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gc_epub's review against another edition
The monologues and dialogue was a bit cringe for me, but I can see why some people enjoyed this story
jadonm's review
5.0
This book is summer in a bottle.
There's so much about THE SUMMER OF EVERYTHING to love: the LA vibes, the bookish references, the music, the optimism, the charm. I spent this entire book dreaming of what it would be like to live this life, to be on the beach all summer working at your dream job with your best friend in the world and trying to come to terms with both of them leaving you in the near future. The stress and anxiety of pre-college life really was something different. I miss those days, and to an extent, this book hit all the right nostalgia buttons for me.
And then Nico. Nico and Wes are adorable, charismatic, beautiful characters. My favorite relationship dynamic is the one where each of the two characters thinks they don't deserve the other. Wes spends 80% of this book talking about how magical and brilliant and strong Nico is, and when we find out that Nico feels the same way about Wes, it hits right in the heart.
There's a lot of amazing things that this book discusses that teenagers need to hear. The idea that college is an option, not a requirement, is something I wish I would have heard more often when I was that age. The fact that people can be aro/ace and charismatic, bubbly golden retrievers is something that society as a whole STILL struggles to come to terms with, if the constant depiction of asexual people as stoic, robotic Otherlings in most media is anything to go by. The idea that things can change, that they MUST change sometimes, and how that's okay. How that's good.
I loved this book. It's a beautiful story, and it carries with it an even more beautiful message.
(Thank you so much to Interlude Press for the NetGalley arc!!)
There's so much about THE SUMMER OF EVERYTHING to love: the LA vibes, the bookish references, the music, the optimism, the charm. I spent this entire book dreaming of what it would be like to live this life, to be on the beach all summer working at your dream job with your best friend in the world and trying to come to terms with both of them leaving you in the near future. The stress and anxiety of pre-college life really was something different. I miss those days, and to an extent, this book hit all the right nostalgia buttons for me.
And then Nico. Nico and Wes are adorable, charismatic, beautiful characters. My favorite relationship dynamic is the one where each of the two characters thinks they don't deserve the other. Wes spends 80% of this book talking about how magical and brilliant and strong Nico is, and when we find out that Nico feels the same way about Wes, it hits right in the heart.
There's a lot of amazing things that this book discusses that teenagers need to hear. The idea that college is an option, not a requirement, is something I wish I would have heard more often when I was that age. The fact that people can be aro/ace and charismatic, bubbly golden retrievers is something that society as a whole STILL struggles to come to terms with, if the constant depiction of asexual people as stoic, robotic Otherlings in most media is anything to go by. The idea that things can change, that they MUST change sometimes, and how that's okay. How that's good.
I loved this book. It's a beautiful story, and it carries with it an even more beautiful message.
(Thank you so much to Interlude Press for the NetGalley arc!!)
pepppiii's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
writtenechoes's review
5.0
1. This is the nicest soft cover book I’ve EVER read.
2. I wish I’d had this book to read the summer before college.
3. The inclusive love scattered throughout this book warmed my heart. The love isn’t even the main story in my opinion. The story is about Wes growing up and accepting things and learning to navigate adulthood.
4. I love this novel.
2. I wish I’d had this book to read the summer before college.
3. The inclusive love scattered throughout this book warmed my heart. The love isn’t even the main story in my opinion. The story is about Wes growing up and accepting things and learning to navigate adulthood.
4. I love this novel.
briannareadsbooks's review
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I feel the same way about this book that I feel about most Julian Winters' books. It was just okay and actually let me down a little. I can understand that people may really like his book but his stories are not really for me.
The plot is great! It's the summer before his first year of college, and Wes is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. At the same time, he is struggling with being in love with his best friend, Nico, and the fact that the bookstore he works at and has loved since childhood will soon be closing down.
The premise sounds so fun and like a cute queer story about a group of kids trying to save their local bookstore! Plus the representation is amazing. The main character is biracial and gay, the love interest is queer and Mexican, another love interest is queer and Polynesian, plus there are aroace, lesbian, fat, and non-binary side characters.
But, this book just fell flat, and I feel like that's my problem with Julian Winters books.
I didn't really like Wes as a character and I felt that his love interest and even some side characters were more interesting and better individuals than Wes, and it made it hard to see WHY his crush would even like him back. It's because of this that makes the love story seem a bit weak to me, because while we've established that Nico and Wes are best friends, we see Nico being an adorable best friend/love interest but Wes does nearly nothing in return except contemplate telling Nico he likes him. So, the whole time I could see why Wes would adore Nico but never why Nico would like him back, so besides the whole "we're best friends" thing, I didn't think their romantic relationship was all that strong.
Besides that, I thought there was way too much going on with the plot. There's Wes going to college, being in love with Nico, trying to save the bookstore, Wes dating other guys, Wes' relationship with his brother, and side relationships between his friends. Because there was so much to touch on, I felt that these plot points, which are all so important separately, was spread a bit too thin throughout the story. It also made everything a bit jumpy. It sort of felt like "Now we're on to saving the bookstore, now we're going to talk about the wedding, now we're going to show a cute scene between Nico and Wes," but none of it was really connected all that well.
There are also times at the beginning of the story where Wes is reading from the Notes app on his phone and talks in first person. This confused me for a bit, but just as I was getting the hang of Wes' Notes app obsession, it just stopped? For a moment, I thought the Notes app would be a big part of the story, like his friends or love interest would find it and stuff would go down. But it never did.
Lastly, there are two characters, Mrs. Rossi and Mrs. Alvarez, that were only BRIEFLY in the story, but I thought the book would have benefited from making them more present in the story. I literally feel so robbed they didn't get more scenes. I would've traded, like, three of the plot points for more time with these two characters.
Again, I don't think Julian Winters' books are BAD. I know lots of people will like and his stories, and this one, too, but I don't think they're for me.
I feel the same way about this book that I feel about most Julian Winters' books. It was just okay and actually let me down a little. I can understand that people may really like his book but his stories are not really for me.
The plot is great! It's the summer before his first year of college, and Wes is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. At the same time, he is struggling with being in love with his best friend, Nico, and the fact that the bookstore he works at and has loved since childhood will soon be closing down.
The premise sounds so fun and like a cute queer story about a group of kids trying to save their local bookstore! Plus the representation is amazing. The main character is biracial and gay, the love interest is queer and Mexican, another love interest is queer and Polynesian, plus there are aroace, lesbian, fat, and non-binary side characters.
But, this book just fell flat, and I feel like that's my problem with Julian Winters books.
I didn't really like Wes as a character and I felt that his love interest and even some side characters were more interesting and better individuals than Wes, and it made it hard to see WHY his crush would even like him back. It's because of this that makes the love story seem a bit weak to me, because while we've established that Nico and Wes are best friends, we see Nico being an adorable best friend/love interest but Wes does nearly nothing in return except contemplate telling Nico he likes him. So, the whole time I could see why Wes would adore Nico but never why Nico would like him back, so besides the whole "we're best friends" thing, I didn't think their romantic relationship was all that strong.
Besides that, I thought there was way too much going on with the plot. There's Wes going to college, being in love with Nico, trying to save the bookstore, Wes dating other guys, Wes' relationship with his brother, and side relationships between his friends. Because there was so much to touch on, I felt that these plot points, which are all so important separately, was spread a bit too thin throughout the story. It also made everything a bit jumpy. It sort of felt like "Now we're on to saving the bookstore, now we're going to talk about the wedding, now we're going to show a cute scene between Nico and Wes," but none of it was really connected all that well.
There are also times at the beginning of the story where Wes is reading from the Notes app on his phone and talks in first person. This confused me for a bit, but just as I was getting the hang of Wes' Notes app obsession, it just stopped? For a moment, I thought the Notes app would be a big part of the story, like his friends or love interest would find it and stuff would go down. But it never did.
Lastly, there are two characters, Mrs. Rossi and Mrs. Alvarez, that were only BRIEFLY in the story, but I thought the book would have benefited from making them more present in the story. I literally feel so robbed they didn't get more scenes. I would've traded, like, three of the plot points for more time with these two characters.
Again, I don't think Julian Winters' books are BAD. I know lots of people will like and his stories, and this one, too, but I don't think they're for me.
dilemmanorton's review
2.0
This book didn't really do it for me, and I think it's because I'm not exactly the kind of person it's aimed at – I've moved past my young adult years. Plus, I usually go for young adult fiction in audiobook form, but this time I went for the printed version, which have impacted my opinion on it.
Right at the start, I was like, "Wait, is this basically the plot of Empire Records, but in a bookstore?" Sure enough, one of the characters soon mentions Empire Records, so I'm thinking that movie probably had a strong influence on the plot. The story is a young guy who's just graduated high school and is working at a local bookstore. Turns out, his beloved bookstore is about to be sold to a big chain, so he ropes in his co-workers to try and save the day. All this, while trying to navigate a crush on his best friend. The characters in the bookstore tick all the boxes – you've got the annoyingly cool nerd, the sassy and carefree roommate, the regular customer who is definitely depressed, among others.
I'd say this could be a fun read for teens or pre-teens looking for something light to dive into over the summer.
Right at the start, I was like, "Wait, is this basically the plot of Empire Records, but in a bookstore?" Sure enough, one of the characters soon mentions Empire Records, so I'm thinking that movie probably had a strong influence on the plot. The story is a young guy who's just graduated high school and is working at a local bookstore. Turns out, his beloved bookstore is about to be sold to a big chain, so he ropes in his co-workers to try and save the day. All this, while trying to navigate a crush on his best friend. The characters in the bookstore tick all the boxes – you've got the annoyingly cool nerd, the sassy and carefree roommate, the regular customer who is definitely depressed, among others.
I'd say this could be a fun read for teens or pre-teens looking for something light to dive into over the summer.
whoisnyah's review
4.0
This had everything I wanted Lgbtq+ relationships, diverse characters, friendships, a character deciding if they wanted to go to college or not, crushing on their bestfriend, references to many great YA authors, a great found family, problems with a sibling and so much more. I loved this book.
I truly loved every moment of it. The characters were so loveable and relatable. Seeing people like me in a book is a special experience. The romance was soo cute and watching the main characters grow throughout the book was amazing. This was just a fun, cute and fast paced read. I can't wait to re-read it.
I truly loved every moment of it. The characters were so loveable and relatable. Seeing people like me in a book is a special experience. The romance was soo cute and watching the main characters grow throughout the book was amazing. This was just a fun, cute and fast paced read. I can't wait to re-read it.
detectivelily's review
3.0
this was fun but i hate when characters have either a strong like or dislike of coffee as a main personality trait. that and the main character wes was just super unlikable
ana____g____'s review against another edition
Not my speed. Arguably, a bit too “How do you do, fellow kids?”