A Very Bavarian Summer

Reid (A Very Bavarian Christmas) returns to quaint Bavarian Falls, Mich., and its German-themed counterpart, Leavenworth, Wash., for this well-intentioned if trite Christmas-in-July romance. Thirty-two-year-old Holly Brigham grew up dealing with the stress of her father’s health problems; now she’s seeking stability with her boyfriend, Nik, who’s inconveniently moved to Leavenworth. When Nik cancels his summer visit to Bavarian Falls, an anxious Holly decides to visit Leavenworth instead. There, her problems multiply—an old romantic interest shows up eager to win her over, and Nik’s so busy planning the town’s summer Christmas festival he scarcely has time for her. As plans for the festival move ahead, Holly’s inspired by a friend to use a set of 20 question prompts to reconnect with Nik, and the two gradually discover that their relationship need not be picture-perfect to be worthwhile. While Reid’s protagonists are relatable, her clumsy exposition and unsubtle dialogue leave little to the imagination, with characters often directly stating the book’s lessons (“Maybe they could embrace a different... kind of love? Not a love that criticized or hid but one that sought understanding and rose above? A love that was fixed on the only One who could repair and restore what, and who, was broken,” Holly muses at one point). This love story lacks spark. (July)