Review: The Summer Set by Aimee Agresti

Title: The Summer Set

Author: Aimee Agresti

Published: May 2020, Graydon House

Format: ARC E-copy, 384 pages

Source: Netgalley via Publisher

Summary: 

The real drama happens
backstage in this juicy novel about an idyllic summer theater where hot
stars, has-beens and hopefuls chase roles—and each other.

Charlie
Savoy was once Hollywood’s hottest A-lister. Now, ten years later,
she’s pushing forty, exiled from the film world and back at the summer
Shakespeare theater that launched her career—and where her old flame,
Nick, is the artistic director.

It’s not exactly her first
choice. But as parts are cast and rehearsals begin, Charlie is surprised
to find herself getting her groove back, bonding with celebrity actors,
forging unexpected new friendships and even reigniting her spark with
Nick, who still seems to bring out the best in her despite their
complicated history.

Until Charlie’s old rival, Hollywood’s
current it girl, is brought in to attract theater donors, threatening to
undo everything she’s built. As the drama amps up both on the stage and
behind the curtains, Charlie must put on the show of a lifetime to
fight for the second chance she deserves in career and in love.

My thoughts: I don’t typically read a whole lot of contemporary romance but in light of everything going on, I’ve been gravitating towards some light reads lately and this one was just what I was craving. And I liked that there was more than just romance here.

This was a fun book. It’s about second chance love and I’m always up for that. But it was so much more than that. It’s about trying to save something that is meaningful and realizing just who you are in the middle of that. 

There are a lot of moving parts to this book and at first, it’s hard to keep everyone straight, especially the younger set, but eventually everyone stands on their own. Of course, Charlie and Nick are really the stand-outs and while I enjoyed their stories, I do wish the younger set had equal screen time…there was a lot of potential for them.

I loved all the drama that was brought forth over the course of this book. It made for a fun book and again, this was what I needed. It might have been a little over the top at times, but set against the backdrop of the theater, it fit perfectly. This was a good story, filled with well-rounded characters that I was invested in from start to finish. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I would definitely read her again!