Book Review: Seven Summer Weekends | Jane L. Rosen

I’ve always loved Jane Rosen’s books, so I never turn down the chance to read one of her latest. Seven Summer Weekends is a perfect example of what makes Rosen’s books so special. A charming premise, a charming setting, and charming characters make this a book that simply speaks to the soul.

What is Seven Summer Weekends about?

A woman inherits a beach house, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door, in this sparkling new escape from Jane L. Rosen.

When a Zoom disaster upends Addison Irwin’s decade-long career at a posh Manhattan advertising agency, things look bleak for the thirty-something mid-western transplant. But an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she barely remembers—a property on Fire Island, complete with guest house and artist’s studio—changes everything.

While debating whether to stay or sell, Addison learns that she’s also inherited her aunt’s list of eclectic guests, tying her to the island for seven summer weekends. Eager to convince Addison to keep the house rather than let a new buyer build a monstrosity in its place, the neighbors welcome her to their laid-back community. Well, all except the moody guy next door, who seems intent on glowering his way through life.

Steadfast in her path since college, Addison is determined not to let this detour on Fire Island throw her off track. But soon, between the revolving door of weekend visitors and the up-and-down relationship with her neighbor (and his adorable dog), she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Should she try to pick up where she left off—or embrace entirely new possibilities?

What did I think?

After I read this, I realized that it’s semi-related to Rosen’s last book, On Fire Island. I hadn’t read that book (though now I plan to!) but it didn’t make me feel out of the loop here. In fact, I didn’t know there was a related book until later and I didn’t notice. I’m sure reading both would help me love the characters even more than I already did!

This is not the first book I’ve read where someone inherits a beach house at a time in life where they’re searching for something, and I’ll read this premise as many times as I can. If nothing else, it gives me hope that I may have a beach house I’m set to inherit some day! If it’s anything like this, I may not even know about it or remember it exists.

I also enjoyed the play on the trope of a city girl with a posh job having a career meltdown and moving away from the city. In this case, Addison gets fired after a comment about her boss goes viral. She’s forced out of the advertising firm in New York where she’s worked for years, and doesn’t know what to do next. She’s given so much of herself to this job that it’s become part of her identity.

The sad loss of her aunt means that Addison inherits a beach house she barely remembers at just the right time. Addison hadn’t seen her aunt or her Fire Island beach house since she was a child, but she does remember her aunt (more to learn on why they haven’t seen each other!). Arriving on Fire Island brings back memories, but it may not be the solitude Addison craves. The guest house on the property has been rented out for seven weekends and the income pays for expenses on the house for the whole year.

The weekend visitors are a charming and sweet way to bring Addison back to her roots. The guests knew and loved her aunt, and they bring stories about her that make up for some of the years Addison missed out on. Meanwhile a young widower next door named Ben is still processing his loss. A bestselling writer, Ben lost his wife years ago and is finally opening up (including some flirting on the Fire Island ferry!).

The set up for a great love story, right? Things may not be so simple though. Addison and Ben continue to run into one another around town, but Ben is still struggling in the romance department. Is he really ready for another relationship? I wondered while reading this if anyone is ever truly ready after losing a loved one, or if we just move on one day at a time until eventually it’s less fresh.

The setting is lovely and felt like a vacation through a book. Addison and Ben are complex characters with things they are working through. Addison is harboring some resentment at her parents for keeping her from spending time with her aunt. Meanwhile Ben isn’t sure he’s ready to move on—do we ever get over grief, or does the cycle just begin again?

A heartfelt and lovely story about a summer of healing, growth, and change (and maybe love!).

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.