This wasn’t for me unfortunately and I DNF’d at 37%. I kept trying to get back into it but it just wasn’t a writing style that appealed to me and the characters were frustrating, there wasn’t any connection between them besides lust. I might’ve finished it if I was sitting on a beach looking for an easy read to finish in a day but it didn’t grab my attention to keep coming back.

Overall, the book took you to a cozy seaside Nantucket that I would’ve loved to escaped in myself. The building of the town and location was one of the best pieces of the book. While the main characters were interesting, so many times miscommunication made it more frustrating.

This might be something that’s more of a reflection on my preferences versus the style or genre. However, it’s good to know going in and that is important as books are the escapism that people need especially in this time..

Thank you so much to Kathryn Freeman and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for the eARC of this title. This was such a cute enemies to lovers summer romance. It did take me a minute to get through the book but with that said, it's great for a vacation read by the pool or beach.

I loved the setting of this book! Perfect for a fun summer read! I loved the enemies to lovers, I ate that UP! Heartwarming and spicy, what more could I ask for!

Booked for the Summer by Kathryn Freeman is a delightful romantic comedy that delivers everything I love in a summer read. Set in the charming backdrop of Nantucket, the novel immediately transported me to a dreamy island escape—one that I now desperately want to visit. Freeman’s descriptions of the coastal setting, with its quaint bookshop and breezy beach town vibe, made for the perfect getaway between the pages. The enemies-to-lovers trope is done so well here. The dynamic between the main characters kept me invested. There’s also a great mix of cozy moments and just enough spice to keep things interesting. As a fan of bookshops in romantic comedies, I loved how the setting played a role in the story. There’s something magical about romance blossoming amidst shelves of books, and this novel delivered on that front beautifully. If you’re looking for a charming, escapist read with a swoon-worthy romance, Booked for the Summer is a great pick.

I really wanted to like this book. The concept it amazing and as a romance book lover it hits those tropes you want: FMC who loves book and a surly millionaire who tries to change his mind. Jade as a character for the most part was great and I loved the side characters, but from there that's were the story fell flat.

My two biggest problems were the pacing and the actual relationship between the MCs. In terms of pacing it felt all over the place, you spend almost 20% of the book in the first 3 days of her stay where she manages to sleep with Liam and then hate him in the same breath. From there I couldn't follow when we were in the story. I really didn't like that the entire time Liam could only focus on how much he wanted to sleep with Jade. A little sexual tension is great but it felt like she served no purpose in the story for him but to be a sexual object something she didn't want to be anymore.

Again the concept and the side characters are great but there wasn't much else I really liked.

2.5 stars rounded to 3

Cute quick summer read. Jade has a job as an assistant in publishing and struggling to advance in her job. She’s takes an hiatus and leave that England job to summer to run a bookstore for 3 months on Nantucket. Her first night she sleeps with the grumpy resort owner who has just bought the book store and wants to tear it down to build and inflated his ego and revenge for those that shamed him for being poor and motherless growing up.
You have the happy/grumpy, rags to riches troupe. It’s a fun read. Jade is obsessed with books, reading them, touching them, smelling them…. But not once does it mention any known authors?
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter, Harper Collins for the ARC

booked for the summer is the perfect book for reading on vacation/by the pool as it is such a cute romance. It was a very quick and easy read which was great and I know it will be a great read for summer.

I initially picked up this book as I love a good romance, especially when it has anything to do with books. This did not disappoint! I loved how the protagonist was a fellow bookworm and how it talked so much about her love for books as it was so relatable. The romance was also good, grumpy x sunshine vibes and quite spicy so definitely perfect for people who likes those tropes.

However, one thing that really annoyed me about this book was how nearly every page mentioned something about her body. like the amount of times it talked about how she was curvy or had big boobs was obscene and I felt like it was so unnecessary as it became a focal point of her character which just really didn’t sit right with me.

I also felt like the story was sometimes quite disjointed as it often jumped around a bit to different things happening, or it didn’t quite explain something that was going on. So I would have loved to see more and have some scenes expanded on.

While it was not my favourite, it is still a great read for summer and perfect if you just want a cute romance. Warning it is quite spicy so for 18+

thank you so much Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for an early copy of this book!! :)

**2.5 STARS**

+ Jade is from England and takes a job running a bookshop for a few months on Nantucket Island. She runs into a grouchy, but very hot guy, Liam, who she later finds out runs the hotel next to the bookshop. The bookshop setting speaks to the book lover in me.

+~ The romance is insta-lust and they do hook-up pretty quick but once Jade finds out he’s her new boss, she puts a stop to things and instead tries to throw her energy into showing Liam why the bookshop shouldn’t be put out of business. They had a lot of issues to work out between them throughout the story, lots of back and forth drama and I wasn’t into it.

~ As far as Jade and Liam are as characters, he’s the grouchy one and she’s sunshine. I wasn’t invested in either of them unfortunately and couldn’t connect. I did like some of the side characters like Jeremy – he was funny!

Final Thoughts:

For me, I couldn’t quite connect to the characters but this is a quick read that would be perfect in the summer time. Also Jade is a book girlie running a book shop so that might appeal to many romance readers. If you are looking for a light-heart romance this is one you might enjoy.

BOOKED FOR SUMMER is exactly what it sets out to be. Seriously fun, this is a romance you’ll want to break out while you’re lounging on a beach somewhere this summer. Come for the stacks of books and stay for the sweet, if not sometimes silly, love story between a bookstore manager who falls head over heels in love a billionaire.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for the ARC of Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman!
2.5/5

I went into this book with high hopes, the premise sounded like such a fun, cute read, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I struggled to connect with either of the main characters, as they lacked depth, and there wasn’t any noticeable character growth. Their relationship felt shallow and unrealistic, making it hard to root for them.

What pulled me out of the story the most, though, was the FMC’s dialogue. It often felt awkward and unnatural, which made it difficult to stay engaged. On the bright side, I really enjoyed the side characters, especially Jeremy (I loved him!), and I thought the ending was well done.

Overall, this one just didn’t live up to my expectations

This book took me literally forever to get through. I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it because I just found the characters so insufferably annoying. I was bummed how much I disliked this because I love NOTHING more than a book about books. I also have gone on several vacations to Nantucket and it’s such a special important place to me so this book was truly right up my alley. Giving two stars because I liked the premise a lot and I loved the beautiful details about Nantucket but other than that Jade and Liam unfortunately just did not do it for me. Thank you for the ARC!

It is not a bad book and the main characters also have some chemistry, but it is so full of stereotypes and repetitive that by the end I trudged to get to the last page. Too bad, imaybe next time.

Non é un brutto libro ed i protagonisti hanno anche una certa chimica, ma é talmente pieno di stereotipi e ripetitivo che alla fine ho arrancato per arrivare all'ultima pagina. Peccato, sará per la prossima volta.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman is an utterly charming romance set against the backdrop of a cozy bookshop. The story revolves around Emma, a reserved bookworm, and Jake, a laid-back handyman. As they team up to revamp the struggling shop, sparks fly, and an unlikely connection blossoms. Freeman’s writing is warm and engaging, with plenty of humor and heartfelt moments. If you love books about books and slow-burn romances with endearing characters, this one is a delightful escape

Booked for Summer shines with its vivid and beautiful descriptions of Nantucket, capturing the charm of the island in a way that makes it easy to see why it would be the perfect backdrop for a summer read. The setting alone invites you to imagine yourself basking in the sun, surrounded by the cool sea breeze—a true escape for anyone looking to unwind during the warmer months. However, while the setting was a highlight, I struggled with the book’s central characters Jade and Liam. Both of them felt hard to connect with, and I found their relationship somewhat unlikeable. The focus seemed to rest too much on their physical connection, which made it difficult for me to invest in their emotional journey. I didn’t feel the depth of their personalities or their interactions, which detracted from the overall experience. That said, if you’re looking for a light, easy read to pass the time, this book could still be a good choice. Unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with me personally, but I can see why it would appeal to others who are simply seeking a fun, uncomplicated story.

This story follows Jade Taylor a girl in need of some soul-searching who takes a temporary job managing a bookstore next to a resort on Nantucket. On her second day, her boss sells the bookstore out from under her to the wealthy (and hot) owner of the resort next door. But he wants to shut the whole store down and expand his resort empire. Jade just can’t accept that, this was her big comeback! Her moment to prove to herself that she was more than just a pretty blonde.

Oof ok. Let’s start by saying that I really really wanted to love this book. It looked like it was going to be a super cute rom com type book with all the best tropes. Unfortunately, it just didn’t get there for me. There wasn’t much substance beyond the physical relationship of the two main characters. The story started pretty rough for me and while it did get a bit better when the plot was introduced at around 30%, it just wasn’t a book I was excited to read. Everything happened too quickly and with no tension or build-up to speak of, it was just not super enjoyable for me as a reader. This is my first Kathryn Freeman book and I’m convinced that maybe her style just isn’t for me and you know what? That’s ok! I have friends who would have enjoyed this book, but it really wasn’t my thing.

A huge thank you to Harper Collin’s UK, One More Chapter for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

‘Booked for Summer’ by Kathryn Freeman has a charming premise and a delightful setting in Nantucket.

The premise is fun and refreshing: Jade, a book lover, takes a three-month job running a bookstore on the beach. Unfortunately, the shop is sold, and Jade's summer then centres around trying to convince the new owner, Liam, to save the store. Along the way, of course, romance blooms between them. The setting of Nantucket and the quirky bookstore create an ideal backdrop, and I really appreciated the atmosphere of the story. It's a perfect read for book lovers dreaming of a summer by the sea.

Jade and Liam as characters are very engaging at the start. Jade is a woman trying to find her place in the world, and Liam is a man at a crossroads in his own life. The sparks fly immediately between them, and I was rooting for their relationship from the beginning. Their journey of self-discovery and mutual growth is one of the book’s stronger aspects. The author does a great job of delving into the flaws of the characters, and I found their struggles with self-worth and their evolving relationship to be quite powerful. Their connection really transforms Liam.

However, while I loved the character development, especially with him, I had some issues that really affected my overall enjoyment of the story. First and foremost, both Jade and Liam often acted in frustratingly petty and unreasonable ways. They were quick to jump to conclusions and didn’t allow each other the space to explain themselves, leading to an excess of unnecessary miscommunications. This, unfortunately, detracted from the story’s flow and was repetitive at times.

Another issue for me was the heavy focus on their physical relationship. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but I found that the book leaned a bit too much into the sexual side of their connection, often at the expense of more meaningful emotional conversations.

That said, ‘Booked for Summer’ did capture my attention, and I loved the easy, small-town vibe that came through in the writing. The initial setup was fun, with the classic dynamic of a city grump and a hopeful, wide-eyed woman who is all about the bookstore life. The characters’ development — particularly Liam’s — kept me hooked, even if their relationship was flawed.

This book made me want to visit Nantucket, work in a bookstore, and become part of the tight-knit community. It’s a great read for those who love a cute romance with a dreamy setting, but be prepared for some moments that may feel a bit too much on the steamy side. It’s a fun, light read for book lovers and those who are looking for a beachy escape.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Little Bay Book Shack on Nantucket Island, home to the rich and the rich holidaying. Worlds away from the UK a three month sing managing the book shop is just what jade needs. Until she meets Liam, who she later find out is her new boss. Is she good enough for this billionaire. She doesn’t think so. A brilliant romance is such a beautiful setting.

Such a fun cute read with lots of laughter! Love the small town romance. Definitely would recommend to anyone looking for a feel good read. First book I've read by this author and definitely will be reading more by her!

I rated this book 2.5 stars. Unfortunately this book just didn't grip me. I really had to push myself to finish it to give an authentic review.
The characters felt basic however I loved the description of the world around them, the characters themselves felt flat.
It was cute and what I call fluffy in parts and was an easy read, just wasn't captivating. I found it very predictable and wanted more banter, more flirting and angst/tension between the pair. Not an awful book but not my favourite. A cute little summer read if you need a wee palette cleanser.