REVIEW: The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest: Noelle Lewis has been working two jobs to save enough money to go back to college and finish her degree. She had a scholarship to begin with, but a poor choice in boyfriends lost it for her. Now, things are even worse because she gets laid off from her bookstore job. She still has a job with Bridal Besties that employs women to fill in as bridesmaids for weddings that need one. It pays well, but she doesn’t have near enough ones booked this summer.

Just when she about gives up her return to college dream, an unexpected opportunity presents itself. On the last day of her bookseller job, she meets a man who needs a fake girlfriend to go to a weekend celebration with his family. He has put off visiting with them and said he was busy with a new girlfriend. Now, he needs to show up with one. When he finds out about Noelle’s “fake bridesmaid” job, he knows she will be perfect.

The man wanting to hire Noelle is Jeremiah Smith II, the grandson son of a man who founded Smith’s Sweets. Their products are all delicious baked goods that are very famous. Jeremiah lives in a much different world than Noelle. He still feels her skills will help her fit in temporarily. It will be win-win. He will make his family happy and Noelle will earn some easy tuition money.

A one weekend deal ends up being all summer since Jeremiah’s family adores Noelle. The pretend relationship is hard to keep professional. Will Jeremiah be able to move across the country for a new job and away from family? Will Noelle be able to move on with college and forget about Jeremiah and his family?

Although this is definitely a romance with some spicy moments, it’s also about family: dealing with grief, hashing out family issues and seeing a different future. It was easy to care about all the characters in this novel. Jeremiah seems to grow the most over the arc of the story. I loved seeing him step outside the role others expected him to play and begin making decisions for himself.

The chemistry between Noelle and Jeremiah was sweet, playful, and full of anticipation. As the summer progressed, you could see them finding comfort, encouragement, and happiness in each other in ways they hadn’t expected.

Tropes & Vibes
☀️ Summer romance
💘 Fake dating
🏖️ Beach-town setting
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-centered story
📚 Bookseller heroine
💕 Slow-burn romance

THE SUMMER GIRLFRIEND by Kristina Forest was a warm, feel-good romance. Perfect for readers who love beach reads with substance, fake dating that slowly blurs into reality, family-centered romances, and stories where both characters are figuring out what they want from life as well as love.

Book Info:

Publication: June 9, 2026 | Berkley | Heart Beach #1

A stand-in girlfriend and a handsome business heir find that their fake summer fling is feeling way too real in this new romance by USA Today bestselling author Kristina Forest.

Noelle Lewis doesn’t have time for long walks on the beach, brunch with the girls, or summer vacations. She’s too busy saving up to go back to college. After recently getting laid off from her bookseller job, her main gig is now serving as a “stand-in” bridesmaid, which doesn’t pay enough for the upcoming semester’s tuition. But then the perfect, if not unconventional, opportunity arises…

Jeremiah Smith II, grandson of the founder of Smith’s Sweets—a well-known baked goods company—once lived a life of frivolity. Since his grandfather’s death, Jeremiah’s tried to clean up his act, but it’s hard to focus when his family requests that he join them at their summer house in Heart Beach, New Jersey, where his most painful memory lies. To avoid going there, Jeremiah claims he already has plans with his girlfriend, and of course, his family tells him to bring her. The problem? Jeremiah doesn’t have a girlfriend.

After a chance meeting, Noelle and Jeremiah come to an agreement. He’ll hire her to be his stand-in girlfriend for the weekend, and she’ll use that money toward her tuition. She figures it will be quick, easy money, but as it turns out, Jeremiah’s family is lovely, and Jeremiah is even lovelier. Soon, a weekend agreement turns into an entire summer, and Noelle and Jeremiah will have to keep their hearts in check, or else it’s sink or swim for them both.