Sunset Swim

by Julia Christine

Cami thought her life would look a lot different by now. She always pictured marriage, a lovely home, a family, a dog–the whole package. When a messy breakup leaves her without a place to live and no clue what her future holds, she accepts a kind invitation from her best friend spend the summer at her family’s beach cottage.

With salt air and coastal small-town charm, Covington Beach, North Carolina is the perfect place for Cami to heal and grow her relationship with the Lord. When she befriends Ava’s kindhearted cousin Ty, who has grown apprehensive about love, she begins to wonder what God has up His sleeve.

But as summer draws to a close, old wounds and anxieties threaten to drive a wedge in their budding relationship. Cami and Ty are faced with the decision to hold onto their carefully laid plans or to trust the Lord to write a far better story.

Sunset Swim is a cozy Christian beach read about grace, surrender, and learning why God’s best is truly worth the wait.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction

182 pages, Paperback

Published October 6, 2026

About the author

Julia Christine is a social media marketer and Christian romance author. Born and raised in Florida, she lives there with her husband and their red standard poodle. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, painting, enjoying the outdoors, and reading a good book. Ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an author. Her goal is to inspire readers with stories of faith and love. Sunset Swim is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Outdoorsybibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in just a few hours after work and absolutely adored my little escape to Covington Beach. ☀️

Julia has such a beautiful gift for completely engulfing you in the atmosphere of a story with just a few words or sentences. There were so many little moments that made me smile to myself and immediately reach for the highlight button on my Kindle.

This was my first Christian romance, and I thought the faith elements were handled so graciously and naturally. I loved the Bible verses sprinkled throughout and the gentle theme of finding your way back to faith without it ever feeling like too much. There was a realness and vulnerability to the characters’ relationships with faith that I really appreciated.

There were also a few little surprises along the way that I wasn’t expecting, which made the story even sweeter.

This book was the perfect pinch of friendship, hardship, faith, humor, romance, and a few moments that caught me completely off guard, all wrapped up in a beautiful sunshine-yellow bow. 💛

Such a sweet, cozy read and the perfect little escape to Covington Beach.

[Eden Wolfgram · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Christian romance, and what a sweet introduction to the genre! 🥹 Beachy, heartwarming, and full of the sweetest yearning. I loved how naturally faith was woven into the story, alongside deeper conversations, friendship struggles, and character growth. It was so refreshing to see the story explore different kinds of relationships and how faith can shape them, not just romance. Such a beautiful reminder of what God-centered relationships can look like.
Genuinely loved this book so so much!!☺️💗

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salt air, a charming coastal home on a scenic canal, a lively group of friends that instantly makes you want to be a part of their lives, and a heartthrob worth swooning over. Sunset Swim is truly the “The Summer I Turned Pretty” Christian alternative setting I wished for.

As someone who typically does not expect much depth from a romance novel, I was pleasantly surprised by a story that appears quaint and simple on the surface but blossoms into a moving narrative that causes its readers to reflect on their own choices and the paths they have taken over the course of their lives.

Sunset Swim is a sincere retrospective on the mistakes we make, the consequences we face, and finding grace with new beginnings.

Ultimately, this is a story of how God can take our tangled messes and make our paths straight. Our greatest blunders can truly become beautiful narratives when God takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good.
Hope forms from the ashes of despair.

I pray that this story blesses its readers and that you can find yourself somewhere in its pages as you follow Cami’s journey toward finding hope and regaining lost joy.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect christian romance that represents Christs design for dating and marriage so incredibly well! Highly recommend for the rom com girlies who want a clean romance.

[Sarah Stahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

As a believer who has experienced so many of the same thoughts, feelings, and seasons of life as Cami, this book truly touched my heart. I found myself relating to her in so many ways, especially in the moments of uncertainty, learning to surrender, and trying to trust God’s plan even when it looks different from my own.

What I loved most about Sunset Swim was how beautifully Julia Christine intertwined Scripture, God’s grace, and His perfect timing throughout the story. It was so much more than a sweet romance. It was a beautiful reminder that even in seasons of waiting, heartbreak, or uncertainty, God is always working behind the scenes, orchestrating something far greater than we could ever imagine.

I loved that the story continually pointed back to the Lord and the importance of trusting Him in every season of life. There were so many moments that felt like reminders I needed in my own walk with Christ.

This book left me feeling encouraged, comforted, and reminded that God’s plans are always greater than our own. Such a beautifully written, faith-filled love story. I wish I could read it again for the first time!

[Laura Mabey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this book wasn’t written for me, but it felt like it was written for me. After just getting out of a 4 year relationship, God led me to this book and I couldn’t wait for it to come out.

I just read it on a Sunday afternoon and couldn’t put it out down. The themes of finding joy again, navigating the complex relationships with those around you, and seeking God resonated deeply with me.

More than anything, this book made me want to seek Jesus more. And can we talk about how every detail in this book is EXACTLY what a girl in her mid-late 20s wants?!

Beautiful Sunday read that shows what life looks like when you trust God. Also the scriptures throughout? I absolutely loved them. I’m hanging this one up in my house:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬

I’m feeling hopeful again, thanks to this book.

[Eden]

I’m not even sure why I started this I knew I wouldn’t like it. I think it was one of those 1 AM choices that make no sense

[Mekelle Alisse · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

“God’s best is worth the wait. The Lord is so worthy of our trust. He’s written a love story far more beautiful than I ever could have dreamt up myself.”

This was such a beautiful pallet cleanse of a romance book. There was true desire and yearning that wasn’t fully based in a sexual or physical way.

We see a very intentional man who is pursuing a woman, in her timing. I appreciated how both characters didn’t require one another for healing, but they both allowed each other to become the best versions of themselves.

This is a beautiful read for someone who is coming back to faith or discovering faith for the first time. There’s no need to be perfect, because the Lord accepts us all!

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone. It could be seen as a slow romance for others, but I believe it purposefully takes its time.

[Siale Sandoval · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I think the idea of this book is cute and sweet, and definitely is a great no smut read… but it felt very cheesy, rushed, and I didn’t love how it felt like one bad breakup turned into Gods plan of finding the main character her husband and love of her life. To me, I kind of felt like I was reading the summer I turned pretty + a Christina Lauren knockoff Christian edition, and predicted what was gonna happen in the first like 5-10 pages.
Overall, a cutest, fast, predictable read with a cheesy plot and some scripture thrown in, but not my cup of tea unfortunately.

[Emily Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a beautifully written book!

i was nervous at first as this is my first time reading a “christian romance”, because i’m not a fan of cheesy romances, but this one felt very sincere and real. the way the author incorporated faith through out this book was so good, and the slow-burn of the chemistry coming to life between the 2 characters was shown greatly.

[Helen Roehner · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75/5! This was such a sweet and easy read book! I have been in a bit of a book slump but this book helped me get out of that a little bit!! I love how it is a Christian based book and that the relationship that grows in this novel is centered around the Lord. So relatable!

[Rachel Roy · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This book is based around how Gods timing is always worth the wait. I loved how seamlessly religion was written into the characters as individuals and how Jesus became the center of their relationship with each other. So wholesome. It truly exceeded my expectations.

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

[Alex K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet read that was the perfect mix of light reading, endearing characters, and truths to carry into the real world. It would be the perfect summer vacay book!!

[Katie Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read!! Basically a Christian version of a Nicholas sparks romance.