The Summer Break

The Hawaiian Getaway #2

by Megan Reinking

As an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, Paige Campbell can’t think of a better way to spend her summer break than in Hawaii where her best friend, Mia, lives. Plans of lazy beach days, tropical drinks and ocean adventures is the perfect way to let go of the stress of the school year.


Matt Swanson is a local flirtatious bartender who had an instant attraction to Mia’s best friend. With a promotion up for grabs at work, and the promise of Paige always being around, this might just be the best summer yet.

She’s sarcastic, confident and slow to trust.

He’s obnoxious, flirtatious and always game for a good time.


Will she be able to resist his charms? Or will she let her guard down and quite possibly find everything she never knew she was missing?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Summer, Chick Lit

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2022

About the author

Megan Reinking is a wife and mother who lives in Minnesota, where she spends her days reading, writing, or chauffeuring her three children around town. She's a homebody who loves quiet, lazy days and connecting with family and friends.

Reviews

[Katie Prouty · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Paige. I won't let anything happen to you. I kinda like you, if you haven't noticed," I responded."

Matt & Paige. I'm so, totally goo-goo eyed for this book! Chef's kiss love story! Ps. have your tissues ready! Especially if you are a mama, the tears will be flowing!

"You probably don't know this because you're you, but trust me, you light up every single place you go."

THINGS AND STUFF
-dual POV
-aloha! hawaii
-teacher & bartender
-best friends boyfriends best friend
-friends to lovers
-forced proximity: hello, roommates!
-brunch
-video games
-framed photo of Bradley Cooper
-fostering
-unicorn toast
-#IsThisAKissingBook: closed door. "I smile and plant a kiss on her temple."..."I can't go another second without kissing you."

Thank you Megan Reinking for an advanced copy!

Song: Right Here With You by Jack & Jack

[Lindsey Kerrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Megan Reinking and BookFunnel for providing me with an ARC of The Summer Break to review!
This romance book follows the adorable love story between Paige, an elementary school teacher in Minnesota, and Matt, a bartender in Hawaii. When Paige goes to Hawaii for summer break to visit her best friend Mia, she finds herself drawing ever nearer to the slightly insufferable Matt and his charm, which grows on her as the days pass. This simple and delightful romance is sure to bring butterflies and sweet feelings to everyone looking for a really charming read.
I liked this book way more than I thought I would! I thought the writing was very good (there was very little cringe which is always appreciated by me), and the characters were easy to get to know and connect with. I thought Matt was charming without being obnoxious and Paige was outgoing without being too over-the-top. I liked how Matt fell for Paige first but it was still done in a very polite and respectful way. There were a few spots where the dialogue was a little cringy but for the most part I thought the chemistry was really good and the body language descriptions were a very solid aspect of the writing. I felt like the romance itself was simple in a refreshing way and the other aspects of the story are what fleshed out the book.
By far, my favorite aspect of this book was Paige's time tutoring in Hawaii and the events that followed. OH MY GOD. That aspect of the story definitely leveled up the entire book for me and I was arguably more invested in that than in the romance itself. It was 10/10, I could have read an entire book about Paige's time tutoring alone, I swear. Those kids were written adorably, they seriously pulled at my heartstrings.
Overall, I thought the book flowed really well and it was a super fun, quick summer read! I highly recommend it!

[Aubrey Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer Break by Megan Reinking ✨

Quick Summary: Paige is an elementary teacher who is visiting her best friend, Mia, in Hawaii during her summer break. Matt is a local bartender who is very flirty & shamelessly pursues Paige when she arrives to town. Paige is determined not to let his charm get to her, but can she resist??

I enjoyed this book! ✨

I read the first book in the series (The Ohana Cottage), and I loved the main characters from that book were integrated into this one. That was a fun aspect to the story!!

Matt & Paige are adorable. Their banter + intentionality was everything. I like how they started as friends & built that foundation first.

Paige is a teacher and that was prevalent throughout. I’m a sucker for a teacher main character since that’s my profession, too. 🍎 I loved how she was able to tutor at the local elementary school to keep her teacher plot point relevant.

I will say, as a foster parent, I struggled through some of the aspects that surrounded one of Paige’s students that she tutored, but that’s a very sensitive topic for me based on my current experience.

I truly didn’t expect the book to play out the way that it did! I don’t want to spoil anything, but “real life” really hit both Paige and Matt in the face VERY quickly. It was still super sweet even though it was not the typical rom com ending.

bookish things:
☀️dual pov
☀️Hawaiian setting
☀️forced proximity
☀️friends to lovers
☀️stand alone series
🔥 closed door

Thank you to the lovely author for the ARC!! It was such a joy to read this before it releases out into the world on 9/29! ✨

🤍aub

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing The Ohana Cottage, I immediately grabbed The Summer Break. I couldn’t wait to read Matt & Paige’s story.

Once again, Megan’s written a really fun, sweet summer story set in Hawaii. I absolutely freaking adored Paige and Matt. Paige and his sisters teasing him was one of my favorite parts! The twists surprised me, but in the best way possible. Matt’s charm was adorable too. Ugh I can’t get enough of these stories.

If you’re looking for low angst, sweet summery stories, check out Megan’s stories.

BRB going to read Quinn’s story!

[Genesis (geny.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content and tropes:
-Closed door romance (kissing described only)
-Strong language
-Hawaiian summer break
-he falls first
-Surprise baby

This story was set in a Hawaiian back drop, that is going to bring back the summer feelings. The plot itself involved a summer romance between a flirty bartender and elementary school teacher, the contrast drew me in initially.

I enjoyed both main characters, Paige and Matt. Matt kept reminding me of Marty Deeks from NCIS : LA and that was a bonus for him.

I did find it difficult to stay invested however. The story moved a bit slow in the beginning but picked up pace again towards the middle. The plot became a little predictable in my case , and I found it hard to keep focused. I did skip a few chapters, and found a surprise.

*SPOILER* Unfortunately, a surprise baby plot point is not my favorite, although this one was handled nicely in the end. (and I acknowledge that surprise babies do happen, frequently, in real life. It’s just hard to execute that trope since it’s almost always used for drama or as a potential way to keep the main characters apart.) *END SPOILER*


*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige is a second grade teacher and Mia’s best friend. She lives in Minnesota but decides to spend her Summer break in Hawaii with Mia. After a surprise visitor arrives to stay with John and Mia, Paige is without a place to stay.

Enter Matt…John’s best friend, local bartender, and flirt. He’s cute, he knows it, and he has his sight set on Paige from the moment she arrives. At first, Paige wants none of it (after all she’s leaving in a few weeks) but Matt’s charm starts to wear her down and she realizes there’s more to him than meets the eye.

This was Megan’s sophomore novel and the second in the Hawaiian Getaway series. I really enjoyed the first one, but this one was even better! I feel like Megan found her voice as an author and I can’t wait to read more. I loved the banter and chemistry between Paige and Matt. Matt us such a good book boyfriend! Gosh, there’s just something about a confident guy that has me 🫠. As a teacher I also loved the storyline of Paige’s tutoring and connecting with kids. Another sweet, fun read!

This one comes out 9/29! Thank you, Megan, for the eARC! This was the perfect book to round out my summer reads!

[Spencer Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very cute! It follows Paige, a teacher from Minnesota, who visits her best friend in Hawaii for the summer.

While she’s there, she repeatedly runs into Matt, a blonde bartender hunk, and some forced-proximity tropes follow. Their romance is sweet and believable. The setting in Hawaii is great, it’s everything you’d want in a tropical vacation.

As a Minnesotan, I loved that I shared this with Paige. I also liked that the chapters generally alternated from Paige and Matt’s perspective. The ending had one (or two) large twists that threw me off, but overall this was very cute. I also read it during a time when I needed something lighter and happy and it was the perfect read.

I received an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

I really liked this one. I love Megan’s writing style in both her books so far. She describes Hawaii and settings so well that I can SEE the book in my mind as I read. I liked her characters here, and I loved them together.

This story is unique and I honestly haven’t seen it done like this in any other romance I’ve read - and I appreciate that unique-ness because it kept me on my toes. I didn’t know how things were going to wrap up.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[Jenah Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so unique, like I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with this plot, especially the twist towards the end! I loved the banter between Matt and Paige, and also with all of Matt’s sisters! They were so funny! I think Megan does a really good job of writing REAL stories. Life is never straight forward, there’s always curveballs being thrown in and things get messy, but she does an incredible job of portraying that “mess” with strong characters who are able to work through things together and make the most out of it! Loved this one!

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I honestly didn't see the way that this book went. I was pleasantly surprised.

This is not just a romance it deals with some important topics. Like adoption. Elliot 🥺🌺 this little boy ends up abandoned, but I won't say more.

I wish I were at the ocean now. 😭

Thank you to Megan Reinking for bringing me into this world.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book, even more so as Reinking has clearly honed in her writing style. I cannot wait for what comes next as this author is a hidden gem that must be shared!!

[Kendall Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a cute short and sweet story, took some unexpected turns but i actually really liked how writer brought it all together in the end :) the song i would put in this book is Summer Baby by the jonas brothers

[Megan Reinking · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might enjoy The Summer Break if you like:

Tropical setting
Forced proximity
He falls first
Friends to lovers
Dual POV
Closed door romance
Bartender/Teacher

Thank you for reading! :)

[Courtney Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

perfect summer/beach vibey book. super quick read.

[Carissa || couchcornerbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🗣 “…someone to hold hands with when you’re crossing the street, or to vent to after a long day, or even someone to think of when you see their favorite cookie at the grocery store. All of the mundane, day-to-day bits of life are so much more meaningful when you have someone you love to enhance them.”

REVIEW:

Thank you to Megan Reinking and BookFunnel for providing me with an ARC of The Summer Break for review before general publishing.

The Summer Break is Book 2 in The Hawaiian Getaway Series by Megan Reinking and oh my goodness I’m obsessed.

This story follows the romance that develops between Paige and Matt. Paige is an elementary teacher from Minnesota who decided to spend her summer break visiting her best friend Mia who lives in Hawaii. We were introduced to Mia and her story in book one. Matt is a bartender and is best friends with John, Mia’s boyfriend. He is known as a flirt and to be a little cocky. Paige has no interest in a romance since she’s leaving at the end of the summer anyway. After a change in plans for where she’s staying, the insufferable Matt begins to grow on her. For Matt, the best news comes when Paige needs a place to stay. He’s been attracted to her since she began visiting Mia over the past year. Will this turn into a great summer for them both?

You guys, I am in love with these characters. I found myself smiling so much. I don’t normally like instant love even from one character, but the way that it is approached by Matt is adorable. The 3 steps to a date. The family aspect. All of it. Paige’s growth and attachment even after the two plot twists, the reconnection, just love in general. Megan, you hit this one out of the park.

I highly recommend everyone read this book. It is a quick read and a perfect sequel.

[Lu C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free review: While I would not say that The Summer Break was the best written book, the cute scenes and banter were quick to back it up. At times the characters didn’t feel dimensional, but that didn’t stop the story from being enjoyable nor did it take away from the reading experience. The plot had some pretty nice twists at the end, and it was nice that for once in a romance book, the characters did not feel the need to cheat, break up or do any of the annoyingly (toxic and) stereotypical romcom climax actions. It was a nice breath of fresh air after a reading slump.

Main characters: 3.5/5
Side characters: 2.5/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Spice/Cleanliness: 🌶 includes one off page sex scene between consenting adults, a f-word drops and ocassional cursing
Writing style: 3/5
Pacing: 4/5 (could have been a teensy bit slower, but nearly perfect)
Plot: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Spoilers begin now:

Matt’s POV was hard to read at times tbh. Sometimes the only reason I knew it was his POV and not Paige’s is because of the use of the word “man” or stereotypical American dude-bro vocabulary. It read like when a girl is mocking how a guy talks by making her voice deep and say ‘dude’ a lot. There were times he was a little unlikable (like him talking to himself over and over about how “he respects Paige’s no” but then would make a comment about changing her mind), but around the time he realizes he’s truly falling for Paige he finally becomes a little less… annoying. Regardless, he was swoonworthy and his relationship with his sisters was very sweet.

I have to admit though, he became SO interesting and so much more likable once he realized he would become a dad. I loved that subplot and it came at the best time.

I really enjoyed Paige’s character progression and LOVED seeing her inner thoughts while teaching, especially with the harder kids. It was something I’d never read before and it was super creative how she managed to get the kids to learn and open up. It was a bit annoying how for the first half of the book she spent it listing all the reasons why she wasn’t interested in Matt only to end up flirting with him and leading him on, but once they finally got together it got better.
OH and her relationship with Elliot was SO insanely cute. I loved watching him open up to her and her making the decision to foster and then adopt him was definitely something I saw coming, but REALLY enjoyed reading. I would have loved to see more of them alone as mom-kid instead of mostly teacher-student and then family with Matt, but they were still wonderful and one of my favorite parts of the book. And this is also my formal petition for a book set in a future featuring either a teenage or adult Elliot falling in love so we get to see how he and Paige progress as a mother-son duo.

Overall, the book had its issues with the writing style (in my opinion) but made up for it in plot. It was a super fun read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a light, sweet, sort of clean, feel good romance to feel really lonely about their lack of love life👍🏽 which Paige went through too!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Break Review

Friends to lovers
He falls first
Forced proximity
Tropical vibes
Tswift
Bradley Cooper
Closed door, but swoon worthy and good tension

Yall, simply put, I just love this story! It’s the perfect book for a summer themed comfort read. I will be picking this book up to read in the depths of winter when I need some sunshine in my life and to kick off the start of warm weather season. And, anytime in between that I need all the feel good, happy vibes. It is all heart eyes and big eyes with happy tears. It’s the perfect grab for a quick read and a read that will get you out of a book hangover or reading funk. It’s a summer hug in a book.

Even though this is the second installment of the Hawaiian getaway series, it can be read as a standalone. Megan does a great job of guiding us through characters we met in The Ohana Cottage and filling in any dots that need to be connected.

Throughout reading, Megan gives us exactly what we need and want to know with physical traits and character details! We get thoughts, feelings and hilarious dialogue. The development is on point and gets even better throughout the story.

Honestly, I loved the characters before the conflict, but when a twist and turn comes their way, I fell even more in love with them; with each interaction, each look, each thought…I don’t want to give anything away but the book gets even better in the resolution. *sigh and swoon*

And the epilogue…I love that it completely ties this book up into the perfect bow it deserves. And I have it on good authority that the parts we want to see more of in the epilogue will be coming our way in book number 3!

Megan, I am so proud of you and can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with Matt and Paige like I did. Thank you for the opportunity to be a beta reader for this story

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Whatever compromises, promises, and serious commitments a life with him would entail, I’m all in.”

The Summer Break is a cute, quick, beach read! It’s a friends to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first romantic story. It’s just so sweet and wholesome! The cover is also top notch adorable!!!

Paige, a teacher, travels to Hawaii during summer vacation to spend time with her best friend. While there, she finds a job at a school where she meets a student that changes her life! (& she changes his) Teachers are really MVPs, y’all!

Matt is a bartender at the local bar but he is looking to further his career and find more purpose. He immediately has eyes for Paige, when she arrives for the summer, and he never looks at another woman again!

Paige & Matt fit so well together and their conversation was easy. They were each just a simple extension of the other - it wasn’t a ton of hard work.

There were 2 plot twists near the end of the novel. One of the twists I loved because it really helped move the character along in their development. The other twist I did not love and I wish it had been left out because I think it hindered that character’s development. It was more of a setback and didn’t allow them to fully move on to the next chapter of their life. The foster care representation was amazing though!

The epilogue was fantastic - I love a good epilogue where everything is tied up with a bow and you see where each character is now!

Thank you Megan Reinking for the ARC! It’s always fun and exciting to read, and support, the work of a fellow Minnesotan! West side suburbs represent!

“The way he felt about me was never a question and never faltered, even when our lives became complicated.”

[My_every_day_chilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm here for you in any way you'll let me be."

Positive thoughts:
I like reading a romance where you see the couple together for a long run throughout the book. When Paige let go her worried and surrendered to Matt it was beautiful. I loved how they worked out their struggles and even when life happened for both of them, I liked that they managed to work it out and never giving up on their relationship. When it's meant to be, it's meant to be.

Negative thoughts:
It started a bit slow, but just get past that 1st chapter and you'll fly by the rest of the book.
I was not thrilled by the curve ball thrown at Matt (you know when things just start to go well for then - BAM!) but I guess that's life happening and it can happen to the best of them.
I was kind of prediction how Elliot would end up and even Matt's career and I was spot on, but I wasn't too disappointed about that.

Overall:
It was a clean, behind closed doors romance on a tropical island. Teachers will absolutely love this love story, it does involve a cute student, who I fell in love with myself.
And when our hero falls first, we get to see some angst ans swoony moves from him that we all love.
It's a fast paced read, great for a beach vacation or even a weekend away.

1st kiss: 41% into the book
Romance: 3/5
Chemistry: 3/5
Spice: 0/5 (it's a clean romance y'all)
Foul language: 1/5
Humor: 2/5
Swoony: 3/5

Tropes:
- School teacher
- Bartender
- He falls first
- Tropical island
- Behind closed doors
- Swoony MC

[Stefanie Steck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Summer Break
By Megan Reinking
RELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 29TH

Trust me, you'll want this one. To quote my friend 'it's a hug in book form' and it truly is.

Paige is a second grade teacher who is traveling to Hawaii to visit her friend Mia for the summer. Matt is a local bar tender who is the town flirt. Matt is falling for Paige and Paige is insistent they are friends...add the force proximity and watch the magic begin!

It's been awhile since I've read a book in one sitting, but this one was impossible to put down. If you read The Ohana Cottage than you will definitely want to devour this. Matt was absolutely perfect who - dare I say - got even better after the conflict happened. Paige was sweet and soft, getting to see her as more than a flighty friend (which was my impression in the first book) and she's grows so much in the novel - their relationship is stunning and you can feel it.

Megan's writing had evolved in this novel, taking you to Hawaii with them, which is a win of course!

A wonderful way to end the summer. You won't want to miss this one.

[Shelby McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I loved this book! I’m giving it a 4.5 but rated up because I really enjoyed it. I received an arc of this book and FLEW THROUGH IT! I couldn’t put it down. It’s dual POV and friends to lovers. That combo is *chefs kiss*. PLUS it takes place in Hawaii, one of my favorite places ☀️

I loved how patient and kind Matt is with everyone in his life. Paige was super down to earth and positive. She seemed just happy to be alive. I loved how they were together, how they waited until they were both ready and there was no pressure in her from Matt. That boy fell HARD.

I was worried about how the kids being involved would change the story, but I actually think it was fine really well. I enjoyed reading about Elliott and how he found his place. I also liked that they never gave up on each other. They were there for each other through all of the change and it made them stronger.

I may have liked this one more than The Ohana Cottage but don’t tell Mia and John.

This comes out at the end of the month, make sure to get your hands on it 🤩

[Court.betweenthecovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

“All of the mundane, day-to-day bits of life are so much more meaningful when you have someone you love to enhance them.”

I would first like to thank @authormeganreinking for the eARC of this adorable book. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

I read The Ohana Cottage just before it came out and adored Mia & Johns love. It ended with a glimpse at some Paige and Matt action and I knew I needed that story. Well, here it is!

Paige is such a sweet, relatable character and Matt is the typically misunderstood flirty type. I really loved everything about this one, but again just wish it was a smidge longer. This had some conflict and I really wanted to see them through the resolve. I always believe that’s a compliment though when an author leaves you wishing the book never ended!

I am so wonderfully happy that the authors storytelling and writing has grown so much in this book. I love seeing new authors really doing the thing!!! The extra layers of family dynamic was what I was missing in the last book and it certainly was delivered in this one!

Read if you like:
🥥Forced-Proximity
🥥Hawaii Vibes
🥥Dual POV
🥥Friends to Lovers
🥥Closed Door

“I’ll always think back on that summer break as the summer that forever changed my life. The summer I found my family.”

[Liz Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

TROPES
🐬 Friends to Lovers
🐬 Forced Proximity
🐬 He Falls First

I’m so happy the second book in this series follows Paige. I loved her the minute she was introduced in The Ohana Cottage, and I was excited to read about her happy ending. And, I am not surprised at all that it came with Matt. I was rooting for them, and I’m glad it happened, despite all the odds against them as their story comes to a close.

I was completely convinced as I was reading this story would go in a completely different direction than it did. Not at all in a bad way, but it seemed like things were being set up for Matt to make a really large life decision. He totally did, just not in the way I was anticipating at all, so shout out to the author for keeping me on my toes as I read. There was, in my opinion, a great red herring so when the shift in the third act happened, I was surprised in the best way.

[Readbooks16 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Summer Break we get another super cute romance like the Ohana Cottage. This one is all over the friends to lovers trope, so if that is your jam you’re going to love this one. Paige and Matt have funny, sarcastic, witty banter type of friendship and when they are thrown together to share his apartment that gets even more hyped up (plus some forced proximity vibes!) Matt is an adorable book boyfriend for all to love. This book felt more well rounded than the Ohana Cottage and some great side stories and different plots that really added up to a great book. I was really impressed with how the author tied several different tropes together, including my least favorite trope, in a way that didn’t make me cringe like it usually would. I won’t say which because I don’t like spoilers. This is a great east beach read or a great choice for something light if you’ve been reading more emotionally charged, heavy books.

[Gabby Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’m here for you in any way you’ll let me be.”

The Summer Break is such a cute read! PAIGE AND MATT!! They are so freaking adorable. Paige is so heartwarming, caring, and has a big heart. Matt is handsome, loving and funny. I loved how infatuated he was with Paige it was her and no one else. He didn’t want to give up on her but respected her regardless of his own feelings and I loved that! They connected so well with each other and just fit together. It was such a good slow burn. They supported and stuck by each other and it just made me love them together so much more. And the epilogue was the perfect ending. It brought everything together perfectly for them and exactly what they deserve. I will most definitely be going back to read the first book!

Thank you Megan for the opportunity to read your book and give my honest opinion!

[Rosemary Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ll always think back on that summer break as the summer that forever changed my life. The summer I found my family.”
-Paige

“You know how you see somebody sometimes,and you think, ‘Dam, whoever gets to be with that person is one lucky son of a bitch?’ Well, that’s you Paige. And I wanna be that lucky son of a bitch.
-Matt


I think I found my new favorite author! I completely loved this book! If it weren’t for my kids being at home from school I would have devoured it in one sitting! The ending wasn’t what I expected but wow it made me love it even more!
If you love books with
Dual pov
Hawaiian gateway
Found family
Laugh out loud moments this one is for you!
The romance had me smiling and the flirtatious moments were so cute and funny. I loved every word of this book! Can’t wait to read book three!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I’m a sucker for a rom-com, and I appreciate how the author approaches and addresses real-life problems in both her novels (The Ohana Cottage and now The Summer Break) as well as writing and developing characters who are imperfect. Matt’s and Paige’s real life plot twists totally threw me for a loop!

I gave it 4/5 stars because I tend to like a little spice with a few open door scenes in books, and this one was closed door. So if you prefer closed door, this series is the one for you! It’s a good summer read on the beach or perfect for a rainy, cold day when you’re wishing you were in Hawaii on the beach.

Thank you to Megan, the author, for the ARC! It was an honor getting to read Matt and Paige’s story.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I want to spend my summer in Hawaii! Paige and Matt had great dialogue throughout the book and I enjoyed watching their chemistry intensify. Their banter was sharp. The storyline was adorable and moved along well. I loved that we had their love story as a plot line but there were a lot of other secondary plot lines that added a depth to the characters. The side character were great- I loved Matt’s sisters and Mia! The reason I give it 4 starts out of 5 is because the ending felt a little rushed. I wanted to see the characters really dive into their problems instead of it feeling a rushed. The book tackles some big issues, but it wrapped up so quickly without diving into them. The epilogue was great though and gave me closure. I definitely recommend!

[Kayla Axworthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read! I get roped in by a good rom-com but this also had real life complications thrown in. I enjoyed getting to dig deeper into who Matt really is and can definitely see why Paige fell for him. Their lives mended together so well. I genuinely loved all of the characters, especially Elliott. I wish there would have been a little bit more between Matt and Paige as there was such a build up to them finally realizing they wanted each other. Once they reached this point, the relationship felt a little rushed. I could predict the way this book was going to go pretty well, but it was still a satisfying read. Overall, The Summer Break is the perfect beach getaway to put your mind in another place and fall in love with love.

[Kaele’s Krazy Book Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute!

The Summer Break is a companion book to The Ohana Cottage which I also really enjoyed. We meet Paige and Matt in the first book as they’re friends with the main couple and I already couldn’t wait for their book. Paige is a elementary teacher in Minnesota but decides to spend her summer break in Hawaii where her best friend recently moved. Enter Matt, the cute bartender who’s a total flirt. Paige won’t give him the time of day even though. And then something comes up with her best friend and Paige needs a new place to stay… Matt has a guest room. Welcome to the forced proximity trope (my favorite).
Their banter was hilarious. Paige is determined not to let Matt’s charm get to her since she’s leaving at the end of summer and Matt is trying to avoid the fact that he’s developing more than a crush on Paige.

It was awesome seeing the characters from the first book in this! I loved them all together. I really did not see the direction of this book going the way it did. I was shocked. But I did like the way things were handled and the end was adorable. 🥰

Elliot was so sweet. I loved his character and watching him start to trust Paige was amazing!


Thank you to the author for an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.