Summer Love

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the ‘librarian romance’ premise at first—how many times can we rehash the quiet-bookish-type-falls-for-bad-boy trope? But *Summer Love* flips the script by making Simone’s profession *matter*. Her love of stories isn’t just a quirky trait; it’s how she processes grief, how she justifies her choices, and how she finally faces the truth about Sam, the man who left her with more questions than answers. Workman’s writing shines in the details: the way Simone alphabetizes her spices to feel in control, or how the Bandon fog becomes a metaphor for her emotional paralysis. It’s specific, lived-in stuff that elevates this above Hallmark territory. Now, the narration: Stacy Hinkle *gets* Simone. Her delivery is measured but never flat, with a slight rasp that sells the character’s exhaustion—like she’s holding her breath through half the book. That said, the pacing stumbles in the middle during a flashback-heavy stretch where the timeline gets muddy. A few more distinct vocal cues for the past vs. present scenes would’ve helped. And while the ending lands with emotional satisfaction, the abrupt wrap-up of one key conflict felt rushed, like Workman ran out of pages. Still, for a sub-three-hour listen, it’s a masterclass in how to make quiet heartache feel epic. If you’ve ever nursed a summer fling that refused to stay in the past, this one’s your audiobook soulmate—just don’t blame me if you start side-eyeing your own life choices by Chapter 3.