Book Review for The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

 

The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay

Published:   May 26, 2026 by Berkley

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

 

About the Book

When two misfits discover they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways, in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling author of Summer Reading.

Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five years touring the country in her vintage van, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where she’s the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his gramps.

     As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on the crumbling cottage, they discover it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might be a good omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling the property at the end of the summer.

     For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.

 

My Thoughts:  Oh this book… it tugged at my heart so much.  I love Simon and Hannah but I love even more Gramps and Pops.   I lived to turn the page and learn more about these two men who each owned half of the cottage in Cape Split.  They lived good lives, they saw so much, and they loved so completely. 

Back to Simon and Hannah.   This is their story.   The chance to find a place of peace and happiness.  The catch, they have to make the decision to keep it or sell it.   I had an idea of where the book would end but it was so fun to see them get there, together.  I liked seeing them work together to find out who their grandpas were.  Those answers seemed to help them figure out who Hannah and Simon were also.   There were lessons learned, advice given, and love shared with each memory they found of Gramps and Pops.  

The Summer Share is a wonderful, sweet story full of love, respect, and lessons.  

Thank you Berkley for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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About the Author :  Jenn McKinlay is the award-winning New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.