As the weather warms up, everyone in Starr’s Fall has one thing on their minds… ice cream. And Zoe Wilkinson is the person to help them out. Running the town’s only ice cream shop—The Latest Scoop—she should be the most popular person in town, at least every day that the sun’s shining.
But, in spite of growing up in Starr’s Fall, Zoe has reached the age of twenty-eight without letting anyone deeply into her life. Her wild teenage years seem to be all anyone remembers, perhaps not helped by her spiky pink hair, and sometimes even spikier attitude.
That is, until fourteen-year-old Sophie comes into her store, and tries to steal something. Zoe calls her out, only to attract the ire of Sophie’s furious father, Dan Bryant –a surprisingly sexy middle-aged dad who Zoe would probably develop a huge crush on, if he wasn’t busy defending his daughter.
When she gets home to realise Sophie and Dan are in fact also her new neighbors, she knows she has to make nice. Besides, she can’t help but see a bit of her own teenage tearaway self in sulky Sophie.
But, as the summer sun blazes overhead, will letting a lost teenage girl and a man who gives her butterflies into her life be enough to warm up Zoe’s frozen, frightened heart?
About The Author
My Review
This book is about hidden loneliness, complicated family ties, and the quiet ways small towns hold space for people finding their footing. In Summer Skies Over Starr’s Fall, Kate Hewitt introduces Zoe Wilkinson, the pink-haired, punk-styled ice cream shop owner whose bold exterior masks a deeply caring heart. Her devotion to her ailing parents adds emotional richness, and her guarded independence makes her journey toward connection feel thoughtful and earned.
Dan Bryant’s arrival in Starr’s Fall brings a layered family storyline that adds warmth and realism to the novel. His relationship with his teenage daughter, Sophie, is especially well done, capturing the messiness of parenting after divorce with sensitivity and compassion. The initial clash between Sophie and Zoe creates an engaging starting point, naturally leading into a tender, slow-burn romance.
The love story unfolds gently, allowing character growth and emotional healing to take center stage. Familiar series elements—community, second chances, and found family—are very much present, making this a comforting and sincere addition to Starr’s Fall. While quieter in tone, the novel offers heartfelt moments and steady emotional payoff that fans of character-driven small-town romance will appreciate.
My Rating
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