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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sarah Dessen will always be one of my favorite authors. After Saint Anything, I was ready for another amazing romance to be swept up in, but this book is fairly different from the others. I loved getting wrapped up in the history and family piece of this book, at the same time that I felt the relationship outside of family aspect could have been a deeper, richer storyline as well. Still recommend, of course!
We all know what we're getting here in the Dessen formula. Wholesome white teen angst in the summertime.
It's so nice to imagine a world that's always friendly and innocent like this. Everyone has enough money and they know how to solve conflict. Their parents are rad too (except when they're not, and half the characters don't have money, but this gives our protagonist the opportunity to learn, but still while fully immersed in her privilege.)
Hey easily entertained people who love to read about a crush: toss this one into your beach bag, and it might help you take a nap.
I was hoping for a crush-to-relationship plot line, maybe a little sizzle. What I got was fizzle. Less than fizzle. Warm oatmeal?
It's so nice to imagine a world that's always friendly and innocent like this. Everyone has enough money and they know how to solve conflict. Their parents are rad too (except when they're not, and half the characters don't have money, but this gives our protagonist the opportunity to learn, but still while fully immersed in her privilege.)
Hey easily entertained people who love to read about a crush: toss this one into your beach bag, and it might help you take a nap.
I was hoping for a crush-to-relationship plot line, maybe a little sizzle. What I got was fizzle. Less than fizzle. Warm oatmeal?
Dessen never disappoints. Good story, strong characters, witty dialog.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent
Like many of her books, this was a delightful family story. Since I grew up with my cousins and know how special that is I liked that whole aspect of the story.
I really loved the characters and the imagery. I don’t remember this author ever dealing with teen drinking or similar topics before, but I thought it was well done and would allow a parent and teen reading this together to discuss it in a meaningful way.
3.5 stars. A YA book that was on my 50 Book Challenge list.