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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I love Kasie West! She never fails to disappoint me.
The main reason why I didn’t give this one 5 stars was a lot of little reasons added up.
Brooks was really rude when they first met - especially when he learned they were staying most of the summer. I get growing up without the money you need to take care of someone; his situation is so tough for him. But it wasn’t enough reason to be like that towards Avery.
There were some really… unlikely / stereotypical YA things in this book. Avery being able to sing, although great, was a bit out of left field. I would have loved to get a little more foreshadowing of that. Both Avery and Brooks being attractive, typical. That scene where Avery is like “Brooks looked GoOd” made me roll my eyes.
I seriously loved Lauren in this book. She was interesting and funny - she felt like a sister should! I enjoyed her role in the entire book!!
Still good, still would absolutely recommend this book and ALL Kasie West!!
The main reason why I didn’t give this one 5 stars was a lot of little reasons added up.
Brooks was really rude when they first met - especially when he learned they were staying most of the summer. I get growing up without the money you need to take care of someone; his situation is so tough for him. But it wasn’t enough reason to be like that towards Avery.
There were some really… unlikely / stereotypical YA things in this book. Avery being able to sing, although great, was a bit out of left field. I would have loved to get a little more foreshadowing of that. Both Avery and Brooks being attractive, typical. That scene where Avery is like “Brooks looked GoOd” made me roll my eyes.
I seriously loved Lauren in this book. She was interesting and funny - she felt like a sister should! I enjoyed her role in the entire book!!
Still good, still would absolutely recommend this book and ALL Kasie West!!
Been reading Kasie West since I was in highschool and her yearly releases are an alert that I deserve a break from responsibilities to spend a day reading something cute. Probs not my fave one, but definitely a Kasie West novel and that's an automatic 4 stars for me lol.
This was such a cute story. I really liked the family dynamic, the romance, the music, and the overall message. As someone who hates confrontation I really connected with our m.c. but we definitely had a disconnect about being a people pleaser. I would have lost it on so many people lol Overall: super cute and the perfect summer read.
I'll always read a Kasie West book, but this was probably my least favorite of hers. It felt like every plotline had already been used in a previous book, and the two main characters were blah. I couldn't tell the band members apart and all the side characters just seemed the same version of every typical supporting character. Overall it was just meh for me.
Kasie West has done it again with another sweet and swoony YA romance! She is so good at writing lovable, relatable characters.
Avery had such good growth and character development in this book, and I loved reading about her journey. And Brooks was a perfect love interest for her.
And I really enjoyed the addition of music and lyric writing to the plot. It made for a fun plot point.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review.
Avery had such good growth and character development in this book, and I loved reading about her journey. And Brooks was a perfect love interest for her.
And I really enjoyed the addition of music and lyric writing to the plot. It made for a fun plot point.
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to review.
Summer love! “Sigh” This book was adorable. It took me back to when I was in my mid to late teens “falling for the boy” and making great friendships. No swearing, no sexual content. A perfect YA for parents who want to keep their teen’s reading within their appropriate age group.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
I am going to say the biggest thank you ever here to NetGalley and the publishers over at Delacorte Press for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you don’t know, Kasie West is an autobuy author for me. I’ve read every single Kasie West book that has come out and any time I see that she’s coming out with a new one it’s instantly in my cart. She’s a YA Contemporary/Romance author who does a great job of making characters realistic even in unrealistic settings. Sunkissed is about a girl named Avery who is being forced to attend a family summer camp with her parents and her social media loving sister. But being in the middle of nowhere with no WiFi and no cell reception sounds like the worst summer ever. Until Avery meets Brooks, a summer staffer her age who is definitely off limits. Sunkissed comes out on May 4th and is available for pre-order now.
This almost seems like a book perfectly made for me. I love Avery and her sister Lauren. Kasie West does a great job of making two sibling characters actually feel like siblings. The love and the hate and the resentment that can sometimes building between siblings was so realistic. I also really enjoyed the male main character. I feel like Brooks seems like a genuine 18 year old guy who doesn’t always know the right way forward but does his best. And his banter with Avery was so cute. The setting was also perfect for me. I am a mountain child and so reading about the characters in the woods, on the mountains, exploring and doing all the summer camp things was amazing. I can perfectly picture the camp and the surrounding lake and woods. It was done so well.
The book was solidly at a 4.5 star range up until the last 35% or so. I felt like some of the things that happened at the end of the book were a little too clean or wrapped up a little too well. I feel like life is a little more messy than what we got here and I kind of wish that some things were left without a resolution. Which is not what I normally say. Normally I don’t like open endings but when everything is tied up in a neat little bow it doesn’t feel realistic. Maybe if we had gotten a little more time with all the loose ends before it got wrapped up it would have felt less forced.
But this is a really great summer read if you’re someone who likes to read with the seasons. It’s got a summer camp, family bonding, romance, a band competition, and best friend drama. There’s something for everyone.
This almost seems like a book perfectly made for me. I love Avery and her sister Lauren. Kasie West does a great job of making two sibling characters actually feel like siblings. The love and the hate and the resentment that can sometimes building between siblings was so realistic. I also really enjoyed the male main character. I feel like Brooks seems like a genuine 18 year old guy who doesn’t always know the right way forward but does his best. And his banter with Avery was so cute. The setting was also perfect for me. I am a mountain child and so reading about the characters in the woods, on the mountains, exploring and doing all the summer camp things was amazing. I can perfectly picture the camp and the surrounding lake and woods. It was done so well.
The book was solidly at a 4.5 star range up until the last 35% or so. I felt like some of the things that happened at the end of the book were a little too clean or wrapped up a little too well. I feel like life is a little more messy than what we got here and I kind of wish that some things were left without a resolution. Which is not what I normally say. Normally I don’t like open endings but when everything is tied up in a neat little bow it doesn’t feel realistic. Maybe if we had gotten a little more time with all the loose ends before it got wrapped up it would have felt less forced.
But this is a really great summer read if you’re someone who likes to read with the seasons. It’s got a summer camp, family bonding, romance, a band competition, and best friend drama. There’s something for everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the advanced copy of this book to read and review.
I'm always excited to read a Kasie West romance. I'm never disappointed with her themes and I always get easily pulled into the story and become invested in the characters.
Are you a Dirty Dancing fan? Love the campy atmosphere it brought with the "forbidden" love? Then you're gonna really like this one.
Avery, recently single, is carted away with her family for a summer of fun, lake, and activities at family camp. Determined to pull herself out of her funk, she decides to try and break out of her shell. But doing so could cost Brooks, a camp employee, his job! No fraternizing between employees and guests, or even between employees, is the rule. But Brooks and Avery find their chemistry on stage singing as a band can't be ignored.
Avery is a cute character. A little quirky, a little shy, a little down on herself. She is your quintessential 17 year old who needs is trying to fit in and find her way. She's realistic with her reactions to events and happenings. Just what you think a 17 year old at family camp might be.
Brooks has his own baggage. But he's not wanting to let that get in the way of his want to become a musician. He's a bit broody, which seems to draw Avery to him.
I think my favorite thing about this book is it's setting: who doesn't love that Dirty Dancing vibe? Guests cabins separated from the employees. Avery sneaking off to meet up with Brooks and other employees she befriends. Her family none the wiser until it's "too late". It definitely brought me back to watching Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray dance around and have fun while falling in love.
If you're looking for a cute, easy read while you lounge at the beach or pool this summer, pick this one up.
I'm always excited to read a Kasie West romance. I'm never disappointed with her themes and I always get easily pulled into the story and become invested in the characters.
Are you a Dirty Dancing fan? Love the campy atmosphere it brought with the "forbidden" love? Then you're gonna really like this one.
Avery, recently single, is carted away with her family for a summer of fun, lake, and activities at family camp. Determined to pull herself out of her funk, she decides to try and break out of her shell. But doing so could cost Brooks, a camp employee, his job! No fraternizing between employees and guests, or even between employees, is the rule. But Brooks and Avery find their chemistry on stage singing as a band can't be ignored.
Avery is a cute character. A little quirky, a little shy, a little down on herself. She is your quintessential 17 year old who needs is trying to fit in and find her way. She's realistic with her reactions to events and happenings. Just what you think a 17 year old at family camp might be.
Brooks has his own baggage. But he's not wanting to let that get in the way of his want to become a musician. He's a bit broody, which seems to draw Avery to him.
I think my favorite thing about this book is it's setting: who doesn't love that Dirty Dancing vibe? Guests cabins separated from the employees. Avery sneaking off to meet up with Brooks and other employees she befriends. Her family none the wiser until it's "too late". It definitely brought me back to watching Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray dance around and have fun while falling in love.
If you're looking for a cute, easy read while you lounge at the beach or pool this summer, pick this one up.