THE SUMMER SHARE by Jenn McKinlay
Publication Date: May 26, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Romance
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, alone save for her hulking Great Dane, Dude. Until an unexpected inheritance from her pops has Hannah thinking about putting down roots in Cape Split, North Carolina, where 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 it was once home to a timeless love story. As their own relationship shifts from enemies to friends to lovers, they begin to wonder if the house’s romantic past might 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.
For Hannah, the Split isn’t like anyplace she’s ever been, and Simon isn’t like any man she’s ever known—she doesn’t want to let this new life go. She just needs Simon to see their budding relationship and this newfound community in the same way, or their first summer share might also be their last.
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This book is the perfect summer read. A light romance with a little drama thrown in, past family issues that of course resolve, and a dog with personality. Granted, the story started out a bit slow for me, but I am glad I stuck to it. I liked Hannah and truly understood her desire to remain in the cottage. I know Simon started off a bit cold, but knowing his side of things helped in liking him as well. Especially as the story progressed.
Their romance was definitely a slow-burn and developed in a realistic manner. Even though I was wanting it to go faster, it was as it should be. I think my favorite part of this book was their delving into the true history of their respective grandfathers. Finding out things they never knew with the help of friends and neighbors. That in turn changed Hannah and Simon. I enjoyed watching that journey. The book made me smile and also yearn to move to Cape Split myself.
*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.
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The hum of desire between us was making my entire body throb and not even remotely concerned that we were in a very dusty attic.
Kindle | Paperback
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Former librarian Jenn McKinlay is the New York Timesand USA Today bestselling author of the Bluff Point Romances, including Every Dog Has His Day, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, and About a Dog, as well as the Library Lover’s Mysteries, the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries, and the Hat Shop Mysteries. Jenn lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
Visit her website at: www.jennmckinlay.com
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Facebook: JennMcKinlayAuthor
Instagram: @mckinlayjenn
Reading in Pajamas 