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sng2098's review
3.0
That Summer was Sarah Dessen's first published YA novel.
The book was ok, the most annoying thing to me was that it has long paragraphs, which I can't stand in a book. However, the story line didn't really go anywhere. It didn't really have a plot.
To me it can be summed up easily; A girl's parents divorce, she tries to find comfort in the past, then realilzes she can't live in the past.
The book was ok, the most annoying thing to me was that it has long paragraphs, which I can't stand in a book. However, the story line didn't really go anywhere. It didn't really have a plot.
To me it can be summed up easily; A girl's parents divorce, she tries to find comfort in the past, then realilzes she can't live in the past.
jaceylepore's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
jenny_hedberg's review
3.0
This was a light read and nice enough, but it didn't stand out like many of Dessen's other works. While it told a nice story of coming of age, and perhaps to terms, it lacked that message that I so closely relate to Dessen's novels.
wishfulfillment's review against another edition
4.0
More of a 3.5.
Why you might bump this up on your TBR: Dessen skillfully writes detailed contemporary. She takes us on an engaging journey of what seems like an actual person's life and she leaves us with a moral at the end. Even though it's very old, it still had elements that I hadn't seen yet. I really enjoyed reading it, especially for her writing style.
Why you might bump this down on your TBR: This is clearly a first-work in that it felt too short and simple. She used the R-word.
Why you might bump this up on your TBR: Dessen skillfully writes detailed contemporary. She takes us on an engaging journey of what seems like an actual person's life and she leaves us with a moral at the end. Even though it's very old, it still had elements that I hadn't seen yet. I really enjoyed reading it, especially for her writing style.
Why you might bump this down on your TBR: This is clearly a first-work in that it felt too short and simple. She used the R-word.
cboooots's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75
sienaro's review
2.0
This book was boring. There’s really nothing else to be said. Haven is tall, her dad is remarrying, her sister is marrying, and she falls for her sister’s ex-boyfriend. Nothing really happens, no characters are developed, there isn’t really any romance, and the narration is average at best, tedious and repetitive in general.
lookatjimmy's review
2.0
I think I missed the age at which I should’ve first read this book. I’m sure that, were I closer to the age Haven is, I would’ve found it more profound and relatable. But unfortunately all I’m left with is the feeling that, in 198 pages, nothing really happened.
roseleaf24's review
3.0
The main character was incredibly inactive for the majority of the book. That's not unrealistic for a teen in summer, and I can see the point it was making, but it's hard to be invested when the main character is almost a 3rd person narrator.
readyforit's review
I read many of Sarah dessen’s books in middle school and am planning to sell or donate them soon so I thought I’d reread them before I do, but this one just doesn’t seem to hit the same as it did when I was a preteen. No big deal, I just don’t want to waste my time if I’m not going to enjoy them!
dogayye15's review against another edition
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
3.0