Girls Just Wanna Have Sun

Summer Lovin' #4

by Rachel Lacey

While vacationing at a lakefront house with her friends, a woman prepares to risk it all for the one that got away, in this second-chance sapphic romance from award-winning author Rachel Lacey.

All Morgan wants is a relaxing day on the water. Instead, she accepts a “yes day” challenge that results in a series of increasingly flirty encounters with the beautiful woman she kissed eight years ago. This challenge—and Juliette—will push Morgan out of her comfort zone, but if she succeeds, she might get to say yes to something even more unexpected: love.

Rachel Lacey’s Girls Just Wanna Have Sun is part of Summer Lovin’, a sweet and sultry collection of short summer romances that turn up the heat—and the heart. Read or listen to each short story in one easy, breezy sitting.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Summer, Novella, Contemporary, Lesbian, Short Stories

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

About the author

Rachel Lacey is an award-winning contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in the mountains of Vermont with her family and a variety of rescue pets.

Reviews

[Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Visai trumputė, vos 57 puslapių istorija, kuri pasakoja apie Morgan ir Juliette.
Morgan su kolegomis atvyksta prie ežero, kur ketina nerūpestingai praleisti dieną. Visas nerūpestingumas išgaruoja, kuomet ji sutinka su kolegės pasiūlymu, viskam tą dieną sakyti "taip". Taip susikerta jos ir Julliete keliai, nors kadaise jie jau taip pat buvo susidūrę. Ir Morgan to negali pamiršti jau aštuonerius metus..

Tai buvo lengas, neįpareigojantis skaitinys. Nesu skaičiusi daug short story, tačiau ši istorija man pasirodė tikrai kiek per trumpa. Neįtikino manęs ir tai, jog Morgan kadaise pabučiavo Julliete ir to bučinio nepamiršo tiek metų. Na, visa šita dalis manęs visiškai neįtikino 😜
Tad kažkokių didelių emocijų man ši istorija nesukėlė, kaip ir minėjau prieš tai, lengva bei trumpa istorija ✨️

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Anna Moss shout out!! Love that 😍
This was such a cute novella! I really enjoyed it and tandem read with the audiobook (which is included with the KU book) this is part of a Summer Lovin’ series and I think the rest in that series are MF.

Written in Third Person with 2x POV’s. Narrated by Quinn Riley & Emily Lawrence. Sapphic Romance, Second Chance, Summer Vacation, “Yes Day”, Dog Companion, One Tent.

[casey ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

tropes
💋 second chance ish
🐾 found family
🩵 sapphic romance

this one fell short for me because morgan just idk annoyed me?

[labibliofille · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but kinda "meh". :/

[Lia Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too cheesy for me. I was excited for it to be a sapphic romance but for me the story left a lot to be desired.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far Rachel Lacey's story is my favorite in the Summer Lovin' collection. A bisexual awakening, Sapphic romance set at a lake house that has a perfect combo of summer vibes and new love. It was good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Alexandria Bellefleur or Ashley Herring Blake.

[Caroline Isnor]

DNF at 50% both main characters give me such an ick I can’t

[Eclectic Queer Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me Mrs. Lacey you know you ain't right, right!? This was such a fabulous tease and it ended so abruptly that I'm selfishly impatiently waiting for the entire story because I know you just wouldn't leave us on the edge. I am upset (light weight jk) because you know good and well that we would fall extremely hard for Juliette and Morgan and Roux omg I just know his character art will be the cutest! I'm extremely dramatic and yes you just have to take it at this point because then you had Quinn Riley as one of the narrators and just left us hanging... 10s across the board and it was only one hour and some change...Awesome experience!

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOATHE third person. It really takes me out of the story. But you know what else takes me out of the story, insufferable characters. Both of these women were so annoying. With Juliette playing it like she had no clue who Morgan was and also rolling her eyes. And then Morgan just being a scaredy cat about every little thing. These two should have taken the sign from Roux the dog who very clearly did everything in their power to keep these two apart.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this idea was sweet. I liked the reconnection. Obvious trope usage but it comes with the novella territory. Good on the outdoor summer vibes.

Heated make-out.

[Jazzy]

She had a tattoo

[Hare Llow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loveeeeeeed ittt 🍨✨

[LollyDolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ Roux the dog did not want these two together.

[Nicole H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

[Bianca Swart · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

This was sweet, I have nothing negative to say, sapphic just isn't my thing. 

[Megan O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - and we love getting stranded on an island in the middle of a lake during a storm with an old flame!!

[Lanii Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Becca Crockford · Rating 1 out of 5]

huh?

[angelpompom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Morgan to be pretty annoying.

[Julissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has all the summer vibes. I liked the idea of the second opportunity meet cute and the “yes” day, but I didn’t feel connected to the characters or invested in the outcome.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six summer romance novellas to get you in the mood for the hottest months of the year!
🏕️ S’more of You: Margot has spent years pranking fellow camp counselor Dean, but this summer she’s ready to admit she has a crush on him. Unfortunately, Dean thinks her confession is just another joke, leaving Margot scrambling to prove she’s serious before summer ends.
🤠 Save a Horse, Keep the Cowboy: Country music star Josie Reid returns to her Texas hometown for her brother’s wedding and comes face-to-face with Weston Jessup, the ex who broke her heart. As old feelings resurface, Wes hopes for a second chance.
💒 One Hot Summer Wedding: At a destination wedding in Costa Rica, Lucy is reunited with Beckett, her childhood crush. When they end up sharing a hotel room, old feelings quickly resurface.
👙 Girls Just Wanna Have Sun: A “yes day” challenge leads Morgan into a series of flirty encounters with Juliette, the woman she kissed eight years ago. As she steps outside her comfort zone, Morgan may just find herself saying yes to love.
✈️ Summer Staycation: Florida summers overwhelm Beck, but she finds comfort in Lucas, a travel blogger who truly understands her. A carefree weekend together feels easy, but saying goodbye afterward is much harder.
🥅 Summer Thaw by RJ When a summer hockey camp puts rivals Hattie Cannon and Colin Jettson in the same hotel, they’re forced to spend time together. As tensions ease, they discover there may be more between them than competition.
☀️
I loved that this collection available on KU with #audiobooks features more diverse characters. Book 4 is a sapphic romance which is the first I’ve seen in one of the Amazon Original Stories and the sensory issues representation in book 5 was done well.

[Katie Morad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun by Rachel Lacey is the kind of quick summer romance that feels like sunshine in book form. Set during a lakefront getaway, this sapphic second-chance romance follows Morgan as a silly “yes day” challenge pushes her straight back toward the woman she kissed years ago—and never fully forgot.

I absolutely loved the easy, breezy feel of this story. Even though it’s short, Rachel Lacey still manages to create chemistry that feels genuine and sweet without rushing the emotional connection. Morgan and Juliette’s flirtation was playful, nostalgic, and full of tension in the best way. The lakeside summer setting made the whole story feel warm, light, and escapist.

This was such a fun, feel-good read that perfectly balances romance, friendship, vulnerability, and summer vibes. If you enjoy sapphic romances, second-chance love stories, and short books that leave you smiling, this one is definitely worth picking up for a sunny afternoon by the pool or beach.

[Abbey Wales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun by Rachel Lacey ⭐⭐⭐

This was book four in the Summer Lovin’ Collection and my most recent read ☀️

This sapphic romance follows two women who find themselves spending the summer together and slowly discovering that what started as friendship might be turning into something more. I really enjoyed the summer setting, the LGBTQ+ representation, and the sweet friends-to-lovers vibe throughout the story. The relationship felt genuine, and there were plenty of cute moments that had me rooting for them.

The whole book had a light, feel-good atmosphere that made it an easy read, perfect for a summer afternoon by the pool or on the beach.

Overall, a sweet sapphic romance and a solid 3-star read for me 🫶🌈

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smiles all around!

Morgan and Juliette's short story paddleboarding, romping on the beach with Roux the dog, and being stranded on an island during a rainstorm definitely brought smiles to my face. I love Rachel's writing. It is always warm and sweet with a few sexy bits thrown in. As I was reading/listening to this story, I could even visualize the photos that were described. The wonderful duo narration by Quinn Riley and Emily Lawrence was a special bonus. Brava, Rachel, and congrats on being selected as an Amazon Original. I already think you are one of a kind!!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!
I've been wanting to pick something by this author for awhile, so this was the perfect way to do that! This one was really cute! I loved both characters and the premise that they shared a kiss years ago but aren't sure if the other one remembers. The author did a great job of setting the scene and giving us just a little suspense and drama with the paddleboard scene. I will say that I wanted the kiss to be just a little more delayed, maybe a little more intimate, but this was definitely a good foray into this author's work and I am interested to pick up more!

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

One epic kiss -a bi-awakening - and eight long years before chance (and a dog named Roux) brings them together again.

This was a fun novella with a lot packed into a short amount of time for Morgan and Juliette. There were some fun call outs to past work by Rachel so if you love her characters see if you can find all of references!

The story is short, sweet, and fast paced. a low angst, forced proximity romp in the water.

[Teresa Ruscito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, girls really DO wanna have sun!!! Love that one of these summer loving novella installments is a sapphic story. This was such a sweet way for two people to have a meet cute and then another re meet cute. I loved the idea of the YES day. I loved how Morgan and Juliette’s time together over this beautiful sunny day brother them closer emotionally. I also loved Roux the dog. Spice was mild and sweet 🌶️🌶️

[Andietrue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet

Rachel has such a knack of making you instantly fall for her main MCs. She’s also great at bringing the setting to life so vividly that you are instantly immersed in it. This little novella was so much fun and Juliette, Morgan and Roux were super loveable. How is it that so much warmth and unfolding of a bigger story can be packed into such a short piece. Just lovely. 😍

[Laila Baggar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute and fun summer read! I really enjoyed the overall vibes of the story, and it was the perfect book to read for something light and enjoyable. It was also my first WLW romance, and I ended up really liking it. The characters were sweet, and the romance was enjoyable to follow. Overall, I had a great time reading it, and I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to picking up something similar in the future!

[Natalie Mazzanti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another cute novella in the summer lovin’ collection. Fun summery setting, well developed leads, and added bonus of a dog is a character. Thought Juliette was a bit abrasive? Stuck up? But Morgan softened her a bit and it felt like a pair that may make it in the ends. Nothing too swoony for me, but it was sweet and worked for a novella.