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Friday, May 3, 2024

Book Review: This Summer Will Be Different

By Allyson Bales

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. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Well….I am not sure what to say about this story other than I guzzled it down as quickly as I could and now I regret it because it's over and I miss everything about it!  I miss the characters, you will love them.  I miss the setting, you will love that too.  And I miss just the whole vibe of this story and am so jealous of anyone that gets to read it for the first time.

My wife and I visited Prince Edward Island last summer on a three week road trip and it was beautiful.  The scenery, the people, the feelings that we got there are engraved in our brains and hearts and it quickly became one of our favorite places.  I loved that This Summer Will be Different largely took place there and Fortune’s detailed description really did it justice.  I could spell the flowers, see the beautiful water, and feel the sun on my skin.  I don’t know the last time I loved the setting of a book this much and now I want to go back to visit.  I wish that some of the characters actually existed so I can go and hang out with them!

I also really loved the plot of this story and think it is by far, my favorite of Fortune's.  As she writes in her Author's Note at the end that her singular goal for the book was "fun",  and she accomplished that! I absolutely had a blast following along on Lucy, Felix, and Bridget’s journey.  There are deep bonds and honored traditions.  Push and pulls that make you grasp at the characters for more.   And growth and understanding that the characters learn about themselves that make you feel seen and heard. 

This book was truly chef's kiss and I can’t wait for you to be teleported to the most beautiful place with some of my most favorite characters!

Thanks to Berkley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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