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alylentz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
This was so good! I really loved the light fantasy elements and the way they worked so seamlessly with the relationships and heart of the story. It's a quick read, but definitely a memorable one. I would recommend this to readers who like cozy settings and atmospheres, magical elements, and relationship-focused stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, and Animal death
Moderate: Rape
sweetsanchia's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Animal cruelty
angerbean_'s review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I absolutely loved this. I expected it to be more about the sapphic romance based on the cover, but was surprised by a different strange, kind of dark story. There are easily a dozen other storylines in the Fernweh family that Leno could explore and I would eat it up, but as it is I loved this on its own. I will say, that while it's definitely an entirely different type of story, this is the closest match on vibes alone to House in the Cerulean Sea that I've found.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
flora_araruna's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, Gun violence, Animal death, and Sexism
Moderate: Rape, Drug use, Alcohol, and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, and Pregnancy
nicsnovellife's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Quick fire review:
- Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno is a book I've wanted to read for a really long time, so when it was chosen for my book club's June/July read, I was so happy to finally get to it! Unfortunately, I did have some issues with it.
- I absolutely love Leno's writing style. There's an ease to it which is just so enjoyable, you're kind of lulled and swept along on it's tide. It's a writing style I can trust in; no matter what I'll end up thinking of the particular story and plot, if it's written by Leno, I will have a really enjoyable reading experience.
- Summer of Salt is an extremely quirky novel. The plot mainly evolves around Annabella, the only bird of it's kind in existence, believed to have been around for 300 years, that comes to the island of By-the-Sea every summer. The Fernweh's are a family of magical women, who have their own special abilities, and they believe Annabella is one of their ancestors who turned into a bird - hence the bird being named Annabella. Because she's so unique, large numbers of bird watchers flock to the island of By-the-Sea every summer. But this year, Annabella's late. And then her broken body is found. Who killed Annabella, and why? And what is going on with Georgie's sister, Mary, who is suddenly acting strange? It's magical realism, and kind of strange, but I was loving it until the reveal.
- The reveal is something I absolutely feel the need to talk about, because I think it's kind of problematic. So click for spoilers, but people may want to read trigger warnings before reading this book.The big reveal is that at the same time as Annabella was murdered, Mary was raped. And my issue is that I never saw it coming. As I mentioned, I read this for my book club, and we discussed this. The other readers did figure out that Mary had been raped through the hints, but the hints had me thinking something completely different. So while some might see it coming, there could be others who, like me, aren't expecting it at all. It was like a sucker punch - and I don't find it triggering. I can't imagine how it might feel for someone who would find it triggering to not see it coming. I feel if books are about rape and sexual assault, it should be clear from the blurb. People should know in advance what they're reading. Even if others do figure it out from the hints, you don't know before you start reading that this is what the book is about. I feel very strongly that readers should be forewarned. And it's strange, because in the acknowledgements, Leno talks about this book being for those who have been raped or sexually assaulted, but it feels really badly handled to me. I don't think rape should be the big reveal to a mystery. It shouldn't be used as a plot point, in my opinion.
- I loved the queer representation in this book! Georgie is a lesbian; Prue, her love interest is attracted to multiple genders; and Georgie's best friend Vira is ace/aro.
- While I was a little disappointed with the romance - it's a very slow burn, and has very little page-time - I loved how it was handled. By-the-Sea is such a small town, everyone knows Georgie is a lesbian - and that other characters are queer - and it's not a thing. Georgie has never had to question how someone might react to her being a lesbian - and if another girl might be attracted to girls, too - before. Is Prue flirting with her, or is she just friendly? Am I being too flirty? <i>What is she thinking?</i> I loved it.
- I did think Summer of Salt was going to be more witchy than it was. The description had me thinking, as well as having special abilities, the Fernweh women were also witches in general. Potions and spells, herbs and moonlight rituals, etc. But basically, Georgie and Mary's Mum's special ability is creating potions. And while they do come up a few times, it's not really anything major. So I was disappointed with how witchy it wasn't.
- But I really enjoyed all the background aspects to this story, overall. Just the point. The reveal. I personally really wasn't ok with that.
- Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno is a book I've wanted to read for a really long time, so when it was chosen for my book club's June/July read, I was so happy to finally get to it! Unfortunately, I did have some issues with it.
- I absolutely love Leno's writing style. There's an ease to it which is just so enjoyable, you're kind of lulled and swept along on it's tide. It's a writing style I can trust in; no matter what I'll end up thinking of the particular story and plot, if it's written by Leno, I will have a really enjoyable reading experience.
- Summer of Salt is an extremely quirky novel. The plot mainly evolves around Annabella, the only bird of it's kind in existence, believed to have been around for 300 years, that comes to the island of By-the-Sea every summer. The Fernweh's are a family of magical women, who have their own special abilities, and they believe Annabella is one of their ancestors who turned into a bird - hence the bird being named Annabella. Because she's so unique, large numbers of bird watchers flock to the island of By-the-Sea every summer. But this year, Annabella's late. And then her broken body is found. Who killed Annabella, and why? And what is going on with Georgie's sister, Mary, who is suddenly acting strange? It's magical realism, and kind of strange, but I was loving it until the reveal.
- The reveal is something I absolutely feel the need to talk about, because I think it's kind of problematic. So click for spoilers, but people may want to read trigger warnings before reading this book.
- I loved the queer representation in this book! Georgie is a lesbian; Prue, her love interest is attracted to multiple genders; and Georgie's best friend Vira is ace/aro.
- While I was a little disappointed with the romance - it's a very slow burn, and has very little page-time - I loved how it was handled. By-the-Sea is such a small town, everyone knows Georgie is a lesbian - and that other characters are queer - and it's not a thing. Georgie has never had to question how someone might react to her being a lesbian - and if another girl might be attracted to girls, too - before. Is Prue flirting with her, or is she just friendly? Am I being too flirty? <i>What is she thinking?</i> I loved it.
- I did think Summer of Salt was going to be more witchy than it was. The description had me thinking, as well as having special abilities, the Fernweh women were also witches in general. Potions and spells, herbs and moonlight rituals, etc. But basically, Georgie and Mary's Mum's special ability is creating potions. And while they do come up a few times, it's not really anything major. So I was disappointed with how witchy it wasn't.
- But I really enjoyed all the background aspects to this story, overall. Just the point. The reveal. I personally really wasn't ok with that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Drug use
ilvy's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
cgbr's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Cursing
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Grief
nandakandabooks's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Vomit
Minor: Death of parent
hmatt's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Okay wow I just stumbled into this book as a rec on TSG and it blew me away. Perfect dark YA fairytale with real social commentary that doesn't feel forced.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Grief, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Vomit