By my count, I’ve read over thirty-five of Jenn McKinlay’s book. She writes cozy mysteries, novels, magical books, and romances. Her contemporary romances, including the current beach read, The Summer Share, are some of the funniest romances I’ve read. Wait until you read about the Great Dane, Dude.
Hannah Spencer and her dog, Dude, arrive in Cape Split, North Carolina in her van. They’ve lived in it for five years, traveling the country to national parks, and sharing her experiences on a successful social media site. Now, she’s inherited a rundown cottage from her Pops, her grandfather, and she’s ready to renovate it and move in.
Simon O’Malley has too many responsibilities for his late thirties. His Gramps left him a cottage, hoping Simon might find some relief. Simon takes it that he can renovate the house a little, and sell it to finance his responsibilities.
Hannah didn’t mean for Dude to charge the man sitting on her pier, and knock him into the water. She jumped in to save him. But, after they discover that they’ve each been left the cottage by their grandfather, and didn’t know each other, she wished she hadn’t saved Simon, no matter how good-looking he is. Eventually, they discover their mistake, but they’re shocked with the news from the lawyer. Hannah and Simon have been left half the cottage each, and they have to spend two months living in it before they can make a decision. Hannah wants a home in Cape Split. Simon wants to sell.
Proximity breeds friendship, and then more. But, Simon and Hannah both have secrets, and they’ll have to make it past their troubling past lives if they’re going to have anything more than a friendship.
The Summer Share is a humorous romance with a number of funny scenes, some of them courtesy of Dude. Simon and Hannah tell the story in alternating chapters, and it works well. That format adds to the likability and understanding of the characters. McKinlay’s summer romances might not be as well-known as Emily Henry, but they should be. I love her scenarios and her characters, and I’m eager to “share” McKinlay’s new book.
Jenn McKinlay’s website is https://jennmckinlay.com/
The Summer Share by Jenn McKinlay. Berkley, 2026. 368p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I read a galley furnished by the publisher through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
