A review by bex_knighthunterbooks
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This is a character-driven coming of age story of a summer Rose spends with her family at a lake house. Her family situation is complex, with her mother suffering from depression after infertility issues, and so the story has a quiet melancholy feel as so much goes unsaid. The story is also focussed on the friendship Rose has with another younger girl, which was not without its difficulties with their age gap and long time between seeing each other. The art was evocative and effective at telling the story, but I found the story itself more sparse than I prefer and I didn't feel moved despite the emotional content. In the end I felt a little dissatisfied with the resolution when so much is left no better than before, and the character development is minimal for everyone - which is why I consider this to be a slice-of-life story. Overall, it didn't really work for me but was an enjoyable enough way to spend a few hours, and I can see why others would enjoy this more.
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