Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$4.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $17.46

Save: $9.97 (57%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Penelope Ward
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

When August Ends Kindle Edition

by Penelope Ward (Author), Jessica Royer Ocken (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,657 ratings
See all formats and editions
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.

What do you do when a sexy, older man moves into your family’s summer rental?

Well, apparently, you make a fool of yourself—over and over. Things didn’t exactly get off on the right foot with Noah Cavallari. Our first encounter was embarrassing, to say the least.

But despite that, I found myself waking up every day with a newfound energy. Nothing exciting ever happened on the lake—not until Noah moved into the small boathouse on our property. He’d booked it for the entire summer…and I was still trying to figure out why.

When my mother became ill, I inherited the responsibility of making sure our guests were well taken care of. I should have been finishing up college. Instead, I was living my best life…as a maid.

Dark, handsome, and mysterious, everything about Noah screamed forbidden.

I knew he was just passing through town for the summer.

I knew he was probably a little old for me.

Yet, I was drawn to him.

Not to mention, he tried to save my life when he mistakenly thought I was drowning.

I wanted him and made no secret of it.

His own attempts to warn me away soon gave way to late-night moonlight chats by the lake. We were slowly easing into a friendship that was gearing up to explode into something I might not recover from.

Because he’s leaving at the end of the summer.

And I have no idea what I’ll do when August ends.






Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 23, 2019
  4. File size
    5.1 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

When August Ends by Penelope Ward was as emotional as it was funny, sweet as it was sexy. -TotallyBooked

You better clear your schedule to read this one! WAE is on my Best of 2019 list!
-Kindle Crack Book Reviews

Beautiful and Inspirational, When August Ends is the first to make it on to my "Best of" List for 2019. FIVE STARS.
-Naughty Mom Story Time

A sweet, sexy, swoon-worthy, and emotional standalone contemporary romance that will make you think and feel so much, and has hands down been Penelope Ward's BEST novel to date! -The Romance Bibliophile

Another refreshing, addictive and unique story! Penelope Ward delivers a heartwarming, sweet and slow burn romance! -Read More Sleep Less Blog

This was one hell of a perfect love story, and true to Penelope Ward's style of writing, she throws in a twist that I once again, did not see coming!! -Wrapped Up in Reading

This 6 star story had me pulling an all nighter. I just couldn't get to sleep until I read the last page. -TDC Book Reviews

It was everything I hoped for and still more. Totally loved it, one of my 6 star reads for 2019 for sure!
-Amanda, Goodreads Reviewer

This is hands down my most favorite Penelope Ward book to date. -KinkyGirlsBookObsessions

5 "I never wanted August to End" Stars!!! -iScream Books

The sexual tension was so thick I don't think you could even cut it with a knife. -Cat's Guilty Pleasure

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07P4XVQPL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penelope Ward Books, Inc. (February 23, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 23, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,657 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Penelope Ward

Penelope Ward

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With over two million books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over thirty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
3,657 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's premise and find it engaging. They describe the romance as emotional, inspirational, and a slow-burning love story. They appreciate the characters' development and growth throughout the story. The emotional journey is described as heartwarming and empathetic. Readers praise the writing quality as solid and the pace as great. They find the humor entertaining and the story interesting throughout.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

ReadabilityRomanceCharacter developmentHeartwarmingWriting qualityHumorInterestAge gap
160 customers mention "Readability"157 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's premise and find it interesting to read. They appreciate the well-written storyline and banter between characters. The book is described as a quick, lighthearted read.

"Well Penelope Ward gave us another fantastic read. I know I say this all the time, but in Penelope’s case it is the truth!!!..." Read more

"...into it by way of Heather and Noah’s banter, dealt with some pretty heavy subject matter...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this story, it had everything I love about Penelope’s books...." Read more

"...I can't quite pinpoint what it was. I liked the characters and the plot enough. I guess I just never felt completely invested in Noah and Heather...." Read more

73 customers mention "Romance"68 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find it emotional, inspirational, and sexy. The love story between an older and younger couple is perfect, with humor and passion. Readers appreciate the sweet relationship between Noah and Heather.

"...Lovable characters, steam, angst, drama and even some unexpected twists. Her books are what I look for in a 5 star read...." Read more

"...When August Ends was the epitome of a satisfying slow-burn romance, Heather may have tried to make her moves on Noah from the beginning, but after..." Read more

"...I LOVED the friendship that formed between them, it was so sweet and the sexual tension was perfect to satisfy your romance craving..." Read more

"...He was so thoughtful and sweet in his attention, presents, and even the cake! I LOVED Heather!!!..." Read more

65 customers mention "Character development"62 positive3 negative

Customers love the characters and find them engaging. They appreciate the character growth and development through the story. The characters evoke emotions and make readers laugh, cry, and become invested in their happy ending. Readers also enjoy the buildup between Noah and Heather.

"...She gives the reader a little bit of everything in her stories. Lovable characters, steam, angst, drama and even some unexpected twists...." Read more

"...Heather was a fascinating character and utterly irresistible...." Read more

"...I can't quite pinpoint what it was. I liked the characters and the plot enough. I guess I just never felt completely invested in Noah and Heather...." Read more

"...The way his relationship with Heather evolved proved he is a wonderful man when he's with the right person...." Read more

54 customers mention "Heartwarming"54 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and relatable. They appreciate the empathetic heroine and the real-life scenarios. The characters share a soulful connection and find solace in one another. The story has moments of laughter and tears, making it feel vital and real.

"...Lovable characters, steam, angst, drama and even some unexpected twists. Her books are what I look for in a 5 star read...." Read more

"...so when they finally took that step into more, it felt vital and real...." Read more

"...This story was sweet and funny and full of heart, I enjoyed everything about it and now I need to go back and read the few books that I missed..." Read more

"...I liked Noah, as well; he was compassionate, reflective on his past, and mature...." Read more

47 customers mention "Writing quality"47 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the writing quality of the book. They found it well-written, with a great pace and perfect ending. The author's writing style was addictive and the book drew them in from the first few pages. Readers never felt disappointed when reading a Penelope Ward book.

"...I felt Penelope wrote this book perfectly...." Read more

"...I LOVED Heather!!! She had such a wonderful outlook on life even after everything she's been through!..." Read more

"...With her addictive writing, the author draws us in from the first few pages and we get hooked till the end! 🔸age gap (14 years)..." Read more

"...and when she drops several bombs, they are all well placed and perfectly executed...." Read more

31 customers mention "Humor"31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor and sexual tension in the book. They find it a fun and sweet read with a great buildup of passion.

"...This story was sweet and funny and full of heart, I enjoyed everything about it and now I need to go back and read the few books that I missed..." Read more

"...This one had it all. A little bit of angst, a little humor, and a little heartbreak. I was wonderful, by far deserves more than 5 stars!" Read more

"...But, her books also have spritzes of humor and dashes of passion." Read more

"...A beautiful story that will make you smile, laugh and shed a few tears!!! This is definitely one of my favorite reads by the author." Read more

21 customers mention "Interest"21 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's engaging story. They find it a fun and sweet read with a great buildup of passion. The book is described as life-changing, with life lessons and heartache, love, and strength. Readers appreciate the character Heather's positive outlook on life and her openness. Overall, they describe the romance as emotional, inspirational, and incredibly sexy.

"...with this book right from the start and I was thoroughly entertained all the way through...." Read more

"...I LOVED Heather!!! She had such a wonderful outlook on life even after everything she's been through!..." Read more

"...Ward created two delightfully engaging and original characters in an equally original plot that was one of my more enjoyable reads of late...." Read more

"...A slow-burn romance that is emotional, inspirational, incredibly sexy, and breathtakingly romantic...." Read more

17 customers mention "Age gap"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the age gap between the characters. They find the older man kind, strong, and beautiful. The younger woman is honest, exuberant, and generous with a generous heart and soul. It reinforces that true love has no age limits, and Heather is very mature and wise beyond her years.

"...lately I only had one type, and that was Heather Chadwick—beautiful, young, wide-eyed, honest Heather Chadwick, whom I wanted to protect with every..." Read more

"...I did like Heather quite a bit- she was tough, assertive, and mature, especially when you factor in that she was only 20/21...." Read more

"...more experienced in some areas while still retaining a bit of youthful naivete, wonder and exuberance in others...." Read more

"...I love Heathers character so much she was very mature for her age and very relatable her experiences in life have caused her to be wiser than her age..." Read more

Heather and Noah burn slow and bright!
5 out of 5 stars
Heather and Noah burn slow and bright!
“Happiness shouldn’t be about a particular place anyway. It should be something you take with you everywhere you go—transferable.”•I adored this book! It felt like old school Penelope Ward and I loved that! Her signature style of warmth, heart, real-life scenarios, and fantastic banter rolled up together and give When August Ends 5 stars.•Heather and Noah’s age gap means nothing when their chemistry is so unbelievably present. You can’t help but root for them because really, Noah is basically perfect. I endlessly enjoyed their back and forth banter! Penelope Ward does it again, as When August Ends is the perfect read to get you headed into spring!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jennifer
    5.0 out of 5 stars ~ 5 Bonnie & Clyde Stars ~
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well Penelope Ward gave us another fantastic read. I know I say this all the time, but in Penelope’s case it is the truth!!!

    She ventured into some uncharted territory with When August Ends. She tackled a taboo subject of an large age gap between the Hero and heroine. This was unlike any book I have read by Penelope and I love that she tried something new.

    The only thing I will tell you about the age difference storyline is that everything is legal. Heather is 20 years old, but Noah is much older. You do find out his age as the story progresses but if you don’t like older men with a younger woman, then you might want to pass on this book.

    I felt Penelope wrote this book perfectly. She created a slow burn between Heather and Noah and I loved that they formed a friendship along the way before anything sexual came into play. That made their relationship seem real and believable. I loved that Penelope also put in some unexpected twists, it kept me on my toes!!!!

    I was intrigued with this book right from the start and I was thoroughly entertained all the way through. I think this is probably one of my all time favorites, or at least a close second to Jake Undone. I have loved every book Penelope has written and she has a fan for life in me. I will read anything she writes!!

    I would recommend her books to all romance readers. She gives the reader a little bit of everything in her stories. Lovable characters, steam, angst, drama and even some unexpected twists. Her books are what I look for in a 5 star read. I know that I will be taken on a roller coaster ride with my emotions, but I also know that Penelope will put me back together in the end. I always have a smile on my face at the end of her books.

    Pick up When August Ends, you won’t be sorry!!!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Sarah Arndt
    4.0 out of 5 stars I was brought to tears more than once while reading.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    One thing I consistently say about Penelope Ward’s books is how much more emotionally draining they are than their blurbs might lend you to believe. When August Ends did not disappoint in that. I was brought to the edge of tears – both happy and sad – on more than one occasion while reading. Heather and Noah’s story took me on an emotional rollercoaster, that was frustrating at times, but ultimately incredibly satisfying.

    Heather’s awkward naivete and confidence almost immediately enraptured me. She was such an enigma, her youth often showed in her lack of finesse, but then in the next moment the maturity thrust upon her by the things she’d experienced would be at the forefront. Heather was a fascinating character and utterly irresistible. I was impressed by the way she went after what she wanted, and when things didn’t work out how she’d hoped, instead of avoiding everything she held her head high and persevered. She had incredible strength and sensibility beyond the years of her life.

    When August Ends was the epitome of a satisfying slow-burn romance, Heather may have tried to make her moves on Noah from the beginning, but after he rejected her advances, they built a solid and meaningful friendship. The attraction they were both so obviously feeling took a backseat to developing trust and companionship, so when they finally took that step into more, it felt vital and real. It was more than lust and attraction; it was the essential next step into their future. As much as I would have loved for their romance to have started on page one, making them – and the readers – wait made the entire experience more poignant.

    I loved Noah for the way he was with Heather, especially when he was actively avoiding and rejecting her advances. He could have easily been cruel and squashed her spirit, but he was thoughtful and direct. He left no room for interpretation of what he wanted – or didn’t want in this case – but he wasn’t demeaning, and that said a lot about his character. The more we learned about him, the more obvious it was that the way he handled Heater wasn’t a fluke, he was considerate and kind, even when he believed himself something different. He was exactly the mix of kind and straightforward Heather needed.

    When August Ends, for all the levity that was injected into it by way of Heather and Noah’s banter, dealt with some pretty heavy subject matter. I loved that Penelope Ward didn’t use those themes as arbitrary plot devices, but rather just life moments that Heather and Noah lived through and learned from. They were never things that happened to them; they were things that moved them forward. The heavy themes were dealt with thoughtfully and respectfully, and I greatly appreciated that.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • The Book Boyfriend Addict
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story full of heart
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 Stars

    “So, what is your type, then?”
    I wanted to tell her the truth, that lately I only had one type, and that was Heather Chadwick—beautiful, young, wide-eyed, honest Heather Chadwick, whom I wanted to protect with every ounce of my soul as much as I wanted to taint her.

    Instead of living it up at college like most people her age would be, Heather Chadwick is stuck at her family’s home, taking care of her sick mother and playing host and housemaid to the people who rent the boathouse on their property. Nothing exciting ever really happens for her until the summer Noah Cavallari shows up and rents the boathouse for the entire summer. Dark, brooding, and much older than her, Heather is instantly drawn to him, although she can’t stop making a fool of herself every time she’s in front of him. She doesn’t know why he’s here or what caused him to rent the boathouse for so long but that doesn’t stop her from practically throwing herself at him time and again. To her frustration he shoots her down every time, though. But even though he’s made it clear that nothing romantic would ever happen between them, an easy friendship quickly forms as they spend much of their free time together. The more time that passes, the harder it’s becoming for Noah to fight his growing feelings toward Heather. Even though he’s sure he doesn’t deserve her, he can only hold out for so long but is he setting them both up for heartbreak when he ultimately gives into temptation? Especially when Heather learns the real reason Noah ended up at their boathouse and the fact that he’s still planning on taking off when August ends.

    I’ve always enjoyed Penelope Ward’s books but I’ve fallen behind on her last few releases so when I saw this new one come out I decided to jump on it and I’m glad I did! I really enjoyed this story, it had everything I love about Penelope’s books. I’m not always a fan of big age differences but in this case it totally worked and wasn’t creepy at all. Heather was young, but she was legal, and for all she’s had to deal with, she was mature beyond her years. But I also appreciated the fact that sometimes her age did shine through and you realize that she still had a lot of life to experience. Noah was in a very different point in his life when he meets Heather and I totally understood his hesitancy to not get involved with her. I actually really respected how respectful he was of her. I LOVED the friendship that formed between them, it was so sweet and the sexual tension was perfect to satisfy your romance craving (until, of course, they finally give in to their feelings, then it’s full on romance goodness!). In true Penelope Ward fashion, there were a few twists that I never expected but I loved the direction they ended up taking the story. This story was sweet and funny and full of heart, I enjoyed everything about it and now I need to go back and read the few books that I missed because it just reminded me how much I love her stories!!

    “Christ, Heather. You don’t think I feel the same things you do? You think I’m superhuman, that it’s easy to resist you? I’m just trying to do the right thing.”
    “I wish you would stop trying.”
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • S.L. Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars A tasteful age gap romance
    Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I took a chance and paid the steep price for this book because I really enjoyed the first book I read by this author. I wasn’t disappointed. I loved it. The setting and the characters were great. I love it when the author makes us wait a long time for the sex. It makes it that much more enjoyable than when they do it early on in the story. I liked Heather. She was mature for age due to he circumstances, but every once in while her age shone through with childish behaviour that was typical of a 20 year old.
    Report
  • Danni K.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mein Lieblingsbuch von Ward
    Reviewed in Germany on April 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Ich finde die Geschichte einfach mitreißend. Die (sexuelle) Spannung zwischen Heather und Noah baut sich von Seite zu Seite auf, bis es gar nicht mehr anders geht, als dass sie ihrem Verlangen nachgeben. Beide Charaktere sind sehr sympathisch, sodass ich die ganze Zeit mitfiebre, wann "die Bombe platzt". Hab ich bis heute bestimmt schon 4-5 mal gelesen und werde es mit Sicherheit noch öfter tun! Alle Daumen hoch!
    Report
  • Kris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un très bon moment de lecture
    Reviewed in France on December 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Il y a pas mal de rebondissements et le style est enlevé. Les personnages sont attachants et leur psychologie un peu plus fouillée qu’habituellement dans ce genre de roman. Je n’en attendais pas tant. J’ai bien aimé ce roman.
    Report
  • Angie (L)
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic love story ❤️❤️
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Heather’s dream was to go to college to do her nursing degree ,but her life has been put on hold she feels unable to leave her mother who has severe mental issues which got worse after her eldest daughter committed suicide and her husband abandoned the family . Heather’s day consists of seeing to their household chores , sorting out her mother ,and when someone is staying at their boathouse do the necessary there , she also works at a local pub . Little did she know that when Noah booked the boat house for the whole month of August her life was going to change . The first meeting between Heather & Noah was not good ,he’s very standoffish but that doesn’t stop Heather from wanting to know more about this handsome man . Over time slowly but surely the attraction between the pair begins to grow but Noah’s reason why he has particularly chosen to come to this area is a bit of a mystery . It’s a beautiful love story and of course the inevitable happens between them ,and we find out the reason why Noah chose to stay there . When you think all is going well for the pair there’s a life threatening situation which threatens their future happiness . Will Noah & Heather finally have a HEA ? ....... 🤔🤔...... what I will say that the end is perfect 😍😍.
    Report
  • Liash
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
    Reviewed in Australia on March 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was such a fun and sweet read! There is no real angst, and thankfully it doesn't follow the standard contemporary romance trope where communication (or misunderstanding) is an issue between the MCs. Heather and Noah have no trouble talking to each other - it's just Noah admitting his feelings for Heather and then giving in to them that is the issue.

    I loved their connection - that they 'got' each other on so many levels despite their age gap, and could talk for hours about so many different and worldly topics. Even the true reason Noah was there wasn't cause for alarm or major issue between them.

    Heather was such a fun FMC - she was sassy, brutally honest and upfront at times, but also caring, considerate and kind. She sacrificed so much to look after her mentally ill mother, and put everyone before herself. She also wasn't too proud or stubborn to accept help when she knew she needed it, which was so refreshing! In short, she was very emotionally mature for her age. I loved that she went for what she wanted, but also had enough self respect to know when to back down and regroup, or walk away in a few cases too.

    Noah may have taken his time giving in to his feelings and desires, but the alternating POV really helped us understand his reservations and concerns. He was a kind and caring guy who had good morals that he held on to. What he did for Heather and her mother changed their lives in so many ways - he was amazing!

    Definitely a book I'd recommend, but then this author is always a one-click buy for me so I'm not surprised in the least that I enjoyed it so much.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report