Until Next Summer

by Allison Ashley

A teen starts to fall for the boy she and her best friend agreed was off-limits while building a relationship with the new guy in town at the same time in this “charming” (School Library Journal, starred review) seaside teen romance perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Summer in Cape Cod is what Amelia lives for. The months of June, July, and August are always reserved for three being inseparable from her best friend, Kat; spending as much time on the beach as possible; and admiring Myles Ford—her and Kat’s forever crush—from afar. But this summer, Kat is abandoning Amelia to get a head start on tennis training at her new boarding school, and without her, Amelia feels adrift.

Amelia distracts herself from her loneliness with her new waitressing job at Pearl’s, her town’s best seafood restaurant. There, she happens to work alongside Myles, who inexplicably seems to be interested in her. And when another boy comes into Amelia’s life as suddenly as a summer storm, Amelia will have to Should she explore something with Myles at the expense of a friendship that seems to be sinking fast, or take a chance on a boy who might not stick around for long?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Summer, Coming Of Age, Summer Reads, Teen

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2026

About the author

Allison Ashley is a music-loving, coffee-drinking mom of two who loves love stories. She's an oncology pharmacist and spends her days focused on helping patients through the hardest thing life can throw at them. Her escape has always been books—specifically reading books about happiness, love, and laughter—and it was inevitable that she'd eventually write her own. She promises to always write stories with deep romance, intense connection, and humor…but most of all, that coveted happy ever after.

Reviews

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic young adult romance debut for Allison Ashley filled with all of the young love, summer fun, and burgeoning friendships a girl could want. Featuring a bit of a low-key love triangle and childhood friends to more, this story definitely has The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes. But most importantly, this young adult novel was an actual novel for young adults and not a new adult book in disguise (aka kissing only and relatable topics for YA). A perfect book to read poolside or at the beach.

Read if you like:
▪️friendship fiction
▪️love triangle
▪️friends to more
▪️relatable characters
▪️Jenny Han

Thank you Simon Teen for the advanced copy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

istg there better be a second book i think gregory might be the loml

full review to come :)

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia's plans for the summer with her best friend blow up when Kat unexpectedly leaves early for boarding school and the next few months stretch ahead into nothing. Her last night with Kat opens up possibilites for more-than-friends with two boys. Myles is obviously forbidden as a shared crush with Kat makes it impossible and Gregory is new to the area but just for the summer. As Amelia draws closer to both, she can't help but feel torn.
Amelia is how I wish I was as a teen. She's sharp, knows herself, what she likes and doesn't, but still dealing with messy emotions of a girl coming of age. I just want to give them all a hug. Every girl, no matter her age, needs a network and I love that she found Shelby and developed relationships with Myles and Gregory. It's such a perfect summery read that I devoured in a very short amount of time.
The way this ends... I need book two asap! I want to know more about the playlist!!, Amelia's friendship with Kat and how it all comes together. I think this is perfect for fans of Jennie Han, Kasie West, and Morgan Matson.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun summer contemporary! It reminded me a bit of Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson since the main character Amelia has always been content to quietly shadow her more outgoing and social best friend Kat. When Kat moves away, Amelia suddenly has to develop a social life on her own.

I really liked the friendships that Amelia develops, particularly with her coworkers. They were always there for each other and I liked seeing her come out of her shell a bit and put herself out there to get to know people.

This also touched on the difficulty of keeping friendships with high school friends or whatnot. When people’s lives take them in different directions, it’s harder to manage a friendship. Kat and Amelia went from talking constantly to exchanging texts occasionally and a few brief phone calls. It was a very realistic depiction of a change in relationship.

The romance was interesting and not really what I expected. I also thought the romance ended on an interesting note. Usually with a love triangle, I will like one guy and hate the other, but while I did prefer one guy, I did like the other guy as well.

And of course, I loved the setting. Like Amelia, I am a thalassophile, so I loved her love of the ocean and how it recharged her. They did so much swimming and beach combing and sunbathing that it made me long to do the same (even though summer is still pretty far off from where I live).

From what I can tell, this was this author’s first YA book (she had previously written only adult books) and I can’t wait to read more YA books from her. I really enjoyed this one.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

10000/10!!! Favorite book of 2026 ! I have no words! There better be a second book. It ended with sorta of a plot twist but that might just be me !

It starts with Amelia and her best friend Kat . Kat is about to move to New York for tennis, so her and Amelia go to a party where Amelia meets Gregory. The new kid for the summer from Arizona. She also gives her number to Miles . The boy her and Kat have a crush on since they were little and they made a pack to never get together with him.

With Kat gone, Amelia finds herself liking both Gregory and Miles . With the summer coming, she has to pick who she wants to be with . Gregory who is about to move back to Arizona or Miles who is off limits and risk her friendship with Kat .

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley was such a sweet and heartfelt summer read. I loved the Cape Cod setting and how it captured all the excitement, uncertainty, and emotions that come with growing up. Amelia felt relatable as she navigated friendship changes, first love, and figuring out what she truly wanted.

The story had the perfect balance of romance, friendship, and self discovery. I found myself rooting for Amelia as she faced difficult choices and learned that sometimes life does not go according to plan. The beach town atmosphere made this book feel like the perfect escape, and the characters kept me invested from beginning to end.

If you enjoy young adult romances filled with summer vibes, friendship drama, and heartfelt moments, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had better be a series! I want to reach into the pages and shake Amelia a little, but I must have more of her story!

[Jenny Murphy]

I’m sad about this but it’s my mistake. I bought this forgetting it’s a YA and it’s just a bit of a slower pace and I can’t handle the high school dialogue. 🥴 I love every other book by this author, though!

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟cute and sweet YA romance. The love triangle was fun, but it seemed obvious to me which boy the main character is meant to be with. The summer vibes of the Cape Cod like coastal town were fun and easy to picture, and while I’m annoyed it’s set up for a sequel (because I wanted it to be resolved), I’m also excited to see what happens next with these characters.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start by saying……WHAT WAS THAT ENDING!! She loses her friendship with Kat then dates Myles and is just friends with Gregory. What do you mean?? Like she obviously likes him because every time she is with Myles she thinks of Gregory. Ugh they would be so much better together and breaking the pact, big no no. And even though Kat did do those things like ignoring her and stuff but she said sorry and the main character didn’t even own up. Terrible. And thats so annoying……BECAUSE I LOVED THE PLOT LINE! Best friend leaves but ignores the main character while the main character is gaining friends and not being in a shadow. Really good. But that ending made it a four star. But don’t get me wrong I totally recommend!

[Ticey Geyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet YA! Perfect summer read for YA fans. I think those that loved The Summer I Turned Pretty will enjoy this, too!

[Brynn | readyourworriesaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allison Ashley is one of my favorite adult romance authors, so I was thrilled to see she was writing a YA romance!

UNTIL NEXT SUMMER is the perfect love story to devour at the beach, pool, or lake 🌊

The love triangle trope really worked for me in this book, and it’s not usually a trope I enjoy!

Ashley created two lovely MMCs, which made it difficult to choose a favorite 🥰 I adored Myles and Gregory for different reasons. They both brought out new sides of Amelia and showed her that she could stand on her own two feet.

The author did a great job crafting the complicated friendship dynamics between Amelia and Kat. From navigating long distance to crushing on the same boy—it’s a friendship readers would be able to relate to.

Amelia had such wonderful taste in music 🎶 and I adored her love for animals 🐾

I hope many more YA (and adult) romances are in @authorallisonashley’s future 🩵

[⋆ 𐙚 ̊. Sterling 𝜗𝜚₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Summer is a beautiful, atmospheric YA romance that perfectly captures the feeling of a transformative summer. I loved the Cape Cod setting and the emotional complexity of Amelia’s situation. The tension created by her off-limits crush on Myles while navigating a friendship change with Kat felt very real and relatable. It manages to be sweet while still dealing with the heavy choice between staying loyal to a best friend or following your heart. A great pick if you love a seaside setting and a heartfelt coming-of-age romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

[Stephanie | stephonashelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: YA Romance

Format: Physical/Audio

4🌟 - I liked it!

Thank you @simonteen for the #gifted copy!

This was so cute!!! It’s giving The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes 🌊🐚☀️🦀💕

It gives you teenage angst, a summer romance, love triangle 👀, and friendship dynamics! This is such an easy poolside/beach read to pick up this summer!

I wanted a little more from the ending!! It almost felt too open-ended, and I wanted a little more resolution from all the storylines! I needed an epilogue or a sequel!

[clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

now listen!!! love triangles that end on this ooh what comes next note get on my nerves but 🤭 i ate this one up!

allison ashley is always a hit on my book, her contemporary romances are very dear to me, so i knew i would enjoy her ya story too, and it was everything i needed and more.

i loved this story and i can’t wait for the next book!

gregory, you’re the bestest boy ever. i love you!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher.

[Melissa Sunsdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super cute and I loved it! It felt like the best parts of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I feel like the author left the door open for a sequel so fingers crossed… That’s the best review I can give: immediately wanting to read the sequel as soon as I read the last words!

[Jess | jadecanread]

Can't believe I just read a YA and didn't hate it. Review incoming

[Brittany | Brittany_the_Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! A great YA debut for this author :)

[Kayli Doyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Just feel conflicted over the ending. I’d like to think there is a sequel where Gregory gets the girl a few years down the road. Allison Ashley, pretty please?

[B]

DNF chapter two. Writing felt very juvenile and stilted.

[Mia Selvidge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respectfully Allison, imma need a book 2 ASAP

[Denae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was the cutest! Perfect for “Summer I turned pretty” f or “To All the Boys I Loved Before” fans. It’s something I love about swoony YA romances that leave me feeling so giddy and warm. This one definitely had me cheesing and kicking my feet. I love watching young people “fall in love” and discover the “wonderful(lol)” world of dating.

This is the perfect summer read! If you are curating a summer TBR this should definitely be on your list! All the quintessential summer elements are present. It’s set in Cape Cod and gives the total small beach town feel. We have beach walking, ocean, bon fires, icecream, diner, sand volleyball, taco trucks- it literally screams everything summer!

Also, in adult romances I typically don’t enjoy a love triangle but in YA romances- I find them fun and sweet! I loved seeing Amelia blossom once Kat left. When Kat was there she stayed in the shadows but I loved seeing her finally come out her shell and discover herself! I wasn’t a huge fan of Kat

Read this if you love:
Swoony young love
New love
Summer vibes
Friends to lovers
Small town

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Summer
Allison Ashley
Pub 5/5/26

If you’re in the mood for a summer YA romance that brings all the beach vibes and will have you feeling nostalgic, look no further.

Until Next Summer was Ashley’s YA debut and it did not disappoint. Amelia’s story was sweet, messy, and engaging throughout. Although this can be enjoyed at any age, the younger readers will without a doubt find a strong connection with the realistic and relatable struggles of young love, friendships, and finding yourself.

What I enjoyed:
🏝️ YA Romance
🏝️ Coming Of Age
🏝️ Small Town
🏝️ Forced Proximity
🏝️ Friendships
🏝️ Nostalgia

I decided to go the audiobook route and would absolutely recommend. Kimberly Woods did a wonderful job bringing Ashley’s words to life.

Thank you Simon Audio for the free audiobook.

[Michelle (easy.vesey.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re fun to be around when I’m happy, but safe to be around when I’m sad. And at the end of the day, you’re the kind of person I want on my side.” 🩵

I loved this book sooooo much! The setting, the characters and the general plot of the story was everything I love in a summer romance novel. If you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, then you will fall in love with this book too!

Now let’s talk about the love triangle. I absolutely adored both Gregory and Myles. They are both so sweet and thoughtful but they are just two completely different characters in terms of their hobbies/interests. And Amelia is stuck with such a hard decision because with Myles she has the no dating pact with Kat and with Gregory she knew he was always going to leave at the end of the summer. (I’m so glad I’m not in her position 😂)

There were so many cute scenes in this book that it had me smiling the entire time. I even teared up a bit at the ending because everything kind of ended abruptly and things were left open ended. I am so hoping we get a second book because I want more!

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the advanced copy! Until Next Summer releases on May 5th, so be sure to check it out!

[Ashleigh Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a good young adult story, Until Next Summer is the book for you. This book had it all. A true angsty, yearning young adult love story all set against a coastal summer back drop. This will be a must read for the summer. The absolute perfection that was captured in this story unparalleled.
The story opens with Amelia having to say goodbye to her best friend, Kat. Kat got accepted to this big deal academy that will help Kat achieve her tennis dreams. But Kat leaving means that Amelia must learn to navigate a lot of firsts on her own. And what better first to navigate than hanging out at party on your own where you meet a newcomer and your long time (off limits) crush finally decides to talk to you.
From that night on, Amelia’s summer becomes about Amelia learning who she is without Kat by her side and deciding that her summer is going to be one for the record books. But there is slight monkey wrench in the plan. Myles her longtime (forbidden) crush seems to want to spend time with Amelia. Perhaps he may even like her. But he’s forbidden since Amelia and Kat made a pact that neither one of them would date him since they both liked them. Then enter, Gregory, the newcomer. The one Amelia was never expecting but developed a beautiful and meaning friendship with Gregory.
Amelia spends the summer working, spending time with Myles, and hanging out with Gregory. She makes new friendships and begins her traditions. She finds herself and realizes that perhaps who she was was hidden beneath her friendship with Kat.
What follows is a tale as old as time. Boy falls for girl and girl falls for two boys. Girl breaks promise with friend and that friendship comes crashing down around her. But what makes this story unique is the layered nuances to each character. The depth to which these teenagers feel and react. Never once did Allison Ashley pull a Dawson’s Creek and make these teenagers sound/act like adults. No, she let them be the teenagers they are and make mistakes. I never once felt that the story wouldn’t be believable. It was so grounded in reality that you could hope for either relationship to work. You could shake your head at Amelia knowing that keeping her secret may cause a problem with Kat. Your heart would break when one of the guys offers up his heart. And your heart broke as you realized that perhaps Amelia and Kat may never have the same friendship again. And at the very end your heart could swell and smile at the promise of hope.
If there is not a second book, I will be very disappointed. I want more of this story. I want more of Amelia and Myles and Gregory. I want more of the setting and small-town charm. Everything about this book worked in the best ways possible.

[Yvonne W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first YA novel from Allison Ashley does not disappoint! It made me have all the feels and brought back memories of high school. As much as this is a love story, I found the friendship dynamics to be the most captivating. The story follows two best friends, Amelia and Kat, who try to navigate their friendship after Kat moves away to NY for school after her junior year. She moves right before summer starts leaving Amelia in Cape Cod all alone. In their friendship, Kat is the outgoing one, who always has the attention on her. Amelia is the wallflower, usually following Kat along. When Kat leaves, Amelia is left to find her own way, to move forward without Kat by her side. As all friendships go through ups and downs, theirs is no different. Initially, Amelia feels like she's been left behind and neglected but she tries to get out of her comfort zone and makes new friends. In the process, she also finds herself. Two of the friends she makes happen to be handsome boys, Myles - the one both she and Kat have been crushing on for the longest, and Gregory - the new boy in town for the summer. Both are smitten with Amelia and both have their good qualities. If I were Amelia, I would have a hard time choosing too! One of the other interesting plot points to the story is this pact that Kat and Amelia made when they were younger where they promised never to let a guy (Myles in particular) come between their friendship. In order to ensure that doesn't happen, Myles is supposed to be off limits. But when Amelia and Myles gets closer, sparks fly and it becomes harder to keep that pact. The story is very relatable and what every teen has probably experienced at some point. It's all part of growing up and I think Allison Ashley captured that very well. Friendships grow apart and new ones form. Every friendship will go through obstacles. Going through them and how we handle them is part of growing up. I enjoyed reading this story a lot and I hope there will be a sequel! I feel like the story isn't over. I want to see what happens to Amelia and Kat. I also really want to see what happens to Gregory! He is my favorite! He didn't even get to give her the playlist! Sometimes the feelings and love might be there, but the timing just isn't right. But what if the timing becomes right? Will they have a chance?? I really hope Allison Ashley will consider writing a sequel! I will definitely read it! Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Pulse and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Until Next Summer by Allison Ashley is a lighthearted, coming-of-age story that is the perfect beach read. Amelia and Kat have been best friends since kindergarten, and even though they have very different personalities, they are inseparable. Kat is outgoing, makes friends easily, and loves being the center of attention while Amelia is more reserved, sentimental, and tends to just go along with Kat’s plans and ideas. The entire story takes place the summer before their junior year of high school. Kat moves away at the beginning of the summer, and Amelia is nervous about navigating life without her.

Although the two promise to talk every day, Amelia and Kat quickly grow apart, talking and texting less often as the story continues. The book is told from Amelia’s point of view, taking place in a picturesque beach town. Amelia starts to come out of her shell as she begins making new friends, working at a local diner, rescuing stray animals, and getting to know Myles (who she has had a crush on forever) and Gregory (the new kid). Much of the story revolves around Amelia’s feelings for both Myles and Gregory and the confusion it causes her.

This was a sweet and light read that could be enjoyed by teens of any age. All the characters were likeable, even though they made mistakes, and they felt like real teens. Their parents were kind and involved in their lives, which was refreshing. I enjoyed seeing Amelia’s growth throughout the story. Also, Gregory. Gregory was one of my favorite characters, and I loved how he saw and understood Amelia. Although this could be a standalone book, there were some unanswered questions, and I do hope there will be a sequel. Perhaps next summer?

[Ashley Kalhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew going into this one that it’s a YA novel, so I wanted to make sure I read it with the perspective of its potential audience, and also paid attention to its content as a parent. So for other moms out there trying to determine if this is appropriate for their teen I’ll include content warnings:
• minimal language, however there is at least one F word and a few others sprinkled throughout.
• only mild physical intimacy (just kissing) with mentions of virginity and a side character’s sexual history who is in college. Very minimal and no details.

I’ve read this authors adult romance novels before and was impressed with how she changed her “voice” to reflect the age group demographic and match the main character. I think there are a lot of relatable things about this story, and even though I’m in my 30s it brought me back to complicated friendships and relationships from my teenage years. The characters dealt with issues the way I imagine most would at their age without coming off as immature. I think teens will really love this one, and the two MMCs are great and easy to root for!
My biggest criticism with this story is that it felt unfinished. I was actually shocked when it ended, because I didn’t feel like any of the conflict was truly resolved. It almost felt like the first book in a series, so I’m wondering if the author has future plans for a sequel. The unsatisfying ending was kind of a let down for me, so I wish it had been clear from the start if it was a stand alone novel or not. If another book came out I’d be excited to read it and find out what happens, so I can’t rate this book too low if my biggest complaint is that I’d like more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Merisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Teen and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

This was my first read by the author, and I loved it. This perfectly captures the summer magic of a teenager finishing high school and preparing for all that summer has to offer.

This was the perfect blend of romance/love triangle and a story about identity through the lens of friendship. I really enjoyed the growth that Amelia goes through at the departure of her best friend, Kat, after existing in her shadow for so long.

I think what works well is that Ashley writes Amelia with a somewhat precociousness, so even when she makes mistakes, it's still hard not to root for her when she finally stands up for herself. I found this story relatable because it explores the uncertainty of being separated from your best friend and the constant effort to hold onto the friendship, while trying not to acknowledge how different things will be because of distance and time constraints.

Now for the boys: Gregory and Myles. They were such great foils to each other, so I could see how Amelia would get caught up in liking them both. There is such good energy to the way the characters are written and presented in the story that makes this incredibly realistic. At times, I wanted to shake some sense into Amelia and Gregory because I just wanted them to use their words to communicate with one another, but I also acknowledge how incredibly hard that could be, given what both characters had been dealing with privately.

My only real complaint is that I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and that there needed to be a bit more to resolve the conflict between Amelia and Gregory.

A great YA summer read that captures the essence of summer! Also, justice for Gregory!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: After Amelia's best friend Kat moves away, Amelia is left to spend her first summer without Kat, but their pact they made from years still stands: to never get with Myles Ford, the guy they both have a crush on. But Amelia finds herself getting closer to Myles while also getting to know Gregory, the new boy, who is only around for the summer. As Amelia's feelings become jumbled, she will have to decide who to pick, and what she is willing to sacrifice as a result.

I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for a free eARC copy in exchange for my honest review. All of my thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

I enjoyed reading this book. I found myself really resonating with Amelia, and some of the elements of her struggles with her friendship with Kat. The author captures the hardship of maintaining friendships, and the anxiety that surrounds that because I feel as if I have had very similar moments to Amelia in my life. Love triangles can be very hit or miss for me, but I did not have a problem with how it was executed here. I didn't mind either option. Though, I picked up some cues at the end that indicate to me, that one option is stronger/better for Amelia and likely the end game result because I am assuming that this is going to be a series with at least another book, so this book is just the beginning. The plot wasn't super action-heavy, but the pacing was still good, and I moved through this book with ease. Overall, it was a very solid and good read.