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Students Across the Seven Seas
When Irish Guys Are Smiling
For seventeen-year-old Delk Sinclair, studying abroad in Ireland means one thing- escape. Delk is tired of hearing about her friends' debutante parties, watching her pregnant stepmother redecorate her mother's house, and having to smile sweetly even though she doesn't think she'll ever get over losing her mother. Ireland is Delk's chance to be happy. With the stunning green landscape as backdrop, Delk revels in all things Irish, from living in a real Irish castle, to celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Galway, to enjoying Irish music and dance, to studying Yeats and shearing a sheep! So when Delk begins to fall for a very handsome Irishman, she wonders if there's more to the Emerald Isle than it first seemed. It is fun, to be sure, but will those smiling Irish eyes really be able to heal her broken heart?
224 pages, ebook
First published January 10, 2008
22 people are currently reading
1164 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Supplee
5 books94 followersSuzanne Supplee is the author of When Irish Guys Are Smiling, a Students Across the Seven Seas series book, and Artichoke’s Heart. Currently, Suzanne is working on her third book, untitled as of yet, but due out in the spring of 2010.
Suzanne is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, and she earned a masters degree in creative writing from Towson University in Maryland. For a number of years, she has worked as both a teacher and a writer.
Suzanne is married and has three daughters. Her favorite hobbies include exercise, reading, and, of course, writing
Suzanne is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, and she earned a masters degree in creative writing from Towson University in Maryland. For a number of years, she has worked as both a teacher and a writer.
Suzanne is married and has three daughters. Her favorite hobbies include exercise, reading, and, of course, writing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
January 7, 2012
When this popped up on my Goodreads and I saw it was set in Ireland, I thought, what the heck, may as well. WELL, I shall warn you now, if you are Irish, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT read this book.
It's terrible. I don't know where the author got her information about how Ireland works, but it's way off. It's so off, it's not even cliched. I read somewhere that she visited the West of Ireland but she must live in a completely different West of Ireland that I live in.
The book in general is boring and does not have any spark at all.
It's terrible. I don't know where the author got her information about how Ireland works, but it's way off. It's so off, it's not even cliched. I read somewhere that she visited the West of Ireland but she must live in a completely different West of Ireland that I live in.
The book in general is boring and does not have any spark at all.
May 16, 2015
2015 Reading Challenge: #50 Empezado y jamás terminado.
Lo empecé a leer cuando tenía trece años. ME RESULTÓ UNA TONTERÍA (mirá hasta qué punto che, antes leía cualquier cosa y era re tontita) y sin embargo lo abandoné. Es un libro muy cortito, pero en esa época no tenía tantas ganas de terminarlo.
PEERO, ahora que lo terminé de leer, no estuvo tan mal como pensé. Es decir, fue todo TAN cursi, cliché, lleno de insta-love y un poco de drama (para terminar de condimentar la historia, nunca falta), pero al final no fue nada que me obligara a arrancarme los pelos de la cabeza. Fue un MEH no-estuvo-tan-mal ya que me sirvió para despejarme un poco y la lectura es demasiado fresca. Fue bueno dentro de todo, pero no al punto de fascinarme.
Es un libro liviano para pasar el tiempo y conocer un poco sobre Irlanda y alguna de sus costumbres.
Lo empecé a leer cuando tenía trece años. ME RESULTÓ UNA TONTERÍA (mirá hasta qué punto che, antes leía cualquier cosa y era re tontita) y sin embargo lo abandoné. Es un libro muy cortito, pero en esa época no tenía tantas ganas de terminarlo.
PEERO, ahora que lo terminé de leer, no estuvo tan mal como pensé. Es decir, fue todo TAN cursi, cliché, lleno de insta-love y un poco de drama (para terminar de condimentar la historia, nunca falta), pero al final no fue nada que me obligara a arrancarme los pelos de la cabeza. Fue un MEH no-estuvo-tan-mal ya que me sirvió para despejarme un poco y la lectura es demasiado fresca. Fue bueno dentro de todo, pero no al punto de fascinarme.
Es un libro liviano para pasar el tiempo y conocer un poco sobre Irlanda y alguna de sus costumbres.
May 26, 2024
Queriendo escapar de su situación familiar, fiestas debutantes y re-decoraciones, Delk Sinclair se inscribe en E.A.S.M. Un programa para jóvenes donde son enviados a diferentes partes del mundo para aprender las diversas culturas. ¿Podrá Irlanda, con sus grandes extensiones de verde y su hermosa cultura, ayudar a Delk a encontrarse a si misma?
Recuerdo haber agregado este libro a mi to-read en julio del año pasado y por fin encontrarlo fue como ver el sol en una semana lluviosa.
Este libro es muy simple, muy cliché y predecible, pero de eso es lo que se trata: Que no importe cuan simple pueda ser, sino cuanto disfrutaste leyendo.
Mas que todo, me gusto como este libro me enseño sobre Irlanda. Siempre me ha parecido un país hermoso y tan pacifico y ni siquiera recibe la atención que merece. Por fin se que significa "the craic" o de donde viene la tradición de San Patricio (nunca pensé que fuera interesante, a decir verdad). Y tambien descubrí poetas irlandeses que pienso leer muy pronto. Y la forma en que describe los lugares es tan exquisita, y me hace querer visitar irlanda, o vivir allá. Y básicamente estuve gritando por una hora "¡Mama, mándame a Irlanda!" cuando lo termine.
Me gusto como la autora creo sus personajes, disfuncionales a tal punto que parecen demasiado reales. Delk solo quiere huir de su familia y amigos, se preocupa demasiado, es nerviosa, es torpe. Pather es un chico de campo, es muy simple, no hay nada que él ame mas que a su familia, le gusta leer en sus ratos libres y tiene miedo de dejar atrás a su padre. La relación entre Pather y Delk me pareció de lo mas adorable, porque él y Delk simplemente se entendieron el uno al otro desde un principio. Y quede demasiado enamorada por la forma en que Pather ayudo a Delk a resolver los problemas con su familia.
Pero los personajes secundarios fueron los que me convencieron de darle las 5 estrellas a este libro, todos ellos eran eran demasiado especiales. Iris es robusta, le gustan los deportes, come demasiado, tiene un defecto con-genito y le gusta escuchar las canciones de Bon Jovi. Latreece solo quiere ser modelo pero sus padres no aprueban el modelaje como carrera. Lucy tiene miedo de ir a la universidad porque no quiere dejar a sus hermanos, Brent no sabe si es material para la universidad y Trent quiere tomarse un año sabático para viajar. Lucy, Trent y Brent tiene esta relación entre hermanos que me recuerda mucho a mi relación con mis primos.
Este es mi propio Anna and the French Kiss. No literalmente. Mejor dicho, lo que muchas personas dicen que sintieron mientras leyeron ese libro, yo lo sentí leyendo este.
Recuerdo haber agregado este libro a mi to-read en julio del año pasado y por fin encontrarlo fue como ver el sol en una semana lluviosa.
Este libro es muy simple, muy cliché y predecible, pero de eso es lo que se trata: Que no importe cuan simple pueda ser, sino cuanto disfrutaste leyendo.
Mas que todo, me gusto como este libro me enseño sobre Irlanda. Siempre me ha parecido un país hermoso y tan pacifico y ni siquiera recibe la atención que merece. Por fin se que significa "the craic" o de donde viene la tradición de San Patricio (nunca pensé que fuera interesante, a decir verdad). Y tambien descubrí poetas irlandeses que pienso leer muy pronto. Y la forma en que describe los lugares es tan exquisita, y me hace querer visitar irlanda, o vivir allá. Y básicamente estuve gritando por una hora "¡Mama, mándame a Irlanda!" cuando lo termine.
Me gusto como la autora creo sus personajes, disfuncionales a tal punto que parecen demasiado reales. Delk solo quiere huir de su familia y amigos, se preocupa demasiado, es nerviosa, es torpe. Pather es un chico de campo, es muy simple, no hay nada que él ame mas que a su familia, le gusta leer en sus ratos libres y tiene miedo de dejar atrás a su padre. La relación entre Pather y Delk me pareció de lo mas adorable, porque él y Delk simplemente se entendieron el uno al otro desde un principio. Y quede demasiado enamorada por la forma en que Pather ayudo a Delk a resolver los problemas con su familia.
La vida no es mas fácil aqui que en cualquier otro lugar, y los irlandeses han sufrido muchas atrocidades en los últimos siglos, guerra, persecución, hambre, pobreza. Papá siempre dice que aquellas personas que hemos conocido mucha tristeza tenemos una mejor apreciación de la felicidad. Aquellos que han vista la muerte conocen el valor de la vida. Eso es realmente lo que somos los irlandeses, al menos eso es lo que creo de todos modos.
Pero los personajes secundarios fueron los que me convencieron de darle las 5 estrellas a este libro, todos ellos eran eran demasiado especiales. Iris es robusta, le gustan los deportes, come demasiado, tiene un defecto con-genito y le gusta escuchar las canciones de Bon Jovi. Latreece solo quiere ser modelo pero sus padres no aprueban el modelaje como carrera. Lucy tiene miedo de ir a la universidad porque no quiere dejar a sus hermanos, Brent no sabe si es material para la universidad y Trent quiere tomarse un año sabático para viajar. Lucy, Trent y Brent tiene esta relación entre hermanos que me recuerda mucho a mi relación con mis primos.
Este es mi propio Anna and the French Kiss. No literalmente. Mejor dicho, lo que muchas personas dicen que sintieron mientras leyeron ese libro, yo lo sentí leyendo este.
May 13, 2008
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Delk Sinclair can't wait to get as far away from Nashville, Tennessee, as she can. Her mother passed away two years ago, and her father has remarried someone that is only ten years older than she is. And her new stepmother is going to have a baby. On top of that, it's almost time to start presenting to society. Without her mom by her side, the last thing Delk wants to do is go through the frenzy of debutante preparations. So Delk finds herself in Ireland for the S.A.S.S (Students Across the Seven Seas) program at Tremain Castle. Along with twenty-four fellow students, she will be immersed in Irish culture for the semester. Thus, she will avoid everything at home.
Within the first twenty-four hours in Ireland, she befriends Iris, Lucy, Latreece, Trent, Brent, and, most importantly, Pather. Pather is the local farmer's son, and can relate to the loss of a mother. Delk and Pather form an instant connection and their friendship grows.
While in Ireland, Delk learns a lot about herself that she never knew. Slowly, by letting her new friends in, Delk realizes that they like her for who she is. She begins to accept that her father is happy with his new wife. And she acknowledges that Paige isn't trying to replace her mother, but to help her heal.
Ms. Supplee writes a novel that fits the S.A.S.S. series perfectly. A young student wants to leave their own home for some reason. And while on their own in a foreign country, they will come to learn much about themselves.
WHEN IRISH GUYS ARE SMILING is a sweet addition to the series. Ms. Supplee paints a beautiful portrait of the lush landscape that is Ireland. The setting is realistic with the damp cold that the country can be known for. And the reader can get a taste of the drafty castle when the fire goes out. But even with the dreary weather, the reader falls in love with the Emerald Isle and becomes envious of what Delk gets to experience.
Delk Sinclair can't wait to get as far away from Nashville, Tennessee, as she can. Her mother passed away two years ago, and her father has remarried someone that is only ten years older than she is. And her new stepmother is going to have a baby. On top of that, it's almost time to start presenting to society. Without her mom by her side, the last thing Delk wants to do is go through the frenzy of debutante preparations. So Delk finds herself in Ireland for the S.A.S.S (Students Across the Seven Seas) program at Tremain Castle. Along with twenty-four fellow students, she will be immersed in Irish culture for the semester. Thus, she will avoid everything at home.
Within the first twenty-four hours in Ireland, she befriends Iris, Lucy, Latreece, Trent, Brent, and, most importantly, Pather. Pather is the local farmer's son, and can relate to the loss of a mother. Delk and Pather form an instant connection and their friendship grows.
While in Ireland, Delk learns a lot about herself that she never knew. Slowly, by letting her new friends in, Delk realizes that they like her for who she is. She begins to accept that her father is happy with his new wife. And she acknowledges that Paige isn't trying to replace her mother, but to help her heal.
Ms. Supplee writes a novel that fits the S.A.S.S. series perfectly. A young student wants to leave their own home for some reason. And while on their own in a foreign country, they will come to learn much about themselves.
WHEN IRISH GUYS ARE SMILING is a sweet addition to the series. Ms. Supplee paints a beautiful portrait of the lush landscape that is Ireland. The setting is realistic with the damp cold that the country can be known for. And the reader can get a taste of the drafty castle when the fire goes out. But even with the dreary weather, the reader falls in love with the Emerald Isle and becomes envious of what Delk gets to experience.
March 16, 2019
Full Review on The Candid Cover
When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee is an entertaining read about travel, friendship, and self-discovery. The main character is realistic, and the setting is described beautifully. I haven’t read very many books set in Ireland, but I am definitely interested in reading more.
This book tells the story of a girl who sets off to study abroad in Ireland to escape her life at home. Her father has just remarried, and her new stepmom is young and pregnant. The book is both cute and serious at times, and reading about the characters’ travels is so entertaining. There is a mix of both academics and sightseeing which provide a nice balance and make the story more believable. I also enjoyed the theme of friendship and the connections Delk makes during her travels. I would recommend this one to those looking for something short and sweet.
❀ CAPTIVATING CHARACTER
I enjoyed Delk’s character, and she truly grows as it progresses. She can be herself in Ireland, and she is able to learn a lot about both the world and herself as a person. Her narration is also realistic, and she has a captivating voice. I just wish there was some information on the meaning and origins of her name, as I have never seen the name Delk before and I am intrigued.
❀ GORGEOUS SETTING
One of my favourite aspects of this book has to be the setting. As the book takes place in Ireland, there are many descriptions of the gorgeous landscapes and cultural traditions. The characters get to stay in an actual castle, and they participate in activities like sheep sheering. I definitely learned a lot while I was reading. After seeing Ireland through Delk’s eyes, I am dying to go myself.
When Irish Guys Are Smiling is a lovable story about travel and friendship. I enjoyed the main character and her transformation, and the setting is picturesque. This is a great read for Saint Patrick’s Day.
When Irish Guys Are Smiling by Suzanne Supplee is an entertaining read about travel, friendship, and self-discovery. The main character is realistic, and the setting is described beautifully. I haven’t read very many books set in Ireland, but I am definitely interested in reading more.
This book tells the story of a girl who sets off to study abroad in Ireland to escape her life at home. Her father has just remarried, and her new stepmom is young and pregnant. The book is both cute and serious at times, and reading about the characters’ travels is so entertaining. There is a mix of both academics and sightseeing which provide a nice balance and make the story more believable. I also enjoyed the theme of friendship and the connections Delk makes during her travels. I would recommend this one to those looking for something short and sweet.
❀ CAPTIVATING CHARACTER
I enjoyed Delk’s character, and she truly grows as it progresses. She can be herself in Ireland, and she is able to learn a lot about both the world and herself as a person. Her narration is also realistic, and she has a captivating voice. I just wish there was some information on the meaning and origins of her name, as I have never seen the name Delk before and I am intrigued.
❀ GORGEOUS SETTING
One of my favourite aspects of this book has to be the setting. As the book takes place in Ireland, there are many descriptions of the gorgeous landscapes and cultural traditions. The characters get to stay in an actual castle, and they participate in activities like sheep sheering. I definitely learned a lot while I was reading. After seeing Ireland through Delk’s eyes, I am dying to go myself.
When Irish Guys Are Smiling is a lovable story about travel and friendship. I enjoyed the main character and her transformation, and the setting is picturesque. This is a great read for Saint Patrick’s Day.
July 20, 2012
Starting with the title, I picked this book because it had the words Irish, guys, and smiles. I have a feeling that it intrigued me because of the recent One Direction outburst that has captured the world. Anyway...
This book is a contemporary young adult fiction. I will say ahead of time that I’m not quite the fan of contemporary young adult, however, this book was interesting. It’s mainly about a teenage girl (Delk Sinclair) in hopes of running away from her past by studying abroad to Ireland. Throughout this book, the reader follows Delk’s journey across the Irish countryside as she makes new friends, new experiences, and finds a bit of love.
Overall, I would say that I enjoyed this book. It was very cute and entertaining. What I really liked about this book was the fact that, at some points, I actually learned some Irish slang and traditions. There’s not a lot mentioned, but I’m glad to say that I finally learned what “craic” meant (or at least I hoped I did). Character development was decent. Each character had different personalities that seemed noticeable. The setting was decent as well meaning that the author was descriptive of the areas the characters came across. I’m going to be completely honest. The setting and the Irish slang made me want to seriously go to Ireland.
What I didn’t like about this book was how quickly the story progressed, some of the character development, conflict, and the dialogue. As I was reading, all I thought was how some of the main points felt a bit rushed such as the chemistry between the main character and her love interest. It’s almost like a “love at first sight” type that I’m not a big fan of. Delk’s character seemed a bit too perfect in my opinion. She did have flaws such as being ashamed of her life at home, but some of her actions kept making me think that she was more perfect than normal. I don’t know if this is weird, but I try to make sure that there is a form of conflict within the plot and if it’s follows well with the plot and the characters. Here, the main conflict was all the problems that Delk wanted to run away from (I do not want to spoil much). That conflict was decent, however, didn’t seem like a strong obstacle. Dialogue wise, I didn’t like how most phrases sounded unnatural. With connection with the Irish slang, the author included words to emphasize the Irish accent, but sounded slightly forced.
Long story short, this is a decent book. Setting is pretty well descriptive. Writing is pretty well written. Adorable story. I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded). I would recommend this book to those who want to read a cute love story, learn a bit of culture, and people who are fans of One Direction’s Niall Horan.
Reviewed from my book blog: The Never Ending BookShelf
This book is a contemporary young adult fiction. I will say ahead of time that I’m not quite the fan of contemporary young adult, however, this book was interesting. It’s mainly about a teenage girl (Delk Sinclair) in hopes of running away from her past by studying abroad to Ireland. Throughout this book, the reader follows Delk’s journey across the Irish countryside as she makes new friends, new experiences, and finds a bit of love.
Overall, I would say that I enjoyed this book. It was very cute and entertaining. What I really liked about this book was the fact that, at some points, I actually learned some Irish slang and traditions. There’s not a lot mentioned, but I’m glad to say that I finally learned what “craic” meant (or at least I hoped I did). Character development was decent. Each character had different personalities that seemed noticeable. The setting was decent as well meaning that the author was descriptive of the areas the characters came across. I’m going to be completely honest. The setting and the Irish slang made me want to seriously go to Ireland.
What I didn’t like about this book was how quickly the story progressed, some of the character development, conflict, and the dialogue. As I was reading, all I thought was how some of the main points felt a bit rushed such as the chemistry between the main character and her love interest. It’s almost like a “love at first sight” type that I’m not a big fan of. Delk’s character seemed a bit too perfect in my opinion. She did have flaws such as being ashamed of her life at home, but some of her actions kept making me think that she was more perfect than normal. I don’t know if this is weird, but I try to make sure that there is a form of conflict within the plot and if it’s follows well with the plot and the characters. Here, the main conflict was all the problems that Delk wanted to run away from (I do not want to spoil much). That conflict was decent, however, didn’t seem like a strong obstacle. Dialogue wise, I didn’t like how most phrases sounded unnatural. With connection with the Irish slang, the author included words to emphasize the Irish accent, but sounded slightly forced.
Long story short, this is a decent book. Setting is pretty well descriptive. Writing is pretty well written. Adorable story. I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded). I would recommend this book to those who want to read a cute love story, learn a bit of culture, and people who are fans of One Direction’s Niall Horan.
Reviewed from my book blog: The Never Ending BookShelf
July 28, 2010
I read this book partly because it sounded interesting. Partly because I wanted to go back to realistic fiction and partly because I want to say I've read all of Supplee's books to date. Our protagonist, Delk, has lost her mother. So to escape her life back in Nashville, Tennesse were her new step mother who is now pregnant and redecorating her house, Delk decides to spend a semester in Ireland.
I expected this to be light and fun. It was for the most part. And Delk grieving for her mother is supposed to put some substance into the story-key words supposed to. The deal is that the fun parts where Delk is exploring Ireland and meeting new people is good but once Delk gets upset remembering about her mother it just felt...forced. I wasn't really convinced. Delk made it this big deal that she was going to keep her mother's death a secret and then a few days in she just blabs it to her teacher and Pather (two complete strangers). The mother's death felt like it was put there just to add some drama in the book.
Aside from this I liked the book. There are sub plots that are interesting so it wasn't focused only on Delk and her problems. The description of Ireland is good. From the costumes to the scenery Ireland seems like a cold but beautiful place. It was nice to read; just a little disappointing since Supplee’s other books seem so much better.
I expected this to be light and fun. It was for the most part. And Delk grieving for her mother is supposed to put some substance into the story-key words supposed to. The deal is that the fun parts where Delk is exploring Ireland and meeting new people is good but once Delk gets upset remembering about her mother it just felt...forced. I wasn't really convinced. Delk made it this big deal that she was going to keep her mother's death a secret and then a few days in she just blabs it to her teacher and Pather (two complete strangers). The mother's death felt like it was put there just to add some drama in the book.
Aside from this I liked the book. There are sub plots that are interesting so it wasn't focused only on Delk and her problems. The description of Ireland is good. From the costumes to the scenery Ireland seems like a cold but beautiful place. It was nice to read; just a little disappointing since Supplee’s other books seem so much better.
August 10, 2023
I initially started reading this series in middle school when I was the target audience and it was freshly published. Now 15 years later, it feels very stale and it's difficult to read. The characters are incredibly shallow, references are highly dated, and the vernacular they use is cringe-inducing. I understand the purpose of the series is to highlight different countries and show what different cultures look like around the world. I just wish the heroines were more likable and every book didn't focus on landing a boyfriend across the globe. When Irish Guys Are Smiling focused on a Kentucky teen's trip to the Emerald Isle and falling in love with a sweet sheep farmer named Pather. She threw up after illegally drinking Guinness and saw a few castles. It wasn't as deep as the previous entries like China or Sweden. There weren't many new words learned or exciting new dishes to try. I barely got through this book and only finished it out of spite. These books have gotten worse over time and teach horrible lessons to young girls. I am determined to finish it merely because I like posing the covers next to their national dishes. I'm a slave to the aesthetics after all.
August 15, 2013
1. Why did you decide to read this book?
It was recommended to me from a girl in my intermediate and the cover looked very appealing.
2. Which category on the bingo board does this complete?
A book written by a female author.
3. Favourite quote of the book?
“One thing about stern teachers is that if you ever actually get a compliment out of them, it truly means something.”
4. Something new I learned from this book is:
Getting away from people and troubles in a new atmosphere or country can make everything heaps better, and to work hard because then you get a great outcome and the hard work is worth it.
5. A character or setting in this book was interesting and why?
Delk - she had been through something very tough in her life and she brang herself to get over it, she is very determined, and has a kind heart.
It was recommended to me from a girl in my intermediate and the cover looked very appealing.
2. Which category on the bingo board does this complete?
A book written by a female author.
3. Favourite quote of the book?
“One thing about stern teachers is that if you ever actually get a compliment out of them, it truly means something.”
4. Something new I learned from this book is:
Getting away from people and troubles in a new atmosphere or country can make everything heaps better, and to work hard because then you get a great outcome and the hard work is worth it.
5. A character or setting in this book was interesting and why?
Delk - she had been through something very tough in her life and she brang herself to get over it, she is very determined, and has a kind heart.
September 4, 2018
This book made me want to try to study aboard during summer. I enjoyed reading stories about Ireland, and the book was successful to make me want to be there and experience Ireland like Delk.
From this book, I knew a few Irish cultures (slang, attitudes, weather, etc) and a little bit of their background scenery.
The ending was kind of a bummer for me tho. I liked the part when Delk & her friends were planning to travel together in the following year, but I didn't like the part about Pather & Delk at the end. It was really sweet, but I just didn't buy it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
From this book, I knew a few Irish cultures (slang, attitudes, weather, etc) and a little bit of their background scenery.
The ending was kind of a bummer for me tho. I liked the part when Delk & her friends were planning to travel together in the following year, but I didn't like the part about Pather & Delk at the end. It was really sweet, but I just didn't buy it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.
January 30, 2015
I chose this book mostly because it was set in Ireland, a place I've always dreamt of going. What wonderful descriptions of the country! The author made me feel like I was really there!
March 18, 2020
A cute read. I liked learning about Ireland, and I liked that each of the characters had some growth. There was no drama either which was nice.
Want to read
October 7, 2019Seeking to get away from debutante balls and her pregnant young stepmother in Nashville, seventeen-year-old Delk Sinclair goes to Connemara, Ireland, for a semester of study, where she falls for a handsome young Irishman and finally begins to recover from the death of her mother.
Who hasn't fantasized as a teen to take a trip somewhere far away or study abroad and meet a cute guy? One question that came to my mind as I begun, what kind of a name is Delk? Never heard (or read) of it before.
Who hasn't fantasized as a teen to take a trip somewhere far away or study abroad and meet a cute guy? One question that came to my mind as I begun, what kind of a name is Delk? Never heard (or read) of it before.
Read
November 27, 2017This series continues to be really cute and fun and fluffy.
April 13, 2017
Not sure why I read this...it was terrible.
March 10, 2021
My library didn’t have this one. They only have a handful from this series; six of the fourteen books. It’s odd that they didn’t purchase all of them. So I had to buy this one myself. This is one of the cutest-looking ones in the series and one I was most excited to read.
This started just like the rest, with the girls lying on the application about their true reasons to get into the SASS program. Usually something trite and superficial like looking for guys.
The heroine did not make a good first impression. The complete hypocrisy of Delk thinking Iris is being rude making southern jokes when Delk commented on Iris' missing tooth, which is beyond rude.
Then there's the borderline rude things on Italians, like the comment Delk makes getting a dig in about NJ, like the man from New Jersey being named Guido, which was my Italian grandpa’s name btw.
‘Delk couldn’t help but stare. “What happened to your tooth?” she asked. The rude question shocked Delk herself, and she wondered if it was the jet lag that made her forget her manners.
“Congenital defect,” said Iris.
Delk stared at the girl in horror, “Genital defect?” she whispered.
“Con-genital. As in from birth, she explained.”
“Oh, right,” said Delk, embarrassed.’
-“So where you from, Delk? No, wait, let me guess! Alabama? Kentucky?”
“Nashville,” Delk answered.
“Yep, I could tell by your accent it had to be somewhere down there. It’s ironic, I guess,” said Iris.
“What’s ironic?” Delk asked.
“Well, it just seems to me that you should be the one missing teeth,” Iris quipped. Delk felt herself bristle. She hated degrading jokes about the South, and she could tell Iris was about to make one.
“We have excellent dental care in Nashville!” said Delk curtly. “And I don’t go ‘round barefoot and playing a banjo either.”
“I was only kidding,” said Iris. “I’m a Jersey girl.”’
-“I’m also freakishly muscular, thanks to my sports addiction.” She flexed her biceps.
“Good Lord!” cried Delk. “What have you been lifting? Small cars? Guys names Guido?” she threw in, a retort to the Tennessee jab.”’
-‘She snapped the appliance back in its case and stuffed it into her one duffel bag.
“You’re not gonna wear your appliance?” Delk asked. She preferred to meet the S.A.S.S. Director with a companion who had all her teeth.
“Oh, I never meet anyone for the first time with it in,” said Iris, as if this were the most obvious of choices.
“Why not?”
“Hell, you can tell a lot more about a person with it out,” Iris explained. “It’s like my own personal Myers-Briggs. I get to see if you’re a shallow ass or a decent person, you know, someone with depth who won’t judge me based on a congenital defect.”
“All this you can tell by revealing a missing tooth?”
Iris nodded and let out a noisy yawn. “You’re all right, though, Delk. You passed with flying colors.”’
Idk how she passed that test at all...
The names were odd: heroine named Delk, and the hero Pather. I've never heard of either one.
I loved learning Irish expressions:
Buzzies are travelers.
Twisting hay: causing trouble.
Craic means a fun time.
Chipper means fast food restaurant.
Arseways. Lol
Manky is dirty/disgusting, usually food or clothes.
Cheesed off; I assume that’s pissed off.
“She’s over a cliff about it.”
Mary Hick means out of style or old-fashioned.
These books are all pretty similar. Underage drinking, heroine drinks even though she doesn’t like it. Teens are so annoying. I'm just glad that was a single event.
‘She hadn’t much liked the taste of the warm dark beer, so she’d finished it quickly, as if taking medicine.’
That makes a lot of sense.
There was mention on taking a ferry, getting consumption, and Wuthering Heights, which I just recently saw, & was a terrible movie.
When raising sheep, they'll use alarm clocks because the ticking mimes the mother’s heartbeat.
This was deeper: ‘She snuggled deeper into her Gore-Tex cocoon and gazed up at a million glittering stars. “Wherever you are, I love you,” she whispered toward the sky.’
In authentic Irish tradition they made w pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, the mountain where Saint Patrick fasted for forty days.
It has the stereotypical students at school; an emo guy, Latreece the pretty model, Lucy, the diligent proper girl, Brent & Trent, the class clowns.
The other students at school weren’t even introduced properly. Every single person that she met became friends; it was their little group and no one else. It wasn't realistic.
Iris going on about how guys don’t ask her out or talk to her was frankly annoying. It was too moaning and groaning. And how she kept denying that Trent liked her. Also I find it corny when side characters also find love.
St. Patrick was said to have been called to the mountain by God, and told to drive all the snakes out of Ireland. It’s a metaphor for Irish natives being converted to Christianity. God called Patrick to save the Irish people by giving them the Christian faith. Patrick banished the Druids, who were pagans, and who used symbols of snakes. That’s where the metaphor of the snake comes from.
The kids wore green on St. Paddy’s Day, but the adults just did “wearing the shamrock,” which was to pin a shamrock on their regular clothes.
They also didn’t do green beer, like in America. They made a shamrock shake, which is a green milkshake.
The traditional meal on that day is bacon and cabbage, but bacon is actually corned beef. regular bacon as we know it is called rashers.
‘Either way, her mother wasn’t just dead back in Nashville. She was dead here in Ireland now, too. Gone forever, no matter how far Delk ran.’
There was a typo of cows ‘chewing their thick tongues.’
It was said Ireland isn’t as magical as it appears. It rains a lot, is bone-chilling cold at times from the damp.
“Da always says that those who’ve known great sadness have a better appreciation for happiness. Those who’ve seen death know the value of life. That’s really what we Irish are about, at least that’s what I think anyway.”
-‘Brilliant ethereal light shining down like great slanted ladders. Delk’s mother always said someone was climbing up to heaven when the sky looked that way.’
Reminded me of a field trip I went on as a kid where a friend told me the beams of sunlight were souls going to heaven.
It was nice how she lit a candle in the church for her mom, like Pather’s sister Katie did for their mom.
I liked their dad’s view of marriage after a spouse dies: ‘I have the opposite problem with Da. He won’t move at all. He hasn’t dated since Ma died eight years ago, not one single dinner out. It drives us all crazy, but he says in his heart he’s still married. It would be like cheating or some such nonsense.’
It was odd how Pather commented on how much Delk looks like his sisters considering he likes Delk, & a shop lady thought they were sisters. I thought the heroine was gonna have some secret lineage as other characters in YA books end up having.
On the Claddagh ring the heart means love, the crown means loyalty,& the hands mean friendship. If you’re engaged, you wear it on the left hand, crown facing the knuckle. When you married the groom turns it the other way.
Richard Joyce was the goldsmith who first made the Claddagh rings in four hundred years ago.
The husband didn’t buy the ring. It’s tradition to pass it down from mother to daughter. Men wear them too.
“Does it ever...you know...get any better?”
“In some ways it does, but it’s a bit like running a long race with a rock in your shoeS you get used to it, but it always hurts a little.”
-The Irish can be very superstitious. They have a saying “Marry in May, rue the day.”
“To leave here is to leave beauty behind.”
-‘Even when the world seemed still, it was forever moving, changing.’
Lady Gregory was a friend of Yeats, and when well-known writers visited her, they would carve their initials into a copper beech tree.
‘She studied the ancient sundial and tested its accuracy by standing on the stone slab marked APRIL.’
The ancient sundial was cool; the April thing made me laugh. A local teacher did a virtual talk on Anglo Saxon and French/German language. How the French German pronounced it Aprille—Ape-rille, pretty sounding and the Anglo Saxon changed it to the April we know, short harsh APRIL. Anyway, it made me laugh.
I liked Delk's transformation regarding her stepmom I just felt it happened too soon. She all of a sudden thinks that if she decides to get along with them, it’ll happen.
‘Maybe moving forward wasn’t such an unimaginable thing, after all. Maybe there was hope for the Sinclair family just as there had been hope for the Keneallys.’
It was so nice of Delk to buy the flowers—bells of Ireland—for Katie’s wedding.
Despite her blustering, Mrs. Fitzpatrick fixed the dress up & didn’t charge for it, or her sisters.
“Why are they watching us?” she whispered.
“They’re not watching US. They’re watching the BELLE of Ireland,” he teased.
“You can dry the flowers, you know,” Delk reminded him. He laughed and puller her closer. “Seriously, why is everyone staring?”
“I suppose it’s because they’ve never seen me in love before.”
Delk stopped and looked at him.
“Perhaps they didn’t think I was capable of it.” Pather picked up the beat again, and Delk’s heart waltzed right into her throat.’
So cute!!!
Pather’s dad saying “I hope this trip to Ireland will be the first of many for you, dear girl” made it seem like he wanted her end his son to get together which was sweet.
I liked how Trent realized after being in Ireland that he didn’t wanna do the college scene; he’d feel like a “loser poser in regular college.” He wanted to travel and see places & thought of distance learning.
I hated we couldn’t hear Brent’s and Lucy’s answer to the question of a place that influenced them, good or bad.
Mrs. Connolly said Delk had progressed so much that’s why she ended up traveling alone for her project but I didn’t know if I saw the same progress because she was never nervous about traveling, or being on her own. Or talking in front of class. She seemed comfortable with it. Only progress with stepmom.
“Traveling alone is something I force myself to do every year. It’s good for one’s self-confidence. Makes a person see that they can make their own way in the world, anywhere in the world.”
‘One thing about stern teachers is that if you ever actually get a compliment out of them, it truly means something.’
The ending was cute:
“If I blow right off the edge, I’m taking you with me!” She laughed.
“I can see the headlines: ‘Romantically linked couple pitches to their untimely deaths at Cliffs of Moher.’ And he was just about to give her his ma’s Claddagh ring. ‘Twas still in his pocket when they found him. Perhaps I’ll write my own Thomas Hardy-like novel.”
Omgggg so sweet!!
Then “Now it appears we’ve reached the awkward moment of deciding how you’ll wear it.”
A ring on the right hand with the heart facing outward means your heart hasn’t been won. The heart inward means your heart is taken.
‘Pather slid the heart-turned inward Claddagh on her finger. “I never expected this to happen, not in a million years. But I’m glad it did. I love you, too.”’
I like that this was more conclusive, with more of an HEA. Some hint that they wouldn’t end up together but this felt more like they would.
I didn’t buy the love between them cause it felt like it been so short. It didn’t feel like that many months had passed. But I did like it.
The ending was cute. It feels like they have a chance of being together. Loved the Irish setting. Perhaps the transformation of the heroine regarding her stepmom happened a lil suddenly.
It wasn’t exactly realistic that every person she met she befriended, but I liked that there wasn’t any drama in here or teenage angst. I wasn’t sure at first with her getting drunk and throwing up, but thankfully that was the last of it.
I liked the hero and his family.
This didn’t focus on school as much, which I actually prefer. I mean it only really covered Mrs. Connolly, and only mentioned one other teacher, just like it only mentioned her friends in class. No one else was really featured.
Some of these focus too much on school and homework, and I prefer fun! You are in a fiery country, after all! It was different because most cases the schoolwork is hard and keeps them busy but that wasn’t an issue in here. Didn’t entirely feel realistic, but I didn’t wanna be reading about school anyway.
Im so glad this was one of the better ones, cause it’s one I was most excited to read in this series, and I also bought it!
Some of the dialogue was awkward, in that sometimes a character would say something & there would be no response to it. Like at Pather’s house before the wedding, he said he just wanted to look at Delk,& then the next sentence is her running up the stairs with no response back to him. That was just one example. There were more.
There were lots of italicized words and too many exclamation points.
Some things were meant to be funny that weren’t.
Even nicer to read this approaching St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve been wanting to read this for a long time, and it looked cute so I'm glad it ended up being cute, and one of the better ones in the series.
I loved the setting of Ireland & info on Irish culture. I wanted more!
This started just like the rest, with the girls lying on the application about their true reasons to get into the SASS program. Usually something trite and superficial like looking for guys.
The heroine did not make a good first impression. The complete hypocrisy of Delk thinking Iris is being rude making southern jokes when Delk commented on Iris' missing tooth, which is beyond rude.
Then there's the borderline rude things on Italians, like the comment Delk makes getting a dig in about NJ, like the man from New Jersey being named Guido, which was my Italian grandpa’s name btw.
‘Delk couldn’t help but stare. “What happened to your tooth?” she asked. The rude question shocked Delk herself, and she wondered if it was the jet lag that made her forget her manners.
“Congenital defect,” said Iris.
Delk stared at the girl in horror, “Genital defect?” she whispered.
“Con-genital. As in from birth, she explained.”
“Oh, right,” said Delk, embarrassed.’
-“So where you from, Delk? No, wait, let me guess! Alabama? Kentucky?”
“Nashville,” Delk answered.
“Yep, I could tell by your accent it had to be somewhere down there. It’s ironic, I guess,” said Iris.
“What’s ironic?” Delk asked.
“Well, it just seems to me that you should be the one missing teeth,” Iris quipped. Delk felt herself bristle. She hated degrading jokes about the South, and she could tell Iris was about to make one.
“We have excellent dental care in Nashville!” said Delk curtly. “And I don’t go ‘round barefoot and playing a banjo either.”
“I was only kidding,” said Iris. “I’m a Jersey girl.”’
-“I’m also freakishly muscular, thanks to my sports addiction.” She flexed her biceps.
“Good Lord!” cried Delk. “What have you been lifting? Small cars? Guys names Guido?” she threw in, a retort to the Tennessee jab.”’
-‘She snapped the appliance back in its case and stuffed it into her one duffel bag.
“You’re not gonna wear your appliance?” Delk asked. She preferred to meet the S.A.S.S. Director with a companion who had all her teeth.
“Oh, I never meet anyone for the first time with it in,” said Iris, as if this were the most obvious of choices.
“Why not?”
“Hell, you can tell a lot more about a person with it out,” Iris explained. “It’s like my own personal Myers-Briggs. I get to see if you’re a shallow ass or a decent person, you know, someone with depth who won’t judge me based on a congenital defect.”
“All this you can tell by revealing a missing tooth?”
Iris nodded and let out a noisy yawn. “You’re all right, though, Delk. You passed with flying colors.”’
Idk how she passed that test at all...
The names were odd: heroine named Delk, and the hero Pather. I've never heard of either one.
I loved learning Irish expressions:
Buzzies are travelers.
Twisting hay: causing trouble.
Craic means a fun time.
Chipper means fast food restaurant.
Arseways. Lol
Manky is dirty/disgusting, usually food or clothes.
Cheesed off; I assume that’s pissed off.
“She’s over a cliff about it.”
Mary Hick means out of style or old-fashioned.
These books are all pretty similar. Underage drinking, heroine drinks even though she doesn’t like it. Teens are so annoying. I'm just glad that was a single event.
‘She hadn’t much liked the taste of the warm dark beer, so she’d finished it quickly, as if taking medicine.’
That makes a lot of sense.
There was mention on taking a ferry, getting consumption, and Wuthering Heights, which I just recently saw, & was a terrible movie.
When raising sheep, they'll use alarm clocks because the ticking mimes the mother’s heartbeat.
This was deeper: ‘She snuggled deeper into her Gore-Tex cocoon and gazed up at a million glittering stars. “Wherever you are, I love you,” she whispered toward the sky.’
In authentic Irish tradition they made w pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, the mountain where Saint Patrick fasted for forty days.
It has the stereotypical students at school; an emo guy, Latreece the pretty model, Lucy, the diligent proper girl, Brent & Trent, the class clowns.
The other students at school weren’t even introduced properly. Every single person that she met became friends; it was their little group and no one else. It wasn't realistic.
Iris going on about how guys don’t ask her out or talk to her was frankly annoying. It was too moaning and groaning. And how she kept denying that Trent liked her. Also I find it corny when side characters also find love.
St. Patrick was said to have been called to the mountain by God, and told to drive all the snakes out of Ireland. It’s a metaphor for Irish natives being converted to Christianity. God called Patrick to save the Irish people by giving them the Christian faith. Patrick banished the Druids, who were pagans, and who used symbols of snakes. That’s where the metaphor of the snake comes from.
The kids wore green on St. Paddy’s Day, but the adults just did “wearing the shamrock,” which was to pin a shamrock on their regular clothes.
They also didn’t do green beer, like in America. They made a shamrock shake, which is a green milkshake.
The traditional meal on that day is bacon and cabbage, but bacon is actually corned beef. regular bacon as we know it is called rashers.
‘Either way, her mother wasn’t just dead back in Nashville. She was dead here in Ireland now, too. Gone forever, no matter how far Delk ran.’
There was a typo of cows ‘chewing their thick tongues.’
It was said Ireland isn’t as magical as it appears. It rains a lot, is bone-chilling cold at times from the damp.
“Da always says that those who’ve known great sadness have a better appreciation for happiness. Those who’ve seen death know the value of life. That’s really what we Irish are about, at least that’s what I think anyway.”
-‘Brilliant ethereal light shining down like great slanted ladders. Delk’s mother always said someone was climbing up to heaven when the sky looked that way.’
Reminded me of a field trip I went on as a kid where a friend told me the beams of sunlight were souls going to heaven.
It was nice how she lit a candle in the church for her mom, like Pather’s sister Katie did for their mom.
I liked their dad’s view of marriage after a spouse dies: ‘I have the opposite problem with Da. He won’t move at all. He hasn’t dated since Ma died eight years ago, not one single dinner out. It drives us all crazy, but he says in his heart he’s still married. It would be like cheating or some such nonsense.’
It was odd how Pather commented on how much Delk looks like his sisters considering he likes Delk, & a shop lady thought they were sisters. I thought the heroine was gonna have some secret lineage as other characters in YA books end up having.
On the Claddagh ring the heart means love, the crown means loyalty,& the hands mean friendship. If you’re engaged, you wear it on the left hand, crown facing the knuckle. When you married the groom turns it the other way.
Richard Joyce was the goldsmith who first made the Claddagh rings in four hundred years ago.
The husband didn’t buy the ring. It’s tradition to pass it down from mother to daughter. Men wear them too.
“Does it ever...you know...get any better?”
“In some ways it does, but it’s a bit like running a long race with a rock in your shoeS you get used to it, but it always hurts a little.”
-The Irish can be very superstitious. They have a saying “Marry in May, rue the day.”
“To leave here is to leave beauty behind.”
-‘Even when the world seemed still, it was forever moving, changing.’
Lady Gregory was a friend of Yeats, and when well-known writers visited her, they would carve their initials into a copper beech tree.
‘She studied the ancient sundial and tested its accuracy by standing on the stone slab marked APRIL.’
The ancient sundial was cool; the April thing made me laugh. A local teacher did a virtual talk on Anglo Saxon and French/German language. How the French German pronounced it Aprille—Ape-rille, pretty sounding and the Anglo Saxon changed it to the April we know, short harsh APRIL. Anyway, it made me laugh.
I liked Delk's transformation regarding her stepmom I just felt it happened too soon. She all of a sudden thinks that if she decides to get along with them, it’ll happen.
‘Maybe moving forward wasn’t such an unimaginable thing, after all. Maybe there was hope for the Sinclair family just as there had been hope for the Keneallys.’
It was so nice of Delk to buy the flowers—bells of Ireland—for Katie’s wedding.
Despite her blustering, Mrs. Fitzpatrick fixed the dress up & didn’t charge for it, or her sisters.
“Why are they watching us?” she whispered.
“They’re not watching US. They’re watching the BELLE of Ireland,” he teased.
“You can dry the flowers, you know,” Delk reminded him. He laughed and puller her closer. “Seriously, why is everyone staring?”
“I suppose it’s because they’ve never seen me in love before.”
Delk stopped and looked at him.
“Perhaps they didn’t think I was capable of it.” Pather picked up the beat again, and Delk’s heart waltzed right into her throat.’
So cute!!!
Pather’s dad saying “I hope this trip to Ireland will be the first of many for you, dear girl” made it seem like he wanted her end his son to get together which was sweet.
I liked how Trent realized after being in Ireland that he didn’t wanna do the college scene; he’d feel like a “loser poser in regular college.” He wanted to travel and see places & thought of distance learning.
I hated we couldn’t hear Brent’s and Lucy’s answer to the question of a place that influenced them, good or bad.
Mrs. Connolly said Delk had progressed so much that’s why she ended up traveling alone for her project but I didn’t know if I saw the same progress because she was never nervous about traveling, or being on her own. Or talking in front of class. She seemed comfortable with it. Only progress with stepmom.
“Traveling alone is something I force myself to do every year. It’s good for one’s self-confidence. Makes a person see that they can make their own way in the world, anywhere in the world.”
‘One thing about stern teachers is that if you ever actually get a compliment out of them, it truly means something.’
The ending was cute:
“If I blow right off the edge, I’m taking you with me!” She laughed.
“I can see the headlines: ‘Romantically linked couple pitches to their untimely deaths at Cliffs of Moher.’ And he was just about to give her his ma’s Claddagh ring. ‘Twas still in his pocket when they found him. Perhaps I’ll write my own Thomas Hardy-like novel.”
Omgggg so sweet!!
Then “Now it appears we’ve reached the awkward moment of deciding how you’ll wear it.”
A ring on the right hand with the heart facing outward means your heart hasn’t been won. The heart inward means your heart is taken.
‘Pather slid the heart-turned inward Claddagh on her finger. “I never expected this to happen, not in a million years. But I’m glad it did. I love you, too.”’
I like that this was more conclusive, with more of an HEA. Some hint that they wouldn’t end up together but this felt more like they would.
I didn’t buy the love between them cause it felt like it been so short. It didn’t feel like that many months had passed. But I did like it.
The ending was cute. It feels like they have a chance of being together. Loved the Irish setting. Perhaps the transformation of the heroine regarding her stepmom happened a lil suddenly.
It wasn’t exactly realistic that every person she met she befriended, but I liked that there wasn’t any drama in here or teenage angst. I wasn’t sure at first with her getting drunk and throwing up, but thankfully that was the last of it.
I liked the hero and his family.
This didn’t focus on school as much, which I actually prefer. I mean it only really covered Mrs. Connolly, and only mentioned one other teacher, just like it only mentioned her friends in class. No one else was really featured.
Some of these focus too much on school and homework, and I prefer fun! You are in a fiery country, after all! It was different because most cases the schoolwork is hard and keeps them busy but that wasn’t an issue in here. Didn’t entirely feel realistic, but I didn’t wanna be reading about school anyway.
Im so glad this was one of the better ones, cause it’s one I was most excited to read in this series, and I also bought it!
Some of the dialogue was awkward, in that sometimes a character would say something & there would be no response to it. Like at Pather’s house before the wedding, he said he just wanted to look at Delk,& then the next sentence is her running up the stairs with no response back to him. That was just one example. There were more.
There were lots of italicized words and too many exclamation points.
Some things were meant to be funny that weren’t.
Even nicer to read this approaching St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve been wanting to read this for a long time, and it looked cute so I'm glad it ended up being cute, and one of the better ones in the series.
I loved the setting of Ireland & info on Irish culture. I wanted more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2025
About ten years ago, I had read the entire Students Across the Seven Seas series. While I didn't end up enjoying the majority of them, I remember loving this one, and actually rating it five stars. I was in the mood for some rereading lately, and I decided to pick this one up for another go around, and was interested to see if I'd end up feeling the same. While I do feel it's still a cute contemporary, it's not quite as good as I remembered, and I left feeling a little let down.
Perhaps my favorite part of the entire story were the beautiful depictions of Ireland. I've never been, and this book definitely encouraged me to want to see it for myself someday. I enjoyed the close friendship that develops between our main character Delk and many of the other students on the study abroad program. It was interesting to see characters who were so different from one another learn to get along, and play to each of their own strengths. Lastly, the romance is quite adorable, even though it's not entirely believable, especially concerning the short timeline within which everything happens.
However, it stuck out to me this time just how juvenile the majority of the characters were, and I felt like the characters came across more of the thirteen to fourteen year old range, rather than the juniors/seniors they were supposed to be. Although it's a relatively short book, the plot is quite muddled, and it took me quite awhile to get around to finishing it. Lastly, the ending is quite rushed, and doesn't seem to resolve a lot of the questions raised in a way that's satisfactory to the reader.
It was cute to revisit an old favorite, but my opinions have definitely changed, and I'd probably only recommend this one to younger teens as I don't think anyone else would be able to relate too well to the story.
Final Rating: 3/5.
Perhaps my favorite part of the entire story were the beautiful depictions of Ireland. I've never been, and this book definitely encouraged me to want to see it for myself someday. I enjoyed the close friendship that develops between our main character Delk and many of the other students on the study abroad program. It was interesting to see characters who were so different from one another learn to get along, and play to each of their own strengths. Lastly, the romance is quite adorable, even though it's not entirely believable, especially concerning the short timeline within which everything happens.
However, it stuck out to me this time just how juvenile the majority of the characters were, and I felt like the characters came across more of the thirteen to fourteen year old range, rather than the juniors/seniors they were supposed to be. Although it's a relatively short book, the plot is quite muddled, and it took me quite awhile to get around to finishing it. Lastly, the ending is quite rushed, and doesn't seem to resolve a lot of the questions raised in a way that's satisfactory to the reader.
It was cute to revisit an old favorite, but my opinions have definitely changed, and I'd probably only recommend this one to younger teens as I don't think anyone else would be able to relate too well to the story.
Final Rating: 3/5.
June 19, 2017
So first let me clear the record, when I started this book I was not assuming that it was going to be some literary masterpiece like the next Pride and Prejudice. I was expecting cheesy, travel based romance. I was expecting to like that cheesy romance because it's Valentine's Day and sometimes you need to splurge. Unfortunately, I just wasted a few hours of my life on something that transcended the realm of cheesy into something completely unknown and awful. The main character whined for a diet coke at least once a chapter, like seriously, you are in Ireland appear a little classier and drink water because diet coke is terrible for you anyway. Also, her name is Delk. I spent the entire book waiting for some explanation of why on earth this poor girl's name was Delk, something meaningful and sweet. Nope. Nothing of the sort. The romance had no spark. One minute she was getting off the plane, the next desperately in love with your stereotypical guy character who looks pretty and says all the right things. Additionally, she continually got up early just to run into him. Any character who gives up an hour or more of sleep in order to "accidentally" run into some guy is not OK with me. Sleep is great, stop wasting it you ninny! I'm very disappointed I ever picked this up and expected anything. Don't make my mistake and read this dreadful book.
November 27, 2015
Me gustó mucho porque es entretenido. Pero me hubiera gustado un poco más de profundidad en la historia.
Delk es una buena protagonista, no es tan melodramática aunque si bastante delicada. Iris es la prima amiga que hace, y creo que fue una exageración de chica marimacho aunque es muy buena. Los trillizos Bent, Tent y Lucy le dieron el lado humorístico a la historia, pero meh, y Latreece sería la snob exagerada con Paris, pero por suerte no era mala. Pather es el galán, es super dulce pero me hubiera gustado que su relación con Delk se hubiera profundizado más. Pero a pesar de eso, me encantó que Delk no deje todo para estar con él. Que haya puesto em primer lugar el conocer y saber más sobre el lugar donde está.
En cuanto a los demás, lo de los problemas familiares de Delk con su padre y madrastra y su dolor por perder a su madre no se tocó tanto como debería.
No tengo quejas por la ambientación, pude conocer más Irlanda con las descripciones y los diverso lugares que tiene. Ojalá algún día pueda ir.. y también lo de san Patricio, esa no la sabía. Una linda y entretenida historia.
Delk es una buena protagonista, no es tan melodramática aunque si bastante delicada. Iris es la prima amiga que hace, y creo que fue una exageración de chica marimacho aunque es muy buena. Los trillizos Bent, Tent y Lucy le dieron el lado humorístico a la historia, pero meh, y Latreece sería la snob exagerada con Paris, pero por suerte no era mala. Pather es el galán, es super dulce pero me hubiera gustado que su relación con Delk se hubiera profundizado más. Pero a pesar de eso, me encantó que Delk no deje todo para estar con él. Que haya puesto em primer lugar el conocer y saber más sobre el lugar donde está.
En cuanto a los demás, lo de los problemas familiares de Delk con su padre y madrastra y su dolor por perder a su madre no se tocó tanto como debería.
No tengo quejas por la ambientación, pude conocer más Irlanda con las descripciones y los diverso lugares que tiene. Ojalá algún día pueda ir.. y también lo de san Patricio, esa no la sabía. Una linda y entretenida historia.
June 7, 2011
I first saw this book on the new books shelves in the Teen section and the Irish cover caught my eye since I have Irish history and have always been interested in going to Ireland someday so I thought...why not?! I later discovered that the book is an ongoing series of S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas). I first thought that Supplee the author of this book was the author of each book but it turns out that each small novel has a different author so each should have a different writing style.
As far as this book goes...I definitely thought it was a fun read! Very light reading, funny at times, sad at times, and definitely a love and growth story. It was good enough to intrigue me into trying one of the other books in the SASS series. I just hope the other authors writing styles are similar. I'm hesitant but interested.
As far as this book goes...I definitely thought it was a fun read! Very light reading, funny at times, sad at times, and definitely a love and growth story. It was good enough to intrigue me into trying one of the other books in the SASS series. I just hope the other authors writing styles are similar. I'm hesitant but interested.
March 20, 2013
the last page was ripped this book was boring to much romance and clique
August 27, 2015
Cute, light, easy read. Loved that it was set in Ireland.
September 10, 2018
A very very light & cute book ♡
April 30, 2019
A good simple book full of happy endings.
March 18, 2020
Cute, easy read about Ireland. Now I really want to visit and get a Claddagh ring!
December 26, 2017
Supplee, Suzanne When Irish Guys are Smiling, 211p. Penguin -Language: PG-13, Sexual Content: PG, Violence: G -
Delk Sinclair is a high school student ready to get away from the awful reality of Tennessee. With her stepmother expecting a baby and her friends' debutante parties, she wants to get out of there fast. She is off to Ireland for the Students Across the Seven Seas program. What she doesn't know is that she is about to fall in love with a very handsome Irishman. Will she be able to forget all of her troubles form Tennessee?
I thought this book was very well written. I love the way the author was able to paint a clear picture of all the characters through words. This a love story you don't want to miss.
MS, HS -ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: CW
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
Delk Sinclair is a high school student ready to get away from the awful reality of Tennessee. With her stepmother expecting a baby and her friends' debutante parties, she wants to get out of there fast. She is off to Ireland for the Students Across the Seven Seas program. What she doesn't know is that she is about to fall in love with a very handsome Irishman. Will she be able to forget all of her troubles form Tennessee?
I thought this book was very well written. I love the way the author was able to paint a clear picture of all the characters through words. This a love story you don't want to miss.
MS, HS -ADVISABLE. Student Reviewer: CW
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2008/...
March 21, 2021
This book was a cute, easy read. Some parts of it were a bit ridiculous and the relationships were a little unrealistically quick to form, but if you are looking for something fun and (mostly) light-hearted this fits the bill. I also felt that Delk's character growth kind of came out of nowhere. I was really drawn to Iris's character from when she first entered the story, and would've liked to get a better idea of who the Devonshire triplets were, other than just their general personality types.
December 24, 2018
I honestly didn't like the main character, Delk, at all. She was OBSESSED with the Diet Coke and it annoys me so much. And this secret about her mam as well. It didn't really make sense to me. Also, most of the Irish names in this book, I don't usually hear in everyday life. The only thing I enjoyed about it was all those things Irish people do and say as described in this book are mostly true. Oh, and I wanted to know how they say goodbye in the end.
November 8, 2017
Soy una amante de los paisajes de Irlanda, además de leer buenos libros... Y este libro ha logrado conquistarme. Amé la manera en que la escritora describió cada rincón de Irlanda, me hizo sentir que estaba allí. Además de ser una gran historia. Amé a cada uno de los personajes, por eso le di 5 estrellas. La recomiendo.
February 12, 2022
Read this for "Blind Date with a Book". It was fine, very young for a YA book, maybe good for 14 year olds. I liked the details about Ireland, and the fact that there was a lot of personal growth for many characters. Even though there was a romance, it was VERY TAME! It would have been fun to listen to and hear the Irish accents.
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