The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh #CourtneyWalsh @BlunderWoman #CathiColas @ThomasNelson

the setup…
Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor for a publisher in New York. Her dream was to be a writer but she’s settled for the mediocre job of helping other people write their stories. But, her world is turned upside down when she walks out of a coffee shop and is hit by a car. When she awakes in the hospital, she finds her roommate to be the highly successful businesswoman she’s revered…Georgina Tate, the beauty industry mogul who’s crushed so many barriers and ceilings. While Kelsey is soon to be released, Georgina’s health is dire. Her kidneys are failing and because of her rare blood and tissue type, prospects of finding a donor are slim and she’s facing the end of her life. Kelsey looks at her own life and decides what if she starts saying “yes” to the things she fears and would normally turn down? The “summer of yes” is born as she drags the reluctant and extremely difficult Georgina into the plan.

the heart of the story…
I really liked and connected with Kelsey who’s consumed by work, letting her personal relationships take a secondary role in her life. It’s also clear how fear has driven a lot of her life decisions, as it’s done for Georgina who early in her career had to make a choice between her family and the business she built. I loved how these two opposites interacted after their rather serendipitous meeting in that hospital. They were good for each other and something about Kelsey inspired Georgina to let her in. Reconnecting with her estranged husband and son was a highlight of the story.

the narration…
I’m already a fan of Tanya Eby and she was ideal as Kelsey. I also enjoyed Cathi Colas as Georgina, capturing her sardonic tone perfectly.

the bottom line…
This is a story about how we let our fears prevent us from possibly achieving the dreams we really want, turning away from the paths that might lead to openings because it’s scary. It was beautifully illustrated through these two characters who on the surface couldn’t be more improbable as partners. It was life changing for both of them and thought provoking for me.

Book Info

• Release Date: July 2, 2024
• Narrators: Tanya Eby & Cathi Colas
• Audio Length: 11 hours, 29 minutes
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson

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(Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)