I was NOT mentally prepared for this book. I didn’t see *that* scene near the end at all - it ripped my heart straight out of my chest, shattered it into tiny pieces, and slowly put it back together again.

Liv and Finn’s story spans over seven summers of their lives, with their relationship largely centred around a tragedy that changes Liv’s life forever. Liv also meets Tom along the way, and has to navigate her feelings between her past and her present. This is a heartwrenching story about love, grief, and being human, and I loved every second of it.

I especially loved Michael, he was pure sunshine and I think Paige painted his character in a really authentic and beautiful way.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Loved this book! The story takes you on a roller coaster. You think you know where it is going when it takes a sudden twist. Written how a good love story should be written. Liv is a lovely character trying to deal with everything life is throwing at her. Grief, looking after family, long distance love affair,, new love. You can feel the love and pain on the pages.. I will be looking for more books by Paige Toon.

Set in St Agnes Cornwall Olivia Arterton, Liv has just come home from University in Edinburgh, and a brief course in Tuscany.
Reunited with her best friends from school days, she gets a summer job behind the bar in the local pub/restaurant.
Liv wants to save money over the summer to be able to move forward with her future plans, but will they work out?

I found the second half of the book easier to get into. The story was told over the various summers moving back and forwards.
I liked the descriptions of Cornwall and the art.
It covers some sensitive issues through the storyline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

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Having holidayed in Cornwall for the past thirty odd years this novel was always going to have a special place in my heart. I know St Agnes well as I’ve always stayed in Porthtowan, so I was able to fully immerse myself in the rugged Cornish scenery and could smell the sea air and mist coming off the Atlantic Ocean.

I’ve also experienced the whole carrying on where you left off the summer before so I know just how Liv feels - it’s as if so much time has passed but also feels like nothing at all.

I can truthfully say that Paige has managed to rip my heart out, chew it up and spit it out again!! I’m always such a wreck after reading these novels and that’s no mean feat! I’m as hard nosed as they come and rarely show emotion so this is really saying something 😢

I just hope that Liv has made the right decision…

I absolutely loved this book. It was entertaining, engaging, heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting. It follows Liv who meets Finn one summer, and whilst they can't be together, they meet up every summer that follows. On the seventh summer, Liv meets the enigmatic Tom and they end up falling in love leaving Liv with a difficult choice. This was a well written book, with authentic and engaging characters and with multiple perspectives and timelines, which could have been confusing but worked really effectively. I really enjoyed reading this book, and didn't want it to end. Definitely story that will stay with me, being both heartwarming yet devastating. A highly recommended read. Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read. I will definitely be reading more by this author!

“Six summers to fall in love, one summer to change everything”

This book just shot straight into my top five reads of the year and we aren’t even a quarter of the way through yet..😍

The perfect summer read, although despite the title and setting, this book is not light-hearted. It’s set in summer but has a “rip out your heart, tear it to shreds and put it back in” vibe!

I was absolutely obsessed with Liv and Finn! Liv’s character has to be one of my most loved female protagonists that I’ve read in a long time!

With multiple timelines, a heartbreaking storyline and characters you can more than relate to, I read this SO fast 🫶🏼

F A V E Q U O T E 🍒

“I like the way he looks at me, how seen he makes me feel”

H I G H L I G H T S
☀️ Absolutely crushing and heartbreaking read
🏝️ Set in Cornwall (l o v e)
🍹 Slow burn
🍒 Second chances
💐 Amazing character development
🍯 Great chemistry between characters
🧋 The epilogue of all epilogues!!!

I honestly cannot recommend this one enough, and I will be spending the weekend booking a summer trip to Cornwall 💁🏻‍♀️

I love a Paige Toon novel, although I have to wait until I know I have time, as I can never put them down. Seven Summer was no exception.

Think One Day set in Cornwall. The connection between the main characters feels so real and you have to be prepared to become so invested in this book. I felt like my own heart was broken and cried multiple times, but this propelled me to continue reading to guess (incorrectly) the end.

This is a perfect summer holiday read and I know it will be everywhere this summer.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for a review.

There is alway something genuinely lovely about reading a Paige Toon book. I adored the character of Liv, what a rollercoaster she takes us on! I cannot recommend this book highly enough and for anyone that’s relatively new to Paige’s books - go back and start from the beginning, you won’t regret it.

With Paige Toon books, I need a cosy environment. She's my favorite author of all time, so I want to do her books justice by really focusing on them, diving into the story and falling for it, instead of reading a few pages here and there, before going to sleep or while on the train or something. I want to take my time and not be disturbed. And when that happens, her books always give a certain vibe that I absolutely adore and feel super comfortable with.
Since switching publishers, Paige Toon's books have become more emotional. I think quite a few readers have noticed that. They're more heartbreaking than before, almost a guarantee to be exactly that. I don't mind it, 'cause she does it so beautifully. Comparing Seven Summers to other books, I'd say it's a mix of Five Years From Now by Paige herself and Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (funny enough, the German title for that one is translated as Five Summers, so an obvious comparison you see). There's a lot of emotion in there, a lot of death as well, so search up for trigger warnings if you're not comfortable reading about that topic, heartbreak but also so many beautiful moments. It's a love triangle as well and I know that isn't everybody's cup of tea. I don't have to worry when it comes to Paige about any tropes I might dislike otherwise - I'll like them when it's her writing. So, the writing is beautiful as always, the setting is really detailed, which was interesting to read about, and the love stories felt super realistic, I always appreciate that in books - not forcing anything. I have to say that this somehow, though, isn't one of my favorite books by Paige Toon. The grief was a bit too much for me, the ending too face-paced that could have been dealt with in another 100 pages, but was so in like a couple of sentences and scenes. That surprised me, because the rest of the book felt very slow-burn-ish to me and I didn't feel like things had to be rushed this way. Especially since it wasn't the ending I'd wanted.
Still, I'll recommend this to anyone who asks me for a book recommendation, because I love to promote Paige Toon's books. She deservers so much more recognition!

A really lovely realistic story. So very sad in many ways but also full of hope. It was great when Michael was so much part of her life and Liv shared with everyone he had Downs Syndrome.
Liv always loved Finn but their lives were not joining as Finn moved away to LA and Liv could not see her life away from her home, security and Michael. She then met Tom and all seemed perfect until a heart wrenching trauma destroyed everything they had built together.
Sculpting was Liv’s working life away from everything where she could excel and express herself. Her popularity and talent continued to grow throughout.
A very touching and moving read.

So, so good - definitely a 'wow' book!

Liv and Finn meet working in a bar on the Cornish coast; they have so much going for them but then disaster strikes and their clear future turns very cloudy indeed. Finn heads to LA with his band while Liv has to stay in Cornwall, but they make a pact that each year he will return and, if they are both free, they will spend the summer together. Then Liv meets someone and her heart doesn't get broken on a yearly basis - until he leaves, and once more she's on her own . . .

This is a gorgeous story, beautifully written and if if doesn't touch your heart then you really have no soul While I read the blurb when choosing a book, I don't re-read it before beginning and I was very quickly engrossed in this one and my heart soared then plummeted with each summer. Superbly crafted,, this was a really touching and realistic read which I enjoyed so much. I'm very happy to both recommend this one and give it a well-deserved five sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Seven Summers sounded romantic from the title. Finn lives in the US now, but is from Cornwall. He's very into music and has been in bands in the past. Will they see each other again?

I found myself hoping so and already feeling like their backstory was heartwrenching. I liked the inclusion of Liv's brother Michael and the disability awareness around his Down's Syndrome. I was happy that Liv was concerned about how people responded to him.

I felt like Finn was both interesting and mysterious.

Liv is more into art and sculpture, but what they had in the past was something special. Her love for, and how she missed, her grandmother, was palpable. I liked her mother, who is a doctor.

I liked her friend Rachel and Amy. They are the kind of people who I'd like to be friends with.

Seaglass, the bar/restaurant where they worked, was realistic and visual.

Seven Summers is written in an easy style and the settings are atmospheric and realistic. I have been to Cornwall a few times, and I felt I was there because of the vivid settings in the book.

I was feeling nervous and hoping that Finn and liv would find some way to keep seeing each other and be a part of each other's lives.

I felt so many emotions: excitement, sadness, happiness and more. I am looking forward to more books by Paige Toon.

Seven Summers is heartwarming, heartwrenching, and a novel about love, loss and real priorities in life.

It's realistic and unforgettable. It's definitely one to make you think.

Thanks to Paige Toon and Penguin Random House for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

I am a huge fan of Paige Toon's books and thoroughly enjoyed Only Love Can Hurt Like This so I was so pleased to be offered the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Seven Summers and one word - Wow!

Seven Summers is an incredible story, revolving around two extraordinary love stories, following the lives of Liv and Finn, and Liv and Tom. How the book has been put together and written is so very clever. The book is set in beautiful Cornwall. We meet Liv and follow her life for the next seven summers, learning all about her life, her family, her relationships, the extraordinary sad events that happened during her life, dealing with grief, and her passion for sculpting. We follow her relationships with Finn and Tom and I was at the point in the story where I was rooting for one, not knowing how the events in her life would turn out. We are given such insight too into Finn and Tom's lives, going through the very hard times in their lives, but celebrating the good times too.

A very powerful story with compelling characters. Part of why I love Paige Toon's books so much is because of the detail she gives to everything - the setting, the scenery, the characters, how they grow and how we can be taken deep into their thoughts and feelings. Liv's brother Michael shone throughout the book - he was such a strong character and I loved how determined he was to be able to take control and become more independent. He added alot of humour to the book. You could tell how much he loved Liv and was very protective of her.

I always know when I read a Paige Toon book that I am going to feel like I am inside the book, becoming part of the story. Paige Toon is a very very talented writer. Seven Summers is a wonderful emotional read which I give 5 big enormous stars too. I cannot wait now for your next book!

Thank you very much for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

The long awaited Paige Toon book is finally here. And it was certainly worth the wait. An excellent book as ever.

Six Summers to fall in love, One Summer to change it all.

Finn’s life is in LA, Liv’s life is in Cornwall but each summer they are drawn to each other by a promise they made years earlier. As the years go by leaving each other gets harder and as Finn gets more famous and Liv meets new arrival Tom things starts to change.

I know I’m always guaranteed a great read by this author and I was so excited to get approved by @netgalley for this book. A great story and I enjoyed following several of the relationships throughout the book, I think Michael might have been my favourite character.

Publication Date - 28/03/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#SevenSummers
#PaigeToon

Such a beautiful story! An emotional rollercoaster, so well portrayed. Lovely characters that I was instantly drawn to, especially Finn and Tom. Liv was one lucky lady! I did find the book a little confusing at times due to it not being written in chronological order. But this didn’t spoil my enjoyment. I was instantly gripped from the first chapter and I couldn’t wait to read the next chapters.Paige Toon is such an expert at making the reader feel the the emotions of the characters, as deeply as they do. I was in bits reliving Liv and Finn’s tragic pasts and their passion for each other was tangible. I couldn’t wait to find out the ending ( which is the one I’d hoped for) but I was also sad knowing I’d come to the end of the story. I wonder if we’ll meet these characters again sometime in a future book? This book is a must have to put on your reading list. You won’t be disappointed. Another wonderful book from Paige Toon!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book

Seven Summers by Paige Toon

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Random Things Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Six summers to fall in love. One summer to change everything.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .

My Opinion

For years Paige Toon has been a go to author for me, I was given a recommendation for a Paige Toon book and I have not looked back yet. For me this book was lovely, but it did fall slightly short of a five star rating. The book is mostly told during the current summer but there are sections that are of previous summers providing background information on Finn and Liv.

I really enjoyed the way that this book played out and it was definitely emotional in places. This book once again shows that Paige Toon is capable of writing a book that will tug on the heart strings and will appeal to a large number of people. For me, the only thing that stopped me giving this the five stars is that the ending just felt a little rushed.

Honestly, this was just such a lovely read, and I feel like this book is going to be one of those that I need a while to recover from. I would highly recommend this book, in fact I would go one step further and highly recommend Paige Toon in general.

Rating 4/5

A great book with a wonderful storyline and plenty of well developed and authentic characters. If I was to have any criticism, it would be that the pace was quite slow.

This is a strong contender for my top ten books of the year...and it's only March! That's how much I loved it.

Although there are two male main characters and only one female main character, this book is definitely about Liv. Her struggles and growth and joys are what hooked me completely. Yes, it's a love story but it's one that shows two great loves in one person's life and it is through this person's experiences that I connected with the story so much. The whole thing is beautifully devastating, the highs made my heart swell and the lows made me cry sitting by a pool on holiday.
All of the characters, both main and supporting, are really thoughtfully drawn. The whole community is vibrant and real, you've seen these people in seaside towns. The seaside town, St Agnes, is a character in its own right too. The way Paige Toon describes the landscapes and views as they change through the seasons leaves you with no doubt that she loves this place. It's an area of the UK that is very special to me too so this gave it added meaning. I particularly loved the way that Liv's brother. Michael, is portrayed - his Down's Syndrome isn't relevant to how he sees himself. His personality is not about that, it's about him being a big brother and wanting to look after Liv, even if she thinks otherwise. His biggest criteria when interviewing for a carer is what they have in common and whether he'll want to hang out with them - this was a refreshing thing to see in a mainstream book.
The way the book is constructed, it tells the story of these characters over the past six summers with chapters dotted throughout that relate to the current, seventh, summer. I really enjoy reading this kind of set-up as it gives a great vehicle to uncover just a smidge of the underlying stories as you read on. Using the epilogue to give a glimpse into the coming seven summers is genius...and houses the biggest gut-punch that this book delivers. Jumping a full seven summers ahead again gives a fantastic conclusion to what is just a superb story from start to finish. The inclusion of the playlist at the end (music features a lot throughout the book) is a brilliant touch too.
I'm 100% sure I will think of Liv, Tom, and Finn the next time I go to Cornwall, and I may even see them in the locals I encounter.

✨ Two epic love stories. One impossible choice… ✨~ released on 28th March

I sobbed…

Paige never fails to hit you right in the emotional feels with her writing and this book may be at the top of the pile!

Seven summers is so raw and heartbreakingly beautiful and I fell in love with the characters straight away. The multiple timelines in this story allow you to really bond with them and feel as if you are part of the their lives. In this story we follow Liv and Finn through 7 summers of epic love until one summer, it all changes.

The setting of this book is Cornwall, a place I love so much and visit every year which meant this book felt so homely and warm for me! Reading about places I’ve visited made me really relate to this story. Also, I loved watching Liv grow and mature through every summer, seeing how she copes with grief and the responsibilities she has to take on shows how brave and strong she is. Truly to be admired! Finn had me up and down throughout this novel, I really rooted for him and Liv to be together but I wanted to shake him at times - he just needed to commit!! I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m saying no more!🤭

Overall this book is definitely a 5 star read from me, so addicting and heart wrenching. I read it in a day and will definitely be rereading it soon!

* Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this ARC *