ARC: The Summer of You and Me

Looking for a five-star summer read?

I highly recommend adding The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter to your list!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley, and it had me hooked from the very first page. There’s mystery, emotion, and complex relationships woven in from the start—all of which kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next.

Maggie and Ethan were high school sweethearts who managed a long-distance relationship while Ethan was away at college. After graduation, they got married, and Ethan joined the military. Tragically, he passed away in a military accident while Maggie was pregnant with their daughter, Zoey.

Ethan's younger brother, Josh, had always been close to Maggie—especially since Ethan had asked him to look out for her while he was away. After Ethan's death, Josh stepped in to support Maggie and Zoey. But from the day he met her, Josh has had deep, unspoken feelings for Maggie.

On the fifth anniversary of Ethan’s death, Maggie decides to spend the summer back in their hometown, staying at her in-laws’ beach house while they’re off exploring Europe. She and Zoey are looking forward to a relaxing season of sun, family, and healing. But everything changes when Maggie spots someone at a carnival who looks exactly like Ethan. She calls Josh, and together they begin searching for this mystery man—sparking a chain of events that unearth long-buried secrets and force everyone to confront the truth.

This is very much a romance/beach read with a twist of mystery. It’s sweet, emotional, and not graphic—just kissing, which honestly felt like a breath of fresh air. A lot of the books I’ve read lately lean pretty spicy (which has its time and place), but sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a clean, heartfelt story that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to read in public.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s well-written, engaging, and has a unique storyline. There’s grief, joy, healing, vulnerability, and trust—and it all comes together in a satisfying, easy-to-read story that left me feeling full.

Definitely recommend you add this one to your TBR.

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Let's chat in the comments below - Have you read The Summer of You and Me? What did you think? What is on your summer TBR?