Book Review: Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey

 

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult Fiction/Romance

Pub. Date: May 5, 2026

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Slightly South of Simple, 

Feels Like Falling, Beach House Rules, A Happier Life,

Under the Southern Sky, The Wedding Veil, and

The Summer of Songbirds 

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong."

 

Daisy Stevens is burnt out; her life as a NICU nurse is exhausting, and after a rough time at work, she is hoping to start over at the coastal town of Cape Carolina in North Carolina. She is looking for a simpler way of life, but things start very complicated when, on her first day on the job, the local high school baseball coach, Mason Thaysden, brings in an abandoned baby he found in the dumpster. This kind of thing doesn't happen in sleepy Cape Carolina, so this sends shockwaves through the community. As Daisy spends more time with the abandoned baby, she not only starts to feel closer to the baby, but also to Mason as they spend more time together with his family and friends in the community. More secrets are about to unfold in Cape Carolina, and perhaps this isn't as simple as Daisy thought it was going to be. Kristy Woodson Harvey's Summer State of Mind is a family drama filled with small-town Southern charm and family secrets.
 
At first, I really enjoyed Daisy as she is starting her life over in a coastal community to escape the trauma that she left behind in the busy city. What better way to start over than in the town that once brought her solace? But things have been complicated since she arrived. Also, I enjoyed her budding romance with Mason, the baseball coach, and I loved the subplot of small-town baseball. This added to the "summery" feel of the novel; however, as the story progressed, I had so many issues with Daisy. I get that she is escaping trauma, but she brings all that baggage and more to Cape Carolina and becomes overly attached to her patient. I feel like she crossed some ethical lines in the story, and it really bothered me. Her over-attachment became really unhealthy, so unfortunately, this part of the story really rubbed me the wrong way. 
 
What did work in Summer State of Mind was the fantastic Southern setting, which you can always count on from Harvey. I also enjoyed Mason's family, including his quirky Aunt Tilley, who is also trying to escape her past and start over her life in her 50s. I do feel like she was written to be much older than she was, but other than that, I liked her subplot, including the entire Thaysden clan. 
 
I do feel like Summer State of Mind, compared to her other novels, lacked those extra special touches that make it a "summer" novel. It felt more like a family drama with a coastal setting. Summer State of Mind dealt with some heavier topics, so it wasn't as light a summer read as I was hoping. Nonetheless, I think Harvey's fans will enjoy returning to Cape Carolina and being drawn in by all the small-town antics. Not to mention the burning question of whose baby is it?
 
In the comments below, let me know if you are a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey and if you plan to read Summer State of Mind this summer.