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One Perfect Summer
"A great bookÌýto finish off your summer reading."—Debbie Macomber, #1ÌýNew York TimesÌýbestselling author
Some families we’re born into
Some we find for ourselves
When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for a genetic test, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.
The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.
"This heartwarming story of sisters who bond as adults isÌýsure to please...those who enjoy books by Susan Mallery and Debbie Macomber."â€�Library Journal
Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s latest novel, The Seaside Library!
Other charming reads from Brenda Novak:Ìý
Summer on the Island The Bookstore on the Beach
Some families we’re born into
Some we find for ourselves
When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for a genetic test, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn’t know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.
The women decide to dig into the mystery together at Serenity’s family cabin in Lake Tahoe. With Reagan navigating romantic politics at work and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they’ll have to confront the past and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie. But any future is easier to face with family by your side.
"This heartwarming story of sisters who bond as adults isÌýsure to please...those who enjoy books by Susan Mallery and Debbie Macomber."â€�Library Journal
Don’t miss New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s latest novel, The Seaside Library!
Other charming reads from Brenda Novak:Ìý
Summer on the Island The Bookstore on the Beach
400 pages, ebook
First published April 7, 2020
1357 people are currently reading
8635 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
249Ìýbooks6,804ÌýfollowersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,� Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.�
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,� Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read�.�
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,� Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.�
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,� Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read�.�
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,106 reviews
June 14, 2020
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak is a 2020 Mira publication.
A good sudsy summer beach read
Serenity made a shocking discovery after submitting her DNA to 23AndMe. She has two half-sisters she didn’t know about. Unsure of how they came to be related, Serenity invites her sisters to visit her in Lake Tahoe where her family owns a cabin.
Enter Reagan, who works at an advertising firm, and Lorelei, a stay at home mom.
All three women are at a crossroads in their lives which is centered around their poor choices in men. Things get off to a bumpy start when Reagan and Lorelei clash. Why? Well, it would seem Reagan is riddled with guilt over a heated sexual encounter with her married colleague, while Lorelei has just discovered her husband has been unfaithful. Awkward!
However, it doesn’t take long before the familial bonds of sisterhood take hold, as the three women work to uncover the secrets that will reveal their true heritage.
I am finally coming out of my exclusive crime fiction phase and am ready to get into some ‘summer� reading. The ‘Beach Read� label is different for everyone, but for me, it’s contemporary fiction- or what we once referred to as ‘women’s fiction�. I love losing myself in the lives of others, especially when focused on women, as they navigate their family issues, marriages, divorce, kids, friendships and the various challenges and trials of life.
This book was the perfect book to kick off my summer of ‘beach� reading! I was instantly drawn into the catty drama between Reagan and Lorelei but was soon feeling drawn more towards Serenity as she seemed to have the most to lose by learning the truth and her backstory was truly awful, which made me hope her story would be the most rewarding.
Of the three women, Lorelei’s story is the saddest, yet her character grew more than anyone else's, in my opinion.
She was a little annoying at times, but I was happy to see her gain confidence and realize her self-worth.
I’d love to see Reagan and Lorelei get a story of their own someday, but for now I was very pleased with the progress each woman made, not just in their individual lives, but as sisters. At last, they will know the entire truth about their parentage, and will now have one another to lean on through life’s ups and downs.
The only minor quibble I had was that mystery into the DNA match was often placed in the background, entirely forgotten at times, and the side story involving a neighbor visiting for the summer just kind of fizzled out.
Other than that, the ending was exceptionally well done, and so that I don’t give anything away, I’ll just say it was very satisfying. Certain revelations were especially poignant for one of the sisters and I was so happy that she finally got the peace she deserved!
Overall, another winner for Brenda Novak! This is immersive drama at its finest!
4 stars
A good sudsy summer beach read
Serenity made a shocking discovery after submitting her DNA to 23AndMe. She has two half-sisters she didn’t know about. Unsure of how they came to be related, Serenity invites her sisters to visit her in Lake Tahoe where her family owns a cabin.
Enter Reagan, who works at an advertising firm, and Lorelei, a stay at home mom.
All three women are at a crossroads in their lives which is centered around their poor choices in men. Things get off to a bumpy start when Reagan and Lorelei clash. Why? Well, it would seem Reagan is riddled with guilt over a heated sexual encounter with her married colleague, while Lorelei has just discovered her husband has been unfaithful. Awkward!
However, it doesn’t take long before the familial bonds of sisterhood take hold, as the three women work to uncover the secrets that will reveal their true heritage.
I am finally coming out of my exclusive crime fiction phase and am ready to get into some ‘summer� reading. The ‘Beach Read� label is different for everyone, but for me, it’s contemporary fiction- or what we once referred to as ‘women’s fiction�. I love losing myself in the lives of others, especially when focused on women, as they navigate their family issues, marriages, divorce, kids, friendships and the various challenges and trials of life.
This book was the perfect book to kick off my summer of ‘beach� reading! I was instantly drawn into the catty drama between Reagan and Lorelei but was soon feeling drawn more towards Serenity as she seemed to have the most to lose by learning the truth and her backstory was truly awful, which made me hope her story would be the most rewarding.
Of the three women, Lorelei’s story is the saddest, yet her character grew more than anyone else's, in my opinion.
She was a little annoying at times, but I was happy to see her gain confidence and realize her self-worth.
I’d love to see Reagan and Lorelei get a story of their own someday, but for now I was very pleased with the progress each woman made, not just in their individual lives, but as sisters. At last, they will know the entire truth about their parentage, and will now have one another to lean on through life’s ups and downs.
The only minor quibble I had was that mystery into the DNA match was often placed in the background, entirely forgotten at times, and the side story involving a neighbor visiting for the summer just kind of fizzled out.
Other than that, the ending was exceptionally well done, and so that I don’t give anything away, I’ll just say it was very satisfying. Certain revelations were especially poignant for one of the sisters and I was so happy that she finally got the peace she deserved!
Overall, another winner for Brenda Novak! This is immersive drama at its finest!
4 stars
April 27, 2020
Serenity Alston is a true crime writer and also manages a blog. She decides to submit her DNA to an ancestry site so she can write more authentically about the process in her next feature. However, she got much more than she anticipated when she discovered two half sisters. It’s a complete mystery to her as she had no reason to believe she was adopted or that her father had strayed. Reagan Sands is a high powered marketing executive working in New York and is aware that she was adopted but has no idea of the identity of her biological parents. Lorelei Cipriano is married with a 5-year old daughter living in Orlando. She has no knowledge of her ancestry as she was found abandoned when she was 2-years old. The three women connect online and after a time, decide to meet and spend a week together at Serenity’s family’s cabin in Lake Tahoe.
I was drawn immediately to this story having had a similar experience when I joined Ancestry.com a little over a year ago. My outcome has been a happy one but they don’t always have good or satisfactory endings and can unleash long-held family secrets that were intended to stay that way.
This story was particularly interesting as all three women were at important junctures in their lives. I won’t detail them here as I enjoyed finding that out on my own and think that’s preferable for most readers. I liked all three women and they were definitely flawed but had hidden strengths. It was admirable how they made the effort to get to know one another and form some kind of familial bond as they also worked to determine their paternity. There were lots of false starts and wrong paths taken but what I enjoyed the most were how they tackled individual challenges they were facing in their personal lives that served to help create and deepen their bond as sisters.
These are three very different women who decided to commit, in essence, to being in relationship with strangers. The timing of their discovery of one another felt serendipitous to some degree but because of my own experience it felt realistic. I also liked the narrator who found subtle ways to distinguish the voices of each sister. Her pacing was on target and she managed the storytelling very well. There’s a definitive end here but I would be pleased if there was further exploration of their stories as this was a really good, entertaining reading experience.
Posted on
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
I was drawn immediately to this story having had a similar experience when I joined Ancestry.com a little over a year ago. My outcome has been a happy one but they don’t always have good or satisfactory endings and can unleash long-held family secrets that were intended to stay that way.
This story was particularly interesting as all three women were at important junctures in their lives. I won’t detail them here as I enjoyed finding that out on my own and think that’s preferable for most readers. I liked all three women and they were definitely flawed but had hidden strengths. It was admirable how they made the effort to get to know one another and form some kind of familial bond as they also worked to determine their paternity. There were lots of false starts and wrong paths taken but what I enjoyed the most were how they tackled individual challenges they were facing in their personal lives that served to help create and deepen their bond as sisters.
These are three very different women who decided to commit, in essence, to being in relationship with strangers. The timing of their discovery of one another felt serendipitous to some degree but because of my own experience it felt realistic. I also liked the narrator who found subtle ways to distinguish the voices of each sister. Her pacing was on target and she managed the storytelling very well. There’s a definitive end here but I would be pleased if there was further exploration of their stories as this was a really good, entertaining reading experience.
Posted on
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
December 22, 2019
3.5 stars
I was really enjoying this one but I thought it petered out in the last third. I think I would have preferred more focus on the sisters' lives and less about the whole family tree thing. The characters were at interesting points in the lives and the mystery of how they were related wasn't all that important to me. I did like this one enough though to check out other books by the author.
Serenity Alston submitted her DNA to one of those ancestry sites and to her astonishment she found out she has two half sisters she never knew about. She isn't quite ready to ask her parents about the details but she is ready to meet Reagan and Lorelei, her half sisters. She invites them to spend a week at her family's Lake Tahoe home. Each woman is at a crossroads in her life and it will be interesting to see if digging into the past and uncovering the truth about their family tree will bring them together or tear them apart.
I did like the three female characters and thought they each brought something to the table. I have no idea why Finn's perspective was randomly included a few times and thought it was unnecessary. I found the whole family tree thing to be somewhat confusing in terms of all of the different theories they floated around as to how they were related. Does it make sense at the end? Yes, but I really feel like the story was bogged down in the last third of the book and in my opinion the mystery element of the story was not all that important. I was way more invested in the women's lives and their individual problems at the moment than the relation stuff.
One other problem I had with the story was there were a few instances in which you think something will happen and then it doesn't but no explanation is given until quite a ways after the fact. I felt like the story could have used some more polishing as at times it felt like a disjointed reading experience.
Overall, I did enjoy this one even though there were some issues I had with it along the way.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was really enjoying this one but I thought it petered out in the last third. I think I would have preferred more focus on the sisters' lives and less about the whole family tree thing. The characters were at interesting points in the lives and the mystery of how they were related wasn't all that important to me. I did like this one enough though to check out other books by the author.
Serenity Alston submitted her DNA to one of those ancestry sites and to her astonishment she found out she has two half sisters she never knew about. She isn't quite ready to ask her parents about the details but she is ready to meet Reagan and Lorelei, her half sisters. She invites them to spend a week at her family's Lake Tahoe home. Each woman is at a crossroads in her life and it will be interesting to see if digging into the past and uncovering the truth about their family tree will bring them together or tear them apart.
I did like the three female characters and thought they each brought something to the table. I have no idea why Finn's perspective was randomly included a few times and thought it was unnecessary. I found the whole family tree thing to be somewhat confusing in terms of all of the different theories they floated around as to how they were related. Does it make sense at the end? Yes, but I really feel like the story was bogged down in the last third of the book and in my opinion the mystery element of the story was not all that important. I was way more invested in the women's lives and their individual problems at the moment than the relation stuff.
One other problem I had with the story was there were a few instances in which you think something will happen and then it doesn't but no explanation is given until quite a ways after the fact. I felt like the story could have used some more polishing as at times it felt like a disjointed reading experience.
Overall, I did enjoy this one even though there were some issues I had with it along the way.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak is a contemporary novel that was not only infused with a bit of romance which one would expect but also a bit of mystery as to how the characters came to be related. The story changes the point of view among the main characters to tell their stories all throughout the read.
Serenity Alston is a writer who has been going through a bit of a slump since she had learned of her husband’s guilt in a crime and he had gone to jail. Trying to get back into her work and on with her life she had sent her DNA off to a testing site on a whim to see how the process worked for a possible novel and much to her astonishment she learned she had two half sisters out in the world.
Coming from a wealthy and loving family Serenity had no clue what to think of her results so she invited Lorelei and Reagan to her family’s cabin in Lake Tahoe in order for all three to get answers. Just as with Serenity and her problems with her husband Lorelei and Reagan each have their own issues they bring in with them so the three sisters decide to spend the summer together looking to unravel the mystery of their relationship with each other and their lives.
Brenda Novak is another author that I have come to rely on enjoying when I pick up another new read from her. I know with over at least fifty books on the market that she is one well established author that I can count on wonderful writing and a fun story and One Perfect Summer was no exception. I found the family ties angle quite fascinating and enjoyed getting to know each of the ladies and their widely different personalities and lives. Definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
Serenity Alston is a writer who has been going through a bit of a slump since she had learned of her husband’s guilt in a crime and he had gone to jail. Trying to get back into her work and on with her life she had sent her DNA off to a testing site on a whim to see how the process worked for a possible novel and much to her astonishment she learned she had two half sisters out in the world.
Coming from a wealthy and loving family Serenity had no clue what to think of her results so she invited Lorelei and Reagan to her family’s cabin in Lake Tahoe in order for all three to get answers. Just as with Serenity and her problems with her husband Lorelei and Reagan each have their own issues they bring in with them so the three sisters decide to spend the summer together looking to unravel the mystery of their relationship with each other and their lives.
Brenda Novak is another author that I have come to rely on enjoying when I pick up another new read from her. I know with over at least fifty books on the market that she is one well established author that I can count on wonderful writing and a fun story and One Perfect Summer was no exception. I found the family ties angle quite fascinating and enjoyed getting to know each of the ladies and their widely different personalities and lives. Definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
June 2, 2020
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Chick lit. Sisters who found each other by DNA, two that didn’t know they were adopted. They spend the summer together learning and sharing their lives and loves.
Emotional and moving, the three sisters get to know each other while going through huge changes. They are able to connect and support each other and become true family.
It’s a enchanting story of family love and support. An easy and engaging read.
I would have liked a bit more at the end.
I’m glad it wasn’t a tear jerker.
Chick lit. Sisters who found each other by DNA, two that didn’t know they were adopted. They spend the summer together learning and sharing their lives and loves.
Emotional and moving, the three sisters get to know each other while going through huge changes. They are able to connect and support each other and become true family.
It’s a enchanting story of family love and support. An easy and engaging read.
I would have liked a bit more at the end.
I’m glad it wasn’t a tear jerker.
April 12, 2020
It would be great if there was more to the story. You cannot help but love these characters.
April 23, 2020
I've been struggling to read this book for days. This is the second Novak book for me and I just can't read her work. The writing style is not for me. So glad that I can move on to the next story now.
April 23, 2020
Imagine swabbing your cheek for 23andme and discovering that you have two half sisters that you never knew existed. That is what happened to Serenity when she took a DNA test for research for book she was writing. One sister had grown up in foster care, one was the only daughter of a single mother and Serenity was part of an intact family with both parents and more siblings. The sisters aren't sure how they fit together but decide to spend a few weeks together getting to know one another, hoping that during that time they will also discover something in their past that they have in common. Little did the sisters know that the weeks would turn into a summer that would change their lives forever.
I've never read a book by Brenda Novak and the pace and style took time for me to get used to. I wasn't sure if it was meant to be "chick lit" or "light romance' or exactly which genre I was reading until, finally, I stopped worrying about it and just enjoyed the story. The sisters were similar enough, despite their upbringing, to become good friends and an encouragement to one another through a very difficult series of revelations. There were hints of romance throughout which kept the story interesting and light. There also was the underlying mystery of how the three girls had the same father by such totally different mothers.
There were times I felt the book had some believability issues, such as a hospital sending home an amputee without follow up rehab, therapy or the ability to use cutlery in his "good hand.," but despite these moments, the over-arcing storyline was enjoyable and would make for a nice summer read.
I've never read a book by Brenda Novak and the pace and style took time for me to get used to. I wasn't sure if it was meant to be "chick lit" or "light romance' or exactly which genre I was reading until, finally, I stopped worrying about it and just enjoyed the story. The sisters were similar enough, despite their upbringing, to become good friends and an encouragement to one another through a very difficult series of revelations. There were hints of romance throughout which kept the story interesting and light. There also was the underlying mystery of how the three girls had the same father by such totally different mothers.
There were times I felt the book had some believability issues, such as a hospital sending home an amputee without follow up rehab, therapy or the ability to use cutlery in his "good hand.," but despite these moments, the over-arcing storyline was enjoyable and would make for a nice summer read.
February 2, 2020
One Perfect Summer was my first read by Brenda Novak and am so glad I read a book by her!!
I absolutely loved the dynamic duo of the half sisters of Lorelei, Reagan, and Serenity! Each of these women are dealing with life challenges and trying to respect the new found relationships they have as sisters. I thought the relationships between the sisters were beautiful and the acceptance/love of understanding and acceptance through the secrets behind them all being half sisters.
I do have to say that last bit of the book was packed with information that was a bit of an overload. I think maybe if the author would have spread this out and didn't give so much at the end... the story could have flowed a little better.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and can definitely see why Novak has so many fans! I definitely will be reading more from this author.
4 stars
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin/Mira for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 4/7/20
Published to GR: 2/2/20
I absolutely loved the dynamic duo of the half sisters of Lorelei, Reagan, and Serenity! Each of these women are dealing with life challenges and trying to respect the new found relationships they have as sisters. I thought the relationships between the sisters were beautiful and the acceptance/love of understanding and acceptance through the secrets behind them all being half sisters.
I do have to say that last bit of the book was packed with information that was a bit of an overload. I think maybe if the author would have spread this out and didn't give so much at the end... the story could have flowed a little better.
Overall, I enjoyed this one and can definitely see why Novak has so many fans! I definitely will be reading more from this author.
4 stars
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin/Mira for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub day: 4/7/20
Published to GR: 2/2/20
April 9, 2020
I truly didn't want to finish this book, however, since it was an ARC I felt I had a bit of an obligation AND I did want to find out what was up with these three half-sisters. I needn't have bothered because the conclusion was just garbled garbage which nearly made no sense. Everything is hinted at, sometimes a little more strongly- but never said 'out loud'.
Too many obvious things that would solve the 'mystery' are passed by, and while I know that you need to do this for the book to be longer than 250 pages, I think it was overused in this book. Also over-used is the angst of each sister and the beating of dead horses. For me, the book was just too long -three sisters, three plotlines...
If you like the author, you most likely are used to her way of writing and will find this book enjoyable.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
Too many obvious things that would solve the 'mystery' are passed by, and while I know that you need to do this for the book to be longer than 250 pages, I think it was overused in this book. Also over-used is the angst of each sister and the beating of dead horses. For me, the book was just too long -three sisters, three plotlines...
If you like the author, you most likely are used to her way of writing and will find this book enjoyable.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
April 20, 2020
3 Stars
March 31, 2020
This is an okay read.
Not fascinating and at times it slows to a bit of a crawl. I kept reading because I liked our sisters and really wanted to know the story behind how they ended up, well, sisters.
The solution to that mystery was...odd. Really odd. Not odd in an impossible way. Just in a 'wow did we just entirely change the theme of this book' kind of way. It's like the book changes from women's fictions about love, life, infidelity, etc. to hey, in the last 10% of the book we're going to turn this into a maybe-thriller.
Weird.
There are enough loose ends for a follow up book and, if that book does turn out to be a thriller, I'd be curious to read it. Also, one of the male characters (tragic but handsome and strong type) needs his own book with his one HEA.
So, not really what I expected, but okay.
Not fascinating and at times it slows to a bit of a crawl. I kept reading because I liked our sisters and really wanted to know the story behind how they ended up, well, sisters.
The solution to that mystery was...odd. Really odd. Not odd in an impossible way. Just in a 'wow did we just entirely change the theme of this book' kind of way. It's like the book changes from women's fictions about love, life, infidelity, etc. to hey, in the last 10% of the book we're going to turn this into a maybe-thriller.
Weird.
There are enough loose ends for a follow up book and, if that book does turn out to be a thriller, I'd be curious to read it. Also, one of the male characters (tragic but handsome and strong type) needs his own book with his one HEA.
So, not really what I expected, but okay.
July 14, 2020
You can’t help but simply love these characters that all have one thing in common, a DNA test reveals they are siblings.
This was one of the feel-good reads, where the characters discover their selves, connect with new family and make life choices that will touch your heart while one sister is facing a cheating husband, one is a fling for a married man and one is facing the persecution of a husbands family because she helps put him in jail.
I found myself invested in their life stories and Novak left us wanting more. One Perfect Summer was a perfect summer read.
received this ARC copy of One Perfect Summer from HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada). This is my honest and voluntary review. One Perfect Summer is set for publication April 7, 2020.
My Rating: ****
Written by: Brenda Novak
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (April 7, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0778309460
ISBN-13: 978-0778309468
Genre: Woman Lit
Amazon:
Barnes & Noble:
This was one of the feel-good reads, where the characters discover their selves, connect with new family and make life choices that will touch your heart while one sister is facing a cheating husband, one is a fling for a married man and one is facing the persecution of a husbands family because she helps put him in jail.
I found myself invested in their life stories and Novak left us wanting more. One Perfect Summer was a perfect summer read.
received this ARC copy of One Perfect Summer from HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada). This is my honest and voluntary review. One Perfect Summer is set for publication April 7, 2020.
My Rating: ****
Written by: Brenda Novak
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (April 7, 2020)
ISBN-10: 0778309460
ISBN-13: 978-0778309468
Genre: Woman Lit
Amazon:
Barnes & Noble:
May 14, 2020
An easy to read, slightly predictable contemporary female fiction novel.
A quirky trio of female characters find each other via a genealogy site. Interesting personal backgrounds are crucial to the success of the plot but I did think it took a relatively long time to get to the crux of various matters.
After such a long buildup, the resolution didn’t quite meet the anticipation which had developed. A solid contemporary read that women’s fiction fans will probably enjoy more than I’m giving it credit for.
A quirky trio of female characters find each other via a genealogy site. Interesting personal backgrounds are crucial to the success of the plot but I did think it took a relatively long time to get to the crux of various matters.
After such a long buildup, the resolution didn’t quite meet the anticipation which had developed. A solid contemporary read that women’s fiction fans will probably enjoy more than I’m giving it credit for.
June 24, 2020
I keep striking out on a summery beach read!
I was excited for this one because of the high reviews and the DNA plot but after reading it seemed the long lost sisters had nothing to do with it. It was more about who is cheating on who and so many details. I got bored and skipped a lot of pages.
I read Novak’s thriller last year and loved it so maybe this just isn’t the genre for me.
I was excited for this one because of the high reviews and the DNA plot but after reading it seemed the long lost sisters had nothing to do with it. It was more about who is cheating on who and so many details. I got bored and skipped a lot of pages.
I read Novak’s thriller last year and loved it so maybe this just isn’t the genre for me.
April 8, 2020
One Perfect Summer is Brenda Novak's newest stand-alone novel. I want a second book to follow up on the events of this one because I felt like there were many loose ends in the end. The characters were in the better place from the one the began and yet I couldn't help but feel like they could have gotten in an even better one.
The story revolves around 3 women who found they are half-sisters after they took a DNA test, each for her own reasons, and decided to meet up and learn more about each other. So far so good. The problem for me is that all of them had something going in their lives and they didn't bother to spend much time getting to know each other.
I was not a fan of Reagan's storyline. We all make mistakes but I have some hard limits on what I can accept and her sleeping with a married man while she knew that he was married was unacceptable. And she never told his wife either. That woman deserved to know what her husband did. Can I also say that when she slept with the man she didn't use protection? That dude could have been a walking STD.
Lorelei recently discovered that her husband was cheating on her with her best friend and they are expecting a child together. I could definitely see where she was coming from and why she felt like she did. I would like to see her life after the events of the book and if was able to leave the bitterness behind.
Serenity was the most level headed of the three and it's not like she had it easy either. I liked her the most out of the three sisters. I also felt like she had the most complete story.
In the end, I felt like every plot that was closed was done in a rushed way. There were many more things to tell and it's the reason why I am hoping for a second novel. I also hope that one day we can find out what happened to Finn and his brothers. It's frustrating to think that so many little things were left without closure.
The story revolves around 3 women who found they are half-sisters after they took a DNA test, each for her own reasons, and decided to meet up and learn more about each other. So far so good. The problem for me is that all of them had something going in their lives and they didn't bother to spend much time getting to know each other.
I was not a fan of Reagan's storyline. We all make mistakes but I have some hard limits on what I can accept and her sleeping with a married man while she knew that he was married was unacceptable. And she never told his wife either. That woman deserved to know what her husband did. Can I also say that when she slept with the man she didn't use protection? That dude could have been a walking STD.
Lorelei recently discovered that her husband was cheating on her with her best friend and they are expecting a child together. I could definitely see where she was coming from and why she felt like she did. I would like to see her life after the events of the book and if was able to leave the bitterness behind.
Serenity was the most level headed of the three and it's not like she had it easy either. I liked her the most out of the three sisters. I also felt like she had the most complete story.
In the end, I felt like every plot that was closed was done in a rushed way. There were many more things to tell and it's the reason why I am hoping for a second novel. I also hope that one day we can find out what happened to Finn and his brothers. It's frustrating to think that so many little things were left without closure.
March 10, 2020
*I received a free copy of One Perfect Summer from Harlequin via NetGalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased*
Novak definitely wrote a new hit with One Perfect Summer! Sisterhood for the win - even if it wasn't easy for any of them. I loved the premise of three women finding each other after taking a DNA test. And none of them knew they actually had a half sister. Serenity, Reagan and Lorelei looked like sisters, but they were still very different.
The fact that they were so different definitely brought up the question of nature and nurture, and it also showed how our environment can become almost hardwired to our emotions.
Novak definitely wrote a new hit with One Perfect Summer! Sisterhood for the win - even if it wasn't easy for any of them. I loved the premise of three women finding each other after taking a DNA test. And none of them knew they actually had a half sister. Serenity, Reagan and Lorelei looked like sisters, but they were still very different.
The fact that they were so different definitely brought up the question of nature and nurture, and it also showed how our environment can become almost hardwired to our emotions.
April 25, 2020
Oof. This was...not good. At all. I was super intrigued by the premise: three half sisters discover each other after taking a DNA test and spend a summer together at a lake house. Fun, easy breezy, right?
There was WAY too much drama going on here that was just so absurd:
I...don't know what happened here. I've read another of Novak's books and enjoyed it! This one was ridiculous.
There was WAY too much drama going on here that was just so absurd:
I...don't know what happened here. I've read another of Novak's books and enjoyed it! This one was ridiculous.
January 15, 2020
I enjoyed One Perfect Summer, but it's definitely not a favorite from this author. The book centers around three women - Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei - who discover when each takes a DNA test ,that they are half sisters. Serenity and Reagan are both pretty shocked, as they thought they knew everything about their families, and Lorelei, who was raised in foster care, is just glad to find family. The three decide to meet at a Lake Tahoe cabin owned by Serenity's family.
The three sisters are each facing rough personal situations. As they meet and spend time together, they have to face those personal challenges and decide what sort of a relationship if any, that they want with one another.
I liked all three main characters, although I had some reservations about each of them at one point or another. Lucy, the daughter of Lorelei, added to the story, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed her character.
It felt like the storyline tried to cover almost too much. Trying to provide resolution to each of their personal crisis, plus the puzzle of exactly how the family situation between them fit together, was so much that the last part of the book felt rather rushed to me.
I enjoyed reading the book, but didn't care for it as much as Novak's romantic suspense or contemporary romance. I received this ARC from the publisher and this is my honest review.
The three sisters are each facing rough personal situations. As they meet and spend time together, they have to face those personal challenges and decide what sort of a relationship if any, that they want with one another.
I liked all three main characters, although I had some reservations about each of them at one point or another. Lucy, the daughter of Lorelei, added to the story, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed her character.
It felt like the storyline tried to cover almost too much. Trying to provide resolution to each of their personal crisis, plus the puzzle of exactly how the family situation between them fit together, was so much that the last part of the book felt rather rushed to me.
I enjoyed reading the book, but didn't care for it as much as Novak's romantic suspense or contemporary romance. I received this ARC from the publisher and this is my honest review.
May 4, 2020
A very well written heartwarming story. Great characters that draw you into the story. A story that will make you laugh and cry. A story of finding the truth, second chances, friendships and love. I hope there will be another book to tell us more about the three sisters. I hated to see the book end.
April 10, 2020
I'm embarrassed to say that until One Perfect Summer, I have never read anything by Brenda Novak. Shocked at that fact, I'm so very glad to now have discovered her storytelling. With a fascinating plot driving the storyline, the drama is inevitable. You hear about DNA results unearthing and exposing family secrets. The secret that comes to light for strangers Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei, serves to bring this vastly different woman together, to give them each a new sense of belonging. But coming together will mean each of these women will experience fear, loss, and hope.
I found myself deeply caught up in their predicaments. Novak created very interesting and diverse stories for each woman. When the three come together, they are in vastly different places in their lives, and although there were good reasons they might feel resentment or erect walls between them, they gave each other support unlike any they had known. I felt drawn to each of them for different reasons. I felt a lot of empathy for Lorelie's situation, well, maybe anger is a better word for it, and I loved how she evolved and how she came out on the other side of things. When the truth of their parentage is shared, it is a doozy! Each woman gains closure and the birth of new family connections.
This is a fantastic read that I think most readers of contemporary romance or domestic fiction would themselves caught up in. Novaks' writing is impeccable with realistic reactions and great dialogue. 5 Stars and recommendations!
* I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
I found myself deeply caught up in their predicaments. Novak created very interesting and diverse stories for each woman. When the three come together, they are in vastly different places in their lives, and although there were good reasons they might feel resentment or erect walls between them, they gave each other support unlike any they had known. I felt drawn to each of them for different reasons. I felt a lot of empathy for Lorelie's situation, well, maybe anger is a better word for it, and I loved how she evolved and how she came out on the other side of things. When the truth of their parentage is shared, it is a doozy! Each woman gains closure and the birth of new family connections.
This is a fantastic read that I think most readers of contemporary romance or domestic fiction would themselves caught up in. Novaks' writing is impeccable with realistic reactions and great dialogue. 5 Stars and recommendations!
* I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
March 11, 2020
This book starts out with three almost-strangers who are, in fact, sisters. Half sisters who, until, the year before, had no knowledge of each other. The story delves into each of their lives separately and the issues that each sister is dealing with and how that brings them closer together.
From the beginning the reader isn't told who their real parents are or what happened. Along with the characters, we're left to wonder what the backstory is.
But, that mystery didn't take away from the story of these three sisters and their building their relationships, even in the midst of their differences and the walls they all have to bring down.
I am impressed with how the author approached this subject. I'm mostly impressed with how the relationships between family took center-stage even when there were pressing issues at hand.
My first read by Ms. Novak but definitely not my last!
From the beginning the reader isn't told who their real parents are or what happened. Along with the characters, we're left to wonder what the backstory is.
But, that mystery didn't take away from the story of these three sisters and their building their relationships, even in the midst of their differences and the walls they all have to bring down.
I am impressed with how the author approached this subject. I'm mostly impressed with how the relationships between family took center-stage even when there were pressing issues at hand.
My first read by Ms. Novak but definitely not my last!
March 14, 2020
What else can I say but WOW!!! This book was one of her best books ever and believe me when I say I have read probably 55 of her books at least that is saying alot. I found this book heartwrenching at times, it grabbed me for the first paragraph and never let me go. For me a book that can pull me in and tug at all my emotions is hard to find, yet this one certainly did that for me. I recommend this book for everyone to read, it is amazing.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley and the Harlequin- Mira, and this is my fair and honest review.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley and the Harlequin- Mira, and this is my fair and honest review.
April 22, 2020
Lorelei was a mother and wife first above everything. She was happy and felt safe for the first time in her life until Mark her husband announces he cheated on her with her best friend Francine and now she's pregnant. Lorelei's world crumbles but she has a reprieve. She is meeting her two long lost sisters from a DNA test they all took online. They agreed to meet in Tahoe to get to know each other and figure out why they never knew each other.
Reagan is a high powered advertising exec until she screws it all up with a partner in one night of passion. Now she came face anyone. Can she ever go back or is her long struggling career to make partner over?
Serenity is a true crime writer who recently testified against her husband. Now she's just trying to rebuild her life. As the sisters meet and talk, secrets are unraveled and bonds are formed.
I loved these women. They were all built with many flaws that made them vulnerable and endearing to me. The stories told from all these women's point of view just further contributes to the pleasure of this book.
This is a must read for all women's fiction fans everywhere.
Reagan is a high powered advertising exec until she screws it all up with a partner in one night of passion. Now she came face anyone. Can she ever go back or is her long struggling career to make partner over?
Serenity is a true crime writer who recently testified against her husband. Now she's just trying to rebuild her life. As the sisters meet and talk, secrets are unraveled and bonds are formed.
I loved these women. They were all built with many flaws that made them vulnerable and endearing to me. The stories told from all these women's point of view just further contributes to the pleasure of this book.
This is a must read for all women's fiction fans everywhere.
August 1, 2020
A great summer read! Long lost sisters and alot of twists and turns.
March 26, 2020
I have a little that I CAN say I wanted to devour this and I did. There was a few things that I wanted more of and it was the neighbors of course. I loved the three sisters as much as their back story. This is loaded with family drama, adoptions and DNA testing is the magnet that pulled it together
The best part for me was the DNA aspect of the story. Very new within the book writing community. Ms Novak jumps right in and tells a great tale. Being this was an ARC I am sure small story issues will be fixed. Overall the three sister who "found" each other are brought together to try to come up with their story. They get to know each other at pivotal times within each of their lives. No spoilers but a husband who cheats, a sister who has a fling and a sister whose husband is in jail. YES she throws it all into this novel. Very well written and composed characters. The sub plot of the neighbors was really good, in my opinion, just enough to imagine something happening.
This is a great books and even better beach read.
I will write the whole review soon
The best part for me was the DNA aspect of the story. Very new within the book writing community. Ms Novak jumps right in and tells a great tale. Being this was an ARC I am sure small story issues will be fixed. Overall the three sister who "found" each other are brought together to try to come up with their story. They get to know each other at pivotal times within each of their lives. No spoilers but a husband who cheats, a sister who has a fling and a sister whose husband is in jail. YES she throws it all into this novel. Very well written and composed characters. The sub plot of the neighbors was really good, in my opinion, just enough to imagine something happening.
This is a great books and even better beach read.
I will write the whole review soon
May 9, 2020
4.5/5
Three adult sisters find one another after DNA testing matched them. The three had undergone DNA testing for different reasons and were surprised/nervous/delighted to find that they had siblings that they didn't know about. The three glow closer together during the course of a summer spent at Lake Tahoe.
I really loved this one. Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelai all have a lot of mess happening in their own lives and are just trying to hold their heads above water while everything unfolds. They're all at a big crossroads in their individual lives when the book begins. It's so wonderful how each of the three come together and share their lives with each other, even knowing that they could potentially be judged for the baggage they bring into the sister relationship. They're all flawed and vulnerable, but going through their mess together helps them lift one another up. I love the way they're all so protective of one another.
It's true that there is a lot of drama in this story. It seems like bad thing after bad thing after bad thing happens. But the whole point is that the three are helping one another through the messy parts of their lives. I would recommend that you suspend your disbelief that so many crazy things could happen to these three women if it seems like a lot to you, so you can enjoy their relationship growing and changing.
Also, I'd like to say that I never could have predicted what connected them. Never in a million years. I really like that I was surprised when that big reveal happened.
Thanks a ton to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for review! These opinions are my own.
Three adult sisters find one another after DNA testing matched them. The three had undergone DNA testing for different reasons and were surprised/nervous/delighted to find that they had siblings that they didn't know about. The three glow closer together during the course of a summer spent at Lake Tahoe.
I really loved this one. Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelai all have a lot of mess happening in their own lives and are just trying to hold their heads above water while everything unfolds. They're all at a big crossroads in their individual lives when the book begins. It's so wonderful how each of the three come together and share their lives with each other, even knowing that they could potentially be judged for the baggage they bring into the sister relationship. They're all flawed and vulnerable, but going through their mess together helps them lift one another up. I love the way they're all so protective of one another.
It's true that there is a lot of drama in this story. It seems like bad thing after bad thing after bad thing happens. But the whole point is that the three are helping one another through the messy parts of their lives. I would recommend that you suspend your disbelief that so many crazy things could happen to these three women if it seems like a lot to you, so you can enjoy their relationship growing and changing.
Also, I'd like to say that I never could have predicted what connected them. Never in a million years. I really like that I was surprised when that big reveal happened.
Thanks a ton to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for review! These opinions are my own.
July 16, 2020
Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei discover they are half-sisters after taking a DNA test. They decide to spend the summer together in Lake Tahoe. Each has her own "man problems." They all want to know who the father is, but instead of using DNA matches to determine the father, they go through a rather convoluted method. I kept reading in hopes they'd eventually use the DNA itself to solve the problem. The DNA, while a tool to bring the women together, ended up being secondary to the women's involvement in relationships with me. This book relied a little too much promiscuity for me. In the end, I was sorry I didn't abandon it when I almost did 50 pages into the book.
May 18, 2020
Quite a deep interesting story about 3 women joined by their DNA who decided to spend one week together to get to know each other.
Author Brenda Novak was fabulous in this where each women was etched with a careful hand with strengths and weaknesses. They were real. I liked how they slowly went from strangers to family. The bond was gentle between them. Their personal lives and the challenges they faced made them come close to each other. The writing made it all come alive.
Overall, a beautiful story where I was completely immersed in them.
Author Brenda Novak was fabulous in this where each women was etched with a careful hand with strengths and weaknesses. They were real. I liked how they slowly went from strangers to family. The bond was gentle between them. Their personal lives and the challenges they faced made them come close to each other. The writing made it all come alive.
Overall, a beautiful story where I was completely immersed in them.
March 31, 2021
Wow - One Perfect Summer was one perfect read. The book had so much depth - character development and setting were wonderful. I liked the different viewpoints, as it really helped the story flow. I was truly interested in every single aspect of the story. Each sister - Serenity, Reagan, and Lorelei - had so much going on that they could each have their own books...the same with Finn, Nolan, and Davis. One of my favorite things about Brenda's writing is that she really makes the characters come alive. This story felt so real - it felt like I could pick up the newspaper and read about it.
This perfect escape is just what I needed to get through (hopefully) the last chilly days before Spring officially sets in here. Absolutely wonderful from beginning to end, and I'm so glad I read it.
I purchased this book and am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts - my review is not influenced in any way.
This perfect escape is just what I needed to get through (hopefully) the last chilly days before Spring officially sets in here. Absolutely wonderful from beginning to end, and I'm so glad I read it.
I purchased this book and am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts - my review is not influenced in any way.
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