Scan barcode
bookdrgn's review
3.0
Ah, the angst of teen heartbreak, fake pregnancies, meddling fathers and cheating boyfriends. It seems these are universal, no matter the decade. Of course, things are slightly more intense for Izzy because her meddling father has this to the Mob.
This was a nice story about redemption and hard truth while finding your way on your own two feet.
This was a nice story about redemption and hard truth while finding your way on your own two feet.
chuang22's review
3.0
I enjoyed the first 80-85% of the book until the last plot point. It felt over the top and unnecessary.
lenoreo's review
2.0
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/07/30/1983-cruel-summer-by-amber-lynn-natusch/
2.5 stars — I just didn’t connect with this one.
I couldn’t connect with either Izzy or Braxton, or their romance. I got some of the emotions and betrayals that Izzy felt, but I wasn’t a fan of having the past strung along throughout the book, told in chunks. It made it so that while I knew something bad had happened between Izzy and Braxton, because I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t trust that she didn’t overreact, or that there wasn’t a misunderstanding…which was sort of what happened. I found the conflict ended up feeling really contrived to me…I was looking for something more authentic, and less tropey I guess.
The writing style also didn’t work for me, it felt a bit flat in the end. And what I was searching for when picking this book to read was an 80s feel, and I didn’t get that AT ALL. Other than the lack of cell phones, there really wasn’t much to give me that 80s feel that I was hoping for. It ended up being very generic.
So yeah. Not for me. I finished it because it was short, and I could use it for a challenge (even if it didn’t give me the era feel I was hoping for).
2.5 stars — I just didn’t connect with this one.
I couldn’t connect with either Izzy or Braxton, or their romance. I got some of the emotions and betrayals that Izzy felt, but I wasn’t a fan of having the past strung along throughout the book, told in chunks. It made it so that while I knew something bad had happened between Izzy and Braxton, because I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t trust that she didn’t overreact, or that there wasn’t a misunderstanding…which was sort of what happened. I found the conflict ended up feeling really contrived to me…I was looking for something more authentic, and less tropey I guess.
The writing style also didn’t work for me, it felt a bit flat in the end. And what I was searching for when picking this book to read was an 80s feel, and I didn’t get that AT ALL. Other than the lack of cell phones, there really wasn’t much to give me that 80s feel that I was hoping for. It ended up being very generic.
So yeah. Not for me. I finished it because it was short, and I could use it for a challenge (even if it didn’t give me the era feel I was hoping for).
More...