An Irish Summer

 

An Irish Summer
By Alexandra Page
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: July 1, 2025
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0063316560
 

Publisher’s Blurb:

A new romantic comedy in which a young woman embarks on a summer adventure—and summer fling—in Ireland, perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Beth O’Leary. 

Boston has everything Chelsea needs: her best friend, her family, a great job. She’s worked and lived at the same bed and breakfast since graduating college, and she relishes the sense of stability. That is, until she’s informed that O’Shea’s Bed and Breakfast is being sold and she has less than a month to find a new job and apartment. Desperate, she takes a summer gig at the B&B’s sister hostel in Galway, Ireland. It’ll be an adventure, she convinces herself, and it’ll give her some time to plan her Next Act.

 As it turns out, Galway has everything Chelsea hates: nonstop rain, no iced coffee, shared bathrooms. Working at The Wanderer might grant her time and a few extra lines on her resume, but Chelsea can’t help but feel like she left her life back in Massachusetts. Her new coworkers, however, are determined to change her mind, especially the handsome and charming tour guide Collin.

 Collin and Chelsea strike up a deal: he’ll show Chelsea everything Ireland has to offer, and only then can she pass judgement. Sure enough, Chelsea finds herself warming up to the hostel and Irish lifestyle… and falling for her charismatic new friend. But as the summer comes to an end, she finds herself torn between the familiarity of home and the tantalizing adventure of life abroad.

An Irish Summer is a heartfelt, transporting story perfect for readers looking for the thrill of moving away from home and the unique magic of summer love. 

 My Thoughts:

 Chelsea is a planner. If she doesn’t have a plan, she’s not comfortable.

 So naturally, this book begins when her plans are abruptly taken away from her.

 She ends up working at a hostel in Ireland. She doesn’t like the idea, but it’s better than the thought of moving back into her parents’ home. Everything about the job is different from her orderly, predictable life.

 But, naturally, she gradually loosens up. She starts by helping to plan experiences and events for the guests of the hostel. She makes friends with the other employees. She starts to…have fun.

 Of course, Collin is a big part of that. He makes it clear from the start that he’s interested in Chelsea as more than a coworker, and she eventually opens herself up to the idea. Still, she’s clear that she’s going back to Boston at the end of the summer. She wants a job with a big hotel chain, and she pursues it. When her dream job becomes available near the end of her stay in Ireland, she is conflicted, but leaves Collin behind.

 This is told entirely from Chelsea’s POV. Her experiences as she learns to love Ireland were probably the best part of the book for me. While she does show growth over most of the book, I find the ending to be a bit of a stretch. I won’t explain, since that would spoil it, but…yeah. Too much change too quickly.

 We don’t really get to see much of Collin’s internal life or struggle. He has a job he likes. He finds a woman he likes. He loves showing her why he loves his homeland. I don’t think there’s much growth or change or even conflict for him, so he comes off as kind of a flat character.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

A gay couple. Unmarried sex (open door, but not overly descriptive). Adults drink. Some swearing, including the F-word.

 Who Might Like This Book:

Romance fans. Anyone with an interest in Ireland.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

 
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