Wow, wow, wow. This debut novel is so beautiful! ugh the teenage feels and summer vibes were EVERYTHING! i miss summer! this book felt like the embodiment of sunshine on your face and sand between your toes! the message of overcoming grief was sweet as can be. loved this one!

“You deserve a rollercoaster” simpler words have never held more meaning.

When Quinn’s dad leaves and her mom is left living in fear, Quinn has learned to play things on the safe side. Along the way she also unintentionally taught herself to keep love at arms length. Each summer after her dad left, she spends in a small beach town with her aunt Blair and baby cousin Hadley. She meets lifelong friends who teach her that even when family goes, friends can be forever. She seeks to find courage and happen to life instead of letting it happen to her.

However, when tragedy strikes, she realizes that while life gives, it also takes away. She has to learn how to keep on going in the midst of the uncertainty that brings. She learns to lean on those she loves and to not be afraid to fall in love (or at-least finally admit that she has).

This sweet story had me on a rollercoaster of emotions right along with her. This story was healing for me and I think it has the power to do the same for others.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookcomber Publishing for this ARC :)

Quinn spends summers with her aunt, who is really closer to being a sister, and Blair’s daughter Hadley. Quinn spends her days with Haven, Holden, Everett, Mason and Jorge. These kids deal with hang overs, divorce, first kisses, and even death. This book did have a sad component, but I loved it! I would love to spend summers at the beach with shell necklaces, salt water taffy and all the things these kids got to enjoy!

The Summers of Us completely swept me away. Taylor Crooks captured friendship, love, and growing up in such a real, heartfelt way. It felt nostalgic and raw, like you were living those summers right alongside the characters. I didn’t want it to end — such an emotional and beautiful story.

I didn't think I would like this book at first.
It was written past and present style. That's something that I am coming to like
This book is a 2nd chance romance with a slow burn. A style I like so much better than the insta attraction.
Wonderful characters that I enjoyed in getting to know.
People come and people go but family always stays? Not true. Especially friends that are for a season. Friends leave too.
I totally resonated with this book. It made me laugh and want to cry in some spots.
I really found myself enjoying this book and didn't want it to end.
I'll be looking for more from this author in the future. This book is a reminder that all of us has something that we need to overcome in order to move on.
5 stats for a job well done in keeping my attention all the way through. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟThe ocean gives and the ocean takes :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ

This story unfolds on the breathtaking Piper Island—a place that instantly wrapped itself around Quinn’s heart like the softest summer breeze. It became her haven, her safe place, her better-than-anything home. The ocean gifted her a first love that tasted like salt and sparkles, unforgettable memories painted in every shade of joy, friendships built under fireworks, stargazing that whispered dreams, and a sun-kissed glow that made her feel golden.

It also gave her something quieter—something heavier. A way to forget the ache of being left behind by the man who was supposed to stay. Her father’s absence was a shadow she carried, but Piper Island lit the path away from it.

But this last summer before college? It was different. The sky, once the color of Quinn’s wildest wishes, had turned a solemn gray. The flowers that used to sing in vibrant hues now sat wilted in their pots, like they too had forgotten how to bloom.

This was the summer for reckoning. The summer she stopped running. The summer she realized that happiness wasn’t something only found on an island surrounded by sea—it could be built anywhere, even within herself. That she didn’t have to be afraid to fall in love again.

This story is achingly emotional, like a love letter to every heart that’s ever been bruised but still beats with hope. And what’s true for Quinn is true for all of us—
We all deserve a rollercoaster. ♡

The imagery in this book was so beautiful. I felt like I was at the beach. 🩷

This book had it all- the beach, a cute friend group, drama, trauma, and first love. It is def YA. I hope this author considers writing something more adult next, maybe with a little spice, because the imagery and descriptive language would just be so good for a book like that.

I will def read whatever this author writes next as I really enjoyed the writing style.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a beautiful debut novel. This has become one of my fav summer books. I love summer books so much and this one was so so good! I loved that this was YA, the main character coming of age and growing up added so much. Romance, family, friendship, grief, and self discovery. I felt like I was really at the beach. First love. Only see eachother in the summer. Perfect read if you love the summer I turned pretty, every summer after, and even the friendships like in happy place.

Thank you to NetGalley and Taylor Crooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 🩷

The Summers of Us by Taylor Crooks is a beautiful story about friendship, found family, and the kind of summer memories that shape who you become. It spans over nine summers and makes you feel like you’re growing up alongside Quinn in each summer.

Quinn and Everett stole my heart. Their connection, shared interests, and the way they grew together (and as individuals) worked really well, despite having a bit of miscommunication along the way.

“The secret is that I am in love with the boy who brought me here. He’s jumping the waves right now. Every couple waves, he looks back at me. I don’t think he knows I’m watching, but there’s nothing I’d rather watch than him.”

As a mama, parts of it (especially around grief) were really hard to read, but in a way that felt honest and important. It truly honored Hadley and I loved that.

“When you’re a little girl, everything is beautiful and you don’t know a weed from a flower.”

It was a beautifully written tribute to growing up, letting go, and the people who stay with us, no matter the years, blood relation, or the distance.

“We’re all just people, subjecting ourselves to the world and its woes. We have family and friends and love and fear. We fear that the universe will take what’s ours; we’re grateful the universe gave us ours to begin with. We breathe fear and gratitude in the same breath. In the same life.”

This is such a good debut novel! The writing style is immersive, and after reading this book, I feel like I know my way around Piper Island. Each character felt distinct, had their own backstory, and had their own unique relationship with Quinn, which I really enjoyed.

I liked that Quinn’s age was listed at the beginning of each chapter from the past, rather than just the number of summers. The timeline was easy to follow even though we jump from the present to the past.

Another thing I loved is the metaphor of a rollercoaster. It is so simple, yet so profound, and it makes sense within the context of the narrative. We all deserve a rollercoaster.

I would recommend The Summers of Us to anyone looking for a book that feels like summer but also has depth, as it deals with topics like first loves, family/friend dynamics, and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookcomber Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The first thing I noticed while reading this book was it is written more like a literary fiction with amazing imagery for the setting. The beach of Pipers Island was described so well, I felt like I was there with the sun on my face and my feet in the sand.

The story itself is very young adult, with childhood flashbacks of Quinn. You meet the friend group, the drama of a childhood and of course, the unforgettable first love.

This was a change of pace from my usual reading style, but not a bad experience.

Tropes:
- beach read
- Emotional childhood
- Young love
- Young adult

This book transports you to the summer days of being young, making friends and falling in love.
Quinn spends her summers with her aunt Blair in the small quaint beach town of Piper Island, North Carolina. The descriptive setting was picture perfect and felt like I was living my summer at the beach with Quinn. While at the beach she meets lifelong friends during her first summer there and they grow up together during the summers spent together. This told in alternating timelines flashing back to earlier years and Quinn back at the beach currently for one last summer before college.

I'M BUYING THE FLIGHT TICKETS RIGHT NOW ... PIPER ISLAND HERE I COME 🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️


5/5 🌟
4/5 😭


my honest opinion 🪩

Did I cry? Yes. Do I regret it? ABSOLUTELY NOT. This book kinda gave sense to my life and brightened up my somehow always grey days. This was so beautifully written, I can't ✋️✋️ Why do books about summer always make me cry??? This was so light hearted and emotional at the same time. It was written in summer ... summer is this book.


Character analysis ⛱️ (special edition ... emojis)

Quinn - 🐈‍⬛🍊🎆🌌

Everett - 💍🎠🎡🌆

Holden & Mason - 🎊⛵️🎂🪂

Haven & Jorge - 🍒🍦🛹⛱️


Characters were absolutely perfect ... every one of them had a story and i genuinely enjoyed to read about them ♡


What to expect? 🎇

In this book we practically deep dive into the concept of happiness, love and grief. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster of happiness, sadness, melancholy and euphory. The friendships in this book are like from another universe ... very strong, deep and beautifully written. OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT ... PINKY PROMISES


Favourite quotes 🎐

"You are worthy of love. Pinky promise."

"The sun is just like you, and so is the moon, and so is everything people need to survive but don't appreciate enough."

"You deserve a rollercoaster."

"An inevitable end is why I enjoy the present."

"Tsunami won't be our first rollercoaster ride. Nor will be our last."


Playlist for anybody who likes to read with music like I do ♡

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3kb5jQUXrFUg1d3wBjgKkQ?si=_Ig8n5TYSESxCmj-hI4cdQ&pi=xp_HQieVSzurI



THANKS FOR READING MY REVIEW AND THANKS SO MUCH TO THE AUTHOR AND NETGALLEY ... PLEASE GET ME TO TAYLOR CROOKS RIGHT NOW 💞

This was a really cute🙊 simple read📓. I really enjoyed every aspect of it💌, from the characters to the plot. I would say it's 3 star⭐ compared to other books, only because I like books like shatter me⚡ and caraval🎪. Yk ones with something constantly happening🦸🏻‍♀️. However... rating it as a book itself? Yes... It's 4 stars❤️‍🔥. While there's no action🔫 and jaw dropping scenes👽, theres thoughts💌 and feelings🌟.

I would 100% but the physical copy of this👍🏼. Despite this book being a romance💋, it feels like a break from that genre❤️‍🩹. The book would definitely help people who want to slowly get into🫂 romance or out of it👥.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the ARC❤️‍🔥🎯💫

I loved this story. I spend my summers on the water and have grown up my entire life on the water so this holds a special place in my heart. Being a part of the journey and what they went through really resonated. There was a strong nostalgia feeling. This debut novel by Taylor Crooks was poignant and heartfelt as well as emotional. It was such an enjoyable ride.

I'm going to talk about this book with EVERYONE. This was the summer i turned pretty and the summer of broken rules.
It was so gooood I'm obsessed