The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter Review

 Happy Tuesday Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've chosen to take the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.

I recently had the opportunity to read one of my 2025 most anticipated releases, and I'm honestly still thinking about this book days later. I knew I needed to gather my thoughts and get a review out for you guys, so I hope you'll all keep on reading down below and join me for today's full review.

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: April 22nd, 2025

Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary

Synopsis:

Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again--until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all of his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers--and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers at all.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Denise Hunter is one of my favorites, and I always look forward to picking up her new titles. I had no idea what to expect when I went ahead and gave this one a try, but wow what a touching and poignant story, and it may just be my favorite book she's ever written.

The Summer of You and Me tells the story of a young man named Josh who's been in love with his brother's wife since they were teenagers. After his brother's death, he grows even closer to Maggie, but doesn't know how he'll ever be able to cross that line. When a chance encounter at a carnival with someone who shares an uncanny resemblance to Maggie's deceased husband occurs, it sends both Maggie and Josh on a quest with questions they may not actually want the answers to. Along the way, feelings begin to emerge between them that leave both dreaming of happily ever after, but can they ever move past everything between them to find their way there?

A story that left me thinking about it many days after I finished it, this wonderful romance is truly Denise Hunter at her best. The reader gets to follow along on every moment building between Josh and Maggie, while also getting to try and help them solve the mystery of who exactly is this doppelganger along the way.

The writing is heartfelt and wonderful, the romance was angsty and swoon worthy, and the mystery honestly had me second guessing everything at every turn and I still wasn't prepared for how everything was going to reveal at the end.

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I can't possibly recommend it enough. 

I applaud the author on delivering another fantastic clean romance that's truly unlike anything she's ever written before. I'd say the faith element is a little light, but it is still there and I enjoyed that fact.

Final Rating: 5/5.

I can't possibly recommend this one enough, especially if you enjoy sweet romances with a side of mystery.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)