One Summer with You

by Leigh von Bargen

Eighteen-year-old Maggie has always survived by maintaining strict self-control. After growing up in a chaotic foster care system, she built a protective wall around her heart. Her world finally stabilized when she was taken in by her guardian, Rachel. That was where she met her best friend, Owen, holding tight to a safe, unrequited love for him.

Maggie never planned on spending her final summer before college in Laguna Beach with Daniel Langston. When Rachel takes a sudden job in London, Maggie must go stay with Daniel for a couple of weeks. She just needs to wait there until Rachel is settled.
Putting two fiercely independent, strong-willed people under one roof instantly sparks a volatile tension. Daniel is a walled-off, brilliant twenty-three-year-old executive drowning in his own unresolved grief, while Maggie is a brash, sharp-tongued force who refuses to be controlled. At first, they are ready to kill each other. But as the summer heat intensifies, their explosive arguments transform into an undeniable, electric chemistry.

Some relationships come with invisible lines, and once crossed, everything changes. As Maggie and Daniel surrender to a passionate affair, Maggie finds herself letting down her guard for the first time in her life. But their stolen fairytale is built on fragile ground. With a looming departure for college and the dangerous, unhinged obsession of Daniel's ex-girlfriend lurking in the shadows, their new beginning is on a direct collision course with a devastating tragedy.

In this emotionally gripping, bittersweet romance, Maggie is forced to discover if her hard-won inner strength is enough to survive an earth-shattering loss. Healing takes time, but as the pieces of her broken life begin to settle, Maggie discovers that a happy ending is still possible—it just might not be the one she originally planned.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Michelle B]

Cute contemporary romance read! The ending broke my heart, wasnt expecting that.
Debut book by author?

[Tammy Smith]

Great romantic beach read!! Loved it!! Well written.

[Kimberly Baker]

Great book. Such relatable characters and you definitely connect with them. Kept me turning the pages. The ending…..🥹❤️
Would absolutely recommend!!

[Sahaja]

One Summer with You

by

Leigh Von Bargen

Rating:5/5

Review:

👉This book is the kind of romance that starts with sparks and slowly turns into something much deeper and more emotional than expected. Maggie is such a memorable character strong, outspoken, independent, and determined not to let anyone get close enough to hurt her. After everything she has experienced growing up in the foster care system, her guarded nature makes complete sense, and I loved watching the story gradually reveal the softer parts of her personality.

👉Then there is Daniel, who is just as emotionally closed off, although for very different reasons. Putting Maggie and Daniel under the same roof is practically guaranteed to create chaos, and their constant clashes give the story plenty of tension and energy. Their arguments, stubbornness, and undeniable attraction create a chemistry that is impossible to ignore. What begins with frustration slowly develops into something far more complicated, making their relationship one of the most engaging parts of the book.

👉I also really enjoyed the emotional layers surrounding Maggie's relationships, especially her friendship with Owen. The feelings and history between them add another dimension to Maggie's journey and make her choices feel more complicated and believable. The Laguna Beach setting gives the story that perfect summer atmosphere, but beneath the sunshine and romance is a much heavier story about grief, trust, vulnerability, and learning how to let someone into your life.

👉What really surprised me was how much the story changes emotionally as it progresses. This isn't simply a light summer romance filled with beautiful moments and chemistry. The looming problems surrounding Daniel's past and his ex-girlfriend, along with Maggie's upcoming departure for college, create a growing sense that their happiness may not last. When tragedy eventually enters the story, Maggie's journey becomes one of heartbreak, survival, healing, and finding the courage to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

Happy reading 😊

#bookreview

[Rashi Verma]

One Summer With You is a deeply emotional, beautifully written and completely captivating romance that pulls you in from the very first page and refuses to let go until the final bittersweet breath. Leigh Von Bargen writes with a raw, honest intensity that makes every charged moment between Maggie and Daniel feel utterly real and utterly inevitable.

Maggie is one of the most compelling romantic heroines I have encountered in recent fiction. Forged by the chaos of the foster care system and protected by walls built from hard won survival, she arrives in Laguna Beach with no intention of letting anyone in. Daniel is equally guarded, brilliant and drowning in unresolved grief, and putting these two fiercely independent people under one roof creates the kind of explosive, crackling tension that makes slow burn romance so gloriously addictive. Their transformation from wanting to kill each other to surrendering to something electric and terrifying is written with tremendous skill and emotional authenticity.

But Von Bargen does not let the sunshine last without consequence. The lurking obsession of Daniel's ex, the looming reality of college and the devastating tragedy that tears through their stolen fairytale give this story a depth and emotional weight that elevates it far beyond a standard beach romance. The journey Maggie must then make back to herself is handled with extraordinary care and genuine hope.

[Prisha Rohra]

This book completely caught me off guard. I went into it expecting a romance, but what I got was a much more emotional and layered story about love, grief, trauma, and learning how to let people in.

Maggie was easily my favourite part of the story. She is strong, stubborn, guarded, and sometimes frustrating, but that is exactly what makes her feel real. Watching her slowly lower the walls she has built around herself and allow herself to feel vulnerable was one of the most touching aspects of the book. Daniel, with all his emotional baggage and complicated personality, makes their relationship intense and unpredictable. Their chemistry is undeniable, but what really stood out to me was the emotional connection underneath all that tension.

There is heartbreak, difficult choices, loss, and a lot of emotional growth along the way. Some parts genuinely hurt, while others were beautifully tender.

The writing kept me emotionally invested, and by the end, I felt like I had gone through the entire journey with Maggie rather than simply reading about it.

Definitely a great pick for readers who enjoy emotionally intense romances with complicated characters, strong chemistry, heartbreak, and a story that reminds you that healing doesn't always mean forgetting—it means learning how to move forward.

[Jackie]

I loved the characters in this book and the storyline. At first I had a little trouble getting into it but once I did I was hooked! I definitely wasn’t expecting the twist at the end!
What a great first novel for this author!

[smalltownspellbound]

I just completely fell in love with this book! I could not put it down and binge read it in two days. Maggie and Daniel have my heart.

I was so impressed with all the emotions that Leigh von Bargen makes you feel with her writing. It is so beautiful. I laugh, cried, and just devoured this story.

Tropes:
Forbidden love
Age gap
Suspense
Found family
Love after loss

If you happen to be a spice skipper when you read (personal preference), I had no problem skimming a few chapters and still following along with the book.

This is one of those books that breaks your heart, pieces it back together, and leaves you with a complete book hangover. So glad I had the chance to read it!