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Songs From Vacationland
Madeline McKinney is seriously sick. Or so she thinks.
Diagnosed with illness-related anxiety and facing panic attacks, reclusive widow Madeline is reeling after the discovery of an old letter from her late husband—a famous folk musician with an intense cult following. Encouraged by the note, Madeline embarks on a trip across Maine to see every last tribute concert in her husband’s honor in order to finally swallow her biggest pill moving on with her life.
Since his father’s death, Dean Ramsey has been on a mission to take care of his matchmaking mother and boisterous younger sister. As a recent pharmaceutical school graduate with a boatload of student debt, he’s been hired to oust Martell Pharmacy’s most frustrating Madeline McKinney. If he succeeds in pleasing his new boss, there’s a hefty bonus coming his way—which would pay for his sister’s first semester of college.
After a fight over the last rental car in town, Madeline makes a bargain with he’ll drive her to see the first concert— and she’ll stop coming to the pharmacy, netting him the bonus. As the pair drive along the coast, Madeline finds there is more to Dean than his icy, stoic exterior, and that at the heart of it all, he’s just as lonely as she is.
Forced to confront the root cause of her anxiety, Madeline has to decide if she’s ready to move on from the quiet life she thought she was bound to live or risk never having love in her life again. After spending time with Madeline, Dean finally thinks about whether he’s been living his life for his family, or for himself, and to risk it all to have his own happy ending.
Diagnosed with illness-related anxiety and facing panic attacks, reclusive widow Madeline is reeling after the discovery of an old letter from her late husband—a famous folk musician with an intense cult following. Encouraged by the note, Madeline embarks on a trip across Maine to see every last tribute concert in her husband’s honor in order to finally swallow her biggest pill moving on with her life.
Since his father’s death, Dean Ramsey has been on a mission to take care of his matchmaking mother and boisterous younger sister. As a recent pharmaceutical school graduate with a boatload of student debt, he’s been hired to oust Martell Pharmacy’s most frustrating Madeline McKinney. If he succeeds in pleasing his new boss, there’s a hefty bonus coming his way—which would pay for his sister’s first semester of college.
After a fight over the last rental car in town, Madeline makes a bargain with he’ll drive her to see the first concert— and she’ll stop coming to the pharmacy, netting him the bonus. As the pair drive along the coast, Madeline finds there is more to Dean than his icy, stoic exterior, and that at the heart of it all, he’s just as lonely as she is.
Forced to confront the root cause of her anxiety, Madeline has to decide if she’s ready to move on from the quiet life she thought she was bound to live or risk never having love in her life again. After spending time with Madeline, Dean finally thinks about whether he’s been living his life for his family, or for himself, and to risk it all to have his own happy ending.
- GenresRomance
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3,5/5 💌 🎶
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have decided to write this review in Spanish to better express my thoughts and introduce this book to Spanish-speaking readers.
Siento que este es un libro que te va a gustar dependiendo de la expectativa con la que entres a él. Si buscas un romance tradicional, lo más probable es que no termine de convencerte.
Por la portada, yo misma esperaría encontrarme únicamente con una historia de amor, pero si te detienes a leer la sinopsis con atención, te das cuenta de que ese no es el tema principal. En cambio, si te acercas a esta lectura viéndola como ficción contemporánea donde los personajes tienen más peso que la trama, y que explora el crecimiento personal y el peso de la vida, te puede gustar mucho este libro.
Desde el primer momento, empaticé profundamente con Madeline. Me parece un personaje muy bien construido, sumamente real y con una carga emocional abismal. Admiro mucho el trabajo de la autora, ya que crear un personaje que se sienta tan humano mientras atraviesa el luto, la ansiedad, la depresión y la hipocondría no debe ser nada fácil.
Genuinamente siento que Madeline es el ejemplo de un personaje excelentemente manejado; el hecho de ver todo a través de sus ojos me permitió entenderla y respetar su dolor de una forma muy íntima.
Por otro lado, la figura de Andy me preocupaba bastante antes de comenzar la lectura. Crear a un personaje al que solo vemos a través de los ojos de un ser amado (y bajo el filtro del luto) es extremadamente complicado. Era un verdadero reto mantener intacta su imagen tanto para Madeline como para los lectores, sin caer en el cliché de manchar su recuerdo solo para forzar un nuevo comienzo en los protagonistas; sin embargo, la autora supo manejar esto a la perfección, logrando un equilibrio impecable.
En cuanto a Dean, todavía tengo opiniones divididas. Al principio, me pareció sumamente poco empático con Madeline y su situación. Me chocó especialmente porque él trabaja en el área de la salud, y tener un mal día no es excusa para tratar de forma poco empática a alguien con un padecimiento que distorsiona su realidad.
A pesar de esto, Dean comenzó a redimirse a partir del 35% del libro, cuando empezó a ayudar y a comprender a Madeline durante sus ataques de pánico. Pero, en sí, no conecté con Dean y siento que eso afectó un poco mi lectura.
De hecho, en lo personal, me costó mucho comprar la idea de un romance entre ellos. Siento que su química y su conexión funcionan y brillan muchísimo más si se lee desde la perspectiva de una amistad profunda: la de dos almas solitarias que aprenden a acompañarse y a entender sus respectivos vacíos. Su relación de forma romántica, personalmente, no me convenció.
Sin embargo, la atmósfera del libro es excelente; es íntima y melancólica que, inevitablemente, trajo a mi mente las canciones «Blue & Grey» de BTS y «Cover Me» de Stray Kids. Ambas transmiten exactamente el mismo sentimiento de vulnerabilidad que la historia de Madeline.
Como última recomendación antes de sumergirse en sus páginas, sugiero tener muy en cuenta los trigger warnings que la autora deja muy claros desde la primera página para garantizar una lectura segura.
Me despido compartiendo mi frases favoritas del libro, que reflejan con muchísima sensibilidad el núcleo de toda esta historia:
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have decided to write this review in Spanish to better express my thoughts and introduce this book to Spanish-speaking readers.
Siento que este es un libro que te va a gustar dependiendo de la expectativa con la que entres a él. Si buscas un romance tradicional, lo más probable es que no termine de convencerte.
Por la portada, yo misma esperaría encontrarme únicamente con una historia de amor, pero si te detienes a leer la sinopsis con atención, te das cuenta de que ese no es el tema principal. En cambio, si te acercas a esta lectura viéndola como ficción contemporánea donde los personajes tienen más peso que la trama, y que explora el crecimiento personal y el peso de la vida, te puede gustar mucho este libro.
Desde el primer momento, empaticé profundamente con Madeline. Me parece un personaje muy bien construido, sumamente real y con una carga emocional abismal. Admiro mucho el trabajo de la autora, ya que crear un personaje que se sienta tan humano mientras atraviesa el luto, la ansiedad, la depresión y la hipocondría no debe ser nada fácil.
Genuinamente siento que Madeline es el ejemplo de un personaje excelentemente manejado; el hecho de ver todo a través de sus ojos me permitió entenderla y respetar su dolor de una forma muy íntima.
Por otro lado, la figura de Andy me preocupaba bastante antes de comenzar la lectura. Crear a un personaje al que solo vemos a través de los ojos de un ser amado (y bajo el filtro del luto) es extremadamente complicado. Era un verdadero reto mantener intacta su imagen tanto para Madeline como para los lectores, sin caer en el cliché de manchar su recuerdo solo para forzar un nuevo comienzo en los protagonistas; sin embargo, la autora supo manejar esto a la perfección, logrando un equilibrio impecable.
En cuanto a Dean, todavía tengo opiniones divididas. Al principio, me pareció sumamente poco empático con Madeline y su situación. Me chocó especialmente porque él trabaja en el área de la salud, y tener un mal día no es excusa para tratar de forma poco empática a alguien con un padecimiento que distorsiona su realidad.
A pesar de esto, Dean comenzó a redimirse a partir del 35% del libro, cuando empezó a ayudar y a comprender a Madeline durante sus ataques de pánico. Pero, en sí, no conecté con Dean y siento que eso afectó un poco mi lectura.
De hecho, en lo personal, me costó mucho comprar la idea de un romance entre ellos. Siento que su química y su conexión funcionan y brillan muchísimo más si se lee desde la perspectiva de una amistad profunda: la de dos almas solitarias que aprenden a acompañarse y a entender sus respectivos vacíos. Su relación de forma romántica, personalmente, no me convenció.
Sin embargo, la atmósfera del libro es excelente; es íntima y melancólica que, inevitablemente, trajo a mi mente las canciones «Blue & Grey» de BTS y «Cover Me» de Stray Kids. Ambas transmiten exactamente el mismo sentimiento de vulnerabilidad que la historia de Madeline.
Como última recomendación antes de sumergirse en sus páginas, sugiero tener muy en cuenta los trigger warnings que la autora deja muy claros desde la primera página para garantizar una lectura segura.
Me despido compartiendo mi frases favoritas del libro, que reflejan con muchísima sensibilidad el núcleo de toda esta historia:
“It's a disorder, but that doesn’t discount what you actually feel. And that doesn’t make you crazy for reacting as if it were real. Because it’s all real to you.”
“That’s how I kept going. Today might be bad, and tomorrow too. But at least tomorrow is not today. Because I deserve to see what’s coming next.”
![Profile Image for Aleksandra [semi hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1755513187i/65058031._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
March 28, 2026
Initially dnfed at 21%, I’ve decided to finish it. And I regret it.
What I really liked about this book (and the reason for 2 stars), is the fmc Madeline (I LOVED HER), and the fact that she was the widow and loved her husband a lot. I’m not gonna lie, this was the main reason I chose to read the book. I’ve enjoyed reading about her struggles with hypochondriasis, as long as her journey through grief after losing her husband.
The writing was okayish at first, but then turned into choppy and juvenile. I didn’t enjoy it, I skimmed through so many paragraphs because they simply weren’t interesting. What’s going on with all those lyrics everywhere??? I think those short sections with the songs Andy wrote for his wife were enough.
I also hated the mmc Dean. He was a huge asshole at first, and even though he apologised for behaving such way right at the start, he then behaved like a jerk throughout the other half of the book. I could not understand what was going on with his ex-girlfriend Eliza????? Was she even his ex??? Because he said to his sister that they hadn’t been dating???? Why did she appear in such a random moment, and why was she behaving bitchy? Why did Dean’s sister spawn in some random moments in the second half? What was the point of her character???
The plot had me curious in the beginning, but then so many random things started happening that I could not understand the author’s decision to write them.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley.
What I really liked about this book (and the reason for 2 stars), is the fmc Madeline (I LOVED HER), and the fact that she was the widow and loved her husband a lot. I’m not gonna lie, this was the main reason I chose to read the book. I’ve enjoyed reading about her struggles with hypochondriasis, as long as her journey through grief after losing her husband.
The writing was okayish at first, but then turned into choppy and juvenile. I didn’t enjoy it, I skimmed through so many paragraphs because they simply weren’t interesting. What’s going on with all those lyrics everywhere??? I think those short sections with the songs Andy wrote for his wife were enough.
I also hated the mmc Dean. He was a huge asshole at first, and even though he apologised for behaving such way right at the start, he then behaved like a jerk throughout the other half of the book. I could not understand what was going on with his ex-girlfriend Eliza????? Was she even his ex??? Because he said to his sister that they hadn’t been dating???? Why did she appear in such a random moment, and why was she behaving bitchy? Why did Dean’s sister spawn in some random moments in the second half? What was the point of her character???
The plot had me curious in the beginning, but then so many random things started happening that I could not understand the author’s decision to write them.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley.
April 9, 2026
Thank you via NetGalley to the publisher for putting this on read now ( the feature that allows you to send books to your kindle without having to request / without being invited .
Thank you to the bookstagrammer who made the post about the books on read now ( on NetGalley ) on insta .
Now let me start this review ( 30%) in - I know this will be a 3 star . Also the cover is so beautiful Dean ( the guy with glasses) and Madeline the brunette . I love it sm . Whoever the cover artist is amazing
Dean the mmc is okay I guess ( I like him more than some reviewers do) is he kinda rude to her when they first meet? ( yeah) but he isn’t a pos so . He’s nicer to her as the book goes on.
I like Madeline - she’s kinda relatable ( she has hypochondria ) the anxiety disorder ) and always thinks she’s gonna have a heart attack / having one - not a spoiler it happens at the start of the book. She’s relatable as I myself always believe im ill ( I may be for all I know ) but she’s relatable . + she has panic attacks which is extra relatable
Anyways Madeline is a widow and the Dean is a pharmacist and they go on a roadtrip together ( this is a roadtrip romance )
If you want a quick read this is for you . It’s not the most perfect book but if you want a book that basically takes place over 1 week- has fast burn , is quick paced - and has a hypochondriac rep ( fmc) - health anxiety !!!
this may be for you. It’s an enjoyable read . Definitely not 5 star material but like it’s definitely a book I’m glad I got the chance to read.
Thank you to the bookstagrammer who made the post about the books on read now ( on NetGalley ) on insta .
Now let me start this review ( 30%) in - I know this will be a 3 star . Also the cover is so beautiful Dean ( the guy with glasses) and Madeline the brunette . I love it sm . Whoever the cover artist is amazing
Dean the mmc is okay I guess ( I like him more than some reviewers do) is he kinda rude to her when they first meet? ( yeah) but he isn’t a pos so . He’s nicer to her as the book goes on.
I like Madeline - she’s kinda relatable ( she has hypochondria ) the anxiety disorder ) and always thinks she’s gonna have a heart attack / having one - not a spoiler it happens at the start of the book. She’s relatable as I myself always believe im ill ( I may be for all I know ) but she’s relatable . + she has panic attacks which is extra relatable
Anyways Madeline is a widow and the Dean is a pharmacist and they go on a roadtrip together ( this is a roadtrip romance )
If you want a quick read this is for you . It’s not the most perfect book but if you want a book that basically takes place over 1 week- has fast burn , is quick paced - and has a hypochondriac rep ( fmc) - health anxiety !!!
this may be for you. It’s an enjoyable read . Definitely not 5 star material but like it’s definitely a book I’m glad I got the chance to read.
Want to Read
March 24, 2026💫🌲 Songs From Vacationland 🌲💫
Bookish Thoughts
As an anxiety girlie, I am so excited for this one. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Widow heroine
• Grief and moving forward
• Road trip romance
• Forced proximity
• Small town
• Anxiety Rep
• Stoic hero_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy.
Bookish Thoughts
As an anxiety girlie, I am so excited for this one. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Widow heroine
• Grief and moving forward
• Road trip romance
• Forced proximity
• Small town
• Anxiety Rep
• Stoic hero_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy.
April 4, 2026
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Madeline was such a relatable character, especially in how her anxiety was portrayed. While I haven’t experienced illness anxiety specifically, I have dealt with anxiety, and parts of her thoughts and reactions felt very real to me.
This was an emotional read. I felt the tears coming more than once, especially whenever Andy was mentioned. You can really feel how much he meant to her, and that sense of grief lingers throughout the story.
Dean had some incredibly sweet moments too, especially that cherry popsicle line. He doesn’t make the best first impression, but he grows into someone thoughtful and grounding, particularly when Madeline needs it most.
There were a few moments that felt a bit off, especially involving Dean’s ex, which came across as a little abrupt, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a heartfelt story about grief, anxiety, and learning how to move forward.
Madeline was such a relatable character, especially in how her anxiety was portrayed. While I haven’t experienced illness anxiety specifically, I have dealt with anxiety, and parts of her thoughts and reactions felt very real to me.
This was an emotional read. I felt the tears coming more than once, especially whenever Andy was mentioned. You can really feel how much he meant to her, and that sense of grief lingers throughout the story.
Dean had some incredibly sweet moments too, especially that cherry popsicle line. He doesn’t make the best first impression, but he grows into someone thoughtful and grounding, particularly when Madeline needs it most.
There were a few moments that felt a bit off, especially involving Dean’s ex, which came across as a little abrupt, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, this was a heartfelt story about grief, anxiety, and learning how to move forward.
May 9, 2026
First off, that cover is a whole vibe, plzzzz a nerdy guy with glasses and a gorgeous brunette im obsessed.
Madeline is a widow dealing with some serious anxiety and hypochondria. She's been stuck in a grief loop since her famous musician husband passed. Dean is the new, kinda grumpy pharmacist who tells her to get a life one day. long story short, they end up on a road trip together across Maine so she can go to his tribute concerts.
and look is it a little wild that she'd get in a car with a dude who was rude to her yeaaaa a bit. you kinda have to just go with it. but if you do, it's actually really sweet.
Madeline is the heart of this book, her anxiety and health anxiety are written so well. Dean grows on you as well, lowk loveeee him, he's actually really thoughtful and grounding especially when she's spiraling.
it's a quick, fast paced read that happens over about a week. the romance is a little surface level at times and a few things felt a little too convenient to move the plot along, which is why it's not a 5 star for me. but it's a heartfelt story about moving on and finding love again.
if you want something quick with great mental health rep and a grumpy x grumpy dynamic, this is for you.
🫠 hypochondria rep
💔 widow finds love
🚗 road trip romance
🤝 grumpy x grumpy
💊 pharmacist mmc
🌶️ fast burn
🩷 mental health rep
🎶 musician husband
Madeline is a widow dealing with some serious anxiety and hypochondria. She's been stuck in a grief loop since her famous musician husband passed. Dean is the new, kinda grumpy pharmacist who tells her to get a life one day. long story short, they end up on a road trip together across Maine so she can go to his tribute concerts.
and look is it a little wild that she'd get in a car with a dude who was rude to her yeaaaa a bit. you kinda have to just go with it. but if you do, it's actually really sweet.
Madeline is the heart of this book, her anxiety and health anxiety are written so well. Dean grows on you as well, lowk loveeee him, he's actually really thoughtful and grounding especially when she's spiraling.
it's a quick, fast paced read that happens over about a week. the romance is a little surface level at times and a few things felt a little too convenient to move the plot along, which is why it's not a 5 star for me. but it's a heartfelt story about moving on and finding love again.
if you want something quick with great mental health rep and a grumpy x grumpy dynamic, this is for you.
🫠 hypochondria rep
💔 widow finds love
🚗 road trip romance
🤝 grumpy x grumpy
💊 pharmacist mmc
🌶️ fast burn
🩷 mental health rep
🎶 musician husband
March 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Madeline is a widow of a famous folk music star. She is also hypochondriac (illness anxiety disorder) and she decides to go to the memorial tour for late husband. Enter Dean who rents the last car at the car rental place. The two of them strike a deal where he takes her to the concert spots if she stops coming into the pharmacy where he works. The book just takes off from there.
I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for something that has anxiety disorder representation and a book where a widow finds love again this would be a good book for it. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the arc copy.
Madeline is a widow of a famous folk music star. She is also hypochondriac (illness anxiety disorder) and she decides to go to the memorial tour for late husband. Enter Dean who rents the last car at the car rental place. The two of them strike a deal where he takes her to the concert spots if she stops coming into the pharmacy where he works. The book just takes off from there.
I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for something that has anxiety disorder representation and a book where a widow finds love again this would be a good book for it. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the arc copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Madeline is not okay. The grief of suddenly losing her husband from an aneurysm has overwhelmed her to the point of anxiety and a traumatic development of hypochondria. Andy was a folk-rock star, touring with his first album, named for Madeline when he suddenly collapsed on stage. Madeline wasn't even there and this haunts her. The press and online fans crush her with their neediness and it's all too much, so Madeline withdraws from the world. She gets a job as a virtual assistant and really only leaves home to go to the pharmacy - which she does every single day.
Not knowing that an aneurism was waiting to kill Andy, means that everything might be waiting to kill her, so she carries a tote filled with everything she might need at any time - Pepto, Advil, aspirin, hand sanitizer, etc but when the anxiety builds and she feels like her heart might burst, she races to the pharmacy counter (closer than her doctor's office) and begs the Cliff the pharmacist to call an ambulance. She is reminded that it's just a panic attack and sent on her way but today is different. Today, someone behind the counter, not Cliff, tells her to get a life.
Madeline is stunned by brusque treatment and stumbles home, where she decides that she will do something different. The 5th anniversary of Andy's death is coming up, and people are doing concerts honoring his last concert tour, and Madeline will attend for the first time.
In a flurry of events too convoluted to be explained, she ends up sharing a ride with the owner of the voice who told her to get a life. They make a deal, Dean will drive the rental to all 4 concert spots, and she will pick up all the expenses including rooms for the overnight stays, and he's allowed one detour to see his family before he drives her back home.
The author breaks up the chapters with the lyrics from the songs from Andy's only album, including the title song Madeline, which can often be cringy but aren't so bad in this instance.
Dean is very no nonsense and is always prepared to calm Madeline down when she begins to spiral. He reminds her to take her anti anxiety meds and doesn't seem embarrassed that she carries her tote everywhere. As the week progresses, Madeline's anxiety starts to wane a little bit because to her surprise she feels safe with Dean. He doesn't seem to mind that she's weird, and he doesn't mind that the week is about her late husband, which makes it easier to let go...unwind...and start accepting that there is a life for her after Andy.
Finding another albums worth of material on a hard drive stored in boxes of Andy's things further helps take the attention of Madeline
Dean shows Madeline that you are never too much for the right person.
Not knowing that an aneurism was waiting to kill Andy, means that everything might be waiting to kill her, so she carries a tote filled with everything she might need at any time - Pepto, Advil, aspirin, hand sanitizer, etc but when the anxiety builds and she feels like her heart might burst, she races to the pharmacy counter (closer than her doctor's office) and begs the Cliff the pharmacist to call an ambulance. She is reminded that it's just a panic attack and sent on her way but today is different. Today, someone behind the counter, not Cliff, tells her to get a life.
Madeline is stunned by brusque treatment and stumbles home, where she decides that she will do something different. The 5th anniversary of Andy's death is coming up, and people are doing concerts honoring his last concert tour, and Madeline will attend for the first time.
In a flurry of events too convoluted to be explained, she ends up sharing a ride with the owner of the voice who told her to get a life. They make a deal, Dean will drive the rental to all 4 concert spots, and she will pick up all the expenses including rooms for the overnight stays, and he's allowed one detour to see his family before he drives her back home.
The author breaks up the chapters with the lyrics from the songs from Andy's only album, including the title song Madeline, which can often be cringy but aren't so bad in this instance.
Dean is very no nonsense and is always prepared to calm Madeline down when she begins to spiral. He reminds her to take her anti anxiety meds and doesn't seem embarrassed that she carries her tote everywhere. As the week progresses, Madeline's anxiety starts to wane a little bit because to her surprise she feels safe with Dean. He doesn't seem to mind that she's weird, and he doesn't mind that the week is about her late husband, which makes it easier to let go...unwind...and start accepting that there is a life for her after Andy.
Finding another albums worth of material on a hard drive stored in boxes of Andy's things further helps take the attention of Madeline
Dean shows Madeline that you are never too much for the right person.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Songs From Vacationland by Cate Summers revolves around Maggie, a young widow struggling with mental health issues after the death of her husband five years ago. She decides to face her grief and her illness head on and embarks on the same path her husband, a musician, took on his last home tour.
There is a lot to love about this story. Maggie is a very well-developed main character, and one whom you absolutely root for. I loved her! Sometimes romances that feature a widow can be a bit callous to the prior relationship while developing the second, but Summers really nails it with respecting Maggie's first relationship while she learns to live her life again. The mental health representation in this story was really well done too. While anxiety and hypochondriasis are serious and difficult conditions, Summers detailed Maggie's experiences with realism and hope.
Obviously this is fiction, but I find that fiction (romance in particular) needs to have a certain degree of common sense in order for me to really enjoy the story. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there were a few times where situations between Maggie and Dean (her love interest) felt a little too forced for the sake of the story. Taking a spontaneous road trip with the rude pharmacist you just met, for example, is a pretty hard-to-sell plot device in my book.
The relationship between Maggie and Dean felt pretty surface level, but there were some sweet moments and a some spicy scenes that were well done too. Although it is a romance, I feel that the story really shines with how it addresses Maggie's grief and mental health.
Overall I'd rate this story 3.5 stars! If you're looking for a sweet story about a woman finding peace with her grief and her anxiety, I think you'll enjoy this. I will absolutely look for more from Cate Summers in the future!
A big thank you to Cate Summers, Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own!
There is a lot to love about this story. Maggie is a very well-developed main character, and one whom you absolutely root for. I loved her! Sometimes romances that feature a widow can be a bit callous to the prior relationship while developing the second, but Summers really nails it with respecting Maggie's first relationship while she learns to live her life again. The mental health representation in this story was really well done too. While anxiety and hypochondriasis are serious and difficult conditions, Summers detailed Maggie's experiences with realism and hope.
Obviously this is fiction, but I find that fiction (romance in particular) needs to have a certain degree of common sense in order for me to really enjoy the story. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there were a few times where situations between Maggie and Dean (her love interest) felt a little too forced for the sake of the story. Taking a spontaneous road trip with the rude pharmacist you just met, for example, is a pretty hard-to-sell plot device in my book.
The relationship between Maggie and Dean felt pretty surface level, but there were some sweet moments and a some spicy scenes that were well done too. Although it is a romance, I feel that the story really shines with how it addresses Maggie's grief and mental health.
Overall I'd rate this story 3.5 stars! If you're looking for a sweet story about a woman finding peace with her grief and her anxiety, I think you'll enjoy this. I will absolutely look for more from Cate Summers in the future!
A big thank you to Cate Summers, Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own!
May 5, 2026
A Road Trip and A Pharmacist, Hello?!
Songs From Vacationland by Cate Summers - ⭐⭐⭐
Let's talk about that cover for a second. A cute nerdy guy and a gorgeous brunette? I am absolutely in love with it. Whoever designed this deserves all the credit. 😍🎈
I won't pretend I didn't have a feeling early on that this would land at 3 stars for me, but honestly, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I stumbled across this one through NetGalley and I'm so glad I did, because it's exactly the kind of book I might have scrolled right past otherwise. 🥰
The story pairs Madeline, a young widow, with Dean, a pharmacist, on a spontaneous road trip together. Look, is it a little far-fetched that you'd hop in a car with someone who was kind of rude to you at first? Absolutely. But if you're willing to suspend disbelief and just go with it, there's a lot of warmth waiting for you. Dean grows on you, genuinely, and by the end I liked him a lot more than I thought I would. 🚗✨
But Madeline? She's the whole heart of this book. Her hypochondria and anxiety are written with such care and realism, never mocked, never minimised, just honestly portrayed with a thread of hope running through it all. As someone who can relate to that constant feeling of something being wrong, seeing it on the page felt meaningful and validating. 🩷💕
The romance runs a little surface level at times and a few plot moments felt a touch too convenient, but there are genuinely sweet scenes and some spicy moments that land really well too.
If you're after something quick and easy, set almost entirely over one week, with a heroine who feels genuinely human, this is worth your time. Not a 5 star read for me, but absolutely one I'm glad found its way onto my eReader. 📚❣️
ARC accessed via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 💛
Songs From Vacationland by Cate Summers - ⭐⭐⭐
Let's talk about that cover for a second. A cute nerdy guy and a gorgeous brunette? I am absolutely in love with it. Whoever designed this deserves all the credit. 😍🎈
I won't pretend I didn't have a feeling early on that this would land at 3 stars for me, but honestly, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I stumbled across this one through NetGalley and I'm so glad I did, because it's exactly the kind of book I might have scrolled right past otherwise. 🥰
The story pairs Madeline, a young widow, with Dean, a pharmacist, on a spontaneous road trip together. Look, is it a little far-fetched that you'd hop in a car with someone who was kind of rude to you at first? Absolutely. But if you're willing to suspend disbelief and just go with it, there's a lot of warmth waiting for you. Dean grows on you, genuinely, and by the end I liked him a lot more than I thought I would. 🚗✨
But Madeline? She's the whole heart of this book. Her hypochondria and anxiety are written with such care and realism, never mocked, never minimised, just honestly portrayed with a thread of hope running through it all. As someone who can relate to that constant feeling of something being wrong, seeing it on the page felt meaningful and validating. 🩷💕
The romance runs a little surface level at times and a few plot moments felt a touch too convenient, but there are genuinely sweet scenes and some spicy moments that land really well too.
If you're after something quick and easy, set almost entirely over one week, with a heroine who feels genuinely human, this is worth your time. Not a 5 star read for me, but absolutely one I'm glad found its way onto my eReader. 📚❣️
ARC accessed via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 💛
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve never had more trouble formulating a review. I've been procrastinating for like a day and a half now, because for the life of me I can't pinpoint exactly why this book wasn't it for me.
Starting with the good - I've picked this up in the first place because of anxiety representation, and it definitely delivered on that front. Madeline suffers from health anxiety. It's described quite consistently and makes her far from perfect as an FMC, but in a good way. I enjoyed her quirks and habits, and saw both myself and other people I have the pleasure of knowing in some of them.
Most of the spice was fine, and I liked some parts of the writing style - especially all the music- and water-related metaphors.
Unfortunately, I think that's it. I'll be honest, it kind of dragged. Some - if not most - of the writing style was clunky and choppy. Not everything, but some things they'd done/said didn’t make much sense. For example, at one point he was listing things about her Sherlock-style that he had no business knowing, and I wondered what the hell was going on. There were characters and ideas introduced and sort of abandoned. It just didn't click together.
I think the thing that bothered me most is the fact that I didn't like Dean. He was rude, said weird - also at points inapropriate - stuff, and just seemed... icky.
And that ending. I don't know if it was suposed to be romantic and adventurous or what, but they'd been on this roadtrip for like a week and she did WHAT for him? I'm sorry, that's insane. They were strangers a short time ago. Slow down.
Overall, every book needs to find its ideal audience, and as much as I thought I'd be a part of this one's, I'm simply not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to read the ARC!
Starting with the good - I've picked this up in the first place because of anxiety representation, and it definitely delivered on that front. Madeline suffers from health anxiety. It's described quite consistently and makes her far from perfect as an FMC, but in a good way. I enjoyed her quirks and habits, and saw both myself and other people I have the pleasure of knowing in some of them.
Most of the spice was fine, and I liked some parts of the writing style - especially all the music- and water-related metaphors.
Unfortunately, I think that's it. I'll be honest, it kind of dragged. Some - if not most - of the writing style was clunky and choppy. Not everything, but some things they'd done/said didn’t make much sense. For example, at one point he was listing things about her Sherlock-style that he had no business knowing, and I wondered what the hell was going on. There were characters and ideas introduced and sort of abandoned. It just didn't click together.
I think the thing that bothered me most is the fact that I didn't like Dean. He was rude, said weird - also at points inapropriate - stuff, and just seemed... icky.
And that ending. I don't know if it was suposed to be romantic and adventurous or what, but they'd been on this roadtrip for like a week and she did WHAT for him? I'm sorry, that's insane. They were strangers a short time ago. Slow down.
Overall, every book needs to find its ideal audience, and as much as I thought I'd be a part of this one's, I'm simply not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me a chance to read the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first time reading Cate Summers, and while I liked parts of this book, I didn’t love it overall.
The standout for me—and honestly the reason this is getting 2 stars—is Madeline. I loved her character. I was especially drawn to the fact that she’s a widow who genuinely loved her husband, and that love remains such a central part of her story. That emotional layer, combined with her struggles with hypochondria and grief, made her feel complex and real. Her journey was easily the most compelling part of the book.
Unfortunately, the rest didn’t hit the same. The writing started off fine but gradually felt choppy and a bit juvenile. I found myself skimming a lot because certain sections just didn’t hold my attention. And the constant inclusion of song lyrics? It was too much. The pieces Andy wrote for his wife were meaningful, but everything beyond that felt excessive and distracting.
Dean, the MMC… just didn’t work for me. He starts off as a jerk, apologizes, and then continues to act like a jerk for most of the book. I never fully bought into his growth, which made the romance hard to root for.
I was also confused by some of the side plot elements—especially with Eliza. Her relationship with Dean felt unclear, and her appearances seemed random and unnecessarily hostile. The same goes for Dean’s sister, who would pop in without really adding anything to the story.
The premise had so much potential and definitely hooked me at the start, but as the story went on, it felt cluttered with random developments that didn’t fully come together. Even after finishing, I was left more confused than satisfied.
💭 Final thoughts: Read for Madeline and her emotional journey—but be prepared for a messy plot and a romance that might not land.
The standout for me—and honestly the reason this is getting 2 stars—is Madeline. I loved her character. I was especially drawn to the fact that she’s a widow who genuinely loved her husband, and that love remains such a central part of her story. That emotional layer, combined with her struggles with hypochondria and grief, made her feel complex and real. Her journey was easily the most compelling part of the book.
Unfortunately, the rest didn’t hit the same. The writing started off fine but gradually felt choppy and a bit juvenile. I found myself skimming a lot because certain sections just didn’t hold my attention. And the constant inclusion of song lyrics? It was too much. The pieces Andy wrote for his wife were meaningful, but everything beyond that felt excessive and distracting.
Dean, the MMC… just didn’t work for me. He starts off as a jerk, apologizes, and then continues to act like a jerk for most of the book. I never fully bought into his growth, which made the romance hard to root for.
I was also confused by some of the side plot elements—especially with Eliza. Her relationship with Dean felt unclear, and her appearances seemed random and unnecessarily hostile. The same goes for Dean’s sister, who would pop in without really adding anything to the story.
The premise had so much potential and definitely hooked me at the start, but as the story went on, it felt cluttered with random developments that didn’t fully come together. Even after finishing, I was left more confused than satisfied.
💭 Final thoughts: Read for Madeline and her emotional journey—but be prepared for a messy plot and a romance that might not land.
April 14, 2026
Thank you for this opportunity to preview and review this book.
Songs from Vacationland follows the story of Madeline, a widow so devastated by grief that it throws her into debilitating hypochondiasis, and Dean, a gruff pharmacist clinician who somehow finds himself along for her journey. The two end up on an unlikely road trip visiting the sites of her late husband's final tour. Although their initial meetings are rough, Madeline soon finds herself opening up to the thought of love after loss and maybe realizing that there is a way out from under all of her grief.
The premise is good enough, Madeline is likeable and sympathetic. I could empathize with her health anxiety and her need to make sure she had every remedy at hand in the case of an emergency. For her, any slight symptom was an emergency. I enjoyed the way she started reflecting inward and realizing that though her grief was painful, she deserved "to see what's coming next." I admired the way she valued herself enough to push on.
The main problem I had with this story was Dean. From the beginning, he was rude, dismissive, and even cruel to Madeline. He showed her no sympathy, mocked her, and used her. Then all of a sudden he decided to "come clean" about why he really took her on the trip, and even that was cruel! No apology, no real explanation. It was hard to get into the relationship when I felt that was still unresolved. Without spoiling, in my opinion he does not get much better at all.
This book had a good idea, but the characters were lacking.
Songs from Vacationland follows the story of Madeline, a widow so devastated by grief that it throws her into debilitating hypochondiasis, and Dean, a gruff pharmacist clinician who somehow finds himself along for her journey. The two end up on an unlikely road trip visiting the sites of her late husband's final tour. Although their initial meetings are rough, Madeline soon finds herself opening up to the thought of love after loss and maybe realizing that there is a way out from under all of her grief.
The premise is good enough, Madeline is likeable and sympathetic. I could empathize with her health anxiety and her need to make sure she had every remedy at hand in the case of an emergency. For her, any slight symptom was an emergency. I enjoyed the way she started reflecting inward and realizing that though her grief was painful, she deserved "to see what's coming next." I admired the way she valued herself enough to push on.
The main problem I had with this story was Dean. From the beginning, he was rude, dismissive, and even cruel to Madeline. He showed her no sympathy, mocked her, and used her. Then all of a sudden he decided to "come clean" about why he really took her on the trip, and even that was cruel! No apology, no real explanation. It was hard to get into the relationship when I felt that was still unresolved. Without spoiling, in my opinion he does not get much better at all.
This book had a good idea, but the characters were lacking.
April 1, 2026
2.75 ⭐️
Arc read thanks to NetGalley
The story follows Madeline, who is a grieving widow diagnosed with illness-related anxiety and panic attacks, and Dean, working at the local pharmacy. After Madeline finds a letter from her late husband she decides to go on a sudden road trip across Maine and to watch every tribute concert in her late husband’s honour, so that she find a closure and finally move on with her life. After a mishap over the last rental car in town Madeline and Dean find themselves going on this impromptu road trip for a week. Things complicate when they start to catch feelings for each other especially since Madeline is still in the process of healing and Dean has a little sister and a mother that rely on him.
My problem with this book was that the MMC wasn’t well written enough for me, at the start of the novel we see him take on a very rude approach with Madeline, who was literally a client in the pharmacy having a panic attack, and while he was okay during the middle of the story, his character took a sudden negative turn there’s the end. His commitment to not opening up to Madeline whilst knowing everything about her threw ne off a little.
It would have been better if we, as readers, had a little more insight on Dean’s character and personality.
Madeline, on the other hands, was a very well written character, albeit a little soft on Dean, but still I like her way more.
Arc read thanks to NetGalley
The story follows Madeline, who is a grieving widow diagnosed with illness-related anxiety and panic attacks, and Dean, working at the local pharmacy. After Madeline finds a letter from her late husband she decides to go on a sudden road trip across Maine and to watch every tribute concert in her late husband’s honour, so that she find a closure and finally move on with her life. After a mishap over the last rental car in town Madeline and Dean find themselves going on this impromptu road trip for a week. Things complicate when they start to catch feelings for each other especially since Madeline is still in the process of healing and Dean has a little sister and a mother that rely on him.
My problem with this book was that the MMC wasn’t well written enough for me, at the start of the novel we see him take on a very rude approach with Madeline, who was literally a client in the pharmacy having a panic attack, and while he was okay during the middle of the story, his character took a sudden negative turn there’s the end. His commitment to not opening up to Madeline whilst knowing everything about her threw ne off a little.
It would have been better if we, as readers, had a little more insight on Dean’s character and personality.
Madeline, on the other hands, was a very well written character, albeit a little soft on Dean, but still I like her way more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2026
This is one of those instances where expectations were better than reality.
The premise of this book is so interesting and unlike anything I've ever read before. Madeline, a grieving widow, decides to take a road trip to a bunch of tribute concerts in her husband's honor in order to get some closure and finally move on. She's tried to do the trip before, but wasn't able to, mostly due to the fact that she's a huge hypochondriac and barely made it out of town before thinking she was having a heart attack. It wasn't, of course, just a regular old panic attack, but she didn't know that at the time.
One day, while visiting the pharmacy she goes to every day, she meets Dean behind the counter instead of the regular owner. He's initially very rude to her and somehow ends up agreeing to drive her to the first spot. This eventually ends up with him driving her the whole way, and the two become closer.
I think this book could have been a lot better had Dean not had the personality he did. He isn't just rude to Madeline, he can be downright mean to her, and as a pharmacist, not being sympathetic to her condition AT ALL rubbed me the wrong way. To be fair, this is mostly in the first half but it was always in the back of my head. Also the reveal of why he agreed to take her on the trip in the first place was gross and I just wasn't finding myself rooting for them to be together, which you never want in a romance. When they finally do get together, it doesn't really feel earned to me, and the second half feels like a totally different book from the first half.
This is relatively short and a pretty quick read, but I don't think it's one I'll be revisiting.
The premise of this book is so interesting and unlike anything I've ever read before. Madeline, a grieving widow, decides to take a road trip to a bunch of tribute concerts in her husband's honor in order to get some closure and finally move on. She's tried to do the trip before, but wasn't able to, mostly due to the fact that she's a huge hypochondriac and barely made it out of town before thinking she was having a heart attack. It wasn't, of course, just a regular old panic attack, but she didn't know that at the time.
One day, while visiting the pharmacy she goes to every day, she meets Dean behind the counter instead of the regular owner. He's initially very rude to her and somehow ends up agreeing to drive her to the first spot. This eventually ends up with him driving her the whole way, and the two become closer.
I think this book could have been a lot better had Dean not had the personality he did. He isn't just rude to Madeline, he can be downright mean to her, and as a pharmacist, not being sympathetic to her condition AT ALL rubbed me the wrong way. To be fair, this is mostly in the first half but it was always in the back of my head. Also the reveal of why he agreed to take her on the trip in the first place was gross and I just wasn't finding myself rooting for them to be together, which you never want in a romance. When they finally do get together, it doesn't really feel earned to me, and the second half feels like a totally different book from the first half.
This is relatively short and a pretty quick read, but I don't think it's one I'll be revisiting.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was really excited for this book, but unfortunately, it wasn’t one of my favorite reads.
Madeline has a lot of personal struggles, and while they were portrayed clearly, it was often difficult to read about everything she was going through. As for Dean, he came across as a jerk for most of the book—and not in an enjoyable or redeemable way. He was very judgmental, and the amount of knowledge he had about Madeline’s life felt more unsettling than intriguing.
I also found the side plots confusing. Characters would appear briefly and then disappear without much development, which made the story feel a bit disjointed. The romance, in particular, didn’t work for me. It felt rushed and unrealistic—I struggled to believe that someone could resolve so many personal issues in just a week, or fall in love that quickly, especially when the characters barely knew each other beforehand.
And unfortunately, the ending didn’t improve my overall impression.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Madeline has a lot of personal struggles, and while they were portrayed clearly, it was often difficult to read about everything she was going through. As for Dean, he came across as a jerk for most of the book—and not in an enjoyable or redeemable way. He was very judgmental, and the amount of knowledge he had about Madeline’s life felt more unsettling than intriguing.
I also found the side plots confusing. Characters would appear briefly and then disappear without much development, which made the story feel a bit disjointed. The romance, in particular, didn’t work for me. It felt rushed and unrealistic—I struggled to believe that someone could resolve so many personal issues in just a week, or fall in love that quickly, especially when the characters barely knew each other beforehand.
And unfortunately, the ending didn’t improve my overall impression.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Did Not Finish
April 14, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will be honest that had I fully understood the premise, I would not have requested this book. "Illness-related anxiety" did not fully clue me into the hypochondria diagnosis. Perhaps I should have known. As someone with severe endometriosis (I have lost 5 organs and had 4 surgeries) with a delayed diagnosis of about 12 years who also developed rheumatoid arthritis and likely had that 3+ years before diagnosis, I do not cope well with medical gaslighting. Of course, hypochondria is a real illness as well, but assigning it to a woman because she's been through trauma (again legitimate), it's just too triggering for me. The MMC's behavior toward her was infantilizing and unkind, and I was very sad to see it.
The answer to these issues is therapy, not romance.
The writing was also a bit overly explanatory, but I could have likely stuck with it outside of the triggers. Which again, could be mostly personal.
I will be honest that had I fully understood the premise, I would not have requested this book. "Illness-related anxiety" did not fully clue me into the hypochondria diagnosis. Perhaps I should have known. As someone with severe endometriosis (I have lost 5 organs and had 4 surgeries) with a delayed diagnosis of about 12 years who also developed rheumatoid arthritis and likely had that 3+ years before diagnosis, I do not cope well with medical gaslighting. Of course, hypochondria is a real illness as well, but assigning it to a woman because she's been through trauma (again legitimate), it's just too triggering for me. The MMC's behavior toward her was infantilizing and unkind, and I was very sad to see it.
The answer to these issues is therapy, not romance.
The writing was also a bit overly explanatory, but I could have likely stuck with it outside of the triggers. Which again, could be mostly personal.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Madeline vive convencida de que se va a morir en cualquier momento, aunque en realidad lo que la persigue es su propia ansiedad. Desde que su esposo Andy murió de forma inesperada, su mundo cambió y se lleno de miedo. Apenas sale, siempre piensa lo peor y su vida gira en torno a inventarse enfermedades.
Pero un día algo cambia. Un comentario medio grosero de un farmacéutico la empuja a hacer algo que llevaba años evitando. Agarra una maleta, unos recuerdos y una idea bastante impulsiva y decide recorrer los lugares donde su esposo tocó antes de morir. Como si seguir sus pasos pudiera acercarla otra vez a él o al menos ayudarla a sentirse viva.
El problema es que no sabe manejar su ansiedad, no tiene un plan real y termina viajando con alguien que claramente no le cae bien. Y aun así, sigue adelante. Porque tal vez este viaje no es solo sobre Andy, sino sobre aprender a salir del miedo que la tiene atrapada.
Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC.
Pero un día algo cambia. Un comentario medio grosero de un farmacéutico la empuja a hacer algo que llevaba años evitando. Agarra una maleta, unos recuerdos y una idea bastante impulsiva y decide recorrer los lugares donde su esposo tocó antes de morir. Como si seguir sus pasos pudiera acercarla otra vez a él o al menos ayudarla a sentirse viva.
El problema es que no sabe manejar su ansiedad, no tiene un plan real y termina viajando con alguien que claramente no le cae bien. Y aun así, sigue adelante. Porque tal vez este viaje no es solo sobre Andy, sino sobre aprender a salir del miedo que la tiene atrapada.
Gracias NetGalley y al publicista por el ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book…. where do I even begin. It’s perfect. The story starts with Madeline, a widow with health anxiety, making her daily trip to the pharmacy across the street. Instead of her usual pharmacist, who is so patient and “kind” to her, she is greeted by Dean, a blunt, but handsome, new pharmacist. He doesn’t coddle Madeline and instead lights a fire in her to do something bold.
An unexpected issue at the car rental company leads to Madeline and Dean road-tripping up the coast of Maine. They each discover the other is totally different from what they thought and what unfolds is such a sweet love story.
I love how Dean and Madeline blossomed from the first stop of the trip to the last. The comfort they found in each other, the way they used their personality differences to help each other. It was beautiful. The mental health struggle was handled beautifully and I appreciate that as someone who also struggles.
I will definitely be recommending this book to others!
An unexpected issue at the car rental company leads to Madeline and Dean road-tripping up the coast of Maine. They each discover the other is totally different from what they thought and what unfolds is such a sweet love story.
I love how Dean and Madeline blossomed from the first stop of the trip to the last. The comfort they found in each other, the way they used their personality differences to help each other. It was beautiful. The mental health struggle was handled beautifully and I appreciate that as someone who also struggles.
I will definitely be recommending this book to others!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC for exchange of my honest review.
The good thing:
- if you want to know about some anxiety disorder, especially hypochondriac, this book is for you.
-if you want a quick and fluffy reading, this book is for you
The bad thing:
- I just don't understand Madeline's feeling.
At first , I thought that she got anxiety because her husband's sudden death caused by aneurysm.
She doesn't seem to mind that she would pay the car rent+Dean's man hour fee by selling her dead husband's guitar.
After spending only a week with Dean, she decided to sell her former house and move to a completely different town.
Eh?
So her anxiety is based on her trauma of losing her husband or because she can't control the health of her husband? Don't forget that she was like that for 5 years and then wham, after meeting the "right" man, she is suddenly getting better.
I don't know maybe it is me that not really understand about the mental condition. But I feel it strange.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC for exchange of my honest review.
The good thing:
- if you want to know about some anxiety disorder, especially hypochondriac, this book is for you.
-if you want a quick and fluffy reading, this book is for you
The bad thing:
- I just don't understand Madeline's feeling.
At first , I thought that she got anxiety because her husband's sudden death caused by aneurysm.
She doesn't seem to mind that she would pay the car rent+Dean's man hour fee by selling her dead husband's guitar.
After spending only a week with Dean, she decided to sell her former house and move to a completely different town.
Eh?
So her anxiety is based on her trauma of losing her husband or because she can't control the health of her husband? Don't forget that she was like that for 5 years and then wham, after meeting the "right" man, she is suddenly getting better.
I don't know maybe it is me that not really understand about the mental condition. But I feel it strange.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2026
A moving and inspirational contemporary grumpy x grumpy romance about a grieving widow who is an anxious hypochondriac trying to move on after the tragic death of her famous folk musician husband. Madeline has been living the life of a recluse after losing her husband but the anniversary of his death spurs her to attend his revival/remembrance tour where she finds herself forced to interact with the grumpy new pharmacist who she thinks hates her. I really enjoyed this slow burn romance that has great mental heath and disability rep, lots of growth and was an extremely relatable depiction of how hard it is to move on after losing a loved one after they die tragically and unexpectedly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ARC from Netgalley and thought it was really cute. Dean and Madeline are a very unlikely couple. Madeline has been struggling with anxiety and hypochondria ever since the loss of her husband and Dean works in the pharmacy across the street. At first the two seem quite angry with one another but a twist of fate finds them off on a road trip across Maine in the dead of winter so Madeline can attend tribute concerts in her husband's honor and Dean can visit his mother and sister. Of course the more time they spend together the more they find they like about each other.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thought this book was a lovely blend of romance and a realistic portrayal of grief. The story follows Madeline, a widow dealing with significant hypochondriacal anxiety. She winds up having to share a rental car with Dean, a man who works at the Pharmacy she frequents. While he isn't necessarily likable at first, I really enjoyed the forced proximity of the story.
The book was cute and filled with genuine emotional connection. I would have liked just a tad more background on Dean, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.
I would definitely recommend this to my friends!
The book was cute and filled with genuine emotional connection. I would have liked just a tad more background on Dean, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.
I would definitely recommend this to my friends!
Did Not Finish
May 3, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Cate Summers for the chance to read this book!
I decided not to finish this book. I understand that the MMC is meant to come across as grumpy, but he felt overly harsh and, at times, unnecessarily mean toward a woman dealing with mental health issues. By the time I reached around 15%, I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with the dynamic between them.
As someone who has struggled with depression, the way those interactions were portrayed started to hit a little too close to home, and not in a way that felt thoughtful or well-handled. It became difficult to stay immersed in the story when I was more focused on how unsettling those moments felt.
I did give it a fair try and wanted to see if things would shift or develop with more nuance, but ultimately it wasn’t an experience I felt good continuing.
I decided not to finish this book. I understand that the MMC is meant to come across as grumpy, but he felt overly harsh and, at times, unnecessarily mean toward a woman dealing with mental health issues. By the time I reached around 15%, I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with the dynamic between them.
As someone who has struggled with depression, the way those interactions were portrayed started to hit a little too close to home, and not in a way that felt thoughtful or well-handled. It became difficult to stay immersed in the story when I was more focused on how unsettling those moments felt.
I did give it a fair try and wanted to see if things would shift or develop with more nuance, but ultimately it wasn’t an experience I felt good continuing.
April 9, 2026
Madeline is ridden with anxiety and panic attacks ever since her musician husband, Andy, died during a concert. Dean is the new pharmacist, knowing she frequents the drug store every day. It has been five years since Andy's death and Madeline wants to attend 5 concerts. Dean decides to drive her. I loved how Dean supported Madeline through her anxiety attacks and panic moments. I enjoyed their experiences at the concerts. Great book, showing the power of love and music.
April 10, 2026
First things first, thank you Netgalley and also Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC!
Secondlyl, I did really love our FMC, Madeline, seeing I am suffering from anxiety myself. Not sure what I would have done when being in her shoes, but going on this roadtrip after her late husband's death was just so brave, and I did really feel so many emotions while reading this one... also, Dean seemed to be such a sweeetheart! Overall, I can only very much recommend this one!
Secondlyl, I did really love our FMC, Madeline, seeing I am suffering from anxiety myself. Not sure what I would have done when being in her shoes, but going on this roadtrip after her late husband's death was just so brave, and I did really feel so many emotions while reading this one... also, Dean seemed to be such a sweeetheart! Overall, I can only very much recommend this one!
May 5, 2026
Thanks for the copy, Cate and BookSirens! Maddie and Dean's story was so... IDK, poignant? bittersweet? Smth like that... I felt deeply for Mads. I looved that they were in a forced proximity situation and that he did not like her that much (I mean, she needs your help, and you get paid, so??) Anyway, "hate" to love was 10/10, their opposites attract dynamic was also 10/10. I enjoyed reading Songs from Vacationland sooo much ♥ Loved the HEA
May 15, 2026
💫🌲 Songs From Vacationland 🌲💫
As an anxiety girlie, I was so excited for this one.
It wasn't quite what I was hoping for, the pacing was super slow.
But I still enjoyed this overall.
Definitely check your triggers on this one.
✨ What to Expect
• Widow heroine
• Grief and healing
• Road trip romance
• Forced proximity
• Small town
• Anxiety Rep
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy.
As an anxiety girlie, I was so excited for this one.
It wasn't quite what I was hoping for, the pacing was super slow.
But I still enjoyed this overall.
Definitely check your triggers on this one.
✨ What to Expect
• Widow heroine
• Grief and healing
• Road trip romance
• Forced proximity
• Small town
• Anxiety Rep
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cate Summers never disappoints me! I enjoy her writing style and thought this was a cute book! I can relate to pieces of Madeline’s life and Dean’s as well. The characters grew on me by the middle and I thought it ended nearly perfect. Thank you to Cate for sending me this ARC! I’ll be purchasing as a book trophy as soon as it releases!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
RTC
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
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