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sheltzer's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
faile12's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
3.5
stephanie6082's review against another edition
5.0
Cute, quirky, and fun. Definitely not my norm, but something about it kept me going. It was romantic and sweet.
blburslem's review against another edition
3.0
This was nothing deep but it was a cute quick read. I'm sure I wouldn't have liked it as much if it wasn't set in DE.
rebeccaelizabeth94's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I absolutely love this book. I read this years ago and recently rediscovered it. It is so fun and lighthearted. A truly good way to start a series. I love Summer and Dutch gives me Ben from Parks and Rec vibes. The town of Black Dog Bay is so perfect. I too have engaged in Taylor Swift singing and crying in my car and I can only wish and hope to be as seductive and bold as summer.
mcipher's review against another edition
4.0
Audio re-read and I still really enjoyed it - funny and breezy and charming, but with some good real life lessons at times - running away, resilience and taking it native too far, holding onto the past. It could get silly at times but really it’s so fun that it doesn’t matter.
taralpittman's review against another edition
4.0
From about the second page of this book I was completely hooked; I finished it, reluctantly (I didn't want it to end!), in three days.
I found so many lines in this book that had me laughing out loud (to myself, no less) that I began to wonder whether Beth Kendrick moonlights as a stand-up comedienne. The book is anchored by main character Summer Benson who pays her bills by working as an international flight attendant who takes her job very seriously; the most important aspect of her job when we meet her is continuing her flirtatious romance with one of the airline pilots, Aaron. When one of her fellow flight attendants hassles her about the height of her heels as they prepare to serve customers, Summer replies, "The only thing more high-maintenance than the meal service is me. I refuse to be hobbled by a few plates of lettuce."
Due to unforeseen circumstances (don't want to spoil too much here!), Summer's romance with Aaron is abruptly cut short and she finds herself in a dilemma about where to direct her efforts and, as it turns out, her life. Summer decides to descend upon the small town of Black Dog Bay, Delaware, "where all the stores sell Ben & Jerry's and Kleenex."
In Black Dog Bay, Summer, maybe for the first time in her life, finds a way to connect with people authentically. Summer describes herself as always having been the "good-time girl. That was why people liked her. That was how she compensated for everything she lacked." She tenuously builds a relationship with a young, impressionable girl, Ingrid, who calls Summer her "mentor," and, in the process, garners the attention of Ingrid's brother, the mayor of Black Dog Bay.
Even though Summer wants to be able to cultivate a meaningful relationship with this man, she "was afraid that whatever she did, whatever he felt for her, it wouldn't be enough." This is a tale I could relate to and had me thinking that if I, like Summer, could have realized earlier in my life that other people valued me for who I was, rather than who I thought I should be, life may have been just a little easier to handle.
To say that this novel exceeded my expectations would be a huge understatement; beneath the cute quips and laughable antics of Summer and her Black Dog Bay pals lies a story that gets to the heart of one's struggle to define what they need to be authentically happy in their life. Kudos to Beth Kendrick...she's got another loyal fan. Now I've got to catch up and read some of her previous work, like The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service and The Week Before the Wedding.
I found so many lines in this book that had me laughing out loud (to myself, no less) that I began to wonder whether Beth Kendrick moonlights as a stand-up comedienne. The book is anchored by main character Summer Benson who pays her bills by working as an international flight attendant who takes her job very seriously; the most important aspect of her job when we meet her is continuing her flirtatious romance with one of the airline pilots, Aaron. When one of her fellow flight attendants hassles her about the height of her heels as they prepare to serve customers, Summer replies, "The only thing more high-maintenance than the meal service is me. I refuse to be hobbled by a few plates of lettuce."
Due to unforeseen circumstances (don't want to spoil too much here!), Summer's romance with Aaron is abruptly cut short and she finds herself in a dilemma about where to direct her efforts and, as it turns out, her life. Summer decides to descend upon the small town of Black Dog Bay, Delaware, "where all the stores sell Ben & Jerry's and Kleenex."
In Black Dog Bay, Summer, maybe for the first time in her life, finds a way to connect with people authentically. Summer describes herself as always having been the "good-time girl. That was why people liked her. That was how she compensated for everything she lacked." She tenuously builds a relationship with a young, impressionable girl, Ingrid, who calls Summer her "mentor," and, in the process, garners the attention of Ingrid's brother, the mayor of Black Dog Bay.
Even though Summer wants to be able to cultivate a meaningful relationship with this man, she "was afraid that whatever she did, whatever he felt for her, it wouldn't be enough." This is a tale I could relate to and had me thinking that if I, like Summer, could have realized earlier in my life that other people valued me for who I was, rather than who I thought I should be, life may have been just a little easier to handle.
To say that this novel exceeded my expectations would be a huge understatement; beneath the cute quips and laughable antics of Summer and her Black Dog Bay pals lies a story that gets to the heart of one's struggle to define what they need to be authentically happy in their life. Kudos to Beth Kendrick...she's got another loyal fan. Now I've got to catch up and read some of her previous work, like The Lucky Dog Matchmaking Service and The Week Before the Wedding.
lizzielhill's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a light and easy summer read that helped me escape reality for a few hours. I enjoyed this book so much that I went on to read (and enjoy!) book #2 and I’m currently reading book #3 of the series.
I will say some of it did seem slightly far fetched. It was my least favorite of the series, but I still recommend it to my friends and family!
I will say some of it did seem slightly far fetched. It was my least favorite of the series, but I still recommend it to my friends and family!