Book Review: The Summer Between Us by Jennifer Probst

I loved the sound of The Summer Between Us and was thrilled to see it was offered as a Prime First Read, so I grabbed it as soon as I could. I loved the emotion and depth and all the feelings it evoked in me. I highly recommend it!

The Summer Between Us (Love in Hawaii #1) by Jennifer Probst

A broken surf champion. A driven single father. And one summer that forces them to choose between the lives they planned and the love they never saw coming in this romance by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

Once a rising surf champion, Rowan Delaney now works at a Waikiki surf shack, her ocean view a constant reminder of the injury that ended her career. Then she meets Kelsey, a lonely young girl on vacation who has her eyes on the whitecaps and a hunger to ride them. Teaching her is the first thing that’s felt right in months. The only problem? Kelsey’s controlling, workaholic single father—who’s far too attractive for Rowan’s peace of mind.

Hawaii is strictly business to Everett Hale. Open a luxury hotel, secure his promotion, and return to New York with the moody daughter he’s struggling to reach. The last thing he needs is a stubborn free spirit like Rowan teaching Kelsey to chase waves instead of opportunities. But she’s showing his daughter how to be fearless—and making him fall for the one woman he can’t take home.

Like the perfect wave, one summer could change everything…and neither of them is ready for the fallout.

5 out of 5 stars

The Summer Between Us was a beautiful story about love, healing, growth, and found family, and I adored every second. This was so much more than just Rowan and Everett. Yes, it was about them together, but also about them separately, his daughter, finding happiness, and learning to move forward in life and be happy. I loved the details and build. This story melted my heart!

Talk about opposites attract! Everett was so buttoned-up and by-the-book, always trying to do the right thing, while Rowan was more laid-back and trying to find some peace after life-altering events. I loved them meeting and the verbal sparring between them. The tension was palpable, but I liked how they softened bit by bit as they got to know each other. I liked the building attraction growing between them and them connecting. I felt for Rowan and how she was grieving certain losses, but loved her strength as she moved forward and opened her heart. I liked watching Everett step outside of his shell and grow.

In the mix was Everett’s sweet daughter Kelsey and all of Rowan’s found family. I loved the story with Kelsey. I felt for her and her growing pains, but I loved her blossoming and coming into her own and how her relationship with her father grew. I loved the sense of community and how everyone rallied together and how Rowan reconnected with people, repairing past relationships. There was a lot of surfing terminology used, and I definitely got an education. It was easy enough to follow, but there was a lot of it.

I love a story that makes me feel, and this one definitely did. It was filled with pockets of emotion that had me choking up. There were also a lot of entertaining and humorous moments mixed in, as well as low-key spice, and I thought it all balanced well. This was a wonderful, heartfelt story filled with hope and love. A truly great, heartfelt read!