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Just Another Summer Romance
“You’re invited to the wedding of the summer. We hope you can join us. Mia, it’s a pity you don’t have a date.”
After receiving that rude invite, I did something wildly unhinged. I suggested to my best friend, Luke (yes, Rex’s brother) that we should go to the wedding together and pretend we’d been secretly dating for a year.
After receiving that rude invite from my childhood crush Rex, I did something wildly unhinged. I suggested to my best friend, Luke (Rex’s brother), that we should go to the wedding together and pretend we’d been secretly dating for a year.
The rules were simple:
Pretend we were soulmates, written in the stars.
No crossing physical lines (I was dumb).
Break up immediately after the wedding.
As you can guess, the plan derailed as soon as Luke arrived back in town. Maybe it was being forced to share a luxury hotel room, or the game of Twister on the beach, or the strip poker we had too much fun playing, but the lines blurred almost immediately. Whatever it was, Rule #2 went out the window faster than you could say, “This is a bad idea.”
Things hit a boiling point when Luke and I got into a massive argument that felt way too real, and suddenly Rex decided he wanted me after all. Our pretend relationship got complicated fast. Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling fake. Now we have to decide if risking the best friendship of our lives is worth a summer romance that neither one of us saw coming.
Just Another Summer Romance is a small town summer romcom between two best friends faking a relationship for a wedding. Each book in the Coconut Beach series is a stand alone and you can read the books in any order! Grab some sunscreen and an iced coffee and get ready to live the sweet life in Coconut Beach!
After receiving that rude invite, I did something wildly unhinged. I suggested to my best friend, Luke (yes, Rex’s brother) that we should go to the wedding together and pretend we’d been secretly dating for a year.
After receiving that rude invite from my childhood crush Rex, I did something wildly unhinged. I suggested to my best friend, Luke (Rex’s brother), that we should go to the wedding together and pretend we’d been secretly dating for a year.
The rules were simple:
Pretend we were soulmates, written in the stars.
No crossing physical lines (I was dumb).
Break up immediately after the wedding.
As you can guess, the plan derailed as soon as Luke arrived back in town. Maybe it was being forced to share a luxury hotel room, or the game of Twister on the beach, or the strip poker we had too much fun playing, but the lines blurred almost immediately. Whatever it was, Rule #2 went out the window faster than you could say, “This is a bad idea.”
Things hit a boiling point when Luke and I got into a massive argument that felt way too real, and suddenly Rex decided he wanted me after all. Our pretend relationship got complicated fast. Somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling fake. Now we have to decide if risking the best friendship of our lives is worth a summer romance that neither one of us saw coming.
Just Another Summer Romance is a small town summer romcom between two best friends faking a relationship for a wedding. Each book in the Coconut Beach series is a stand alone and you can read the books in any order! Grab some sunscreen and an iced coffee and get ready to live the sweet life in Coconut Beach!
371 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
July 10, 2026
I was really excited for this series. Four books. Four authors. A fun summer series. Sign me up. But I fear it's falling flat for me. This is the second book in the Coconut Beach series, but from the looks of it, there has been a falling out because from the looks of it, this is no longer part of that series. But I digress. This series is just not what I hoped it would be.
First and for most, I felt like this book was so repetitive in nature. Like if I had to hear one more time, "I can't do this, 'blank' is my best friend" I may actually pluck my eye balls out. Like we get it y'all are best friends. But like y'all haven't seen each other in person in literal years. And for being friends, these two have shit communication skills.
And the plot? I felt like there was just way too many things going on at once. Like it's obvious that there was some cross over with the first book in the series, which is no longer part of the series (again have no clue wtf is happening but were going to overlook that), but with that being said, the cross over seemed forced at times. Like with the busy bees. I get that both of our MCs grandmas are part of the busy bees but the whole plot with the notes attached to the invites and then the savanger hunt on top of everything else that was going on, it gave me whiplash. Not to mention how hot and cold the two MCs were. They were arguing then next thing you knew they were fucking. For me the relationship was so unbelievable and I didn't feel their chemistry at all.
Now I did listen to the audiobook and I will saw there is some changes from the audiobook to the ebook. I immersively read at times and there are multiple name changes, again I am sure it's because its no longer about of a series. So the characters in other books are in this book, which is obvious but the names have changed in the ebook but not in the audio. Also for me there was an audio issue in Chapter 13 which made it difficult to listen to.
Overall, this book just wasn't my favorite. I have the audios for the next two books but at this point, I think I am going to pivot bc this one put me in a reading slump that I need to desperately crawl out of.
First and for most, I felt like this book was so repetitive in nature. Like if I had to hear one more time, "I can't do this, 'blank' is my best friend" I may actually pluck my eye balls out. Like we get it y'all are best friends. But like y'all haven't seen each other in person in literal years. And for being friends, these two have shit communication skills.
And the plot? I felt like there was just way too many things going on at once. Like it's obvious that there was some cross over with the first book in the series, which is no longer part of the series (again have no clue wtf is happening but were going to overlook that), but with that being said, the cross over seemed forced at times. Like with the busy bees. I get that both of our MCs grandmas are part of the busy bees but the whole plot with the notes attached to the invites and then the savanger hunt on top of everything else that was going on, it gave me whiplash. Not to mention how hot and cold the two MCs were. They were arguing then next thing you knew they were fucking. For me the relationship was so unbelievable and I didn't feel their chemistry at all.
Now I did listen to the audiobook and I will saw there is some changes from the audiobook to the ebook. I immersively read at times and there are multiple name changes, again I am sure it's because its no longer about of a series. So the characters in other books are in this book, which is obvious but the names have changed in the ebook but not in the audio. Also for me there was an audio issue in Chapter 13 which made it difficult to listen to.
Overall, this book just wasn't my favorite. I have the audios for the next two books but at this point, I think I am going to pivot bc this one put me in a reading slump that I need to desperately crawl out of.
April 23, 2026
Just another summer romance was a nice, fun and interesting read. There was some fake dating with some good forced proximity with best friends to lover tropes in amongst the story.
Mia and Luke were great characters, best friends forever but never allowed their friendship to ever cross that line, not wanting to ruin their friendship. This story had a great plot, with great friends but at times was a little too much with miscommunication consistently happening and then they were fine 2 seconds later. There were times I was like just stand up for yourself, just talk and listen, put that horrible chick in her place peoples!! Luke’s character was great, he was definitely a fav for me.
Overall it was a great easy romance read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good romance.
I do like the fact this series was made with 4 authors, coming together to create a world and each do a story in that world. Makes it unique and interesting, I’m yet to read the others but I’m intrigued with their stories and interested to see their writing styles.
Mia and Luke were great characters, best friends forever but never allowed their friendship to ever cross that line, not wanting to ruin their friendship. This story had a great plot, with great friends but at times was a little too much with miscommunication consistently happening and then they were fine 2 seconds later. There were times I was like just stand up for yourself, just talk and listen, put that horrible chick in her place peoples!! Luke’s character was great, he was definitely a fav for me.
Overall it was a great easy romance read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good romance.
I do like the fact this series was made with 4 authors, coming together to create a world and each do a story in that world. Makes it unique and interesting, I’m yet to read the others but I’m intrigued with their stories and interested to see their writing styles.
May 11, 2026
#Review: *Just Another Summer Romance* - J.S Cooper - ARC [18+]
4/5✨
3/5🌶️
It all started with a beautiful friendship between Mia and Luke, and that was ever since they were very young. Over the years, Mia started nurturing a huge crush for Luke's brother, Rex, but unfortunately he never took her into consideration. When Rex had suddenly sent wedding invitations, both Mia and Luke were pissed about the rude message which came with this invite. That's how they came up with the idea of pretending that they were a couple to get even on Rex. But when Luke has returned to Coconut Beach after several years away, things were kind of different between him and Mia, a strong tension being present there. Can they ignore everything that was brewing between them and succeed in not crossing that line which may put their longtime friendship in jeopardy?
This was a pretty entangled story even from the start. Mia and Luke had such a wonderful friendship, but you could clearly see that there was something more there, especially when Luke came back from New York to Coconut Beach. Everything that happened after their fake dating announcement was full of chaos, being hard to keep a straight lane, where nothing could really stop them from crossing the line between friendship and something more. There was plenty of drama, because of those feelings which shouldn't have been present between them, because of how the other characters affected them and how their own decisions played a huge role into making them a bit confused about that whole fake relationship part. It was a suuuper slow burn, with so many teasing moments between Mia and Luke which played with my heart and which I really liked and enjoyed so much. Even if they had such a beautiful friendship, being in this fake relationship changed them so much, because that came with so many new things which have generated a couple of hot & cold moments between them.
If you are a fan of fake dating, tons of drama, summer vibes and a really slow burn, then you should pick this book up! It will play a bit with your feelings, but it will also pull you into those nice summer vibes.
Grateful for being part of J.S. Cooper permanent team and for being able to read this e-book offered by her. Thank you!!🤗
✨Tropes
▫️Best Friends To Lovers
▫️Fake Dating
▫️Slow Burn
▫️One Bed
▫️He Falls First
▫️Summer Romance
▫️Grumpy Billionaire
▫️Childhood Friends
4/5✨
3/5🌶️
It all started with a beautiful friendship between Mia and Luke, and that was ever since they were very young. Over the years, Mia started nurturing a huge crush for Luke's brother, Rex, but unfortunately he never took her into consideration. When Rex had suddenly sent wedding invitations, both Mia and Luke were pissed about the rude message which came with this invite. That's how they came up with the idea of pretending that they were a couple to get even on Rex. But when Luke has returned to Coconut Beach after several years away, things were kind of different between him and Mia, a strong tension being present there. Can they ignore everything that was brewing between them and succeed in not crossing that line which may put their longtime friendship in jeopardy?
This was a pretty entangled story even from the start. Mia and Luke had such a wonderful friendship, but you could clearly see that there was something more there, especially when Luke came back from New York to Coconut Beach. Everything that happened after their fake dating announcement was full of chaos, being hard to keep a straight lane, where nothing could really stop them from crossing the line between friendship and something more. There was plenty of drama, because of those feelings which shouldn't have been present between them, because of how the other characters affected them and how their own decisions played a huge role into making them a bit confused about that whole fake relationship part. It was a suuuper slow burn, with so many teasing moments between Mia and Luke which played with my heart and which I really liked and enjoyed so much. Even if they had such a beautiful friendship, being in this fake relationship changed them so much, because that came with so many new things which have generated a couple of hot & cold moments between them.
If you are a fan of fake dating, tons of drama, summer vibes and a really slow burn, then you should pick this book up! It will play a bit with your feelings, but it will also pull you into those nice summer vibes.
Grateful for being part of J.S. Cooper permanent team and for being able to read this e-book offered by her. Thank you!!🤗
✨Tropes
▫️Best Friends To Lovers
▫️Fake Dating
▫️Slow Burn
▫️One Bed
▫️He Falls First
▫️Summer Romance
▫️Grumpy Billionaire
▫️Childhood Friends
April 16, 2026
3.5⭐
This book will give you a case of blue ⚽️ balls. This book gives so much pull and push. I know it is hard to start out as best friends and turn to lovers but oh my gosh. This book was a roller coaster. One minute they are fighting next they are acting like nothing happened.
What to expect:
☀️ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
🌴 Fake Dating
☀️ Forced Proximity
🌴 Only One Bed
☀️ Blurred Lines
🌴 Practice Kissing
☀️ Grumpy Billionaire
🌴 Small Town Beach Romance
☀️ Summer Rom-Com
Characters:
Mia Bishop AKA Mi Mi
29yrs old
Owns a mobile bookstore
Best friends with Luke
Sunshine
Luke Haverbrook AKA Lukey
29yrs old
Hedge fund manager that stayed away for 5yrs
Best friends with Mia
Grumpy
This book could have been about 50-75pgs less if they didn't have the same fight over and over again. Mia would tell Luke how she felt and he didn't listen. Then Luke would tell Mia how he felt and she wouldn't listen. I think this book should have been a novella. If it was it would have been over 4 stars for me.
I have to say the thing that drove me nuts was Luke letting Talia rubbing all over him and never stopping her.
This book will give you a case of blue ⚽️ balls. This book gives so much pull and push. I know it is hard to start out as best friends and turn to lovers but oh my gosh. This book was a roller coaster. One minute they are fighting next they are acting like nothing happened.
What to expect:
☀️ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
🌴 Fake Dating
☀️ Forced Proximity
🌴 Only One Bed
☀️ Blurred Lines
🌴 Practice Kissing
☀️ Grumpy Billionaire
🌴 Small Town Beach Romance
☀️ Summer Rom-Com
Characters:
Mia Bishop AKA Mi Mi
29yrs old
Owns a mobile bookstore
Best friends with Luke
Sunshine
Luke Haverbrook AKA Lukey
29yrs old
Hedge fund manager that stayed away for 5yrs
Best friends with Mia
Grumpy
This book could have been about 50-75pgs less if they didn't have the same fight over and over again. Mia would tell Luke how she felt and he didn't listen. Then Luke would tell Mia how he felt and she wouldn't listen. I think this book should have been a novella. If it was it would have been over 4 stars for me.
I have to say the thing that drove me nuts was Luke letting Talia rubbing all over him and never stopping her.
Did Not Finish
May 3, 2026DNF at 37% (page 143). Unfortunately, it just isn’t clicking for me enough to keep reading at this time.
I think I’m struggling with the romcom vibe it leans a bit immature for my taste, and the characters often come across like teenagers. For example, when they agree to fake date, Mia points out they’ll have to kiss and says things like ew, kissing my best friend yuck. Immaturity is something I personally struggle with, especially when the characters are grown adults.
There were also multiple moments where Mia shut Luke down or brushed him off, and I found myself feeling bad for him. Lastly, I wasn’t expecting the spice to start the way it did, and the timing didn’t feel right. I was hoping for more of a connection by this point to really ground their long-rooted friendship, but for me, it felt lacking, which made it hard to see them as a memorable couple.
This book may not be for me, but it might be for you!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 382
Rating: DNF
Spicy Chapters: 11 (Not Complete as DNF)
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Two In The Coconut Beach Series
Tropes or Themes: (Not Complete as DNF ) Small Town, Best Friends To Lovers, Fake Dating, Romcom and Sexual Content
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
I think I’m struggling with the romcom vibe it leans a bit immature for my taste, and the characters often come across like teenagers. For example, when they agree to fake date, Mia points out they’ll have to kiss and says things like ew, kissing my best friend yuck. Immaturity is something I personally struggle with, especially when the characters are grown adults.
There were also multiple moments where Mia shut Luke down or brushed him off, and I found myself feeling bad for him. Lastly, I wasn’t expecting the spice to start the way it did, and the timing didn’t feel right. I was hoping for more of a connection by this point to really ground their long-rooted friendship, but for me, it felt lacking, which made it hard to see them as a memorable couple.
This book may not be for me, but it might be for you!
Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 382
Rating: DNF
Spicy Chapters: 11 (Not Complete as DNF)
POV: First Person
Series or Standalone: Book Two In The Coconut Beach Series
Tropes or Themes: (Not Complete as DNF ) Small Town, Best Friends To Lovers, Fake Dating, Romcom and Sexual Content
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Fable | Margins | Pagebound | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
April 25, 2026
《I think that I choose you, and I choose our love, and I choose this relationship - No matter where it leads us》.
Ay, no sé por donde iniciar jajaja🫢
Primero que nada, muchas gracias a la autora por considerarme como una de sus ARC 🫰🏻
Este libro es el segundo de una serie escrita por distintos autores/as, en donde todo se centra en ese lugar llamado Coconut Beach 🏖️ ☀️
En esta historia, la autora nos presenta la historia de Mia y Luke, dos mejores amigos desde pequeñitos que deciden ser novios falsos luego de recibir una invitación al matrimonio del hermano de Luke y amor platónico de Mía, Rex. Sin embargo, la carta incluía un comentario que no pasa desaparcibido por este par y, por ello, deciden llevar a cabo su plan con tres reglas sencillas, ¿podrán cumplirlas? 🫣
Conchetumareeee, este tipo de drama me gusta a mí JAJAJA 🫢
Realmente desde el primer momento fue team Luke y jamás me subí al barco de Rex. Pero es que es difícil no hacerlo, cuando el hombre que es un adicto al trabajo, está dispuesto a todo por su mejor amiga y la ama desde los 9, LOS NUEVE AÑOS😭
Claramente hay momentos que me tenían con el corazón en la mano y con ganas de entrar al libro para decir: "amiga, date cuenta". Sin embargo, me gustó mucho el desarrollo y crecimiento que tienen ambos durante el relato, no solo a nivel personal, sino también en temas de proyección (a pesar de que hay un momento en que sentí que la resolución fue muy rápida y sencilla, sucede otro evento que hace que bajen la velocidad JAJAJ 🥹)
Aún así, tengo que admitir que no me esperaba ciertos giros que suceden al final e incluso me sentía como la protagonista chismeando en el grupo de amigas por todo lo que estaba pasando JAJJA. Asimismo, jamás me imaginé la intervención de las abuelas en todo este drama (me he dado cuenta que las abuelas están teniendo un papel fundamental en las comedias románticas últimamente 👀).
En fin, una historia que realmente me hizo reír, anhelar estar en un pueblo pequeño en verano y con una playa🧡
Ay, no sé por donde iniciar jajaja🫢
Primero que nada, muchas gracias a la autora por considerarme como una de sus ARC 🫰🏻
Este libro es el segundo de una serie escrita por distintos autores/as, en donde todo se centra en ese lugar llamado Coconut Beach 🏖️ ☀️
En esta historia, la autora nos presenta la historia de Mia y Luke, dos mejores amigos desde pequeñitos que deciden ser novios falsos luego de recibir una invitación al matrimonio del hermano de Luke y amor platónico de Mía, Rex. Sin embargo, la carta incluía un comentario que no pasa desaparcibido por este par y, por ello, deciden llevar a cabo su plan con tres reglas sencillas, ¿podrán cumplirlas? 🫣
Conchetumareeee, este tipo de drama me gusta a mí JAJAJA 🫢
Realmente desde el primer momento fue team Luke y jamás me subí al barco de Rex. Pero es que es difícil no hacerlo, cuando el hombre que es un adicto al trabajo, está dispuesto a todo por su mejor amiga y la ama desde los 9, LOS NUEVE AÑOS😭
Claramente hay momentos que me tenían con el corazón en la mano y con ganas de entrar al libro para decir: "amiga, date cuenta". Sin embargo, me gustó mucho el desarrollo y crecimiento que tienen ambos durante el relato, no solo a nivel personal, sino también en temas de proyección (a pesar de que hay un momento en que sentí que la resolución fue muy rápida y sencilla, sucede otro evento que hace que bajen la velocidad JAJAJ 🥹)
Aún así, tengo que admitir que no me esperaba ciertos giros que suceden al final e incluso me sentía como la protagonista chismeando en el grupo de amigas por todo lo que estaba pasando JAJJA. Asimismo, jamás me imaginé la intervención de las abuelas en todo este drama (me he dado cuenta que las abuelas están teniendo un papel fundamental en las comedias románticas últimamente 👀).
En fin, una historia que realmente me hizo reír, anhelar estar en un pueblo pequeño en verano y con una playa🧡
April 30, 2026
Cal is probably the sweetest MMC that I have met. I loved this and Silvie’s relationship.
This was a pretty quick book to get though. The plot was engaging and the spice wasn’t over taking as we don’t get a spicy scene until almost 60%. We get to see Cal and Silvie’s relationship grow and they really build something.
I loved that Erin Branscom brought a way to connect some of her past books by either bringing in a past character or have one of her characters read one of her books.
Also I hate Silvie’s family and I’m glad that she learned to stick up to them and they all got what they deserved.
🐚 He fall first
🐚 Small Beach Town
🐚 Found Family
🐚 She’s the billionaire
🐚 Fake Marriage
🐚 One Bed
Genre: Romance
APK: Ebook
Pages: 386
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
This was a pretty quick book to get though. The plot was engaging and the spice wasn’t over taking as we don’t get a spicy scene until almost 60%. We get to see Cal and Silvie’s relationship grow and they really build something.
I loved that Erin Branscom brought a way to connect some of her past books by either bringing in a past character or have one of her characters read one of her books.
Also I hate Silvie’s family and I’m glad that she learned to stick up to them and they all got what they deserved.
🐚 He fall first
🐚 Small Beach Town
🐚 Found Family
🐚 She’s the billionaire
🐚 Fake Marriage
🐚 One Bed
Genre: Romance
APK: Ebook
Pages: 386
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
April 15, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. I absolutely love this story!! Has all the summer vibe feels you want with just enough spice!! Loved the chemistry between the FMC & MMC!
Quote- “Trust me, Mia. Trust me that I will always put you first, that I will always be there for you.”
“Just Another Summer Romance is a small town summer romcom between two best friends faking a relationship for a wedding. Each book in the Coconut Beach series is a stand alone and you can read the books in any order! Grab some sunscreen and an iced coffee and get ready to live the sweet life in Coconut Beach!”
Quote- “Trust me, Mia. Trust me that I will always put you first, that I will always be there for you.”
“Just Another Summer Romance is a small town summer romcom between two best friends faking a relationship for a wedding. Each book in the Coconut Beach series is a stand alone and you can read the books in any order! Grab some sunscreen and an iced coffee and get ready to live the sweet life in Coconut Beach!”
April 21, 2026
Let me tell you what’s truly brilliant… having a super secret project that involves 4 genius authors, writing 4 different books centered around the same MCs and releasing them around the same time for our reading enjoyment! I love Coconut Beach! I love Mia and Luke. This story follows these two sweet, childhood best friends in to their adulthood. Some engagements happen, some notes are left, some treasure is hidden and some fake dating ensues. Throw in some family business drama, steam, breakups, secrets and those are just some cherries on top!
Thank you Lena and Hambright Pr for this ARC! I cannot wait for book 2! 💛
Thank you Lena and Hambright Pr for this ARC! I cannot wait for book 2! 💛
April 19, 2026
If you LIVE for tension, banter, and screaming “JUST DO IT ALREADY” at your book… this one’s for you
Mia and Luke?? The push-and-pull is an insane roller coaster.
BUT ALSO—can we talk about the Busy Bees?? 🐝✨
Their meddling is elite, 10/10, they are the grandmother's everyone needs!! And I’m obsessed with the idea of the younger girls growing up to be Bees like their grandmothers. It just adds such a fun, chaotic layer to the story.
Big thank you to J.S. Cooper for letting me be an ARC reader 💕 always giving my honest thoughts!
Mia and Luke?? The push-and-pull is an insane roller coaster.
BUT ALSO—can we talk about the Busy Bees?? 🐝✨
Their meddling is elite, 10/10, they are the grandmother's everyone needs!! And I’m obsessed with the idea of the younger girls growing up to be Bees like their grandmothers. It just adds such a fun, chaotic layer to the story.
Big thank you to J.S. Cooper for letting me be an ARC reader 💕 always giving my honest thoughts!
May 14, 2026
I really love the Coconut Beach setting.
But the relationship between Luke and Mia did not feel real. (I know it is fake)
The way they were hot and cold and all over the place, i did not really enjoy that.
But the relationship between Luke and Mia did not feel real. (I know it is fake)
The way they were hot and cold and all over the place, i did not really enjoy that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
~ ARC REVIEW ~
2.5 stars (rounded)
small town friends to lovers summer romance! i had fun reading but it did feel super cliché
2.5 stars (rounded)
small town friends to lovers summer romance! i had fun reading but it did feel super cliché
April 24, 2026
so, so bad
I have read this writer before and enjoyed her books. This is my favorite trope friends to lovers. I usually seek out multi author series, looking for one or two familiar names, to find new authors. And being a member of Kindle unlimited it was a free read.
dislike those factors there was nothing I enjoyed about this story. The characters were less than two dimensional, the dialogue was awkward and trite. There didn't seem to be any kind of plot. Just some random events strung together (most in the past ) and referenced with really awkward dialogue by the characters in a disjointed way . About a third of the way through the book I started skipping chapters to give the story a chance to improve. It got worse, so I skipped to the end. Needless to say I will not be reading the other stories in the series.
I imagine writing thousands of words in a story that people enjoy is very difficult, I wouldn't be able to come close, but I do consider myself an avid reader, and this was not worth time
I have read this writer before and enjoyed her books. This is my favorite trope friends to lovers. I usually seek out multi author series, looking for one or two familiar names, to find new authors. And being a member of Kindle unlimited it was a free read.
dislike those factors there was nothing I enjoyed about this story. The characters were less than two dimensional, the dialogue was awkward and trite. There didn't seem to be any kind of plot. Just some random events strung together (most in the past ) and referenced with really awkward dialogue by the characters in a disjointed way . About a third of the way through the book I started skipping chapters to give the story a chance to improve. It got worse, so I skipped to the end. Needless to say I will not be reading the other stories in the series.
I imagine writing thousands of words in a story that people enjoy is very difficult, I wouldn't be able to come close, but I do consider myself an avid reader, and this was not worth time
May 15, 2026
The. Worst. Book. Ever. Written. I read the first book in this series, Vacation Situation, and enjoyed it so I felt like I got whiplash when I read this. Then I realized that this is a series by a variety of authors...I would like to assume this will be the worst of the series but I have no desire to find out.
Bad, seriously bad, atrociously bad writing.
Horrible character development.
Sex that was a combination of bumbling teenaged nonsense and manipulative date rape at the same time.
I finished it only because it had to have some redeeming quality to get published, but I was wrong. So very, very, very wrong. Gawd awful.
No. No. No. In fact I would suggest pulling all the copies from the shelves and having a bonfire of epic proportions. Awful.
Bad, seriously bad, atrociously bad writing.
Horrible character development.
Sex that was a combination of bumbling teenaged nonsense and manipulative date rape at the same time.
I finished it only because it had to have some redeeming quality to get published, but I was wrong. So very, very, very wrong. Gawd awful.
No. No. No. In fact I would suggest pulling all the copies from the shelves and having a bonfire of epic proportions. Awful.
July 18, 2026
3 Stars✨
1.5 Spice🌶️
Just Another Summer Romance is my first novel by this author, and I got excited by the tropes and the summer vibes it offers. I've always been a fan of the best friends to lovers trope, and I had some high hopes with this one.
Dating your best friend is complicated. And this novel demonstrates that another problem with dating a close friend is that you might spend a lot of time with mutual friends, which could become awkward if the relationship doesn’t last.
Mia Bishop and Luke Haverbrook are thick as thieves, finish each other's sentences, and are loyal to each other. But what happens when they cross the boundaries of their friendship? Will it ruin the foundation of their bond? Or will it strengthen it?
The idea of the story using the trope of friends-to-lovers appealed to me. To be honest, though, I found it difficult to get attached to it. There is a lot of push and pull between the characters that, in my opinion, has carried on longer than I had anticipated. There are many possibilities for them to convey their fears and insecurities about being together, but they always hesitate and move on without establishing a way out. Eventually, they came into their own senses and took the risk.
On a side note, I found the characters' maturity—especially that of Rex—to be a little off. At the very least, I hoped he would grow as a person, but he just left everyone hanging.
Lastly, I love meddling grandparents. Additionally, Bitsy and Lucille contributed to some of the charm in this book. Their plan to reconnect Luke and Mia was a kind gesture, even though they were harsh with that note in their wedding invitations.
All things considered, Just Another Summer Romance makes us think of the saying, "What is love, and life, without a risk?" The novel delves into the intricacies of relationships, family dynamics, and the boundaries of friendship.
This was still a pleasant and easy read, and I'll still recommend it for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope and readers who are searching for summer reads.
Receiving a complimentary copy of this book was an honour, and I am eternally grateful to J.S. Cooper for entrusting me with reading this book in exchange for presenting my candid opinion based on my own experience.
1.5 Spice🌶️
Just Another Summer Romance is my first novel by this author, and I got excited by the tropes and the summer vibes it offers. I've always been a fan of the best friends to lovers trope, and I had some high hopes with this one.
Dating your best friend is complicated. And this novel demonstrates that another problem with dating a close friend is that you might spend a lot of time with mutual friends, which could become awkward if the relationship doesn’t last.
Mia Bishop and Luke Haverbrook are thick as thieves, finish each other's sentences, and are loyal to each other. But what happens when they cross the boundaries of their friendship? Will it ruin the foundation of their bond? Or will it strengthen it?
The idea of the story using the trope of friends-to-lovers appealed to me. To be honest, though, I found it difficult to get attached to it. There is a lot of push and pull between the characters that, in my opinion, has carried on longer than I had anticipated. There are many possibilities for them to convey their fears and insecurities about being together, but they always hesitate and move on without establishing a way out. Eventually, they came into their own senses and took the risk.
On a side note, I found the characters' maturity—especially that of Rex—to be a little off. At the very least, I hoped he would grow as a person, but he just left everyone hanging.
Lastly, I love meddling grandparents. Additionally, Bitsy and Lucille contributed to some of the charm in this book. Their plan to reconnect Luke and Mia was a kind gesture, even though they were harsh with that note in their wedding invitations.
All things considered, Just Another Summer Romance makes us think of the saying, "What is love, and life, without a risk?" The novel delves into the intricacies of relationships, family dynamics, and the boundaries of friendship.
This was still a pleasant and easy read, and I'll still recommend it for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope and readers who are searching for summer reads.
Receiving a complimentary copy of this book was an honour, and I am eternally grateful to J.S. Cooper for entrusting me with reading this book in exchange for presenting my candid opinion based on my own experience.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🏖️Just Another Summer Romance 🏖️
If you enjoy beach vibes, yearning and a fake dating trope then this book is for you! Mia is the FMC who grew up in Coconut beach and is currently living there and works a mobile bookstore with her friend Juniper. She loves love and wants a big romance of her ow one day and most importantly to be put first.
Luke is her best friend who currently lives in New York working as a hedge fund manager. He is driven and all about closing this huge deal he’s working on. He feels he has a lot to prove after his brother was made CEO of their family company and he’s always been made to feel less than by his parents and brother.
They had been best friends since childhood but have drifted apart over the last 5 yrs that he’s been gone despite talking on the phone weekly. They’re thrown back together when Luke’s brother Rex invited them to his wedding that is less than a few weeks away and consists of 2 weeks of wedding festivities. The don’t want to show up without dates and after receiving rude notes on the back of the invites their determine to make their fake dating arrangement work! They don’t want to risk their life long friendship so agree to rules but over the week, lines blur.
There is yearning (especially from Luke) low angst, funny banter and lots of drama! I would say OWD but Talia is literally the worst along with Rex- he’s atrocious! I loved the girl gang they made it light and funny and the Busy Bees (old lady gossips) I loved the small town feel and beach vibes! Mia made me want to shake her a few times and be like “girl be for real” and Luke I could have grabbed his phone and chunked it in the ocean! They couldn’t get out of their own ways to see what’s right in front of them! There is a slight lack of communication and misunderstandings. Luckily, they finally find their way and I really enjoyed the ending, even the surprises! I can’t wait to see what happens with the other characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Fav line: “Cos we’re like lego pieces. We fit together perfectly.”
What to expect:
Best Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Only One Bed
Grumpy Billionaire
Small Town Beach
Summer Rom Com
Slow Burn
Thank you so much to J.S Cooper for the eARC. All
Opinions are my own.
If you enjoy beach vibes, yearning and a fake dating trope then this book is for you! Mia is the FMC who grew up in Coconut beach and is currently living there and works a mobile bookstore with her friend Juniper. She loves love and wants a big romance of her ow one day and most importantly to be put first.
Luke is her best friend who currently lives in New York working as a hedge fund manager. He is driven and all about closing this huge deal he’s working on. He feels he has a lot to prove after his brother was made CEO of their family company and he’s always been made to feel less than by his parents and brother.
They had been best friends since childhood but have drifted apart over the last 5 yrs that he’s been gone despite talking on the phone weekly. They’re thrown back together when Luke’s brother Rex invited them to his wedding that is less than a few weeks away and consists of 2 weeks of wedding festivities. The don’t want to show up without dates and after receiving rude notes on the back of the invites their determine to make their fake dating arrangement work! They don’t want to risk their life long friendship so agree to rules but over the week, lines blur.
There is yearning (especially from Luke) low angst, funny banter and lots of drama! I would say OWD but Talia is literally the worst along with Rex- he’s atrocious! I loved the girl gang they made it light and funny and the Busy Bees (old lady gossips) I loved the small town feel and beach vibes! Mia made me want to shake her a few times and be like “girl be for real” and Luke I could have grabbed his phone and chunked it in the ocean! They couldn’t get out of their own ways to see what’s right in front of them! There is a slight lack of communication and misunderstandings. Luckily, they finally find their way and I really enjoyed the ending, even the surprises! I can’t wait to see what happens with the other characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
Fav line: “Cos we’re like lego pieces. We fit together perfectly.”
What to expect:
Best Friends to Lovers
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Only One Bed
Grumpy Billionaire
Small Town Beach
Summer Rom Com
Slow Burn
Thank you so much to J.S Cooper for the eARC. All
Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book felt like sunshine, salt air, and butterflies all wrapped into one perfect summer escape. Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper completely pulled me in from the first page and did not let go.
I am such a sucker for a friends to lovers story, but this one hit differently. Mia and Luke’s dynamic felt so real and effortless. You can feel the history between them in every conversation, every look, every moment that starts off playful and slowly turns into something deeper. Watching their fake relationship spiral into something very real had me smiling like an idiot one minute and clutching my heart the next.
The setup is honestly perfection. A fake relationship for a wedding with your best friend who just happens to be your childhood crush’s brother is already messy in the best way. Add in a beach setting, forced proximity, and those little moments like sharing a hotel room, late night games, and tension that builds way too fast, and I was completely hooked. The chemistry between Mia and Luke was undeniable and so easy to fall in love with.
What I loved most was how emotional this story became when you least expect it. It starts off light, fun, and a little chaotic, but then it sneaks up on you with real feelings, real conflict, and that terrifying moment where you realize everything could fall apart. The argument between them felt raw and real, and it made the payoff that much more satisfying.
Luke is everything you want in a summer book boyfriend. Protective, playful, a little teasing, but also deeply caring in a way that just makes your heart melt. And Mia’s journey of figuring out what she truly wants instead of settling for the past made her so easy to root for.
This book gave me all the summer romcom vibes I crave while still delivering heart and depth. It is the kind of story you read with an iced coffee in hand and end up finishing in one sitting because you just need to know how it ends.
If you love small town settings, beachy romance, fake dating that turns very real, and best friends who were always meant to be more, you need this on your summer TBR.
This book felt like sunshine, salt air, and butterflies all wrapped into one perfect summer escape. Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper completely pulled me in from the first page and did not let go.
I am such a sucker for a friends to lovers story, but this one hit differently. Mia and Luke’s dynamic felt so real and effortless. You can feel the history between them in every conversation, every look, every moment that starts off playful and slowly turns into something deeper. Watching their fake relationship spiral into something very real had me smiling like an idiot one minute and clutching my heart the next.
The setup is honestly perfection. A fake relationship for a wedding with your best friend who just happens to be your childhood crush’s brother is already messy in the best way. Add in a beach setting, forced proximity, and those little moments like sharing a hotel room, late night games, and tension that builds way too fast, and I was completely hooked. The chemistry between Mia and Luke was undeniable and so easy to fall in love with.
What I loved most was how emotional this story became when you least expect it. It starts off light, fun, and a little chaotic, but then it sneaks up on you with real feelings, real conflict, and that terrifying moment where you realize everything could fall apart. The argument between them felt raw and real, and it made the payoff that much more satisfying.
Luke is everything you want in a summer book boyfriend. Protective, playful, a little teasing, but also deeply caring in a way that just makes your heart melt. And Mia’s journey of figuring out what she truly wants instead of settling for the past made her so easy to root for.
This book gave me all the summer romcom vibes I crave while still delivering heart and depth. It is the kind of story you read with an iced coffee in hand and end up finishing in one sitting because you just need to know how it ends.
If you love small town settings, beachy romance, fake dating that turns very real, and best friends who were always meant to be more, you need this on your summer TBR.
Review of advance copy
This Book Said “Fake Dating” and Delivered Ultimate Entertaining Chaos 😉
If you’ve ever read a fake dating romance and thought this needs more chaos, more bad decisions and zero emotional self-control…this is IT!!!
Mia gets the most insulting wedding invite ever from her childhood crush Rex (like… congrats, here’s your emotional damage in calligraphy). So what does she do? Naturally, she recruits his brother…her best friend Luke to be her FAKE boyfriend for the wedding.
Rules:
Fake love, perfect couple energy
No touching (lol okay sure)
Break up after the wedding
Yeah… about that.
Because the second Luke shows up, those rules don’t stand a chance. Forced proximity in a luxury hotel? Dangerous. Beach Twister? Competitive chaos. Strip poker? Absolutely unhinged behavior. And the tension? Not just simmering, it’s practically begging to snap.
The chemistry between them is undeniable…charged looks, lingering touches that last a second too long and moments that have you holding your breath like oh… this is definitely not fake anymore. Every scene feels like it’s one heartbeat away from crossing a line… and when it does? WORTH IT…
Luke is the ultimate book boyfriend, loyal, effortlessly charming, maddeningly irresistible and the kind of man who makes every rule feel optional.
The “I’m fine” kind of fine… except he’s literally rewriting your standards in real time.
Mia = chaos. Luke = control. Together? PURE disaster energy. The chemistry is loud, messy and impossible to ignore.
And of course—Rex shows up suddenly interested NOW that there’s competition. Because men.
This book is:
✨ fake dating that turns VERY real
✨ best friends to lovers tension
✨ beach town summer chaos
✨ banter that actually HITS
✨ spice + emotional whiplash
✨ “just one more chapter” addiction
And the author absolutely DELIVERS. The pacing is addictive, the banter is sharp, the tension is chef’s kiss and the romance builds so naturally you forget it was ever fake in the first place.
Luke = certified book boyfriend you will not recover from.
Coconut Beach = where good decisions go to retire 🌴💘
If you’ve ever read a fake dating romance and thought this needs more chaos, more bad decisions and zero emotional self-control…this is IT!!!
Mia gets the most insulting wedding invite ever from her childhood crush Rex (like… congrats, here’s your emotional damage in calligraphy). So what does she do? Naturally, she recruits his brother…her best friend Luke to be her FAKE boyfriend for the wedding.
Rules:
Fake love, perfect couple energy
No touching (lol okay sure)
Break up after the wedding
Yeah… about that.
Because the second Luke shows up, those rules don’t stand a chance. Forced proximity in a luxury hotel? Dangerous. Beach Twister? Competitive chaos. Strip poker? Absolutely unhinged behavior. And the tension? Not just simmering, it’s practically begging to snap.
The chemistry between them is undeniable…charged looks, lingering touches that last a second too long and moments that have you holding your breath like oh… this is definitely not fake anymore. Every scene feels like it’s one heartbeat away from crossing a line… and when it does? WORTH IT…
Luke is the ultimate book boyfriend, loyal, effortlessly charming, maddeningly irresistible and the kind of man who makes every rule feel optional.
The “I’m fine” kind of fine… except he’s literally rewriting your standards in real time.
Mia = chaos. Luke = control. Together? PURE disaster energy. The chemistry is loud, messy and impossible to ignore.
And of course—Rex shows up suddenly interested NOW that there’s competition. Because men.
This book is:
✨ fake dating that turns VERY real
✨ best friends to lovers tension
✨ beach town summer chaos
✨ banter that actually HITS
✨ spice + emotional whiplash
✨ “just one more chapter” addiction
And the author absolutely DELIVERS. The pacing is addictive, the banter is sharp, the tension is chef’s kiss and the romance builds so naturally you forget it was ever fake in the first place.
Luke = certified book boyfriend you will not recover from.
Coconut Beach = where good decisions go to retire 🌴💘
April 19, 2026
Mia is invited to the wedding of the summer in Coconut Beach, Florida—her hometown. It just so happens to be the wedding of the man she always said she would marry: her best friend’s older brother, Rex. Angered by a rude note left by Rex, she reaches out to her best friend, Luke, who also received a rude note with his invitation.
Mia suggests that she and Luke attend the wedding as a couple who have been together for over a year. The only catch? Mia has been living in Coconut Beach, while Luke has been in New York, and they haven’t seen each other in years.
As they move forward with this plan, they set a few simple rules: pretend they’re soulmates, don’t cross any physical lines, and break up at the end of the wedding celebration. However, those rules quickly unravel as they’re forced into close proximity and begin to realize they’ve been hiding their true feelings for each other for years. Will they ruin their friendship, or discover they were meant for more?
I was very interested in Mia when I first read about her in Just Another Summer Crush. I love the fact that she owns a mobile bookstore. I was so excited to see that she would get her own story in Just Another Summer Romance. I loved even more that this was going to be a friends-to-lovers story—and wow, does J. S. Cooper deliver this trope well!
I’m a huge sucker for friends-to-lovers romances, and this story was done beautifully. There were many laugh-out-loud moments between Luke, Mia, and their friends and family. There were also moments of frustration, where I wondered how these two could have been so blind to each other despite all the signs. But that’s exactly what makes a friends-to-lovers romance so satisfying!
I haven’t read a book by J. S. Cooper in over five years, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Just Another Summer Romance reminded me how much I love her writing and her storytelling. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to ARC read this book, and I can’t wait to go back and catch up on all the books she’s written over the past five years that I’ve missed.
This is by far my favorite book in the Coconut Beach series!
Mia suggests that she and Luke attend the wedding as a couple who have been together for over a year. The only catch? Mia has been living in Coconut Beach, while Luke has been in New York, and they haven’t seen each other in years.
As they move forward with this plan, they set a few simple rules: pretend they’re soulmates, don’t cross any physical lines, and break up at the end of the wedding celebration. However, those rules quickly unravel as they’re forced into close proximity and begin to realize they’ve been hiding their true feelings for each other for years. Will they ruin their friendship, or discover they were meant for more?
I was very interested in Mia when I first read about her in Just Another Summer Crush. I love the fact that she owns a mobile bookstore. I was so excited to see that she would get her own story in Just Another Summer Romance. I loved even more that this was going to be a friends-to-lovers story—and wow, does J. S. Cooper deliver this trope well!
I’m a huge sucker for friends-to-lovers romances, and this story was done beautifully. There were many laugh-out-loud moments between Luke, Mia, and their friends and family. There were also moments of frustration, where I wondered how these two could have been so blind to each other despite all the signs. But that’s exactly what makes a friends-to-lovers romance so satisfying!
I haven’t read a book by J. S. Cooper in over five years, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Just Another Summer Romance reminded me how much I love her writing and her storytelling. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to ARC read this book, and I can’t wait to go back and catch up on all the books she’s written over the past five years that I’ve missed.
This is by far my favorite book in the Coconut Beach series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book felt like sun-warmed skin, salt in your hair, and feelings you probably should’ve dealt with years ago finally bubbling to the surface.
Mia and Luke aren’t just “best friends to lovers”—they’re the kind of people who know each other a little too well. The inside jokes, the easy teasing, the way they slip into each other’s space without thinking… it all makes the fake dating feel less like an act and more like something that’s been waiting for an excuse to exist.
And that’s what makes it so good. There’s no instant switch. No sudden realization. Just a slow, inevitable unraveling of boundaries that were never as solid as they pretended to be.
The wedding setup is chaos in the most delicious way. Being surrounded by romance, stuck together in close quarters, constantly performing “couple” energy—it turns every small moment into something charged. A shared look lasts too long. A joke lands a little softer. A touch lingers. It’s the kind of tension that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go.
What really stood out to me, though, was the undercurrent of what-ifs. This isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about realizing how long those feelings might’ve been there, buried under timing, fear, and bad decisions. And when things finally crack, they crack. The conflict hits hard because it feels inevitable, like something that was always coming.
Luke has that effortless charm, but it’s the quiet moments that sell him—the way he shows up, the way he notices things, the way he cares without making a performance of it. And Mia’s story feels grounded in something real: choosing what’s in front of you instead of chasing what’s behind you.
By the end, it didn’t feel like a dramatic love story—it felt like something that finally made sense.
Perfect if you’re in the mood for something soft on the surface but quietly intense underneath, like a summer night that lingers longer than it should.
Mia and Luke aren’t just “best friends to lovers”—they’re the kind of people who know each other a little too well. The inside jokes, the easy teasing, the way they slip into each other’s space without thinking… it all makes the fake dating feel less like an act and more like something that’s been waiting for an excuse to exist.
And that’s what makes it so good. There’s no instant switch. No sudden realization. Just a slow, inevitable unraveling of boundaries that were never as solid as they pretended to be.
The wedding setup is chaos in the most delicious way. Being surrounded by romance, stuck together in close quarters, constantly performing “couple” energy—it turns every small moment into something charged. A shared look lasts too long. A joke lands a little softer. A touch lingers. It’s the kind of tension that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go.
What really stood out to me, though, was the undercurrent of what-ifs. This isn’t just about falling in love—it’s about realizing how long those feelings might’ve been there, buried under timing, fear, and bad decisions. And when things finally crack, they crack. The conflict hits hard because it feels inevitable, like something that was always coming.
Luke has that effortless charm, but it’s the quiet moments that sell him—the way he shows up, the way he notices things, the way he cares without making a performance of it. And Mia’s story feels grounded in something real: choosing what’s in front of you instead of chasing what’s behind you.
By the end, it didn’t feel like a dramatic love story—it felt like something that finally made sense.
Perfect if you’re in the mood for something soft on the surface but quietly intense underneath, like a summer night that lingers longer than it should.
April 17, 2026
It is very hard to find a friendship like Mia and Luke’s, a friendship were you can be yourself, were you can share the happy moments and the not so happy moments in life, someone that you can count on, someone that knows you, understands you, someone that supports your dreams.
There is a thin line between that kind of friendship and love and it takes a special kind of courage to confess your love to your best friend not knowing if they feel the same way about you.
When Luke and Mia decided to fake date they were so brave, it is scary to try to “date” your best friend knowing that anything could happen and destroy that friendship. I was so happy to see that in between the fear they realized that they did love each other and that they belonged together, it was not easy, I t was extremely challenging but they did it, at the end, love conquer all and dreams come true.
For me one of my favorites things for both of them if that in the future they can go back and laugh about all the memories they have together of all the moments they shared from friends to lovers.
I did love that Luke found his voice and realized how valuable he was, that he remembered his love for Coconut Beach and how happy he was there next to Mia.
For Mia, I was happy that she realized how important was Luke’s job for him, not necessarily in New York but in general, he is very passionate about his work the same way she is passionate about her bookstore and romance books.
This is the perfect summer book to make you reflect on how much we need to communicate and express our feelings to that special someone because we never know if that person if feeling the same, it is a book that teaches us that we are worthy and even if our family doesn’t see it immediately we don’t have nothing to prove, you can surround yourself with people that see you and appreciate you, it is about about friendship and love.
This is an ARC review🥥🌴
There is a thin line between that kind of friendship and love and it takes a special kind of courage to confess your love to your best friend not knowing if they feel the same way about you.
When Luke and Mia decided to fake date they were so brave, it is scary to try to “date” your best friend knowing that anything could happen and destroy that friendship. I was so happy to see that in between the fear they realized that they did love each other and that they belonged together, it was not easy, I t was extremely challenging but they did it, at the end, love conquer all and dreams come true.
For me one of my favorites things for both of them if that in the future they can go back and laugh about all the memories they have together of all the moments they shared from friends to lovers.
I did love that Luke found his voice and realized how valuable he was, that he remembered his love for Coconut Beach and how happy he was there next to Mia.
For Mia, I was happy that she realized how important was Luke’s job for him, not necessarily in New York but in general, he is very passionate about his work the same way she is passionate about her bookstore and romance books.
This is the perfect summer book to make you reflect on how much we need to communicate and express our feelings to that special someone because we never know if that person if feeling the same, it is a book that teaches us that we are worthy and even if our family doesn’t see it immediately we don’t have nothing to prove, you can surround yourself with people that see you and appreciate you, it is about about friendship and love.
This is an ARC review🥥🌴
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2026
This book felt like golden sunlight, warm sand, and quiet moments that make your heart ache in the best way ☀️🌊
Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper completely swept me away into the kind of love story that feels gentle, nostalgic, and a little bit bittersweet.
Mia and Luke’s story isn’t just friends to lovers - it’s years of history, missed timing, and feelings that never really went away. There’s something so soft about the way they fall back into each other’s space, like no time has passed, even when everything has changed.
The fake dating setup adds that playful, flirty layer, but underneath it all is this quiet longing - especially from Luke - that just lingers in every look, every almost moment, every time he chooses her without saying it out loud.
Coconut Beach felt like its own little world. The mobile bookstore, the girl gang, the Busy Bees… it all added to that cozy, small-town charm where everything feels slower, warmer, and a little more meaningful.
This isn’t a loud, over-the-top romance. It’s softer. It’s in the small touches, the unspoken feelings, the moments where they don’t quite get it right. Yes, there’s miscommunication and frustration, and I definitely wanted to shake them at times… but that made it feel real. Like two people who just needed to find their way back to what was always there.
Luke is the kind of love interest that doesn’t just say the right things... you feel it in the way he shows up. And Mia’s journey of realizing she deserves to be chosen, fully and without hesitation, made everything hit a little deeper.
This story felt like yearning, like almosts, like finally.
If you’re in the mood for something soft, romantic, and a little emotional with beachy summer vibes… this one is for you!
Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper completely swept me away into the kind of love story that feels gentle, nostalgic, and a little bit bittersweet.
Mia and Luke’s story isn’t just friends to lovers - it’s years of history, missed timing, and feelings that never really went away. There’s something so soft about the way they fall back into each other’s space, like no time has passed, even when everything has changed.
The fake dating setup adds that playful, flirty layer, but underneath it all is this quiet longing - especially from Luke - that just lingers in every look, every almost moment, every time he chooses her without saying it out loud.
Coconut Beach felt like its own little world. The mobile bookstore, the girl gang, the Busy Bees… it all added to that cozy, small-town charm where everything feels slower, warmer, and a little more meaningful.
This isn’t a loud, over-the-top romance. It’s softer. It’s in the small touches, the unspoken feelings, the moments where they don’t quite get it right. Yes, there’s miscommunication and frustration, and I definitely wanted to shake them at times… but that made it feel real. Like two people who just needed to find their way back to what was always there.
Luke is the kind of love interest that doesn’t just say the right things... you feel it in the way he shows up. And Mia’s journey of realizing she deserves to be chosen, fully and without hesitation, made everything hit a little deeper.
This story felt like yearning, like almosts, like finally.
If you’re in the mood for something soft, romantic, and a little emotional with beachy summer vibes… this one is for you!
April 18, 2026
Thank you for the E-ARC
I have loved every single book of J.S. Cooper that I have read. This story was a little different but I still loved a small town romance. Mia and Luke have been best friends since they were little kids but she lives in Coconut Beach and he lives in NYC. They chat with each other every single day like they are living with each other. Luke's Brother is getting married and on the invite there was a insult on each of their invites on how they are still single. Luke comes up with a great idea to fake date Mia. They both know each other very well so the fake dating sure work out perfectly. The wedding event is also a two week thing and Luke does not want to go back home but needs to be there for his family. He has a secret that he wants to tell Mia but worries that it could ruin their friendship. As the event starts they find out that they need to share a hotel room together. They somehow both have feelings for eachother but don't want anything to go further. They told their family that they have been dating for over a year, which no one believes and they need to make their fake relationship real. After a few days they are closer with their relationship and possibly want to make more of it.
I liked this story because Mia was very smart with everything including a great successful job. Luke was a millionaire but didn't point that out as much. She liked him for him and not his money even though his family was already rich he just wanted to prove to his family that he is better. I love the build up waiting to see what will happen next and when they take it to the next level. Also what happens when they do go for it. The ending was a dramatic ending which I didn't think there was more than one but I loved it anyways. Excited to read the rest of the series and see what happens with the other couples.
Thank you J.S. Cooper Advanced E-ARC
I have loved every single book of J.S. Cooper that I have read. This story was a little different but I still loved a small town romance. Mia and Luke have been best friends since they were little kids but she lives in Coconut Beach and he lives in NYC. They chat with each other every single day like they are living with each other. Luke's Brother is getting married and on the invite there was a insult on each of their invites on how they are still single. Luke comes up with a great idea to fake date Mia. They both know each other very well so the fake dating sure work out perfectly. The wedding event is also a two week thing and Luke does not want to go back home but needs to be there for his family. He has a secret that he wants to tell Mia but worries that it could ruin their friendship. As the event starts they find out that they need to share a hotel room together. They somehow both have feelings for eachother but don't want anything to go further. They told their family that they have been dating for over a year, which no one believes and they need to make their fake relationship real. After a few days they are closer with their relationship and possibly want to make more of it.
I liked this story because Mia was very smart with everything including a great successful job. Luke was a millionaire but didn't point that out as much. She liked him for him and not his money even though his family was already rich he just wanted to prove to his family that he is better. I love the build up waiting to see what will happen next and when they take it to the next level. Also what happens when they do go for it. The ending was a dramatic ending which I didn't think there was more than one but I loved it anyways. Excited to read the rest of the series and see what happens with the other couples.
Thank you J.S. Cooper Advanced E-ARC
April 20, 2026
I SWEAR TO GOD YOU COULD FRY AN EGG ON THIS WITH HOW FREAKING SIZZLING THIS NOVEL WAS!
okay, this story is the record holder for tension, banter and two oblivious main characters! I was screaming at this book because like come on, they were so blind!
So this story is about two long time, childhood besties Luke and Mia - who receive a nasty note on a wedding invitation from Luke's brother and devise up a plan to make him eat his words. But the kicker here is, that Luke hasn't been back to Coconut Beach in years and despite their daily phone calls and video chats, they are in for a surprise when they come face to face with each other and realize how attracted they are to each other but one thing looms over their heads: can they survive the wedding festivities and will their friendship sink or swim?
The family dynamics were so relatable and found family is the best thing to come from this kind of complex situation. Mia has her girls and Luke, but Luke hasn't been where she needed him and he only realizes years too late that he failed to protect her in the same way he promised her. Luke is unaware that running from Coconut Beach, left a hole in more than Mia's heart and that his perception was entirely skewed by how he viewed himself in his family.
This story is insanely hot and such a tease! I appreciated the timeline, the way the characters were written and the side plots to the story to keep you interested. Will cause you to lip bite, hold your breath and clench your thighs together with the toying this book contains.
This story pulls your heart strings and makes you want that summer heat, the warmth that causes goosebumps, and kisses that keep you up all night smiling at your ceiling. It's a spicy, romantic comedy that you'll be clutching until the end.
I'm obsessed.
okay, this story is the record holder for tension, banter and two oblivious main characters! I was screaming at this book because like come on, they were so blind!
So this story is about two long time, childhood besties Luke and Mia - who receive a nasty note on a wedding invitation from Luke's brother and devise up a plan to make him eat his words. But the kicker here is, that Luke hasn't been back to Coconut Beach in years and despite their daily phone calls and video chats, they are in for a surprise when they come face to face with each other and realize how attracted they are to each other but one thing looms over their heads: can they survive the wedding festivities and will their friendship sink or swim?
The family dynamics were so relatable and found family is the best thing to come from this kind of complex situation. Mia has her girls and Luke, but Luke hasn't been where she needed him and he only realizes years too late that he failed to protect her in the same way he promised her. Luke is unaware that running from Coconut Beach, left a hole in more than Mia's heart and that his perception was entirely skewed by how he viewed himself in his family.
This story is insanely hot and such a tease! I appreciated the timeline, the way the characters were written and the side plots to the story to keep you interested. Will cause you to lip bite, hold your breath and clench your thighs together with the toying this book contains.
This story pulls your heart strings and makes you want that summer heat, the warmth that causes goosebumps, and kisses that keep you up all night smiling at your ceiling. It's a spicy, romantic comedy that you'll be clutching until the end.
I'm obsessed.
April 21, 2026
Slow burn tension filled read
Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper is a quick read that leans into all the classic summer romance vibes—sun, chemistry, and that feeling of getting swept up in something unexpected.
The pacing is fast, making it really easy to binge in one sitting.
The chemistry between the main characters is strong right from the start, and the story is filled with tension and a satisfying slow burn that keeps you invested in how everything will unfold. It has that slightly dramatic, escapist feel that makes it perfect when you just want something fun and low-effort.
At times, the miscommunication between Luke and Mia was a bit frustrating, but it also added to the tension and kept the story moving forward.
I also loved getting a different perspective on Wendy and Carter from the first book in the series—it added an extra layer for readers who are following along.
I found myself really wanting to know more about Juniper, which makes me curious to see if her story is explored further. Rex, on the other hand, was a bit annoying at times, which added some extra conflict to the story. And honestly, Talia really needed to be put in her place, which added even more drama to the mix.
I could totally imagine myself shopping for a book at the Salty Pages and picking up all the local gossip from Mia and Juniper—it made the setting feel even more immersive and fun.
The characters can feel a bit over-the-top at times, but that honestly adds to the entertainment. If you go in expecting something realistic and deeply layered, this might not hit—but if you’re in the mood for a guilty-pleasure romance with tension and heat, it delivers.
Overall, this is a solid pick for a beach read or a quick reset between heavier books—easy, engaging, and just dramatic enough to keep you hooked.
Just Another Summer Romance by J.S. Cooper is a quick read that leans into all the classic summer romance vibes—sun, chemistry, and that feeling of getting swept up in something unexpected.
The pacing is fast, making it really easy to binge in one sitting.
The chemistry between the main characters is strong right from the start, and the story is filled with tension and a satisfying slow burn that keeps you invested in how everything will unfold. It has that slightly dramatic, escapist feel that makes it perfect when you just want something fun and low-effort.
At times, the miscommunication between Luke and Mia was a bit frustrating, but it also added to the tension and kept the story moving forward.
I also loved getting a different perspective on Wendy and Carter from the first book in the series—it added an extra layer for readers who are following along.
I found myself really wanting to know more about Juniper, which makes me curious to see if her story is explored further. Rex, on the other hand, was a bit annoying at times, which added some extra conflict to the story. And honestly, Talia really needed to be put in her place, which added even more drama to the mix.
I could totally imagine myself shopping for a book at the Salty Pages and picking up all the local gossip from Mia and Juniper—it made the setting feel even more immersive and fun.
The characters can feel a bit over-the-top at times, but that honestly adds to the entertainment. If you go in expecting something realistic and deeply layered, this might not hit—but if you’re in the mood for a guilty-pleasure romance with tension and heat, it delivers.
Overall, this is a solid pick for a beach read or a quick reset between heavier books—easy, engaging, and just dramatic enough to keep you hooked.
Did Not Finish
April 27, 2026This one was not for me. Which is disappointing because I was looking forward to reading it. It did have things about it that I liked. But, I ended up DNFing at about 45% because I didn’t want to read further while I wasn’t enjoying it.
Mia and Luke are forever best friends. She still lives in their small beach town, he’s moved to New York to make a name for himself away from his family (and the offered silver spoon). His brother is getting married, so it’s time for him to show face. She had a crush on that brother, even though he’s been nothing but rude to her. Including while inviting her to the wedding. So now her and bestie Luke are fake dating for the wedding festivities. (This was where the enjoyment ended because the execution ruined it for me.) Their families are just as close as they are, so it’s kind of rude that he’s “been visiting her” while they haven’t seen him (for years). It felt so disrespectful for them to be fake dating. On multiple occasions, Mia has an “ew best friend cooties” reaction to his existence, but gets upset when others find him attractive…? There’s attraction described, included in her own thoughts, but she also doesn’t “realize”? She’s also very disrespectful about his job. She doesn’t understand why he won’t prioritize visiting her over working- this occurs on multiple occasions. She’s also disappointed that he didn’t have a sports car as a rental…”well you make the money” sort of reaction. I also didn’t enjoy the way she was towards/about her brother. She found it annoying when anyone said anything nice about him. Her. I believe she was the problem for me.
I will say, there was great inclusion of all the series characters. But if you aren’t planning on reading the other books, it’s a lot to take on. I feel like I learned more about them than the main characters for this book. (Personality wise.)
Mia and Luke are forever best friends. She still lives in their small beach town, he’s moved to New York to make a name for himself away from his family (and the offered silver spoon). His brother is getting married, so it’s time for him to show face. She had a crush on that brother, even though he’s been nothing but rude to her. Including while inviting her to the wedding. So now her and bestie Luke are fake dating for the wedding festivities. (This was where the enjoyment ended because the execution ruined it for me.) Their families are just as close as they are, so it’s kind of rude that he’s “been visiting her” while they haven’t seen him (for years). It felt so disrespectful for them to be fake dating. On multiple occasions, Mia has an “ew best friend cooties” reaction to his existence, but gets upset when others find him attractive…? There’s attraction described, included in her own thoughts, but she also doesn’t “realize”? She’s also very disrespectful about his job. She doesn’t understand why he won’t prioritize visiting her over working- this occurs on multiple occasions. She’s also disappointed that he didn’t have a sports car as a rental…”well you make the money” sort of reaction. I also didn’t enjoy the way she was towards/about her brother. She found it annoying when anyone said anything nice about him. Her. I believe she was the problem for me.
I will say, there was great inclusion of all the series characters. But if you aren’t planning on reading the other books, it’s a lot to take on. I feel like I learned more about them than the main characters for this book. (Personality wise.)
April 19, 2026
Thank you to J.S Cooper for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Mia and Luke have been best friends since they were kids. He's since moved to NYC, where he's become a billionaire, when he receives an invitation to his older brother's wedding. On the back is a not so nice note about what a pity it is that he won't have a real date. Mia has remained in the coastal town where they grew up. She runs a book truck with her best female friend, and she also received an invitation to Luke's brother's wedding with a similar note attached. In order to not look like "failures" to their families, they decide to attend the wedding and its two week festivity filled lead up as a couple. They decide to fake date and tell everyone in their families that they have actually secretly been dating for a year, and are madly in love. As any reader knows, these types of situations never go smoothly, and they rarely play out as planned.
I found it a bit odd that literally everyone in their friend group was also involved in some type of fake relationship. There were hardly any characters who weren't, and that seemed like a strange choice for a series. Mia was also quite an obnoxious character, and was constantly fighting with Luke over every little thing. No matter what that man did, to her it was wrong. She always perceived him to be slighting her in some way, and the way she treated him as a result was rude and repetitive. I honestly did not love their dynamic, and thought Luke honestly should have given up on trying to have any kind of real, romantic relationship with Mia.
This was definitely an easy read, and would be best for anyone who love the fake dating trope and is searching for a fluffy, summer romance story.
Mia and Luke have been best friends since they were kids. He's since moved to NYC, where he's become a billionaire, when he receives an invitation to his older brother's wedding. On the back is a not so nice note about what a pity it is that he won't have a real date. Mia has remained in the coastal town where they grew up. She runs a book truck with her best female friend, and she also received an invitation to Luke's brother's wedding with a similar note attached. In order to not look like "failures" to their families, they decide to attend the wedding and its two week festivity filled lead up as a couple. They decide to fake date and tell everyone in their families that they have actually secretly been dating for a year, and are madly in love. As any reader knows, these types of situations never go smoothly, and they rarely play out as planned.
I found it a bit odd that literally everyone in their friend group was also involved in some type of fake relationship. There were hardly any characters who weren't, and that seemed like a strange choice for a series. Mia was also quite an obnoxious character, and was constantly fighting with Luke over every little thing. No matter what that man did, to her it was wrong. She always perceived him to be slighting her in some way, and the way she treated him as a result was rude and repetitive. I honestly did not love their dynamic, and thought Luke honestly should have given up on trying to have any kind of real, romantic relationship with Mia.
This was definitely an easy read, and would be best for anyone who love the fake dating trope and is searching for a fluffy, summer romance story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Communication is Very Important in any Relationship -
Luke and Mia had been best friends for years, so when the6 both received a wedding invitation from his brother with a taunting message, they agree enter into a fake relationship for the duration on the wedding. Spending time together holding hands in public was initially easy, but the numerous kisses and PDA in public to sell their relationship started feeling real after a while.
However, neither Luke nor Mia had the confidence to confess their true feelings for each other, as the tension between them kept growing. Unfortunately, every time Luke and Mia came close to crossing the boundaries their friendship, their insecurities caused them to hesitate, but they always found a way to get their friendship back on track.
Nevertheless, the sparks between Luke and Mia finally exploded into a mind blowing steamy encounter, but a misunderstanding the morning after nearly destroyed everything. Just when Luke and Mia were trying to clarify their current and future relationship, an incident occurred in his family that led to a change their lives. Luckily, Luke realised what his priorities were in time and not only confessed his true feelings to Mia, but also made a drastic move, that ensured they would have a chance to build the future they deserved.
If you are looking for your next intriguing romance story with fantastic characters and an exciting drama-filled storyline, then look no further than this captivating story, that will grab you attention from the beginning and keep you totally engrossed all the way through to the end.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Luke and Mia had been best friends for years, so when the6 both received a wedding invitation from his brother with a taunting message, they agree enter into a fake relationship for the duration on the wedding. Spending time together holding hands in public was initially easy, but the numerous kisses and PDA in public to sell their relationship started feeling real after a while.
However, neither Luke nor Mia had the confidence to confess their true feelings for each other, as the tension between them kept growing. Unfortunately, every time Luke and Mia came close to crossing the boundaries their friendship, their insecurities caused them to hesitate, but they always found a way to get their friendship back on track.
Nevertheless, the sparks between Luke and Mia finally exploded into a mind blowing steamy encounter, but a misunderstanding the morning after nearly destroyed everything. Just when Luke and Mia were trying to clarify their current and future relationship, an incident occurred in his family that led to a change their lives. Luckily, Luke realised what his priorities were in time and not only confessed his true feelings to Mia, but also made a drastic move, that ensured they would have a chance to build the future they deserved.
If you are looking for your next intriguing romance story with fantastic characters and an exciting drama-filled storyline, then look no further than this captivating story, that will grab you attention from the beginning and keep you totally engrossed all the way through to the end.
I received an advanced review copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📚 ARC REVIEW 📚
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☀️ Just Another Summer Romance is a sweet & angsty best friends to lovers rom-com that puts you right in the summer feels!! The bubbly and close relationship that Mia and Luke have, will make it easy for you to fall in love with them and be rooting for a happy ending the entire way.
☀️ In the best way - be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster and maybe the urge to throttle a character or two. There will be times when you just want to shake one of them and yell, “Just shut-up and kiss”. There is a lot of miscommunication between these two but I think it fits well with the confusion and conflicts that revolve around their relationship. They are the best of friends - the kind that grew up together, knows everything about the other person, and can even read each other’s thoughts - but joining forces and pretending to be romantic is a line they have never crossed. As Mia and Luke navigate their “fake dating” situation in front of their closest friends and family, they realize just how much physical contact & emotion goes into a situation like this and must fight the pull to fall for each other and possibly ruin their friendship. TOUCHES WILL SPARK UNFAMILIAR FEELINGS. LINES WILL BE BLURRED. AND BOTH WILL FIGHT THE URGES.
⛱️ If you love romances with beachy vibes, a grumpy billionaire, a flirty romantic FMC, lots of yearning, funny banter, practice sessions, past secrets, “it’s always been her”and chaotic family drama, this book is for you!! 🌊
✨️This book is a standalone in a summer series collaborative project with three other amazing authors - Lyra Parish, Erin Branscom and Ariel Hendrix - who have shared characters in the same small town of Coconut Beach Island!! ✨️
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☀️ Just Another Summer Romance is a sweet & angsty best friends to lovers rom-com that puts you right in the summer feels!! The bubbly and close relationship that Mia and Luke have, will make it easy for you to fall in love with them and be rooting for a happy ending the entire way.
☀️ In the best way - be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster and maybe the urge to throttle a character or two. There will be times when you just want to shake one of them and yell, “Just shut-up and kiss”. There is a lot of miscommunication between these two but I think it fits well with the confusion and conflicts that revolve around their relationship. They are the best of friends - the kind that grew up together, knows everything about the other person, and can even read each other’s thoughts - but joining forces and pretending to be romantic is a line they have never crossed. As Mia and Luke navigate their “fake dating” situation in front of their closest friends and family, they realize just how much physical contact & emotion goes into a situation like this and must fight the pull to fall for each other and possibly ruin their friendship. TOUCHES WILL SPARK UNFAMILIAR FEELINGS. LINES WILL BE BLURRED. AND BOTH WILL FIGHT THE URGES.
⛱️ If you love romances with beachy vibes, a grumpy billionaire, a flirty romantic FMC, lots of yearning, funny banter, practice sessions, past secrets, “it’s always been her”and chaotic family drama, this book is for you!! 🌊
✨️This book is a standalone in a summer series collaborative project with three other amazing authors - Lyra Parish, Erin Branscom and Ariel Hendrix - who have shared characters in the same small town of Coconut Beach Island!! ✨️
April 19, 2026
Mia and Luke have been best friends since childhood, they talk over the phone almost everyday, they tell each other everything, well almost everything! Luke hasn’t been back to Coconut Beach in five years, he has been busy amassing his fortune and making a name for himself in New York, proving that he didn’t need his family money, he was incredibly annoyed after his father named his brother Rex sole CEO of the family company instead of them joint CEOs, he has always been second best in his family, Rex is the golden child, because he played football like his father. Mia received an invitation to Rex’s wedding to be held over a two week period and hers had a rude note on the back that said too bad you’re single and won’t have a date. She couldn’t believe he would be so rude and when she told Luke, he told her his invitation had the same note. Mia came up with the idea that they should go to the wedding as a couple, tell everyone that they had been dating in secret for a year! She put a number of rules in place including no physical contact between them. Luke was finding this incredibly difficult as he had strong feelings for Mia for years and then when they got to the hotel allocations they had been given one room.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book it was filled with hilarious banter, insane chemistry, dedicated friendships, beautifully written characters, a few twists and surprises and a whole lot of love.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book it was filled with hilarious banter, insane chemistry, dedicated friendships, beautifully written characters, a few twists and surprises and a whole lot of love.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book via BookFunnel and I am writing this review voluntarily
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