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A review by koistyfishy
The Summer You Found Me by Elizabeth O'Roark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3 Evil Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I've been contemplating how to review this book for a few days now, and ultimately, I believe the issue lies with me. I know that sounds cliché, very much like the classic "It's not you, it's me," but for once I am not being flippant and I genuinely mean it.
Let me elaborate... This book follows Kate and Beck. While technically it could be considered a standalone, I wouldn't advise doing so without reading book 2, as that one is HIGHLY connected to this in terms of plot, characters, and the foundation for what happens in "The Summer You Found Me." Basically, Kate has just come back to town after a year MIA, where she spent some of that time in rehab twice after she fell off the rails when she lost her baby girl. Her only mission is to get her husband back (CALEB - WHO GOT HIS HEA IN BOOK 2 with a NEW FMC). Finding herself with very few friends, she moves in with Beck - her ex-husband's best friend, who has also been secretly pining after Kate for years. It's only a secret for them and Caleb, as everyone else in the small town thinks they are a couple or should be.
Now, my main issue is that I don't like Kate. Her motivations are wrong, and she has a weak character (not in that she was weakly written - the opposite in fact) but in the way that she has no problem doing something she knows is problematic or bad, making an excuse that her actions are justified or validated by the end goal. While she recognizes this trait in herself, she doesn't do much to change it, and even though she goes through a redemption arc, it almost feels like it was done reluctantly or against her will as she realizes her goal for her actions is not something she actually wants.
This is where I find it difficult to judge the book because I ACTUALLY APPLAUD Elizabeth O'Roark, who made such a well-characterized character that made me hate her and her actions so much. It takes someone really talented to be able to do this, and I am still thinking about Kate, her actions, and how she made me feel. The thing is she was dealt an awful hand in life, and like many people who experience such trauma, she is not able to handle her grief with an appropriate coping mechanism so makes bad choices. She is extremely real and human and has so many faults. I wanted to help her; I wanted to climb in the book and slap some sense into her as she needed it, but I also don't think I would have been able to see myself as her friend - especially since she spends such a long time trying not to help herself on her quest for vengeance to win her husband back.
Beck - He was ok, I guess - most of the book is in Kate's POV, so we don't have too many scenes of him, and I almost wish there were more, as his love for her only felt impactful because we were told of their history and his actions for what he did before Kate lost the baby. I almost wished this had the dual timeline as "The Summer We Fell" so we would be able to actually see how these two had always loved each other but it was the wrong time and not just been told about it.
Overall, the writing is excellent and engaging, and the problem is entirely mine for not enjoying it, as I just had a problem with who Kate was - but I can't fault the book for that - I judge books based on my enjoyment, and because I didn't like Kate - in fact, might still hate her - I didn't enjoy this book as much as I think I would have if I just felt more connected to her.
Trope Summary:
▶ Dual POV
▶ It's always been you
▶ Ex's Best Friend
▶ Forbidden Love
▶ Roommates to Lovers
▶ Angsty and Emotional
▶ Forced Proximity
All in all, I definitely still recommend this book and series - it is an emotional ride with angst and pining and beautifully captures the flaws we have as humans.
Thank you Valentine PR and Elizabeth O'Roark for my ARC gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I've been contemplating how to review this book for a few days now, and ultimately, I believe the issue lies with me. I know that sounds cliché, very much like the classic "It's not you, it's me," but for once I am not being flippant and I genuinely mean it.
Let me elaborate... This book follows Kate and Beck. While technically it could be considered a standalone, I wouldn't advise doing so without reading book 2, as that one is HIGHLY connected to this in terms of plot, characters, and the foundation for what happens in "The Summer You Found Me." Basically, Kate has just come back to town after a year MIA, where she spent some of that time in rehab twice after she fell off the rails when she lost her baby girl. Her only mission is to get her husband back (CALEB - WHO GOT HIS HEA IN BOOK 2 with a NEW FMC). Finding herself with very few friends, she moves in with Beck - her ex-husband's best friend, who has also been secretly pining after Kate for years. It's only a secret for them and Caleb, as everyone else in the small town thinks they are a couple or should be.
Now, my main issue is that I don't like Kate. Her motivations are wrong, and she has a weak character (not in that she was weakly written - the opposite in fact) but in the way that she has no problem doing something she knows is problematic or bad, making an excuse that her actions are justified or validated by the end goal. While she recognizes this trait in herself, she doesn't do much to change it, and even though she goes through a redemption arc, it almost feels like it was done reluctantly or against her will as she realizes her goal for her actions is not something she actually wants.
This is where I find it difficult to judge the book because I ACTUALLY APPLAUD Elizabeth O'Roark, who made such a well-characterized character that made me hate her and her actions so much. It takes someone really talented to be able to do this, and I am still thinking about Kate, her actions, and how she made me feel. The thing is she was dealt an awful hand in life, and like many people who experience such trauma, she is not able to handle her grief with an appropriate coping mechanism so makes bad choices. She is extremely real and human and has so many faults. I wanted to help her; I wanted to climb in the book and slap some sense into her as she needed it, but I also don't think I would have been able to see myself as her friend - especially since she spends such a long time trying not to help herself on her quest for vengeance to win her husband back.
Beck - He was ok, I guess - most of the book is in Kate's POV, so we don't have too many scenes of him, and I almost wish there were more, as his love for her only felt impactful because we were told of their history and his actions for what he did before Kate lost the baby. I almost wished this had the dual timeline as "The Summer We Fell" so we would be able to actually see how these two had always loved each other but it was the wrong time and not just been told about it.
Overall, the writing is excellent and engaging, and the problem is entirely mine for not enjoying it, as I just had a problem with who Kate was - but I can't fault the book for that - I judge books based on my enjoyment, and because I didn't like Kate - in fact, might still hate her - I didn't enjoy this book as much as I think I would have if I just felt more connected to her.
Trope Summary:
▶ Dual POV
▶ It's always been you
▶ Ex's Best Friend
▶ Forbidden Love
▶ Roommates to Lovers
▶ Angsty and Emotional
▶ Forced Proximity
All in all, I definitely still recommend this book and series - it is an emotional ride with angst and pining and beautifully captures the flaws we have as humans.
Thank you Valentine PR and Elizabeth O'Roark for my ARC gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Pregnancy
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment