Good for the Summer

Christmas Island #2

by Emma Davie

Sometimes the road to forever starts with a summer of pretending.

Violet Ross needs a summer getaway, preferably one far away from Vancouver Island, her big, hopelessly nosy family, and the questions she can’t seem to outrun about why, at thirty-three, she’s never had a boyfriend. Cape Breton feels like the perfect reset: her two best friends are there, the coastline is stunning, and it’s an entire country away from her lack of a job and the life she’s not sure how to fix. But while she's running from her problems, Violet runs smack into Finn Campbell, the cocky, smug, roguishly handsome brother of her best friend’s husband-to-be, and suddenly her quiet summer plans don’t stand a chance.

Finn needs a happily-ever-after, or at least someone who believes he’s capable of one. After another heartbreak, he’s hauled himself from Scotland to “the middle of nowhere” Canada for his brother’s wedding–the perfect hero brother with the perfect love story, of course. Tired of being dismissed as a flirt who is perpetually unserious, Finn comes up with a mad idea: Violet will pretend to be his girlfriend for the wedding whirlwind to prove everyone wrong. What starts as a simple deal turns surprisingly easy, as they explore Cape Breton and get swept up in last-minute wedding chaos. But as their “relationship” starts to fool everyone else, Violet and Finn begin to wonder who they're really fooling. And it turns out what’s just “good for the summer” can leave a lasting mark long after the season is over.

272 pages, ebook

Published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read by Emma Davie. She does such a great job at capturing language and location. As a resident Nova Scotian, every vista she paints feels like a place I have been before, even when I haven’t had the privilege to go (but boy, would I love to go to Christmas Island!)

The perfect summer read!

[Parkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal book. I don’t think I can articulate what specifically I loved about it, because I loved everything about it!

First of all, fake dating is one of the best tropes in the romance genre and this book did it exceptionally well. Was Finn absolutely delusional when coming up with his scheme? Yes. But MAN did it turn out so good. It had all the hallmarks of what makes this kind of book so good, and makes you squeal with glee and want to scream “Come on you idiots!!! You love each other!!! For the love of god!!!”

And like the authors previous book Home to Christmas Island there’s more to it than just the romance. The main characters are figuring out their lives, and dealing with other issues that felt real and relatable.

I think I need to book a trip to Cape Breton soon.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I really enjoyed this. Perfect chemistry between the main characters but, as with the first book, I also loved how flushed out and clearly cherished their respective friendships were. Finn and Violet’s struggles were so relatable (too relatable), but it still managed to make me smile like an idiot the whole way through. Highly recommend!

[Emma Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh hi it's me, marking my own book as read haha! Hope you all enjoy it and don't forget to check out Violet's Cape Breton Summer playlist at the end of the book :)

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure it deserves a better rating but it's not my personal preference type of book.

[Kailee Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! A perfect summer read that makes you want to head to the east coast for the summer 💜

[Gabrielle Silgalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for a summer read!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The MMC was great but the FMC was kind of annoying in her refusal to accept anything he said.