Lily has been staying in Dune Cottage where she cleans as she hasn't anywhere to stay. Then Cecilia the owner turns up unexpectedly after a birthday party she didn't want turns into a disaster. Loved this book

Another brilliant book from Sarah Morgan - what a perfect summer read to be whisked away to Cape Cod. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lily spent years trying to live up to her parents expectations doing what she believed would make them happy and proud only to be so unhappy herself, until one day she put her happiness and needs first and escaped to Cape Cod to make a living for herself.

An unexpected encounter from her past also found herself in Cape Cod after being widowed and discovering her past of decades was still very much in the present. An unlikely pair help one another discover their full potential and happiness. Past secrets believed to be destroyed are re-discovered at Dune cottage.

Very well paced - I couldn’t put this book down; full of love, family, forgiveness and second chances. A multigenerational family experience love and heartbreak with a past built on secrets to protect relationships.

Thank you to NetGallery & Harper Collins for a copy of The Summer Swap published May 2024!

I’ve read and enjoyed Sarah Morgan’s books before and this is another summery story set mainly in Cape Cod. This is a multi point of view story told by three unfulfilled women who have sacrificed themselves for different reasons. There are difficult relationships and missed opportunities but there is some resolution when the women, who are interlinked, take action. Although there are some serious issues this is a quite easy read which I recommend.

Absolutely loved this book. Cecilia and Lily were so easy to like as characters and it was a wonderful story. The development of the relationships between Lily and Todd and Cecilia and her family was so heartwarming. A lovely happy ending to another perfect Sarah Morgan book.

My holidays would not be complete without a Sarah Morgan book to read! As one of my favourite authors I always eagerly await her new releases.
Cecilia, Lily and Kristen are well-developed and relatable characters….. it is a bit of an odd coincidence though that the property that Lily has been squatting in belongs to her best friends family though…
That aside, this is a delightful read. A must-read for fans of this author’s work or anyone looking for a feel-good story to enjoy. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in return for an honest review. Views are my own.

The new Sarah Morgan is about three women of different ages and their relationships with partners and family. Cecilia is 75 and the widow of an artist. Her daughter Kristen is married to a surgeon but unhappy with her life - her beloved father is dead, she doesn't have the best relationship with her mother, and her husband is neglecting her. Enter into the mix Lily, a young artist who cleans houses and lives in Cecilia's holiday cottage on Cape Cod without anyone knowing. When Cecilia discovers her, she starts mentoring her instead of throwing her out - and then her grandson Todd turns up who Lily has had the longest crush on.

This book has helped me through a stinking cold - I was still reading it at night with eyes burning from fatigue, when I really needed my sleep. But I loved reading the multi POV stories, and even though Lily was too insecure and Kristen a bit of a whiner, I loved seeing the stories develop and everybody come together. Cecilia was a wonderfully encouraging and nurturing character, and Todd a kind and supportive love interest.

This isn't quite a five star read (but nearly) because the title makes no sense, the ending was too neat and both Lily and Kristen needed a kick up the backside. I find it tiresome when women are so insecure that they see no worth in what they're doing and have to be strong-armed into believing in themselves, and middle-aged women who rotate around their fathers and husbands instead of building their own lives or communicating their unhappiness sooner have no one but themselves to blame if they feel lonely and unfulfilled. Kristen telling Theo what's what was impressive, but it should have been said years ago.

However, I understood everyone's feelings as the book is so well-written and really draws you into everybody's point of view. I also loved the setting of Cape Cod and how the cottage got renovated and the mystery of the painting explained. It takes a certain strength of character to make the conscious decision to let the other person in a marriage shine or take someone back after many years of marriage, and not feel short-changed. At the end everyone was happier, and what more could you want.

4.5 stars

Summer would not be the same without a sarah morgan book to keep you entertained.
This story is full of everything you would expect. 100% guaranteed to distract you from the unsunmery weather we are bound to get.

I really enjoyed this. It was a perfect piece of summer escapism. I was heavily invested in all the main female characters stories, they were all going through so much and I really enjoyed following their journeys. The setting was just beautiful and described so well that I could almost feel the sun on my face. Beautifully written and just a really lovely book.

Sarah Morgan never fails
Well written great characters fantastic story, what more do you want!
A great summer read

A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

I love this authors work and have read all her previous books. One of the highlights of summer is knowing there will be a new Sarah Morgan book to enjoy. This story did not disappoint, as always great characters and a very entertaining story set in a fabulous location. Definitely a must have for your summer reading list. Recommend

I adore Sarah's books. I was immersed from the very beginning.
This has it all. Grief, reconnecting, and romance.
Cecilia's daughter Kirsten is organising a birthday party for her, but she doesn't want it. Her husband, the artist Cameron Lapthorne, recently died. Kirsten adored her father, but Cecelia is hiding a secret. She decides to head to Dune Cottage at the Cape, where no one can find her so she can have the space to see where she goes from here.
At the cottage is Lily. She is keeping the place clean but also staying there.
This is told from each person's pov.
I loved how the characters were interconnected. Each showing their wisdom with age.
The setting and description is stunning. I literally want to jump on a plane and move straight into Dune Cottage.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading this however I was a bit disappointed that by 25% through I still had no interest in the characters and had no idea of the plot. I don’t like not finishing a book but found it a real struggle and didn’t seem able to “get into it”. Unfortunately this one was not for me sorry.

✨3 stars✨

I really enjoyed the two other books that I have read by this author, A Wedding in December (4 stars) and The Christmas Sisters (5 stars), so I was excited to read this one, especially as it was a summer themed book.

However, I really struggled to connect with the characters and found that attention would drift when I was reading this book.

Also the different POVs all seemed too similar which meant they all kind of blurred together as there wasn’t anything stand-out or memorable about each character.

Therefore, I would recommend to people who are looking for a quick and easy, summery read.

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cecilia Lapthorne was married to a famous artist who died a few years ago. It’s her 75th birthday and her daughter (who she has a difficult relationship with) organises a party but Cecilia runs away as she’s found out her husband didn’t sell the cottage on the coast that she thought he had. The cottage is being looked after by Lily who is also an artist, she’s given up a medical career much to the disgust of her parents, and it turns out she knows Cecilia and her family. I did happen to guess some of the story but that just made it even better. It’s one of the best love stories I’ve read in a long while.

"The Summer Swap" is another great roller coaster of an emotional novel from Sarah Morgan. Most of the story is set on Cape Cod in a lovely clap-board "cottage" in the dunes, isolated from other people but close to the beach. Here Cecilia, her daughter and grandson find solace and come to terms with their lives. Also involved is Lily, once best friend of Cecilia's granddaughter, who coincidently turns up at the cottage.

There is romance, heartbreak and the uncovering of long-held secrets and mistaken assumptions. At the heart of the story is art, in many forms, and people being able to live their best lives. Difficult to put down!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A wonderful summer read, really makes you want to spend some time down on the coast! Plenty of emotional family goings on but a real understanding of the need to get away sometimes. I loved the generational dynamics and the way the characters found their way. Quite emotional at times.

Another cool summer read by Sarah Morgan! I read it while it was very rainy and made me wish I was near a beach instead.

I read The Summer Swap so fast, which is not unusual with her books.

This one, however, is quite predictable and I didn't agree with how the dysfunctional relationships between some characters were handled and overlooked whereas other bits were handled very nicely. Maybe that's just me? However, I am still confused with the title after reading the story.

Still, despite being a bit frustrating, it was a nice read! Lily and Cecelia's relationship was so lovely and so organic as if they were family. A story about new beginnings and new opportunities.

"The Summer Swap" by Sarah Morgan is a delightful summer read that follows three generations of a family with plenty of romance and intertwined storylines. While the ending may feel a bit rushed, the overall experience leaves readers wanting more of the captivating narrative. Perfect for anyone seeking a heartwarming and engaging escape into family dynamics and love.

There’s a new depth to Sarah Morgan’s latest novel The Summer Swap where a sense of reflection and wisdom gives the story a poignancy, and which sets it apart from her others.

There’s the usual examination of familial relationships and long-established friendships as you’d expect to find in Morgan’s books but here the overarching themes of being true to yourself means the three strong female protagonists must gain the courage to take themselves down a path that suits them, and only them.

What makes The Summer Swap so refreshing is its characters who seemingly have it all by way of brains, money and supportive families but who also exist in circumstances that have evolved over time and not necessarily through choice. Are they fulfilled? No, they are not.
There is Cecelia, for decades eclipsed by her famous artist husband Cameron Lapthorne and who, a year on from his death, keeps quiet that she hasn’t grieved as deeply as people expect her to: ‘So much of her life had been spent letting things happen. It was time she took control.’

There’s Kristen, Cecelia’s grown-up daughter, forever keeping Cameron’s light alive yet deeply unhappy as a wife to a top surgeon who is married to his work. She may have the material benefits of a wealthy and prestigious family but she is, essentially, ‘alone and isolated’: ‘Resentment layered itself on top of other layers of resentment that had built up during their marriage.’

And there’s former medical student Lily, who dreams of being an artist but feels guilty that her parents poured their every penny into her education and she’s decided not to be a doctor. She feels ‘crushed by the pressure of work and parental expectation’ and is racked with self-doubt.

The paths each choose will depend on listening to their inner voice and having the courage to act, and to do this they need to understand what really matters to them.

Troubled marriages, broken friendships, disappointment, regret – these are the themes on the flip side of the pursuit of true happiness which Sarah Morgan explores in equal measure.

The Summer Swap is a novel for grown-ups. By all means enjoy ‘smart, loyal and creative’ Todd as the handsome love interest, and the romanticism of Dune Cottage ‘nestled among the dunes, separated from the ocean by soft sand and whispering seagrass.’ It is a wish-list cottage, as is the artist’s barefoot life, and as a summer escape, the story is perfectly Sarah Morgan: cosy, heartwarming and positive.

But Morgan’s more important messages are ones that touch on the profound: to stay in a marriage requires as much courage as it does to walk away and does true fulfilment come at the expense of someone or something else?

It’s these messages that makes The Summer Swap feel all the more real.

Thank you to HQStories for an advanced copy of this book to review.