Only This Summer

by Radclyffe

Dr. Lily Davenport is the poster child for burnout—physically and emotionally. All she wants is a few months of nondemanding work at a summer camp, of all places, so she can figure out what to do with the rest of her life. The last thing she expects is to run into a woman who awakens a passion she hadn’t even realized had died along with all those she’d failed to save.

Forest ranger Chase Fielder is not in the market for a relationship. Counting on people never leaving is for fools. A fling with Lily promises to be exactly what Chase is looking for—short-term, hot as a forest fire, and one Chase can extinguish whenever she wants. Now all she has to do is convince Lily they’re a perfect match.

After all, it’s only one summer.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Audiobook, Queer, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance

Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

Radclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She has also edited Best Lesbian Romance 2009 through 2015 as well as multiple other anthologies. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance and erotica. A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA Prism, Lories, Beanpot, Aspen Gold, and Laurel Wreath winner in multiple mainstream romance categories. In 2014, she received the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publishing company, and in 2013, she founded the Flax Mill Creek Writers Retreat offering writing workshops to authors in all stages of their careers.

She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”

Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.

Reviews

[Della B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily needs a sanity break. She has just lived through the early years of Covid as a Manhattan emergency doctor and is bone tired and emotionally exhausted. Lily decides to use her extended summer vacation to be a physician at a teenage wilderness camp.

Chase grew up on the mountains where her sister’s wilderness camp is located. Loving the outdoors has her working as an Environmental Conservation Officer. Chase has grown up surrounded by losses and so she lives her life with few attachments.

Radclyffe creates characters we fall in love with time and again with Lily and Chase being no exception. Utilizing her medical background Radclyffe writes authoritatively about Lily’s years facing Covid in its infancy and then through the devastation.

Only This Summer has a distinctive balance and cadence which can only come from an experienced wordsmith. This helps the reader to lose themselves thoroughly in the engaging romance. We all know the happily ever after is there but it is the journey which keeps us coming back and few tell us about the journey as well as Radclyffe.

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A sweet and low angst romance. This book is set at a summer camp and I like how Radclyffe always knows how to add some medical parts into her books. Here, also some insights in the work of rangers were added, which I liked, and the outdoor scenery worked well for me. This book is very light and while it probably won’t leave a long-lasting impression I enjoyed reading this, as I do most of Radclyffe’s books.

Lily is an ER doc who is burned out by the effects of the pandemic on her work so she accepts a “relaxed” job as a doctor at summer camp, watching out over a couple dozen of teens for a few months. The camp is run by her best friend Sarah who has a younger sister Chase. Chase is a ranger at the park and is forced to help out in the camp which does not make her a happy camper as she prefers to work on her own, but she does like the presence of Lily.

Lily is absolutely not interested in meeting anybody, but that mindset is thrown out the window almost the moment she meets Chase. I was afraid, that this would be an insta-love type of book, but luckily it stays at insta-lust and Radclyffe takes the time to build the romance. Both Lily and Chase are immediately easy to like and they both have some trauma in their past that they are still working to overcome. These are ingredients that could have easily made this a heavy or angsty book, but it stays light. For me personally, I think this book could actually have made a bigger impact if it would go just a little but further into their personal development and if there would have been more attention or depth to some other details, like the age-gap (I estimate it around 15 years) which is hardly mentioned, and their relationship with Sarah. I also thought for a moment there would be a rival for Lily and Chase’s romance, which I found an interesting development, but it turned out there wasn’t.
Besides the romance between Lily and Chase there is also a nice secondary storyline about an unexpected friendship between two teens in the camp which I enjoyed and I could have read more about them.

In summary, this romance is rather straightforward and very low on angst, it is well-paced and well-written as can be expected from Radclyffe. If you’re looking for an easy and sweet book to read set in an outdoor environment, this is a good choice.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
A sweet and entertaining romance in typical Radclyffe style

A big city doctor meets a ranger at a summer camp near Lake George - a perfect setting for a summer love affair. But as it's usually the case, things turn out differently than expected.

As an ER doctor, Lily is burned out and disillusioned after long years of the pandemic so she escapes to the summer camp run by her longtime friend Sarah. She hopes to recharge her batteries and deal with only minor health issues without stress.

Chase is Sarah's younger sister, who must battle her own demons. She loves her job as a ranger. And she loves women, for short hot affairs and before it gets serious, she lets them go.

The story, as we have come to expect from Radclyffe, is fluidly written and very entertaining. A light romance without much drama. I liked the surrounding, the descriptions of camp life, and also about Chase’s work. The characters are exciting, interesting, and likable, not only the MCs but also some of the secondary characters. Sparks fly with Lily and Chase from the first moment, but the tension between them is built up for a few days before the first sex scene occurs. As always, it's hot and much more emotional than the women realize or want to acknowledge. I liked that because I'm not a fan of insta-love.

What I personally missed is the depth of the story and also the characters. There is so much potential, not only with Chase and Lily's story but also Sarah, Natalie, and the teenagers Marty and Ford who piqued my interest. I would have wanted to know more about their own stories and experiences. But who knows, maybe we'll get to read more about them in a sequel.

Overall, a sweet and entertaining romance without angst and drama.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer camp.

I love many of Radclyffe's books but this is not one of them. For one, I found it hard to like Chase. Chase is a ranger at a summer camp and she's into keeping things casual with women. She's supposedly charming and attractive, which was what got the new camp medic, Lily, interested in the first place despite her not being one for flings, but Chase's charm just didn't work for me. I didn't like that she kept trying to get into Lily's pants, and while I appreciate her passion for her job as a forest ranger, her overzealous efforts to be at the frontline of danger with little regard for personal safety is actually a quality I don't find attractive in people. So yeah, these things just added up to my not enjoying Chase as a character and after a quick glance at the other reviews, I'm definitely alone on that one.

I also found the relationships in this book a bit superficial and this is most apparent in Lily's friendship with her best friend Sarah as well as Sarah's sibling relationship with Chase, both of which I found to be a bit distant. The relationship between Lily and Chase was better in some sense, because they not only have a sexual connection, they seem more comfortable with each other than they are with Sarah and they confide in each other so there's a bit more depth between them.

That being said, I enjoyed some things. I like the summer camp that was described in this book and found a couple of the more prominent young campers to be fairly interesting and I wish we had more of them. But if you ask me, this isn't Radclyffe's best and I'd probably recommend other books instead.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[XR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aside from Radclyffe's earlier work, I don't think I've ever given her books a 2 star rating. It just seems as though BSB authors are writing to a set word count and so their stories seem really rushed. There's no anticipation. I really didn't get into who Lily and Chase were as characters. I was told that this is what they are, instead of being shown through their interactions with each other and the secondary characters around them.

Anyway… I’ve been avoiding buying any more books from BSB ‘cause I feel cheated, I’m forking out over $$$$ to support favourite authors, when lately the stories have felt rushed and we get an epilogue as Band-Aid to cover up the rushed story. I hope the other books I bought recently fare better than this. Otherwise, I’ll just keep finding independent authors and publishers who at least write more than 300 pages.

And I KNOW it’s not easy, if it were everyone would be doing it… but when people are buying everything you’re writing it just feels like a let down. Not all of us, and by us I really only mean me; have the talent to write proper reviews so requesting an arc doesn’t seem fair to the author or my friends who write their great reviews.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, I have a feeling I’m going to be the odd one out one this one, but for me this wasn’t one of Radclyffe’s best and I even had a hard time connecting with the story.
Radclyffe is one of the authors that for me is a must read, not matter what and I usually end up enjoying the stories the author tells and connecting with at least one character, I didn’t for this one.

Lily is an ER doctor, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on all medical professionals and she was offered an opportunity to get away from it all by her best friend Sarah. Lily will be the summer medic at a summer camp, where she meets, maybe re meets Chase, a ranger and Sarah’s sister. Both dealing with a traumatic (recent) past they find each other start to see things differently.

A couple things for me, Sarah is Lily’s best friend but she doesn’t know her sister or what she does, what happened in her past? Seems very strange to me. Seeing as these women are best friends, why don’t we have more scenes between them? There is a secondary storyline about a couple of campers, I feel things get picked up but not followed through. I liked the story that was touched on Marty seems great and the influence they have over Ford seems so positive and for lack of better word healthy, it’s a shame we don’t get more of it. And I think maybe that’s an issue with this book for me, it all seems rather surface level, with some quick deep dives into certain things. Not to mention the writing style, it seemed off some how,I couldn’t get into it, tome it didn’t flow, it was a strange experience while reading Radclyffe.

This won’t be a recommended Radclyffe read from me, please do read other reviews because I’m sure I’ll be a very tiny minority.

*ARC received from the publisher (Bold Stroke Books) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A new Radclyffe book so I was quite excited to delve into it. Set with the backdrop of a wilderness summer camp with one of the leads an ER doctor recovering from the trauma of the pandemic and the other lead a forest ranger - I was hooked. With the author's medical background I knew that aspect plus the romance should be well covered.
The mental and physical toll that Lily (and other medical professionals absorbed during the pandemic) and the need to escape from that turmoil is well written and I empathized quickly with her character. Ranger Chase was more difficult to accept. Her passion for the outdoors rings true but her pushiness for a hook-up right from the start made it difficult for me to warm up to her character . In the supporting cast, Sarah the camp director (Chase's big sister and Lily's best friend) is the connection in the romance but I found her interference and unsolicited jibes more of an annoyance.
While Radclyffe's descriptions of the outdoors and the life of a forest ranger were spot on and emotional and physical scars were intertwined in the plot, the storyline didn't move as smoothly as I anticipated. Yes, the romance evolves between Lily and Chase to a HEA but a few dangling threads disappointed. Maybe Marty and Ford fleshed out a bit more?
This was a pleasant enough read but sadly I was not completely satisfied at book's end.

I rec'd a copy from Bold Strokes Books/Netgalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Fielder and Lily Davenport both are spending the summer at a remote kids camp, Lily as camp Doctor and Chase as the local field ranger. They immediately find a new friend in each other but are tempted with more. As they navigate a summer only fling it becomes more and more difficult for them to say goodbye.
I really liked Lily and her struggle with being an ER doctor after covid, it felt so genuine in our current environment. I could absolutely empathize with her need to escape the hospital and reset herself. Chase was also a character with lots of history that made her life in the wilderness true to her. I liked their chemistry together and felt like they made a great pair. I also loved how their story evolved from the beginning and how it didn't feel like instant love. There was also a side story with Marty and Ford which I really liked, especially within the surroundings of the camp, but I'd have loved to read a bit more about where they end up after. I really liked this and it's definitely a great story as I'd expect from Radclyffe.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about Dr Lily Davenport who is an ER doc in NYC. She’s exhausted and burnt out with dealing with patients suffering from Covid for two years. Her college friend Sarah invites her to a summer camp that she is the director of, for over the summer. Chase Fielder is Sarah’s younger sister. Both Sarah and Chase grew up nearby the summer camp with their parents who were nature loving biologists.
Chase is a park ranger. Chase is suffering from the loss of her parents dying young and her own near death experience. Chase is very brash and an adrenaline junkie. Always the first to go out on a rescue assignment.

I enjoyed this book as I have all of Radclyffe’s books it was an easy and quick read. I wish that we could have learned more about each MCs past and the emotions they felt over their struggles. And also more about Sarah and Chase’s relationship.

I also liked the teenage campers in the book and felt they added another dynamic to the story. It would be fun to follow their lives in another book.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

[Jo reece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Radcliffe’s Only this summer was an enjoyable read. The front cover grabbed me instantly, because, wow, just look at the setting. Something like that just piques my interest instantly. The storyline was pretty much straight into it, with no slow burn, but still nice enough characters. The book is a little on the shorthand for my liking… I like the details! Build-ups! And with a cover like that, I expected some form of setting description which was lacking in the storyline. ( I think it’s me though, I’m just too fussy).

As I said, a good read, with no angst at all. Just two women falling for each other in the mountains. The only fault I have is the ending seemed very rushed.

3.4 out of 5

[Tere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I think Larkin didn’t do this book justice. I don’t usually have an issue with this narrator, but she seemed a bit robotic through some of the dialog. I will read it at some point because I think a few scenes will not sound as dramatic (in a negative way).
I have skipped the last couple books by Rad since got very angry, lol, with the instalove when mains didn’t know each other. She finally hit the breaks a bit here and all was great. I was very excited to read about a doctor suffering from burnout post Covid. It has been such a couple of years for me, personally and professionally, that I am interested in such a monumental topic. We have been hit with burnout (started before Covid), but the human medical field was something else completely. Rad writes such phenomenal medical scenarios and characters that would have liked to hear more about it from her (yes, I’m greedy).

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less complicated than the usual Radclyffe - a simple love story with little angst, even with an ER Doctor, blown out by the pandemic, in the middle of the outback. She is the master, though, so Recommended.

[MaxDisaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars
I liked Marty the awkward nb-ace teenager. They were relatable and the parts regarding them cut through the main romance, which made it less monotonous/predictable.
Don't get me wrong, it was decent, but Radclyffe has written so many books, the patterns start to be obvious, so anything that disrupts them is refreshing. The MCs were good as usual btw.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars). Lily Davenport is an ER doctor who is burned out from the demands of the pandemic. She takes off a couple of months to be the on sight medic at her best friend Sarah’s summer camp for teens. It gives her a chance to be with her friend and take a break to connect with her self. At camp she meets Sarah’s younger sister Chase Fielder who is a forest ranger in the area. Chase has scars of her own, emotional and physical, but she loves and is most confident in the outdoors. The two woman are drawn to each other as they see each other camp. But can it be more than a summer fling?

Radclyffe is an experienced writer and the story flows quickly with a lot of information given with few words. I could have asked for more of how Chase overcame her injuries or the relationship between sisters. I also was invested in Marty and Ford as the campers with a new friendship. I even wanted some catch up conversations between Sarah and Lily. But the fact that I wanted more shows how invested I became in the characters and the romance.

The author often writes of doctors and first responders. She writes with authority and respect for what they do. And I appreciate her giving voice to feelings of medical people who were overwhelmed and continued to give their all during a world wide medical crisis. I’m honestly going to read anything Radclyffe writes but I think this one works so well because it includes many thing the author truly loves.

[Henriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant f/f romance with all the feels
What a great read! This is how a romance is supposed to be: all the feels from the first page onward, chemistry, attraction, relatable and likeable characters. This one is from start to finish a masterpiece.
From the start I was totally hooked: the city slicker doctor with her beemer who not only lost her way on the road but amidst the onslaught and slaughter of corona lost her joy and is deeply fatigued. The confident ranger who has her own scars (with uniform - swoon). They meet in the middle of a serene beautiful mountain setting which lends itself to healing and grounding oneself. radclyffe masterfully inserts chemistry, tension of the most delicious kind, delightful discoveries. The attraction is all there right from the start, it builds, it is relentless and it so wonderfully suits the two main characters, Lily and Chase. It was a joy to revel in this budding love and it came as no surprise that Cupid was among the archers in summer camp and aimed true. There are obstacles to overcome but no overblown drama, just life and a very neat and satisfying end.
The setting is like another near main character so vividly described and brought to life that I was catapulted into the greenery of the mountains, the vista of the lake and almost felt the early morning breeze caressing the main characters when waking up. And I loved how radclyffe focuses in a side-story on two teenagers in camp, both in their own way outsiders, and how they grow during this summer.
Brilliant and a very precious book!

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

[currentlyreadingbynat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only This Summer was a great light read that came to me just when I needed it. I loved the setting - I felt like I could see the summer camp and the gorgeous mountains depicted. The romance is very light and sweet, with two interesting characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel which allowed me to escape a bit in a beautiful environment with a low angst romance attached.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Rosi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story should be part of a new series by this author, I would really like that, because I have been wanting to know more, both about the two protagonists here, Lily and Chase, as well as several secondary protagonists, such as Ford and Marty and even Natalie or Sarah. Many possibilities to discover. From the looks of it, that's not going to be the case, though I really hope I can find out more about this group of women at Camp Thunder Ridge.

The story begins when Lily arrives at the camp to do volunteer work as a doctor, since she is physically and mentally exhausted after having spent the pandemic in a New York hospital as an ER doctor. Sarah, a good friend of Lily, is in charge of the camp and her sister Chase is an Environmental Conservation Officer, in charge of pursuing environmental violations and risk situations in the area, such as trail accidents, forest fires and the like.

With this summer job, Lily tries to overcome the stress and sadness she suffers after the pandemic, but the first thing that happens to her is to cross paths with Chase and she immediately realizes how unprepared she is to face such a change of environment as to the attraction that Chase provokes her. Chase, in turn, will not be prepared to face the great attraction that he will immediately feel for Lily. She has her own demons, fears and reluctance. Obstacles to overcome. And they won't be the only ones, when day-to-day situations add to this, further limiting the chances that the two of them can meet alone.

So through so many difficulties it's been really nice to see the evolution of this relationship.

And as I said, the secondary characters have helped a lot to maintain the interest in the story and even increase it.

It has been a really interesting read, a traditional romance, comme il faut, with all the steps, sexiness, thrill and beauty, highly recommended.

Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review

[queer_aussie_reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I see a new story by Radclyffe, I’m always going to be keen to check it out.

Chase is a park ranger who is dedicated to her job and has never been interested in commitment. The solitary life she lives in the mountains has kept her content. When Lily arrives from the city to volunteer at the summer camp, unexpected sparks fly between them.

Lily, a doctor, is mentally and physically drained after spending the last few years in the ER of a busy hospital and is in need of a few months of less hectic work.
Lily and Chase can’t deny that there is an attraction between them, but for Lily, someone who doesn’t do one night stands, Chase seems dangerous. Plus she is her best friends younger sister.

Chase is used to getting the women she wants, but Lily is different, and she finds that she is happy to wait until she is ready.
Lily and Chase are both likable and relatable MC’s and where it could be angsty. It really isn’t. Radclyffe sets the scene nicely, taking the reader right into the mountains, showing us what the park rangers see and do, and as in most of her stories, it gives us a little suspense and action.

Only This Summer is a relaxed romance, perfect for a hot summer day by the water.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

[Heinerway · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say about Radclyffe's latest book? It's not bad, of course not. But I found it just ok and nothing to write home about.

[ER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waking up to the news of the mass shooting at a queer club in Colorado Springs really put me in a dark mood today so I decided to get my mind off the news by spending my Sunday inside and reading my e-ARC of this book.

What a perfect distraction. Chase and Lily’s love story was the best reminder that queer people deserve to love, be in love, and have a happily ever after.

While it started off as a slow burn, it quickly turned into a steamy and fun romance. I looked up from my kindle and suddenly it was the evening and I was on the last chapter of the book.

I loved the setting, the two main characters, and all of the side storylines and characters. I hope this isn’t the last we see of everyone. It would be fun to get a follow up story about Marty. fingers crossed!

I’m so thankful to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early and I’m going to recommend it to all of my friends when it comes out in Dec.

[Bookista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily an ER doctor in New York is burned out and heads to the mountains to volunteer as a medic at her friend’s summer camp. All she wants is some uncomplicated quiet time, but when she meets Chase - a summer fling and complications are just the beginning. 👀

I’m a big fan of Radclyffe and all her books set in the medical world. Even though this wasn’t strictly in a hospital setting, it did still bring elements of being a medical professional in the wilderness into the story.
It is a well written story, but unfortunately didn’t quite work for me. I think the attraction felt a little too fast for my reading preferences and also because they didn’t seem to spend much time together given that Chase was harrying off from one emergency to another. I think that’s also why i didn’t quite feel the chemistry between the two MCs, even though there was plenty of yearning expressed I missed some of the banter that I enjoy in Radclyffe’s other books.

There is a secondary storyline involving the campers that was really well done and I enjoyed that immensely and wouldn’t have minded a little more of that TBH.
This was a quick and easy read and even though it didn’t hit all my boxes.
3.5⭐️s

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Vita L. Licari · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great slow burn, age gap love story! Lily is an ER dr In NYC. It's the end of the covid disaster and she needs a break. Her bestfriend Sarah calls her to be the camp dr at a summer camp in the Adirondacks. There she meets Chase who was just a kid the last time she saw her. Chase is the local ranger,who's also Sarah's younger sister. Chase is ordered to move her home operation to the camp because of a VIP camper. Chase and Lily are really attracted to one another.
I had a great time reading this, I enjoyed being at summer camp again! The relationship is fun and sexy! 5 stars!!

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Radclyffe book I read that isn’t part of a series, or is not yet part of a series, (definitely has prospects to become book 1) and I enjoyed it very much.
Lily is a New York ER doctor burned out post pandemic. Her best friend Sarah offers her a summer alternative as a summer camp medic. Enter Sarah’s little sister Chase, a forest ranger.
Chase lives her life after loosing both parents and her ability to free clim post an accident as a committed officer who rarely takes any breaks. She is instantly attracted to Lily and is willing to give this attraction all her attention for the next couple of months.
Lily is conflicted by the pull she feels towards Chase but the circumstances make it difficult for them to spend a lot of time together and explore those feelings. Besides, at the end of the summer she returns back to her ER life in NYC.
All in all a great read that I fully recommend.
Free ARC via NetGalley

[Sloan Stryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderfully captivating story by Radclyffe. Chase is a ranger/DNR officer/firefighter catch all to keep her mountain and people safe. She can be called out anytime day or night and be gone extended periods of time.
Lily is a doctor has has covid burnout after working in the ER for months non stop. She is looking for a much needed break and change. Her friend asks her to volunteer as a summer camp medic, which she does happily.
Then she meets Chase and suddenly the summer looks even brighter but she is warned off of Chase who has her own demons she's working through.
Their attraction cannot be denied and they aren't trying to stop it.
As the end of the summer draws near they will have hard decisions to make.

I really enjoyed this but I am big fan of Radclyffe, you can never go wrong with any of her books.
This is definitely worth your time.
Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks for this ARC

[DeStijlx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily needs a break from the fast life working in ER especially after covid, so what better way to relax than by spending time working at a summer camp. However, when she comes across Chase, the witty ranger, Lily knows her time at the camp has just gotten interesting.

Also this is a I'm in love with my best friend's sister book so yup, count me in.

This book was such a comfort read, having enjoyed previous Radclyffe books, I cautiously hoped I would love this one too.

Well written, easy to read, I loved getting know both characters and their stories and the spicy scenes were just that, spicy! I only wished the epilogue was longer, they're such a great couple and I felt as though I didn't spend enough time with them. Actually thinking about it now, I wish the whole book was slightly longer.

I would have liked getting to know more about Sarah but maybe she'll have her own book in the future.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to her usual form, this is a light read with a strong sense of place and believable characters. Lily has agreed to volunteer at a summer camp and is hoping to process and recover from being an ER Dr during the pandemic. Chase is the sister of the camp organiser and also a local ranger. The pace was good, I enjoyed finding out more about the work of a ranger in such a large wilderness and about the dangers and joys of climbing. The processing of working in a hospital emergency room through the pandemic was also handled well and with sensitivity. There is also a lovely sub plot of a developing friendship between two of the teenagers at the camp, one of whom was asexual.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One summer can change everything.

What an adventure. The experiences are so amazingly written you feel like you are at the Lodge on this mountain landscape. Lily who seems so out of place needs a place to feel her soul again. The draining, goulish 2+ years as a ER Dr during covid has drained her spirit. Chase lives on the mountains she loves but her unconventional way she lives take her life to amazing levels of danger. Radclyffe never disappoints and this sweeping sage is full of so much it is hard to put down. A work of heart and soul for so many characters! Brilliantly written so you feel the very real gravity of growth for the young teenagers at the camp and the adults who teach them. I loved it.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an unexpected surprise and I ADORED this book and would be sooo happy if the author did a sequel. It read like a Lifetime Hallmark lesbian love story and I’m here for all of that! 5/5 stars! Thank you for the publisher and NetGalley allowing me to read this.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only This Summer by Radclyffe is exactly what I wanted and expected from this author. Add in a “cops and docs” trope along with butch and femme main characters, and it’s a wonder I’m not doing a happy chair dance just thinking about it.

Dr. Lily Davenport is burned out. The last few years as an ER physician in the heart of New York City in the midst of the pandemic has done her in emotionally and physically. With the help of her best friend Sarah, she is going to take a few months off and work as a doctor at a summer camp for teens in the mountain woodlands. Lily plans to use this time to sort out her future. Then she meets Sarah’s younger sister, forest ranger Chase Fielder. Chase loves her work in this remote and beautiful land. She has no time for permanent relationships, and prefers to be alone in the woods to having people around. Then she almost literally runs into Lily.

This really is an awe inspiring love story. Both of the main characters are easy to fall in love with. The campers, (especially Marty) will also touch your heart. The setting is well described. The romantic narrative is exactly what you expect from a Radclyffe romance.

I’m so happy I had the chance to read this novel. If you are a Radclyffe fan like me, or just enjoy consuming great love stories, then you need to grab this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

When ‘Covid’ put the whole health community on Doctors, nurses and all the people required on high alert. Meaning they spent the last few years working their as**es off. Dr. Lily Davenport was exhausted and needed a change of pace for a while. That’s the reason she goes to ‘summer camp’ that was run by her good friend Sarah Fielder, where the campers were in their teens. Little did she count on Sarah’s younger sister, Chase, all grown up.
Chase loved climbing rock faces. The harder the better, at least she was until an accident put her climbing days behind. Now she worked for the Department of Environmental Conservation and when she had the spare time she helped Sarah with the camp their parents started. She remember’s Sarah’s friend Lily. Now even though Lily was a few years older the sparks between them is too much to ignore.
As usual when we read a book by Radclyffe we’re reminded of what makes a great story. Characters like Lily and Chase with an equally good plot. Simply put, another winner. Very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books