Reviews

Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu

jane_the_gemini's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

librarypictures's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

blakeybrown's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

keelin's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-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? Yes

4.25

kasvi_mavani's review against another edition

3.0

3.75 ⭐️

Dogs of Summer is just the perfect summer read, and I’m almost a little disappointed I didn’t read it in the midst of July just to set the scene. The book is just hot, bold, sticky, and sometimes a bit gross, but that’s what makes it feel so authentic. I felt so nostalgic reading this, for summers and relationships with friends I’ve never experienced (lol).

I will say the themes in this one are a bit darker than you’d expect, especially considering the characters are 10-11 years old.

I don’t really know what else to say, I feel like this one’s most enjoyable going in without knowing much, just so you fully feel every feeling it pulls out of you. There’s such a boldness to the writing that you can’t help but appreciate, and I’m especially looking forward to reading more from this author/translator duo.

caseyaonso's review against another edition

3.0

forgot to log this whoops. felt like i was crawling back into my childhood brain with this one and it was such a nostalgic experience! not always in the literal “everything that happened in this book was exactly the same for me!” sense but it definitely spurred a lot of memories of similar experiences. left this thinking about people i havent spoken to in ages + how cool it is that no matter how radically different the circumstances or where in the world you grow up, there are so many experiences (especially in adolescence) that are just universal!

and yes unfortunately jarjarminky did cross my mind multiple times throughout reading this

tararaewesterlund's review against another edition

challenging tense 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

3.5

sad, tense, hard to read. 

polarbear2023's review against another edition

I tried of course cause I love my brilliant friend but this was just blocks of pages for chapters 

eren_reads's review against another edition

I just couldn’t mesh with the writing style.

gharialgirl's review against another edition

4.5

i found this book to be very challenging to read due to some of the subject matter, but at the same time she’s tapping in to something real and true. i also think the translation masterfully conveys the stream of consciousness/ phonetic spellings of a ten year old. i loved the writing in this despite it being “crass” at time as some others have said. perhaps the ending was too easy? i very nearly gave it 5 stars. i will undoubtedly have this book in my mind for a long time.