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Verdict: A breezy, sexy summer romance: newly divorced math teacher Ashleigh plans to be a tourist in her own city, and her best friend sends his army buddy Kellan along instead. Friends with benefits is the deal — until it isn’t. Readers love the chemistry, the New York sights and Lori Prince’s audiobook; some found Ashleigh’s self-sabotage wearing.
Best for: Readers who want a light, steamy butch/femme romance with a city backdrop.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.12 Goodreads average across 437 ratings, 4.1 on StoryGraph from 76 reviews, and 4.5 stars across 124 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Friends with benefits, summer fling, opposites attract, butch/femme, second chance at love after divorce.
Brooklyn Summer is Maggie Cummings’s 2020 contemporary lesbian romance from Bold Strokes Books. Ashleigh McAllister’s ex-wife left her for a man, and she keeps bumping into the couple in their too-small Brooklyn neighbourhood. She’s living back with her parents and needs a little excitement.
It holds a 4.12 average across 437 Goodreads ratings, with 78% of them four or five stars, 4.1 on StoryGraph from 76 reviews, and 4.5 stars across 124 Amazon ratings.
What Is Brooklyn Summer About?
Kellan Dwyer, fresh out of the army, is cat-sitting in Brooklyn before heading home to a scripted future at her family’s resort in Colorado. Her only plan is to have a blast.
Ashleigh and Kellan agree that friends with benefits is fun and sexy — but romance is a terrible idea. With the New York skyline as a backdrop, keeping feelings in check gets harder.
What Works in This Book
- Chemistry: Reviewers call it excellent, with super steamy scenes.
- New York: Readers enjoy the sightseeing — a love story times two with the city.
- Kellan and Liam: Readers love the understanding, open-minded Kellan and Ashleigh’s bar-owner best friend.
- Audiobook: Listeners call Lori Prince’s narration a perfect fit for a light, sexy, low-angst story.
Book Synopsis
A divorced teacher and an army vet spend a summer seeing New York — and each other.
Can a summer of passion become something more?
My Review
Readers say it made them happy: heartwarming, romantic and full of dialogue that makes a short timeframe feel real. A couple call it their favourite Maggie Cummings book.
Criticism focuses on Ashleigh. One reader found her constant self-sabotage unlikable, another felt odd about a 38-year-old whose parents cut her sandwiches and fold her laundry, and one wanted more on the ex-wife. The opening chapters are slow for some, one found a teased secret too obvious, and one reader gave up at 31% for lack of interest.
My honest note: A sexy beach read — if you can be patient with Ashleigh.
| Element | In Brooklyn Summer |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Ashleigh McAllister (high school math teacher) & Kellan Dwyer (army veteran) |
| Core tropes | Friends with benefits, summer fling, butch/femme |
| Setting | Brooklyn and New York City over one summer |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 242 pages (paperback) |
| Series | Standalone |
| Content notes | Divorce, an ex who left for a man |
How Spicy Is Brooklyn Summer?
Very — reviewers highlight super steamy sex scenes.
StoryGraph has no content warnings submitted; the main heavy theme is Ashleigh’s divorce.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want hot, light and romantic. It is on our low-angst lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: self-sabotaging heroines frustrate you.
In short: Hot city, hotter summer.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 37% five stars, 41% four, 16% three, 3% two and under 1% one. On StoryGraph it averages 4.1 from 76 reviews.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The chemistry first. Second, New York. Third, Kellan and Liam. Fourth, Lori Prince.
What readers argue about and complain about: Ashleigh’s self-sabotage, above everything. Second, a slow start. Third, speed of falling in love.
The comparison worth making first: On the Rocks, another steamy low-angst romance with a teacher heroine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How spicy is Brooklyn Summer?
Very. Reviewers mention super steamy sex scenes, and one who went looking for sexy butch/femme reads says it didn’t disappoint.
Is Brooklyn Summer low angst?
Mostly. Readers call it light and relatively angst-free, though Ashleigh carries baggage from her divorce.
Is it instalove?
Readers disagree: one felt their love was real despite the short timeframe, another says they fall in love rather fast.
Is the audiobook good?
Yes. Several listeners praise Lori Prince’s narration, and one listened because of her.
Is Brooklyn Summer on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99.
If You Loved Brooklyn Summer, Read These Next
Try On the Rocks or the summery The Road Trip Agreement. Browse our low-angst list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Brooklyn Summer sets out to be a light, sexy summer romance, and the chemistry delivers. What holds it back is a heroine some readers found hard to root for. Recommended for beach season. Check Brooklyn Summer on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Brooklyn Summer ranks as a good summer romance — hot, breezy.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.12 average across 437 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 78% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 4.1 on StoryGraph from 76 reviews
- ✓ 4.5 stars across 124 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Friends with benefits
- ✓ Excellent chemistry
- ✓ Summer timeframe
- ✓ Fast for one
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Beloved Kellan
- ✓ Liam
- ✓ Self-sabotaging Ashleigh
- ✓ Coddling parents
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Breezy
- ✓ Lots of dialogue
- ✓ Slow start
- ✓ Obvious secret for one
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ Heartwarming
- ✓ Divorce baggage
- ✓ Low angst
- ✓ Happy-making
Heat Level ★★★★★ 4.5/5
- ✓ Super steamy
- ✓ Butch/femme
- ✓ Freaking hot
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Romantic
- ✓ Summer to more
- ✓ Warm
- ✓ Satisfying
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Lori Prince audiobook
- ✓ Beach read
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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