“Merlin gives off Sophie Kinsella and Emily Giffin vibes only with an execution of plots that is all her own. Fans of the two authors will appreciate the prose and relationships and style of this series. They will, of course, recognize it is something all Beth Merlin…. (Beth Merlin is totally going to grow in popularity. I’m calling it.)” – Book and BroadwayHaving successfully designed the … Broadway
Having successfully designed the wedding gown of the century, Gigi Goldstein is on top of the world –that is until it all suddenly comes crashing down around her. When the paparazzi captures her and Perry Gillman in a compromising moment the night of the royal wedding, she finds herself entangled in a scandal of global proportion. Convinced her carelessness has ruined every relationship in her life, she’s surprised and moved by her boyfriend, Gideon’s, sudden proposal of marriage and accepts it without a second thought.
Four months later, Gigi’s living at Badgley Hall contemplating an entirely new kind of life while guilt, regret, and obligation keep calling her back to her old one. Will Gigi stay in South Gloucestershire, marry Gideon, and become the Countess of Harronsby?
Or, will unfinished opportunities and an old flame bring her back across the pond to confront her past and reclaim her future?
The Campfire Series
1. One S’more Summer
2. S’more to Lose
3. Love You S’more
4. Tell Me S’more – Coming 2020!
more
I usually won’t read books that aren’t sweet, clean and stand-a-lone, but this series caught my interest.
I adored Beth Merlin’s “Love You S’more” and thought it was the perfect ending to main character Gigi’s story. Gigi has grown up and learned so much about herself since the series began, and it was very satisfying for me to see her end up in such a good place, both personally and professionally.
I really appreciated that things with Gigi’s love interests, Gideon and Perry, didn’t unfold exactly the way I thought they would. There was no dramatic scene where she had to choose between them; instead, one relationship came to a natural end months before things heated up with the other love interest. I was very happy with her ultimate choice of partner and how their relationship progressed.
Also, while the romance was obviously a central part of the story, Gigi’s career journey and relationships with her friends and family were equally important. She needed to figure out a lot of things on her own before committing to a romantic relationship. I was especially happy to see Gigi reconnect with Alicia, her BFF from Camp Chinooka, because Alicia seemed so much more likeable in this book. I found her to be kind of self-centered in the first book, but this time around she wasn’t as wrapped up in her own life. She acted like a much better friend to Gigi and actually provided valuable advice on several occasions.
While I am sad that the Campfire series has come to an end, I am looking forward to reading more of Beth Merlin’s work in the future.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
I have read all the books in this series. I was so glad things worked out for the main characters. I love it when that happens!
I’ve enjoyed the first 2 books of this series, and this carries on with the same key characters lives unfolding in unexpected ways. and of course hearkening back to camp.
A relaxing afternoon read with wonderful characters!
Good for a beach read but too cutesy for me.
Quick read. Enjoyed.
A perfect summer read for swinging in the hammock.
Easy read
Enjoyed it so much I started and never stopped. Made me smile
Great beach read
Love stories like this.
I’m glad I finished the series. Love the ending.
Love You S’more is the third and presumably final book in Beth Merlin’s The Campfire Series. It is absolutely charming romance, and although I haven’t read the first two books, it seems like a brilliant finish to the trilogy. Ms. Merlin provides ample summary so that new readers have enough information to jump into the story. I will say that I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read the prior books as well.
Georgica Goldstein (AKA Gigi) was a rising star in the fashion industry until her ex-boyfriend, Perry Gillman, unintentionally gets her mixed up in a tabloid scandal. When British aristocrat Gideon Satterly, rashly proposes, Gigi jumps at the chance to escape to the English countryside.
At first, Gideon seems like a dream come true. He’s never horrible, but it becomes clear that his expectations leave little room for Gigi to pursue her own dreams. No matter how much effort she puts into family affairs, the Satterly clan just barely tolerates her presence. I couldn’t help hoping that Gigi would buck-up and chuck that relationship.
Perry Gillman is Gigi’s first love, and they were their best and worst together. He is now a megastar on Broadway. His production of Elizabeth (think Hamilton) is renown in both the USA and the UK. The romantic musical about QE 1 depicts the Elizabeth and Dudley’s choice of work before love. Ironically, this mirrors Perry and Gigi’s experience.
“…after the court of public opinion passed its sentence Dudley and Elizabeth’s relationship is never quite the same.”
The three main characters are fantastic, and their stories are endearing. Love You S’more is an adorable story. It is a sweet, clean romance with an overall positive feel. The prior angst and turmoil is realistically resolved in this series conclusion. The little bit of snobbishness adds just the right amount of conflict to the story. Additionally, Ms. Merlin provides readers with some delicious details about theater, the fashion industry, and Queen Elizabeth 1. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written contemporary romance.
So, the 2nd book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, and so I wasn’t quite sure where exactly we’d end up starting this 3rd book. I wasn’t necessarily happy to see that Gigi and Gideon had decided to make it work. That she wasn’t going to try with Perry, because I really like Perry. But things unfold the way you would expect, and soon Gigi knows that her life with Gideon probably wouldn’t give her the chance to realize her dreams in fashion. So when a chance to go work with a big fashion show in NYC comes up, at the same time she must go back to fulfill a final obligation for her reality tv show contract, things really start to switch up. Of course she’ll run into Perry. And of course, she’ll have to go see his amazingly successful Broadway show, Elizabeth. Perry even sets up a very special, personal showing of his play for Gigi.
In this book Gigi has to figure out where exactly she wants to go with her fashion designing future. She also gets a visit with a blast from the past, her ex, Joshua. And when it even starts to stray towards maybe he might be interested in her, I know that I was still all about being team Perry. I finished this book smiling, loving how the author wrapped everything up. This is a sweet little romance series, one that I think needs much more recognition and attention than it gets!