The book is always better than the movie. But occasionally, life is better than the book.

Ten years ago, I made a mortifying, life-altering mistake. Now, this once seemingly insignificant choice is threatening to wreck my entire existence. And possibly throw Tristan Palmer—my next-door-neighbor and the guy I’ve had a secret crush on for the entirety of my life—into the fray, unaware.

The mistake?

I am Sunny Palmer. As in the anonymous, best-selling author of over a dozen beloved romances and the renowned thief of Tristan’s last name. Okay, not renowned yet, thank the high heavens! But that news will spread like wildfire if people discover that this introverted book nerd is the woman behind the pen name. And the fact that my first book, Secret Crush, is Tristan’s and my fictionalized love story leaves zero room for calling it anything but what it is—a travesty of the greatest proportions.

That’s why NO ONE can know! Ever!

So it’s wretched luck that when I finally visit Sunset Harbor, the small-town island where I grew up, I run into the still heart-stopping, book-boyfriend-worthy man himself. And shockingly, Tristan seems intent on reminding me what the island has to offer. Because that’s what friends do.

Logic demands I resist his charm and guard my secret at all costs, which is why it’s vastly unfortunate that Tristan Palmer was and always will be … my greatest weakness.

This was my first time reading this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this charming childhood crush, friends-to-more romcom set on a fictional island. It delivered all the summer vibes, swoony moments, and heartwarming romance I could ask for. Like the other books in this series, it’s completely clean, with no language and no spice.

I absolutely loved the premise. Local island girl Capri Collins, better known by her pen name Sunny Palmer, has become a bestselling author overnight. The catch? Her wildly successful debut novel is based on a fictionalized version of her longtime crush on Tristan Palmer. To make matters even more awkward, she borrowed his last name as part of her author persona. Now that she’s found literary success, the last thing she wants is for anyone to discover the truth behind her book. Naturally, plenty of hilarious situations follow as Capri desperately tries to keep her secret hidden, especially from Tristan, knowing the revelation could spark a media frenzy. Things become even more complicated when she finds herself unexpectedly stranded on the island after her keys mysteriously disappear

This was such an adorable and charming story from beginning to end. Watching Capri scramble to protect her secret created so many funny and entertaining moments. I also loved the unrequited-love element and the years of history between the characters. Capri and Tristan had fantastic chemistry, and I found myself rooting for them the entire time.

The banter was sweet and playful, the flirting was adorable, and the romantic tension was just right. As a book lover, I especially appreciated the bookish elements woven throughout the story. One of my favorite aspects was Tristan’s idea to make a pact with Capri to revisit meaningful places around the island, allowing them to relive old memories while creating new ones together. Their outings and adventures were incredibly sweet and gave their relationship plenty of room to grow naturally.

My only minor complaint is that I would have loved to get Tristan’s perspective. While Capri’s single point of view worked well, I think having Tristan’s POV would have added even more emotional depth, tension, and insight into his feelings. Still, I enjoyed getting to know both characters, and they were easy to like and invest in.

Overall, this was a delightful, feel-good summer romance filled with humor, heart, nostalgia, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. If you enjoy friends-to-more romances, childhood crushes, charming island settings, and clean romance, this is definitely one I would recommend.

Though this is part of the Falling for Summer series, each book can be read as a standalone. It’s even better, though, if you’ve read the previous books in the series, as all the books are interconnected and share a similar timeline.