The Summer I First Saw You

The Summer Series, Book 5

By: Elizabeth O'Roark

Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke

An angsty, age gap, forbidden romance from bestselling author, Elizabeth O'Roark.

Once upon a time, my buddy’s niece was a toddler in a swim diaper following me around the beach. Now Daisy’s twenty-one, the loveliest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on, and blackmailing me into letting her stay for the summer.

If she’s not bent over on my deck in yoga pants, she’s in a bikini that covers far less. She makes me laugh when I want to stay pissed off and forces me to remember all the things I used to love. If only she wasn’t so damn young and so incredibly off-limits.

The tension between us is getting harder to resist, but giving in would destroy some of my oldest friendships. Worst of all, though?

It might destroy Daisy too.

©2024 Elizabeth O'Roark (P)2024 Elizabeth O'Roark

A cute summer romance

The romance between these two is just so good! They kept me wanting more! A 5 star for sure!

Omg I can’t believe it’s over!

Wow just wow! So good! The narrators did an amazing job with this book and Elizabeth just wow! I am only sad that this was the last book!

Wonderful Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Emotional!

Elizabeth O’Roark pens another fantastic story set in her “Summer” series, an age-gap romance like no other and one that hooks you in like no other too. Once I started this book, not only did I not want to put it down, but nothing else around me mattered except what was going to happen next. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they were easy to care about and you root for them to get their act together before you know it and by getting their act together means stop denying their feelings for each other. I adored the two lead characters, Daisy, the bubbly twenty-one-year-old college student, and Harrison, the brooding lawyer who is drowning his sorrow and failures away in a bottle. Harrison is Daisy’s uncle’s best friend and eleven years older, and that is enough for her to be off-limits to him, but his reasons are genuine and with her in mind, and why he refuses to give in to his attraction for her. And when she shows up at his place and sees what state he is in, she blackmails him into letting her stay with him and he begrudgingly gives in. And when she shows up at his place and sees what state he is in, she blackmails him into letting her stay with him and he begrudgingly gives in. It was great to watch these two, with her wanting him, and he trying not to want her, going as far as avoiding her by staying at work. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and as admirable as Harrison was, he could only deny himself for so long, but in the end he does what he thinks is the right thing for her, but is it really? And the secrets they are keeping to themselves adds to their own inner turmoil, but all come out in the end. This wonderfully written and plotted story has the perfect balance of drama, angst, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn but so worth the wait romance. Elizabeth O’Roark, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 The fabulous Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke deliver an outstanding performance portraying these characters, giving each a voice that is fitting, and I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable as just as I imagined the characters to sound. Brentmoor was a natural in Daisy’s role, grasping every side of her personality, from her sunny demeanor to her most vulnerable moments. Clarke aces it as Harrison, and he too grasped every aspect of his personality, from his broody grumpiness to caring and protective side. Both were just as amazing performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. These two made a great team, their voices and performances complemented each other and they set the perfect tone for the story. You could hear how much heart they put into their performance as they capture all the characters’ emotions and have you feeling each one. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance elevates this already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another wonderful listen.

A sizzling summer slow-burn that if ignited beautifully

This is the perfect casting for Harrison and Daisy. This story features an 11 year age gap and is told in duet style. PERFECTION.

I loved Jason as the older, cautious, broody man who has held Daisy’s heart for as long as she can remember. Jason, very subtly, captures a man who has been broken; his marriage ending and his life not being what he had pictured — the lost adventure of his youth. Harrison has lost his compass and is wallowing. Self destructing. I love broody, grumpy Jason, and as Harrison’s relationship and healing evolves alongside Daisy…well, Jason shines as Harrison opens himself up to his future.

So when Daisy ends up crashing with him because of her own tricky situation, Harrison finds himself face to face with a woman and life he had previously lost touch with.

Samantha is EXQUISITE as Daisy, a 21 year old woman who cannot stay at home (for reasons you will find as the book progresses). She captures Daisy’s sunshine, energy, and sexual magnitude with a mature grace that is felt both authentic and ethereal. Samantha has such a chameleon voice— as she voiced some of the older female characters in the story it felt just as real as listening to Daisy’s voice felt.

Jason & Samantha brought tension, heat, and a sense of coming home to both of these characters. This age gap has an 11 year age difference yet the acting choices made the chemistry sizzle.

another 5 star book in this series!

i’ve never picked up an elizabeth o’roark book and not been absolutely consumed start to finish, and this was no exception. it had everything i love in a forbidden romance, the push and pull, the tension, the sneaking around, the connnection they never saw coming. it was the perfect final book to this series i love soo so much. i didn’t know if anything could surpass my love for the first book in this series, but this may have done it.

samantha brentmoor was obviously incredible, as always. and dare i say this was some of jason clarke’s best/hottest work ever??? i fear i will never recover.

Perfectly Cast Duet-Style Narration!

I knew who was narrating this book when I read an early arc, and it sounded even better than I imagined! Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke perform this audiobook in duet-style narration, and when I tell you how perfect these two were to voice Daisy and Harrison…I mean it! Samantha went with a lighter, seductive tone to capture Daisy’s youth and sassy personality. Still, she layered her performance with an emotional vulnerability that made you empathize with everything Daisy was going through. Jason used his signature deep growly tone to encompass Harrison’s older age and inner conflict when being tempted by and discovering his true feelings for Daisy. Samantha and Jason were spot on delivering hilarious witty banter, heartfelt moments, and steamy times between these two that will absolutely make you swoon and melt.

The Best Age Gap Romance!!

I LOVED this book. It has all the best ingredients, a Quirky girl, older man, spice, romance😍😍 I loved the narrators as much as the story

Elizabeth O'Roark Always Delivers

Overall this is a heartfelt slow-burn love story with spectacular narration. Steam wasn't overly abundant but it was well written and placed. Age gap was also handled well. Story wasn't too deep, but wasn't fluffy either. It was an easy listen.

Clark and Brentmoor were perfect in duet narration. I know duet style is more expensive for authors, but it really enhanced the listen for me. Highly recommend this audiobook.

Sorry to see this series end…

Elizabeth O’Roark put the cherry on top of the Summer series sundae with The Summer I First Saw You!
 
Harrison has known Daisy her whole life, literally.  She’s his best friend’s niece.  He’s watched her grow and taught her how to surf.  Now she’s in his house and bears little resemblance to the teenager with a huge chip on her shoulder that he remembers.  Even worse, she knows that he’s been lying to everyone and she’s using that to her advantage.  Daisy needs a place to stay for the summer before she goes back to college to finish her degree so why not use Harrison’s house while he’s not there?  Only he is there and not the same cool, collected man she’s crushed on for most of her life.  Daisy and Harrison are both keeping secrets from the people who love them, but stuck together for the summer, sharing those secrets with each other, and succumbing to the attraction too strong to fight, they form a bond that heals their broken pieces.  But will it be strong enough to hold when every truth is revealed?
 
Samantha Brentmoor perfectly captured Daisy’s hard-won sunny outlook and her bratty teasing of Harrison.  She also navigated the dark parts of Daisy’s story with vulnerability and grace.  Jason Clarke’s tormented delivery of Harrison’s inner monologue as he fought his attraction for Daisy had me laughing out loud at times.  Jason portrayed Harrison’s journey to healing and falling for Daisy flawlessly.  I adored hearing these two narrate this story!
 
I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth has for us next!  I know I’m wildly curious about Harrison’s brother Oliver, now.

Captivating age-gap, forbidden romance!

I completely devoured this age-gap, forbidden romance! I have been waiting for the mysterious Harrison's story and it did not disappoint! Harrison had outlined his whole life, and felt like a failure when it didn't go as planned. Now he is avoiding his friends, afraid of telling them the truth. When his best friend's young niece shows up on his doorstep, needing a place to stay, he is reluctant to give in at first. But Daisy is quick to discover his truth and uses it to blackmail him into getting what she wants. Daisy is the breath of fresh air that Harrison needs. She loves the outdoors, and surfing, and she helps Harrison discover how to enjoy life again. Harrison has known Daisy her whole life, but now she is a woman, and she tempts his every thought. Daisy has loved Harrison since she was young. Now he is single, and she will do what it takes to show she is perfect for him. When they finally give in to their desires, it is explosive! But what happens when those they love most discover their secret affair? What happens when Harrison finds out the secrets that Daisy has kept from him? Can their fragile new love survive, or will they lose each other for good, breaking both their hearts? I loved Harrison and Daisy so much and cheered hard for their HEA. They were both trapped in a life they didn't want, and they helped each other have fun, and discover passion and true love.
I was so captivated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke's narration. They easily bring out the push/pull between Daisy and Harrison, including with their friends and family, allowing me to experience their vulnerabilities and strengths, and sizzling chemistry! I love the emotion, and passion they brought to their performances, and I was completely invested in Daisy and Harrison’s journey from start to finish.