Scan barcode
lucymae0515's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this debut novel and how it went back and forth between the different time frames. Lots of aspects of this book reminded me of other books like Jenny Han’s and Emily Henry but I loved this one a lot more. There wasn’t a moment I was bored or felt like I had to push through it like I do with a lot of other books in this genre. It felt like a grown up young adult beach read. I loved how you got to grow up with the characters which doesn’t happen in a lot of books- I felt a deep connection to the characters like I would in a beloved series but it was a novel. Read the whole thing in one morning! I hope this author comes out with more soon!!
Content note: Definitely is open door at times but I would say in total it was only about 10 pages of the whole book and was milder than a lot of open door romance books on the market, but I wouldn’t put it in the clean romance category by any means
Content note: Definitely is open door at times but I would say in total it was only about 10 pages of the whole book and was milder than a lot of open door romance books on the market, but I wouldn’t put it in the clean romance category by any means
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Wow. I think this is quite possibly the romance of the summer! Carley Fortune, you’ve got another auto-buy fan in me.
This book is so inherently sweet, like sipping your favorite cold drink in the sun with the lake water at your toes. Or whatever kind of water you prefer—ocean, fresh spring, pool, bath.
In whatever case, this story is laced with summer. Appropriate, considering its title, but not in a cheesy way that feels overdone. Yes, it does have a similar plot to the beloved Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, and in ways also reminiscent of The Summer I Turned Pretty series, but it very much has its own heart and own set of standout characters. Percy and Sam quickly became one of my favorite fictional friendships, of course blossoming into more. If you’re still unsure if you like the friends-to-lovers trope, I think this novel could be the one to change your mind.
Dual timelines, set over ten years apart. Unresolved past drama and trauma. Pining young lovers, complicated friendships, adult conversations sprinkled between cute and awkward flirtations and annoyances. Deeply romantic moments and unmistakable chemistry. Parts that make you melt, parts that make you wanna yell, parts that make you cry. Parts that make you grin like an idiot because you’re alone in your room reading this incredibly personal summer love story and it’s just fiction, it’s not real!!!
Except it feels real. Even as I was yelling at the pages toward the end, desperate for the truth—I loved every second of reading it.
This book is so inherently sweet, like sipping your favorite cold drink in the sun with the lake water at your toes. Or whatever kind of water you prefer—ocean, fresh spring, pool, bath.
In whatever case, this story is laced with summer. Appropriate, considering its title, but not in a cheesy way that feels overdone. Yes, it does have a similar plot to the beloved Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, and in ways also reminiscent of The Summer I Turned Pretty series, but it very much has its own heart and own set of standout characters. Percy and Sam quickly became one of my favorite fictional friendships, of course blossoming into more. If you’re still unsure if you like the friends-to-lovers trope, I think this novel could be the one to change your mind.
Dual timelines, set over ten years apart. Unresolved past drama and trauma. Pining young lovers, complicated friendships, adult conversations sprinkled between cute and awkward flirtations and annoyances. Deeply romantic moments and unmistakable chemistry. Parts that make you melt, parts that make you wanna yell, parts that make you cry. Parts that make you grin like an idiot because you’re alone in your room reading this incredibly personal summer love story and it’s just fiction, it’s not real!!!
Except it feels real. Even as I was yelling at the pages toward the end, desperate for the truth—I loved every second of reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Death, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Cancer, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Drug use, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Vomit
Minor: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
khloereads86's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I’m so disappointed in the ending of this book. Despite not usually loving the split-timeline, second chance, and friends-to-lovers tropes, I was really enjoying this book. I had a feeling very early on what the conflict was but I was really hoping I was wrong. Little Sam was so sweet and their relationship was pretty cute. The do they like me back? part was very juvenile (understandable since they were kids) and a little annoying but I was still cheering for them until I got to about the 3/4 mark.
Percy cheating on Sam, and with his brother of all people, was completely unforgivable to me. I thought that might have been what happened from early on but I was hoping I was wrong because that’s such a crappy thing to do and I completely disconnected from Percy at that point. Her feeling lonely and unwanted as Sam is settling in to university is no reason to cheat on him. It felt like the author thought it could be explained away by her feeling pushed aside and then immediately regretting it, but if she and Sam were having problems, she should have waited to talk to Sam about it instead of flirting and jumping in to bed with his brother.
The way the conflict was revealed and “resolved” at the end seemed very confusing and fast to me.
Sam freaked out initially and then we find out he’s known this whole time and ended up screwing with Percy by hitting on her friend while never letting her know he’d found out. Then it seemed like he forgave her so fast. I guess he’d had 12 years to come to terms with it but it seemed very sudden that he was over it and wanting to be with her again.
I loved the Ontario references (Moose Tracks >>>) and this would have been a 4.5+ star read if not for the ending.
The way the conflict was revealed and “resolved” at the end seemed very confusing and fast to me.
I loved the Ontario references (Moose Tracks >>>) and this would have been a 4.5+ star read if not for the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Vomit, and Cursing
kerrygetsliterary's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
graciejb's review against another edition
2.5
Not the book for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing
jennastopreading's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
When I saw the cover of this one, I knew I had to have it. Do I judge books by their covers? Sort of. But I definitely am inspired to pick books up because of their covers.
This story gave me all the nostalgic feelings of falling in love for the first time. There's something so sweet and romantic to me about finding your way back to the first person that stole your heart, and that's exactly what we get to follow. Percy and Sam met at 13 and spent every summer together for years, growing a friendship that turned into the kind of love that you can only feel when you fall for someone as a teenager.
I loved the setting of this story and the imagery of summers in the sun and working in a restaurant. Sam's character brought a smile to my face almost as much as his brother Charlie made me cringe. Sam was endearing, innocent, and so lovable that my heart wanted to burst at least once a chapter.
The biggest drawback of this story for me came toward the end, and I worry that sharing it will spoil the story. But if you've read it, just know that the "big reveal" was cringe-y for me and really gave me the ick.
All in all, I really enjoyed this quintessential read, and it made me want to hug my husband (my first love).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
More...