Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Same Time Next Summer

This book was both light-hearted, yet eye opening to the struggles of how to cope with losing someone you love. One moment changed the trajectory of what Sam and Wyatt expected for their future with one another. With Wyatt being unable to cope with what happened, therefore causing him to unintentionally project his anger at the situation onto Sam, it causes this drift between the two of them that irrevocably changes Sam's outlook on life. Fast-forward to the future, you see them address what occurred and see how they come together, despite the hurt and pain the situation caused them both.

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melanie_books's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Long Island was once Sam's favorite place on earth. As a child, every waking moment of the summer was spent at her family's beach house in her swimsuit splashing in the ocean or riding her bike to get ice cream with her friends. As a teen, she spent every moment she could with Wyatt, who was her boyfriend until he wasn't. Now, Sam spends as little time there as possible, but when her family wants her to consider Long Island as a place for her wedding to fiancé Jack, she begrudgingly agrees to visit. But when she arrives, she learns that Wyatt is there for the summer, staying in his family home next door. Faced now with emotions and memories that she has done everything to keep buried for over a decade, she must decide if she should run back to Manhattan or face the boy who broke her heart when she was seventeen.

This book was a delight. Sam is an incredibly likeable character - both as a kid and as an adult - as are the secondary characters in the book. I enjoyed how the story was unfolded as well: flashbacks to Sam's childhood as grown-up Sam faces the ghosts of her past. The story is quiet and introspective but also yearning and hopeful. Sam misses her old self, even if she doesn't realize it yet. I was nervous that Wyatt would be the reason that Sam breaks up with Jack, but that wasn't the case: it was about who Sam was and who she wanted to be. Overall, a lovely story and one that makes me look forward to whatever Annabel Monaghan comes up with next!

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mels_reading_log's review

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I read this book in one day, I didn’t want to put it down. Sam and Wyatt have been in love since they were kids, and now it’s time for a wedding. The only problem is, Sam’s marrying a different man.

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mollyalex's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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atamano's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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kdailyreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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laheath's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Predictable but sweet second-chance romance about high school sweethearts reuniting just as the female lead, Sam, is about to get married. Misunderstandings are cleared up and Sam learns more about herself and what she really wants from life. The male lead, Wyatt, also learns to take his own advice about career choices. Great beach setting!

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abooklikeyou's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't too sure about this one. I was sold by the cover and the notion that this was going to explore childhood friends-to-lovers/ second chance romance (my favorite trope). I heard this had all the nostalgia vibes and so many elements that I loved. But, the start of this book was a huge let down for me. It started out as a 2 star, moved to a 3, and then when hit the second half of the book and was able to award this one a 3.5 star review. Let me explain...

Things I Didn't Like:
- There was a change in POV (i.e. first person and third person) when the timelines jumped, which made the writing choppy and hard to read at times. I typically love multiple timelines and POVs, but I don't think it was done well here.
- Personally, I thought the therapy rep in this was awful. I was so angry with what Dr. Judy told Sam.
- I think I was so detached from the story that when the "thing" that tore Sam & Wyatt apart as kids happened and started spiraling I was just like, really? Don't get me wrong, I can understand the effect that would have on someone, especially seeing the two different lives Sam and Wyatt lived. It just seemed a little extreme to me.
- Really the first half of the book. Overall, I just didn't care about the characters. I felt like I was being told that two people fell in love without really understanding how or why.

And then we had "The Turn Around:"
- The second half of this book was much better than the first. While I still didn't feel fully invested in the characters, I started to open up more to them once we stayed in the present timeline.
- What Wyatt said on page 192 - SWOON!
- I liked uncovering Wyatt's secret even though it wasn't really a surprise twist.

Overall, this was nowhere near my perfect book, but I do think after the redemption in the second half I can recommend this. I know that we all have different reading tastes, and this book definitely has its audience! So check it out if it sounds interesting to you.

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