Isn't It Romantic? - The Five-Star Summer Edition

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This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Published by Berkley on May 7, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

Bridget had several rules for their trip, but one stood out for Lucy, rule number 3 - "Don't fall in love with my brother." Little did Bridget know it may have been too late for that, but Lucy and Felix worked hard to fight their feelings for each other. Over the years they may have slipped, here and there, but each trip back to PEI, Lucy promised that this summer will be different.

In the author's note, Fortune talked about how she wanted this to be a fun book, and when comparing her latest book to her previous works, I would say - mission accomplished! This Summer Will Be Different was lighthearted and breezy, in the way one expects a summer read to be. Though the characters do deal with some weighty issues, such as grief, family pressure, and burnout, there was always the escape to Lucy's happy place.

And can we talk about that happy place? I am no stranger to the literary beauty of Prince Edward Island being an Anne Shirley fangirl, but Fortune definitely painted some new pictures and created some beautiful memories of the island for me. I was so in love with this setting that I was ready to run out and book a trip there. The sights, the sounds, the oysters! It surrounded me on all sides, and I could totally understand why PEI owned Bridget and Lucy's hearts.

Now I am thinking of Bridget and Lucy and the beautiful friendship they shared. Talk about friend goals. I have been lucky to discover some really incredible books that feature amazing ride-or-die female friendships, and this one has earned a spot on that list. They found each other when they both needed someone to anchor them, and they have stood by one another, becoming integral parts of their lives. This was one love story that played out in this book, but I am sure everyone is also interested in the love story between Lucy and Felix.

I will never tire of these romances that play out over years. As frustrating as they can be, it is always so satisfying when IT finally happens. For FIVE YEARS Felix and Lucy had some sort of thing going on. They may have tried to deny their feelings, but their emotions never faded. They may have tried to move on to other people, but it never worked because they were destined for each other.

The funny thing about this book, I cried the most for the Bridget storyline. It was her disappearance that brought Lucy back to the island and was such a huge catalyst for changes in Lucy's life (which were amazing, by the way). It takes most of the book to learn why Bridget returned to PEI. The reason wasn't anything that I would have ever guessed, but the full impact of it really hit me hard. I sobbed when I realized what it would mean to all parties involved. 

Overall, Fortune continues to be a favorite of mine. If she writes it, I will read it because her book always have me drowning in feels and bursting with happiness. 

*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Published by Forever on April 2, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Goodreads

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

If she writes it, I will read it. 😍

This is what I will forever say about Abby Jimenez and her books. These books always make me smile, always make me laugh, always make me feel, and always fill me with joy.

After connecting via an AITA post with them both being the one before "the one", Emma decided to take a chance and meet this charming man in person. Though she thought this would be just for summer, it ended up that Emma wanted to spend more time with Justin, and he was just as smitten with her. They both were dealing with some issues in their lives though that could get in the way. Justin's entire life was about to be turned upside down, and the trauma Emma experienced growing up had kept her from forming any strong connections (except with her best friend, Maddy). Could Justin and Emma's love last beyond the summer? 

SO. MANY. EMOTIONS. I laughed because the banter was strong and there were some hilarious situations. I mean, the date surveys. I am still smiling from those. I cried for Emma and the things she dealt with in her past. I hurt for her and everyone who ever wanted to love her but were unable to scale her protective walls. I cheered for Emma and Justin as they made a go of it. Heck, I just felt so much, and as always, Jimenez did a beautiful job helping me understand and navigate these complicated characters who she treated with such care.

One of the most exciting things for me was the way Jimenez linked this book to the others in this series, as well as giving nods to some characters from The Friend Zone books. The connections to Part of Your World knocked me over. What a choice she made there! It was stupendous, and I loved it.

As expected, this book imprinted on my heart and left me in a pool of happy tears. The clock is ticking as I eagerly await the next Jimenez book which I have no doubt will be another favorite. 

Have you read Anne of Green Gables?
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