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reneeereads's review
1.0
This book has as many random plot lines as sprinkles I put on my ice cream. I wish I could unread it.
bonniereads777's review against another edition
3.0
Ivy Green is returning home after five years, but only because Hollywood has decided to film her Christmas screenplay in her hometown, and in the middle of summer!. Also coming along for the ride is her boyfriend and future live-in Drew, who is the producer. What Ivy doesn't count on is that her ex-boyfriend Nick, who she killed off in the screenplay, will be involved in the movie too. Not only are some of the scenes being filmed in Nick's vineyard, but the lead actress seems to have a crush on him.
This sounded like a fun listen--Christmas in the Summer--but there are some parts that did not work for me. The main character is 30 years old, but the dialogue and the narrator make her sound as if she's in high school. The sex scenes are cringeworthy and could have been left out. The point of view changing to some of the lesser characters was sometimes off-putting. The romance between Nick's mother and the movie set caterer is cute, but when Nick wishes it was just a one-night stand instead of love, that puzzled me. No son wants that for his mother. I felt the whole thing went on a bit long, with the same things happening over and over. The characterization of the movie as a "career-maker" and a blockbuster did not match the description of the movie itself, which sounded more like a tv movie or Hallmark movie. I did think the ending was stronger than the rest of the book.
The narration was adequate. As I mentioned before I felt like Ivy's voice was more high school than adult. The narration of the rest of the characters was fine. Overall, it's an average rom-com with a decent ending and a lot of awkward and unnecessary moments in between.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
This sounded like a fun listen--Christmas in the Summer--but there are some parts that did not work for me. The main character is 30 years old, but the dialogue and the narrator make her sound as if she's in high school. The sex scenes are cringeworthy and could have been left out. The point of view changing to some of the lesser characters was sometimes off-putting. The romance between Nick's mother and the movie set caterer is cute, but when Nick wishes it was just a one-night stand instead of love, that puzzled me. No son wants that for his mother. I felt the whole thing went on a bit long, with the same things happening over and over. The characterization of the movie as a "career-maker" and a blockbuster did not match the description of the movie itself, which sounded more like a tv movie or Hallmark movie. I did think the ending was stronger than the rest of the book.
The narration was adequate. As I mentioned before I felt like Ivy's voice was more high school than adult. The narration of the rest of the characters was fine. Overall, it's an average rom-com with a decent ending and a lot of awkward and unnecessary moments in between.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
cherryreeds's review
3.0
✨I had a great time with this book. I loved following Ivy and Nick's story as they have great chemistry. There are some very cute moments between them. It feels like watching a movie. I find the idea of Christmas in the middle of July original.
lifeasmrsbaker's review
3.0
The Summer of Christmas is a cute rom com about rekindled love. It was a predictable romance novel. A few critique points that I had:
1. The narrative was chaotic. The back and forth between the characters was really hard to follow.
2. The prose of inner vs outer thoughts. This was very difficult to follow.
I really didn't care for the nod to COVID as well. We've all lived COVID for the last two years, no need to write it into fiction novels.
Read if you love: movies, Christmas, cheesy rom com
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
1. The narrative was chaotic. The back and forth between the characters was really hard to follow.
2. The prose of inner vs outer thoughts. This was very difficult to follow.
I really didn't care for the nod to COVID as well. We've all lived COVID for the last two years, no need to write it into fiction novels.
Read if you love: movies, Christmas, cheesy rom com
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
_basicbookworm's review
3.0
Ivy Green finally got her big break, writing the script for a new Christmas movie. The catch, it is very clearly based on her real life and her past relationship, only instead of ending in a break up, the fictionalized relationships ends with the guy dying… When the movie goes back to her hometown for filming, she has to face the ex the movie is based on for the first time since they broke up.
At first this was challenging because there were so many characters who were very intertwined and we got all their perspectives but once I got them all organized in my head I enjoyed this one. I love a good Christmas in July moment so this was a fun book to read with a bit of Christmas spirit. I reall enjoyed certain characters stories (Griffin was an incredible side character that I wanted more of) and HATED others. I was rooting for Ivy and Nick from the beginning and was happy with the resolution of this one. If you like Hallmark movies in book form, this one might be for you!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted copy.
At first this was challenging because there were so many characters who were very intertwined and we got all their perspectives but once I got them all organized in my head I enjoyed this one. I love a good Christmas in July moment so this was a fun book to read with a bit of Christmas spirit. I reall enjoyed certain characters stories (Griffin was an incredible side character that I wanted more of) and HATED others. I was rooting for Ivy and Nick from the beginning and was happy with the resolution of this one. If you like Hallmark movies in book form, this one might be for you!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted copy.
purrfectpages's review
3.0
As kids, Ivy Green (even her name screams Christmas) and Nick Shepherd’s lives were forever changed when they were cast in their church’s Christmas play. Inseparable since that day, friendship inevitably blossomed into teenage love.
But Ivy always dreamed of leaving her small town one day for Hollywood, hoping to make it as a screenwriter. Then one day it happens, her big break. Not wanting to be the one to hold her back (but also, frustratingly, not telling Ivy or the readers this) Nick dumps Ivy, citing he has feelings for another woman. Oh and all of this occurs mere days before Christmas.
Bah humbug.
Fast forward 5 years and Ivy is finally on the path to what she was destined to do. But finally selling her screenplay not only sends her back to her hometown for filming, it also reunites her with the man who broke her heart, the same man who also not so secretly serves as inspiration for the film she’s making.
Nick never left home, making a name for himself in the winery business. He also never stopped carrying a torch for Ivy. Both too stubborn to face what went down years ago, instead they hide behind new loves, quirky side characters, and fake lighting. Is a Christmas miracle in their cards or are they destined to live out a blue Christmas forever?
While the writers clearly know their way around a screenplay, this story felt a little like shopping during the holiday season- messy and rushed. I wanted more out of Ivy and Nick’s origin story so I would know what I’m supposed to be rooting for. There were also many cringe worthy moments and a confusing carousel of side character POV’s that felt a little odd and forced. In addition, there were repetitive reminders of Covid sprinkled throughout (we get it, no one shakes hands anymore!) that the story could do without.
Despite all of this and the lackluster reviews, I could actually see this story working as a Made For TV holiday movie. After all, they’re nothing if not corny and non sensical at the one time of year all of this is tolerated- Christmas.
So if Christmas can’t come soon enough for you, grab your beach towel and tinsel and take a chance on Christmas in Tinseltown.
But Ivy always dreamed of leaving her small town one day for Hollywood, hoping to make it as a screenwriter. Then one day it happens, her big break. Not wanting to be the one to hold her back (but also, frustratingly, not telling Ivy or the readers this) Nick dumps Ivy, citing he has feelings for another woman. Oh and all of this occurs mere days before Christmas.
Bah humbug.
Fast forward 5 years and Ivy is finally on the path to what she was destined to do. But finally selling her screenplay not only sends her back to her hometown for filming, it also reunites her with the man who broke her heart, the same man who also not so secretly serves as inspiration for the film she’s making.
Nick never left home, making a name for himself in the winery business. He also never stopped carrying a torch for Ivy. Both too stubborn to face what went down years ago, instead they hide behind new loves, quirky side characters, and fake lighting. Is a Christmas miracle in their cards or are they destined to live out a blue Christmas forever?
While the writers clearly know their way around a screenplay, this story felt a little like shopping during the holiday season- messy and rushed. I wanted more out of Ivy and Nick’s origin story so I would know what I’m supposed to be rooting for. There were also many cringe worthy moments and a confusing carousel of side character POV’s that felt a little odd and forced. In addition, there were repetitive reminders of Covid sprinkled throughout (we get it, no one shakes hands anymore!) that the story could do without.
Despite all of this and the lackluster reviews, I could actually see this story working as a Made For TV holiday movie. After all, they’re nothing if not corny and non sensical at the one time of year all of this is tolerated- Christmas.
So if Christmas can’t come soon enough for you, grab your beach towel and tinsel and take a chance on Christmas in Tinseltown.
caffeinatedreads's review
3.5
okay significantly better to me than the trouble w tinsel! still read like a screenplay, needed a better edit job, and suffered from somewhat flat characters, but waaay less. i actually felt more heart of a story here!
one thing that actually happened in trouble w tinsel but not this one (but alluded to it before confirming a no) was that characters get reeeeally drunk and then wake up the next morning wondering if they had sex the previous night and that just…nope! not it! it doesn’t have to be like that!
mostly the issues here for me were the more simple writing style and the lack of personality in the characters (though there was some!). i read a lot of screenplays so i can visualize stories pretty easily a lot of the time, and this one was like that. definitely told in a way that it was meant to be seen (on the hallmark channel) and not to live in the bookish world.
and the cover is so cute!
one thing that actually happened in trouble w tinsel but not this one (but alluded to it before confirming a no) was that characters get reeeeally drunk and then wake up the next morning wondering if they had sex the previous night and that just…nope! not it! it doesn’t have to be like that!
mostly the issues here for me were the more simple writing style and the lack of personality in the characters (though there was some!). i read a lot of screenplays so i can visualize stories pretty easily a lot of the time, and this one was like that. definitely told in a way that it was meant to be seen (on the hallmark channel) and not to live in the bookish world.
and the cover is so cute!