Release Blitz + Review: "Summertime" by Willow Aster

Today, I'm pleased to take part in the release blitz celebrating "Summertime" by Willow Aster. It was originally a serialized Kindle Vella release but has now been edited and re-published as a standalone novel (with new/additional content). 

 

Summer Winters and her younger sister, Autumn, were raised by their mother in North Carolina while their father, A-list Hollywood director Cole Winters, pursued his career in California. They've never spent much time with their dad, but Summer is excited to spend the summer after college graduation with him before beginning her search for a full-time job. She's expecting a few months of rest, relaxation, and reconnecting with her dad, but when she arrives at his home in Malibu, Summer is surprised to learn that he has different plans for her as an assistant on the set of his latest film. An aspiring screenwriter, Summer is happy to get some experience in the industry, though coffee runs and catering to whiny actresses weren't exactly what she had in mind. On the bright side, there's Hudson Callihan, the movie's assistant director, to whom Summer is attracted from the moment they meet. Just as her relationship with Hudson starts to heat up, the paparazzi capture photos of the movie's lead actor, Liam Taylor, flirting with Summer on the set, and his agent pushes for them to "date" in order to rehabilitate Liam's playboy reputation. Even though she's not really interested in Liam, her father pressures Summer into agreeing to the plan. Spending time with Liam makes her realize that her first impression of him may not have been entirely correct; there's actually a sweet, caring guy beneath the outer flirt, and they quickly become close. Summer is still drawn to Hudson, however, and she'll have to choose between him and Liam before the summer is over.

I absolutely adored this fun, quick read, whose compelling, unpredictable plot kept me engrossed until the very last page. Summer had great chemistry with both Hudson and Liam, and I genuinely wasn't sure which one of them she'd choose until late in the book. I also liked several of the book's secondary characters, particularly actress Hannah and Summer's sister Autumn. I'm looking forward to reading Autumn's story next!

I highly recommend "Summertime" for all fans of contemporary/new adult romance and look forward to whatever Willow Aster writes next.

 

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own. 

 

 

About "Summertime"

Summertime, where the living's easy...

At least that’s what I’d hoped for when I decided to visit Hollywood’s most sought-after director, AKA my usually absentee father, for the summer. But my vision of an idyllic break before starting grownup life after college comes to a halt when my dad puts me to work on his set.

As an aspiring screenwriter, I’m eager for any experience, but my time is spent as the errand girl, fulfilling every whim of Hollywood’s IT actor, the flirtatious, too-sexy-for-his-own-good Liam Taylor. As the shiny new girl, Liam thinks he has to have me, but his bad-boy persona turns me off, and I don’t want to be another notch on his bedpost.

Then there’s Hudson Callihan, the hot up-and-coming director working with my dad. He’s everything I think I want in a guy. What starts out as a friendship becomes a secret relationship, and I fall hard.

Things become complicated with Hudson when I’m thrown into a fake relationship with Liam to soften his scandalous reputation. And living on set with both guys and the crew is becoming more and more difficult.

I came to LA expecting to have a good time, but what I didn’t expect was to be faced with making the biggest decision of my life.