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sabsboutin's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
lacy30twin1's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lovetanishab's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
klaire09's review
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
sarahreadsromance's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I felt like the third and second to last chapters really made the book. I struggled to get through this book because I felt like there was too much that just didn’t feel authentic. Specifically, the fact that she wasn’t called out sooner on the conflict of interest and to be honest I actually don’t think Mikaela and Cameron should be together . I’m #TeamRashad forever. Not even for Mikaela, just in general. . In the end, there is a lot of good content in here about relationships and what actually makes a good relationship, but I found I was just frustrated throughout the entire book.
carmelstrawberries81's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.75
Overall: 2.75
Spice:2
The story was about two people trying to reconnect about a decade later in life after being a couple during the summer of their senior year in high school. The FMC become a successful lawyer and the MMC became a successful artist.
At times this book felt extremely wordy and long for no reason. About 5-10 chapters was just the same thing repeated in a different way. It was hard to determine in the audiobook when it was switching between present day and past day.
Spice:2
The story was about two people trying to reconnect about a decade later in life after being a couple during the summer of their senior year in high school. The FMC become a successful lawyer and the MMC became a successful artist.
At times this book felt extremely wordy and long for no reason. About 5-10 chapters was just the same thing repeated in a different way. It was hard to determine in the audiobook when it was switching between present day and past day.
sara_machado's review
3.0
Mikaela is a successful lawyer in NYC, working to be promoted to partner of the company. One of her clients brings some important people form her past back to her life: Cameron, her ex-boyfriend and only love, and Julie her previous best friend who ended up marrying Cameron.
The story is told through one POV, interspersing two timelines.
What I liked:
- The writing was engaging, and I was interested in the characters outcomes
- It was refreshing to read about an inter-racial couple
- Mikaela is very ambitious and driven and I could emphasize with her life choices
- The characters were flawed and real and I enjoyed reading about their journey to become who they are in the present. I hated Julie but she was real enough, I definitely had one of those in my past.
What I think it could have been done better:
- Personally, I dislike when the conflicts are solved on the last pages of the book as I don’t get enough of the happy ending to give me the comfort I search when I read romances.
- I would have liked to see Mikaela reaching her professional goals. I’m a strong believer that it should be possible to have a career and a healthy and joyful personal life. Solving only the romance left me feeling the story was left incomplete, especially as the professional side was such a strong part of the plot.
Overall, this was a nice debut and I recommend it for readers who enjoyed Every Summer After.
TWs – Death of a parent, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism
The story is told through one POV, interspersing two timelines.
What I liked:
- The writing was engaging, and I was interested in the characters outcomes
- It was refreshing to read about an inter-racial couple
- Mikaela is very ambitious and driven and I could emphasize with her life choices
- The characters were flawed and real and I enjoyed reading about their journey to become who they are in the present. I hated Julie but she was real enough, I definitely had one of those in my past.
What I think it could have been done better:
- Personally, I dislike when the conflicts are solved on the last pages of the book as I don’t get enough of the happy ending to give me the comfort I search when I read romances.
- I would have liked to see Mikaela reaching her professional goals. I’m a strong believer that it should be possible to have a career and a healthy and joyful personal life. Solving only the romance left me feeling the story was left incomplete, especially as the professional side was such a strong part of the plot.
Overall, this was a nice debut and I recommend it for readers who enjoyed Every Summer After.
TWs – Death of a parent, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism
smalltownbookmom's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
This was a moving story about first love, best friends, regrets and second chances perfect for fans of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (aka, THE book of the summer). I loved that this book features Mikaela, a strong Black woman chasing after her dreams of making junior partner in her NYC law firm who has to reconsider what she truly wants when forced to work with her ex and contemplate a second chance at their love. Told in flashbacks to the summer they fell in love and the present day, this was a tad longer than I thought it needed to be but still good on audio narrated by Nicola Lambo. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a moving story about first love, best friends, regrets and second chances perfect for fans of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (aka, THE book of the summer). I loved that this book features Mikaela, a strong Black woman chasing after her dreams of making junior partner in her NYC law firm who has to reconsider what she truly wants when forced to work with her ex and contemplate a second chance at their love. Told in flashbacks to the summer they fell in love and the present day, this was a tad longer than I thought it needed to be but still good on audio narrated by Nicola Lambo. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
merryberries's review
(2.5/5) I really tried to finish this book, I really did. But I DNFed at 60%. I thought the author's writing style was engaging and easy to read, which is why it has as many stars as it does, but I couldn't get past the boundary issues and that happened in the book. I felt like the author really didn't explain or develop WHY Mikaela was friends with Julie or why she stayed with Cameron. I kept wanting to jump into the pages and offer her a copy of [b:Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself|55782639|Set Boundaries, Find Peace A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself|Nedra Glover Tawwab|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606923742l/55782639._SX50_.jpg|87002504] and tell Mikaela to MOVE ON.
Spoiler
emotional cheatingemily_loves_2_read's review
4.0
Long Past Summer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/02/22
Author: Noue Kirwan
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pages: 448
Goodreads Rating: 4.37
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and HQN and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: An old photograph of Mikaela and her former best friend, Julie, has landed on the cover of a high-profile fashion magazine advertised all over the city. And when Julie files a lawsuit, Mikaela is caught in the middle as defense lawyer for the magazine. Not only will she have to face Julie for the first time in years, Mikaela’s forced to work closely with the photographer in question: the former love of her life--and Julie’s ex-husband--Cameron Murphy. Mikaela needs to win the case to get her promotion--and as a junior partner, she has no margin for error. But unresolved feelings still exist between Cam and Mikaela, and jealousy always made Julie play dirty… With flashbacks to summers of first loves and fragile friendships, Long Past Summer looks at the delicate and powerful thread that binds and breaks friends and flames.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated from the single POV of Mikaela. The story starts as a slow burner to build up the characters and their backstories, which I can appreciate. I love how Kirwan did a few things in this book, the romance was an interracial relationship, which you do not see too much of and how women of color face big challenges in the world, without making these things the whole story. The characters are well developed, there was an instant connection between the MCs, and their chemistry was amazing. The author’s writing style built the plot with complexity and layers of depth, character relationships were grown, and flowed very well. I really enjoyed this first read from this author and will be reading more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/02/22
Author: Noue Kirwan
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pages: 448
Goodreads Rating: 4.37
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and HQN and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: An old photograph of Mikaela and her former best friend, Julie, has landed on the cover of a high-profile fashion magazine advertised all over the city. And when Julie files a lawsuit, Mikaela is caught in the middle as defense lawyer for the magazine. Not only will she have to face Julie for the first time in years, Mikaela’s forced to work closely with the photographer in question: the former love of her life--and Julie’s ex-husband--Cameron Murphy. Mikaela needs to win the case to get her promotion--and as a junior partner, she has no margin for error. But unresolved feelings still exist between Cam and Mikaela, and jealousy always made Julie play dirty… With flashbacks to summers of first loves and fragile friendships, Long Past Summer looks at the delicate and powerful thread that binds and breaks friends and flames.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated from the single POV of Mikaela. The story starts as a slow burner to build up the characters and their backstories, which I can appreciate. I love how Kirwan did a few things in this book, the romance was an interracial relationship, which you do not see too much of and how women of color face big challenges in the world, without making these things the whole story. The characters are well developed, there was an instant connection between the MCs, and their chemistry was amazing. The author’s writing style built the plot with complexity and layers of depth, character relationships were grown, and flowed very well. I really enjoyed this first read from this author and will be reading more.