Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all of his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers–and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers at all.

This was such a delightful and engaging summer romance. You can never go wrong with a Denise Hunter novel. I love the way she combines heartfelt emotion, relatable characters, and sweet romance into stories that keep me turning the pages. This one also included a compelling mystery element that had me completely invested from beginning to end. As always with Denise Hunter’s books, readers can expect no language and no spice, making this a wholesome and clean romance.

Maggie and her daughter, Zoey, have been trying to rebuild their lives after the devastating loss of Maggie’s husband and Zoey’s father five years ago. While visiting an amusement park one day, Maggie catches sight of a man she could swear is her late husband. Confused and determined to uncover the truth, she teams up with her brother-in-law, Josh, to investigate. What follows is a mystery that kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another question would arise. I loved trying to piece everything together alongside the characters.

The heart of this story, however, is the relationship between Maggie and Josh. After Ethan’s death, Josh became a constant source of support for both Maggie and Zoey, and over the years, the three of them developed a close bond. Their friendship felt genuine and believable, which made the romance even more satisfying. It was clear from the beginning that Josh’s feelings for Maggie ran deeper than friendship, but I loved watching Maggie slowly come to terms with her own growing feelings for him.

Their friends-to-more romance was incredibly sweet and tender. Josh was such an easy character to love. He was patient, kind, and endlessly supportive without ever pressuring Maggie to move faster than she was ready for. Considering everything she had been through, I appreciated how respectful he was of her grief and emotional journey. The chemistry between them felt natural, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. Watching their relationship evolve was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I also loved the strong family dynamics woven throughout the story. The relationship between Maggie and Zoey was heartwarming, and I enjoyed seeing the ways Josh continued to show up for both of them. Denise Hunter always does a wonderful job creating characters who feel like real people, and this book was no exception.

The cozy North Carolina small-town setting added another layer of charm to the story. Combined with the warm summer atmosphere, it made for the perfect seasonal read. I could easily imagine reading this one on the beach, by the pool, or curled up on the porch with a cold drink in hand.

If you enjoy friends-to-more romances, single-parent stories, small-town settings, light mystery elements, lovable characters, and emotional themes surrounding grief, healing, and second chances, then I think you’ll really enjoy this sweet and heartwarming romance.

Denise Hunter remains one of my go-to authors for wholesome contemporary romance, and this book is another reminder of why I continue to pick up everything she writes. Definitely recommend!