Tastes Like Summer: a single parent, grumpy x sunshine romance

by Caroline Frank

Diana Castillo just wants to get some stability back in her life. Newly single with two pre-teen daughters, one of whom is recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, the knocks have come hard and fast.

When she’s offered a summer in the Hamptons for her and her girls to recoup, Diana jumps at the chance.

What she isn’t expecting is a summer fling—especially not with the hot local chef who manages to get under her skin. She’s newly divorced and has no room for anyone but her girls.

Michael Haynes is one year into the dad role after adopting his estranged biological daughter, and it’s upended his career and life in unexpected and wonderful ways. Except it’s stymied him in the kitchen, and his new restaurant venture of farm-to-table delicacies with his cousin has stalled out. He’s professionally and creatively constipated.

But when his daughter befriends two sweet and rambunctious girls, he meets their a woman with a tough exterior that has him defensive and questioning all of his parenting choices.

That friction turns into something more as Diana and her girls become his inspiration for new recipes that have his motivation sputtering back to life. The problem is that it’s got his heart resurrecting, too.

Michael and Diana’s passion has the kitchen heating up, but life has a way of reminding them this fling has an expiration date.

They’ll have to decide if a summer together is all they want or if only a taste is not enough.

Tastes Like Summer is a steamy, comteporary romance for fans of Abby Jimenez and Christina Lauren.

Genres: Audiobook

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Kassandra Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to @netgalley & @dreamscape_media for an ALC of
𝕋𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣 by @carolinefrankwrites 💛

I grabbed this one on a whim because the premise and cover looked so good, and I’m so glad I did! It was the perfect story to kick off summer reading season. 🥰

Michael is suddenly a full-time single dad after the loss of his daughter’s mother, while juggling a new restaurant and trying to reconnect with his little girl.

Diana is rebuilding her life post-divorce, spending the summer in the Hamptons with her two daughters. When their kids become fast friends, she and Michael keep crossing paths. Neither expects more than a fellow parent in the chaos of raising kids alone… until summer has other plans. 👀

I really enjoyed this book and these characters! We get so many fun tropes in this one: Grumpy x Sunshine, Latinx representation, forced proximity, and some spicy cooking scenes 🌶️🧑🏼‍🍳👀 just to name a few!

My heart really went out to Diana and Michael. I could relate to the challenges of parenting and juggling all the responsibilities that come with it. I have so much respect for single parents, and I think Caroline did a fantastic job capturing those real-life moments throughout the story. 👏🏻

I loved watching Michael and Diana’s relationship unfold, especially since Michael was down bad long before Diana realized it. 😍

I also loved the friendship between their daughters and appreciated the Type 1 Diabetes representation. Michael’s support for Diana and her daughter was so sweet.

The dual narration was fantastic, and each chapter was engaging to listen to. 👏🏻

Overall, this was such a sweet summer read and a great one OUT NOW on audio! ☀️ (Paperback coming in Sept)

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tastes Like Summer was my introduction to Caroline Frank's writing, and it left me with all the warm, feel-good vibes of a perfect beach read. 🌊☀️💕 I experienced the story through the audiobook, and the dual narration added so much personality to the characters. The narrators did a wonderful job bringing the emotions, humor, and romance to life.

At the heart of the story is Diana, a mother doing everything she can to hold her family together after a painful divorce. Between raising two daughters, helping one adjust to a recent Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, managing constant stress, and figuring out her next chapter in life, she has a lot on her shoulders. Her protective instincts are strong, sometimes causing her to judge situations too quickly, especially when old wounds from her marriage start influencing her decisions. Even when she frustrated me at times, I understood where she was coming from and admired how fiercely she loved her children. ❤️

Then there's Michael. 🧑‍🍳🥰 As a chef opening a restaurant while learning the ropes of single parenthood, he's juggling just as much chaos. From the moment he enters the story, he brings a calm, steady presence that perfectly balances Diana's worries. Their first interaction is anything but smooth, but beneath the tension there's an attraction neither of them can ignore. The more time they spend together, the more their walls begin to crumble.

One of my favorite parts of the book was watching the friendship develop between their daughters. 👧🌸 Their bond naturally pulls Diana and Michael closer together, creating plenty of opportunities for heartfelt conversations, vulnerable moments, and genuine connection. The romance unfolds gradually, allowing both characters to heal, grow, and rediscover what happiness could look like.

What made this story stand out was how grounded it felt. Life isn't always neat, and this book embraces that reality. Divorce, parenting challenges, self-doubt, guilt, complicated exes, career pressures, and second chances are all woven into the story in a way that feels authentic and relatable. While a few scenes leaned a little dramatic for my taste, the emotional core of the novel remained strong throughout.

Michael was easily my favorite character. 💙 His patience, kindness, and unwavering devotion to both his daughter and Diana made him impossible not to love. He consistently put family first and showed up when it mattered most. Watching him support the people he cared about was incredibly heartwarming.

Overall, Tastes Like Summer is a charming, emotional romance filled with family, healing, laughter, and hope. 🌅💕 It's a story about finding joy after heartbreak, taking risks on love again, and realizing that sometimes the people who enter your life unexpectedly end up becoming exactly what you need. If you're looking for a sweet summer romance with depth, lovable characters, and plenty of heart, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tastes Like Summer is a sweet summer romance centered on Diana, a hardworking single mom whose daughter was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She spends the summer in the Hamptons, where she meets Michael, a ridiculously attractive chef and newly devoted dad (it's a whole thing). The two immediately clash, but this is very much a he falls first situation. Michael is completely smitten, while Diana is far more guarded, still carrying the baggage of a difficult marriage and the realities of raising a child with a chronic illness on her own.

The audiobook uses dual narration, and both Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira do a great job bringing their characters to life, though I did wish it had been a duet narration. They were both new-to-me narrators, and I'm definitely adding them to my radar.

It took me a while to warm up to the characters, especially Diana. If I'm being honest, I found her a bit unlikeable and annoying until about the halfway point. She's undeniably her own worst enemy, and while that eventually made her feel more human, it made the first half of the book a little frustrating.
I also struggled with the overall story structure early on. For a good portion of the book, I wasn't entirely sure what the central conflict was supposed to be. Problems would pop up and then resolve themselves fairly quickly, making the plot feel a bit meandering. The main conflict doesn't really arrive until much later in the story.

That said, Diana and Michael have fantastic chemistry, and I completely bought into their romance. Their relationship was easily the strongest part of the book for me.
As for the diabetes storyline, I wasn't a fan of how it was utilized. It seemed to overlook how much diabetes care and technology have advanced in recent years.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but the romance worked, the chemistry was strong, and I walked away with two new audiobook narrators I'll happily listen to again.

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tastes Like Summer by Caroline Frank (June 2026) [reading in May] PB & EB (Sept. 2026)
Seasons of Love #4
10h 39m narrated by Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira, 359 pages
ALC courtesy of Dreamscape, RB Media, and NetGalley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating as a movie: XX for strong sexual content

Featuring: Single Parents, Grumpy/Sunshine, Hamptons, New York; Divorcée, Chef, Latinx Characters, Diabetes - Type 1, Meet-Ugly, Healing From Divorce, Sag Harbor, New York; New Family Dynamics, Finding Inspiration, Long Island, New York; Summer Fling, August, Venezuelan MC, Denver, Colorado; Memorial Day Weekend, Sisters, House Sitting, Characters From Previous Books, Custody Battle, Death of Parent, Enemies-to-Lovers, Sex - Detailed, Restaurant, Helicopter Mom, 9-year-olds, Abandonment

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🏝👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👧🧑‍🍳⚖️🇻🇪🗽

My thoughts: There is so much to love about this story! The plot progression is wonderfully refreshing and brings something unique to the genre, and the characters are fantastic. I will say that a few moments felt a little melodramatic for my taste, and the male narration didn't quite work for me—some of his dialogue during the romance scenes felt a bit forced. Even with those small bumps, the strong, original storylines kept me hooked. I'm adding the rest of the Seasons of Love series to my TBR!

Recommend to others: Yes. This was a good time.

Seasons of Love
1. Fall Into You (2023)
2. Shall We Dance? (2023)
Happily Ever Disaster (2023)
3. Second Chance Snowmance (2023)
4. Tastes Like Summer (2026)

Songs for the soundtrack: "Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift

Books and Authors mentioned: The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty [screenplay based on] The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty; Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) by George Orwell

[Jen Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is messy, divorce is messy, jealous ex's are messy, and so is guilt. All of that is apparent in Tastes Like Summer! Diana is on her own and struggling to maintain her child's newly diagnosed diabetes, the lack of her daughter's father, and starting a new career. Diana wants the best life for her children, but has struggled to do what was best for her as well. They meet Michael and his daughter over the summer, and life doesn't feel quite as messy for a while.

Michael is a new father and is starting a new restaurant. His first meeting with Diana doesn't go well, but the attraction is undeniable. Michael feels out of his depth with fatherhood, a new business owner, and now with Diana. However, all of the daughters attending the same summer camp and becoming friends means Michael and Diana will spend a lot of time together. The more time together, the more feelings build as they open up showing emotions and vulnerability.

Diana is a mama bear through and through, is quick to jump to assumptions based on previous experience with her ex, and also lets her ex use negativity to put doubts in her head. Michael has such a tender heart and loves with his whole self. He is steadfast throughout all scenarios and always put their children's needs first.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced read in exchange for an honest review. This story replicates real life and the obstacles many new adult relationships involving children face.

[Renee Polks Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ 3/5

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

This hallmark summer palate cleanser was my first Caroline Frank read.

This book is very much a grumpy/sunshine with single parent drama. Both Diana and Michael has their own issues they are dealing with both personally and parentally. However, I found that Diana came off as selfish and rude, which I know is partly caused by her struggles, but it just came across the wrong way in fiction.

Michael on the other hand, was incredibly patient and navigated their entire romance arc - in my opinion.

The Hamptons beachy setting and the foodie scene really gives off a 'potential summer love' vibe. I am definitely a sucker for a late sunset on the beach with food, wine and a hot man kinda girl, so this was an easy comfort read.

~NOTE~
If you're not a third act break up reader, then maybe this isn't for you. You are reading about what love looks like for adults who have already experienced love and heartbreak, and are navigating the balance of children priorities vs new love interests (and sometimes, that balance can take time to form).

🎧 The dual narration was good, but I always believe duet would be best for romances. The narrators still did a great job and I found them easy to listen to.

☀️ Summer Romance
🍳 Chef MMC with sass
🔥 Grumpy / Sunshine
❤️ Emotional healing

[Marylovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Review of Tastes Like Summer
by Caroline Frank
Narrated by Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was an enjoyable romance listen with relatable characters and plenty of heart.

Recently divorced, Diana Castillo is navigating life with her two young daughters, one of whom has Type 1 diabetes. When she accepts a friend's offer to stay at a lakeside cottage for the summer, she hopes for a fresh start and a chance to regroup. Her first meeting with Michael Caines is anything but smooth, making for a memorable and entertaining meet-cute.

I enjoyed listening to Diana and Michael's story unfold as their relationship developed from a rocky beginning into something much deeper. The family dynamics added warmth and realism, and I appreciated how the challenges of parenting a child with a chronic illness were incorporated into the story.

Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira delivered strong performances that helped bring the characters and their emotions to life.

Overall, *Tastes Like Summer* was a sweet, engaging romance that balanced humor, family, and romance well. A great choice for readers looking for a heartfelt contemporary love story.
Thanks to Netgalley and its publisher for ALC

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC of this 4-star listen!
There’s so much to enjoy in this story. It feels fresh and a bit different from others in the genre, with engaging characters and a plot that keeps things moving. While a few scenes felt slightly over-the-top and parts of the male narration didn’t quite land for me—especially in the romantic moments—the story still held my attention from start to finish. The writing captures real-life challenges, making the characters easy to relate to as they navigate complicated, messy situations.
Diana is trying to rebuild her life after divorce while caring for her two daughters, including one with a recent medical diagnosis, so a summer getaway feels like a much-needed reset. There, she unexpectedly connects with Michael, a chef struggling to find his spark again while adjusting to fatherhood. As their kids bond, so do they, and what begins as tension grows into something deeper. But with real-life responsibilities waiting, they must decide if their connection is just for the summer or worth something more. I recommend this sweet summer romance.

[Traci Hoffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance set in the Hamptons with a chef main character! Tastes Like Summer was my first book by Caroline Frank. I listened to the audio book and the narrators were great- and I loved the dual narration. I always love when a chef is one of the main characters- and Michael did not disappoint! I had a harder time warming up to Rosie- but ultimately came to appreciate her.
Rosie is recovering from a difficult marriage and divorce- and has the opportunity to spend the summer in the Hamptons at a friend’s guest home. Rosie has two daughters, one recently diagnosed with T1 diabetes. She clashes with Michael when they first meet, taking out some of her baggage with her ex husband on Michael. Michael is a single dad to a daughter who becomes fast friends with Rosie’s daughters. Slowly Rosie begins opening up to Michael and the question becomes can their romance survive the end of summer.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an early audiobook of this story. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Melanie Placinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a stinking cute love story 😭 single mom meets single dad in a rocky start to their friendship/relationship. But their kids become fast friends at their summer program and that sparks the beginning of something between their parents.

The mom Diana is recently divorced and trying to navigate life and her career with her two daughters, one of which has T1 diabetes. Needless to say homegirl has a lot on her plate.

Michael is a Chef that recently stepped into the dad role when the mother of his child passed away. He’s trying to handle his new restaurant venture and fatherhood.

The relationship between the two parents starts off rocky but they eventually get involved with each other and let’s just say “Yes, Chef” 🥵 the one thing I maybe didn’t love is the third act break up (not a huge fan of those) but this one doesn’t feel like some forced drama just because. Overall would absolutely recommend this cute romance!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐💫

I listened to Tastes Like Summer by Caroline Frank and found it to be a realistic story about adults navigating life’s messy, complicated moments. The characters felt like real people dealing with real problems, which made the story easy to connect with.

I was rooting for the MMC from the very beginning and found myself wanting things to work out for him. It took me a little longer to warm up to the FMC, but as the story progressed, I appreciated her growth and understood her perspective more.

I’m not always a fan of a third-act breakup, but in this case it fit the story and helped keep the relationship feeling authentic rather than overly perfect. While it wasn’t a complete hit for me, I enjoyed the emotional journey and the mature look at love, family, and second chances.

A solid 3.5-star listen that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven romances with realistic challenges and imperfect but relatable characters.

[Prema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 ⭐

Single mom and single dad where their kids become best friends one of my new favourite tropes.

Michael's journey into single parenthood and he way he stepped up for his daughter felt different from what I usually read. I loved how naturally he included Diana's kids in conversations and how much care he showed throughout the book for them and Diana.

Both Michael and Diana struggle with doubts about their parenting and I liked seeing them reassure and support each other. Their bickering at the beginning was both annoying and fun to read.

I wasn't a fan of Diana jumping to conclusions at first although I understood where some of her worries came from. My biggest issue was Diana's ex-husband. He definitely didn't get the consequences he deserved.

The kids were adorable to read about. Overall this was an easy, enjoyable and quite realistic book with a family dynamic and a romance I loved.

Thank you for the ARC!

[Charese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a 3.5 start for me. This is a sweet summer romance if you're looking for one. I really enjoyed that this book had chronic illness representation in it. With that being said this book took me a while to get into, I felt that the characters teetered on slightly annoying and a little immature in the beginning half and with them both have daughters it took me a back a little. The main conflict in this story seemed to come very late in the story which is when I found I started to really get into this one. All in all, I enjoyed this one.

The audiobook uses dual narration, and both Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira do a great job bringing their characters to life. I absolutely love duet but dual is better that just one voice actor. I don't think I've listened to either of these narrators before and they really were enjoyable. I'll have to pick up more from them.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC.

[Roslyn McClain-Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this book.
Tastes Like Summer is a cute read that is perfect for summer. Single mom Diana is learning to navigate life as a divorcee. She discovers that one of her young daughters is diabetic and she is learning how to adjust life to meet her needs. We find out that her ex-husband is a real loser and the children suffer because of it. Michael (our MMC) is learning how to be a dad after taking custody of his daughter a year prior due to the death of her mother. Diana and Michael meet at a wedding and there is an instant dislike. Diana is responsible for this due to her overbearing nature. I disliked her a bit in the beginning because of her abrasive attitude. She was hard to connect with but she did grow on me after a while. I adored Michael from the very start. These two have great chemistry and the narrators of the book did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

[Skeena8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taste of summer is a sweet romance in a hectic life of being a single parent. This isn’t an enemies to lovers but more like I judged you and now we’re angry to lovers. As camp parents with kids who want play dates they parents are thrown into each others paths. I love the strong determine outer persona that Diana has to be. Who she is forced to be as a single mom to two girls one child with diabetes. Michael is a chef who is a new parent after his daughters mom past away and he had to step up and not be the fun uncle anymore.
The story is so perfect and progresses with sassy moments and flirty moments that will make you fall in love right alone side them. The narrators Dominique Franceschi and Robb Moreira. Both are new to me narrators who were fantastic. Easy to listen to and had great voice balance and chemistry. I would definitely listen to them both again and really enjoyed this production.

[Rebecca Fairchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Tastes Like Summer was a heartfelt romance that blended family, healing, and second chances. I especially enjoyed the parenting aspects of the story and watching Diana and Michael navigate careers, family responsibilities, and a growing relationship.

My heart really went out to Diana, especially dealing with her difficult ex while raising two daughters, one recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I loved how Michael not only fell for Diana but also embraced her daughters and took the time to learn about her child’s diabetes.

Some parts felt a little long, but the story always returned to what mattered most—the characters, their growth, and their journey toward love. Overall, a sweet summer romance with plenty of heart. 💕📚☀️

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the audio ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tastes Like Summer by Caroline Frank was such a fun listen! I’ve loved every book in the Seasons of Love series, and this one was no exception. The audio was so enjoyable, and the narrators really brought Diana and Michael’s story to life.

Michael being a chef was honestly chef’s kiss perfection, and I absolutely loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between him and Diana. Their chemistry was great, and I found myself rooting for them the whole time. The small-town summer vibes mixed with the romance made this such an easy audiobook to get lost in.

Another solid addition to this series, and I already can’t wait for more from Caroline Frank!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This was a little slow to start and had a few slow parts sprinkled throughout. But this had a great backdrop of a summer romance.

I thought Michael's story was interesting. He had a lot going on but also took on a lot and made sure others were taken care of. He was navigating being a chef and father all at the same time.

Diana is hard on herself and that was limiting her. She was so hard on herself that it felt like it was preventing her from moving forward in her career. It was also limiting her from understanding her daughter diabetes diagnosis.

I did feel that most of the book was predictable. But I still enjoyed the story.

**thank you to netgalley and dreamscape media for the advance audiobook for my own thoughts and opinions**

[Hannah Connors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks netgalley for the advance reader copy. 3.5☆ i really wanted this to be more.

I love grumpy x sunshine with a single parent so was very happy to receive this advance copy. I loved the narrators and the wholesome male lead character.

Unfortunately the female lead was too chaotic for me. Its hard to believe that someone even with her history isnt better equipt to cope without the man child causing drama to her life. the story was he was never there and causing trouble when he was yet she was struggling with juggling the children and work stress. also the third act breakup seemed unnecessary for the plot up to that point. It was also too neat that the issues were magically fixed by the end with no complications.

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this one. Early on, I wasn't sure what the main conflict was supposed to be. Problems came up and were resolved very unfocused.
I struggled with Diana at first. She was very guarded and kept calling her relationship with Michael "just a fling".
Michael was easy to like. The third-act breakup felt forced and didn't really work for me.
The audiobook narrators did well with their own characters, but the voices for the opposite gender and the children sounded a bit odd.
Overall, I liked the summer setting, but the rollercoaster romance and forced breakup, kept me from fully connecting with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape First for this ARC.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. 💛

This was a cute summer romance. Well, it wasn’t my favorite book, but I still had a good time. I really loved the characters, and I loved the romance.

I really LOVED Michael. He was such a caring dad and was trying his best while dealing with so much. What is my favorite thing he did was how super attentive he was even though he was dealing with his own problems. He still was always trying to help Diana.

I really struggled to connect with Diana. At first, I felt like she was a little too hard on Michael, and it made it hard for me to connect with her.

Another issue for me is that the book felt very predictable. I could see the third-act breakup coming from a mile away, and it felt unnecessary to me.

The audiobook was enjoyable and kept me engaged, and both narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. I love how the narrator did Diana’s slight accent; it was so good.

[Candice Bam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was great!
The narrators were amazing and I enjoyed the dual point of view.
I liked the forced proximity element and the found family in this story.
I also liked the fact that we had older main characters.
The plot was good and the plot twists made for an interesting listen.
There was really good character development in the main characters and the chemistry and banter between them was so sweet and funny.
I found the writing style easy to read and I enjoyed the enemies to lovers element.
I loved how the story balanced heartfelt moments, tension and personal growth.
It was an exciting and entertaining book.

[Génesis Idaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC 🎀

If you're looking for a swoony green flag MMC, you NEED to meet Michael 😭💕

This story was so heartfelt and emotional. I found myself completely invested not only in the main characters but also in their daughters 🥹📚✨

It's a beautiful story about found family & finally getting the love you deserve and learning to treasure it when it arrives 💕

And Michael?? He was peak book boyfriend material. Sweet, patient, supportive and he COOKS??? Sir, please give the rest of the fictional men a chance 😭✋🏻✨

Also, the audiobook was such a great experience that I finished it and immediately started narrator stalking for my next listen 😭🎧💕

[Ariana Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana is navigating through a divorce and a new chronic illness her daughter was diagnosed with. While Michael is dealing with being a chef and starting a new restaurant. Diana is guarded always putting her kids first. She was a little annoying at first but later on you realize why she has built up walls. Michael was more open and willing to break down those walls. I had the opportunity to listen to the book thanks to netgalley. I was not a huge fan of the narrators but enjoyed the book overall.

[Alesia Lachat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️'s
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the Advanced Reader Copy!

I really enjoyed this grumpy x sunshine romance! This book follows Diana, a newly single mom of two daughters, one of which was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Spending summer in the Hamptons with her daughter's, navigating her recent divorce and her daughter's new diabetes journey, she surely doesn't have time for a summer fling...or does she? The audiobook uses dual narration and was very fun to listen to!

[Jennifer Wycech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Single Parents
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Dual POV - 1st person

Dual narration - Dominique Franceschi & Robb Moreira

My first book by Caroline Frank, her writing is gripping and emotional. This book was addictive. The storyline is heartwarming. The characters are well developed. Caroline picked amazing narrators to bring this story to life.

Overall, a captivating, emotional, and heartwarming love story.

[DorthAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two single parents trying to figure out life with their kids while falling in love? So cute! Set on the beach during the summer, this book has everything I love—summer romance, a charming chef, and just the right amount of drama. After a rough year, both characters are focused on doing what's best for their kids, but neither expects to find someone who helps them heal, too. And Michael’s meddling cousins? They were easily my favorite part of the story!

[Ariel H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and the navigation of feelings as Diana and Michael spend the summer together. Their daughters bond and they grow close as well.
They have to figure out where to go from there with other influences.
It sheds a light on parenting struggles after separation and addressing pre-conceived notions.
Michael is a real love bug and I enjoyed their personal development.
A sweet summer read and love that tastes like summer.
Thank you NetGalley

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Caroline Frank keeps writing stories like this she will be the next Abby Jimenez! A fun story that draws families together.
Diana and Michael clash over her daughters and quickly come together to tackle life. With some twists thrown if for good measure.

This grumpy x sunshine, single parent romance brings it all together.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ unfortunately while i really liked the premise of this story and enjoyed the representation, it just didn’t 100% work for me. for both the main characters being parents, their communication wasn’t good at all and the pacing of their relationship wasn’t my fav.

listened to as an advanced listeners copy via netgalley