Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy, this was a complete delight to receive. Just the other week I had randomly received Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan from them and I confess at first I had wondered why I had received it - but I devoured it in one sitting! So obviously we started this one with the highest of expectations and it did not let me down. This is a great summer read, you will feel the heat, the sand between your toes - just pour the wine and relax! Fantastic characters, lovely story line, great ending! (and I had a chocolate wedding cake I wanted to shout as I was reading). Very happy to recommend both Same Time Next Summer and Nora Goes Off Script! I will definitely be watching to see what Annabel writes next.

4.25/5⭐️ Sam is a 30-year-old successful woman living in Manhattan, planning her wedding near her childhood beach home on Long Island. But when she and her fiancé travel home to finalize details, she comes face-to-face with her childhood best friend and first love, Wyatt, who broke her heart and left her despondent at 17 and now lives in CA. As she begins to relax at the beach with her family and feel more herself, she begins questioning her decisions in life and what exactly happened to cause Wyatt’s loss. I enjoyed this book. It had likable characters (although I did get a bit disgruntled with Sam occasionally), a good mix of past/present storylines and a good look at how we sometimes need to take a step back and make sure we recognize ourselves, both as we are and how we want to be. Sweet with just the right amount of depth and angst. My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing the free early arc of Same Time Next Summer for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Argh! I read this with about 10 other books and forgot to write a review. Sam and Wyatt were childhood sweethearts whose families spent every summer on Long Island at their beach houses. Then 'the thing' happened, they split up and Sam has been avoiding the Beach House ever since, choosing instead to spend all year in New York. However, her fiancé Jack is keen to plan their wedding at a local venue, over Sam's objections, and has insisted that they spend a few weeks at the Beach House, not realising how different everything will be. Practically the first thing that happens is that Sam runs into Wyatt again, apparently he is organising a music festival in town. As the weeks wile away, Sam recalls her bygone summers as a child with Wyatt and begins to compare and contrast Wyatt's easy-going, genuine kindness with Jack's (and his family's) snobbery. Sam is going to have to decide whether she chooses the life she and Jack have created, her job, her apartment, the swanky wedding, etc or the life she had before. I really enjoyed this and it is only now, several weeks later that I realise it has very similar bones to Sweet Home Alabama - totally different story but same (sort of) plot - IDK if that makes any sense? Anyhoo, that is still one of my favourite films so having a novel with the same vibes is a good thing in my book.

Sam and Jack are due to get married in October and although conventional Jack would prefer to get married in Manhattan the pair head to Sam’s parents beachside holiday home on Long Island to look at an alternative wedding venue. However, Sam learns that Wyatt, her ex who broke her heart aged 17 is also there, next door, just as in their teens. Will this set the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons forcing Sam to confront the past and what’s more make comparisons to her present day situation? The story is told Then and Now which works well so we learn the back history of the teenage couple and it contrasts well with the here and now. I really enjoy the nostalgia of this novel as you can’t relate to that wonderful feeling of first love? It evokes memories and lovely reminders of the flurries of excitement (!) and the intoxication which in my case doesn’t last but it’s fun while it did!! At times the story of Wyatt and Sam is heartbreaking and moving. As she recalls the relationship it enables her to focus on the addictive nature of first love to decide if the image she has in her head is real with her uncertainty both in the past and present feeling authentic. As her dilemma intensifies should she/will she stick with the safe of Jack and choose vanilla cake or grab a second chance and eat chocolate cake???!!!! The characterisation is very good, they’re all likeable and relatable and to be honest, I could fall in love with Wyatt myself! All this decision making is set against a backdrop of Long Island which definitely adds atmosphere and romance with the lure of the sea and long sunny days. This is a fun, entertaining and above average romance novel with some drama and smiles and bringing some much needed feel good factor. It’s an obvious choice to take to whatever beach you’re heading to this summer for a light, breezy, sunny read.