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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
I really enjoyed this. Maggie and Josh were so well matched and I enjoyed their journey from friends to lovers. Josh’s family members were great too and the mystery portion truly threw me for a loop. Great epilogue too. I did catch a few typos unfortunately and the mixing of first and third person in the writing took some getting used to. Otherwise, I probably would have given this 5 stars.
Also would love to see this book brought to life as a Hallmark movie with Kevin McGarry as Josh.
Also would love to see this book brought to life as a Hallmark movie with Kevin McGarry as Josh.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
This one made me feel all the feels!
As Maggie Reynolds approaches the fifth anniversary of her husband's death, she is determined to finally move forward with her life. But her summer takes a drastic turn when she spots a man who looks identical to Ethan. Along with her brother-in-law, Josh, she sets off to solve the mystery. As she finds herself drawn to Josh, will the ghost of her husband keep her from finding happiness again?
I love everything that Denise Hunter writes, and this one was no exception.
The setting of Seabrook was beautiful. I loved the relationship that Maggie had with her late husband's family. Zoey, her daughter, was adorable.
My favorite character was Josh, though. He was so sweet and caring for Maggie and Zoe. The love he had for them was present in every interaction.
The mystery man element was so interesting, too. I was fully invested in the story. And I did not see the final twist coming!
If you are looking for a sweet, clean romance with a bit of mystery and a lot of heart, you should check this one out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and libro.fm for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
As Maggie Reynolds approaches the fifth anniversary of her husband's death, she is determined to finally move forward with her life. But her summer takes a drastic turn when she spots a man who looks identical to Ethan. Along with her brother-in-law, Josh, she sets off to solve the mystery. As she finds herself drawn to Josh, will the ghost of her husband keep her from finding happiness again?
I love everything that Denise Hunter writes, and this one was no exception.
The setting of Seabrook was beautiful. I loved the relationship that Maggie had with her late husband's family. Zoey, her daughter, was adorable.
My favorite character was Josh, though. He was so sweet and caring for Maggie and Zoe. The love he had for them was present in every interaction.
The mystery man element was so interesting, too. I was fully invested in the story. And I did not see the final twist coming!
If you are looking for a sweet, clean romance with a bit of mystery and a lot of heart, you should check this one out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and libro.fm for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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:
Complicated
The Summer of You and Me
By Denise Hunter
Narrated by Kim Churchill
Published April 22,2025
This was my first book by Denise Hunter and if all her books are like this she has a dedicated reader for life! I really liked being able to walk thought life with Maggie Reynolds. Through her grief and being a single parent an the all the struggles that go with it. Maggie a widow returned to Seabrook North Carolina for the summer with her sweet four year old Zoey. Then everything changes when she sees her deceased husbands doppelgänger while at the local carnival and thats when all the what ifs start running through her mind. I longed for Maggie and Josh to find their happily ever after, after everything that they both went thought loosing Ethan. This book pulled at my heart so much. There were parts that had me tearing up because I can’t even begin to imagine the hurt that Maggie was feeling during the whole time trying to figure out who the carnival boy was and if it was Ethan who was killed in action.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.
By Denise Hunter
Narrated by Kim Churchill
Published April 22,2025
This was my first book by Denise Hunter and if all her books are like this she has a dedicated reader for life! I really liked being able to walk thought life with Maggie Reynolds. Through her grief and being a single parent an the all the struggles that go with it. Maggie a widow returned to Seabrook North Carolina for the summer with her sweet four year old Zoey. Then everything changes when she sees her deceased husbands doppelgänger while at the local carnival and thats when all the what ifs start running through her mind. I longed for Maggie and Josh to find their happily ever after, after everything that they both went thought loosing Ethan. This book pulled at my heart so much. There were parts that had me tearing up because I can’t even begin to imagine the hurt that Maggie was feeling during the whole time trying to figure out who the carnival boy was and if it was Ethan who was killed in action.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.
emotional
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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:
Yes
reflective
slow-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:
Yes
This chaste women's literature novel is a poignant exploration of grief, unrequited forbidden love, and family secrets.
The plot is compelling with a lot of emotional ups and downs. Both main characters grieve equally, and both have emotional complexity outside of their relationship with Ethan.
The FMC's relationship with her mother was particularly painful, as only someone with clinical narcissistic personality disorder will truly grasp. The manipulation and the shifting personalities were well written.
The solution to the mystery was a surprise to all characters and the reader, adding rich layers to the narrative.
While this was released by a Christian publisher, it isn't a faith journey. Prayer and church attendance are part of the culture but can easily be skimmed past.
The plot is compelling with a lot of emotional ups and downs. Both main characters grieve equally, and both have emotional complexity outside of their relationship with Ethan.
The FMC's relationship with her mother was particularly painful, as only someone with clinical narcissistic personality disorder will truly grasp. The manipulation and the shifting personalities were well written.
The solution to the mystery was a surprise to all characters and the reader, adding rich layers to the narrative.
While this was released by a Christian publisher, it isn't a faith journey. Prayer and church attendance are part of the culture but can easily be skimmed past.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Abandonment
Minor: Cancer
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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:
Complicated
After reading Before We Were Us last year I knew I needed to pick up the latest Denise Hunter book! What a great premise...a young widow and her brother-in-law join forces to find out who a man is that looks like her deceased husband. This not-so-new relationship is complicated with a long history, lots of emotions and skepticism, mystery and...a sweet unfolding of faith-filled lives. Hunter has a way with words with lots of great dialogue among her characters. This is a clean, sweet romance, but definitely has some unexpected elements of real life interspersed. The characters are not perfect, making them more relatable. This would be great for you if you enjoy Christian fiction, romance, or even mysteries.
The audio version of this was also done really well.
Not sure if this will be continued as a series but I'd love to see what happens to Maggie and Josh next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
The audio version of this was also done really well.
Not sure if this will be continued as a series but I'd love to see what happens to Maggie and Josh next!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced