That Summer Feeling by Bridget Morrissey is a sapphic adult romance novel that tells the story of Garland, a recently divorced woman in her early 30s. When she decides to attend an adult summer camp with her sister, she has a chance encounter with a man from her past—while rooming with his charming, outdoorsy, ray of sunshine sister Stevie.

Was this novel a little—okay, a lot—cheesy? Sure. But did I have a good time with it from start to finish? Also yeah.

People who were camp kids, or, like me, who wanted to be camp kids but never got the opportunity, will find a lot to love about this book. It captures the magic of how quickly bonds form when tucked away in nature with only your fellow campers for company. This book was laugh out loud funny at points; I was honk-snorting until I cried at several scenes. There’s also a loveable, well-developed cast of secondary characters that add to the overall texture and charm of the book. Garland’s character journey in particular as someone coming into her queerness later in life was very relatable, especially as a queer woman, and her journey will resonate a lot with some readers.

The romance between Garland and Stevie is incredibly gentle with a touch of magic, which is perfect if you’re looking for a sweet escapist fantasy. In reality, it’s incredibly insta-love, and I couldn’t quite suspend my disbelief at some of the events of the novel given that they knew each other for a grand total of six days. It’s also pretty much closed door, which happens a great deal in sapphic romances and is not my personal cup of tea. 

Overall, if the idea of a funny, bright, sweet summer camp romance appeals to you and you don’t mind the insta-love setup, That Summer Feeling will take you on a vibrant journey and leave you a little lighter of heart. 

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.