Reviews

Seven Summers by Paige Toon

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hjreads16's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? No

4.75

nisja_k's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I enjoyed the book and the way it skipped back and forth in time but...

I kinda wish it would've ended at some part earlier in the epilogue with the story mainly being about healing and the feeling of letting go of past loves while still cherishing what has been instead of them coming back together. Well at least, not as quickly as they did. Maybe I'd have enjoyed an ending more where Tom woul 've died a few decades into their marriage and then she would've found her way back to Finn or something like that.

This being said, I still like the book and the pacing it has!

joriep4's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

thebookishmama's review against another edition

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4.0

There is just some bring about Paige Toon’s writing that sucks me in. She makes me care for her characters so much. They have great depth and seem to go through journeys that read just like real life experiences. I knew early on this was gonna hurt, I just wasn’t sure how. And hurt me she did. I felt conflicting feelings reading this one. I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to happen. The journey she takes us on felt so real and filled with so much love and heartbreak. I really liked the idea of spreading the story across the summers, it felt familiar but I liked what Toon did with it. This story was beautiful and well written and makes me realize I need to read more of her books!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the gifted earc

Only Love Can Hurt Like This ★★★★☆

amberbooksandcoffee's review against another edition

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5.0

It's rare a book hooks me from the very first page all the way to the last. I simply could not stop reading or in this case listening. That very first chapter was so good and set the tone for the whole book. The praise for this book is correct, but I will say this book is not what you are expecting it is not a rom com at all. While yes, it is a love story, it is heavy at times and hard to bare witness to. It is told across multiple timelines and I didn't find any issue following along, I was equal parts engrossed in each timeline and couldn't stop listening to find out what was going to happen next.

What our main character Liv goes through isn't anything I'd wish upon anyone. I found myself growing protective of her as if she were my own sister. Her journey is one of self growth and discovery, she starts from the bottom and comes out on top and we get to have a front row seat to witness it all unfold. But, along the way you will fall in love with the two men she falls in love with, one being Finn and the other being Tom. It is hard to not fall in love with the both of them and it is easy to see why she did herself. I multiple times found myself wanting her with one guy over the other and vice versa. Which to me is a recipe for a good story, because at the end of the day love still wins. It is a case of the right person, wrong time and oh my goodness it is so heartbreaking at times.

Seven Summers is a beautifully written book and it will stay with me for a long time. I have zero qualms about it. It is my top 5 book of 2024, without a doubt. Bump this up on your summer reads list, it is one you don't want to miss. Whether it be via audio or physical you will not be disappointed!

Thank you for the free audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.0

the first half of this book felt slow to me, but once i got over ½ way i started to connect to the stories a little. it wasn’t the most beautifully written, there wasn’t much plot but the repeating cycle of pain the mcs put themselves in is heartbreaking to witness. the ending made me much sadder than i expected, but a lot happened at the end it felt a little rushed. i felt a certain disconnect to the characters but the story was beautifully real and down to earth

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