Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another super cute Kasie West book! What a nice refresher from all of the intense fantasy and mystery books I've been reading lately.
Love love love the camp setting in this!!! The camp atmosphere was my favorite park of the book (though the friendships and the battle of the bands competition were close seconds!). I’m honestly so sad that it’s winter right now, because Sunkissed made me desperate to go to a really cool summer camp in California, ugh. All of the hiking, outdoor painting, kayaking, swimming, and cafeteria style dinners in Sunkissed drew me in and set a really good backdrop for the family growth, friendships, and romances that formed at the camp.
I wasn’t always feeling the Brooks/Avery connection, but overall it worked. It took a while to be sure that they were both into each other, but once they were it developed pretty quickly. They had to sneak around a lot because the camp doesn’t allow staff to date guests, so the secrecy added to the slow burn. But sometimes it felt like we were just being told that they're into each other instead of really seeing it.
All of the side characters, especially Lauren, Mari, and the band were WONDERFUL! I love the side plot of Lauren’s vlogging and how her talent and passion grew over the summer. Mari’s sweetness and sass were perfect; she is the perfect summer camp best friend! And the band... oh how I loved the band’s dynamic. I love how they kind of new each other ahead of time, but that music really brought them together, even though they were just covering cookie cutter songs. The band mates made me laugh a lot, and I love seeing the relationships grow between all the camp staff.
There was a lot of character development, especially with the mc, Avery. By the end of the book she saw everyone and everything with new eyes, and it was refreshing.
The dialogue in all of Kasie's books is a little weird to me. It's usually unrealistic and awkward. It's improved since her first books, but it's still kind of stilted.
Overall I think this is one of Kasie's best books!! There was more intellectual depth and self exploration, and the camp setting was fleshed out really well. I just love Kasie’s books — they’re the perfect books when you need a quick and fluffy fun read:)
thanks to the publisher,edelweiss, and netgalley for the arc:)
Another super cute Kasie West book! What a nice refresher from all of the intense fantasy and mystery books I've been reading lately.
Love love love the camp setting in this!!! The camp atmosphere was my favorite park of the book (though the friendships and the battle of the bands competition were close seconds!). I’m honestly so sad that it’s winter right now, because Sunkissed made me desperate to go to a really cool summer camp in California, ugh. All of the hiking, outdoor painting, kayaking, swimming, and cafeteria style dinners in Sunkissed drew me in and set a really good backdrop for the family growth, friendships, and romances that formed at the camp.
I wasn’t always feeling the Brooks/Avery connection, but overall it worked. It took a while to be sure that they were both into each other, but once they were it developed pretty quickly. They had to sneak around a lot because the camp doesn’t allow staff to date guests, so the secrecy added to the slow burn. But sometimes it felt like we were just being told that they're into each other instead of really seeing it.
All of the side characters, especially Lauren, Mari, and the band were WONDERFUL! I love the side plot of Lauren’s vlogging and how her talent and passion grew over the summer. Mari’s sweetness and sass were perfect; she is the perfect summer camp best friend! And the band... oh how I loved the band’s dynamic. I love how they kind of new each other ahead of time, but that music really brought them together, even though they were just covering cookie cutter songs. The band mates made me laugh a lot, and I love seeing the relationships grow between all the camp staff.
There was a lot of character development, especially with the mc, Avery. By the end of the book she saw everyone and everything with new eyes, and it was refreshing.
The dialogue in all of Kasie's books is a little weird to me. It's usually unrealistic and awkward. It's improved since her first books, but it's still kind of stilted.
Overall I think this is one of Kasie's best books!! There was more intellectual depth and self exploration, and the camp setting was fleshed out really well. I just love Kasie’s books — they’re the perfect books when you need a quick and fluffy fun read:)
thanks to the publisher,edelweiss, and netgalley for the arc:)
I absolutely love Kasie West’s books and will read anything she writes. Her characters are always so sweet and relatable, and this book was no exception. Avery’s family goes to a camp for the summer where she meets Brooks, a member of the camp’s band. Avery is passionate about music, but struggles with stage freight. She decides to take a risk by singing with Brooks when his band’s lead singer has to drop out. She starts to fall for Brooks, but they aren’t allowed to be together because he’s an employee and she’s a guest. There were so many things I loved about this book; the characters, the family dynamic, the camp setting, and the forbidden romance. Sunkissed was a great summer romance, and I can’t wait for Kasie West’s next book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
I loved everything about this book. Classic Kasie West to me. The summer camp setting was also amazing.
I feel bad rating this because it seems I've really grown out of Kasie's books, but I'm gonna put this just for my own GR stuff. I'm giving it a 3 because it's not the book's fault I don't like it, but it's more realistically a 2.
Yeah I just.. don't think I'll be reading anymore books by this author. On top of just always being so white and heterosexual, they just don't seem to have a draw for me, plot wise. The last few books she's published I've just been reading going "okay and?" when her books used to be so cute and fun. I looked back on older books to see if maybe my personality has changed and all of her protagonists would feel so whiny to me now, and there was a bit of a change, but not to the level of this book. I guess I just am so far away from being able to relate to these characters, and that's a shame.
The love interest had compelling reasons for why he acted the way he did, but it was hard to get over the first meeting where he just goes full 'the people who stay here are the fkn worst huh??' as his greeting. I've worked CS and I get it, but it just felt so contrived for him to leap into that miscommunication (if guests had interrupted them and been rude to either of them, easy peasy).
I saw this compared to HSM2 and I've never seen that, so maybe I'd like it more if I had. I have however seen Dirty Dancing, I just don't have much of a memory of it (jaye don't kill me, the sequel was my shit).
I'd go back on my words if Kasie put out a diverse rom-com, but I don't know if she'd ever do that, out of desire to stay in her lane or just liking what she's doing. No hate at all, just more evidence that I'll vibe more with other authors works.
Yeah I just.. don't think I'll be reading anymore books by this author. On top of just always being so white and heterosexual, they just don't seem to have a draw for me, plot wise. The last few books she's published I've just been reading going "okay and?" when her books used to be so cute and fun. I looked back on older books to see if maybe my personality has changed and all of her protagonists would feel so whiny to me now, and there was a bit of a change, but not to the level of this book. I guess I just am so far away from being able to relate to these characters, and that's a shame.
The love interest had compelling reasons for why he acted the way he did, but it was hard to get over the first meeting where he just goes full 'the people who stay here are the fkn worst huh??' as his greeting. I've worked CS and I get it, but it just felt so contrived for him to leap into that miscommunication (if guests had interrupted them and been rude to either of them, easy peasy).
I saw this compared to HSM2 and I've never seen that, so maybe I'd like it more if I had. I have however seen Dirty Dancing, I just don't have much of a memory of it (jaye don't kill me, the sequel was my shit).
I'd go back on my words if Kasie put out a diverse rom-com, but I don't know if she'd ever do that, out of desire to stay in her lane or just liking what she's doing. No hate at all, just more evidence that I'll vibe more with other authors works.
I really enjoyed this, I hated the last two kasie west books I've read so idk why I decided to read this but I'm glad I did. It was probably 50% because of the camp setting and 50% the new cover, and while it wasn't an extraordinary book or anything it's exactly what I needed to get me out of a reading slump. I thought I knew what was going to happen with the plot, but was pleasantly surprised when things didn't go as I expected, and overall it was just an easy light summer romance!
2.5. I LOVED the atmosphere and setting of the book. Now I want to read more stories that take place at camps. I liked the direction the book was going in: Avery making friends, exploring, and coming out of her shell. Mid-way through the plot completely changed and we didn’t get to see Avery’s development until the last chapters.That being said, I thought the message was great and loved the authors note. Not my favorite Kasie West book but not the worst. Honestly, the perfect distraction from finals.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My daughter enjoys Kasie West's books so I read this one at her urging and I'm so glad I did. I love good, clean YA romance, and Sunkissed was one of the best I've read in ages.
I thought West did a great job developing Avery's character. I also enjoyed how Avery interacted with both her sister and Brooks. The story was believable, funny, and sweet. I also appreciated that Kasie West kept the language and dialogue clean but still realistic sounding.
I would definitely recommend this book- 5 sunkissed stars from me!
NetGalley and Delacorte provided an advance copy of Sunkissed in exchange for my honest review.
I thought West did a great job developing Avery's character. I also enjoyed how Avery interacted with both her sister and Brooks. The story was believable, funny, and sweet. I also appreciated that Kasie West kept the language and dialogue clean but still realistic sounding.
I would definitely recommend this book- 5 sunkissed stars from me!
NetGalley and Delacorte provided an advance copy of Sunkissed in exchange for my honest review.