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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved this book. I wish it was longer. Dont take it for granted because its a wattpad book. The book itself had a great plot and both characters are amazing. Love it and already want to read it again.
idk about this version cuz read the webtoon one cuz im a hoe for sapphic webcomics
I'll start by saying that I wanted to like this book so much. Beautiful cover? check! Summer camp story? check! Lesbian romance? check again!
In the end, it was kind of a disappointment... The main character went way too quickly from "I hate everything about this place and have so many phobias" to "I have a hot girlfriend and love camp". The antagonist was really creepy but not for the right reason and basically didn't add much to the story. She could 'not' be in the story and nothing would change much.
Also, all the characters are supposed to be around 18 but they all speak like adults, except for Gwen who feels like she's 12...
So yeah, there are so many better stories, you can skip this one...
In the end, it was kind of a disappointment... The main character went way too quickly from "I hate everything about this place and have so many phobias" to "I have a hot girlfriend and love camp". The antagonist was really creepy but not for the right reason and basically didn't add much to the story. She could 'not' be in the story and nothing would change much.
Also, all the characters are supposed to be around 18 but they all speak like adults, except for Gwen who feels like she's 12...
So yeah, there are so many better stories, you can skip this one...
I kind of hate that I didn’t like this book. It looks so promising! A fun, cute, light, summer-y read. We need those! But honestly, this book read like a Disney Channel movie. And not in the funny way - in the cringey way.
I’ll start by mentioning some things I enjoyed: the feeling of summer it brought about; the fact that the main character, Emma is very secure in her sexuality and (besides a horribly homophobic and toxic mother) this isn’t made into a big deal any time it comes up; that Emma gets to stand up to said mother; I suppose the idea of this book???
Oof. I think the main problem is that I’ve read this entire book, and I still feel like I know nothing about any of the characters. They are all two-dimensional, not fleshed out, bland characters. Everyone’s personality relies on being a) sarcastic, b) nice, or c) a bully. Generally, I do consider it quite a problem if no one, including your main character, seems to go through any kind of development. Any details regarding characters’ lives and feelings were always handed to us, and we were expected to take them at face-value. Even major things like Emma’s depression and anxiety, which are mentioned a couple of times as being something that influences her life greatly at times (and understandably so!), are kept completely at a distance. At some point she mentions to her father on the phone that she’s having a bad day, and I just had the thought that I would not have gotten that at all from any of the other descriptions of what had been going on that day. The panic attacks she experiences happen, and are brushed off afterwards, not to be talked about again. Their effects or causes are left untouched upon.
Besides that, the decision-making, the way basically everyone acted, was quite ridiculous constantly. Again, Disney Channel movie vibes. No one’s actions really sense. Multiple times when characters pointed out other characters’ motivations or thought-processes I was genuinely thrown because I would just not understand how they got to those conclusions at all. I'd blame it on the fact that the characters are young but honestly? All of them are around 18. Not to say all your decisions should be logical and sensible all of a sudden, but they also shouldn't be... this. And the relationships... I don’t know, but Emma keeps saying she’s bad at making friends, and I’m inclined to agree with her, because despite saying that Gwen is her, and I quote, “soulmate”, she knows literally nothing about Gwen except that’s she’s peppy and kind. Same with Vivian, our love interest. After 300 pages I know nothing about her except that she goes to college, where she acts “differently” than she does at camp, and that she likes order. But then again, after 300 pages I know not much more about Emma, so.
I think this book had a lot of potential, and unfortunately it just didn’t live up to any of it for me.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The summer before Emma Lane's eighteenth birthday is the last summer she will have to return to York Beach, Maine for the court ordered two months of visitation with her mother. Since Emma came out as gay at the age of twelve, her mother has been unaccepting of her sexuality, distant and divorced her father. Now, Emma returns to York Beach only to be dumped at Camp Maplewood where she suffered a traumatic episode several years before throwing Emma into a depression complete with PTSD while her mother jet sets around the world with her new husband. Emma immediately sets out to get herself thrown out of camp by breaking into the shed holding the camper's phones only to be thwarted at every attempt by counselor Vivian Black. As Emma deals with her worst fears at camp, she makes a friend in chipper, outgoing Gwen Black and a passion for cooking with Julie Black, the camp cook. Each time Emma even thinks about doing something to get herself kicked out, Vivian seems to be a step ahead, helping Emma through her fears and getting to know her well, maybe even more.
Night Owls and Summer Skies is a perfect summer romance. I loved that Emma's character was already secure in her sexuality and that finding her sexuality was not the main point of the book, this was simply a romance. Emma's character also had deeper issues such as her depression and PTSD which still affect her, but don't define her. The writing brought me into Emma's head and at times I felt like I was having a panic attack along with her. Emma's growth at camp was amazing to read through. From dealing with bullies, making friends, finding a hobby she enjoys and learning how to trust again along with slowly recovering from her trauma from years before. Emma and Vivian's relationship felt natural and unhurried as they simply fell into one another. I did find it a little weird that they were counselor and camper, although they were only one year apart in age. I do wish there was some growth for Emma's mother along with some of the other campers; however, it is Emma's story. Overall, a fun summer romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Night Owls and Summer Skies is a perfect summer romance. I loved that Emma's character was already secure in her sexuality and that finding her sexuality was not the main point of the book, this was simply a romance. Emma's character also had deeper issues such as her depression and PTSD which still affect her, but don't define her. The writing brought me into Emma's head and at times I felt like I was having a panic attack along with her. Emma's growth at camp was amazing to read through. From dealing with bullies, making friends, finding a hobby she enjoys and learning how to trust again along with slowly recovering from her trauma from years before. Emma and Vivian's relationship felt natural and unhurried as they simply fell into one another. I did find it a little weird that they were counselor and camper, although they were only one year apart in age. I do wish there was some growth for Emma's mother along with some of the other campers; however, it is Emma's story. Overall, a fun summer romance.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
This book is about a girl, Emma, who goes to a summer camp for teens aged 15 to 18. There, she meets her first friend, Gwen, who is the youngest daughter of the director of the camp and falls in love with Vivian, the older daughter, who is a councillor at camp. The premise sounds amazing, as I'm usually a huge fan of the whole summer camps idea. Unfortunately, the whole book is just so unrealistic and, honestly, not very well written.
So let's start with my problems with the plot. The idea of a camp for older teens is really interesting for me, as normally camps say they are for all ages but then activities are quite boring for older teens. However, Camp Mapplewood was strictly for kids aged 15 and above and yet all the activities sounded like a 12 year old ideal of fun. If that was all, I'd have been able to overcome my problems and simply accept that american teens are simply different and actually enjoy that kind of thing. Notwithstanding, there were so many plotholes or simply things that made no sense at all. I don't want to go into any specifics so I don't give any spoilers but for example (SPOILER ALERT) how come Mr Black was so into following the rules of camp and there was a rule saying basically councillors couldn't date campers but when it's a lesbian couple they're all suddenly accepting relationships?? (END OF SPOILER). There were just too many things that didn't make sense, the world just seemed to change in order to accommodate their relationship and frankly I didn't like it.
About the writing, maybe this was a problem of my kindle or the format, but it was really hard to follow dialogues, as I wouldn't understand who was saying what. I think having a paragraph before each of the characters speaking would make it a lot more comprehensible, but again, maybe it was just a matter of formatting.
Overall, I think this book had the potential to be really amusing and heart-warming, but for me, it was a 2/5 book.
So let's start with my problems with the plot. The idea of a camp for older teens is really interesting for me, as normally camps say they are for all ages but then activities are quite boring for older teens. However, Camp Mapplewood was strictly for kids aged 15 and above and yet all the activities sounded like a 12 year old ideal of fun. If that was all, I'd have been able to overcome my problems and simply accept that american teens are simply different and actually enjoy that kind of thing. Notwithstanding, there were so many plotholes or simply things that made no sense at all. I don't want to go into any specifics so I don't give any spoilers but for example (SPOILER ALERT) how come Mr Black was so into following the rules of camp and there was a rule saying basically councillors couldn't date campers but when it's a lesbian couple they're all suddenly accepting relationships?? (END OF SPOILER). There were just too many things that didn't make sense, the world just seemed to change in order to accommodate their relationship and frankly I didn't like it.
About the writing, maybe this was a problem of my kindle or the format, but it was really hard to follow dialogues, as I wouldn't understand who was saying what. I think having a paragraph before each of the characters speaking would make it a lot more comprehensible, but again, maybe it was just a matter of formatting.
Overall, I think this book had the potential to be really amusing and heart-warming, but for me, it was a 2/5 book.
i read this book after reading the WEBTOON adaptation, which was cute, well written, and had some gorgeous art. this, on the other hand, was arguably the worst piece of writing i’ve read this year. inconsistent, bland characters, completely undeveloped side characters, jumpy writing, unnatural character and relationship progression- and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! i don’t really know what i was expecting from a wattpad originating book but damn, this just kind of sucked. the only reason i kept reading is because i love summer camp and gay people. i’m thoroughly disappointed and kind of confused about what the point of this whole damn thing was. nice try, mapplewood, but unfortunately not salvageable.
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cute, but the plot meandered a bit. Enjoyed the nostalgic YA-ness!
I really enjoyed this story. It was easy to read and the characters were unique in their own ways. I particularly loved Walter and how he interacted with Emma and his family. This story is one that is common in the world that includes an absent parent that is not willing to accept their child for who they are, a bully who is used to getting their own way and an unexpected friendship.
A beautiful story that had me laughing out loud in places an grimacing in others over the actions of one of the characters but even the way that was handled by the writer was, in my eyes, interesting and appropriate
Thank you to NetGalley and WattPad for the opportunity to review this eARC
A beautiful story that had me laughing out loud in places an grimacing in others over the actions of one of the characters but even the way that was handled by the writer was, in my eyes, interesting and appropriate
Thank you to NetGalley and WattPad for the opportunity to review this eARC
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes