"Seven Summers" by Paige Toon is a poignant and beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the enduring ties that bind us. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Cornish coastline, Toon weaves a tale of heartbreak, healing, and the unexpected twists that life often brings.

The story unfolds over the span of seven summers, beginning with Liv and Finn's fateful meeting in a bar on the rugged Cornish coast. A night of passion ends in tragedy, forging an unbreakable connection between them. Despite the geographical distance and the different paths their lives take, Liv and Finn make a promise to spend each summer together if they remain single. This promise becomes a poignant tradition, a bittersweet reminder of the past.

Toon's narrative is both tender and evocative, capturing the essence of each summer and the emotions that accompany Liv and Finn's yearly reunions. The portrayal of the Cornish landscape adds depth to the story, creating a vivid backdrop for the characters' journeys of love and self-discovery.

As Liv crosses paths with Tom, a mysterious newcomer in her hometown, the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, mirroring the blossoming romance between them. The exploration of Liv's evolving feelings and the delicate dance between past and present is handled with sensitivity, allowing readers to empathize with the characters' struggles and triumphs.

The characters are well-developed, each carrying their own burdens and aspirations. Liv faces an impossible choice as she navigates the complexities of her heart and discovers the shocking reasons behind Tom's departure from home. The emotional depth of the characters, coupled with Toon's skilful storytelling, elicits a genuine connection with the reader.

While the novel follows a somewhat predictable trajectory, Toon infuses it with unexpected twists and turns that keep the narrative fresh and engaging. The exploration of themes such as resilience, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love adds layers to the story, making it more than a traditional romance.

In conclusion, "Seven Summers" is a four-star gem that tugs at the heartstrings with its emotionally resonant storytelling. Paige Toon's ability to craft compelling characters and weave a narrative that spans years showcases her talent as a storyteller. Recommended for readers who appreciate heartfelt tales of love, loss, and the enduring bonds that shape our lives.

After the wonder that was Only Love Can Hurt Like This earlier this year I wasn’t sure that it could be topped.

This book was just chock full of emotions from the pain of grief to the heightened joys of first love. That two of those seem to overlap somewhat made my heart hurt.

The book takes place over 7 years, including the present, with LIv thinking about her past and the complexity of her relationship with musician Finn who revisits her life every summer picking up things where they left off the summer before.

While Finn has no trouble moving on with his life and coming back to Liv, Liv’s life is on hold and has been since the first summer they spent together…the summer that her parents died.

This summer is different…she’s met Tom, who has a secret of his own and is just getting out of a relationship that wasn’t working for reasons he is unwilling to share, at least in the beginning.

Though she misses Finn when he’s gone, she is unwilling to accept his offer of a new life in LA with him, feeling as though she needs to stay in her parents’ home, caring for her older brother, though she never gives Michael a chance to say whether this is something he wants or not.

Liv and Finn’s relationship seems to be in a holding pattern, only seeing each other every summer and maintaining something of an agreed silence in the interim. When she meets Tom he sparks something in her that seems to have burned out when her parents were killed.

I loved Tom and Liv together, they had something that was fragile and caring and though it wasn’t the sudden explosion of Finn and Liv it was something that had the potential to last.

The story evoked a lot of emotions as I was reading it and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it now. Liv and Tom and Finn are all complex characters who have something to offer to each other, but the time needed to be right.

A sweet and moving story of love in all its forms.

This is classic Paige Toon so it is heartbreaking but also joyful and certainly a rollercoaster of emotions! It's a little hard to describe how this book makes you feel without giving too much away but Liv meets Finn, both of whom have family drama / parental issues that ultimately cause rifts and difficulties for them. When Tom meets Liv all that seems to fade away and so everyone is happy right!?
Both Tom and Finn are amazing men that Liv would be very happy with for her HEA but the journey she has to travel to get there is not an easy one.

I received this book as an ARC and have provided an honest review.

As always, Paige Toon has written a heartbreaker of a love story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Paige writes about grief so beautifully and I think her research into the topics in her books really shows. One of Livs passions in this book was sculpting and it was so nice to be able to see her having a creative outlet and passion whilst still having a job at what seemed to be her comfort place. Another thing Paige does well is a love triangle and often in these scenarios I find myself in favour of one of the love interests way more than the other but both male love interests in this book were genuinely likeable and you could really see Liv's future with either of these men making you beable to relate to her torn emotions.

I loved Only Love Can Hurt Like This, but was less enamoured by Seven Summers. Great blueprint, going back and forth between the summers, but I felt frustrated by the characters. I was much more interested in the present day narrative (with Tom), rather than the historic summers with Finn.

Liv met Finn six summers ago, she was working at a bar right by the shore and had so much to look forward too but one night terrible accident happened that changed her life and their potential relationship forever. Finn went to LA to kickstart his music career and Liv had to stay in Cornwall but they promise too spend every summer together. Six years later Tom walks into her life and for the first time Liv is forced to make a decision.

I had a difficult time getting into this one at first. Not sure why, it’s quite easy to follow despite the dual timeline but maybe it’s because in the beginning I found Tom rather boring (sorry) and Finn was the guy leading her on for years (sorry). I mean that’s not the dream. It gets better, trust me. Especially with Tom he really grew in my eyes as his character developed.

The ending is so interesting, romance novels are usually fairly straightforward and easy to predict but not this one. It took me by surprise and I loved it. That’s reason enough to pick this one up.

I also loved the friend group, summer vibes and most importantly Livs story. Her dealing with the shockwaves after the accident and how she grew from it and is a stronger woman today despite everything she’s been thri. She lost the most important people in her life (TW) and is still standing. What an inspiration.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own

This book was good, but it was nothing spectacular. I liked the side characters, especially Michael, but I felt the main characters were a little bit one dimensional. It felt a bit like the author picked three key facts about each the main characters and left it at that.

I really liked the different timelines and it gave me good stopping points for breaks throughout the book. All the different ‘sections’ were appropriately lengthed and summarised exactly what they needed to.

I’m confused by other reviews which say that Tom’s character and his and Liv’s love story wasn’t necessary? This was a pivotal plot point for me and added another dimension to the book. I love a good love triangle, however, this one could have been explored more beyond one party.

I’ve also seen complaints about the epilogue. I thought this was perfect for rounding out the book and showing different sides to all the plot points.

What a beautiful book full of nods to the past (recent past, some nostalgic feelings there!) and long Summers. The characters are brilliant, with their own quirks and identities, bringing a great mix of humour and heartache to each chapter. And the descriptions! Oh! Each chapter will absolutely make you feel that you’re right there, in Cornwall, in both the past and the present day. Be prepared to have your heart broken by this one though!

Absolutely loved this book!

The authors writing style is amazing!

I look forward to reading more from them!

Unfortunately I just didn't get on with this book. I didn't click with the style of writing. I'm very clearly in the minority as I can see everyone else giving it 5 stars, so it clearly says more about me than the book! I'm sure if you've enjoyed any other Paige Toon novels then this one will be a hit for you.

Every time! Every time I read a book by Paige I am an emotional wreck! 😭 Finn and Liv’s rollercoaster of emotions had me sobbing and laughing and just so full of angst! I inhaled this book so quickly and really got annoyed when life got in the way and I couldn’t curl up and read this one with some tissues!

Thank you so much to the publishers for a copy of this book via NetGalley! I can’t wait for this one to come out in March so I can have a copy on my shelf and encourage everyone I know who reads to buy a copy and join me in my feelings! 🙌

Another fantastic book by Paige Toon, I have to admit that she is one of my favourite authors and as expected, this book didn't disappoint.
Set in Cornwall, the narrative unfolds over multiple summers, tracing the journey of Liv and Finn as they reunite each year under the agreement that if both are single, they'll spend the season together.
A truly beautiful emotional rollercoaster of a read!

This is the most beautiful love story. Paige Toon at her best . Set in Cornwall. Liv is an amazing character . She is brilliant with her brother. You just get drawn into her life. There is some real sadness . The twists that come I did not see and such a clever ending . Not what I expected . A must read of 2024

This was one of those stories that will twist your heart and make you feel everything. Honestly this story will twist your heart and break it, they have such a way with words and dealing with grief and sadness bringing a new light onto it, making you care for characters that you can’t imagine ever thinking you would want to care for. They bring you into the journey and make you a part of it the story. The beauty of the story will captivate you; it will sweep you up, make you imagine seeing Tom in his element with the classic cars, feel the sea breeze on your face as you celebrate birthdays by the sea, and watch the worry of the world float away on the tide. Liv is such a well written character that you could feel her depths and know her pain. This is a story that has depths and drama, as well as passion and joy, you need to pick this story up, as it will soon turn into one of the best stories you will pick up this year.

"Seven Summers" by Paige Toon is a heartfelt journey through the seasons of a poignant love story. The novel elegantly explores the lives of Sarah and the enigmatic, charming Matthew, as they meet every seven years. Toon's storytelling is a beautiful tribute to the passage of time, capturing the evolution of their relationship against the backdrop of life's changes. This bittersweet tale is a testament to enduring love and the enduring memories that shape our lives. "Seven Summers" is a poignant reminder that some connections remain etched in our hearts, no matter the years that separate them.

This gripped me, due to the intense emotion. I have to say though that the way Liv treated Finn did not sit well with me. I can't say too much here for fear of spoilers, but the direction Toon takes Liv in, well, I thought it was a bit off to be honest. Poor Finn. But that does not detract from this being a good read, and perhaps it is just my preference as a reader. One more thing, a longer epilogue would have been good. Too often the epilogues are afterthoughts. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paige Toon is the queen of edgy romantic stories! Never veering into sappy but always heart warming.
The novel is set over 7 Summers (hence the title) and also in 'present day' - flicking back forth from the past to 'this summer.' Liv has just graduated from Art School with a bright future ahead of her in sculpting. She is desperate to head to the bright lights of London when her path crosses with Finn, who is visiting Cornwall from LA and they embark on a summer romance. Just before he heads back to the States, tragedy strikes and Liv finds herself inexorably connected to Finn for the next 7 years, but only for the summer.

Over the course of the book, lots of issues are explored in Toon's trademark upfront style; you never feel like it's an issue for the sake of an issue but a completely real and human experience.

I really enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I must start by stating that I just love Paige Toon book's, I am yet to read an average one and this one keeps the same high standard you would expect by seeing her name on the front cover.

Set in Cornwall the story takes place over several summers and follows LIv and Finn as each Summer they come back together after agreeing that if they are both single they will spend each summer together. Both characters are likable and you find yourself really hoping that they will get their happy ever after, but to get there they must first overcome obstacles and other people and tragedy and life!

This story will make you laugh, cry and fall in love and once you pick it up you wont be able to put it down until you reach the final conclusion.

Another fantastic book by Paige Toon! This author never ceases to amaze me with her writing, the emotion and wonderful way she describes her characters and their lives is just beautiful. Really enjoyed this one, lovely characters and a will they won’t they plot had me routing towards the end. Would highly recommend and always an autobuy author for me!

Paige Toon is one of my favourite authors, and this book didn't disappoint. I read it at the perfect time after just arriving back from a break in Cornwall, so it was easy for me to picture the scenes that were set. I loved the dual timeline which gave you a real in depth understanding as to why the characters were in the situation they were in the present day. I absolutely was not expecting the pure heartbreak at the end, it got me. I want to read this book over and over again, a fantastic read as usual from Paige!