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Twisted Summer
A dark New Adult romance
You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.
Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.
With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.
Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart…
You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.
Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.
With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.
Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart…
168 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2013
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1677 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 23, 2019
Talk about different. Hint of taboo, strange relationships, different kind of writing. Soooo ..., different. I can't think of any other way to describe it without spoilers.
Okay, so yes, there are some interesting twist and turns - but if you can have an open mind and wrap it around everything, which you should, if you're reading any kind of contemporary romance. It's listed as a Dark New Adult Romance - I wouldn't call it dark, but there's no other word that really covers it.
I love the female lead, I love the journey she takes, the way she thinks. I love that this story dares to be different. I love that this author always writes full out - I get the feeling she is completely writing from her heart and gut and brains and all that's in between.
All I can say is, read everything she has ever written, immediately.
Okay, so yes, there are some interesting twist and turns - but if you can have an open mind and wrap it around everything, which you should, if you're reading any kind of contemporary romance. It's listed as a Dark New Adult Romance - I wouldn't call it dark, but there's no other word that really covers it.
I love the female lead, I love the journey she takes, the way she thinks. I love that this story dares to be different. I love that this author always writes full out - I get the feeling she is completely writing from her heart and gut and brains and all that's in between.
All I can say is, read everything she has ever written, immediately.
January 12, 2018
Loved it BUT I want more, why is there not more.
What happens next?!
What happens next?!
February 9, 2017
My Danni and Gabe:
Danni is 18-years old, rude, I-know-it-all, bi-sexual teenager. After another fight with her mother, her mum has enough of Danni's behaviour and sends her out of city to spend weekend with her step-uncle in his cabin as a punishment. What none of them expected was that 11 years difference between Danni and "uncle" Gabe will mean nothing when sexual attraction between them takes lead...
Even though they never spent much time at family gatherings and they are not blood related, Danni feels guilty to be attracted to Gabe but she cannot help herself. But what about her lesbian girlfriend Esme who waits for her in the city? How is Danni going to solve this dilemma???
My Esme:
I read a lot of NA stories and they get repetitive from time to time, but this one was different and I truly enjoyed it a lot. Maybe I did not have the strongest or the deepest connection with characters but story was original and it kept me interested from the beginning to the end and I read it in less than 24 hours.
Twisted Summer is untraditional love story. It is about family secrets, about young woman finding out what she really wants from life, about finding her true-self. Yes, I found Danni's inner monologue a little bit too teenage-like at the beginning, but it never bothered me and by the end it was clear how much she wised up.
If you want to read something short, sweet, sexy and different, definitely go for this story!!!
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
Danni is 18-years old, rude, I-know-it-all, bi-sexual teenager. After another fight with her mother, her mum has enough of Danni's behaviour and sends her out of city to spend weekend with her step-uncle in his cabin as a punishment. What none of them expected was that 11 years difference between Danni and "uncle" Gabe will mean nothing when sexual attraction between them takes lead...
Even though they never spent much time at family gatherings and they are not blood related, Danni feels guilty to be attracted to Gabe but she cannot help herself. But what about her lesbian girlfriend Esme who waits for her in the city? How is Danni going to solve this dilemma???
My Esme:
I read a lot of NA stories and they get repetitive from time to time, but this one was different and I truly enjoyed it a lot. Maybe I did not have the strongest or the deepest connection with characters but story was original and it kept me interested from the beginning to the end and I read it in less than 24 hours.
Twisted Summer is untraditional love story. It is about family secrets, about young woman finding out what she really wants from life, about finding her true-self. Yes, I found Danni's inner monologue a little bit too teenage-like at the beginning, but it never bothered me and by the end it was clear how much she wised up.
If you want to read something short, sweet, sexy and different, definitely go for this story!!!
MORE REVIEWS ON MY BLOG Reading Is My Breathing
March 22, 2015
**3.5 stars**
I don't read romance to be challenged. Most of the time, I want a "simple" love story where two people I get to like fall in love. Reading about the romance of two really flawed people usually has me running for the hills but however it happened, Twisted Summer worked for me. Surprising, I know.
Trigger Warning: Cheating, mildly predatory behavior, F/F, older man/young woman romance
Twisted Summer is the story of an 18-year-old bisexual young woman who hooks up with her 29-year-old step-uncle. Yeah, super skeevy, I know. Surprisingly, the skeeviness doesn't come from the "family" relationship (they aren't blood related and they met ONCE when they were BOTH children before meeting again as adults) or the May-December aspect, but the fact that they are both assholes. Gabe acted a bit too predatory, pursuing Danni for a physical relationship before I felt she was ready (I would have felt more comfortable if she had jumped him) and Danni cheats on her girlfriend with Gabe. But even though I can't condone their behavior in any way, the characterization made so much sense to me, like I knew these people and those were the kinds of things they would both do. Gabe is a selfish prick who pursues a woman he really shouldn't have just to scratch an itch and then finds himself over his head. Danni is a people pleaser who prefers to put her head in the sand instead of breaking a relationship that hadn't satisfied her for a while.
Gabe and Danni agree to sleep together for a weekend but they soon discover that what they feel for each other is more. However, their situation is such that they can't have anything else. Even though they met as adults, the reality is that Danni's mother considers Gabe as her step brother and people WILL judge. I liked how the author took this into consideration and found a solution that made sense for them to be together. It was not all rainbows and roses - compromises had to be made - but it was real.
Be aware that Danni has a lot of hot sex in this book, both with Gabe and with her girlfriend, Esme. The cheating and having multiple partners didn't bother me, but if it bothers you, then this book might not be for you.
Overall though, I liked enough of this author's writing to give her another chance.
I don't read romance to be challenged. Most of the time, I want a "simple" love story where two people I get to like fall in love. Reading about the romance of two really flawed people usually has me running for the hills but however it happened, Twisted Summer worked for me. Surprising, I know.
Trigger Warning: Cheating, mildly predatory behavior, F/F, older man/young woman romance
Twisted Summer is the story of an 18-year-old bisexual young woman who hooks up with her 29-year-old step-uncle. Yeah, super skeevy, I know. Surprisingly, the skeeviness doesn't come from the "family" relationship (they aren't blood related and they met ONCE when they were BOTH children before meeting again as adults) or the May-December aspect, but the fact that they are both assholes. Gabe acted a bit too predatory, pursuing Danni for a physical relationship before I felt she was ready (I would have felt more comfortable if she had jumped him) and Danni cheats on her girlfriend with Gabe. But even though I can't condone their behavior in any way, the characterization made so much sense to me, like I knew these people and those were the kinds of things they would both do. Gabe is a selfish prick who pursues a woman he really shouldn't have just to scratch an itch and then finds himself over his head. Danni is a people pleaser who prefers to put her head in the sand instead of breaking a relationship that hadn't satisfied her for a while.
Gabe and Danni agree to sleep together for a weekend but they soon discover that what they feel for each other is more. However, their situation is such that they can't have anything else. Even though they met as adults, the reality is that Danni's mother considers Gabe as her step brother and people WILL judge. I liked how the author took this into consideration and found a solution that made sense for them to be together. It was not all rainbows and roses - compromises had to be made - but it was real.
Be aware that Danni has a lot of hot sex in this book, both with Gabe and with her girlfriend, Esme. The cheating and having multiple partners didn't bother me, but if it bothers you, then this book might not be for you.
Overall though, I liked enough of this author's writing to give her another chance.
April 3, 2013
From my blog.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review**
“We are twisted!” I balled my fists. “But we were happy, weren’t we? I know it was only a few days and a few letters, but we were both so, so happy, Gabe.”
I went into this book expecting a twisted read. I got it. I definitely got it. I have NEVER, EVER read ANYTHING like that. The cover looks so beautiful, right? So sweet and innocent? Yes, there are a few beautiful moments in this book, but the rest of it took its toll on me.
“I’m not looking to be the love of your life, you know. The way things are, it wouldn’t be right.” Now he stroked along my cheek, just as he’d done earlier. “My point is, we’re attracted to each another. It’s getting hard to ignore, isn’t it? But nobody gets hurt if nobody knows about it.”
For those of you who would like a warning: there is some cheating. It didn't bother me at first, but as the book progressed, it irritated me more and more. But it wasn't just the cheating that got to me. Esmé just grated on my nerves. I had trouble finding anything remotely good in her. I really wanted to slap her from time to time and I couldn't understand what Danni saw in her...
If he was a) in a romance novel and b) had dimples, I’d have been all over those little pits of filth. Oh, look at the dimples, you sexy mutha fudger. Except he had none, and he was still worthy of a swooning girl with a pen. Gabe, one; dimples, nil.
This book started rather intensely. Once I began, I couldn't put it down any longer than absolutely necessary. Gabe just gave me the butterflies and the weekend they spent together consumed me completely. I can't exactly say that I fell IN love with Gabe that soon, but he definitely got to me. However, I did fall in love with him when he phoned her the first time... It was like his every word, his every touch and his every gaze evoked a reaction from me.
I never would have thought of this relationship as taboo if the characters hadn't felt that way. After all, he was her STEP uncle. No blood relation there. Still, people are stupid... However, the forbidden part definitely added to the story.
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don’t tell you it’s really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue.
While reading this, my emotions were all over the place. I had a love-hate relationship with Danni (I'd compare her to Kiera from Thoughtless and if you have read the latter, you may guess why), but I was still desperate for an happy ending. I was nervous whenever Danni and Gabe were together because I was afraid they were going to get caught. The story line kept me guessing until the end and there was so much that came as a total surprise.
Should you read it? Twisted Summer is different and memorable. I was glued to the book and had no idea what to expect next. It's an artfully woven story and definitely worth reading.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review**
“We are twisted!” I balled my fists. “But we were happy, weren’t we? I know it was only a few days and a few letters, but we were both so, so happy, Gabe.”
I went into this book expecting a twisted read. I got it. I definitely got it. I have NEVER, EVER read ANYTHING like that. The cover looks so beautiful, right? So sweet and innocent? Yes, there are a few beautiful moments in this book, but the rest of it took its toll on me.
“I’m not looking to be the love of your life, you know. The way things are, it wouldn’t be right.” Now he stroked along my cheek, just as he’d done earlier. “My point is, we’re attracted to each another. It’s getting hard to ignore, isn’t it? But nobody gets hurt if nobody knows about it.”
For those of you who would like a warning: there is some cheating. It didn't bother me at first, but as the book progressed, it irritated me more and more. But it wasn't just the cheating that got to me. Esmé just grated on my nerves. I had trouble finding anything remotely good in her. I really wanted to slap her from time to time and I couldn't understand what Danni saw in her...
If he was a) in a romance novel and b) had dimples, I’d have been all over those little pits of filth. Oh, look at the dimples, you sexy mutha fudger. Except he had none, and he was still worthy of a swooning girl with a pen. Gabe, one; dimples, nil.
This book started rather intensely. Once I began, I couldn't put it down any longer than absolutely necessary. Gabe just gave me the butterflies and the weekend they spent together consumed me completely. I can't exactly say that I fell IN love with Gabe that soon, but he definitely got to me. However, I did fall in love with him when he phoned her the first time... It was like his every word, his every touch and his every gaze evoked a reaction from me.
I never would have thought of this relationship as taboo if the characters hadn't felt that way. After all, he was her STEP uncle. No blood relation there. Still, people are stupid... However, the forbidden part definitely added to the story.
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don’t tell you it’s really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue.
While reading this, my emotions were all over the place. I had a love-hate relationship with Danni (I'd compare her to Kiera from Thoughtless and if you have read the latter, you may guess why), but I was still desperate for an happy ending. I was nervous whenever Danni and Gabe were together because I was afraid they were going to get caught. The story line kept me guessing until the end and there was so much that came as a total surprise.
Should you read it? Twisted Summer is different and memorable. I was glued to the book and had no idea what to expect next. It's an artfully woven story and definitely worth reading.
March 28, 2013
Twisted Summer offers to us a story and set characters that are definitely twisted at its finest. ;)
Who wouldn’t want to read a story about a forbidden love / relationship between a teenage girl and his 29 year old step-uncle? Isn’t that making you curios? Well, that’s the main part that got me jumping right out into reading this book and I'm telling you guys it surprised me in a couple of ways - in good and in bad.
In good ways - I was surprised to easily like Dani! I like her bitchy persona and how she deal with things. I easily relate to things she says and feels. With Gabe, I'm not immediately head over heels in love with him. I find him as an okay guy at first but as his weekend with ends and he began to call and write her letters - that's where I go a bit softie on him.
It was easy to dive into the world these two created. I find myself wishing that their weekend would not end and that every time that they’re together I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no one would see them.
I sooooo love the twisted / complication part of the story. As I’ve said it offers us a story plus characters that are twisted at its finest plus the entire ’forbidden love’ thing that in the end became the ’against all odds stuff.
(Hey! I'm a hopeful romantic so spare me the judgments. ;))
In bad way - I find myself feeling low about how the story ended. It seems too abrupt. I wanted things to end well with Gabe and Dani but things happened too easily for them - their transfer to another country seems to come too easy to the point it becomes way too unreal.
I also know that the forbidden thing is kind of the main complication on this story but the third party - Esme after knowing all that’s happening behind her back she make remarks about how they’re going to suffer what they’ve done to her and all those blah's so I was expecting her to do a comeback or revenge which leads me into thinking that that would be the other conflict of the story but no. After that Esme just seems to let things go. Tada! Vanished.
In all, Twisted Summer is one okay, fun and easy read. I guess I was just left on the hook and appetite doesn’t fit well with how it ended but overall, it went okay for me. It's still definitely worth the read. :)
*Thanks to the author for kindly providing the copy for review.*
Who wouldn’t want to read a story about a forbidden love / relationship between a teenage girl and his 29 year old step-uncle? Isn’t that making you curios? Well, that’s the main part that got me jumping right out into reading this book and I'm telling you guys it surprised me in a couple of ways - in good and in bad.
In good ways - I was surprised to easily like Dani! I like her bitchy persona and how she deal with things. I easily relate to things she says and feels. With Gabe, I'm not immediately head over heels in love with him. I find him as an okay guy at first but as his weekend with ends and he began to call and write her letters - that's where I go a bit softie on him.
It was easy to dive into the world these two created. I find myself wishing that their weekend would not end and that every time that they’re together I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no one would see them.
I sooooo love the twisted / complication part of the story. As I’ve said it offers us a story plus characters that are twisted at its finest plus the entire ’forbidden love’ thing that in the end became the ’against all odds stuff.
(Hey! I'm a hopeful romantic so spare me the judgments. ;))
In bad way - I find myself feeling low about how the story ended. It seems too abrupt. I wanted things to end well with Gabe and Dani but things happened too easily for them - their transfer to another country seems to come too easy to the point it becomes way too unreal.
I also know that the forbidden thing is kind of the main complication on this story but the third party - Esme after knowing all that’s happening behind her back she make remarks about how they’re going to suffer what they’ve done to her and all those blah's so I was expecting her to do a comeback or revenge which leads me into thinking that that would be the other conflict of the story but no. After that Esme just seems to let things go. Tada! Vanished.
In all, Twisted Summer is one okay, fun and easy read. I guess I was just left on the hook and appetite doesn’t fit well with how it ended but overall, it went okay for me. It's still definitely worth the read. :)
*Thanks to the author for kindly providing the copy for review.*
April 7, 2013
You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen.
We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong. What with me, just eighteen and eleven years younger than him; I was meant to be all head-over-heels in love with Esmé, but one look at him and my hot guydar bust a fuse. Kind of shameful, when you think about it. And he might have been estranged, but he was still part of my family, one way or another.I gave him my virginity and all he gave me were two
beautiful letters…before he literally cut me in half. In just weeks, he’d begun to feel like my future but to him, I was just a break from reality, a fantasy come alive for three wet, swollen days. I felt so used.
Twisted Summer more like Twisted Couple. Or Twisted Love Story. Better yet just Twisted. If you’re looking for what this story is about then read the above passage quoted directly from the book and ta-da there you have it. See, when I read a book nowadays I go with an open mind. No judgment no matter how crazy and twisted and creepy and sick..you get the point, the story is. And really for some bizarre reason I decided to let this book have a go.
I’m not giving this book a one star base solely on the not really uncle fucker subject (sorry for the language but Danni said it so many times it stuck with me) and more to do with the book as an overall review. If I took this piece apart I couldn’t really tell you I’d like it more. Perhaps if he wasn’t a not-really uncle would it have been better.
First off, I didn’t know Danni was bi. At first I thought Esme was a best friend who it sounded creepy to say ‘I love you’ to. I just didn’t want to read about certain stuff, and you know what ‘stuff’ is, if I did I would go an read a lesbian erotica. Yeah, I don’t think so. Next, we have Danni who gets shipped off because *gasp* she has done the worst thing imaginable......wait for it...said she doesn’t like her home. *Double gasp* How dare thee! One mustn't say such a thing! If not one get punishment! Yeah seriously? I asked myself that about 10 times. Following her meeting this infamous not-really uncle. Who Danni hates. Why? No reason.
This is what happens. Try not to cringe too much:
“What-evaah,” he mimicked. I was about to shoot him a cuss but he tutted loudly. “Yep. We’ll soon sort you out.”
Oh my God. I HATED him.
I’m sorry...I had to share my pain with someone.
How this all came about is just....like, what? How do you let this happen? Danni is eighteen whilst Gabe is twenty-eight. You’d think someone as old as him would have some decorum and would be the one to make a stop at this but no. He instigated it. Didn’t apologize when he kissed her, instead he reason that no one would ever know. That should tell you enough.
Basically the story started in the bottom of a cliff and went to hell. There was nothing that I could say that would make this better. There was just so much wrongness that no amount of witty or clever sayings save it from being just wrong. And I though I love HEA I just don’t see how they can have one.
To add to the just nonsense of this book we find out why Gabe is the black sheep. SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! Gabe screamed that he didn’t want to kiss this girl who belonged in Danni’s father family when he was thirteen and thus making father angry and leaving the mom. Yeah. Triple gasp. The most horribleness of horribleness. I don’t know how Gabe lives with himself.
Would I recommend this? No. No. No. Just no. I don’t even know how this idea came about or why it was written. No just no.
May 19, 2013
I knew going in that this was one of those books that causes quite the stir. I had read the synopsis and a few reviews, so I wasn't going in blind, and I definitely think that helped me prepare for the rather controversial plot that makes up Twisted Summer. I have to give credit to Lucy V. Morgan for her originality, because I'm always looking for something new and different, and Twisted Summer is most certainly just that. A bisexual heroine, a love affair between a teen and her step-uncle, and some steamy girl/girl scenes definitely make this story stand out from the crowd of contemporary romances out there, and it's absolutely one I won't soon forget.
You can't tear off my wings because you want a piece of me
I won't end. I won't break, I won't fall
I won't melt out of life just because you don't call~ Loc 1733
I tried to keep a really open mind with Danni and her "uncle" Gabe's relationship; I reminded myself that at 18 she's an adult free to make her own decisions, and that he is not actually a blood relative to her. The age gap made their connection hard to believe, though, because there were times when Danni was very much the typical teenager to Gabe's nearly-thirty grown man. It made me question what they were basing the connection on other than lust, which they definitely had in spades. Gabe was sexy and sweet to Danni during that infamous first weekend alone, and she easily fell into the attraction they had for each other. For a girl who was not only a lesbian, but who also claimed to be in love, the turn-around into Gabe's arms was far too easy for her in my eyes. Gabe really came on strong for a man who should know better than to mess with this situation. I felt like he was almost trying to convince Danni to go farther when their affair first became physical, so it knocked my opinion of him down a peg or two. Once they did give in, the chemistry between them was intense and definitely s-s-s-sexy, but I wish some element of this relationship had been tweaked to make it not be quite so poorly matched in the bigger picture.
Oddly enough, even with several aspects of this story that make it so contentious, the one thing that bothered me more than anything was how rushed the plot was. I felt like a pinball, bouncing from moment to moment without much development in between to really get to know these characters and feel their emotions. I did really enjoy Danni as a character, I mean she's got a great sense of humor and her snarkiness just made it that much more fun to watch her fumble her way through these challenges. But I wanted more out of her and Gabe, I needed some depth to their emotions and something to back up those feelings other than their physical attraction (which, admittedly, was off-the-charts hot).
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don't tell you it's really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue. ~ Loc 1909
Overall, despite my uncertainty with the plot, I found myself easily engaged by Lucy V. Morgan's story. The ending wraps up in a way that begs for a sequel, and I am intrigued enough to be hopeful that we'll see more of these characters. I for one could use a bit more proof that they're going to make a go of things, but I may just have to take what we've been given and imagine their happily ever after. Here's hoping it's not as earth-shattering as the first months of their relationship!
This and other of my reviews can be found at: http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
You can't tear off my wings because you want a piece of me
I won't end. I won't break, I won't fall
I won't melt out of life just because you don't call~ Loc 1733
I tried to keep a really open mind with Danni and her "uncle" Gabe's relationship; I reminded myself that at 18 she's an adult free to make her own decisions, and that he is not actually a blood relative to her. The age gap made their connection hard to believe, though, because there were times when Danni was very much the typical teenager to Gabe's nearly-thirty grown man. It made me question what they were basing the connection on other than lust, which they definitely had in spades. Gabe was sexy and sweet to Danni during that infamous first weekend alone, and she easily fell into the attraction they had for each other. For a girl who was not only a lesbian, but who also claimed to be in love, the turn-around into Gabe's arms was far too easy for her in my eyes. Gabe really came on strong for a man who should know better than to mess with this situation. I felt like he was almost trying to convince Danni to go farther when their affair first became physical, so it knocked my opinion of him down a peg or two. Once they did give in, the chemistry between them was intense and definitely s-s-s-sexy, but I wish some element of this relationship had been tweaked to make it not be quite so poorly matched in the bigger picture.
Oddly enough, even with several aspects of this story that make it so contentious, the one thing that bothered me more than anything was how rushed the plot was. I felt like a pinball, bouncing from moment to moment without much development in between to really get to know these characters and feel their emotions. I did really enjoy Danni as a character, I mean she's got a great sense of humor and her snarkiness just made it that much more fun to watch her fumble her way through these challenges. But I wanted more out of her and Gabe, I needed some depth to their emotions and something to back up those feelings other than their physical attraction (which, admittedly, was off-the-charts hot).
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don't tell you it's really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue. ~ Loc 1909
Overall, despite my uncertainty with the plot, I found myself easily engaged by Lucy V. Morgan's story. The ending wraps up in a way that begs for a sequel, and I am intrigued enough to be hopeful that we'll see more of these characters. I for one could use a bit more proof that they're going to make a go of things, but I may just have to take what we've been given and imagine their happily ever after. Here's hoping it's not as earth-shattering as the first months of their relationship!
This and other of my reviews can be found at: http://www.autumnreview.com/search/la...
March 28, 2013
I only read 50 pages and I couldn’t read anymore. Let start with the dedication:
“For A, who would just love it if I wrote something cheesy for him here. Unless, of course, it was too cheesy.”
I think Mrs. Morgan confused the word creepy with cheesy. I love good stories of forbidden love but this one’s just too weird. Second; the character construction sucks badly, both of the main characters are totally unlikeable. First, we have this “great mom” who sends her daughter with her “step uncle” as punishment to a remote area. What kind of mother does that? Call me naïve, but when the synopsis mentioned that she was going away from her girlfriend Esme, I just thought the word was used as in sense of BF. Nothing wrong with having a girlfriend in that sense either, but I didn’t get it at first. Then Gabe and Danni are together like for five hot minutes when BOOM!!! They are having sex and she keeps telling herself “I kissed my not uncle” “I’m doing this with my non uncle” it’s like WHAT THE F? His freaking name is Gabe … Why is she still using the term uncle in this, that’s just plain weird. Also the way he tried to convince her how they can keep the XxX situation between them was just too creepy. To put the cherry on top Gabe asked her what are the sexual things she did with Esme to achieve a sexual release, really? It wasn’t really much because Esme was still a virgin, then again: really? That was the moment I told myself I was not going to waste my precious time is this shitty story. To summarize the vibe I got from this book is that the author really wanted to write the story of an incest relationship but didn’t have the guts to do it. I want to be very clear that I got this impression because of the way the story is written.
“For A, who would just love it if I wrote something cheesy for him here. Unless, of course, it was too cheesy.”
I think Mrs. Morgan confused the word creepy with cheesy. I love good stories of forbidden love but this one’s just too weird. Second; the character construction sucks badly, both of the main characters are totally unlikeable. First, we have this “great mom” who sends her daughter with her “step uncle” as punishment to a remote area. What kind of mother does that? Call me naïve, but when the synopsis mentioned that she was going away from her girlfriend Esme, I just thought the word was used as in sense of BF. Nothing wrong with having a girlfriend in that sense either, but I didn’t get it at first. Then Gabe and Danni are together like for five hot minutes when BOOM!!! They are having sex and she keeps telling herself “I kissed my not uncle” “I’m doing this with my non uncle” it’s like WHAT THE F? His freaking name is Gabe … Why is she still using the term uncle in this, that’s just plain weird. Also the way he tried to convince her how they can keep the XxX situation between them was just too creepy. To put the cherry on top Gabe asked her what are the sexual things she did with Esme to achieve a sexual release, really? It wasn’t really much because Esme was still a virgin, then again: really? That was the moment I told myself I was not going to waste my precious time is this shitty story. To summarize the vibe I got from this book is that the author really wanted to write the story of an incest relationship but didn’t have the guts to do it. I want to be very clear that I got this impression because of the way the story is written.
April 9, 2018
STEP-UNCLE how does that even work?.
Edit: Okay, now I see how that works. I was laughing hysterically throughout this book. Despite the fact that there was so many things wrong with this book, I found myself oddly and disturbingly enjoying it.
- 4.5 stars
Edit: Okay, now I see how that works. I was laughing hysterically throughout this book. Despite the fact that there was so many things wrong with this book, I found myself oddly and disturbingly enjoying it.
- 4.5 stars
October 11, 2016
Super funny and cute read.
And just a tiny bit twisted.
And just a tiny bit twisted.
March 26, 2013
From my blog.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review**
“We are twisted!” I balled my fists. “But we were happy, weren’t we? I know it was only a few days and a few letters, but we were both so, so happy, Gabe.”
I went into this book expecting a twisted read. I got it. I definitely got it. I have NEVER, EVER read ANYTHING like that. The cover looks so beautiful, right? So sweet and innocent? Yes, there are a few beautiful moments in this book, but the rest of it took its toll on me.
“I’m not looking to be the love of your life, you know. The way things are, it wouldn’t be right.” Now he stroked along my cheek, just as he’d done earlier. “My point is, we’re attracted to each another. It’s getting hard to ignore, isn’t it? But nobody gets hurt if nobody knows about it.”
For those of you who would like a warning: there is some cheating. It didn't bother me at first, but as the book progressed, it irritated me more and more. But it wasn't just the cheating that got to me. Esmé just grated on my nerves. I had trouble finding anything remotely good in her. I really wanted to slap her from time to time and I couldn't understand what Danni saw in her...
If he was a) in a romance novel and b) had dimples, I’d have been all over those little pits of filth. Oh, look at the dimples, you sexy mutha fudger. Except he had none, and he was still worthy of a swooning girl with a pen. Gabe, one; dimples, nil.
This book started rather intensely. Once I began, I couldn't put it down any longer than absolutely necessary. Gabe just gave me the butterflies and the weekend they spent together consumed me completely. I can't exactly say that I fell IN love with Gabe that soon, but he definitely got to me. However, I did fall in love with him when he phoned her the first time... It was like his every word, his every touch and his every gaze evoked a reaction from me.
I never would have thought of this relationship as taboo if the characters hadn't felt that way. After all, he was her STEP uncle. No blood relation there. Still, people are stupid... However, the forbidden part definitely added to the story.
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don’t tell you it’s really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue.
While reading this, my emotions were all over the place. I had a love-hate relationship with Danni (I'd compare her to Kiera from Thoughtless and if you have read the latter, you may guess why), but I was still desperate for an happy ending. I was nervous whenever Danni and Gabe were together because I was afraid they were going to get caught. The story line kept me guessing until the end and there was so much that came as a total surprise.
Should you read it? Twisted Summer is different and memorable. I was glued to the book and had no idea what to expect next. It's an artfully woven story and definitely worth reading.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review**
“We are twisted!” I balled my fists. “But we were happy, weren’t we? I know it was only a few days and a few letters, but we were both so, so happy, Gabe.”
I went into this book expecting a twisted read. I got it. I definitely got it. I have NEVER, EVER read ANYTHING like that. The cover looks so beautiful, right? So sweet and innocent? Yes, there are a few beautiful moments in this book, but the rest of it took its toll on me.
“I’m not looking to be the love of your life, you know. The way things are, it wouldn’t be right.” Now he stroked along my cheek, just as he’d done earlier. “My point is, we’re attracted to each another. It’s getting hard to ignore, isn’t it? But nobody gets hurt if nobody knows about it.”
For those of you who would like a warning: there is some cheating. It didn't bother me at first, but as the book progressed, it irritated me more and more. But it wasn't just the cheating that got to me. Esmé just grated on my nerves. I had trouble finding anything remotely good in her. I really wanted to slap her from time to time and I couldn't understand what Danni saw in her...
If he was a) in a romance novel and b) had dimples, I’d have been all over those little pits of filth. Oh, look at the dimples, you sexy mutha fudger. Except he had none, and he was still worthy of a swooning girl with a pen. Gabe, one; dimples, nil.
This book started rather intensely. Once I began, I couldn't put it down any longer than absolutely necessary. Gabe just gave me the butterflies and the weekend they spent together consumed me completely. I can't exactly say that I fell IN love with Gabe that soon, but he definitely got to me. However, I did fall in love with him when he phoned her the first time... It was like his every word, his every touch and his every gaze evoked a reaction from me.
I never would have thought of this relationship as taboo if the characters hadn't felt that way. After all, he was her STEP uncle. No blood relation there. Still, people are stupid... However, the forbidden part definitely added to the story.
These men, they split you into pieces and fill you with their sticky stuff, but they don’t tell you it’s really SHITTY if you try to use it as glue.
While reading this, my emotions were all over the place. I had a love-hate relationship with Danni (I'd compare her to Kiera from Thoughtless and if you have read the latter, you may guess why), but I was still desperate for an happy ending. I was nervous whenever Danni and Gabe were together because I was afraid they were going to get caught. The story line kept me guessing until the end and there was so much that came as a total surprise.
Should you read it? Twisted Summer is different and memorable. I was glued to the book and had no idea what to expect next. It's an artfully woven story and definitely worth reading.
May 25, 2013
This review originally appeared on my blog, www.leeanna.me.
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It's a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).
They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.
TWISTED SUMMER is just that -- the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.
What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.
The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the blog tour for this book.
See more of my reviews:
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It's a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).
They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.
TWISTED SUMMER is just that -- the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.
What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.
The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the blog tour for this book.
See more of my reviews:
April 24, 2013
Sometimes you read a book that is so good that you NEED someone to start reading it right away with you and I had that feeling right away with one! I don’t know why, but it suckered me right in and I couldn’t put it down. Maybe it was the topic, maybe it was the writing, maybe it was simply just loving the characters, but whatever it was, I was IN.
TWISTED SUMMER is another one of those stepfamily romances. And at first glance at the synopsis, I thought, “Ugh, why do I even keep trying to bother with these?” Sure, the other very popular book about a handsome hunk of a stepbrother wasn’t so hard to get into but in TWISTED SUMMER, we are constantly reminded that Gabe is Danielle’s step uncle, even though he’s never really been around and is only 10 years her older. Plus, they aren’t blood related so it doesn’t matter right? Well, that’s what Gabe says.
When Danielle, who goes by Danni, is sent to spend a weekend with her “Uncle” Gabe as a punishment, the attraction to one another is mutual. But not long after giving in to one another, Danni has to go home to her life and her girlfriend (yes, her girlfriend!). What follows is how they decide to handle things.
I was totally expecting a cheesy, predictable young adult story here and I have to admit it wasn’t any of those things. There was a lot in TWISTED SUMMER that you don’t often find in other books making it pretty intriguing. And while it was hard for me to get past the step relationship between Danni and Gabe (since it was rubbed in our faces every other page), I of course wanted them to have their happily ever after.
I only have one complaint and it isn’t really a complaint… I just wanted more from the conflict. I was so into this story and then left feeling like there should have been more towards the end. I mean, this is HUGE – Gabe and Danni are step-related and there was only that little bit of a conflict?? The ending was left semi open ended and I wonder if the author isn’t going to share more of their story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was set in England so I did have a little trouble understanding some of the lingo but who doesn’t love a guy with an accent? It only made Gabe that much more attractive!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
TWISTED SUMMER is another one of those stepfamily romances. And at first glance at the synopsis, I thought, “Ugh, why do I even keep trying to bother with these?” Sure, the other very popular book about a handsome hunk of a stepbrother wasn’t so hard to get into but in TWISTED SUMMER, we are constantly reminded that Gabe is Danielle’s step uncle, even though he’s never really been around and is only 10 years her older. Plus, they aren’t blood related so it doesn’t matter right? Well, that’s what Gabe says.
When Danielle, who goes by Danni, is sent to spend a weekend with her “Uncle” Gabe as a punishment, the attraction to one another is mutual. But not long after giving in to one another, Danni has to go home to her life and her girlfriend (yes, her girlfriend!). What follows is how they decide to handle things.
I was totally expecting a cheesy, predictable young adult story here and I have to admit it wasn’t any of those things. There was a lot in TWISTED SUMMER that you don’t often find in other books making it pretty intriguing. And while it was hard for me to get past the step relationship between Danni and Gabe (since it was rubbed in our faces every other page), I of course wanted them to have their happily ever after.
I only have one complaint and it isn’t really a complaint… I just wanted more from the conflict. I was so into this story and then left feeling like there should have been more towards the end. I mean, this is HUGE – Gabe and Danni are step-related and there was only that little bit of a conflict?? The ending was left semi open ended and I wonder if the author isn’t going to share more of their story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was set in England so I did have a little trouble understanding some of the lingo but who doesn’t love a guy with an accent? It only made Gabe that much more attractive!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2013
This book was so good, but so weird at the same time. Actually, I don't quite know a hundred percent how I feel about it, except that it was entertaining enough to finish and I laughed a lot, blushed, and felt all sorts of weird. LOL!
When you read the blurb you immediately think gross. Is it a screwed up situation? Absolutely. Do I feel weird for enjoying it so much? A little… just a little. Lol!
The main character, Danni, is sent to spend the weekend with her uncle, who is really NOT her uncle. Gabe is her mother's step brother making him her step uncle. Keeping up? I had no idea what I was reading at first, but I knew right off the back that I loved Danni. Her reactions to things were exactly like mine and I laughed so hard at some of the things that ran through her mind. She is mostly why I loved this book so much. She questioned what needed to be questioned, and she reacted to things the way a normal eighteen year old would.
When Danni arrives to her NOT uncle's house (which is what she calls him the book) she is angry. She want's nothing to do with him and just wants the weekend to end. Gabe tries to make the best of things and keeps her entertained -- since he lives in the middle of nowhere -- with surfing, movies, etc. The chemistry between the two was definitely there. It was steaming off the pages and I was blushing and smiling from one ear to the other. Is there something wrong with me that I found nothing wrong with their relationship? LOL! I truly enjoyed it! There is a huge age difference which I can see being a big issue for readers, but she wasn't under age.
I loved the whole forbidden feel to the story, and the butterflies in my stomach with every page I turned waiting for their relationship to be discovered. To top things off, Gabe if the first male that Danni has ever been with. She is actually a lesbian and has a girlfriend; making things even more intense.
I guess to read Twisted Summer you have to jump into it with an open mind. I enjoyed it tons and would love to read more by Lucy V. Morgan.
Twisted Summer is just that... twisted. It's a dark read with raw and intense moments.
4 out of 5 Stars!
When you read the blurb you immediately think gross. Is it a screwed up situation? Absolutely. Do I feel weird for enjoying it so much? A little… just a little. Lol!
The main character, Danni, is sent to spend the weekend with her uncle, who is really NOT her uncle. Gabe is her mother's step brother making him her step uncle. Keeping up? I had no idea what I was reading at first, but I knew right off the back that I loved Danni. Her reactions to things were exactly like mine and I laughed so hard at some of the things that ran through her mind. She is mostly why I loved this book so much. She questioned what needed to be questioned, and she reacted to things the way a normal eighteen year old would.
When Danni arrives to her NOT uncle's house (which is what she calls him the book) she is angry. She want's nothing to do with him and just wants the weekend to end. Gabe tries to make the best of things and keeps her entertained -- since he lives in the middle of nowhere -- with surfing, movies, etc. The chemistry between the two was definitely there. It was steaming off the pages and I was blushing and smiling from one ear to the other. Is there something wrong with me that I found nothing wrong with their relationship? LOL! I truly enjoyed it! There is a huge age difference which I can see being a big issue for readers, but she wasn't under age.
I loved the whole forbidden feel to the story, and the butterflies in my stomach with every page I turned waiting for their relationship to be discovered. To top things off, Gabe if the first male that Danni has ever been with. She is actually a lesbian and has a girlfriend; making things even more intense.
I guess to read Twisted Summer you have to jump into it with an open mind. I enjoyed it tons and would love to read more by Lucy V. Morgan.
Twisted Summer is just that... twisted. It's a dark read with raw and intense moments.
4 out of 5 Stars!
April 16, 2013
Check out this review and many other things at YA Fanatic
A very twisted read indeed.
I'd like to say that this book was awkward. And among many shades of awkward, it probably is the darkest shade of awkward.
The synopsis is very intriguing. And I was drawn to this book the moment I came to know about it's existence. There is something about the whole concept of the book that makes me wonder about so many things. Do things like these happen in the real world? And if they do, then do the people involved get a happy ending after all? Does it take your not relative or step-whatever-relative to look like a total hottaay for you to fall into a lusty pit of ..you know, lust? If I have a hot step uncle who totally understands me and gets me, will I fall for him? Uh hell to the no. I'm trying to work out the mechanics here. How does one get into such a situation?
"You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong. "
Oh I don't care if it was wrong! I'm still trying to process HOW?
The world is indeed screwed up. And this book had some really powerful elements that could've been used and made awesome. Other than that I fairly have nothing to say.
I want to whine. I want to rant.
I want to scream and punch the female protag in this book.
I don't particularly care about other characters in the book , because they are insignificant. There are taboo romances that have been liked by people.
Hell, I might've loved some of them. Or maybe not. What I'm trying to say is if you can't digest the romance and it feels totally off to you then there is nothing you can do about it. Danni's and Gabe's love story is so unnatural and unbelievable to me that in some places during the book , I was trying to control myself from throwing my Ipad away.
A very twisted read indeed.
I'd like to say that this book was awkward. And among many shades of awkward, it probably is the darkest shade of awkward.
The synopsis is very intriguing. And I was drawn to this book the moment I came to know about it's existence. There is something about the whole concept of the book that makes me wonder about so many things. Do things like these happen in the real world? And if they do, then do the people involved get a happy ending after all? Does it take your not relative or step-whatever-relative to look like a total hottaay for you to fall into a lusty pit of ..you know, lust? If I have a hot step uncle who totally understands me and gets me, will I fall for him? Uh hell to the no. I'm trying to work out the mechanics here. How does one get into such a situation?
"You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong. "
Oh I don't care if it was wrong! I'm still trying to process HOW?
The world is indeed screwed up. And this book had some really powerful elements that could've been used and made awesome. Other than that I fairly have nothing to say.
I want to whine. I want to rant.
I want to scream and punch the female protag in this book.
I don't particularly care about other characters in the book , because they are insignificant. There are taboo romances that have been liked by people.
Hell, I might've loved some of them. Or maybe not. What I'm trying to say is if you can't digest the romance and it feels totally off to you then there is nothing you can do about it. Danni's and Gabe's love story is so unnatural and unbelievable to me that in some places during the book , I was trying to control myself from throwing my Ipad away.
September 15, 2013
"Twisted Summer" é um livro inserido no género New Adult que muito tem estado em voga e tem sido alvo de diversos lançamentos. É, por isso, um livro onde a nossa personagem principal, a Danni já não é mais uma menina mas uma quase-adulta e existem cenas um bocadinho mais... adultas!
Para começo o livro tem uma ideia original no seu enredo: Danni tem uma namorada, Esme e, depois de uma estadia forçada na casa do seu quase-tio (na realidade não têm qualquer vinculo de sangue... ainda bem!), vê-se dividida entre a vida que tinha e a vida que no fundo sempre desejou ter.
Confesso que não estava a achar muita piada à forma com que a autora estava a levar a história principalmente devido ao ritmo elevado com que aquilo estava a evoluir. De facto, a primeira parte do livro, fez-me lembrar os romances de banca do jornal, pelo tipo de história e pela forma como está desenvolvida.
No entanto a história vai evoluindo de uma forma que me agradou muito. É romântica, é imprevisível q.b., traz sentimentos contraditórios e tem todo aquele ar de amor impossível que lhe dá aquele toque especial de nos fazer apaixonar pelos personagens. Tem um final feliz implícito que deixa aquela porta entreaberta para o leitor sentir-se à vontade para o imaginar!
Para começo o livro tem uma ideia original no seu enredo: Danni tem uma namorada, Esme e, depois de uma estadia forçada na casa do seu quase-tio (na realidade não têm qualquer vinculo de sangue... ainda bem!), vê-se dividida entre a vida que tinha e a vida que no fundo sempre desejou ter.
Confesso que não estava a achar muita piada à forma com que a autora estava a levar a história principalmente devido ao ritmo elevado com que aquilo estava a evoluir. De facto, a primeira parte do livro, fez-me lembrar os romances de banca do jornal, pelo tipo de história e pela forma como está desenvolvida.
No entanto a história vai evoluindo de uma forma que me agradou muito. É romântica, é imprevisível q.b., traz sentimentos contraditórios e tem todo aquele ar de amor impossível que lhe dá aquele toque especial de nos fazer apaixonar pelos personagens. Tem um final feliz implícito que deixa aquela porta entreaberta para o leitor sentir-se à vontade para o imaginar!
May 17, 2013
Whew what a different type of story.Danni has a girlfriend and then gets into a huge argument with her mom so she is sent to live for the summer with her Step-Uncle.This is definitely a book like no other.It was really great and held your attention.I think people need to understand that Danni and Gabe are not related by blood in any way shape size or form.I know there is a stigma to Danni and Gabe,Him being her step uncle but at the same time you can't help but watch that whole stigma disintegrate before you when your reading this story.This was honestly a really great read and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. Overall this was an amazing book and I only wish there had been a second epilogue so I could see how a certain person reacted!Job Well done Lucy Morgan!
March 27, 2013
Creepy
October 8, 2013
Wtf? Actually it's not that bad but it's little bit twisted. Like a lot twisted. I have no words for it.
May 31, 2022
So, Twisted Summer was interesting. When Danni is sent off to spend the week with her mother's estranged step brother, the last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her sort of uncle. After all, she thought she was a lesbian. However, when her sort of uncle starts showing interest in her, things get a little weird really quickly as they develop a romance.
I know that they weren't blood and Gabe has been estranged from the family just about her entire life. So it's not like he watched her grow up, and played her uncle her entire life. Her mom practically shipped her daughter off to a 29 year old man's house. So, as long as I kept that in the back of my mind, I was fine. However, the author kept reminding the reader of Gabe's status and it just kind of made me feel weird. Especially when the author wrote some pretty explicit sex scenes. Kinda takes you out of the mood of the scene when freezing water is splashed on you by the word "uncle".
I think this story has potential. If it weren't for the constant reminders of her "not uncle", and the slight creepiness of his advancing on her the way that he did, I probably would have enjoyed this story a lot more. I thought it was just taboo enough without going too far into Grossville. One thing that I wish we had gotten was the store on what happened after their family found out about their romance. I feel like that would have made one hell of a story.
I know that they weren't blood and Gabe has been estranged from the family just about her entire life. So it's not like he watched her grow up, and played her uncle her entire life. Her mom practically shipped her daughter off to a 29 year old man's house. So, as long as I kept that in the back of my mind, I was fine. However, the author kept reminding the reader of Gabe's status and it just kind of made me feel weird. Especially when the author wrote some pretty explicit sex scenes. Kinda takes you out of the mood of the scene when freezing water is splashed on you by the word "uncle".
I think this story has potential. If it weren't for the constant reminders of her "not uncle", and the slight creepiness of his advancing on her the way that he did, I probably would have enjoyed this story a lot more. I thought it was just taboo enough without going too far into Grossville. One thing that I wish we had gotten was the store on what happened after their family found out about their romance. I feel like that would have made one hell of a story.
May 17, 2013
Sometimes reviews really are subjective and based on personal tastes and preferences. While Twisted Summer has been one of those unique books that I continue to think about after having read it, which many 3 star books I have reviewed can not claim, there were things about Twisted Summer that irked me, namely the characters.
The premise is an interesting one. Danni spends a weekend with her estranged Step-Uncle (her mother's stepbrother) as a punishment from her mother and from there this affair begins despite the fact that Danni has a girlfriend and the ick factor behind dating one's uncle, be it step-uncle or otherwise.
We should probably get the obvious out of the way. If you are in search of a sweet romance and likable characters, this book is not for you. Twisted Summer isn't dark in the horror movie Saw sense, however it does have darker elements akin to the film Cruel Intentions with its focus on selfish characters. Danni's brand of humor is what gives Twisted Summer its lighter feel as it attempts to tackle a darker subject with humor and through the naive immature perspective of Danni.
Does it work?
I don't know. This may just be one of those stories you take a chance on or sample the first few chapters to get a feel for the story.
I know what worked for me as a reader and what didn't. The humor didn't always win me over. Sometimes it was spot on for me and other times I thought Danni was trying to hard. She was much too silly at times about the situation at hand. I wanted her to be a bit more mature, which leads me to my second observation.
None of the characters were likable and I didn't think in a novel with darker elements that such a detail would matter to me. I think for me personally, it wasn't that anyone was especially mean or cruel (though Gabe is way creepy in certain scenes) it was just that these characters were not people I would associate with as they all have certain traits that turns me off and causes me to run the other way.
Morgan did a good job with making the "romance" a forbidden one. It's really creepy if you think about it. Yes, Gabe had not seen her in years, and true they are not related, but that's not what creeped me out. Imagine instead Danni was a sixth grader who had a wonderful teacher named Mr. Gabe. Nothing occurs between them in middle school. Danni is now 18 and had graduated from high school. A month later she hooks up with her former middle school teacher. It's the same thing. Gabe was an authority figure when she was younger, which makes their relationship an uncomfortable one.
Their initial sex scene borders on creepy with Gabe taking advantage of Danni and she eventually falls for him. (In fact, I would never say the sex scenes between Gabe and Danni were sexy. They literally were just sex scenes when juxtaposed with the few love scenes Danni had with Esme. There was a striking difference as to how Danni described her sexual encounters with Esme compared to scenes with Gabe.) Honestly, I think that was the point. Gabe is supposed to be creepy. I don't think I ever believed that Gabe really cared about her, even when they carried on an affair, while Danni still had a girlfriend.
For me what cemented Gabe's position as a creepy manipulative guy was when he told Danni he "only fucked her."
How is that even romantic?
But you see, that's the whole point. I think Morgan wants us to think he is creepy. She might want us to be conflicted, but she does such a good job at characterizing Gabe as someone who took advantage of Danni that it's hard to see a "sweet side" to him, but I'm sure there are people out there who will see this side to him.
All of the characters are horrid. Not in a badly written way- they're just horrible people. They all have major flaws and issues, which makes it difficult for me to like them. For instance, I should feel bad for Esme, Danni's girlfriend, as she's a victim, but she became so annoying and hateful herself that for a moment I didn't care. (That feeling drove me crazy as Esme was a victim and I hated the chick.) Danni's mother is a liar, manipulative, and has relationship issues. Danni obviously needs to go to counseling. Gabe needs counseling and an account to Match.Com with its filter set to women over the age of 25.
As much as I hated or disliked the various characters, what I did like is how they kept making me think after I finished the novel. I think the author should be given kudos as to how she created this highly dysfunctional family. When I was reading it, I never thought the family as dysfunctional; I thought they were just selfish or flawed, but once I let scenes play out in my mind again, I realized everyone would have been happier if they were simply more honest with themselves and those closest to them. However, one character in the end does help prove that the family was in need of counseling.
I can't say I was a Gabe/Danni supporter, but without giving the ending away, what I liked the most was the idea of hope. Hope that characters would finally be honest. Hope that after all the bad errors these characters have grown. It's what makes this story difficult to rate. I think while there were rough patches that I had difficulty connecting with, as characters were either overly selfish or immature, the ending made me think all of these flawed characters had the potential to change.
While not a truly dark tale, Twisted Summer had its moments. It's not an easy tale to swallow if you're a reader like me who wants to at least like one character, but it's an interesting enough tale- even if I was disappointed with the actions of Danni, Esme, and just about everyone in the novel. I'll probably give Morgan's books another chance as I'd be curious to see if the humor was simply me not getting "British humor" or if our funny bones simply don't mesh. I'd also be curious to see what a novel with likable characters would be like and how I'd react to her writing then.
For now Lucy V. Morgan is on neutral ground with me. I'll probably have to read another novel of hers before I can definitively say she is or isn't for me. As for Twisted Summer, I think she accomplished what she wanted too, unfortunately a bit too well as I really hated the characters sometimes.
The premise is an interesting one. Danni spends a weekend with her estranged Step-Uncle (her mother's stepbrother) as a punishment from her mother and from there this affair begins despite the fact that Danni has a girlfriend and the ick factor behind dating one's uncle, be it step-uncle or otherwise.
We should probably get the obvious out of the way. If you are in search of a sweet romance and likable characters, this book is not for you. Twisted Summer isn't dark in the horror movie Saw sense, however it does have darker elements akin to the film Cruel Intentions with its focus on selfish characters. Danni's brand of humor is what gives Twisted Summer its lighter feel as it attempts to tackle a darker subject with humor and through the naive immature perspective of Danni.
Does it work?
I don't know. This may just be one of those stories you take a chance on or sample the first few chapters to get a feel for the story.
I know what worked for me as a reader and what didn't. The humor didn't always win me over. Sometimes it was spot on for me and other times I thought Danni was trying to hard. She was much too silly at times about the situation at hand. I wanted her to be a bit more mature, which leads me to my second observation.
None of the characters were likable and I didn't think in a novel with darker elements that such a detail would matter to me. I think for me personally, it wasn't that anyone was especially mean or cruel (though Gabe is way creepy in certain scenes) it was just that these characters were not people I would associate with as they all have certain traits that turns me off and causes me to run the other way.
Morgan did a good job with making the "romance" a forbidden one. It's really creepy if you think about it. Yes, Gabe had not seen her in years, and true they are not related, but that's not what creeped me out. Imagine instead Danni was a sixth grader who had a wonderful teacher named Mr. Gabe. Nothing occurs between them in middle school. Danni is now 18 and had graduated from high school. A month later she hooks up with her former middle school teacher. It's the same thing. Gabe was an authority figure when she was younger, which makes their relationship an uncomfortable one.
Their initial sex scene borders on creepy with Gabe taking advantage of Danni and she eventually falls for him. (In fact, I would never say the sex scenes between Gabe and Danni were sexy. They literally were just sex scenes when juxtaposed with the few love scenes Danni had with Esme. There was a striking difference as to how Danni described her sexual encounters with Esme compared to scenes with Gabe.) Honestly, I think that was the point. Gabe is supposed to be creepy. I don't think I ever believed that Gabe really cared about her, even when they carried on an affair, while Danni still had a girlfriend.
For me what cemented Gabe's position as a creepy manipulative guy was when he told Danni he "only fucked her."
How is that even romantic?
But you see, that's the whole point. I think Morgan wants us to think he is creepy. She might want us to be conflicted, but she does such a good job at characterizing Gabe as someone who took advantage of Danni that it's hard to see a "sweet side" to him, but I'm sure there are people out there who will see this side to him.
All of the characters are horrid. Not in a badly written way- they're just horrible people. They all have major flaws and issues, which makes it difficult for me to like them. For instance, I should feel bad for Esme, Danni's girlfriend, as she's a victim, but she became so annoying and hateful herself that for a moment I didn't care. (That feeling drove me crazy as Esme was a victim and I hated the chick.) Danni's mother is a liar, manipulative, and has relationship issues. Danni obviously needs to go to counseling. Gabe needs counseling and an account to Match.Com with its filter set to women over the age of 25.
As much as I hated or disliked the various characters, what I did like is how they kept making me think after I finished the novel. I think the author should be given kudos as to how she created this highly dysfunctional family. When I was reading it, I never thought the family as dysfunctional; I thought they were just selfish or flawed, but once I let scenes play out in my mind again, I realized everyone would have been happier if they were simply more honest with themselves and those closest to them. However, one character in the end does help prove that the family was in need of counseling.
I can't say I was a Gabe/Danni supporter, but without giving the ending away, what I liked the most was the idea of hope. Hope that characters would finally be honest. Hope that after all the bad errors these characters have grown. It's what makes this story difficult to rate. I think while there were rough patches that I had difficulty connecting with, as characters were either overly selfish or immature, the ending made me think all of these flawed characters had the potential to change.
While not a truly dark tale, Twisted Summer had its moments. It's not an easy tale to swallow if you're a reader like me who wants to at least like one character, but it's an interesting enough tale- even if I was disappointed with the actions of Danni, Esme, and just about everyone in the novel. I'll probably give Morgan's books another chance as I'd be curious to see if the humor was simply me not getting "British humor" or if our funny bones simply don't mesh. I'd also be curious to see what a novel with likable characters would be like and how I'd react to her writing then.
For now Lucy V. Morgan is on neutral ground with me. I'll probably have to read another novel of hers before I can definitively say she is or isn't for me. As for Twisted Summer, I think she accomplished what she wanted too, unfortunately a bit too well as I really hated the characters sometimes.
January 6, 2019
This is a reasonably well written book with some interesting twists. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into the characters. There didn’t seem to be much between them and they didn’t talk; I didn’t feel the connection except a young virgin was infatuated with a slightly older man that was related by marriage. And he turned out to be infatuated with her.
It’s interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever read book reviews on Goodreads where so many wrote thoughtful reviews and gave the book 1 star. I agree with most of the 1 star reviews except for the ones that highlight the ick factor. There is so much terrible stuff out there I don’t believe this book deserves 1 star, so my rating is at the bottom of my well written book rating scale.
It’s interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever read book reviews on Goodreads where so many wrote thoughtful reviews and gave the book 1 star. I agree with most of the 1 star reviews except for the ones that highlight the ick factor. There is so much terrible stuff out there I don’t believe this book deserves 1 star, so my rating is at the bottom of my well written book rating scale.
January 21, 2018
Twisted Summer
This book is about a relationship is taboo in age, that it was a black sheep step uncle, plus Danni was experimenting with her sexuality as a practicing lesbian. So she was in a lesbian relationship when she lost her virginity to her step uncle. I liked the writing because it rang true to how people behave. I know cheating is something a lot of people have a problem with and that she switch teams, her being 18 to him being close to 30, plus the familiar issue. If these are issues you can not get pass in anyway pick a different book to read. I still found it wickedly funny, sexy and down right entertaining. So thanks, Lucy Morgan!!!
This book is about a relationship is taboo in age, that it was a black sheep step uncle, plus Danni was experimenting with her sexuality as a practicing lesbian. So she was in a lesbian relationship when she lost her virginity to her step uncle. I liked the writing because it rang true to how people behave. I know cheating is something a lot of people have a problem with and that she switch teams, her being 18 to him being close to 30, plus the familiar issue. If these are issues you can not get pass in anyway pick a different book to read. I still found it wickedly funny, sexy and down right entertaining. So thanks, Lucy Morgan!!!
March 25, 2019
It’s more around 4,5 stars than just 4. Not 5 cause I would have liked to see Danni and Gabe coming clean to Danni’s mum.
Otherwise it was pretty good. The forbidden, the tension, the drama, the hurt. It was all balanced and I think the length was right, nothing dragged. It all went too fast of course, but considering their kind of relationaship time isn’t relevant.
The writing was sooo good too!!!
Otherwise it was pretty good. The forbidden, the tension, the drama, the hurt. It was all balanced and I think the length was right, nothing dragged. It all went too fast of course, but considering their kind of relationaship time isn’t relevant.
The writing was sooo good too!!!
July 4, 2017
A good read
I liked it. It was a short book but had a unique story line. There was times I had a hard time understand what Gabe's true feelings were. I'm not sure if that was just the character or the writing. But overall I really liked it.
I liked it. It was a short book but had a unique story line. There was times I had a hard time understand what Gabe's true feelings were. I'm not sure if that was just the character or the writing. But overall I really liked it.
October 23, 2019
I read this book a long time ago but the story stuck with me. A taboo story so beware😉
September 25, 2021
The reason I gave this 3 stars because honestly Gabe seemed like a creep and the Danni she was naïve but I enjoyed it over all
May 2, 2022
3.5/5 ☆
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