A review by machadamia
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This one is a toughie because I like the art but not really the story. Maybe because it is YA, I expected it to be a bit lighter but it really stirred up some emotions in me. 

The storyline is rather simple, the main character spends a summer in a beach house her parents own and underneath all the happy exterior, there is actually something rather dark. At the heart of the problems is

her mother's pregnancy and then miscarriage. I found that part to be rather frustrating, and I am frustrated at all the characters at the center of this problem: mother, daughter and father. Frustrated at the mother because it seems like everyone is trying to cheer her and themselves up but she clearly isn't cooperating. At one point, dad's brother came along and tried to get her to swim but then she is not ready to do so and basically shouts at them for making her do it. While I agree that they should have just let her be, I also understand that it is hard watching their loved ones be so miserable. Throughout the entire time, I don't see her try to do anything to help herself so I was really annoyed at that.

 

And then for daughter, she is just trying to deal with all of this and says some really immature things. However, she has every right to feel this way as a teenager. I think it really is typical behaviour as someone who is growing up. And that's why I am annoyed at both her parents because their communication is so bad. Which really brings me to dad. He tries many things and thinks that he has tried everything to help his wife (to be fair she is very frustratingly not wanting to be helped). And then decides to just leave. I get that you don't like the vibes but you have a whole daughter here who neesd you!

All of this really makes me so annoyed at all of the characters, aside from her best friend in this town. 

Throughout the entire time, they meet some boys at the shop which turns into a sort of obsession for the main character in terms of finding out their story and kind of forming a small crush on one of them. I thought the juxtaposition of having someone who is pregnant and sort of a turbulent time because of it and then another who is having a miserable time because she isn't pregnant is quite well done. 

The parts where the main character and her best friend is just

watching horror films all the time though they weren't supposed to just cracks me up. And the fact that she is watching it with a straight face. I mean I get that they were trying to show that she is masking her pain but it was quite funny how she was later known as someone who is hard core in that store.

 

I didn't really enjoy the read, though I have to say that the author did a good job in writing a story with layers and characters who feel deeply. I don't necessarily mind the fact that it was not as lighthearted as I wished, but I just wished all the characters were a bit more likeable in their actions and character. And the central issue being

pregnancy

is not for me.