Member Reviews

I enjoyed this for light read that still had substance. I enjoyed following multiple perspectives of the three sisters as their lives intersected in this small beach town.

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A nice light escape and a good beach. read. Nicely written. Good luck with the book and thanks for the opportunity to read.

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This was a very cute, summery, beach read. Three sisters come together every year on Memorial Day weekend to throw a party, a tradition their parents started. This year, however, each sister has a different issue that they are fighting. They come together to resolve those issues. There’s also a little mystery and a plot twist thrown in.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to get through and put me in the mood for warmer weather.

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This was my first book by Wendy Francis. I enjoyed the story, revolving around 3 sisters and the mystery element. The book was a slow start for me and it took me awhile to get invested in the story and these characters. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. A few things I didn't care for- I felt the author got the dynamic between the sisters all wrong. She had Shelby and Kate's birth order mixed. Based on their personalities, Kate should have been the oldest with Shelby in the middle. I am one of three girls and this really bothered me throughout the book. Also, I really would have loved to have more back story/insight into Robin. In my opinion, she was the most interesting viewpoint and we didn't get a lot of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for my unbiased review!

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This novel introduces us to three sisters, each navigating distinct paths in their contemporary lives, who reunite at their childhood summer retreat to celebrate Memorial Day. The trio comprises a successful real estate expert and single mother, a flourishing solo artist, and a dedicated stay-at-home mom.

Their reunion at the family beach house takes an unexpected turn as hidden truths emerge, challenging the robust ties that bind them. Faced with newly revealed secrets, stress, and emotional upheaval, the sisters must lean on their bond. The question is, will their sisterhood be strong enough to help them navigate through these revelations?

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This was my first Wendy Francis novel and while I appreciated the overall story and simple, beachy vibes I got from reading it, the writing style and the switchiing of POV every chapter didn't resonate with me. I found it confusing and quite difficult to follow, although after a while you might get used to it.
The three sisters' relationship was very believable and I liked seeing them growing and overcoming their struggles.
Overall a nice read, perfect for a lazy summer weekend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eARC.

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This book is an absolutely relatable story of 3 sisters and their struggles in life. I think it really accurately touches on how we all feel like the grass is always greener. But the twist(s) in this book made me audibly gasp! I wasn’t expecting the who done it element but I am here for it! While the first half of the book was a little slow, the second half was filled with quite a few twists. I’m just sitting here hoping I get Cindy’s side of everything. Did she know?? Overall, it was enjoyable and entertaining with a good mix of family issues and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this eARC!

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This is a good summer beach read. It’s a mystery masquerading as a family drama or vice versa. At first it was a little hard to understand the 4 different narrators telling the story from their point of view. Once you got to know each character it was easy and enjoyable. I did feel the ending was a little rushed and I would have liked to find out more and get more closure for Shelby. The sister relationship was very believable and relatable. I enjoyed the story and read it pretty quickly. There were a few weird references to Greek and Roman gods that felt out of place for a book that centered on a Massachusetts sister drama with infidelity and maybe a murder. There were enough twists and turns to make it an enjoyable quick read.

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3.5 stars out of 5.

This was a cute beach read with a little bit of romance splashed with a bit of mystery. It was a quick read and I really liked the different POV's the characters offered. It lets us get to know each character and see their struggles. I felt the characters were well developed and I really enjoyed the family dynamic. Overall, it was a cute story and I would recommend it to others.

Feels Like Summer centers around 3 sisters who are all going through something in their lives. They all end up meeting at Shelby's house for the annual Lancaster Memorial Day weekend bash on the coast of Boston. It turns out there is also a mysteries boat found floating in the harbor along with a missing person.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

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3.5/5 stars -- rounding down because it did not stand out for me.

This book was sweet and a quick read! Great for a comfort summer read that has a bit of literary fiction, a hint of romance in it. The beginning half of the book can be a bit slow to get into but, it can be worth continuing.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ability to read this book pre-release date!

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This is the perfect relaxing women's fictional read we all need. The setting is beautifully atmospheric coastal beach setting near Boston. ,The charachters are richly drawn and each unique . The story is endearing and draws the reader in. Three sisters all have very different lives and each has major changes in their life. They join together on Memorial Day weekend for their annual beach time. As their time evolves together and their lives expand in different directions the theme of family, kindness and starting over in life with joy is charming and well crafted. . I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley. My review opinions are my own

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Oh how perfect of a summer read this book could be! I had do much fun reading it.

Feels Like Summer is a captivating book set in a small coastal town near Boston. Wendy Francis' writing style immerses readers in the salty air and flawed yet lovable characters. The vibes were immaculate! The story follows three sisters whose lives are rapidly changing. Despite a minor surprise in the mystery's resolution, the book delivers unexpected twists. It explores the dynamics of family and the challenges they face, adding a touch of reality to an otherwise enjoyable American holiday. And that was my favorite part of the book. I loved the characters and the storyline! Overall, it's an intriguing tale of three sisters finding their way after overcoming adversity. Perfect for a beach read indeed. I am looking forward to read the next book from this author for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publications for this arc!

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Feels Like Summer is a fabulous read!!! It is a wonderful story of three sisters whose lives are revolving at a quick pace. I read this book in a day! The book is set in a small coastal town outside of Boston. Wendy Francis style of writing makes you smell the salt air & fall in love with characters flaws and all. Add this to your summer reading list, comes out May 28th. Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publications for this advance copy read!

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Feels Like Summer is centered around three sisters, Shelby, Kate, and Bree, who all find themselves not quite where they expected to be in life. Their paths have taken them all down very different roads, but, every Memorial Day the sisters get together for their annual party. But this year, each sister is struggling in an entirely different way and someone in the small town ends up murdered.

While a little slow at the beginning and the resolution at the end felt a bit rushed, I ended up really enjoying this cozy mystery. Thank you NetGalley, author Wendy Francis, and Lake Union Publishing for providing this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Feels Like Summer will be out 5/28/2024.
3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4 on GoodReads)

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Honestly, this book was really hard for me to get into. The first few chapters about the sisters were long and I felt they could have been broken down into smaller chapters. Despite that, I really liked the premise of the story. It did start to feel similar to Elin Hilderbrand’s books though. I was looking for more suspense and intrigue, but it just wasn’t there. Overall, I gave the book 2 stars out of 5.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and the author for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

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Captivating from start to finish, this romance novel weaves a spellbinding tale of love and self-discovery. The characters are richly developed, and the author's vivid prose brings their emotions to life. A perfect blend of passion and heart, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a delightful escape into the world of love and romance

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This book offered a glimpse of warmth and sunshine, a welcome escape during the peak of winter I’m living in. I was fortunate to have early access through NetGalley, and its promise of summer days drew me in. Set in the Boston area, the scenes were easy to picture, especially since I visited last summer. However, the split perspectives got a bit confusing and challenging to follow at times. By the time I circled back to a character, I kept forgetting who was who, which might be on me for not taking notes. None of the main characters were particularly grating, but they also didn’t grab my attention. Although the themes of family were nice, a good romantic storyline to root for would have added some depth. Honestly, I was hoping for a bigger payoff to justify the time spent with this book. It just didn't resonate with me, and by the end, I was ready to move on.

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I was sent this book as an ARC reviewer. I would honestly say at first the timeline jump between current day of Robins POV and jumping back to the past switching between all 3 sisters POV took a bit of time to get used to but once I got into their characters I very much enjoyed their storylines and the character development occurring.

There was beautiful family dynamics surrounding life choices and hardships that brought reality to a fun loving American holiday.

I was a bit surprised that the culmination of the mystery, was a nominal character who had little to do with the plot of the story. However there were a few twists thrown in I was not expecting which made everything wrap up nicely.

Overall this was an intriguing build to 3 sisters lives coming together as they find new pathways after hardship. I would recommend for a good beach read.

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This was a fun, easy read about three sisters who gather at their beach house during particularly difficult times in their lives. I enjoyed the relationship between the three, the drama, the gossip, and the mystery surrounding a body found in the water.

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Wendy Francis’ Feels Like Summer was a super fun, yet real and relatable, beach read.

In this novel, we find three sisters at different points in their modern lives, returning to celebrate Memorial Day in the place where they spent summers as a family. One is a single mother and thriving real estate guru, one is a single thriving artist, and the third, a stay-at-home mother.

During their brief stay at the family beach house, the unimaginable happens, and deep secrets come to light, testing their strong sisterly bond. Can they help each other overcome all of the stress, trauma, and strong emotions that are dredged up?

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this amazing ARC!!

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