Nicole and Declan aren’t looking to start a relationship. Nicole is trying to focus on being herself and her writing and not a relationship. Declan is a single father who is not on the market. The two form a friendship slowly start to feel there could be more for them together. Lots of fun to read. I truly enjoyed this story.

"We should open a single ladies' service station. Think about it. A guy shows up for a lube job and leaves an hour later. No fuss, no muss, no strings or emotional attachments."
"I love how her brain works. "I think that's called Tinder."
"I was thinking Jiffy Dude," Maggie says, and we call crack up.

This was the vibe of Hot Mess Summer. I cracked up for most of the book. The banter had me!

The book was about Nic (Writer Girl or Boots), an author who needed a getaway so she bought a cottage on a whim in the small town of Chatemup. It's also about Declan (Dimple Dude), a local to Chatemup, and a fish peddler. Both of our MC have adult children, they've both been divorced and neither one is looking for anything other than friendship. They build their relationship by being adventure buddies.

Hot Mess Summer was my first romance with established adult characters, I feel like most of my books are early 20's, in college type of trope. It was refreshing to read a story about someone my own age, going through life and still learning and growing. As I said before, the banter was amazing and I loved all of the friendships that were made in this book. There was a hiccup in the road but there wasn't what I would consider a third act break up which was also a relief, it was nice to see adults work through their differences and stand up for themselves while still working together for each other. And just because they're older doesn't mean there was any lack of spice, not to mention on a boat spice!

Content/Tropes: M/F, dual POV, age gap, divorce, adult children, gambling/substance abuse of a parent, death of a parent in the past, friends to lovers, author, small town romance, found family, death of a sibling in the past, life after divorce, love after divorce, stand alone.

Thank you Melissa Foster, Grey's Promotions and NetGalley for this ARC!

Hot Mess Summer was another wonderful read by Melissa Foster, it involves two characters who have been through divorce and how they navigate the hot mess of their lives. The characters are in their forties and trying to figure out if they can be with someone else again after everything that has gone on for them.
This was a slow burn romance but a sweet read, especially to while away sometime during the summer holidays. There's a lot of banter and chemistry in this book and whether you’re new to Ms. Foster or a regular, it’s a book that you are going to enjoy!
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

"For anyone coming out of a relationship and wondering if you're enough. Don't wonder. Believe. Take time to heal, rediscover yourself, and create your happiness. Your vibe really will attract your tribe."

This book fits the author’s opening comment so perfectly! Hot Mess Summer is the perfect “later-in-life” and “life after” tropes. It’s the story of Nicole, a writer of romance, who is taking a leap to do something for herself after 2 divorces.

When our heroine, Nicole, has her “meet-cute” with our hero, Declan, there is definite chemistry. Also divorced, Declan is a born and raised resident of this small New England town where Nicole has just purchased her cabin. A very busy man with many irons in the fire.

This romance has a lot of banter, wonderful characters, chemistry, and a very enjoyable storyline. Super fun beach read with a more rare older character age range.

This one was a slow start for me but by forty percent in I was a hot mess too. As a person who is going through a similar situation as Nicole. Twice divorced, single and not looking, and having problems concentrating in the afternoons I was happy to see the HEA! This book was heartwarming and I adored the small town camaraderie! Five stars!

I absolutely fell in love with all the strange characters from this book. The story was so heartwarming and once I got into it I couldn’t stop reading. There were moments that made me upset and moments that made me laugh. I loved the introduction of all the quirky friends she met in the new town. Would read again

4.5 stars

I loved Nic and Declan's hot mess of a summer. From Nic's besties that encourage her to get some D in her V to her beach family and all her adventures in between.

Both Nicole and Declan have baggage that often weighs heavy but, they manage to show that making time for each other can make all the difference when it comes to building and maintaining relationships.

I especially loved the dialogue between Nicole and Claude in chapter 32 when he talks so beautifully about Evelyn, his wife of 51 years...building and maintaining relationships! It brought a few errant tears to this reader's old eyes.

Our adventure buddies, their families and friends are just so warm and welcoming that I hope we are able to return to Chatemup, Massachusetts to visit old friends.

I loved that the characters where believable in this book and it made my heart so happy and it was a roller coaster with my feelings

I absolutely loved this book by Melissa Foster. I truly hope there will be a series made of this one. I connected well with Nicole and loved Declan. They were awesome together.

Thank you to Net Galley, Melissa Foster & Montlake for allowing me to read this book!

This is my first Melissa Foster read and Hot Mess Summer is a fun and interesting adventure. The characters are loveable and a little quirky.

I definitely plan on checking out some of her other books.

Hot Mess Summer is a fun and interesting read. The characters are loveable and a little quirky. There were several laugh out loud moments in this book. Nicole and Declan have immediate chemistry but for their own reasons both hold back and decide to be adventure buddies. This was a nice, sweet and hot read.

I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of Melissa Foster, reading her books all in one sitting and swooning nonstop. This book though, didn’t really keep me as entranced as usual. It was good- wonderful characters, a beautiful setting as usual, but the romance felt a little more stilted and the main characters’ family were quite annoying but more so was the fact that the main couple were enablers for poor behavior which made the book drag a little. That said, as I noted, a sweet romance, wonderful setting and overall, good read.

Just loved Nicole and Declan’s story in Chatemup. Great characters, storyline and serious chemistry between these two as they discover themselves together and apart through their many adventures. Gives hope for HEA for us all.

Oh My Gosh! This standalone book from one of my favorite authors has become the book that I will rate at the top of my 2023 list. Hot Mess Summer is a sexy, steamy, romantic book full of friendships, finding yourself, and being true to yourself book. I LOVE this book!!!

Declan and Nicole are friends with sparks and heat from the first meeting. As adventure buddies, they continued to explore the world around them going on adventures and trying new things. The heat between these two was off the pages hot and I was so excited to see how it would all play out. Could they stay just friends, or would they have to follow their lust and find out just how adventurous they could be together?

Hot Mess Summer is phenomenal. The friendships are amazing, and the relationships are unique and fun. I could not stop reading this book and devoured it while hoping that this would not be a one-time visit to Chatemup, Massachusetts.

“You are my greatest adventure.”

Romance writer and twice divorced Nicole “Writer Girl” Ross has fallen into a slump with her writing. With her deadline quickly approaching, she decides to get away for the summer. Impulsively she purchases a cottage in the small fishing village of Chatemup, Massachusetts. She never expected to fall for her brainstorming and adventure buddy who isn’t interested in a relationship.

“You’re everything, Nic. Your laugh, your smile, that wild hair. I’ve never met anyone like you, and this thing between us is unstoppable. We’re not just you and me anymore. We’re us, and I don’t want to lose how far we’ve come just because I was an idiot or because you’re moving away…”

Declan “Dimple Dude” Miller’s life was a hot mess. He doesn't have time for a relationship, between his ex-wife, his family, and his fishing business he stays busy. Nevertheless, he can’t seem to get Nicole off his mind, and eventually, their connection is too strong to avoid.

Hot Mess Summer is a fun and light standalone book by Melissa Foster. It was everything I would expect from one of Ms. Foster’s books: emotional, likable characters, family drama, and witty dialogue. I loved watching their friendship grow and their slow-burning romance ignite. The chemistry between Nic and Declan was off the charts, and they made the perfect couple. Their first time meeting each other was so cute and I loved their nicknames for each other. This was the perfect book for a day at the beach. I highly recommend this book and hope to see future books from the Chatemup characters.

A fun romance story of two people with complicated lives, who start as friends and eventually find love, a really lovely summer read that I very much enjoyed!

Hot Mess Summer is a lighthearted story with some depth. I appreciated the more mature take on love and relationships. It was mind-boggling, though, just how many men seemed to be competing for the MC’s attentions- but there was one clear winner from very early on.

This is great choice for when you’re in the mood for a nice beach read anytime throughout the year.

Thank you Melissa Foster, Montlake, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nicole buys a house sight unseen and decides to live there for the summer. After a nasty divorce she just needs a fresh start. She is in town for a hot second before she dumps coffee down the front of Declan's shirt. Since this is a small town, they can't help but run into each other. All the time. A romance quickly blossoms but what will happen when she leaves at the end of the summer? Can they find a way to keep their love alive?

I have this thing about stories with actual full-grown adults acting like full-grown adults and this book delivers! Both Nicole and Declan have a past that they talk about and deal with. Both of them have demanding careers that don't define them but are super important to them. When they hit a roadblock in their relationship, they might fight but they end up talking and working together to become a stronger couple. There isn't really a bad guy in the story but there are a lot of people who put pressure on Nicole and Declan from the outside. Both of them have a big growth curve that makes sense.

This is a contemporary romance set in a small fishing town. There is a lot of family drama. The biggest compliment I can give this book is that I wasn't tempted to speed read or skip any sections just to get it done faster. I enjoyed the entire ride. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

I will admit that enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated that I would. It’s a very light & breezy read about two adults finally learning that you can’t pour into others from an empty cup!

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙄'𝙢 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨? 𝙃𝙚'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙫𝙚'𝙨 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧.

Declan and Nicole are both trying to get by in life while dealing with exes and their own children but after their meet cute, something clicks between them which may just prove to be stronger than either of them.

I love Melissa Foster's books but unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. The book for me was a little too slow and a little too one-sided for my liking. I found myself disliking the characters more than I liked them.

I am sure there are many other readers out there that will enjoy this book and I am happy that you have given the book and the author's work a chance.

Aaron Shedlock and Ava Erickson both did a good job of bringing this audiobook to life.

HOT MESS SUMMER by Melissa Foster is Declan and Nicole's small-town, single mom, single dad, military, meet cute story told from the dual first-person point of view.

3 Maple Leafs