Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
Worst Sarah Dessen book I've read so far.. really boring. I only read the whole thing because I kept expecting some major plot twist. It never happened.. I wouldn't recommend.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Quick read. Nothing great per se to the book.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
This is my favourite book by far I love Sarah dessens work and I've re read this book multiple times a great quick read for summer and relatable for teens
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While I was initially weary to read about some 15 year old's summer, I found the content simple but far more realistic than the teen reads popping up now. The writing style was for the most part very mature, as well as Haven's attitude through most of the story. Sure, it didn't have anything fantastic about it, but sometimes you need something simple and enjoyable to bring you back down, right?
Personally, I couldn't relate to any of the material, having had a very different teenage experience from both Haven and her sister, Ashley. However, because it was written with such a flowing rhythm, it ended up being a book I didn't want to put down—not that it was suspenseful, there was just something relaxing about it.
If you're looking for a break from clichéd drama, romance, gore, or whatever you've been reading lately, this is a great choice and I'll definitely be reading more from Dessen.
For those wondering, the reason I didn't give it more stars is simply that "I liked it." I didn't "really" like it, nor did I find it "amazing", because it's almost a sleeper, with just enough to draw you back in, over and over.
Personally, I couldn't relate to any of the material, having had a very different teenage experience from both Haven and her sister, Ashley. However, because it was written with such a flowing rhythm, it ended up being a book I didn't want to put down—not that it was suspenseful, there was just something relaxing about it.
If you're looking for a break from clichéd drama, romance, gore, or whatever you've been reading lately, this is a great choice and I'll definitely be reading more from Dessen.
For those wondering, the reason I didn't give it more stars is simply that "I liked it." I didn't "really" like it, nor did I find it "amazing", because it's almost a sleeper, with just enough to draw you back in, over and over.
It's summer and Haven's life is changing so much. Her dad is getting re-married. Her sister is getting married and her mom might be taking a trip to Europe for a few months. So many changes in such a short time but then her sister's old boyfriend, Sumner, shows up and Haven thinks back to a time when things were going great in their lives. Her parents hadn't divorced and her sister Ashley was happy with her boyfriend Sumner. Everything was perfect! Until Ashley breaks things off with Sumner and Haven thinks that's when everything started changing.
This is my first Sarah Dessen book, and I'm not impressed. Though, I've heard great things about her so I'm not giving up just because I didn't like her first book. This book is really short, at just 198 pages, so not a whole lot happens. The characters are pretty dull and annoying most of the time. The main character, Haven, has no personality. She is very insecure about her height, at almost six-feet tall. She has a job at the local mall working for a kids shoe store and has an older sister named Ashley. Ashley is engaged and the wedding is in just a few months so there is a lot of stress going on in the house. Ashley is my least favorite character. She is mean to everyone, including her sister and their mother. And it is blamed on the stress of the wedding, which I find uncalled for. Haven and Ashley's parents are divorced but their dad is re-marrying and they are both in the wedding party. Haven feels that her dad is moving on with a new family and so many things are changing in her life.
The story line is not that interesting. Based on the cover of the book, you would think this was a beachy, summer read but it's not. The beach is mentioned due to memories that Haven thinks back to but that's all. I also expected some romance between the main character and a potential love interest but there was none. What I got instead was a main character who eavesdrops on her family's conversations and is constantly reminding us how much she hates how tall she is.
This is my first Sarah Dessen book, and I'm not impressed. Though, I've heard great things about her so I'm not giving up just because I didn't like her first book. This book is really short, at just 198 pages, so not a whole lot happens. The characters are pretty dull and annoying most of the time. The main character, Haven, has no personality. She is very insecure about her height, at almost six-feet tall. She has a job at the local mall working for a kids shoe store and has an older sister named Ashley. Ashley is engaged and the wedding is in just a few months so there is a lot of stress going on in the house. Ashley is my least favorite character. She is mean to everyone, including her sister and their mother. And it is blamed on the stress of the wedding, which I find uncalled for. Haven and Ashley's parents are divorced but their dad is re-marrying and they are both in the wedding party. Haven feels that her dad is moving on with a new family and so many things are changing in her life.
The story line is not that interesting. Based on the cover of the book, you would think this was a beachy, summer read but it's not. The beach is mentioned due to memories that Haven thinks back to but that's all. I also expected some romance between the main character and a potential love interest but there was none. What I got instead was a main character who eavesdrops on her family's conversations and is constantly reminding us how much she hates how tall she is.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
That Summer has the hallmarks I love and find unique about Sarah Dessen's books. Her protagonists aren't extraordinary, and the world does not shift with their movements. Indeed, Haven's life during That Summer is not too different from any teenager's life during a particularly difficult summer. She does not fall in love, have tragedy occur or encounter significant loss or disease. Indeed, this changes in Dessen's later books, so I enjoyed it here. Her writing style is also evident in this first novel, with a tendency to revel the past in long explanation, which though possibly frowned upon, I sort of like.
The thing is, I can definitely pin this as a first novel. Some plot points could use definite revision. For instance, Haven's revelation about her sister's ex-boyfriend was not a revelation to me. As soon as the second girl, the sister's friend, was introduced I knew that something had happened between them. Having this girl be a member of her sister's friends-group before the boyfriend might have made things a little bit more mysterious. Really, I wouldn't have minded a relationship between Haven and Sumner. Nice and scandalous that, but I guess it doesn't happen in real life....
On a side note, it was fun reading this thirteen years after its publication. No cellphones, no internet. Kids lazily wandering the neighborhood on a summer's day, not engrossed by Gameboys. Oh how we change...
The thing is, I can definitely pin this as a first novel. Some plot points could use definite revision. For instance, Haven's revelation about her sister's ex-boyfriend was not a revelation to me. As soon as the second girl, the sister's friend, was introduced I knew that something had happened between them. Having this girl be a member of her sister's friends-group before the boyfriend might have made things a little bit more mysterious. Really, I wouldn't have minded a relationship between Haven and Sumner. Nice and scandalous that, but I guess it doesn't happen in real life....
On a side note, it was fun reading this thirteen years after its publication. No cellphones, no internet. Kids lazily wandering the neighborhood on a summer's day, not engrossed by Gameboys. Oh how we change...
Nothing special compared to the other books I've been reading from the same author. Still readable though.