A review by astridthebookishsweettooth
The Summer Deal by Jill Shalvis

3.0

TITLE: THE SUMMER DEAL
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
SERIES: Wildstone #5
RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020
GENRE: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance
THEMES & TROPES: Smalltown Romance
RATING: 3 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG

They all had a role here, she realized. And Eli’s role was the glue.

Family is a big theme in all books in this series but even more so in this one. Brynn was lucky to be born into a loving home of two women. Bullied at school for it her childhood and teenage years were far from easy. When she returns home to Wildstone with her twil tucked between her legs after she was conned by her ex-boyfriend she is looking for a place to heal. Of course in a small town like Wildstone she can't avoid running into the best friend of your former tormentor and arch enemy who Brynn had a crush when she was a teen.

Eli has made himself a home, along with his little brother Max and best friend Kinsey. His family let him down too many times and after a failed relationship love is far from his mind until he rubs into the girl who he shared his first kiss with and now pretends not to recognize him.

He wanted this more than he should, but if he knew one thing about life, it was that what he wanted rarely mattered.

Now, these two were fine and nice and that's why they were perfect for one another but I thought as hero and heroine they were just too bland and I found myself wishing that Kinsey and her amazing love interest Deck would have been the main protagonists and the story told from their points of view. We do get Kinsey's POV and I loved her so much. She had edges, was bitchy but you knew that it was all for show to protect the ones she loved. She was frustrating, but I was never enough at her to throw my Kindle. Who frustrated me the most when it came to Kinsey was Eli. He enabled Kinsey to be dishonest and never forced her to come out with her truth.

I did love their friendship though and how they loved each other unconditionally. And I absolutely enjoyed the budding relationship between Kinsey and Brynn. It was great to watch Brynn growing a backbone and standing up for herself.

“You’re a very strange woman.”
“Takes one to know one.”

Now. Deck and Kinsey? OMG they were so good together. Deck was the male I'm used to in Jill's books. A little alpha and a lot of goodness. His love for Kinsey was so honest, patient and forgiving and he gave her the room she needed. He was a good man with a dash of naughty and I just adored him.

“Stop redirecting and avoiding. Just listen. Because I’m going to tell you exactly how I feel so that I know that you know, and then you know that I know that you know.”
She gaped at him. “You’ve been watching Friends.”
“Three times a week without fail. I’m in love with you, Kinsey.”
Oh, God. Her heart stopped.

Jill Shalvis is my go-to author for comfort reads. THE SUMMER DEAL wasn't as spellbinding as the other installments in this series although it had all the ingredients I love so much about her stories. The family dynamics and the friendships are always heartwarming. Add to that a funny pup with a sweet personality and it's exactly what we need in the time we live in right now. I'll definitely grab the next one!