The Summer of You and Me is a poignant summer romance that delves into themes of loss, second chances, and the complexities of moving forward. The story follows Maggie Reynolds, a widow who returns to the coastal town of Seabrook, where she and her late husband, Ethan Reynolds, shared many memories, to find closure and move on. Unbeknownst to her, Josh, Ethan’s brother, has been secretly in love with Maggie since their youth. Maggie’s journey takes an unexpected turn when she spots a man in the local amusement park who looks exactly like Ethan. Before she can approach him, he vanishes into the crowd, leaving her shaken and filled with questions. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie and Josh embark on a quest to identify the mysterious man.

Hunter weaves a beautiful story that authentically describes the intricacies of grief and the bravery needed to open one’s heart again, especially with family expectations and judgments constantly lurking in the background. The story has good pacing but doesn’t feel rushed at any point—all the major plot points are well fleshed out with plenty of dialogue and rich character development.

The novel’s coastal town setting is the perfect backdrop for this atmospheric mystery romance. The author vividly describes the town and its inhabitants. When Maggie spots the mysterious figure resembling Ethan amidst the crowd at an amusement park, readers can literally see themselves there, feeling the astonishment and panic alongside her.

What’s most refreshing about this “summer romance” is its unpredictable storyline. When Maggie first sees the man looking like her dead husband, readers may immediately have notions of where the book is headed—but your predictions will likely be wrong! The twists and turns that follow make the story very compelling and original! Readers will be scratching their heads as Maggie and Josh disprove every theory they have over who the mystery man is—the final twist is the most shocking and, although readers will have to somewhat suspend their disbelief, is a fitting resolution to this unconventional romance novel!

The characters in this book are well-developed and relatable, making it easy for readers to become emotionally invested in them. Maggie is a very introspective and complex character. Her inner monologues vividly convey how torn she is between holding onto the past and embracing a new start. Her obliviousness to Josh’s affection in the first half makes her both charming and frustrating—but she is so consumed and shaken by the sighting of Ethan’s doppelgänger that she can barely think straight! Josh’s unwavering support and (not so) hidden affections make him very likeable and admirable. Some readers may view a developing romance between a widow and her late husband’s brother as unacceptable or strange, but the author unfolds their love story perfectly, with meaningful dialogue and a beautiful mutual respect that makes it become swoon-worthy by the end. There are also wonderful side characters, most of whom are Josh’s extended family, that are richly described and add a very wholesome element to the narrative.

Overall, The Summer of You and Me is a beautiful story that will resonate with anyone who has experienced significant loss and/or is faced with the daunting task of starting over. The unpredictable storyline, unconventional romance, and unexpected twists (which are uncommon in summer romance novels) make this book stand out! This is definitely one you need to add to your summer reading list—and if you haven’t read Denise Hunter’s work before, you’ll have a new auto-buy author after reading this book, and you’ll be checking out her extensive backlist of 40+ titles!!