Reviews

a nice, quick, easy read. i actually really liked this book and had planned to give it 4 stars right up until the very last page - which left me feeling unsettled and a little annoyed.
a lot of the characters were unlikeable, including the narrator, which kept me hooked until the end.

oriel123's review against another edition

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dark hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Reading this book in winter transported me to an idyllic English summer. Loved the simple though lyrical writing style, and the perspective of summer and life through the lens of teenagers. The dark turn in the narrative is engaging and somewhat unexpected, but works well and is almost refreshing for this genre of a book whose theme is overused and not always done well. Though aimed at YA, I think this is an easy read - meaningful and engaging for all ages. Also really enjoyed the author's afterword - her gorgeous writing style made me want to read more of her, and specifically her recollections of her own life.

millypip's review against another edition

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4.0

A large family, in which each kid has had to carve their own space, returns to their summer beach house. The arrival of the golden Kit Godden, and his Shadow of a brother, Hugo turns the summer head (and heart) over heels.

It’s always a pleasure when an author manages to balance the line between the weight of teen angst and the naive hope of youth. Goddard does this perfectly, making this coming of age tale a perfect lazy Sunday afternoon read.

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