THE SUMMER SHARE
Jenn McKinlay
• 26 May 2026
• Standalone
When two misfits discover
they’ve inherited the same beach house, sparks fly in the most unexpected ways,
in this hilarious and heartfelt rom-com from the New York Times bestselling
author of Summer Reading.
Free-spirited travel influencer Hannah Spencer has spent five
years touring the country in her vintage van. An unexpected inheritance from
her Pops brings Hannah to Cape Split, North Carolina, where she learns she’s
the new owner of a worse-for-wear seaside beach house. Or, rather, fifty
percent of one. Turns out Simon O’Malley inherited the other half from his Gramps.
As Simon and Hannah spend the summer tag-teaming repairs on
the crumbling cottage, they discover the house was once home to a timeless love
story. Soon, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past may be a good
omen for their future together. But there’s one problem—Simon is set on selling
the property at the end of the summer.
Hannah thought one summer at the Split would be enough,
except it isn’t like any place she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man
she’s ever known—and she’s thinking about putting down some roots. She just
needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community the
same way or their first summer share might also be their last.
Hannah + Simon
They've both inherited half of a summer sea-side house from their respective grandfathers.
They don't know each other and didn't know that their grandpas shared this beloved house.
And now they have to live in it for two months and then decide what to do with it.
Easy. Hannah wants to keep it and live there with her huge dog.
And Simon? He needs to sell it to make sure he has enough money to take care of his brother.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN ....
So adorable!
This book brings us so many cute tropes and #hashtags in one great love story. Forced Proximity. Enemies to Lovers. Grumpy Sunshine. HGTV. Summer. Grandpa Mysteries. Family Secrets. Starting Over. Amazing Dog. Great Neighbors. Cute Small Town. And so much more!
I loved reading this. It was so funny and sweet and a bit mysterious and sad and heartbreaking.
But just so beautiful and sweet and you can't help but fall in love with the place and the whole cast and all those amazingly hilarious and heartwarming scenes with Dude the dog.
I loved it!
And I would so love to see this on TV one day!
Plus - I wouldn't mind reading the story of Simon's sister next!
THE SUMMER SHARE was such a sweet love story! Adorable, funny, sparky, sweet, mysterious, HGTV-ish and a bit sad and heartbreaking .... I adored the dog! And I loved reading this! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Simon and Dude - these two are MINE!!
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
It's been a while since I have read a Jenn McKinlay book, so it was nice to get back into her worlds.
I liked the premise of the book, I loved the OBX setting.
I'm a sucker for an enemies to lovers book too, so Hannah and Simon hit all those notes for me.
I really liked the first half of the book, however to me, the second half fell away, ut this is just a me thing. I am not sure what it was though. It wasn't bad, I think maybe a lot of things got dragged out a bit longer than they needed to be?
It makes it sound like I didn't like the book, but I did.
I enjoyed the small town vibe of their house, their street. I love Simon's family - bar one - and the friends that Hannah and Simon make along the way.
Oh, and Dude. I freaking love everything about that pupper.
I would really like to get more about Simon's brother and sister in the future
↓ LiNKS TO THE BOOK AND AUTHOR ↓
Cupcake Bakery Mystery #15
Cupcake Bakery Mystery #16
Summer Romance
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewer's Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband's guitars.
