The Summer Share, Jenn McKinlay (Review by Josie Evans)

If you’re looking for the perfect spring or summer escape, The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay is a fantastic choice. The story follows Hannah Spencer and her personality-filled Great Dane, Duke, as they arrive at an old family home in North Carolina. It’s a place Hannah visited often with her grandparents as a child, and being back there makes the recent loss of her grandfather feel even more heavy. After five years of life on the road, Hannah is finally ready to settle down—even if her new home is in desperate need of a renovation. The plot really kicks off when Hannah heads down to the backyard dock and runs right into a handsome stranger named Simon O’Mally. It turns out Simon has been through the wringer himself, giving everything he has to support his brother. Following his own grandfather’s passing, he discovers he’s inherited a run-down house he never knew existed. The catch? It’s the same house Hannah is standing in. As they try to figure out why their grandfathers shared ownership of the property, they begin to unwrap a decades-old mystery that reveals a truly timeless love story. It’s beautiful to watch Hannah and Simon bond over their shared experiences of loss while discovering the secret history their grandfathers left behind. McKinlay does a wonderful job blending an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers romance with plenty of heart and a dash of mystery. Duke, the Great Dane, is an absolute riot and provides some great comic relief, while Hannah herself is quirky, relatable, and layered. This isn’t just a “light” beach read; the emotional threads of grief and rediscovery give the story a lot of substance. The Bottom Line: This is a warm, uplifting read that’s perfect for long summer days or a cozy evening in. If you love small-town romances with heartfelt character growth, you’ll definitely want to add this to your list!