A lighthearted book to read telling the story of lily and Todd who go against their parents and want to be and artist for lily and Todd in wood manufacturing they have their ups and downs in this story but all is brought together with a happy ending

Sarah Morgan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and this book was the perfect summer beachy read. The story focuses on the two main characters Cecelia and Lily who share a loose mutual connection but somehow end up spending the summer together. Lily feels like a lost soul who is struggling with the pressures of family expectation and not being true to herself, she takes on temporary employment whilst working out what to do with her life and happens on a chance meeting with Cecelia. Cecelia, the wife of a famous artist, living the seemingly perfect and grand life has had enough of putting on a show for her friends and family, she makes the rash decision on the day of her 70th birthday party to escape from this life that she feels so unattached to.
Together Lily and Cecelia spend the summer quietly putting each other back together and are able to discover new and true passions in their lives.

I love Sarah Morgan’s books. She writes incredible romance fiction with relatable characters and engaging plots that keep me hooked from start to finish. Sarah Morgan’s writing combines humour, warmth, and she deals with real-life issues, making her novels both engaging and meaningful. One of my favourite authors, who has once again written an exceptional story and I am delighted to share my review of The Summer Swap.

In Sarah Morgan's The Summer Swap, there are three main characters – all with contrasting lives. We find out about Cecilia, a widow of an artist who was overshadowed by her husband’s career, throughout their married life. As the story progresses, we see her struggle with grief and her journey to rediscover herself.

We then meet the creative Lily. After leaving medical school, Lily begins working as a house cleaner to make ends meet, all the while feeling guilty for letting her parents down. The book also revolves around Cecilia's daughter, Kristen, who has a complex relationship with her mother while also grappling with personal family issues including marital problems.

When Cecilia Lapthorne's 75th birthday celebrations take an unforeseen turn, she seeks refuge at Dune Cottage – a secluded cottage in the amazing, picturesque Cape Cod – quietly slipping out of her party without informing her family of her whereabouts. The last thing she wants is to be celebrating her birthday.

Meanwhile, Lily Thomas, a free-spirited struggling artist, has been secretly residing in the unoccupied Dune Cottage. Lily is a determined individual, dealing with her own insecurities and aspirations. Her journey throughout the novel involves finding the courage to pursue the life she truly wants, despite the challenges she faces and the opposition from her parents.

One evening, Cecilia unexpectedly encounters Lily during a late-night visit. This chance meeting sparks a heartwarming and unexpected bond between them.

The relationship between Cecilia and Lily was heartwarming and delightful. Their unique qualities enriched each other's lives, creating a strong bond of respect and support. Their genuine connections and shared experiences made their friendship so wonderful.

We are also introduced to Cecilia’s grandson, Todd - who also makes a surprise entrance. Todd and Lily have a complicated friendship. Lily has a crush on Todd. They become friends, sharing awkward moments and genuine connections, which play a significant role in Lily's growth.

One of the main themes of the book is grief, which was written so sensitively and portrayed incredibly well. The book shows how each character handles their grief uniquely, eventually discovering ways to heal and start anew.

A wonderful book about friendship, fresh starts, and exciting new beginnings. It is never too late to steer your life in a new direction and embrace fresh beginnings, no matter how challenging they may seem and how hard the journey is.

I am now off to see if I can book a stay at Cecilia’s wonderful and charming cottage in Cape Cod!

Without any doubt, I give The Summer Swap a huge 5 stars! I absolutely loved the engaging storyline, the characters, the picturesque setting and the themes. I cannot wait to read Sarah Morgan's next book - A Secret Escape which is out in May 2025!

Sarah Morgan the queen of the summer beach read does it again. Absolutely loved this book. I devoured it in one sitting. Sarah has such a talent when it comes to describing the characters that they feel like your friends. The story explores relationships, second chances and friendships.

It is always a joy to sit down with a new Sarah Morgan book, she is easily one of my favourite authors and can do no wrong in my eyes.

And this was another completely fabulous standalone novel, set on Cape Cod and featuring multiple generations of the same family.

I absolutely loved all the various storylines running through this book, there is elements of mystery and intrigue, in addition to romance, family bonding and secrets being discovered.

Once I got to grips with who was who, I absolutely adored this book, and the friendship that develops between Cecelia and Lily is lovely to see.

This was a fabulous poolside read and I loved every word of it.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

I love Sarah’s books. They are always full of laughter, love and feel good vibes. This is a summery treat!

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Cecilia Lapthorne always vowed she’d never go back to Dune Cottage. So no one is more surprised than Cecilia to find herself escaping her own seventieth birthday party to return to the remote but beautiful cottage on Cape Cod—a place filled with memories. Some are good—especially memories of the early days with her husband, volatile artist Cameron, before his fame eclipsed their marriage. But then there are the memories she has revealed to no one. Especially not her daughter, Kristen, who hero-worshipped her father.

For aspiring artist Lily, Dune Cottage has been a refuge, albeit an illicit one. After dropping out of medical school, she’s cleaning houses on the Cape to get by, guilt-ridden for disappointing her parents. Unoccupied for years, the cottage seemed the perfect place to hide away and lick her wounds—until Cecilia unexpectedly arrives. Despite an awkward beginning, Lily accepts Cecilia’s invitation to stay on as her guest, and a flicker of kinship ignites.

Then Cecilia’s grandson, Todd—and Lily’s unrequited crush—shows up, sending a shock wave through their unlikely friendship. Will it inspire Lily to find the courage to live the life she wants? Can Cecilia finally let go of the past to find a new future? Because as surely as the tide erases past footprints, this summer is offering both Cecilia and Lily the chance to swap old dreams for new…

My Opinion

I always enjoy reading a Sarah Morgan book and this was no exception. With three characters to follow there is a lot to keep the reader entertained. I read this book in one sitting, it was such an easy read. The Summer Swap was a great book about second chances.

Rating 4/5

Another super summer smash from Sarah Morgan! I enjoyed this book as I have all her others. Lily and Celia are such good characters, heartwarming and emotional.

A nice, easy read, about friendship, romance and life. I enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Always look forward to a Sarah Morgan novel!

Cecilia 75th birthday celebrations were not what she wanted so she runs away to her beach house she hasn’t been to in years, where she meets Lily who has been staying in her unoccupied cottage and they form an unlikely friendship, until Cecilia’s grandson, Todd (also Lily’s unrequited crush) arrives on the scene.

Set in a beautiful house on the beach, family secrets are uncovered and the past catches up with them and they come to terms with it and learn to start living again.

An emotional rollercoaster with a HEA!

What can you say about Sarah Morgan’s books? As always this was beautifully written and easy to read. I completed this book in one sitting!

A slightly more serious story than I’m used to from Sarah Morgan but no less beautiful, well put together as always with characters who draw you in and are so relatable , I did feel it was missing a bit of humour than normal, but I still loved it

I always love Sarah’s stories!! A story of friendship and love. It was honestly a joy to read.

Perfect to take on your summer vacation.

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan is a delightful contemporary novel and just perfect for a summer read. It is a fun, light-hearted read that is juxta-posed with some serious themes.
The are two major themes – one of those is grief. Grief looks different for different people. No two grief journeys are the same. Each person must work through their own journey at their own pace. “You can’t rush a grieving person… and fix it. The best you can do is be there for them.” We walk our grief path alone and appreciate our loved ones supporting us by simply being there.
The path of grief is not linear. There are bumps in the road and hills and valleys. “Grief is a slippery beast… just when you think you’re doing okay, it trips you up.” One day life will feel better.
We see a life lived in the shadow of a husband. Following his death, a widow must “discover who she was without Cameron.” Now is the time to go on a journey of re-discovery but “she didn’t have to pretend she was fine.” It is a learning curve, learning to live again.
In the other lead character, we see the second major theme – that of making your own life choices and not choosing a path to simply please your parents. “You can’t live your life for your parents… You have to make your own choices.” Parental pressure has been huge. “You can’t live your life trying to please your parents.” The parent’s idea of success is linked to financial reward. For their daughter, success is pursuing a passion and realizing a dream. “What they felt was right and what she felt was right were two different things.”
Though separated by forty plus years, we witness a link between the two lead females. They have much in common, from living to please others to running away to find themselves.
The reader and the characters are treated to fresh air, sun, sea and sand in Cape Cod. There is freedom to be had in beautiful isolation.
All the characters are wonderfully warm and welcoming. Their interactions are a pure delight. The reader feels at home in their company.
The Summer Swap is a book that will make you smile and feel good.
I want to leave you with my favourite quote:
”A friendship isn’t measured by time, it’s measured by depth of feeling.”
I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

When Cecilia’s 75th birthday celebrations take an unexpected turn she runs away to Dune Cottage on the Cape, where she finds struggling artist Lily who has been camping out in the seemingly abandoned seaside house.

This was a nice easy bit of escapism, told from the perspectives of three different generations, all with their own struggles and secrets.
Would make an ideal poolside read if you’re looking for a sweet romance, although the characters were well written it didn’t feel like a great deal really happened and I must say I was a bit confused by the title?

I'm soooo disappointed as this book just didn't do it fof me - and I usually love a Sarah Morgan book! I didn't like any of the characters much and really wasn't invested in the storyline - the ending also seemed to be far too neatly wrapped up? Not for me this time!

I absolutely love all books by Sarah Morgan and The Summer Swap was just as fantastic. Read in one sitting I devoured it. This book follows the story of three very different women who although at different stages of their lives all have something in common. Looking forward to Sarah’s next book as I know I will love it too.

A lovely book about finding your place in the world and how being yourself is the secret to a happy life. Well told with plenty of scenes that are relatable to different age groups.

I always enjoy Sarah Morgan’s novels, and I did enjoy this one, I just found it to be very far fetched compared with her other novels. A nice easy holiday read though, a safe bet and one I would recommend as a light read.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great read from Sarah.

Things take a turn when Cecilia finds herself escaping her 75th birthday party and escaping to Cape Cod a place she swore she would never return to. When she arrives she discovers Lily the cleaner is staying in the cottage that Cecilia is escapes to. They become unexpected friends.

Can Cecilia let go of the past and find a new future?

Can Lily find the courage to live as she wants to?