Jade is fearless as she takes on the challenge of managing a quaint little bookstore on Nantucket Island for the summer. Sounds like a dream job, right? But, hold on because this tale takes an unexpected twist that will keep you turning pages.

Jade’s summer gig turns into a whirlwind of surprises when she discovers that the charming bookstore she’s come to love is slated for demolition by the not-so-charming resort owner Liam. And, oh, by the way, she and Liam did the down and dirty before either of them knew who the other really was. Oops!

I really wanted to love this book. I mean, the premise was super cute and had all the makings of a fun romance. But as much as I tried to dive into this story, there were some things that just didn’t sit right with me.

For one, the whole insta-lust thing felt rushed and a bit unrealistic and Liam wasn’t even that likeable and he was definitely not available emotionally. Then there were those moments where the characters seemed to overreact to the tiniest things. I get it, we all have our quirks, but the unnecessary miscommunications and immaturity just drove me a little nuts. It felt like a lot of drama could’ve been avoided with a simple conversation. The plot seemed to run on a treadmill with lots of movement but not really going anywhere emotionally.

But hold on let’s not give up on this book yet! The last couple of chapters of the story totally made up for the angst with some empowering decisions (you go, Jade!) and a swoon-worthy grand gesture that was worth the wait.

Overall, Booked for Summer is a good pick for a beach read list. Set against the backdrop of stunning Nantucket, it’s the perfect escape for the start of summer. Even though the slow angsty build-up wasn’t my absolute favorite thing, the charming setting and sweet moments toward the end made it worthwhile.

Thank you to Ms. Freeman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Main characters, Jade and Liam, are very insecure people! Insecure and struggling with their feelings for each other.
The pacing of the story seems to drag on a bit. Maybe it’s me?
I loved the Nantucket location.
Would this make a good summer/beach read? Probably so…. I encourage you to read it and see!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman is a charming and unique story that was a great escape read.
I really enjoyed this book! Both lead characters felt very well-rounded, and the slowly building chemistry and affection between them was really well done.
The writing and pacing of the story was great, the character development just amazing – and the ending so perfect.
This book was just wonderful, fun and engaging.
This is another enjoyable read from Kathryn Freeman.

lmaooo this book is the epitome of "we listen and we don't judge* to me. Was it dumb as hell? yeah. Did I have a silly goofy time? Also yes. Pick this up for cozy Nantucket vibes and watch two messy people constantly contradict themselves until they fall in love(?).

The vibes were right in this cute little town. But the two MCs were cringe asf and made the book worse. We have Jade who is tired of being devalued by men because she's SooOOOoOOooo attractive. Then we have Liam, Moneybags McGee, who was a changed man after getting laid (despite the fact that women were constantly chasing him anyway). Jade meets Liam. She does NOT want to sleep with him. Over and over she says this. Out loud. Then, she immediately sleeps with him in less than 24 hours after their initial encounter. Girly, respectfully, seek therapy. Meanwhile, Liam is characterized as Mr. Consent ('I don't want to do anything you don't want to do') but then still encourages things along. It was just all very bizarre.

And despite the characters clearly being only in-lust, apparently it was love the whole time. Ok :)

I still devoured this book at an unprecedented rate and I hate myself a little bit for it. Jade, see you in the waiting room at Therapy, Inc.!

The synopsis of this book was so good, but unfortunately the execution didn’t live up to my expectations.

Jade is a book lover who jumps at the chance to spend her summer in Nantucket managing a charming bookstore. Liam, the billionaire resort owner next door, adds a promising romantic setup that had all the ingredients I typically enjoy.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. While I loved the premise—especially since I’m usually drawn to stories about books—the pacing didn’t quite work. Oddly, it felt both rushed and dragged at times, and I struggled to stay engaged with how the plot developed.

I ended up DNF’ing around 40%, but I still appreciate the opportunity to read this early and think others might connect with it more than I did.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this. Great characters, found family, fell in love with Nantucket. The one thing that lost it was just the ending. It was so back and forth, making me so dizzy.
3.5

Booked for the Summer is a delightful read, a wonderful lighthearted summer romance, set in a bookstore, could it be anymore perfect. Nantucket sounds gorgeous and the descriptions made me want to visit.

The chemistry was electric between Jade and Liam, but I loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the book even more. Booked fr Summer is a great read with the right balance of romance and spice with an engaging story that will leave you addicted.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The premise of this book immediately caught my attention—it promised emotional depth, complex characters, and an intense romance, all of which I love in a story. The synopsis set a strong tone, and I was genuinely excited to dive in.

While the writing style, particularly in third-person, did a great job of capturing emotional nuance and chemistry between the leads, I found the overall story didn’t quite live up to its initial promise. The scenes between Jade and Liam were often compelling, and their chemistry was undeniable. The author has a clear talent for portraying internal conflict and tension between characters.

However, my main issue was with Liam’s character arc. His trauma is understandable, and it’s clear that his past deeply affects his actions—but he seems resistant to growth or accountability. Rather than actively working on himself, he places the burden of his healing on Jade, which made their dynamic feel unbalanced. While that might have been intentional, it left me questioning the motivations of the people encouraging Jade to pursue a relationship with him. It felt premature and emotionally unsafe for her, given his instability.

The narrative hints at a potential for redemption or reconnection later, and maybe that’s where their story is meant to head—but as it stands, I couldn’t fully connect with their romantic progression. It felt like the emotional groundwork hadn’t yet been laid for a truly healthy partnership.

That said, the emotional writing and the author’s ability to craft tension and chemistry kept me turning the pages. There’s a lot of promise in this story and in the author’s voice, even if this particular relationship arc didn’t fully work for me.

Thanks to @netgalley , the author & publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very light and easy reading, chick-lit book. The characters are OK, not too much depth to them. Occasionally felt like I was going round in circles with them, and there wasn't that much romantic chemistry, in my opinion, but it was a cute storyline. This would make an ideal holiday read!

I blooming loved this book!

We have a Brit, abroad, working in a Bookshop as a manager on a Holiday resort... and of course, an intriguing, millionaire who isn't all that bad looking either.

I absolutely loved Jade and and I enjoyed seeing a Brit with all the Britishism's that come with having a Brit in a story. She is fun and kind, plus she's also a bit kooky - love it!

Liam was more of a dark horse. Serious and brooding, he is a tough nut to crack, but of course, our Jade slowly begins to melt his icey exterior, and we learn that all is not what it seems with Liam.

The story itself it brilliant. It's a story about love- love for books, people, adventures, and challenges, but it is also a book of second chances and finding yourself.

It's a medium paced story, but with plenty of things going on, it keeps you on your toes with some shocks and also lots of humour along the way!

Perfect for a holiday read or if you just fancy a lovely, light, romance.

Highly recommend!

Grumpy/sunshine trope. Bubbly Jade from Twickenham, London heads to Nantucket to manage a quaint bookshop for 3 months. Unbeknownst to her, the owner is selling the shop to the local luxury resort owner. Jade has met Grumpy, aloof Liam on day one. I loved watching developing relationships and friendships and the power of trust. Bonus - I wasn't expecting it to be so hot and steamy. #netgalley #bookedforsummer

Booked for Summer is book ten in the Kathryn Freeman Romcom Collection, and as it's a collection and not a series each book can easily be enjoyed as a standalone novel. I really enjoyed the plot of this book; a chance to run a bookshop in a beautiful location has to be an adventurous bookworms dream.

I think Jade initially struggles with Imposter Syndrome when she realises how much work is involved and feels like she may have bitten off more than she could chew when she took on the role. I loved watching her confidence grow as she comes up with ideas to save the bookshop and in turn becomes a valued member of the local Nantucket community.

Liam is a complex character, his childhood experiences have clearly shaped him into a ruthless businessman with a thirst to prove himself. Past trauma has caused him to construct a seemingly impenetrable wall around his heart, but something about Jade gets under his skin and she's able to find a weakness in his armour.

Jade and Liam's chemistry is off the charts from the very beginning so prepare yourself for spicy scenes! Initially I thought that there was going to be too much spice and not enough plot but it was actually very well balanced in the end and for me the spice took a backseat to the overall plot.

I also loved Jeremy's character, especially the way he winds up Liam. Even though Liam is his boss and certainly isn't the joking type Jeremy takes great delight in teasing him. It's a good thing Jeremy is such a valued employee or I'm not sure how long he'd be employed for! He also proves to be a genuine friend and really has Jade's back when things get tough.

Overall this was a lovely relaxing beach read in a gorgeous setting with a good story, loveable characters and a lot of Flamingos!

Booked for Summer by Kathryn Freeman
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
Jade is there for the summer for her dream job, managing a quaint little book store. Liam is there to knock down the quaint little book store he just bought so he can add to his luxury resort. After a meet cute with instant chemistry, they discover they're on opposite sides of this battle. And they're both determined to win it.

What I liked: It was a cute summer read. Side characters were laugh out loud, funny at times. When Jade and Liam weren't fighting, they were really looking out for each other and supportive. I liked how there were multiple layers to problem in the story.

What I didn't like: Jade was over the top bubblegum sunshine and would say quirky things that I think were supposed to be cute, but really just came off as immature. Both characters over reacted at every turn- it felt like what a high schooler thinks romance should be. The premise had great potential, but the overall execution wasn't there.

A cute super fun beach read. Read super quickly, it gave me some good laugh moments and some very cute moments.

I read everything Kathryn Freeman writes, I discovered her via Netgalley and I'm her fan, her books are light and funny. Sadly, this one isn't going to be one of my favourite books of her. It's not a bad one, it's simply that it felt too childish for me and I couldn't connect neither with the characters nor the story.
The premise of the book seemed great, an enemies to lovers (my favourite trope!) with a lot of sexual tension but that sexual tension evaporates at the very begining and then we see a lot of secondary characters that seem flat and trivial.
I can't say I regret reading it, the writing style is easy and you read without effort but I expect more of one of Kathryn Freeman books.

A charming beach read.
I loved the setting of Nantucket the best because it has such a special place in historical and beach books.
I thought Jade did a valiant effort to safe the bookstore and sparred with Liam.
I didn’t like Liam Initially but as his layers were peeled back and I understood the reasons behind his attitude and actions he won me over. A vulnerable boy who had been rejected too many times just needed a strong woman to break his walls down.
I loved Liam’s Grandma and Jeremy. They almost stole the limelight from Jade and Liam.
Don’t let this one slip by without reading it.

Imagine being able to run away to an island and run a bookstore for a few months, that would be the life. Beautiful beaches, lots of books, and plenty of time to try out something new. That is what Jade has planned. She goes to run a bookstore on Nantucket for three months, only to find out that it has been sold by the owner the day after she arrives. Sold to the very sexy resort owner who she unknowingly hooked up with the night before. Whatever is a girl to do?

This book was a great read, it was so enjoyable watching Jade come up with ideas on how to save the bookshop and get it to turn more of a profit. As always, the (not so evil) money obsessed MMC learns to let people into his heart and his life. It was just really enjoyable to read, plus, the grand gesture that he makes at the end is a little adorable - who says guys don’t ever pay attention? (Yes I know he is fictional, but still)

Three months working in a delightful island bookshop
Feels like a dream Jade'll never top!
She's following her dreams, leaving cares behind,
Whilst unsure of just what she might find.

A chance encounter with Liam, a hot stranger,
Has Jade's heart beating, is she in danger?
The attraction is instant but is there a chance
Of this developing into a romance?

So lovely to watch their relationship grow
As each other they slowly get to know.
Both have been hurt by others in the past
Will they dare take a chance that this romance will last?

Jeremy is another brilliant character who
Never gives up on friendships, too.
He provides so many laughs as the story unfolds
With his quips and assertions - so bold!

This is a fabulous, heartwarming and fun read,
With great characters and setting, just what I need!
I really enjoyed it from beginning to end
And hope it is a book in which you'll also time spend.

For my copy of this fantastic read I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

When Jade arrives on Nantucket Island, she’s delighted to find that the Little Bay Book Shack is everything she wanted it to be – and she’s looking forward to a three month break from her usual job, running it for its owner. Little does she know that the bookshop’s days might be numbered – a prime site, ripe for development by the nearby luxury resort – and that her time there would be spent fighting for its survival. And the other surprise? Liam, the particularly hot man she hooks up with on arrival, is the billionaire who actually owns that resort, has never read a book, and is determined to close the bookshop down – unless its temporary custodian can make some money and convince him otherwise.

The setting is beautifully drawn, and the characters are wonderful. Everyone sees Jade as a blonde dummy with well-developed assets, and a tendency to never stop talking – but there’s so much more to her than that, and she certainly won me over. And Liam’s terribly moody, seemingly entirely driven by the success of his business – and rather unlikeable, until we get to know what really makes him tick, and about the particularly complex past that’s made him that way. They both have strong family relationships – which I very much enjoyed – but there’s also a particularly well-drawn supporting cast, especially Liam’s assistant Jeremy (what a fantastic character!) and the whole island community who come together with a range of motives to support Jade’s efforts.

I will admit, although I’d always expected some of the sizzle the author always does so well, that the whole book might just have been rather more spicy than I was expecting – they were at it hammer and tongs rather too quickly after saying “hello”, and I would have rather preferred a slower build-up. But it certainly overturned the usual trope a bit – lovers to enemies for a change, but with a continuing attraction between them that you could certainly feel and that they were unable to resist. There’s a strong grumpy/sunshine theme too – but the book became far more engaging for me as its story developed, when it explored the reasons for them both being the way they were, and that initial lust turned into something rather deeper.

And, while there are plenty of laughs too, the story certainly does have unexpected depth – all those family issues, the importance of friendship, the fact that money doesn’t bring happiness and that love will always find a way. The fight to save the bookshop was particularly engaging – and, once they’d got those steamy early days out of the way, the romance was one I really believed in. A summery read with a real difference and everything I enjoy about the author’s writing – and most definitely a book I’d recommend to others.

Thank you to Kathryn Freeman and One More Chapter for the ARC!

"Booked for Summer" is a sweet and funny rom-com that has reading as one of the main plot points - what is not to love?! Though I don't usually gravitate towards this genre, the synopsis totally got my attention and I'm glad I gave it a chance! If you are a fan of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, give this one a shot!

"Booked for Summer" is out now!!