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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
2/5 stars. I could not connect to any of the characters. Based on genre, I thought I'd really like this Amazon Prime First Reads choice but I was left disappointed. The writing style annoyed me. About 100 pages too long.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a mess of a story and so many holes. Awful.
There is a slew of drama and some laughs as Cat, detached, single and pregnant, is asked by her seemingly irresponsible sister, Ginger, to help revive their failing family legacy of a theater camp in central Wisconsin. Cat and Ginger enlist the assistance of several misfit characters to pull off a fundraising gala to that could save the camp’s future if successful. The supporting characters added depth and dimension, as well as additional comedic relief. I appreciated the underlying message of the importance of belonging and family values, and the nostalgia of summer. I adored references to my home state and geographical area of the setting-a fun way to relate to a story. This genre was a departure from my normal reading preferences, but still enjoyable.
Thank you to the author, NetGaley, Lake Union Press and Uplit Reads for an early copy.
Thank you to the author, NetGaley, Lake Union Press and Uplit Reads for an early copy.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
I think I went into this novel with really high expectations given the cover and theme of the book. I was expecting more of a focus no the camp aspect and less on the family tension between Cat & her sister, Ginger.
Cat was not a very likable character, I found her very judgmental, rude and short tempered. The way she treated her sister made my heart hurt to be treated that way by family.
I am going to stick with this book and finish it but I'm about 60% of the way done and not enjoying it.
Cat was not a very likable character, I found her very judgmental, rude and short tempered. The way she treated her sister made my heart hurt to be treated that way by family.
I am going to stick with this book and finish it but I'm about 60% of the way done and not enjoying it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you like cheesy romances, this is for you.
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Aww sisters.... Gotta love them! These two sisters have grown a bit apart and don't seem to know each other much anymore. When Ginger calls Cat to help save their family's theater camp for kids, Cat arrives to find a lot more than she thought she would. She thought she'd fix the problem quickly and get out, but she gets more in her plate than she originally assumed. On top of being pregnant, she doesn't need the stress.
I liked that they got to reconnect as close sisters but I wished for a little more excitement in the book
I liked that they got to reconnect as close sisters but I wished for a little more excitement in the book
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
First off, I wanted to like this. The premise sounded fun, and I was hoping for some lovable characters, summer camp nostalgia, and a little bit of adventure. It all just fell flat for me. The first 30% of the book is like one afternoon and nothing happens.
The characters were just not developed well, and too much of everyone's personality was the same "omg can you believe how weird and quirky we are!", except Cat who was more the "I'm setting boundaries because I'm the only person who understands how the real world is and I'm so tired of having to do everything for everyone because they just don't get it". Honestly, it sometimes felt like even the author didn't like these characters. People were kind of mean and *surprise* no one knows how to communicate.
The pacing and dialogue was awkward and disjointed. It did not flow well for me. Cat's memories of the camp from when she was young went on for too long and often interrupted whatever was actually happening. A lot of the descriptors for things were also just strange. ("his whiskers read her like a retired man devouring a newspaper in a coffee shop." or "Sugar, the good girl's party drug, the sleepy girl's fiesta before the siesta.") I think most were meant to be funny, but it just didn't hit. To be honest, I did a soft DNF @ 50% and skimmed the rest afterthey just shrugged off the fact that the cook was drugging almost everyone. It was like "omg it's so bad you can't do that!" and moved on. Yes, I know it was just cannabis, but still. That was weird. The whole found family aspect also really didn't work for me because the whole thing took place over like 4 days?
Also, don't listen to goodreads, this is not a romance. It doesn't seem to be listed that elsewhere, so goodreads is lying to you. Cat and Gary have like 5 short conversations throughout the whole book. In the first half they say like 6 sentences to each other, and the rest is just them existing in the same place but not interacting.She thinks and tells him he's hot a couple times, eventually they have sex, and then she immediately asks if he hates her, doesn't give him a chance to answer and leaves. Also, I'm still trying to figure out how he was the older maintenance guy from when she was a teenager but is actually only 3 years older than her? They try to play it off like "oh everyone is old when you're that young!" but like that doesn't really apply when someone is 16 and the other person is 19? The math is wrong and there is zero chemistry.
Ebook kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were just not developed well, and too much of everyone's personality was the same "omg can you believe how weird and quirky we are!", except Cat who was more the "I'm setting boundaries because I'm the only person who understands how the real world is and I'm so tired of having to do everything for everyone because they just don't get it". Honestly, it sometimes felt like even the author didn't like these characters. People were kind of mean and *surprise* no one knows how to communicate.
The pacing and dialogue was awkward and disjointed. It did not flow well for me. Cat's memories of the camp from when she was young went on for too long and often interrupted whatever was actually happening. A lot of the descriptors for things were also just strange. ("his whiskers read her like a retired man devouring a newspaper in a coffee shop." or "Sugar, the good girl's party drug, the sleepy girl's fiesta before the siesta.") I think most were meant to be funny, but it just didn't hit. To be honest, I did a soft DNF @ 50% and skimmed the rest after
Also, don't listen to goodreads, this is not a romance. It doesn't seem to be listed that elsewhere, so goodreads is lying to you. Cat and Gary have like 5 short conversations throughout the whole book. In the first half they say like 6 sentences to each other, and the rest is just them existing in the same place but not interacting.
Ebook kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
hopeful
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