Camp Help Falling

Sunkissed Summer

by Ashley Funk

Sadie
I’m over the moon to be the new camp director of Camp Brower, the place I spent every summer since the time I was twelve, and I’ll do anything to make my mark on the old camp now that it's under new ownership. But now that I’ve graduated with my bachelor’s degree, it’s time to find something a little more permanent and a little less seasonal.

It would be easier to close the door on that part of my life if it weren’t for Oliver, the owners’ son, who waltzes in just in time to upend my plans to make this my last summer at Camp Brower. I just hope I don’t let the Evanses down when I can’t come back…

Oliver
If I were to make a list of the things I’m grateful my parents have done in the last year, buying a summer camp would not be one of them. Until I lose my job, my girlfriend, and my apartment. Now, Camp Brower looks like a pretty good place to get away and recoup. The old, rundown camp is only a stop—hardly a blip in my path toward getting my architect license.

When a family emergency lands me with a job as a lead counselor at the camp, my immediate plans take a back seat. Especially as I get to know Sadie, the camp director. Even though a relationship with her is off the table due to the camp’s rules, trying to resist Sadie’s pull is about as impossible as trying to learn all of these ridiculous camp songs…

Camp Help Falling is a sweet, summer camp romantic comedy novella with swoony kisses and no spice! It's part of the Sunkissed Summer Novellas, a multi-author series about six former college roommates who are about to find love in the same summer. Make sure to read them all!

Love is a Roller Coaster by Marie Soleil
A Coastal Crush by Katie Nelson
Love on the Sidelines by Britney M. Mills
Her Runaway Vacay by Jen Atkinson
Camp Help Falling by Ashley Funk
Off Trail Love by Taylor Epperson

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary, Fiction, Summer, Forced Proximity, Forbidden Love

175 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2024

Reviews

[s.a.v · Rating 4 out of 5]

camp help falling - ashley funk

сюжет: Седі - запросили працювати директоркою літнього табору, в якому вона раніше відпочивала, а згодом і працювала вожатою. Олівер - син власників табору, який за збігом обставин опиняється в таборі і починає там працювати. ну тут все зрозуміло, тааак 🥰

жанр: любовний роман, новела

тропи:

💚 від незнайомців до коханців;
💚 роман на робочому місці;
💚 заборонені стосунки;
💚closed door.

мої враження: не дивлячись на свій невеличкий розмір, ця книга була дійсно насичена подіями. авторка змогла круто розписати все, починаючи від знайомства героїв, їхню закоханість, стосунки і, звісно ж, драму. хоча, як на мене, то краще було б все таки без неї. тут рідкісний випадок, коли головна героїня мені сподобалась більше за головного героя.
хочу відзначити дуже приємну, ностальгічну атмосферу літнього табору. хто там не бував - той життя не знав 😄
в цілому досить непогана історія 💚

4/5

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Tropes:
Workplace Romance
Forbidden Romance
opposites attract
Cave Kiss
Closed door romance
Dual POV

Camp Help Falling is a cozy romance that takes place at Camp Brower summer camp. Sadie, our FMC, is our cool Camp Director, very outdoorsy type of woman, who absolutely loves camp life. She's worked at Camp Brower for 10 years! Oliver, our MMC, is a "cityslicker" who has recently lost his job, his apartment, and his girlfriend all in 1 day. His parents have recently bought Camp Brower, so he heads out to camp to help out until he finds a new job. Maybe, just maybe Oliver will find more than what he's looking for in Sadie.

I thought this story was super cute. It made me giggle a few times, especially at "purpling", which is romantic contact between girls (pink) and boys (blue). I never went to camp as a kid, but I really feel I missed out after reading what fun camp can be! If you enjoyed summer camp growing up, I think you'll really enjoy this story! And if you didn't like me, you'll still laugh and have a good read!

[cole ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars**

[flower *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a short and sweet an adorable summer camp novella. it got me smiling like a teenager since the beginning.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
.
This summer camp romance was ridiculously adorable! I was hooked from the first page.

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was so much fun! I went to camp every year from junior high on and my kids have gone since first grade and up—so even though I didn’t know every reference (and you don’t need to), this story brought me so much nostalgia in between the swooning!

Things I Loved:
-Scringing
-No Purple. IYKYK 🤣
-Parking Lot Hottie
-Cell Phone Rock
-Coffee Maker
-Foot taps
-The sunrise
-Favorite room 😉
-Such a happy ending!

This is such a short and sweet, perfectly summer read!

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: romcom
Content: kisses

This is such a happy summery novella! I absolutely loved it.

Sadie has worked summers at Camp Brower for the past decade. Now, though, she feels it is time for her to get a more “grown up” job; consequently, this is set to be her last summer at camp, overseeing the transition to new owners. She does not anticipate Oliver, the son of the new owners and city boy through and through, to show up and step in as a leader at the last minute.

Sadie and Oliver have an instant attraction to each other but unfortunately, fraternizing between males & females is forbidden at camp. The pull is so strong though! So…what happens when the camp director is the one breaking the rules?!

You can find out on the 4th of July! 🎆

Favorite Quotes:
😂 I don't have a history of bad breakups. (It's hard to have a breakup when you can't actually get any dates.)

😏 "When you mix blue and pink, you get purple. Holding hands? That's mixing pink and blue. So there's no hand holding, kissing, or…other stuff." I glance back up, only to be met with his perfect lips pressed together, holding in a laugh. He gently bumps my shoulder with his arm, sending a wave of excitement through me.…"I'm messing with you," he says, his eyes sparkling. "I understand what purpling is."

💜 This woman gives away her laughter freely, and it makes my heart squeeze in my chest. If there weren't a rule against purpling, I'd be finding a way to turn her all sorts of violet.

🥾"It’s an easy hike," she said. "It's mostly flat in the beginning," she said. I'm about to die and it's not even six in the morning.
(This is so relatable 🤣🤣)

💋 A few yelps sound from the group, from the kids who were skeptical that it would actually be that dark, but I'm not listening to any of them. Because Sadie's soft hand reaches up, grasping the back of my neck, and pulls me down to her. And in complete darkness, she kisses me. And I kiss her back.

🏕️ I will do everything in my power to make sure she knows how I feel about her. I will move across the country and beg her forgiveness. I will climb mountains at sunrise and sing ridiculous camp songs.
Because Sadie is my everything And I wouldn't be the same without her in my life.

😍 I move slowly, giving her every opportunity to stop us from purpling on Camp Brower property, but Sadie reaches up on her tiptoes, meeting me as I lean down to her. Our lips brush once. Twice.
"I love you," she whispers between soft pecks. "I love you, too, Sadie," I whisper back, before taking her mouth in a kiss that stains us both so violet that we'll never be free of the color purple again.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.

[Morgane · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the past ten years, Sadie has worked summers at Camp Brower. However, she now feels that it's time for her to have a more "grown-up" career; as a result, she will be directing the transfer to new owners during her final summer at camp. She does not expect Oliver, who is a natural city lad and the son of the new owners, to suddenly appear and take over.

Oliver and Sadie are immediately attracted to one another, but at camp, it is not permitted for men and women to associate. Still, the attraction is really powerful! What then occurs if the camp director violates the regulations?

Camp Help Falling was an adorable summer camp rom-com novella that had me hooked from the start! Every character was very endearing, and I really liked Oliver's willingness to embrace his new role as a camp counsellor rather than being the average city kid. With her grounded optimism, Sadie was equally amazing! I have loved every minute of this story; their relationship is so wonderful!

The story describes not just their history but also how the camp runs and the events that are planned! Although I've never had a vacation at a camp, this novella has me itching to go! If I could travel back in time, that is where I would go! The descriptions are so wonderful and enchanting, that I believe no one couldn't be convinced to go to camp there, not only the campsite itself, but also the ambience and the community!

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌲 🏕️ Oh what a fun sunkissed summer novella! This delightful story is more than simply “opposites attract.” It brings a fresh take into the world of summer camp!

“Camp was my place. My home away from home.”

Like a bright ray of sunshine, Sadie is a seasoned camper/leader at Camp Brower. She has loved coming here as a teenager and leader. This summer she will be the camp director, while she helps the new owners Paul and Linda transition into place! Things are sure to go well with the well-oiled routine until having to retrieve the staff shirts out of her car. But this is when things change! Sadie surprisingly encounters the good looking and nice Oliver for the first time and her summer is sure to never be the same again! She catches herself wanting more but knows that is the last thing that she should do as there are camp rules in place!

Oliver has literally had his entire world flipped upside down with life lately and decides to reach out to his parents. But his parents aren’t home, they are at the summer camp that they purchased in the western U.S. and not Virginia. With no other plans, Oliver turns up at camp and his life gets a little crazier as he gets thrown into being a make shift leader having had no experience before! Having a pint size camp director become his boss isn’t what he expected and yet he can’t help but be easily attracted to Sadie…

“This is right. Sadie and I just fit.”

Dear @ashleyfunk.writes this is such a short and sweet, fun summer read! It is filled with instant sparks attraction, swoony kisses, delightful humor, a cozy camp setting, awesome feelings of nostalgia if you have ever attended any type of group camps, some twists and turns, and a happy ended. If you have ever attended or wanted to attend a camp, this book will be right up your alley. It’s a great read!🙌🏻📚

“I couldn’t help falling for you then, and I can’t help falling for you now.”

#camphelpfalling
#ashleyfunkwrites

“For Sadie? I’d do just about anything.”

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How sweet it is to read such a charming, funny romance. Sadie and Oliver were the perfect blend and made this book so enjoyable to read.

Sadie is incredibly excited to be the camp director for Camp Brower. She spent many summers at this camp as a camper. The camp is under new management, and she is not sure what to expect, but she is pleasantly surprised how well she gets along with Mr. and Mrs. Evans.

Oliver Evans has lost his job and his girlfriend in a matter of a days. His world has imploded on itself. His mother suggests that he come visit the new camp. When they lose a counselor, his mother volunteers Oliver to serve as a counselor. You need to understand something about Oliver. He is a boardroom, suit kind of guy. The only time he goes outdoors is to get in the car. I will give him kudos. He struggles at times, but he is willing to try anything.

The sparks between Sadie and Oliver light the pages of the book on fire. It is an immediate attraction. They are definitely different, but yet somehow they are more alike than they realize. However, no matter their attraction, they have to refrain from any relationship because of the purpling rule. Girls are pink and boys are blue. Since they have a lot of teen counselors, they established this rule to institute the hands off policy. Don't you just love it?

I had so much fun reading this book. The canoe scene was one of my favorite scenes. I had a feeling I knew where this was headed, but it was even better than I imagined. Oliver is more of yacht kind of guy. My other favorites were cell phone rock and the caffeine addiction. You will just have to read the book to understand these scenes. If you enjoy a simple, fun and clean romantic comedy, you will not what to miss this one. You will close the book completely satisfied and happy you took time to read this gem.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Help Falling by Ashley Funk was the first book I have read from her, and it will not be my last. I read this one in one sitting because I could not put it down. It is part of the Sunkissed Summer Novella series that is a multi author collaboration about 6 former roommates who find love in the same summer but can totally be read as a standalone. This book is told from a dual POV, Sadie & Oliver. Sadie has worked the summers for Camp Brower for the past 10 years. This year is set to be her last one at Camp Brower. She is growing older and feels like she needs a more "grownup job" even though she loves her time at camp. Oliver has had one his worst days. He was dumped by his girlfriend, let go from his job, and came home to a flooded apartment. He decides to go stay at his parents. After talking with his mom, she talks him into coming to Camp Brower after they bought the camp. Sadie and Olivier have instant chemistry and attraction, but with the camps, no male & female fraternizing they have to keep those feelings tucked down and no acting on them. This book was such a wonderful, short, and sweet novella. The characters were so great! I absolutely adored this one.

Summer camp vibes
Cell Phone Rock
No Purpling
First Kiss 🔥
Coffee Machine
Stolen Glances

“Girls are pink. Guys are blue. Here at camp, there’s no purple.” I raise my eyebrows at him, hoping he understands without me having to go into more detail. It’s awkward enough when I have to explain it to teenagers. “I still don’t get it.” “When you mix blue and pink, you get purple. Holding hands? That’s mixing pink and blue. So there’s no hand holding, kissing, or…other stuff.” “I’m messing with you,” he says, his eyes sparkling. “I understand what purpling is.”

The lights go out. A few yelps sound from the group, from the kids who were skeptical that it would actually be that dark, but I’m not listening to any of them. Because Sadie’s soft hand reaches up, grasping the back of my neck, and pulls me down to her. And in complete darkness, she kisses me. And I kiss her back.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Sadie & Oliver’s points of view

Review:

I had so much fun reading this story! I loved Sadie surprising Oliver in so many ways & that he just kept falling for her with each new thing he discovered. I loved that Sadie gave the camp her all and wanted to be a good example for the staff & campers. I loved Oliver’s parents & how they greeted everyone with open arms. I loved the fun camp activities and how Oliver took to them, having no experience of his own to fall back on. I also loved Sadie & Oliver’s banter! They were so sweet & funny together!

Summary:

Sadie loves Camp Brower and was glad to get the chance to have one last summer there before she finds a more permanent job. With all her fond memories tied to it, she wanted to be sure the new owners would keep the feeling its always had alive. And now that she’s confident & riding out the waves of her last summer, Sadie should be ready to move on to a real job. Only problems are she’s not sure what that looks like for her and just as she’s ready to let go, something makes her never want to. Or rather, someone…

Oliver should have known that his bad instance would just be an all around bad day. These things come in threes after all. But needless to say, Oliver wasn’t quite expecting to have as much free time on his hands as he does now. So when his parents offer to have him stay with them at the new summer camp they own, Oliver actually wants to leave the city for the woods. And when a family emergency leaves them a staff member short, the only person available on such short notice is Oliver. Luckily, with his little to no knowledge of how to do summer camp things, Oliver is in need of a shadow & mentor until he can get the hang of things. Which means he’ll have a lot of time to get to know the exuberant camp director, Sadie…

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Ashley Funk’s Camp Help Falling is one of the novellas featured in A Summer Camp Romantic Comedy (a multi-author series).

Sadie is returning to summer camp for her 10th and final year, but this time in the role of camp director. Although the camp is under new ownership, things are pretty much the same. It still holds a special place in her heart and always will.

Oliver is the son of the new camp owners. After a horrible week that involved breaking up with his long time girlfriend, losing his job, and coming home to a flooded apartment, he has no choice but to visit his parents. His stay gets prolonged when he discovers the camp is down one male counselor.

Sadie and Oliver have an immediate connection. But things get complicated when he learns the big camp rule is no ‘making purple’. Can the two endure an entire summer together or will their attraction prove too strong?

This was the perfect start to my summer!!!

Ashley Funk shares that she wrote this book after being inspired by her real life love story that started at summer camp. I love when author’s write from experience as it makes their writing ten times better. While I haven’t read all of Funk’s books, I can tell that this is one of her best.

I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this story. It gave me such feelings of nostalgia. Growing up I attended church summer and winter camps. The time consisted of learning new skills, meeting new friends, and gaining independence was integral in my youth.

If you have ever attended a camp or wanted to, do yourself a favor and read this book.

Perfect for fans of:
-novellas
-forbidden romance
-opposites attract
-closed door
-dual POVs

Special thanks to Ashley Funk for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[clean.reads.corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I swear, this man has no idea about anything that happens beyond a national forest sign. Some people might find that annoying - turn up their nose and call him a city slicker - but I love being the one who gets to introduce him to all of it."

"There's no pomp and circumstance of planning dates or getting dressed to impress each other. At camp, we're both stripped down to the barest version of ourselves. It's like I've been allowed to see directly into her soul."

Read if you like:
* Dual POV
* Forbidden Romance
* Summer Camp Vibes
* Workplace Romance
* Closed Door Romance
* Part of a series/can be read as a stand alone

If you love witty/flirty banter, characters you can't help but fall for, laughing out loud while reading, and all the chemistry and tension (while keeping the door firmly closed), then you need Ashley Funk's books in your life! She very quickly made her way onto my must read author list for all of the above reasons and more.

This book is like a love letter to summer camp. Sadie's love for camp is infectious! It was so much fun watching Sadie introduce Oliver to the world of summer camp. Oliver, though he is completely out of his comfort zone, jumps in with both feet. I loved Oliver's willingness to pitch in and help at his parents camp when they end up short staffed due to an emergency, even though he has no idea what he's agreed to. If you've ever been to camp, you will love the nostalgia of the songs, skits and camp hijinx. Fair warning, reading this book will forever alter the way you see the color purple!

Favorites:
* Meet cute
* Sadie's morning wake up call
* Purpling
* "The early 2000s called. They want their camo cargo shorts back."
* Cell phone rock
* Coffee maker
* Ice caves
* Canoes
* "easy" sunrise hike
* First kiss
* Epilogue

[Elizabeth Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What drew me into this story, two things, youth summer camp and the location being in close proximity to Garden City, Utah and Bear Lake. Yep, that is all it took.

Sadie is the adult Camp Director of Camp Brower. Having just graduated with her degree in parks and recs she is feeling pressure to give up her seasonal job at camp and start focusing on “real year round employment.” However, her heart is at Camp Brower, so how is she supposed to move forward?

Oliver’s life completely crumbles, and it only takes one day. He loses his job, girlfriend and apartment in a matter of hours. Isn’t there some sad country song with lyrics like that? With all of that, his parents invite him to come visit their newly acquired youth camp on the other side of the country to take some time and reset. He doesn’t expect his world to be turned upside down by a spunky pint size camp director in denim cutoff shorts and a faded camp t-shirt.

These two have sparks fly with their first meeting! However, a rock solid camp rule of “No Purple” keeps them at arms distance.

Oh boy, I couldn’t put this down! As soon as I started reading I had to finish. It was just so fun to read about their relationship and growing attraction to each other, all while they couldn’t even hold hands because of the camp rules. And then so many gems that took me back to my camp days and so many happy memories: crazy early mornings, hikes, canoing, and silly songs around the camp fire - specifically Moose Juice! This was just too fun.

Then there was the surprise ending. 🥰 I won’t spoil it for you all, but it wrapped this story up with the sweetest bow and little kiss! It was truly perfect!

Am I now going and finding every book that Ashley Funk has given this world? You better believe it!

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever go to summer camp?!  I did for 2 or 3 years, but most of their rules were common sense…so we weren’t given the anti-purple speech!  Society has certainly evolved, even Sadie admits that! 

Sadie is a seasoned camper/leader at Camp Brower and this year she will be the director, helping the new owners Paul and Linda transition into place!  Things are sure to go well with the well-oiled routine until having to retrieve the staff shirts out of her car, that’s when it all changes!  That’s when Sadie encounters Oliver for the first time and her summer is sure to never be the same again!  She catches herself wanting to purple but knows that is the last thing that she should do!

Oliver has literally had his entire world flipped upside down and decides to reach out to his parents.  Great plan in theory, except his parents aren’t home, they are at the summer camp that they purchased in the western U.S. and not Virginia.  With no other alternatives, Oliver turns up at camp and his life gets a little crazier!  Having a pint size camp director become his boss isn’t what he expected and yet he can’t help but be attracted to Sadie!

This novella is more than simply “opposites attract” and I love that about it!  It brings new insight into the world of summer camp that I never entertained, and it shows the strength of Sadie’s independence!  I have always loved the fierceness that Ashley Funk’s FMCs have, and this is no different!  While I have never been to the camp(s) that this setting was based on, it sounds like it would have been a lot of fun to go to!  Such a different take on summer romcom and I love it! 

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There’s no pomp and circumstances of planning dates or getting dressed to impress each other. At camp, we’re both stripped down to the barest versions of ourselves.” I loved this cute summer romance. It was sweet but also had good romantic intensity in a fun setting with interesting activities and unique details. The characters were excellent. It was a great read. Sadie, a longtime Camp Brower summer employee was working there for one last summer before adulting and getting a “grown-up” job. As the camp director she was responsible for the whole camp and took it to heart. When the son of the camp’s new owners, Oliver, unexpectedly ended up working at the camp, things got complicated because feelings quickly developed between him and Sadie. Particularly as there was a strict rule against “purpling” (“‘When you mix blue and pink, you get purple. Holding hands? That’s mixing pink and blue. So there’s no hand holding, kissing, or…other stuff.’”), or romantic involvement, for camp staff. I thought the whole purpling concept was so clever. I don’t know if the author came up with it or learned it at her own camp experiences, but it really caught my attention. The were so many great moments, entertaining and swoony. The cave kisses were unforgettable “Violaceous activities”. Speaking of things that will stick with me, here’s my new explanation next time I’m out of breath: “‘I’m not out of breath. The air is out of oxygen.’” This book is part of a multi-author series focused on a friend group of former roommates, the Sunny Girls. The friendships appear lightly in the story but each book is a standalone. This is a closed door romance with no harsh language.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Ashley Funk book, and it certainly won't be my last. I love this sweet and funny, summer camp romcom so much, and being a novella, it was such a fast read.

I just adore Sadie and Oliver, and their adorable, forbidden, work romance. I so enjoy Sadie being the outdoorsy one while Oliver's the not-so-outdoorsy one. Most of the time, the MMC is the hiker/camper/mountain man, so it was fun having the reverse and getting a hiker/camper/mountain woman instead.

I also really appreciate the way their romance was forbidden (camp "purple" rules). I think the forbidden romance trope can get a bit iffy, but this one did it beautifully. And I'm not usually the biggest fan of insta-attraction/insta-love, but it worked so perfectly with Oliver and Sadie (plus, their meet-cute was just hilariously lovely).

My only complaint (as is the norm for me and novellas) is simply that it wasn't long enough. I would have just loved to experience more camp shenanigans (see the canoe incident as reference), and more banter and chemistry. I just wanted to spend more time at Camp Brower.

Side note, this is the fifth book in the multi-author Sunkissed Summer Novella series, which follows six college roommates as they each find love over the summer. There is minimal overlap, so it's not necessary to read them in order, but those little connections are super fun.

Thank you so much, Ashley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this little novella! All opinions are my own.

[✨Authentically Ashley✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Sadie is returning to Camp Brower for what she thinks will be one last summer before entering the real world..she’s been a camp counselor for 10 years and this place holds a place in her heart like no other. She’s expecting this to be the uneventful last summer she needs before setting off into the real world…

✨Oliver is coming if the worst day ever..losing his job, getting dumped by his girlfriend, and coming home to a flooded apartment. The last thing he has on his mind is filling in as head male counselor for his parent’s new summer camp.

🏕️ Camp Help Falling gave me alllllll the nostalgia. Having been a summer camp counselor for 2 years in college, so much of this book brought back such fond memories and felt like a warm hug. Sadie reminded me soooo much of myself and I loved Oliver’s character. I loved the amount of slow burn tension (cue the “no purpling”) and that first kiss scene was 🧨🧨🧨 Even though this is set in a camp setting, the maturity level of the main characters make it an easy read for any age—but I would definitely tag this as a perfect summer read for the YA crowd!!

Add to your TBR if you like:
🏕️ Summer camp vibes
🛶 Perky, spitfire, motivated FMC
🏹 Hunky, smirky, flirty MMC
🏕️Late night, secret spot meet ups
🛶Slow burn romance
🏹First kiss scenes that sweep you off your feet

[Rebecca Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fantastic book is partly responsible for the sunburn I acquired on the 4th of July. 🇺🇸
—
Sadie began her history with Camp Brower way back when she was 12 years old…now, returning to the camp for her last time, she is not sure she is ready to say goodbye. Sadie knew this summer would be full of surprises and hard work as she is not only the camp director, but teaching the new owners of Camp Brower, the Evans, the ropes. What Sadie did NOT anticipate? The gorgeous son of the new owners to appear and shake her summer up. So much for a non-violet season…IYKYK.
—
I love the beach. I mean, just take a look at my feed and you’ll see that this girl…she loves her some sand and heat in a very quintessential summer seasonal way.

BUT maybe it’s that I am an Utah girlie who spent most her summers in the mountains.

OR maybe it’s that the area Camp Brower is set in is where I spent some of my own childhood.

OR perhaps it is that I am very much returning to Bear Lake in 1 month for our annual family reunion…and the mention of raspberry shakes has me giddy.

Whatever it is, this book was a wonderful holiday respite from the heat and chaos. Sadie and Oliver’s banter was hilarious, their Walmart shopping experience a witty little treat, and the chemistry of their interactions just so good! While I support their attempts to keep everything on the DL. They should’ve known that purple is just too good to resist. :-)

Do yourself a summer favor. Read this book. 🏕️

[Kayla Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Novella was perfect. Perfect summer read. Perfect Magic of Camp read. And the perfect story!

There is something magical about camping: unplugging, nature, quiet, forest sounds, and campfires. I do not profess to love camping but I always come back refreshed and some of my most cherished memories happened while camping.

Sadie has attended Camp Bower for 12 years and this year will be her last and she hopes to lead the new owners into keeping the camp going for many years to come. She is fun and confident. She is goal oriented and great at leading. Life has a way of making us falter and worry. I loved how things came together in this story.

Oliver is at an all time low and loss of the next direction when he goes to see his parents and the new camp they own and the plans they have for the future. He didn’t expect what he finds when he meets Sadie.

Fall in love with
🏕️Their Meet Cute
🏕️Early Morning Hiking
🏕️Team Building
🏕️the No Purpling Rule
🏕️Moose Juice Song
🏕️Canoeing
🏕️Cargo Shorts
🏕️Cell Phone Rock
🏕️Minnetonka Cave

I had the immense pleasure of hearing and singing along with Ashley as she demonstrated the Moose Juice song for us at the Utah peeps gathering. Thank you Ashley for being the first person to give me a friendship bracelet at the Summer Soiree.

[Cherilyn (Cherwhatyouread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the rules is easy right? What about when your heart is on the line?

Sadie is about to start her last summer at Camp Brower, where she’s gone every summer for the last 10 years. After this summer, she needs to find a full time job. She’s spending this summer helping the new owners transition (who just happen to be Oliver’s parents).

Oliver just had a life explosion. He got dumped by his girlfriend, fired from his job, and had a pipe burst in his apartment… all in the same day. He decides to go visit his parents while he finds a new job. Oliver arrives the day before camp begins for the summer. As soon as Sadie and Oliver met, there are sparks between them.

Due to unforeseen events, Oliver ends up working at Camp Brower at the last second. One of the rules for the staff is no handholding or kissing in order to set an example for the participants at camp, also known as rule purple or purpling. Following the rules is harder than ever for Sadie and Oliver.

That first kiss was 🔥.

I loved that Sadie and Oliver got to know each other through actions and they always tried to have good communication.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Help Falling is the fifth book in the Sunkissed Summer Novellas series. This is a multi-author series with interconnected characters but can be enjoyed as standalones as well.

I just absolutely adored this book. First of all, having spent many of my summers as a kid/teen at camp and the camp I attended as a teenager truly being one of my absolute favorite places, this one brought back so much of that camp nostalgia for me. Beyond that though, I loved Sadie and Oliver together. Their chemistry is absolutely fantastic and clear right from the start, but when he starts working at the camp, the no purpling rule makes him completely off-limits. (And that was certainly a camp reference that had me laughing out loud!) I'm not usually one for the forbidden or secret romances, but honestly, I couldn't help but fall in love with these two anyway! And that first kiss!? Oh, so good!! This was a super quick read, but not short on the swoony or laugh out loud moments and I loved every minute of it.

Camp Help Falling is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Hannah Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished another great novella (number 5/6) in the Sunkissed Summer Novella series. This series is about 6 former college roommates, the “Sunny Girls” (Brooke, Chloe, Ava, Meg, Sadie, and Maggie), who lived together in an old house in Colorado. These novellas tell each girls’ story about how they find love one summer.
Camp Help Falling tells Sadie’s story. Her story starts off with her arrival to Camp Brower, which is normal seemings how she’s been involved with the camp one way or another for the past ten years. But this year is different… not only has she been hired to be Camp Director, but she’s also decided it’s the end of her camp era. She knows it’s time to adult and get a real career (no matter how much she’ll miss her favorite camp). It’s also different this year because Paul and Linda are new owners of the camp, and Sadie is apprehensive about how the summer will play out.
Before camp even gets started, they find out one of the lead counselors is unable to stick around for the summer. Panicked, Sadie immediately starts trying to think of solutions. Luckily, just a little while before this takes place, Oliver (Paul and Linda’s son), arrives at camp to “visit” (aka hide from all his recent life troubles) for a couple of weeks. Before Sadie has a chance to come up with a plan, Linda announces that Oliver will fill in as Sadie’s lead counselor.
What could go wrong when a man who has never set foot at a camp takes over as lead counselor?! Will Sadie be able to win him over and get him to see the joy Camp Brower has to offer? I highly suggest you read this novella to find out! This was my first book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last!

[Chhaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐/5

"I will do everything in my power to make sure she knows how I feel about her. I will move across the country and beg her forgiveness. I will climb mountains at sunrise and sing ridiculous camp songs.
Because Sadie is my everything And I wouldn't be the same without her in my life."

Camp Help Falling is such a cute, cozy romance novella. I never went to any camp in my childhood but this book made me realize how fun and enjoyable a camp could be and especially the "No Purple" rule. The No purple rule kept me giggling and laughing often. It is filled with swoony kisses, stolen gestures, stolen kisses, and alot of flirting.

My favourite scenes from the book are morning coffee scenes, cell phone rock place and cloth shopping scene and also that hiking + sunrise scene. There are so many scenes which are embedded in my mind and I love them.

The writing of the author is so cute and sweet. This book is short and single sitting read. It was an fun and enjoyable read. Do read it!

Tropes :

Workplace Romance
Forbidden Romance
Opposite Attract
Cave Kiss
Closed Door Romance
Parking Lot Hottie

[Courtney Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I just say, I am absolutely loving this whole series! Multi-author series are fantastic because they give you a taste of different authors and their styles, helping me discover so many new authors and their backlists. Ashley Funk is a perfect example of this! I loved her book in the series, Camp Help Falling. I only went to summer camp for one year when I was younger, but this book warmed my heart so much that I want to go back to Camp Brewer already!

This story follows Sadie and Oliver. Sadie is the new Camp Director at Camp Brewer, where she has spent every summer since she was 12. She’s eager to leave her mark but is also struggling with what her future holds now that she has graduated with her bachelor’s degree. Oliver, on the other hand, heads to camp after losing his job, girlfriend, and apartment. Working at his parents' summer camp isn’t high on his list of things he is grateful for, but despite a relationship at camp going against camp rules, he finds it hard to resist Sadie's charm and those crazy camp songs.

This was a quick and fun read, perfect for the summer, and had me reminiscing about my own camp memories. If you like summer camp, forbidden romance, opposites attract, camp songs, and just kisses, this is the perfect book to check out.

Thank you so much Ashley for the ARC!

[September Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mini Review :

Camp Help Falling by Ashley Funk is the fifth book in the Sunkissed Summer Novella’s series but you can also read it as a standalone. I just fell in love with this book and when I got so far into it I sat up until 12 to finish it. It’s a quick read that is a fast paced romance. I really loved the summer camp setting it took me back to when I attended a summer camp as a teen. Sadie and Oliver were wonderful characters and their meet-cute made me laugh out loud. Sadie and Oliver were total opposites. If you like workplace romance, forbidden romance, opposites attract then you will like this one. Some things I loved were the meet-cute, they are total opposites, the canoe incident, and some cave kisses that will make you swoon. Go grab a copy of this one and go to summer camp with Sadie and Oliver. In fact I’ve loved all the Sunkissed Summer Novella’s I’ve read so far I’m gonna say go grab a copy of the whole series. You can also go catch these in KU.
P.S. My husband and I went to Mammoth Cave and did some tours last year. It was amazing to go in the caves so I loved that this summer camp had cave tours as part of their camp. I just had to share a collage or our trip to Mammoth Cave.

[Megan Eby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect summer read! It's a shorty so you can finish it in an afternoon. 😎

This story was so so cute. I loved the swoon, no spice romance. The camp setting with a No Purple rule was perfect for these two adult campers. 🙅‍♀️😏

I'm impressed by how much the author packed into this novella. I didn't feel like things were rushed or skipped over. This fun dual POV story flew by!

Our FMC, Sadie, brings passion and energy for all things camp. This year is a big deal since she is preparing for it to be her last at camp. She helps Oliver find his place after getting hit with a series of bad events. While she will help him learn the camp routine, she doesn't go easy on him when it comes to hikes. 😆

I recommend this to fans of:
👉 Closed-door romances with tension 😍🥰
👉 FMCs who introduce the MMC to nature 🌄
👉 Short summer reads with feel good vibes 🍦👍
👉 Silly camp activities (and silly camp rules!) 🥾🔥
👉 Stolen glances and smirks 😻😏

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

If you are in need of another fun, entertaining, short summer read then here you are. What’s not to love, here we have a summer romance that takes place at summer camp. Sadie is the new camp director of the summer camp she has been going to for years. Oliver is down in his luck. With no job, no girlfriend and no apartment he goes to the new summer camp his parents bought as a last resort. This cute book is part of the Sunkissed Summer Novellas Series, these are all stand-alone, closed door romance novellas that can be read and enjoyed in any order. The series is multi-author and follows six former college roommates.

Quotes: “She is the fresh mountain breeze, the shush of quaking aspen leaves, the sparkling light across the lake. She is every good thing about camp and I am greedily hoarding my seconds with her before light and reality slips back in.”

🏕️ Workplace romance
💚 Cave kiss
🏕️ Summer camp vibes
💚 Forbidden romance
🏕️ Opposites attract

Thank you to the author Ashley Funk for the electronic advanced copy of the book.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Help Falling was an adorable summer camp romcom novella that had me hooked from the start! It was a wonderful addition to the A Sunkissed Summer series. I have enjoyed all the ones that I have read so far! This novella was a short and easy read. Furthermore, it did not skimp on any detail. Camp Help Falling follows Sadie as she returns to Camp Brower for one last summer at camp. She did not expect to meet Oliver, the son of the camp’s new owners. The no “purpling” rule, aka no canoodling between staff members throws them into a loop as they start liking one another. I loved the slow burn and sweet tension between the two. This story had me laughing at their antics! The romance was sweet with nothing more than kissing. This book was fantastic and the perfect summer read!

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of the book and all thoughts are my own.