Scan barcode
A review by leithbookstagram
The Never-Ending Summer by Emma Kennedy
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Although this book portrayed many challenging and inspiring situations and messages, the writing made me very uncomfortable and I won’t be reading anymore of Emma’s books.
The Never Ending Summer follows the Ledbury family and best friend Beatrice Morgan in their navigation of happiness, changing relationships, female independence and liberation (and a bit of sex, too), during the second-wave of feminism. Emma Kennedy cleverly uses multiple perspectives to reflect the different groups in society during this turning point in female empowerment.
It is ironic that Agnes left home to become a liberated, second-wave feminist; however, she came home and sort of craved the simplicity and comfort of home, with a few liberated ideals, like following her own career path. On the other hand, Florence, a staunch traditionalist at the beginning of the novel, actually embraces second-wave feminism and is truly liberated by the end of the book. Florence is confident in herself and her sexuality, she knows she is strong and independent.
Using the Ledbury women and Beatrice Morgan as symbols of the different groups of women in society during the second-wave of feminism was a really, really clever mechanism. Incorporating two contrasting male perspectives was also a really clever idea – Charlie is the new, modern man, like his wife, whilst William went through a similar transformation as his wife and changed from a staunch traditionalist to a vulnerable, family man.
I liked the structure of the book, splitting the book into the individual weeks and days. This also meant the chapters were quite short, which I liked. As I got closer to the end, I was worried that it wouldn’t be a happy ending because the last third of the book was so heavy, but I think it truly ended perfectly.
Thank you to Emma Kennedy and Hope Butler at Penguin Random House UK for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Never Ending Summer follows the Ledbury family and best friend Beatrice Morgan in their navigation of happiness, changing relationships, female independence and liberation (and a bit of sex, too), during the second-wave of feminism. Emma Kennedy cleverly uses multiple perspectives to reflect the different groups in society during this turning point in female empowerment.
It is ironic that Agnes left home to become a liberated, second-wave feminist; however, she came home and sort of craved the simplicity and comfort of home, with a few liberated ideals, like following her own career path. On the other hand, Florence, a staunch traditionalist at the beginning of the novel, actually embraces second-wave feminism and is truly liberated by the end of the book. Florence is confident in herself and her sexuality, she knows she is strong and independent.
Using the Ledbury women and Beatrice Morgan as symbols of the different groups of women in society during the second-wave of feminism was a really, really clever mechanism. Incorporating two contrasting male perspectives was also a really clever idea – Charlie is the new, modern man, like his wife, whilst William went through a similar transformation as his wife and changed from a staunch traditionalist to a vulnerable, family man.
I liked the structure of the book, splitting the book into the individual weeks and days. This also meant the chapters were quite short, which I liked. As I got closer to the end, I was worried that it wouldn’t be a happy ending because the last third of the book was so heavy, but I think it truly ended perfectly.
Thank you to Emma Kennedy and Hope Butler at Penguin Random House UK for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.