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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Friends to lovers and second chance are two tropes that I love, and together, when done well, is a treat, and that is what Noreen has done here. Breaking generational trauma and bad practices, I love to read it.
This book was a trigger of sorts, haha, the immigrant parent expectations, navigating young love and desire without the judgment and pressure of ruining your family, and letting all their sacrifices go to waste. Lia was a mirror of sorts, apart from the cottage and the summer romance she got to have (I wish I had that growing up lol). The constant need for perfection and proving yourself, the nagging noise that you are a failure. Like I said, a trigger of sorts.
Wes and Lia's friendship, chemistry, and connection felt genuine, and I was rooting for them, aching for them.
I also very much liked that Noreen handled the way the mother accepted the children only because she did not want to break the family, rather than truly accepting them, which made it realistic. I did wonder how this would pan out had the father still been in the picture.
Nonetheless, a wonderful debut. I look forward to Noreen's next.
Thank you, Random House Canada and Edelweiss, for the e-ARC.
This book was a trigger of sorts, haha, the immigrant parent expectations, navigating young love and desire without the judgment and pressure of ruining your family, and letting all their sacrifices go to waste. Lia was a mirror of sorts, apart from the cottage and the summer romance she got to have (I wish I had that growing up lol). The constant need for perfection and proving yourself, the nagging noise that you are a failure. Like I said, a trigger of sorts.
Wes and Lia's friendship, chemistry, and connection felt genuine, and I was rooting for them, aching for them.
I also very much liked that Noreen handled the way the mother accepted the children only because she did not want to break the family, rather than truly accepting them, which made it realistic. I did wonder how this would pan out had the father still been in the picture.
Nonetheless, a wonderful debut. I look forward to Noreen's next.
Thank you, Random House Canada and Edelweiss, for the e-ARC.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Abortion, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, Medical content, Pregnancy
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re a sucker for second chance romances and childhood friends-to-lovers stories, The Summers Between Us is going to steal your heart—I literally flew through it!
It’s been over a decade since Lia last saw Wes. She’s been busy building her career as a lawyer in Toronto, but now, returning to her family’s cottage in Pike Bay, all the feelings she once had for Wes—the boy she loved, the best friend she lost—come rushing back. Once, she thought they were destined for forever, but life had other plans. Now, back where it all began, what could this mean for them?
Told from Lia’s perspective and alternating between past and present, this book is a beautiful, sweet romance about two people finding their way back to each other. To move forward, they must face old wounds, past mistakes, and who they’ve become—but more importantly, they must decide who they want to be.
It’s also a heartfelt story about learning to put yourself first—especially for Lia Jumma. Being a young, ambitious lawyer came at a cost, as many of her life choices were shaped by family expectations and a deep need to make her immigrant parents proud, to honor their sacrifices. But this story reminds us all to take control of our own lives and carefully consider the people and things that truly bring us happiness.
Overall, this was such a wholesome read, with lovable characters, natural pacing, and equal parts funny and charming. I literally inhaled it.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
je vais donner ce livre
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
i really loved this one!! at first i thought it would be just another second chance summer romance with nothing to add but boy was i wrong. i loved how deep they went into lia’s backstory and really fleshed out the character. wes was also given ample time to feel connected to him as a character. i loved the role ciji played and the relationship arc between her and lia
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall, I liked the premise of this book. Lia and Wes are lovable, complicated characters that showcase growth and reflection of their actions. The reconciliation felt like it came on so fast and was almost unbelievable for me. The flashbacks worked well as a narrative device. The pregnancy and abortion reveal was handled with grace and felt honest in the plot. pacing was hard for me but overall the book was worth the read!
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes