Book Review : Sixteenth Summer

Book: Sixteenth Summer
Author: Michelle Dalton

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date Published: May 3, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Galley
Date Read: May 1, 2011

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love. 


But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

This book is sooooo cute and happy! Not that it's a happy story per se, but reading it I was just smiling from ear to ear. It's a perfectly amazing summer story: a realistic tone, while still being cute and a little corny... everything that summer romances are. I got this book through galleygrab, but I didn't have the motivation to read it until I read an awesome review of the book that described it similar to Simon Romantic Comedies (which are some of my guilty pleasures). This book is just as cute but goes a little deeper than most SRM.

What I especially enjoyed about this book was while it was attraction at first sight, things were awkward. Neither said the right thing and they held back comments as to not upset the other. But then once they can actually be themselves around each other, they create a real connection, despite being from two totally different places. Its the kind of love that you don't know how long it will last, but are grateful for it because that person has made you better.

I absolutely love Anna and her snarkiness. She has an awesome voice. And the banter between her and Will is just adorable. I honestly could keep gushing about how cute/adorable/and other synonyms this book is, but let me just end this by saying I enjoyed it so much that I look forward to immediately buying anything else Michelle comes out with in the future.

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Book Review : Invincible Summer

Book: Invincible Summer
Author: Hannah Moskowitz

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date Published: April 19, 2011
Pages: 269
Source: e-galley
Date Read: April 18, 2011

Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Not your typical beach read.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I really wanted to like this book. It seemed like my cup of contemporary tea. But excuse my language here, this book was just fucked up. I don't know how else to explain the lack of cohesiveness, despite that it is coming from, what you can tell, is an amazing writer. At first this book reminded me of the Summer I Turned Pretty, except in the boy's point of view and with less dialogue. It was really honest and sarcastic, different then other books.

Then it just started getting a little too deep, and weird for me. So in short I am just going to write what I liked and what I didn't like, as I have no other way to describe the mess that is in my head regarding this book. (Warning: contains spoilers)

What I liked:

• Felt like I was in the Chase's head - good writing
• talk of college - I could relate to the feeling that in the beginning college was the big dream, the first step into the future and when its done you are just left a cynical mess with dreams dashed by office life reality.
• the plight of the deaf brother - it was really honest who sometimes they resent him and other time adore him
• the ending was beautiful

What I didn't like:

• Chase obssession with his older brother - borderline creepy
• Claude obsession with older brother (Chase) - past the borderline of creepy... I mean she wanted her brother to catcher her 12 yr old self making out with a waitress??
• The Camus quotes - I get it, your inetllectual
• A 20 year old girl having sex wither her pseudo-bf's 16yr old brother
• What type of family splits up their kids permanently when getting a divorce??
• Feels like I am running a marathon with the way the story jumps - ehh writing

Like I said I really wanted to like this book and I did REALLY LIKE some parts of it. And, for the most part, all the negatives had potential to be positives. I  like witty and smart writing, I like deep books about families and dysfunction, and I love brotherly love triangles. But for some reason this book (as a whole) just didn't work for me. I did finish it though just because I really wanted to know how it would end, but I can't lie and say I didn't skip some pages.

(This part added days later)

Looking back now, I have been thinking about this book a lot. So I have changed my review from two to a three star rating. I don't think I would buy this book or ever read it again, but I definitely think it is a book everyone should read and make their own opinions of.

Ratings:

Plot: 2/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 3/5

Review: We'll Always Have Summer

Book: We'll Always Have Summer (Summer #3)
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Netgalley
Date Read: March 28, 2011

Summary 1:

Belly has only ever been in love with two boys, both with the last name Fisher. And after being with Jeremiah for the last two years, she's almost positive he is her soul mate. Almost. Conrad has not gotten over the mistake he made when he let Belly go even as Jeremiah has always known that Belly is the girl for him. So when Belly and Jeremiah decide to make things forever, Conrad realizes that it's now or never--tell Belly he loves her, or lose her for good.

Belly will have to confront her feelings for Jeremiah and Conrad and face a truth she has possibly always known: she will have to break one of their hearts.

Summary 2:
It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

Yani's Analysis:
I was so excited to start this book as soon as I finished It’s Not Summer Without You, not just because I wanted to see what would happen with Belly, but also the rest of the summer gang. The book is set two years later and this whole time Jeremiah and Belly have been together, as a real couple. It opens up with them in their normal everyday lives at college and you can just see how well they work together. In fact you almost think Conrad, Who? And then as the summary says, secrets are revealed with all of culminating in a proposal!!

Belly is older, but still has this “youngness” I don’t know how else to describe about her. She believes that because she truly loves Jeremiah that it will work out. Like so many young girls that get married she has only thought about the good. Her mother won’t accept the wedding and Belly leaves her home and moves into Cousin’s beach house till the wedding. Only problem, that is where Conrad’s currently living.

I have to say I was surprised by this book. I loved the ending, and that wasn’t really the surprising part, but I really thought the way it was set up would be filled with drama and fights and broken hearts. Instead everything was handled realistically and maturely. Also Belly best friend Taylor was just amazing in this book, standing up and supporting Belly threw it all. They really grew up in this book and it was an incredible journey to read about.

While there were some things that bothered me, the ending was perfect for me. I left the book feeling really happy and hopeful. I wish that I could read more about Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad’s futures. Maybe Jenny will return to their lives in the future.


Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Endless Summer is two books in one and if you liked The Summer I Turned Pretty, I think you will definitely enjoy this lighter (romantic comedy) type novel. I love summer love novels and Hailey Abbott know how to write those well too.

Other Memorable Quotes:

Review: It's Not Summer Without You

Book: It's Not Summer Without You (Summer #2)
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Pages: 288
Source: Kindle Purchase
Date Read: March 28, 2011

Summary:

Can summer be truly summer without Cousins Beach?It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started--at Cousins Beach

Yani's Analysis:
This is one of the only series that the second book is actually better than the first. It is one year later and our favorite characters have grown up (or are more grown up then last time at least).

I thought I wouldn’t enjoy the book since most of it wouldn’t take place at the cousin’s beach house, but I loved it. The story still consists of the past and the present being woven together, but Jenny adds another narrator, Jeremiah. It was amazing seeing Jeremiah’s view on events that happened in the last book and the things currently happening. Also we get to see Belly and Conrad finally together, however it was very brief.

Now at this point I felt like I knew who Belly loved more, but I didn’t have a particular stand on who I felt she should be with. In most books, (except Nightshade) I’m always on the team that ends up with the girl, not because I like being right (although I do), but because I can tell who the real true love is. And while for myself I might like someone different, why shouldn’t the main character be with the one she really loves.

I love these summer books, because while most summer books are only about happy tales and good times. These summers are about hope, family, friends, and true love.

Review of the next book We’ll Always Have Summer: Tomorrow!

Ratings:

Plot: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Endless Summer is two books in one and if you liked The Summer I Turned Pretty, I think you will definitely enjoy this lighter (romantic comedy) type novel. I love summer love novels and Hailey Abbott know how to write those well too.

Other Memorable Quotes:

"Happiness is a Slurpee and a hot pink straw."

Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

Book: The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1)
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Pages: 276
Source: Bought
Date Read: March 27, 2011

Summary:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Yani's Analysis:

When this book was first published I heard great things about it so I bought it. I don’t remember where my mind was at the time, but I couldn’t get into it. I was annoyed by Belly, I thought she was juvenile. This time around it was her innocence and naiveté that made me love this book. It made her real. Like Cam says it’s the imperfections that make someone beautiful. I am so glad Ginger and others on twitter where raving about this book and I picked it back up.

I love “summer” books. All my life my family and I travel to the west coast of Florida for one week each summer. Every year, never missed it once. When I was 13 I met a boy there, and for the next 5 years I would see him and his family every summer. I thought it was true love, I really did, and looking back now I know it wasn’t. I think that held me back from believing that Belly really loves Conrad the first time around. The second time reading this book, I was there, I believed it, I felt it.

Along with the other events in this story, it was such a captivating read. I loved how Jenny went back and forth from present to past, to explain the character’s actions and emotions. And it wasn’t a methodical thing like one present on past chapter, it just happened when it needed to. I really really really liked this book and I seriously don’t know how I could have thought that this book wasn’t worth it, because it totally is…

Review for It’s Not Summer Without You: Tomorrow


Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles:

Endless Summer is two books in one and if you liked The Summer I Turned Pretty, I think you will definitely enjoy this lighter (romantic comedy) type novel. I love summer love novels and Hailey Abbott know how to write those well too.

Other Memorable Quotes:

"Summer was what mattered. My whole life is measured in summers."