Reviews

Love and Summer by William Trevor

janneyf's review

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5.0

Trevor at his best!

essjay1's review against another edition

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5.0

A masterclass in subtle writing. This book has so many levels. The closely observed characters are so real we know them, and through each person the inner life of the village is revealed to us over a short 200 pages. This author has made every word count, the nuance and the depth of feeling he manages to convey is brilliantly done. Books like this are why I read novels. So good.

cmcarr's review

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1.0

I just couldn't get into this book. I've never read anything else by Trevor, but I know people like his work. The story here was essentially an extensive character study, but I was just never drawn in. Luckily it was short, so I finished it anyway.

susanbrooks's review

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3.0

Irish story of some characters in a small town - love, desire, memories. Loved his writing but the story began to feel too fuzzy and vague.

phillipjedwards's review

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3.0

Beautifully written, somewhat elegiac. Think of Brief Encounter set in 1950's Ireland, only with bicycles instead of the train.

angiepantsdance's review

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1.0

Did not enjoy. Felt like there was no guts to the romance, and I was bored the whole way through.

clarecg's review

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3.0

recommendation from Julia

melineegout's review against another edition

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4.0

Reading this felt like a July afternoon in a park. It was an absolutely beautiful story about a young woman who falls in love with the wrong person. The characters and the emotions that they go through are extremely well-written, Ellie and Florian but also the side characters like Miss Connulty were very touching. The only flaw that I found in the book was the plot, which felt too long at the beginning of the novel.

owleyedjoe's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

awkwardcoffeebean's review against another edition

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DNF @ 136 pages.
I was more than halfway done and i still wasn’t really gripped. I enjoy certain aspects of the writing, but for now, it’s not holding my attention.