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reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
When I see a book with Jen Calonita's name on it, I know I'm in for some fun. I've read everything Jen has written and enjoyed them all. She's best known for her Secrets of My Hollywood Life series. I haven't loved her non SOMHL books quite as much, but they're all still fun.
Summer State of Mind is a companion novel to Sleepaway Girls, which she published in 2009 - so it's been quite a few years. Don't worry if you haven't read Sleepaway Girls. I read it such a long time ago that I couldn't remember a thing. The only connection is that the main characters of that book are now senior counselors (college aged, I think). It's the type of companion novel where there's a few inside jokes, but nothing that keeps you from understanding the book. There was one reference I noticed to a character from SOMHL. I wish there'd been a few more. I really miss that series.
All of Jen's books are the fun, fluffy kind. The main character goes through some challenges and comes out a stronger person on the other side. There's always a little romance too, but the emphasis is more on friendships and personal growth. It's predictable in the warm cookie and hot cup of tea on a chilly day kind of way. You get exactly what you want.
In this book Harper starts out as a stereotypical rich girl who is focused on her looks and on shopping. Her dad ships her off to summer camp to take her down a peg. And of course, summer camp is just what she needed, even if she didn't think so before hand. Harper is a natural leader. She'd been dragged down by a mean-girl friend back home so the true Harper was hidden. Here, once she learns to go with the flow, she stands out amongst the campers.
There is some romance in this book with a sweet guy named Ethan. Imagine sailing off into the sunset. But mostly it's about friendship. She develops a strong friendship with a sporty girl named Lina. She becomes much closer to her low-key, athletic twin brother Kyle. She wins over some of her reluctant roommates and has a great mentor in her counselor. I say these things not to spoil the book but to give you more of an idea of what a fun ride you're in for. There are a few plot-based surprises and a few times when I hid my face from the page, because I felt bad for Harper, but it largely follows the structure I want out of it.
One thing that was a little odd was the timing of the book. The story took place over almost an entire summer. Often, days or weeks passed by within a few sentences. Overall, I liked the technique because I was able to get a full picture of Harper's camp stay without having to read 600 pages. On the downside, I sometimes felt like I was an outsider looking into the story - which is not what I look for in fluffy books. But as I said, I'm not sure how it could have been done better without it either being too long or too narrowly focused.
My favorite Jen Calonita book characteristic is the fashion and culture. Jen's characters always have a great fashion sense and are up on the latest pop culture. They usually also have a lot of money, which means they wear designer clothes, have fancy vacations, and often know celebrities, whether real or made up. I like that the books don't denigrate being fashion conscious or make-up savvy (ironic considering I never wear make-up). Harper becomes more low-key and less vain as the book goes on, but her stylistic talents remain an important part of who she is and is even appreciated.
I'm so glad that Jen decided to continue her Sleepaway Girls series, even if it has been five years. In fact, I think I liked this better than the original Sleepaway Girls novel. Harper was a joy to read about, as were Lina, Ethan, and Kyle. This book made me so sad that I never went away to summer camp. It's an armchair travel read of the best kind.
Rating: 4 / 5
Summer State of Mind is a companion novel to Sleepaway Girls, which she published in 2009 - so it's been quite a few years. Don't worry if you haven't read Sleepaway Girls. I read it such a long time ago that I couldn't remember a thing. The only connection is that the main characters of that book are now senior counselors (college aged, I think). It's the type of companion novel where there's a few inside jokes, but nothing that keeps you from understanding the book. There was one reference I noticed to a character from SOMHL. I wish there'd been a few more. I really miss that series.
All of Jen's books are the fun, fluffy kind. The main character goes through some challenges and comes out a stronger person on the other side. There's always a little romance too, but the emphasis is more on friendships and personal growth. It's predictable in the warm cookie and hot cup of tea on a chilly day kind of way. You get exactly what you want.
In this book Harper starts out as a stereotypical rich girl who is focused on her looks and on shopping. Her dad ships her off to summer camp to take her down a peg. And of course, summer camp is just what she needed, even if she didn't think so before hand. Harper is a natural leader. She'd been dragged down by a mean-girl friend back home so the true Harper was hidden. Here, once she learns to go with the flow, she stands out amongst the campers.
There is some romance in this book with a sweet guy named Ethan. Imagine sailing off into the sunset. But mostly it's about friendship. She develops a strong friendship with a sporty girl named Lina. She becomes much closer to her low-key, athletic twin brother Kyle. She wins over some of her reluctant roommates and has a great mentor in her counselor. I say these things not to spoil the book but to give you more of an idea of what a fun ride you're in for. There are a few plot-based surprises and a few times when I hid my face from the page, because I felt bad for Harper, but it largely follows the structure I want out of it.
One thing that was a little odd was the timing of the book. The story took place over almost an entire summer. Often, days or weeks passed by within a few sentences. Overall, I liked the technique because I was able to get a full picture of Harper's camp stay without having to read 600 pages. On the downside, I sometimes felt like I was an outsider looking into the story - which is not what I look for in fluffy books. But as I said, I'm not sure how it could have been done better without it either being too long or too narrowly focused.
My favorite Jen Calonita book characteristic is the fashion and culture. Jen's characters always have a great fashion sense and are up on the latest pop culture. They usually also have a lot of money, which means they wear designer clothes, have fancy vacations, and often know celebrities, whether real or made up. I like that the books don't denigrate being fashion conscious or make-up savvy (ironic considering I never wear make-up). Harper becomes more low-key and less vain as the book goes on, but her stylistic talents remain an important part of who she is and is even appreciated.
I'm so glad that Jen decided to continue her Sleepaway Girls series, even if it has been five years. In fact, I think I liked this better than the original Sleepaway Girls novel. Harper was a joy to read about, as were Lina, Ethan, and Kyle. This book made me so sad that I never went away to summer camp. It's an armchair travel read of the best kind.
Rating: 4 / 5
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I HATED, HATED .... the main character for the first few chapters. Like full on loathed her skinny, little bitchy self. She was rich, spoiled, and hung out with other privileged little white fifteen year old brats. Thankfully her mom and dad decide their dearest daughter needs a reality check after she blew several THOUSAND dollars on her AMEX card. A fifteen year old spending thousands at couture shops, spas, private lessons, and fancy dining. Really?!?! Anyway ma and pa ship Harper and her twin brother off to a sleepaway camp in the middle of nowhere for a dose of reality. Her adventure seeking brother Kyle loves it, but Harper can't stand it. Her wedges aren't good for hiking, her hair can't adjust to the humidity, and she can't text! Oh no! What's a girl to do?!? Most campers immediately dislike Harper, dubbing her Camping Barbie. She makes one good friend though and surprisingly starts to have a good time. Maybe life isn't all about the superficial stuff, maybe her parents did know what's best for her.
The story is thoroughly predictable, but still enjoyable. It's the perfect beach read. It's fast, breezy, and doesn't require much thinking. It's the second in a "series" but this novel focuses on a different character and different year than the first (Sleepaway Girls), only the setting is the same.
I received this book for free from Librarything in return for my honest, unbiased review.
The story is thoroughly predictable, but still enjoyable. It's the perfect beach read. It's fast, breezy, and doesn't require much thinking. It's the second in a "series" but this novel focuses on a different character and different year than the first (Sleepaway Girls), only the setting is the same.
I received this book for free from Librarything in return for my honest, unbiased review.
kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was so much fun! So cute and I LOVE LOVE LOVE books that take place at summer camp!
emilygrafton8's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I felt connected to all the characters, they felt so real to me. The plot of this book is great, it was if fun to see the amount of character growth Harper and all the others had. It is a fun, light-hearted summer I read, that I really enjoyed!
katupatu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
5.0
skyhazzard's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3.75
I enjoy camp books, I myself have never went to camp so I like living vicariously through books. In the beginning I wasn't too sure about Harper but once she got to camp and out of that vapid world she was living in I really started to enjoy the book. Even though she didn't want to be there a part of her did want to succeed and say she did it and I liked seeing her try, especially with her rivalry with her brother. I really loved her friendship with Lina and Ethan was pretty sweet too.
I enjoy camp books, I myself have never went to camp so I like living vicariously through books. In the beginning I wasn't too sure about Harper but once she got to camp and out of that vapid world she was living in I really started to enjoy the book. Even though she didn't want to be there a part of her did want to succeed and say she did it and I liked seeing her try, especially with her rivalry with her brother. I really loved her friendship with Lina and Ethan was pretty sweet too.
mon_ique's review against another edition
3.0
Disappointing because I really wanted more of the old characters, and only got to, and besides that, they didn't seem like the characters you met in the first one. Wish I had more of a background with this new MC, but got close to nothing.
Loved the first one more!
And it also read like another book series about camp. Alot of things and I was like, Haven't I read this before?
Loved the first one more!
And it also read like another book series about camp. Alot of things and I was like, Haven't I read this before?
emilia_thereader's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.75
msoblong's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute enough book, a fun summer read. It was nice to see how a few of the campers from book one were doing.