The Summer Deal (Wildstone, #5)

by Jill Shalvis

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a friends-to-frenemies-to-sisters story… And then add in a love story (okay, two love stories). Shake. Stir. Read on a lazy summer day at the beach.

Brynn Turner desperately wishes she had it together, but her personal life is like a ping-pong match that's left her scared and hurt after so many attempts to get it right. In search of a place to lick her wounds and get a fresh start, she heads back home to Wildstone.

And then there's Kinsey Davis, who after battling serious health issues her entire twenty-nine years of life, is tired of hoping for . . . well, anything. She's fierce, tough, and pretty much the opposite of Brynn except for one thing: they're half-sisters. Kinsey is keeping this bombshell, and a few others as well. Long time frenemies from summer camp, there's no way she's going to tell Brynn they're related.

But then Brynn runs into Kinsey's lifelong best friend, Eli, renewing a childhood crush. He's still easy-going and funny and sexy as hell. When he gets her to agree to a summer-time deal to trust him to do right by her, no matter what, she never dreams it'll result in finding a piece of herself she didn't even know was missing. She could have a sister, love, and a future-if she can only learn to let go of the past.

As the long days of summer wind down, the three of them must discover if forgiveness is enough to grasp the unconditional love that's right in front of them.

• ISBN10: 0063007118
• ISBN13: 9780063007116
• Publish Date: 2 June 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 14 May 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I am glad I had the opportunity to read this latest offering from Shalvis. The Summer Deal, the fifth book in the Wildstone series, turned out to be both my favourite read of the series and 2020. Shalvis created an awesome and heart-warming story, which featured a cast of lovable but sometimes irritating characters. Collectively they had suffered pain, loss and heartbreak and my heart broke for them all. Throughout the story, I kept hoping they would get the happiness they deserved.

The author treated the reader to not one but two sweet and swoon worthy romances. The romance which existed between Deck and Kinsey and the one developing between Eli and Brynne.

I had a marvellous time watching how the relationships developed between the characters. My favourite of them all was the relationships which existed between Brynne and Kinsey and Deck and Kinsey. Brynne and Kinsey had a complicated relationship. Discovering that the person you grew up disliking and bullying at camp is your half-sister would have been quite a shocker. Her fear of revealing this knowledge to Brynne had the potential to destroy their budding friendship.

Deck and Kinsey loved each other, but her medical issues had her running scared, which led her to keep pushing him away. Deck’s patient and understanding nature would be the catalyst to save their relationship.
The Summer Deal is a story about love, family, friendships and building relationships. The issues raised although heavy were lightened by the humour Shalvis sprinkled throughout the story. This allowed for a few laugh out loud moments. I especially loved the scenes featuring the kindergarteners. Kids really do say the darndest things.

Conclusion/Recommendation
The Summer Deal was a fantastic read and one I would highly recommendThis review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[pagesbycyndy]

This review was originally posted on Cindy’s Book Stacks

[kimbacaffeinate]

Brynn Turner grew up with her adoptive Moms in Wildstone before leaving. Kinsey Davis never left. The two have a history and were both awkward girls at summer camp. But Brynn has moved back and is feeling pretty beat up after her world fell apart.

Eli is best friends with Kinsey and has supported her through some gruelling times. He knows all of her secrets, including the fact that the girl he crushed on at summer camp is Kinsey’s sister.

The story that unfolds was wonderful and heartfelt. All three have baggage. Eli is the fixer but never feels worthy, Kinsey has a hard, snarky exterior meant to keep people away and Brynn wants friendship and love but has met only disappointment leaving her battered and bruised emotionally.

I fell hard for these characters, even Kinsey because Shalvis did such an impressive job of allowing us to understand her harsh attitude. I wanted to hug Eli, and hold Brynn’s hand so she could be brave.

The author did a fantastic job with the issues tackled in this home, from serious illness to growing up in a non-nuclear family. It had heart and felt genuine.

The story shares not only the sibling story, but two romances. Deck, the man in Kinsey’s life was swoon-worthy, patient, and the most grounded character I’ve ever come across. Prepare to fall hard ladies! Eli is grounded despite his share of disappointments. He is a tender giving soul. I easily fell for his charm and wanted him to get the girl.

I loved the housing situations and hope we get Eli’s brother’s story. Brynn’s moms were a hoot, and I enjoyed page time with them. You’ll want to back your bags and move to Wildstone. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Sam@WLABB]

They shared a history as frenemies, and it seemed, they shared some DNA. Now, they will also share a home, and maybe, learn to open their hearts to the possibility of love.

I feel like I keep saying this with each successive Wildstone book I read, but they just keep getting better and better. I simply loved EVERYTHING about this book.

They shared some history

Brynn, Kinsey, and Eli all spent their summers together at camp, when they were growing up. Eli was Brynn's first kiss, but he was also, Kinsey's best friend. And, Kinsey had a history of making things difficult for Brynn. I really enjoyed learning about these three as children. Via their stories and camp journal entries, I gained a lot of insight into why they were the way they were, and helped me fully understand some of the choices they made.

Fate brought them back together

This was such a perfect set up. Brynn and Eli cross paths in the hospital, reuniting after quite a few years. It was apparent, that there was a still a bit of spark between them, and it took me about 0.3 seconds to get on board that ship. But, Eli had other motives, when he told Brynn about his room for rent. He was looking for Brynn and Kinsey to get to know one another, and what better way than forced proximity.

Their life in the house

Eli was a collector of people. His own parents, more or less, abandoned him, and so, he found his own family. That family consisted of his half brother, Max, Kinsey, Deck, and now, Brynn. I am complete and utter trash for found family, and wow! What a fantastic group Shalvis assembled. Their interactions, their banter, their emotional responses to one another were all fabulous, and I could have spent forever in that house with them.

They guarded their hearts

I already mentioned that Eli's family was less than stellar, and Kinsey's wasn't any better. Their friendship was built on being each other's "person", and they had stood by one another through thick and thin. Eli feared letting someone in, and then being abandoned...again. While, Kinsey wouldn't allow anyone to love her, because of her health issues. And then, there was Brynn, who just didn't trust her judgement any longer after being burned.

I will admit. It was tough hearing all the details as to why these three had built fortresses around their hearts. I ached for them, but I will admit, I cried for Kinsey. Her storyline probably hit me the hardest, and it was most likely why I rooted for her the most. I needed her to let her guard down, and let people love her.

Both Deck and Eli were kings among men. They were wonderful and compassionate, and they went to great lengths to show their love. I adored them both so much, and was truly grateful that Shalvis gifted us with such great love interests in the book.

Overall

The Summer Deal was simply fantastic! I had been struggling a bit with my reading during quarantine, but this book, I devoured it. I smiled, and giggled, and grinned my way through it as I also wept, laughed, and swooned. This was another exceptional book from Shalvis, which made my heart overflow with joy.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[stacey_is_sassy]

Loving someone, faults and all…

While going for my morning walk with hubby (in a social-distancing appropriate way), I was thinking about my review of The Summer Deal. I was contemplating about how this story made me feel, and how some families are born, and some are made. While reading a lot of Jill Shalvis’ stories, I find myself appreciative of what I have when compared to the lives of the characters. I am so glad that I didn’t have to make my own version of a family because I’m pretty stoked with the one I have.

Famous last words…I mean thoughts…

Geez, my family can drive me insane with all their caring, thoughtful attentiveness and stuff. I swear my mother thinks I’m an idiot sometimes. She likes to forward me articles with helpful tips on finance, health, education, food, fashion, living with boys and a million other random subjects. It's like she's forgotten that she's already taught me how to be a good, law-abiding citizen with a brain in my head.

I should probably take all of that back but it sort of has a bit to do with The Summer Deal. See, a lot of this story is about dealing with your family whether it be the one you’re born into or the one you have made for yourself. By the end, it was very clear to me that it doesn’t matter if it’s born or made, they’ll always drive you insane but they do it because they care.

I really liked Brynn, Eli and Kinsey and found them to be extremely annoying. I think it is realistic to like characters but also find them frustrating too because nobody is perfect. In this case, Brynn is returning home from a failed relationship and she’s suffering from “I’m such an idiot” syndrome. Eli, well the poor bugger has, “my life goal is to take care of everyone else…” syndrome. And, finally, Kinsey has, “I’ll scratch your eyes out if you dare look at me with pity” syndrome. In other words, these three are MESSED UP!!

Now, you might be asking how we have three main characters but we’re not talking ménage. Well, Brynn and Eli are our love interests and Kinsey is connected to them both. I can honestly say, that Jill Shalvis does a fantastic job of convincing me that there are no romantic feelings between Eli and Kinsey, even though they have been connected since they were kids. Her way of convincing me is Deck. Wow!! I LOVED Deck! I may even be a little sad that this wasn’t Deck’s story. Not saying I didn’t enjoy Brynn and Eli's love story… but DECK.

[Linda]

*I received a free copy of The Summer Deal. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*

Shalvis has managed to create a cast of characters that felt so real to me! Sometimes, I wanted to slap them, and other times, I just wanted to hug them and tell them that everything would somehow be OK.
The intricate relationships, and the very different personalities of the characters were the two things that moved the story forward. And I am a big fan of character driven stories. Shalvis had two girls who hated each other at summer camp meet again as adults. Life had not been easy on either of them, but they both thought that other people's lives were better than their own. (And isn't that just something we do?)
Enter a very nice, sexy and handsome Eli, who was linked to both women in the past, and who wanted something more in the present.
A lovely, beautifully written romance that will make your heart soar!