With Paige Toon books, I need a cosy environment. She's my favorite author of all time, so I want to do her books justice by really focusing on them, diving into the story and falling for it, instead of reading a few pages here and there, before going to sleep or while on the train or something. I want to take my time and not be disturbed. And when that happens, her books always give a certain vibe that I absolutely adore and feel super comfortable with.
Since switching publishers, Paige Toon's books have become more emotional. I think quite a few readers have noticed that. They're more heartbreaking than before, almost a guarantee to be exactly that. I don't mind it, 'cause she does it so beautifully. Comparing Seven Summers to other books, I'd say it's a mix of Five Years From Now by Paige herself and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (funny enough, the German title for that one is translated as Five Summers, so an obvious comparison you see). There's a lot of emotion in there, a lot of death as well, so search up for trigger warnings if you're not comfortable reading about that topic, heartbreak but also so many beautiful moments. It's a love triangle as well and I know that isn't everybody's cup of tea. I don't have to worry when it comes to Paige about any tropes I might dislike otherwise - I'll like them when it's her writing. So, the writing is beautiful as always, the setting is really detailed, which was interesting to read about, and the love stories felt super realistic, I always appreciate that in books - not forcing anything. I have to say that this somehow, though, isn't one of my favorite books by Paige Toon. The grief was a bit too much for me, the ending too face-paced that could have been dealt with in another 100 pages, but was so in like a couple of sentences and scenes. That surprised me, because the rest of the book felt very slow-burn-ish to me and I didn't feel like things had to be rushed this way. Especially since it wasn't the ending I'd wanted.
Still, I'll recommend this to anyone who asks me for a book recommendation, because I love to promote Paige Toon's books. She deservers so much more recognition!

A really lovely realistic story. So very sad in many ways but also full of hope. It was great when Michael was so much part of her life and Liv shared with everyone he had Downs Syndrome.
Liv always loved Finn but their lives were not joining as Finn moved away to LA and Liv could not see her life away from her home, security and Michael. She then met Tom and all seemed perfect until a heart wrenching trauma destroyed everything they had built together.
Sculpting was Liv’s working life away from everything where she could excel and express herself. Her popularity and talent continued to grow throughout.
A very touching and moving read.

So, so good - definitely a 'wow' book!

Liv and Finn meet working in a bar on the Cornish coast; they have so much going for them but then disaster strikes and their clear future turns very cloudy indeed. Finn heads to LA with his band while Liv has to stay in Cornwall, but they make a pact that each year he will return and, if they are both free, they will spend the summer together. Then Liv meets someone and her heart doesn't get broken on a yearly basis - until he leaves, and once more she's on her own . . .

This is a gorgeous story, beautifully written and if if doesn't touch your heart then you really have no soul While I read the blurb when choosing a book, I don't re-read it before beginning and I was very quickly engrossed in this one and my heart soared then plummeted with each summer. Superbly crafted,, this was a really touching and realistic read which I enjoyed so much. I'm very happy to both recommend this one and give it a well-deserved five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Seven Summers sounded romantic from the title. Finn lives in the US now, but is from Cornwall. He's very into music and has been in bands in the past. Will they see each other again?

I found myself hoping so and already feeling like their backstory was heartwrenching. I liked the inclusion of Liv's brother Michael and the disability awareness around his Down's Syndrome. I was happy that Liv was concerned about how people responded to him.

I felt like Finn was both interesting and mysterious.

Liv is more into art and sculpture, but what they had in the past was something special. Her love for, and how she missed, her grandmother, was palpable. I liked her mother, who is a doctor.

I liked her friend Rachel and Amy. They are the kind of people who I'd like to be friends with.

Seaglass, the bar/restaurant where they worked, was realistic and visual.

Seven Summers is written in an easy style and the settings are atmospheric and realistic. I have been to Cornwall a few times, and I felt I was there because of the vivid settings in the book.

I was feeling nervous and hoping that Finn and liv would find some way to keep seeing each other and be a part of each other's lives.

I felt so many emotions: excitement, sadness, happiness and more. I am looking forward to more books by Paige Toon.

Seven Summers is heartwarming, heartwrenching, and a novel about love, loss and real priorities in life.

It's realistic and unforgettable. It's definitely one to make you think.

Thanks to Paige Toon and Penguin Random House for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

I am a huge fan of Paige Toon's books and thoroughly enjoyed Only Love Can Hurt Like This so I was so pleased to be offered the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Seven Summers and one word - Wow!

Seven Summers is an incredible story, revolving around two extraordinary love stories, following the lives of Liv and Finn, and Liv and Tom. How the book has been put together and written is so very clever. The book is set in beautiful Cornwall. We meet Liv and follow her life for the next seven summers, learning all about her life, her family, her relationships, the extraordinary sad events that happened during her life, dealing with grief, and her passion for sculpting. We follow her relationships with Finn and Tom and I was at the point in the story where I was rooting for one, not knowing how the events in her life would turn out. We are given such insight too into Finn and Tom's lives, going through the very hard times in their lives, but celebrating the good times too.

A very powerful story with compelling characters. Part of why I love Paige Toon's books so much is because of the detail she gives to everything - the setting, the scenery, the characters, how they grow and how we can be taken deep into their thoughts and feelings. Liv's brother Michael shone throughout the book - he was such a strong character and I loved how determined he was to be able to take control and become more independent. He added alot of humour to the book. You could tell how much he loved Liv and was very protective of her.

I always know when I read a Paige Toon book that I am going to feel like I am inside the book, becoming part of the story. Paige Toon is a very very talented writer. Seven Summers is a wonderful emotional read which I give 5 big enormous stars too. I cannot wait now for your next book!

Thank you very much for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

The long awaited Paige Toon book is finally here. And it was certainly worth the wait. An excellent book as ever.

Six Summers to fall in love, One Summer to change it all.

Finn’s life is in LA, Liv’s life is in Cornwall but each summer they are drawn to each other by a promise they made years earlier. As the years go by leaving each other gets harder and as Finn gets more famous and Liv meets new arrival Tom things starts to change.

I know I’m always guaranteed a great read by this author and I was so excited to get approved by @netgalley for this book. A great story and I enjoyed following several of the relationships throughout the book, I think Michael might have been my favourite character.

Publication Date - 28/03/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#SevenSummers
#PaigeToon

Such a beautiful story! An emotional rollercoaster, so well portrayed. Lovely characters that I was instantly drawn to, especially Finn and Tom. Liv was one lucky lady! I did find the book a little confusing at times due to it not being written in chronological order. But this didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I was instantly gripped from the first chapter and I couldn’t wait to read the next chapters.Paige Toon is such an expert at making the reader feel the the emotions of the characters, as deeply as they do. I was in bits reliving Liv and Finn’s tragic pasts and their passion for each other was tangible. I couldn’t wait to find out the ending ( which is the one I’d hoped for) but I was also sad knowing I’d come to the end of the story. I wonder if we’ll meet these characters again sometime in a future book? This book is a must have to put on your reading list. You won’t be disappointed. Another wonderful book from Paige Toon!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book

Seven Summers by Paige Toon

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Random Things Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Six summers to fall in love. One summer to change everything.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .

My Opinion

For years Paige Toon has been a go to author for me, I was given a recommendation for a Paige Toon book and I have not looked back yet. For me this book was lovely, but it did fall slightly short of a five star rating. The book is mostly told during the current summer but there are sections that are of previous summers providing background information on Finn and Liv.

I really enjoyed the way that this book played out and it was definitely emotional in places. This book once again shows that Paige Toon is capable of writing a book that will tug on the heart strings and will appeal to a large number of people. For me, the only thing that stopped me giving this the five stars is that the ending just felt a little rushed.

Honestly, this was just such a lovely read, and I feel like this book is going to be one of those that I need a while to recover from. I would highly recommend this book, in fact I would go one step further and highly recommend Paige Toon in general.

Rating 4/5

A great book with a wonderful storyline and plenty of well developed and authentic characters. If I was to have any criticism, it would be that the pace was quite slow.

This is a strong contender for my top ten books of the year...and it's only March! That's how much I loved it.

Although there are two male main characters and only one female main character, this book is definitely about Liv. Her struggles and growth and joys are what hooked me completely. Yes, it's a love story but it's one that shows two great loves in one person's life and it is through this person's experiences that I connected with the story so much. The whole thing is beautifully devastating, the highs made my heart swell and the lows made me cry sitting by a pool on holiday.
All of the characters, both main and supporting, are really thoughtfully drawn. The whole community is vibrant and real, you've seen these people in seaside towns. The seaside town, St Agnes, is a character in its own right too. The way Paige Toon describes the landscapes and views as they change through the seasons leaves you with no doubt that she loves this place. It's an area of the UK that is very special to me too so this gave it added meaning. I particularly loved the way that Liv's brother. Michael, is portrayed - his Down's Syndrome isn't relevant to how he sees himself. His personality is not about that, it's about him being a big brother and wanting to look after Liv, even if she thinks otherwise. His biggest criteria when interviewing for a carer is what they have in common and whether he'll want to hang out with them - this was a refreshing thing to see in a mainstream book.
The way the book is constructed, it tells the story of these characters over the past six summers with chapters dotted throughout that relate to the current, seventh, summer. I really enjoy reading this kind of set-up as it gives a great vehicle to uncover just a smidge of the underlying stories as you read on. Using the epilogue to give a glimpse into the coming seven summers is genius...and houses the biggest gut-punch that this book delivers. Jumping a full seven summers ahead again gives a fantastic conclusion to what is just a superb story from start to finish. The inclusion of the playlist at the end (music features a lot throughout the book) is a brilliant touch too.
I'm 100% sure I will think of Liv, Tom, and Finn the next time I go to Cornwall, and I may even see them in the locals I encounter.

✨ Two epic love stories. One impossible choice… ✨~ released on 28th March

I sobbed…

Paige never fails to hit you right in the emotional feels with her writing and this book may be at the top of the pile!

Seven summers is so raw and heartbreakingly beautiful and I fell in love with the characters straight away. The multiple timelines in this story allow you to really bond with them and feel as if you are part of the their lives. In this story we follow Liv and Finn through 7 summers of epic love until one summer, it all changes.

The setting of this book is Cornwall, a place I love so much and visit every year which meant this book felt so homely and warm for me! Reading about places I’ve visited made me really relate to this story. Also, I loved watching Liv grow and mature through every summer, seeing how she copes with grief and the responsibilities she has to take on shows how brave and strong she is. Truly to be admired! Finn had me up and down throughout this novel, I really rooted for him and Liv to be together but I wanted to shake him at times - he just needed to commit!! I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m saying no more!🤭

Overall this book is definitely a 5 star read from me, so addicting and heart wrenching. I read it in a day and will definitely be rereading it soon!

* Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this ARC *

I’m always glad of a new Paige Toon offering and I’m pleased to say that this lived up to all expectations (and it’s made me even more excited to see her in Manchester this week!)

The story is told over seven summers (hence the title) starting with the summer Liv and Finn meet in a bar in Cornwall. Finn leaves after the summer to return to his home in Los Angeles, and the couple agree to meet each year and get together if both are still single. Summers one to six are told pretty much chronologically, but the seventh summer, where we met Tim is also told throughout the book. This hints at a possible love triangle and suggests that at some point there are decisions to be made.

I loved all the characters, particularly Liv’s brother Michael, who made me laugh out loud with his bluntness.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s cute and gorgeous (just look at the cover!), but it’s also heartbreakingly sad (I cried!) and it made for a lovely read when I was struggling to concentrate on other books.

Thanks to Issie Levin, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this early copy.

I have just wept through Seven Sunmers. It consumed me on an 8 hour flight, tears rolling down my face. Heart breakingly beautiful exploration of love, friendship & grief intertwined with lots of art, creativity and more. Absolutely brilliant

💭 ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was a bit slow for me to get into. I did not like Finn & Liv's toxic but healing relationship at all. They really have been dealt a bad hand in life. It shouldn't be allowed to go through so many losses in life. As I got closer to the end, I started to enjoy it more and I flew through the second half of the book. I just had a little trouble to connect with the characters somehow. It's enjoyable and covered in grief, but it just wasn't really for me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤓 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Multiple Timelines
Insta Love
Family Drama
Coping with Grief

REVIEW
cw: death, grief, mentions of suicide, CA, child neglect and abandonment, depression, mental and other illnesses
Sculptor Liv and musician Finn seem to have the world at their feet, until one night changes everything. Six years later, the mysterious Tom arrives in Liv's Cornish village. Seven Summers tells the story of two love stories.
I found the first half of the story difficult to get into, even though I liked all of the characters. There was a lot of flashing backwards and forwards, which made it more difficult for me to truly feel emotionally invested in the love stories. That said, when I eventually did, my emotions were all over the place! The second half of the story kept me guessing about the ending, but I did sometimes get frustrated with Liv's inability to ever leave Cornwall (even though I understood why she thought she couldn't). Liv's older brother Michael had Downs Syndrome, and he was very well-written. I particularly loved his astuteness over Finn and his interrogation of Tom about aviation. I also adored his brotherly protectiveness. The study of how different people deal with grief and guilt was well-observed. Liv and her brother dealt with their grief very differently. Finn's was more complex, but equally well-written. I loved how Tom was so steady with his emotions for Liv, and their story was beautifully told. I loved how supportive Finn always was, and his story took me on such a rollercoaster of emotions. I sobbed several times.
It's hard to explain my full feelings about Finn and Tom without spoiling the ending, so I'll just say that I loved one immediately and grew to adore the other, and, while sometimes the characters frustrated me, they definitely made the right choices in hindsight.
A slow-burning story of love and overcoming loss.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own*


Favourite Quotes:

I have to be careful. My heart is still a mangled thing. Finn threatens to bring it to life and I’m not ready.

‘I’d already lived every day in fear, wondering how she was next going to hurt herself, hurt us. In some ways it was a relief when she chose to leave.’

'I think you need to know that I’m not going to wait for you on the off chance that you’ll come back.’
'I will come back, Liv, but, as before, I don’t expect you to wait for me.’
'I don’t expect you to wait for me either.’

‘Is it strange that you and I can fall into such easy step with each other after so long apart?’ I ask out of the blue.
'I think it’s miraculous,’

I like the way he looks at me, how seen he makes me feel. I’ve lived with a hollowness inside my heart for so long, but I don’t feel empty when I’m with him. My heart feels full.

‘When I say something, I tend to mean it. You don’t need to doubt me.’

'Life is too short at the best of times and I intend to live it as fully as possible.'

Another wonderful love story from Paige Toon which had me fully immersed in the pages from start to finish. Great location along with brilliant characters which kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I don't know how Paige Toon does this every single time? Another story of great loves and loss that wrench your heart out and leave you with a story that will stay with you for a long time!

Seven Summers is a love story across time set in a small village in Cornwall. Fabulous characters, but a lot of loss and heartache. Highly recommend if you like a book to get emotionally dragged into.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book. Best of luck with the release!

This book was beautiful. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

Finn and Liv's relationship over 7 years was slow-building, painful, warming, and perhaps not meant to be. The instant chemistry between the two, and the emotion that then builds is twisted with their own losses and tragedies.

When mystery stranger Tom rents her downstairs apartment, there is at last a chance to move on. But Tom is hiding a painful secret, and Finn has a habit of turning back up each summer.

This was written exceptionally well, and at no point is there a love triangle. Each man moved me in different ways, and there are honestly no bad guys in this, just bad timing, and life getting in the way.

Bittersweet, beautiful and poignant, filled with love, loss and a journey to acceptance and finding who you are meant to be. Another fantastic book from Paige Toon.

It is several years since I read a book by Paige Toon, and I cannot think of a reason why I waited so long to reconnect with her books.
With some books you just know that you will enjoy it b6 reading only.a couple of pages, this is one of those books!
Set in St Agnes, Cornwall, this story centres around Liv, her life, her friends, her choices, her ambitions and her heartbreaks.
All the characters are easy to visualise and bring to life so that it becomes simple to slip into their world.
This is a very good read but I suspect that once you start reading you will not want to put it down.