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seejennread's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Really cute book, but like others have said, the pop culture references felt very forced. And in 5-10 years are going to be totally obsolete.
Really cute book, but like others have said, the pop culture references felt very forced. And in 5-10 years are going to be totally obsolete.
jseymour2000's review against another edition
4.0
I Received an ARC for an Honest Review
I gave this book 4 stars. If you want to read a good coming of age book, this is for you. If you want to be happy at the end of a book, this one is for you. If you are a teenage girl trying to figure out where to go from there, this book is for you.
I’ve never read Little Women, but I feel like this is what it would have felt like with the four sisters who are all completely different. I loved how they all had names from Shakespeare plays, Desdemona, Beatrice, Katharina, and Viola. I think it would be so cool to have cohesive names like that.
I loved how each of the sisters was going through a different and realistic struggle. Des was trying to get out of the box because she was tired of people thinking she was boring. Bea is afraid of going along with the plan she’s had for the past 3 years because that’s no longer what she wants. Kat has a lot of self-esteem issues and thinks she can change her cheating ex. and Viola has a crush on the girl next door and is terrified her feelings won’t be reciprocated.
This book is around 300 pages, but it reads so quickly. Despite the characters going through some heavy things, the novel is actually really light. It’s a very Summery contemporary.
What I love is that this book is going to be released just in time for the Summer. This will be the perfect book to read on the beach.
I gave this book 4 stars. If you want to read a good coming of age book, this is for you. If you want to be happy at the end of a book, this one is for you. If you are a teenage girl trying to figure out where to go from there, this book is for you.
I’ve never read Little Women, but I feel like this is what it would have felt like with the four sisters who are all completely different. I loved how they all had names from Shakespeare plays, Desdemona, Beatrice, Katharina, and Viola. I think it would be so cool to have cohesive names like that.
I loved how each of the sisters was going through a different and realistic struggle. Des was trying to get out of the box because she was tired of people thinking she was boring. Bea is afraid of going along with the plan she’s had for the past 3 years because that’s no longer what she wants. Kat has a lot of self-esteem issues and thinks she can change her cheating ex. and Viola has a crush on the girl next door and is terrified her feelings won’t be reciprocated.
This book is around 300 pages, but it reads so quickly. Despite the characters going through some heavy things, the novel is actually really light. It’s a very Summery contemporary.
What I love is that this book is going to be released just in time for the Summer. This will be the perfect book to read on the beach.
cldelcore2002's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
georgiawye's review
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 6/17/18.
Oh, goodness. Such a cute story--[b:Little Women|1934|Little Women (Little Women, #1)|Louisa May Alcott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388269517s/1934.jpg|3244642] meets "Gilmore Girls" by way of [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372181953p2/2987.jpg], indeed! (And it only took me until the "about the author"section at the end to remember why her name seemed so familiar--we met her at the Rochester Teen Book Festival a few years back--duh!)
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is told in alternating POVs--each sister gets a turn, from oldest to youngest, which was fun even if it did sometimes feel like we were just getting into one of them when poof! it was off to the next sister. Still, I liked seeing things from each of their viewpoints. (The tense of the story was a bit strange, though--present instead of the usual past. It tended to throw me at the beginning of chapters, though for some reason mid-chapter I never seemed to take notice.) It really made understanding their motivations--especially when they made really questionable choices--a lot easier. (Bea, for example--I usually have a huge problem with people who cheat, but seeing her nearly wrecking herself with all of the pressure and the guilt made it understandable, even if she was still wrong. Also, it seemed appropriate that this article showed up in my inbox while I was reading her story.)
I already have two of Ms. Spotwood's anthologies--I'll be keeping an eye out for more of her longer fiction now too!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Oh, goodness. Such a cute story--[b:Little Women|1934|Little Women (Little Women, #1)|Louisa May Alcott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388269517s/1934.jpg|3244642] meets "Gilmore Girls" by way of [a:Sarah Dessen|2987|Sarah Dessen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1372181953p2/2987.jpg], indeed! (And it only took me until the "about the author"section at the end to remember why her name seemed so familiar--we met her at the Rochester Teen Book Festival a few years back--duh!)
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is told in alternating POVs--each sister gets a turn, from oldest to youngest, which was fun even if it did sometimes feel like we were just getting into one of them when poof! it was off to the next sister. Still, I liked seeing things from each of their viewpoints. (The tense of the story was a bit strange, though--present instead of the usual past. It tended to throw me at the beginning of chapters, though for some reason mid-chapter I never seemed to take notice.) It really made understanding their motivations--especially when they made really questionable choices--a lot easier. (Bea, for example--I usually have a huge problem with people who cheat, but seeing her nearly wrecking herself with all of the pressure and the guilt made it understandable, even if she was still wrong. Also, it seemed appropriate that this article showed up in my inbox while I was reading her story.)
I already have two of Ms. Spotwood's anthologies--I'll be keeping an eye out for more of her longer fiction now too!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
lifeofaliterarynerd's review against another edition
3.0
This honestly has SO MANY elements that I look for in a contemporary, so I was kinda super excited. I’m a sucker for family stories - especially sibling relationships!!! So a story about 4 sisters last summer all together at home before they start moving on with their own futures had my name written all over it. Unfortunately, the story didn’t really wow me - I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. Though I do think it’s a perfect “between book” to read, especially in the summer.
Things I Liked
Guess who will always love a fake-dating trope! MEEEEE!!! So I was super excited to see one here. Honestly, I’d probably just read the book for Kat and Mase because they were both super cute and both great in their own ways.
There was a lot of great diversity in this story too! Mase, is a bisexual Asian American character. Vi, the youngest Garrett sister is an out and proud lesbian. Vi’s love interest, Cece is a queer latinx character. There’s also a lot of talk about feminism and Vi’s feminist screen tees are always good for a laugh. Kat also discusses her issues with her eating disorder, and while she’s in recovery the topic isn’t ignored.
Things I Didn’t Like
I think that the 3rd person POV kept me a bit removed from the story. I just didn’t connect to the characters at all and I felt off to me.
I found Des to be uber naive given that she’s the oldest and has the most responsibility. I guess I just found her to be too trusting, and if your going to have a character flaw, that’s not a bad one to have even if it can read frustratingly.
Bea was definitely my least favorite sister and since her whole storyline revolved around cheater, she never really stood a chance with me.
There were so many pop culture references and everyone of them drew me right out of the story. I also found a majority of them to feel forced and kinda try-hard.
This wasn’t the best book I’ve read recently, but I did still enjoy it. It’s like junk food in a book form - not because the quality isn’t there or it lack substance, but because it makes you feel good, you have a great time with it, and it makes you want to read more. The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is a solid summer read about family and self discovery.
I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks FIRE via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Things I Liked
Guess who will always love a fake-dating trope! MEEEEE!!! So I was super excited to see one here. Honestly, I’d probably just read the book for Kat and Mase because they were both super cute and both great in their own ways.
There was a lot of great diversity in this story too! Mase, is a bisexual Asian American character. Vi, the youngest Garrett sister is an out and proud lesbian. Vi’s love interest, Cece is a queer latinx character. There’s also a lot of talk about feminism and Vi’s feminist screen tees are always good for a laugh. Kat also discusses her issues with her eating disorder, and while she’s in recovery the topic isn’t ignored.
Things I Didn’t Like
I think that the 3rd person POV kept me a bit removed from the story. I just didn’t connect to the characters at all and I felt off to me.
I found Des to be uber naive given that she’s the oldest and has the most responsibility. I guess I just found her to be too trusting, and if your going to have a character flaw, that’s not a bad one to have even if it can read frustratingly.
Bea was definitely my least favorite sister and since her whole storyline revolved around cheater, she never really stood a chance with me.
There were so many pop culture references and everyone of them drew me right out of the story. I also found a majority of them to feel forced and kinda try-hard.
This wasn’t the best book I’ve read recently, but I did still enjoy it. It’s like junk food in a book form - not because the quality isn’t there or it lack substance, but because it makes you feel good, you have a great time with it, and it makes you want to read more. The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is a solid summer read about family and self discovery.
I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks FIRE via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
jaec11's review
Last Summer of the Garett Girls
Story of 4 sisters
Honestly dislike very sister except Vi. She is tolerable and sweet. The others are obnoxious and stuck up. Could not care about any of them enough to finish the book
Story of 4 sisters
Honestly dislike very sister except Vi. She is tolerable and sweet. The others are obnoxious and stuck up. Could not care about any of them enough to finish the book
savannahshea_'s review against another edition
3.0
I don't really read cute YA contemporaries anymore, but when I saw that this book was a mash-up of Gilmore Girl and Little Women I was convinced to give it a try. I was also looking for something quick/fun to read while I finish up my internship. And the book lived up to it's description and it was very fun. It wasn't a perfect book though. Sometimes the writing was a bit awkward and the pop culture references gave me a headache. But it's the sweet summer read I was looking for.
lilythebibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only part that I didn't like was Des's perspective. She just made a few choices that had me cringing.
I really liked this book, despite that! I think I'm most like Kat and Vi. Jessica Spotswood knows how to write a musical theater and YA book nerd (of which I am both). I loved all the references to modern musicals, TV shows, and books. It just made the story seem so much more real and relatable. I also remind myself of Bea, because I'm organized and love to write. Seeing myself in so many characters was wonderful.
I also adored all the feminism! It made me happy!
Highly recommend.
I really liked this book, despite that! I think I'm most like Kat and Vi. Jessica Spotswood knows how to write a musical theater and YA book nerd (of which I am both). I loved all the references to modern musicals, TV shows, and books. It just made the story seem so much more real and relatable. I also remind myself of Bea, because I'm organized and love to write. Seeing myself in so many characters was wonderful.
I also adored all the feminism! It made me happy!
Highly recommend.
bi_n_large's review against another edition
4.0
I can’t get over how good the queer rep in this book is. One of the Garrett girls is implied ace/aro, another is openly queer, and two of the love interests are bisexual. I’m used to the There Can Only Be One rule regarding literary bisexuals; having two decently fleshed-out bi characters was a lovely surprise.
This book struck a nice balance; it added depth to its characters without being melodramatic and was cute without being self-consciously quirky.
I rarely enjoy contemporaries; this one was a joy to read.
As Vi says, “sometimes you just need a happily-ever-after.” This book was exactly what I needed.
This book struck a nice balance; it added depth to its characters without being melodramatic and was cute without being self-consciously quirky.
I rarely enjoy contemporaries; this one was a joy to read.
As Vi says, “sometimes you just need a happily-ever-after.” This book was exactly what I needed.