A review by btwnprintedpgs
Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

I am so surprised by how much I loved this book. Everything about Beatrice's character development was so good and I loved being in her head as she figured out who she is outside of her ordered four walls. 

I will say at first, everyone felt a bit stereotyped and they got attached super fast. Not that that's surprising for a summer camp read, but the book at times felt like a bubble and the real world wasn't knocking. It was very sweet how the friendships developed and felt like a large part of the story, but there still felt like there was something missing in them. That being said, I appreciated the support that they provided Bea as she ventured out of her comfort zone time and time again. I loved their unconditional love and appreciation of Bea as a smart human being, but also someone totally out of her depth. Their love and help were an integral part of Bea's growth. 

I absolutely loved Bea and her journey. Being in her head as she dissected and processed new social interactions and events felt very relatable. As someone who was involuntarily sheltered, I kind of loved seeing her approach to new things, and appreciated how cautious she was with her heart, because same. I found a lot of my young self in her, and enjoyed seeing her open herself up to new people and new experiences. Her unintentional banter and chemistry with the other characters brought a humanity to herself and the other characters. This element was what truly brought the whole cast to life for me and it's definitely where Kaylor's writing shines. 

The Shakespearean themes were a lot of fun - the plays, the acting, the romance, the games - there's just something about the Bard that brings people together. As a Shakespeare kid, I enjoyed revisiting the plays throughout the story. 

All in all, I loved this book and I am so excited to see more from this author! 

TW: bullying, underage drinking 

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Wednesday Books via St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. 
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