Those Summer Nights (Sweet Cravings Book 2)

Mila had never felt at home at her university, the only thing that had made it remotely bearable was the fact she had found Aiden. His friends became hers, but just when she thought he was about to propose the unthinkable happened. Fighting her way to summer break she decides to use this time to discover herself, but instead she discovers JJ, a smoking hot lifeguard she just can’t stay away from. Hurt and broken she tries to keep her distance, but fate has other plans. But can she trust another person when every man in her life has let her down?

Those Summer Nights is a book in Ivy Smoak’s Sweet Cravings series. There is only so many times I can praise this author without getting repetitive, but she continues to deliver relatable, engaging characters complete with flaws, struggles, and quirks. I love how, as a reader, we are transported directly onto the characters lives and feel every bit a part of them as those involved in the story. All the steamy and passion I’ve come to expect from this author. No matter the setting, no matter the characters, Ivy delivers. And if you pick up Those Summer nights, you’ll not only fall in love with Mila and JJ, but the very essence of summer, friendship, and romance.

I fell in love with this beachy summer romance. Mila was dealing with a lot of trust issues with the men in her life and I really felt for her. She had overcome a lot just to get to the point in her life where she was attempting to carve out her future and figure things out for herself. She had left California to return to Delaware, home, for the summer before her senior year of college to get perspective.

J.J. (AKA My Lifeguard) is spending his last summer after graduation doing what he loves before he starts a lucrative but boring office job in NYC. He doesn’t do long distance relationships after being cheated on by his girlfriend in college so he friend zones Mila (AKA Stalker Girl, Jellyfish Girl) since she is only there for the summer. (Jellyfish Girl is a story in itself, so cute!)

What neither count on is the feelings that emerge between them. Mila is a little sophomoric at times, I get that she is only 21 and had one boyfriend, and he was a tool! But she gets her feelings hurt quite easily and runs away instead of standing up for what she wants and saying what’s on her mind. Sometimes I wanted to have a girl to girl chat with her. Nevertheless, she is endearing to me and I loved her and her insecurities. And when she and J.J. finally got together, well, there was spontaneous combustion! So hot and steamy! And I loved the ending, so sweet.

This was a great book by Ivy which is of course, no surprise. Everything this woman writes is fantastic and I don’t even have to read the blurb or reviews, if her name is on it, then I know I can just click it and it will be an amazing FIVE STAR READ!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review,

The easiest way to get over someone is to never see them again right? So when my ex stomps on my heart and throws it into the sewer…I decide to spend my summer on the opposite side of the country. And this summer is all about me. Mending my broken heart (screw all men.) Figuring out what I want to do with my life (a life that thankfully does not include my ex). And trying to better myself (does eating ice cream count)? But all my perfect planning comes to a halt when the sexiest lifeguard in existence asks me out.I have to say no. It doesn’t matter that he’s built like a Greek hunk, has eyes the color of the ocean, or is hotter than a summer night. I’m going to say no, I swear. He’s going straight into friend zone. Although, I’m pretty sure he’d be more delicious than any flavor ice cream. Can’t I put him in the friend zone after just one taste?

Holy cow I loved this book. Talk about an amazing summer read. A breath of fresh air in this heat of the summer. I could not put this book down. Everyone has been there with a broken heart. Mila has been dealing with trust issues and men for her entire life. She has worked so hard to get to where she is now and to where she is just figuring thing for herself. Now before her senior year of college she has gone back home to Delaware to get even more perspective. J.J. is also spending the year after he graduated college home doing what he loves before he starts a very well paying job in NYC. He and Mila both friend zone each other for different reason. She because who needs the broken heart again and he because he had a girlfriend cheat on him and he is not willing to do long distance again. However neither one of them expects the feelings that they bring out in each other. Can they work it out? Is this true love? You have to read to find out. I loved this book. It will go down as one of my favorite Ivy Smoak book. Don’t miss it or you will regret it.

We all remember our first love, and we’ll never forget out first heartbreak. Mila’s story is guaranteed to stir up all those old, bittersweet memories in the reader. Mila thinks her life is on track. She has one more year of college and a boyfriend who’s on the edge of proposing. There’s just the minor matter of still needing to declare a major before her last two semesters. Oh, and walking in on her soon-to-be-fiancé in bed with a female who is decidedly NOT Mila. Yeah. That’s a problem.

Fed up with California and needing the comforts of home, Mila goes to the beach on the Deleware shore where she spent her summers growing up. She finds a summer job and a roommate and hopes the summer by the sea will heal her heartbreak. She’s focused on herself, on Getting over the hurt and figuring out her future, and the handsome lifeguard, J.J., is the last distraction she needs.

This book is a little more “young adult” than I usually read, and it gave me a bit of whiplash at times with the story’s main conflict for Mila and her vacilating between “I need to focus on me” and “I think I’m in love with J.J.” The characters are complex, realistic and endearing, and the story’s pacing was great, so I was never bored. I love this author’s style and she never fails to pull me into the story quickly and easily. If you like YA romance, this one is right up your alley, and you’ll love Mila and J.J.!

*I read an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.

Funny, romantic, made me tear up and then smile goodness!
I loved Mila and J.J.!! The characters of Ivy’s that I’ve met so far are people I would want to hang out with IRL. Mila is quirky and sweet. I love her ramblings J.J. is sexy sweet but cautious with his heart. Although he never had a chance against Jellyfish Girl It took them a minute to get where they definitely needed to be but the journey was worthy the wait.