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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
This book is so boring. I think you need to be 13-16 in order to enjoy this book.
This wasn't really what I expected. I did like it, but it didn't blow me away like other Sarah Dessen books have.
Not my favourite Sarah Dessen books her other ones are much better
This book definitely is slow but for a first novel, it’s okay. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters in this novel like I normally do with Dessen books. I think she does use a lot of the same troupes in her books, so if you are reading her books in order this is an okay start. She is a comfort author for me. I’ve been reading her books since high school.
I must say that I almost abandoned this book and would have if I weren't reading for a friend. It is on NC's Battle of the Books list for next year, so I plodded on through. When my attention began to wane while reading That Summer, I read other reviews and noticed that other reviewers also mentioned not finishing it. That being said, I am glad that I finished. In fact, it is only upon finishing do you understand why the book seems to ramble. As you read That Summer and follow the protagonist, Haven, through the summer, you keep waiting for something to happen to Haven. For the whole book, it seems that plenty is happening around Haven - her father remarries, her sister is getting married and moving out, her mother is rebuilding her life after divorce, her best friend gets her first boyfriend- but not much seems to happen to Haven. You keep waiting for Haven's plot line to start. But when you finish the book, you realize that Haven's plot line is happening inside of her. In hindsight, you see that Sarah Dressen, the author, hints at this with the constant reference to how much Haven is growing physically as she seems to grow taller than everyone around her, but not unitl the last three chapters do you see how Haven is growing as a person as well. Although it does take a remarkably immature act of throwing a hissy fit with a child's shoe for the change to begin. This book reminded me sos much of the Molly Ringwald classic Sixteen Candles that I kept looking for the Jake Ryan character. But I was glad that in the end, Haven rescues herself, and I finally felt emotionally attached to her as a character when she does.
For some people, I can see this book not being worth the effort. On the other hand, I know many teenage girls could see themselves in Haven if they give this book a chance.
For some people, I can see this book not being worth the effort. On the other hand, I know many teenage girls could see themselves in Haven if they give this book a chance.
Flashbacks and anecdotes were unfocused and interrupted the narrative too much. Too many character storylines for a book less than 200 pages. Plot was boring, motif was childish and cheesy. Did not like. Do not recommend.
Not my favorite Sarah Dessen book. I didn't love the characters or the story line that much. Sometimes it just seemed a little all over the place.
Am I rating this angsty teen novel 5 stars? I sure the heck am. This book has lived rent-free in my mind since I read it as a teenager. I’ve been wanting to do a reread for a while, and figured coming off of the Summer I Turned Pretty series was a good time. For the audience it’s meant for, I think it still holds up. That twist was my Gone Girl moment (and yes I realize I’m talking about a teenage coming-of-age story but it was a twist for me nonetheless) and it still hurt my heart just the same as it did all those years ago. This book will always bring me back to my youth and I’m glad I was able channel those same angsty days as I read.
This Book was awful it had a lot of questions that were'nt answered. What happened to Gwen? What happened to Sumner did Haven ever forgive him?