The Summer Hideaway: An uplifting feel good summer romance

Jenny Hale

Jun 2018 · Bookouture

About this ebook

‘I have literally fallen in love with this book... couldn't turn the pages quick enough… truly heart-warming.’ Goodreads Reviewer

An absolutely beautiful summer romance that will make you laugh, cry and stay up long past your bedtime.

Alice Emerson and best friend Sasha Miller have made a pact. They’ve decided to swap city living for the beautiful white beaches of the Outer Banks and pour everything they have into launching an ice cream shop in the little house by the sea where Alice spent blissful childhood holidays with her grandfather. As Alice and Sasha add color to the walls of the beach house and tempt the locals with their delicious recipes, their fresh new life begins to take shape.

Swept away by her plans, love is the last thing on Alice’s mind. But she keeps running into mysterious doctor Jack Murphy, and finds herself falling for his golden charm and warm smile. As they laugh through sunshine-filled days and long romantic evenings, Alice tries hard not to think he could be the one for her – Jack is only here for the season, and Alice has had her fair share of heartbreak.

Just when Alice’s summer couldn’t be more perfect, she discovers an old letter tucked away in the beach house. It contains a family secret that turns Alice’s world upside down and threatens the future of the ice cream shop. And then Jack reveals a secret of his own...

Will Alice have her dreams shattered and her heart broken, or can she find true happiness this summer?

From the bestselling author of The Summer House, an utterly stunning, uplifting summer romance, about the power of friendship, discovering family secrets, and the beauty of falling in love by the sea.

Why readers are falling in love with The Summer Hideaway:

‘I adore Jenny Hale's books they make the perfect summer and it would not be summer without a Jenny Hale book to read... A family secret which I did not see coming makes for a very interesting plot… Jenny Hale has a brilliant writing style that really draws a reader in, she kept me completely engaged right until the end… This is a perfect summer romance full of the deliciousness of summer.’ Chells and Books, 5 stars

‘An uplifting, feel good summer romance… I became seriously addicted to reading this book and the time passed in a blur… The author’s writing style is such that she captures the reader from the first word on the first page and before you know what is happening, you are hooked… left me with a smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart… Jenny Hale has another winner on her hands… a well-deserved 5* out of 5*.’ Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars

‘A gorgeous, fabulously romantic book by Jenny Hale. The girl does it again. Never fails to leave me smiling from ear to ear and desperately wanting a summer in the sun for myself… has to be devoured in one sitting.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘Vivid and intriguing. I couldn’t wait to learn the secrets within the story and it was a real page turner… This is the perfect holiday / feel good read and is definitely worth a 5 star rating.’ Orchard Book Club, 5 stars

‘A feel good read… it put a huge smile on my face and made me feel all sorts of happiness… a wonderful summer tale… and a gorgeous setting.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘I raced through the book in an afternoon… The author has a beautiful way with language… and has created a wonderful world in this story… perfect.’ A Little Book Problem 

*This book was previously published as One Summer.

Ratings and reviews

Alice Emerson is devastated after losing her beloved grandfather. At the same time, her relationship comes to a crashing halt. She is due for a change, and so is her lifelong friend Sasha. The two of them decide to leave the city and head to the beaches of the Outer-Banks, hoping for a fresh new start. Not only does Alice need this change, she hopes it will be good for her son Henry. Due to her broken relationship, she is shocked to find herself drawn to Jack Murphy, who is visiting in town with his father. With the little time he has available, they manage to find themselves quite comfortable in each other's company. Meanwhile, since Alice inherited her grandfather's bike shop, her move gives her the opportunity to create a business for herself. With Sasha's help, she sets out to open an ice cream shop there. Happy as a clam at first, things change when she runs across a letter that ultimately turns her life upside down. Then, the dynamic changes between Alice and Jack. I love Alice. She is a kind, thoughtful friend, and a wonderful and sensitive mom to Henry. The rest of the characters, Sasha, Jack, Butch and Melly are equally wonderful. One Summer is a sensitive, heartwarming read; a true, feel-good story that had just enough depth to keep me turning the pages. Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Alice and her young son Henry have had a bad few months: her long term boyfriend was cheating on her, leaving both she and Henry more than a bit heartbroken. And, for the first time in months, she’s decided she needs to return to her Grandfather’s bicycle shop on the outer banks, most probably to prepare the shop for sale as she’s got a life in Richmond, and she’s never been quite confident enough to start her own business. But, her best friend Sasha is also in a low point, her divorce was particularly acrimonious and she’s not found work since. A crazy idea for an ice-cream shop, where Henry could spend days in the waves, free to run about and enjoy the space as much has she had as a child. Soon, she and Sasha are packing up and moving in….slowly working on the building and their living space, making changes and choices to get the shop settled. Across the street is a young woman, Mellie, an amateur photographer who works as a nurse at the hospital, and soon the three women are fast friends – the connection feeling almost destined. When Alice meets Jack – a pediatric neurosurgeon working at the same hospital and searching out land to build his father his ‘retirement’ home in the area he loves, their connection is also instant, and it seems that everyone Alice encounters knew, or knew of, her Grandfather. Secrets, a found locket with a photo of a young girl whose name is not known to Alice, her own worries about making a new life, and her tendency to find the ‘worst case’ scenarios of every situation have her constantly overthinking, worrying and second guessing even waking in the morning. Slowly but surely the magic of the ocean, the place where her Grandfather always told her to bring her troubles, help her to focus, if momentarily on her questions. With the threat of the pier closing, and it’s resulting closure meaning a dearth of tourist traffic to her end of the island, she’s got to brainstorm – and while preparing her shop for opening and finding a focus on ‘local’ ingredients and people, she’s pushing off what she believes is the inevitable end of a relationship with Jack – as his life and work are truly in Chicago. But, life and circumstances often have their own timetable, with secrets to reveal that could make or break her – if she doesn’t find the connection between her heart, her wishes and the glimmer of hope that is so determined to be grasped with both hands. Secrets, choices, family and revelations all come to life in this story as Alice finds a way to ‘live in the day’ and stop declaring herself the ‘pragmatic one’ without ideas or talents. She and her memories of time spent with her Grandfather are the lynchpin on which the story circles: her ideas, her wishes and dreams are solely hers, something she never believed until Sasha, and later Mellie and Jack, expressed their delight in what she had accomplished, and in who she is. Lots of growth, plenty of laughter, and a series of characters that you’d hope to find in your new neighborhood, the story is the perfect “beach read’… and with the setting, you are already there!! I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for a honest review This is my first Jenny Hale book and its a good beach read. This story is about friendship and making a new start. Alice has inherited a building from grandfather and she decides to pack up and move to open up an ice cream shop, her best friends decides to join her. This story is cute and quite sweet, I wish we got Jack's pov it would have made the story stronger for me but overall I enjoyed how the story played out.