Good story that keeps the reader engaged and entertained the whole way through the story. Loved the main characters and how well they played off each other.

Hot Mess Summer was a lighthearted read with plenty of laugh out loud moments and some tough decisions to be made. This was a "meet cute" story. Declan and Nicole were perfect for each other. I loved the friendship they built first before becoming lovers. It was a slow burn read with all the feels. I absolutely loved the nicknames they gave each other. Another enjoyable read.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Nicole and Declan. Nicole is divorced and has an adult daughter. Declan is divorced and has two adult sons. Nicole has bought a beach house, she goes to the beach house for the summer. Nicole is a romance writer. Declan is a fish peddler. When they meet at a party there is an instant attraction. They start dating. The fall in love.

I think this book is for someone is a very specific season of life so you can relate to the character. I personally am not in that season of life so I had a hard time connecting.

Overall I think the story was ok but not liking the chapter really impacted my opinion on this book .

These characters are amazing together, the relationships between all the characters is well structured and everyone has their own time to shine. Brilliant story as expected

One thing I really loved about this book was Nicole. I loved her girlfriends and her friendship with Declan. This book was refreshing and all of the characters were mature. There were so many moments that had me giggling.

Okay, the romance in this novel was fantastic, Declan was super sexy, the friendships and relationships were super sweet, but we need to talk about Claude! I would write a review telling you to buy this book and why you should, but I need to grab the rest of Melissa Foster's novels now. :)

A fun summer read that will leave you smiling and plotting ways to help with the next Girl Scout Cookie heist!

Declan is a charmer and a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. Nicole’s journey is relatable: navigating life changes while rediscovering your true self.

I loved all the characters we met in the fishing village of Chatemup, Massachusetts. And the “girl gang” vibes are everything. Plus all the shenanigans will have you laughing out loud.

this story was so relatable it’s scary! So many drawn parallels and similarities to a divorced situation and trying to find oneself in the process. It’s extremely relatable Sometimes a person gets lost in marriage and becomes someone they don’t recognize. This was one of those stories that was first hand experience yet embellished to fit the HEA we all come to expect.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️

📚 Single Mama
🐟 Single Dad
📚 Friends to Lovers
🐟 Fresh Start
📚 Found Family
🐟 Age Gap

Declan & Nicole were incredible! This was one of the best low angst, heart meltingly sweet, love after divorce stories I’ve read.

Nicole bought a summer house and was looking for a fresh start, and some relaxation, after two failed marriages. Declan is an ex-military, single dad, taking care of all of the important people in his life, while being riddled with guilt from past traumas.

The two meet through friends and both insist they’re not looking for a relationship. With that out in the open, the two develop a special bond and start spending lots of time together, going on one adventure after another. Right from the start, Declan and Nicole have a natural and easy time together. This combined with their undeniable chemistry, makes it hard for the two to maintain their distance, and try as they might, they aren’t able to resist the temptation to become more.

The open and honest communication, and the mutual respect and admiration these two share, was everything my heart wanted for them and more. The way they help each other through life events and tricky family dynamics was truly heartwarming, and made me fall so in love with them as a couple.

The spice was spicy, and the way they were able to laugh with each other even through some of the intimate and steamy scenes, was perfect. I really finished the story feeling like Declan and Nicole had both finally found their meant-to-be, life partners in each other.

Honestly, this is one that I would give extra stars to if I could.

Imagine being a twice-divorced romance author, and the last hubby will never be a hero or antihero in anybody’s novel, and you’re cruising towards 50, so to shake things up you buy a vacation home on the New England coast. You’re not a “third times the charm” type person, you’re a “three strikes and it’s life in prison so let’s not do that again” type.

You find this charming town and meet all these incredible people, including a divorced guy around your age, also once bitten and definitely twice shy… so you guys decide to be friends… sure, the fact that my ereader practically caught on fire reading this will attest to how well that works!

But seriously, both of them have family issues, from kids, to exes to parents; and in this day and age many of us get that. But instead of making us think, ugh, this is too much like life, this makes me want to drive to New England for some summer adventures with a buddy!

Hot Mess Summer couldn't feel more real life. I really enjoyed this book with characters in their 4O's who have both been through a divorce. Neither looking for love, but life sneaks up on you sometimes.

I was totally rooting for both of them. Wonderful characters. Great banter. Sincere moments. Self discovery. New friends. New love. Small town. All things I absolutely love.

Thank you @melissafoster_author @netgalley & Montlake for the ARC.

Hot Mess Summer by Melissa Foster

Not sure how to review and rate this book. When I saw it up for review and saw the author’s name I was eager to read it no matter what…I postponed starting till the book was about to disappear from my feed of books to read, and though in an accident a week or so ago…tackled it today…and…it was not the Melissa Foster I have read and grown to love in the past. Melissa Foster has always been a writer of steamy stories that drew me in quickly made me care about the characters and think about how the main characters would find their way to their personal happily ever after. This did not feel the same and I wasn’t sure why so…Google being my friend and not wanting to read a whole lot more after reading the beginning, the end, a bit in the middle, and some online reviews…I realized, after reading a bit on Google, that this is probably a cathartic writing by the author to deal with her own recent life issues that may have included a divorce, a move, and a whole lot of personal insight.

Big breath…this author is a skilled writer and her personal journey with insights shared through fiction is a generous gift but perhaps not for everyone – especially as this is not included in the book description. I am still on the fence and a bit stumped because I am not sure if this is a romance or an autobiographical fictional look at the author’s life and a summer spent in a recently purchased home, perhaps with female friends while exploring the area and people she meets BUT am glad that it seems, from blog posts, that she has settled into where she now lives and has the potential for a wonderful future.\

And, with all of that said, I chose NOT to read the book but am hopeful that in writing this book the author will soon find her way to writing the books that I grew to love and look forward to BUT should she have found a new vision for her writing, I will give her next book a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3 Stars

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was great! The characters are so lovable and easy to connect with. I loved how this book was heartwarming!

This was such a great book. I really wanted to be Nicole. I would love to be able to just move somewhere that everyone is friendly and kind. This book really tells the true meaning of finding yourself and healing from things that you can't control. I loved it!! I really would love to find a Chatemup town.

Wow wow wow I just loved this book and I highly recommend Melissa Foster books in general. This is such a cute story that had a little bit of spice and everything nice 4 1/2 stars!

This is a fun new book from this author! I loved the vibe in this little coastal town and the community created. She found more than just an adventure!

I found Hot Mess Summer to be a very slow starter and for the first half of the book it felt like barely anything happened.

I appreciate that this was intended to set up the story and introduce characters but it felt a little laboured and made me consider DNF’ing a few times.

However I stuck with it and it did pick up a bit making the second half much easier to read.

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me!

Melissa writes such amazing books ! I love that the FMC is called Nicole! Her story with Declan was just so heart warming! I haven’t read many single mum books but this was so beautiful! Declan just fit into her family perfectly! I will definitely be picking up Melissa’s next release

After her second failed marriage, author Nicole Ross spontaneously decides to buy a cottage - sight unseen - in a cute coastal town. When she gets there, she meets all sorts of lovely and interesting people, and a new adventure buddy, Declan, whom she just can't seem to stop thinking about.

Nicole and Declan's story was a really great one. I am not usually a huge fan of romance, but the character development and the storyline were great. I can't wait to read more of Melissa Foster's books :)