the kind of romance that’s perfect when you want something lighthearted and relaxing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 15, 2026
I just didn't feel connected to the plot or the characters.
May 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this story!!! Hannah and Simon were so great together. I loved the backstory of the beach house and the unfolding of it all!! Them fixing up the house and forced proximity of it was so entertaining. I was smiling so much through out it! This was a perfect summer read in my opinion. Dude was my favorite character forsure 🤭
June 9, 2026
Didn't like the writing style and didn't like how it went from 0 to 100 so fast.
Just wasn't for me
Just wasn't for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2026
I kept waiting for this book to get better but the only redeeming factor about it was Dude the dog
May 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for thr advanced ebook for my review. Hannah arrives at her grandfathers beach house to meet the attorney about her inheritance of the property after her grandfathers passing. Upon arrival, she discovers a strange man, Simon, fishing on his pier. Her dog, Dude, spots him and makes a beeline to make his acquaintance and ends up knocking him in the water. Hannah jumps in to save him only to find out, he is there for the same meeting. Needless to say, they are both in shock and not very happy to be co owners. As per the will, they have to wait two months before deciding whether to keep or sell the house but it has to be a mutual decision. But while they are there they discover a lot of shocking secrets about their grandfathers. This is my first book by this author and it was just an okay read.
May 26, 2026
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay is a very messy, yet, satisfying romance featuring Hannah and Simon who had arrived at a ramshackle cottage on the Outer Banks, both expecting to take over as the owner. When Hannah arrived she saw a man fishing off the dock. So did Dude, her giant dog, who took off and ran straight into the man and pushed him right into the water. Hannah rushed to his rescue so when the attorney arrived they were both soaking wet. What the lawyer had to say shocked them both. Their recently deceased grandfathers had owned the cottage jointly and so now did Hannah and Simon. Part of the deal was that they each had to spend two months in the cottage. They could do it at the same time or not. After that they could sell if they wished. What followed was entertaining, startling, and peaceful. An odd combination.
Both terrific characters with plenty of background/baggage. As they got to know their neighbors they felt more and more at home. They discovered they loved being part of a community, which was new to each of them. They also discovered one another. Great plot. Some interesting characters, including, it turned out, the grandfathers, whom everyone in the area knew and had for years. This book was just plain fun, despite there being some tragic aspects as well as some really unpleasant ones. Romance is McKinlay’s genre. Of that there is no doubt.
I was invited to read The Summer Share by Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #JennMcKinlay #TheSummerShare
Both terrific characters with plenty of background/baggage. As they got to know their neighbors they felt more and more at home. They discovered they loved being part of a community, which was new to each of them. They also discovered one another. Great plot. Some interesting characters, including, it turned out, the grandfathers, whom everyone in the area knew and had for years. This book was just plain fun, despite there being some tragic aspects as well as some really unpleasant ones. Romance is McKinlay’s genre. Of that there is no doubt.
I was invited to read The Summer Share by Berkley Publishing Group. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #JennMcKinlay #TheSummerShare
June 16, 2026
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay (2026)
9h 53m narrated by Helen Laser and Dan Bittner, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Beach Read
Rating as a movie: Xx for adult content
Featuring: Inheritance Trope, Dog - Harlequin Great Dane, Beach Town in North Carolina; Outer Banks, Little Compton, Rhode Island; Travel Vlogger, Dual POVs, Grandpa, Artist, Family Dynamics, Close Proximity, Forced Proximity, Sex - Detailed, Neighbors, Community, Secrets, Drama
My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🏠🐕⛵️🏖
My thoughts: Well, The Summer Share had a great start, but it quickly got a little stagnant for me and never quite recovered. To be honest, there were a lot of scenes that were just ridiculous, as well as legally impossible. The whole storyline with the dad didn't make any sense to me—and nurses cannot give you a vaccine without a prescription from a doctor. I know it's petty, but that detail just irritated me. All in all, the plot was so fluffy that it simply wasn't plausible.
Recommend to others: Maybe. I think this story can go either way with readers, but there are definitely better books out there with similar plots.
Songs for the soundtrack: "Forever & Always" by Taylor Swift, "Here Comes The Rain Again" by Eurythmics "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses, "you look like you love me" by Ella Langley and Riley Green
Books and Authors mentioned: The Big Lebowski by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Louis L'Amour
9h 53m narrated by Helen Laser and Dan Bittner, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Beach Read
Rating as a movie: Xx for adult content
Featuring: Inheritance Trope, Dog - Harlequin Great Dane, Beach Town in North Carolina; Outer Banks, Little Compton, Rhode Island; Travel Vlogger, Dual POVs, Grandpa, Artist, Family Dynamics, Close Proximity, Forced Proximity, Sex - Detailed, Neighbors, Community, Secrets, Drama
My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🏠🐕⛵️🏖
My thoughts: Well, The Summer Share had a great start, but it quickly got a little stagnant for me and never quite recovered. To be honest, there were a lot of scenes that were just ridiculous, as well as legally impossible. The whole storyline with the dad didn't make any sense to me—and nurses cannot give you a vaccine without a prescription from a doctor. I know it's petty, but that detail just irritated me. All in all, the plot was so fluffy that it simply wasn't plausible.
Recommend to others: Maybe. I think this story can go either way with readers, but there are definitely better books out there with similar plots.
Songs for the soundtrack: "Forever & Always" by Taylor Swift, "Here Comes The Rain Again" by Eurythmics "Purple Rain" by Prince and the Revolution, "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses, "you look like you love me" by Ella Langley and Riley Green
Books and Authors mentioned: The Big Lebowski by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Louis L'Amour
May 30, 2026
Thank you Berkley Romance for the free book!
Simon and Hannah end up co-owners of the same summer home after their respective grandfathers leave them each half. After a rocky first meeting, the two of them end up becoming closer through shared house projects and memories of Gramps and Pops.
This is a sweet low stakes summer romance with great beach read vibes. Simon and Hannah are really lovable, and it was nice how they bonded as they uncovered more information about Gramps and Pops and their relationship. Simon was so supportive of Hannah every step of the way, which was much needed for Hannah who had been through a lot.
Some of the dialogue and spice was a little bit unrealistic and cringey, and I have to admit I didn’t feel super invested in Hannah and Simon’s relationship. There was a lot going on in terms of side plots and conflicts, and it didn’t feel like most of them were developed as much as they could have been. I didn’t not like it, but it wasn’t exactly my favorite. Fertility issues are a big thing that pops up repeatedly, and I think that’s important to know going in.
Read if you like:
- forced proximity
- hate to love
- complicated family dynamics
- summer fling
- quirky side characters
Simon and Hannah end up co-owners of the same summer home after their respective grandfathers leave them each half. After a rocky first meeting, the two of them end up becoming closer through shared house projects and memories of Gramps and Pops.
This is a sweet low stakes summer romance with great beach read vibes. Simon and Hannah are really lovable, and it was nice how they bonded as they uncovered more information about Gramps and Pops and their relationship. Simon was so supportive of Hannah every step of the way, which was much needed for Hannah who had been through a lot.
Some of the dialogue and spice was a little bit unrealistic and cringey, and I have to admit I didn’t feel super invested in Hannah and Simon’s relationship. There was a lot going on in terms of side plots and conflicts, and it didn’t feel like most of them were developed as much as they could have been. I didn’t not like it, but it wasn’t exactly my favorite. Fertility issues are a big thing that pops up repeatedly, and I think that’s important to know going in.
Read if you like:
- forced proximity
- hate to love
- complicated family dynamics
- summer fling
- quirky side characters
May 25, 2026
ARC REVIEW
🏖️ The Summer Share 🏖️
✍🏻: Jenn McKinlay
Pub Date: 5/26/26
Format: 📱
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC copy of The Summer Share!
You know a way to get me to instantly read a book? Set it in North Carolina and do us justice! The Outer Banks setting with references to Raleigh and other places in NC was perfect!
The incorporation of the sea turtles hatching was also perfection because this is one of the things I have always wanted to see! The sea turtle rescue in NC is on my must do travel list!
I was instantly drawn into this book and it was such an easy read. It was fun and lighthearted, while still addressing some deeper topics like grief, infidelity, and infertility.
The relationship between Hannah and Simon was fun! I loved the found family aspect of the small coastal town. I really enjoyed finding out more about both grandpas and their journey alongside watching Hannah and Simon navigate their growing feelings for one another.
And my man Dude just made the book even better because who doesn’t love a loyal fur baby!
Definitely add this one to your summer TBR!
🏖️ The Summer Share 🏖️
✍🏻: Jenn McKinlay
Pub Date: 5/26/26
Format: 📱
Pages: 368
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC copy of The Summer Share!
You know a way to get me to instantly read a book? Set it in North Carolina and do us justice! The Outer Banks setting with references to Raleigh and other places in NC was perfect!
The incorporation of the sea turtles hatching was also perfection because this is one of the things I have always wanted to see! The sea turtle rescue in NC is on my must do travel list!
I was instantly drawn into this book and it was such an easy read. It was fun and lighthearted, while still addressing some deeper topics like grief, infidelity, and infertility.
The relationship between Hannah and Simon was fun! I loved the found family aspect of the small coastal town. I really enjoyed finding out more about both grandpas and their journey alongside watching Hannah and Simon navigate their growing feelings for one another.
And my man Dude just made the book even better because who doesn’t love a loyal fur baby!
Definitely add this one to your summer TBR!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews