The Summer I Found You

by Jolene Perry

All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate's dream boyfriend has just broken up with her and she's still reeling from her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Aidan planned on being a lifer in the army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's a disabled young veteran struggling to embrace his new life. When Kate and Aidan find each other neither one wants to get attached. But could they be right for each other after all?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, New Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Disability

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Hiker. Occasional Yogi. Equestrian. Couch potato. Music lover. Mediocre guitar player. Sailor. Tailor. Home body. Traveler. Enjoys suffering from being interested in everything. Owner, editor and teaacherr at Waypoint Author Academy. (www.waypointauthors.com)

Also.
I only rate books I loved.

Reviews

[Ash Wednesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 STARS

Something Like Normal was easily one of the most enjoyable New Adult books I've read this year and I was fully under the impression that this will be following a similar vein but with heavier emotional heft as the hero Aidan/Aiden (it varies) Connelly not only suffers from PTSD but also lost an arm from his tour in Afghanistan and the heroine (Kate Walker), a distant family acquaintance, was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

Such heavy potential right there, which unfortunately kept at being all potential none kinetic (I just dropped some Physics right there. Recognize people.)

Because apart from protesting about carrying a big bag containing her diabetes paraphernalia (You don't understand! It's forever!) Kate is reeling from getting dumped by her Princeton-bound Obama-wannabe boyfriend for a cheerleader. She really needs a distraction from all that heartache and responsibility to keep herself alive.



And that's where Aidan/Aiden comes in. Who also needs a distraction from the things that he's actively avoiding from doing, like figuring out what to do with his life now that he's a veteran. At nineteen. Or visiting the widow of the guy who ended up dead beside him when his arm was blasted off. And he really needs someone to say to his face that he has one arm which Kate, luckily, loves doing while not telling Aidan/Aiden her condition. And from there you can pretty much surmise where things will go and how things will pan out.

This was told in alternating POVs between Kate and Aidan/Aiden in a back and forth manner which is never my favorite storytelling device because it doesn't necessarily serve the progression of the story best but just feels like something done for symmetry. This is my first read form this author and the writing wasn't exceptionally good but wasn't offensive either. Oh wait the sheer number of times or something was used/abused as sentence filler (27, if you're curious)? Yeah not offensive but cringe-worthy nonetheless. The dialogue was okay, though if I was a seventeen year-old girl, I'd probably be offended by Perry's interpretation of a girl from that age.

Now I really really need to be careful here because it is so easy to point the blame at Kate for dragging the story down with her immaturity and selfishness, refusing to face the gravity of her disease. From the 33-year old vantage point, taking shots of insulin everyday indefinitely versus, I dunno, life altering end organ damage and/or certain death… that's really not up for discussion. However, from someone as young as Kate, I think I can remotely understand some of her bitterness on her first world problems.

I can't imagine one of those. How awkward would it have made Aidan? Some electronic thing strapped to me. A small tube inserted in my skin. I shudder at how weird and gross that would be. Attached.

Emphasis on the SOME and the REMOTELY.

And the rest really was completely ridiculous. The kind that makes you want to reach into your reading device and smack her senseless. She thinks having a disease makes her feel "gross"… I suspect this has a lot to do with the lying down on the public bathroom floor (Ewww!!!) to administer her insulin because she's scared of needles but knowing Kate's logic about her condition, who really knows. She has some insatiable need to make herself out as a victim when she doesn't need to. And I'm not sure someone who doesn't even have any sense of life preservation should be having sex at this point of emotional maturity. I mean, perish the thought this girl gets pregnant!

If this is believable, realistic behavior for a seventeen year-old is debatable because the only seventeen year-old girls I know right now are all book characters who have either survived dystopian conditions or FUBAR families. And I think this is where the book falters a lot. Kate wasn't made into anybody else but the diabetic girl moping about her condition, flirting with the one-armed guy. That even when Aidan/Aiden recognizes Kate's immaturity (and the book relies heavily on that precedent to excuse her behavior), even when it better serves to contrast Kate's growth as a character… I just can't understand or sympathize with her. Even if she's a (not really so) young girl with her whole life ahead of her burdened with the responsibility of proactively keeping herself alive.

That is still asking for far too much from me.

I don't know if it was Kate's terrible character that made Aidan/Aiden the better half of the story. Although I'm wondering, the morning after they had sex, the first thing he does is take a phone photo with Kate, is that a thing now? His struggle in dealing with his disability was described quite vividly and I liked the quiet dignity given his character. But one thing I liked about Something Like Normal is that it gave a bigger focus on the hero's life as a soldier on tour than the actual romance. You get a better picture of where his pain is stemming from. This lacked in that department in that Aidan/Aiden's grief was hazily detailed with not much portrayal of him before he lost his arm which would've given him better depth.

Perhaps I would've enjoyed this book better with a better executed heroine and if the focus wasn't too skewed in favor of Kate's issues. There's so much unexplored depth in the plot, unfortunately wasted on absurd teenage drama… or something.

Also on BookLikes.
ARC provided by Albert Whitman & Co. Publishing thru NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased honest review. Quotes may not appear in the final edition.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

Mini Review:

My belief is that if you want to write an effective story about fatal illnesses, you don't want your story to be too short. I feel that 250 pages is too short for a book that deals with these types of topics as they do call for more detail and emotional build ups. The Summer I Found You held a lot of potential though was failed by the execution. (Read: lack of depth and unlikable narrator.)

I loved the idea of a girl with Type 1 Diabetes and a guy with only one arm coming together--though I knew it was going to be extremely hard to nail down seamlessly. Ever since Kate was diagnosed with diabetes, she feels annoyed at everyone for treating her like a fragile glass doll. Afraid to hurt her, always checking on her because of her diabetes. She's sick of it. She doesn't want to go to the doctor for check ups, she's sick of all the empathetic looks. I liked Kate at the beginning, she seemed like a convincing teen who just wanted her life back. But when she started recording different numbers for her blood pressure onto her notebook for her doctor, my opinion of her flipped. She clearly does not now how fatal diabetes can get without the correct treatment. She thinks if she can fool the doctor and her parents, she'll be able to fool her illness as well. Even when her parents get worried sick, her motives do not change. Kate, darling, use your brain while you still can, diabetes is no joking matter.

The romance was pretty half-hearted as well. I did not feel the chemistry at all, I wanted more of a build up or something that could make it more realistic. I found myself skimming most of the romance parts because it was not the slightest bit fascinating.

Overall, a really dissatisfying novel with poor characters, romance and depth. I wouldn't recommend it.

~Thank you Albert & Whitman for sending me this copy!~

[Grace {Rebel Mommy Book Blog} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
This is my third Jolene Perry book and I have to say I think she is a favorite of mine. I really enjoyed The Summer I Found You and had a hard time putting it down.

Kate is dealing with being broken up with and her Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. Aidan is struggling with losing is his arm in Afghanistan and what to do now that he won't a lifer in the Army. When Aidan's cousin introduces the two they see each other as nothing more than a distraction from the things in their lives. Over time though they grow to be much more than that.

I really like Kate. She wasn't perfect at all and maybe kind of annoying but I still thought that was relatable. She was dealing with a breakup she didn't see coming and a diagnosis she hasn't accepted. While she was super irresponsible with her Diabetes I think it was her just not coming to terms with it and a lot of that has to do with age/maturity level which I can see happening.

Aidan not only had to deal with losing his arm which is huge in itself but the Army was his life plan. He needs to figure out what to do next. One thing that I loved about Aidan was his relationship with his mom. While he has to love with his aunt and uncle he visited his mom a lot and they had such a cute bond.

Kate and Aidan at first were so unsure of each other. Kate blurts out the first thing on her mind all the time which actually seems to be endearing to Aidan. Everyone one is watching what they say or pretending that he doesn't have one arm and I think Kate just talking and asking questions actually makes him a bit more comfortable overall. I liked how the relationship developed and they realized that they actually had feelings for each other and weren't just distractions.

I had two issues with the book though. One, I wish Kate would have just opened up about her diabetes with Aidan. I mean come on, he has gone through a lot her will understand. Two, the book is not set in summer and I don't remember the beach being a thing. That cover and title don't make sense!!! Still, those are totally minor things. I read this super quick and really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the romance.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I've spent the last four hours reading this entire book and wondering a few things:
1. Is it Aidan or Aiden? (Seriously? This is so obvious it's not even Writing 101. It's like Common Sense 101: You should know how to spell your own character's name.)
2. Did this book not have betas? Because it has legitimately the worst grammar and punctuation I've seen in any book, ever. Someone teach Jolene Perry how to use a comma... and apostrophes... and question marks... and proper sentence structure (e.g. "I'm one of the girls who roll her eyes every day they wear their cute little uniforms." This sentence should be either referring to the speaker herself: "I'm one of the girls who rolls her eyes..." or referring to 'the girls' as a group: "I'm one of the girls who roll their eyes..." And I'm not just being picky here; there were so many sentences with such poor wording that I had to read them twice or three times just to figure out what they were trying to say). I realize that what I read was a galley and all of this could be fixed by the time the final version is published, but I sincerely doubt it. Galleys should not have even been sent out with the book in this condition. You know that feeling that you used to get in high school when you had to critique someone else's paper, and all you wanted to do was rewrite every other sentence to make it flow better and actually, you know, follow the rules of the English language? That was how I felt throughout this whole book.
And 3. What is with that cover? It's not relevant to the book at all. Neither, for that matter, is the title. The book does not even take place in the summer. It takes place during the school year, because how else would we have been forced to sit through the *totally* traumatic experience of seeing Kate's ex-boyfriend with his stereotypical new cheerleader girlfriend, or the actually traumatic experience of visualizing Kate lying on the disgusting school bathroom floor, poking herself with a needle? (For a girl who complains about feeling "gross" because she has a disease, she sure didn't seem that horrified to be basically guaranteeing herself an infection of some kind by getting the needle that close to all the bacteria that's definitely partying down there).

These things aside-- though it really is difficult for me to brush off the grammar thing-- the book was okay. The story was not bad, but the execution was. Kate and Aidan/Aiden were both self-absorbed, but what bothers me the most is that Aidan is self-absorbed in a way that makes it seem like he is that way because of how much he ~cares for someone else~ and Kate is self-absorbed in a way that makes you want to slap her. We're supposed to believe that Aidan/Aiden won't go see his sergeant's wife because of how much he thinks he failed him, or her, but in reality he won't go see her because he doesn't want to be reminded of it. Or at least that's what I got out of it. I just-- why attempt to give the male character an excuse for his selfishness, but not the female character? This way it just gives people a reason to blame the girl for the book's failures. People now get to say that she was annoying and whiny and narcissistic (God, what kind of person avoids her problems to the point where she ends up in the hospital? How shallow that she won't consider an insulin tube because of the way it looks! Kate, stop being so horrible and tell him the truth! Stop doing this to your family!), while he was caring and gentle and suffering from his traumatic past (Well, he does think about other people once in a while, so that makes it okay that he doesn't consider that maybe he's not the only person with problems...).

I'm also not entirely sure why this was classified as New Adult, as there wasn't anything any more mature than, say, Twenty Boy Summer or Saving June. Is it because the love interest is-- le gasp-- nineteen? The fragile young readers of YA lit certainly can't handle a nineteen-year-old love interest! He's practically middle-aged!

Sorry, I'm getting into snark territory. I'm just kind of annoyed because this had the potential to be a good novel that brought some diversity to contemporary YA lit (a heroine with diabetes and a hero missing an arm? Two people who aren't physically perfect falling in love? Sure, sign me up), but it was just so poorly executed. I wish the story had been written differently, is all. Disappointing.

[Tori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Visit YA Book Queens for more reviews!

NOTE: I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's extremely difficult for me to review this book for two reasons: one, I enjoyed this, but there were problems, and two, I'm a critical reader, and that plays a huge role in my overall rating of a particular book. On one hand, I had fun reading this book, and it was an enjoyable read, but on the other hand, there were multiple things that annoyed me about The Summer I Found You, making me not want to give it a higher rating than two and a half stars.

The first thing I need to get of my chest: Is Aidan's name spelled Aidan or Aiden? Throughout the book, there were constant mishaps where both spellings of the name were used. This really irritates me. I think an author should know the name that they chose for their character, especially if said character is the first thing mentioned in the acknowledgments at the end of the book. Also, the overall grammar in this book was just downright bad. Not unbearable, but not good. I understand that this is an ARC, but I haven't read an ARC yet with so many grammatical errors as this one.

But even though the grammar was bad and the author couldn't decide what way to spell her love interest's name, I thought the book was fun and easy to read. At the time, I was simply looking for something cute and light, and this book is definitely that. This is where my next problem comes in.

This book isn't supposed to be cute and light. The Summer I Found You is dealing with a wounded veteran who lost a limb and a girl who's suffering from a breakup and diabetes. (Is it just me, but don't you think Aidan's circumstances are just a little bit more severe than Kate's? The only reason diabetes is a big deal for Kate is because she never keeps track of her carb intake, and she doesn't take her shots like she's supposed to! And everyone gets dumped. Kate should get used to that if she's only seventeen.) There are some serious issues being dealt with in this book, I think, and in my opinion, The Summer I Found You just sort of glazed over them.

The characters weren't amazing, but they were normal. They're what one expects from a contemporary novel, to be honest. Kate and Aidan aren't exceptional or anything, but they're entertaining. The thing with those two is that they're okay as separate people, but I don't think they make a good couple. For the first half of the novel, they're both using each other as distractions for the hardships they're enduring in their life. Then they "fall in love," but I think they're still leaning on each other too much. I think that a healthy relationship has balance.

I also think a healthy relationship is based on trust and honesty, but Kate sure doesn't think so, because she doesn't tell Aidan about her diabetes until it's almost too late. Kate and Aidan both struggle with this, but they need to realize that they're not the only ones with problems in their lives. They're a bit selfish like that, and they didn't appeal to me as much as I would've liked them too.

Also, the split POVs weren't working for me. It was better than some novels that I didn't like that had split POVs, but it still wasn't done amazingly. Sometimes I found myself in Kate's POV, wishing I was in Aidan's and vice versa. It should've just been in Kate's or just in Aidan's. (Aidan's, preferably, because he was dealing with a lot, and it would've made a powerful YA novel.)

Lastly, the cover image and the title have nothing to do with the book. For the cover, they never go to a beach. Kate passes out before they get there. For the title, it wasn't even summer in the book. It was during the school year. They thought about summer, but it was never really summer.

In conclusion, Kate and Aidan are rough around the edges as characters, and they didn't work well together as a couple, because they were essentially using each other the entire time even after they thought they fell in love. This book needs a copy editor, because the use of Aidan/Aiden was annoying, and the sentence structure in many of the sentences wasn't great. Overall, this book was enjoyable, and readers who aren't critical will enjoy it for sure.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.

This is a realistic depiction of two teenagers, both with (quite different) disabilities, and the way they connect, and the subsequent effect they have on each others' lives.

The dual narrative style is effective because it is important that we see both points of view, especially when one person is not being as honest with the other as she could be.

Kate's reasons for keeping her diabetes a secret from Aidan (Aiden? That was one part of the novel that annoyed me) may seem immature and ridiculous, however, I think the author did a good job of explaining them in an aged appropriate way.

Both main characters are flawed and very human. It is easy to identify with them, and cheer them on when things look really tough. The romantic elements worked well, and although there is the clear suggestion of sex, nothing is graphic or exploitive. They are nearly 17 & 19 after all.

I really enjoyed reading about this pair. This copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley and was received with thanks. Due out March 1st.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been teetering between rating stars since I read it. There wasn't anything really wrong with it, I just didn't fall in love with the story. I couldn't really get into the characters. This is dual perspective, so we get a good feel of what's going on inside each of their heads.

Kate was diagnosed with diabetes a year prior to the start of this book, and it's been a big adjustment for her. The one person that has been with her through it all has been her boyfriend, Shelton, who promptly breaks up with her on the very first line of the very first chapter. Six weeks before prom (total winner, right?). Kate feels betrayed, Kate feels upset. Kate gets depressed, Kate tries to make him jealous with her best friend, Jen's cousin. Jen's cousin, Aidan, was honorably discharged from the army at only nineteen after losing his right arm from a bomb. What does Aidan think of all this? That Kate is an obnoxious high school girl. I half agree, and half disagree.

She has every right to be hurt about the break up, they were together for a year for crying out loud. But, where she is extremely childish is on her health. She doesn't keep up with her insulin, lies about her numbers, basically deciding that if she pretends she doesn't have diabetes, that it will go away. Smart thinking Kate. She really irritated me with her health. Diabetes isn't something you can just do whatever your childish heart desires. I mean, I understand in a way, that she doesn't want to tell the whole world about her diabetes because she doesn't want everyone's pity, but she acts like diabetes is like the end all, be all cancer that's going to kill her. Yeah, you have to make tough adjustments. Yeah, you have to give yourself insulin shots for the rest of your life. But come on, diabetes? Kate was overdramatic about the entire thing. Too many times, I found myself rolling my eyes and thinking "grow up, Kate."

Aidan was a much, much more interesting character to read about. He didn't join the army because of obligation, or for the benefits, or the money. He joined the army because that was his career. That's what he wanted to do with his life. And now, because of some bomb, he is without his career, and his dominant arm. He's coping with the loss of his arm, with the life he planned out. He's coping with the loss of his dignity and dealing with the guilt of surviving while his superior did not. He has to learn to live again, to drive again, to dress himself, and how to eat, and how to do menial tasks all over again.

The two of them hang out because Kate wants to abandon her responsibilities, and it's not long until they fall for each other. Yeah, they're love story is cute. But, in all honesty, I wasn't swooning at all. It was all so, blah. So boring. They sleep together, and it was so lack luster. Like, that's it??? I didn't feel any depth.

Kate passes out because she didn't give herself enough insulin, and because she refused to let Aidan, whom she slept with, whom she supposedly had feelings for, someone who was supposed to be open with him, that she had diabetes. So she gets hospitalized, and after Aidan finds out what happened, he goes off on her in her hospital room. Rightfully so, in my opinion. Could've avoided it all, Kate.

There were parts of this book that felt so cheesy, so odd. Take when Shelton found her in the hallway and administered her insulin, for example. Like, um, unrealistic much?

This book was short, and lacking. I finished it quick, and forgot about it just as quick. I forgot I read it and forgot to write my review until I looked at my reading challenge. I think the most disappointing thing about this book is that it does not take place in summer. Not even the end of the book is in summer. Prom doesn't even happen in this book. Maybe I'm just picky, but I was kinda hoping that a book with "summer" in the title would actually take place in the summer.

You can read the rest of my review here

[Ai Haibara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating 2.5 stars



This book is actually quite a hard one to write a review for because on one hand, it's not a bad book but I don't particularly like it either because I couldn't connect with the characters and the entire story is just kinda like bland pasta, not terrible enough for you to hate it but also doesn't leave a good impression.

Now lets talk about the characters:

Kate
At the start, I didn't really mind Kate at all. She was your typical YA heroine and I was just like yeah yeah whatever, she's not too bad, I can deal with her. And then I started to see her annoying, selfish side when she doesn't take her medication and argues with her mum and dad when they ground her and take away her car because her health is in danger.

Now I can understand where Kate is coming from. She's been diagnosed with type one diabetes and she just wants to be normal like everyone else so she pretends that she doesn't have it. What I'm frustrated with is that she never ever thinks about the consequences of her actions (such as not taking her medication) and how serious her illness is until Aidan confronts her about it and she's suddenly like oh! My illness is actually serious, I could die! Wow! I'm probably being insensitive about this but it just feels as if she suddenly realised all this and gets her act together only because Aidan found out and was disappointed with her.

Aidan
Aidan was a slightly better character than Kate though in my opinion, still kinda bland.
Aidan lost his right arm when he was in the army and unlike Kate, who wants to pretend everything is normal, Aidan is frustrated with how everyone is treating him like he is normal.
You would think that due to Kate's illness and Aidan's disability that they would help and balance each other out but since Aidan only finds out about Kate's condition at the end of the book, it's mostly just Kate helping Aidan overcoming his issue with his lost arm and even that was just skimming the surface.

I also felt that while Aidan and Kate's attraction to each other was developed decently, it could've been developed further before they realised they had feelings for each other.

Other characters
The secondary characters are all quite flat and one dimensional to me such as the ex-boyfriend Sheldon (that name just reminds me of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory and lets just say it's not good), who is presented as this neat, organised, preppy dude (like it's a bad thing) and apart from Kate telling me how she misses the way he stares at her, I don't even know why she liked him in the first place.

The best friend Jen wasn't developed any further than her basic purpose which was to hook Aidan and Kate together and uh yeah, this is the same with Kate's sister and Aidan's mother where their main purpose is to push those two together.

This is not a terrible book but I don't think it's a memorable one. Comparing this to Something Like Normal, which is also a contemporary love story about a guy who gets discharged from the army, The summer I found you (I never once got the summer vibe) pales in comparison. But yeah, if you're bored, still check this out.

I received this book in return for an honest review via Netgalley.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book. I mean, who wouldn't be when spotting a summery cover when it's like -4 degrees outside? This is a definite seasonal read, I must tell you. And now when looking back at the outcome, I'm very pleased because I did manage to shed some tears of happiness.

First thoughts: DAMN WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE. Jolene Perry has written such a freaking awesome story that got me fanning myself because of the feels. The feels were honestly outrageous. What this book did to me was so different and I wish that there was more buzz. MORE PEOPLE NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS BOOK AND I WILL BE THE PERSON TO DO IT. Jolene Perry is the new Sarah Dessen, except her stories are more from the heart and deal with such tough subjects.

This all begins when Kate's love of her life suddenly breaks up with her on a random day with no explanation why. And then she sees him with a mystery girl, and this obviously breaks her heart. Soon after, Kate meets Aidan, an older guy who lost his arm while fighting in the military. He has lost the job that took his life and made it amazing, but he now guesses that Kate's made it the best ever. But what happens when you have a medical condition such as diabetes and you don't tell the person you love the most?



You better tell them. Kate didn't and well... In the end at the same time, she became a fighter, and stronger than you'd ever expect her to become. Aidan made her stronger. :)

I must admit that I complained of my boredom in the beginning through the middle. The book seemed to have such a huge resemblance to While He Was Away by Karen Schreck and I was all, "Why wasn't this unique?!" but as I continued reading, things happened that made me scream and squeal and fangirl—all of the feels that makes a reading experience even greater.

Aidan was...



SO HOT, LIKE UGH. EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM WAS PERFECT.

-His personality. He was so sweet EEE.
-HIM
-HIM
-HIM
-HIS VOICE

EVERYTHING—DO YOU GET IT? I just don't know how else to describe his perfection because he was there throughout for Kate and they were perfect. NOT A DOUCHEBAG WHATSOEVER.

The concept didn't seem to originally sound like a deep gorgeous romance story. But that's what it turned out to become! The scenes were... interesting and I'm the type who loves picture-perfect romance, so I obviously kept on reading forever and ever until the book was ever. I found myself taking it slow and reading it on my own basis because I was so intrigued. WHY DID AIDAN DO THIS TO ME?!

Picture-perfect romance, AIDAN, AIDAN, a deep story, touching moments, and did I say Aidan—this book was fantastic. I wasn't able to let it go and I still imagine what would happen next because Jolene Perry is one of the best writers of chick-lit fiction that I've read this year. I NEED MORE!

This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

olene Perry is one of those authors where if she writes a book, I must read it, own it, and sniff it. So I was so excited when I finally got my hands on a copy of The Summer I Found You.

At first, I thought the book was going to be a little weird for me. Reading about a guy who lost his arm and a girl with diabetes and their budding romance had me a little on edge. How could a one armed guy possibly be sexy? How was this book going to keep me interested? Well, I didn't even need to ask those questions because they never crossed my mind once I was actually reading the book.

Kate is a terrible girl. She just found out she has a life threatening disease and she can't be responsible enough to take her insulin or eat right. She is setting herself up to die and I can't find it in me to feel sorry for her. Her top priority is worrying about her ex dumping her. Not that fact that she could slip into a diabetic coma at any second.

Aiden is awesome. Aside from the whole PTSD thing. But would you really expect a guy who lost his arm and a good friend to be okay? To me, he seemed pretty good for a guy who went through hell and back. He lost his career, his future, his motivation but he survived, in the end. He is kind, caring and all the things that I don't think Kate deserved at first. But they worked together so well and I am glad they found each other.

I really loved how the book combined such trivial high school things with some very tough choices and lifestyles. On on hand, I can understand Kate just wanting to live a normal life but on the other hand I can't condone her lack of self preservation.

The ending had me worried for a little bit but I am glad it happened the way it did. Kate needed a wake up call and I think Aiden was the only one who was able to do that for her. Which is quite sad considering they hadn't known each other that long. When your FAMILY and FRIENDS cannot convince you to save yourself then you really need to rethink your priorities in life.

Update 6/29/2015 - I have been thinking about this book a lot lately. I adore the author and I love her work so her books are always popping into my head. Last night I was thinking about how I have a few different illnesses but most of them I can hide because they are inside. I feel like Kate thought she could hide her "disability" and get away with it, which technically she could. But it wasn't right of her to do that. Aiden can't hide his disability. I am torn between right and wrong here. I don't normally tell people about my ailments unless they ask or if my one visual ailment is present. Oh the one hand, I completely understand wanting to hide your flaws. But on the other hand, Kate was getting into a relationship with a guy who she could somewhat relate to in terms of disabilities. But she didn't and I can't fathom why. Internal conflict aside, I truly think everyone should read at least one of Jolene Perry's books. They are always deep and beautiful and they have such horrible trials that each character must over some. Her books are very inspiring; I know they inspired me.

Overall, I gave the book 5/5 kitties.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer I Found You follows through the eyes of 17 year old Kate, who has just been dumped by her boyfriend of over a year Shelton. Kate is upset, and doesn’t know what to do. On top of going through the breakup she is still struggling with her Type 1 Diabetes, her family is worried about her since she is not taking it seriously, and she just wants it to go away.

The Summer I Found You also follows the eyes of 19 year old Aiden. Aiden has just come back from Afghanistan, after losing his right arm, and his friend Pilot. He’s having nightmares, sweating in his sleep, and has no idea what to do with his life now.

These two will come together in a romance, but do they really have something, or are they both just using each other as a distraction from the chaos of their lives.

Jolene Perry is an author I have loved for along time, I have read 4 of her novels now and plan on reading many more. She is one of my favorite contemporary writers if it be YA novels or NA novels. Her novels are always so realistic, so heart breaking and warming, and she writes some great romance. Anyone that enjoys contemporary romance I highly suggest checking out her books, I have loved all 4 of her novels I have read! (Night Sky, Knee Deep, Falling, and The Summer I Found You)

This was such a splendid read! I completely devoured this book Monday morning, it’s a short book (240 pages) so it didn’t take me too long finish. Even though this book was shorter I could not believe how well I felt I knew the characters by the end of it.

Kate and Aiden were both character that were so easy to love, and feel sorry for everything they were going through at such a young age. Even though both of them were going through so much I still felt they handled everything very well. Besides Kate and Aiden, Kate’s parents were both characters that were very likable, along with Kate’s best friend Jen who is the complete opposite of her.

Overall I just adored this book. There was romance, heart break, grief, struggle, friendship, family, everything that makes up an amazing heartwarming contemporary novel. For anyone not ready for the chilly weather that is going to hit Washington, and want a sweet contemporary novel, then I highly recommend The Summer I Found You.

[Cassie Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing about Jolene's characters is there authenticity. Kate is seventeen. Aidan is nineteen. And they act like 17 and 19 year olds. Exactly.



Kate deals with diabetes, as said in the blurb, but she doesn't really deal with it. She ignores it...pretends it doesn't exist and doesn't take it seriously. It's sad and frustrating to read, but it's something I could 100% relate to. When something happens in our lives that is so devastating, or it changes the course of our futures, and it's something we refuse to accept, our minds won't allow us to see the severity of the situation. It happens all the time. Denial is a stage of grief, and who knows how long people stay in that stage. For Kate, she doesn't want to live with her disease. She doesn't want to deal with it forever. Her brain refuses to accept this is how life will be for her now. And I get it. I get HER. I want it not to be her life either. I wish ignoring things would make things go away. But they don't, and this book is a hard dose of reality with that.



Aidan's life changes as well, not only very physically, but the emotional toll war has on a soldier I can't even comprehend. These two connected with each other far deeper than either of them realized. They both said it was on the surface...attraction, distraction... but what Jolene has done so amazingly well is sneak in the underlining chemistry, the deep feelings that even the characters don't realize is happening until it hits them hard. And the message in not only the love story but in the character development itself whispers to the reader, "Life is hard, but how you handle it either makes it harder or easier."



The things these characters deal with are forever things. They won't go away if they're ignored. And the strength from the two young characters, the arc of their story, was beautifully written. Brought to light things in my own life, and when a book can do that for me, I find that a very humbling gift.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-stars?

So, this book is called, "The Summer I Found You." However, summer doesn't even happen in the book--it's all set in the spring. I kept waiting for it to be summer. I absolutely cannot fathom that no one in the editorial process thought that maybe it was not such a great idea to have such a disconnect between the title and actual book.

My comments are taken from an ARC, which had a lot of spelling inconsistencies (Aiden or Aidan???) and grammatical-type things that I hope were corrected before publication--I don't think I've read a review copy that is so not ready for prime-time. There were also some inconsistencies regarding Aiden/Aidan's loss of his arm (ie, he clinches his fists, and some wonkiness with how he could read certain things, like the right and left were reversed in the scene).

Anyway... I did like the romance between Kate and Aiden/Aidan quite a bit, it was sweet and made sense for the characters' ages. (I see that a lot of people call this "new adult," but it reads as YA to me.)

However, I had a ton of issues with the way Kate's relationship with her parents was developed, and the downright unethical approach her doctor father had in terms of Kate's healthcare. They attend all of her doctor appointments and basically disempower her in terms of managing her diabetes, and yet there are no consequences for their actions. Reading this really drove home how well some authors write from a teen point of view, because this was clearly an adult perspective and had an undertone that Kate should have listened to her parents (when I believe they were to blame for her mismanagement of her disease). Kate does become somewhat empowered in her own medical decisions in the end, but this whole element was very troubling for me.

I also wish Aiden/Aidan's character's experience in Afghanistan had been explored more, particularly his relationship with his friends from the military.

I know it sounds like I'm kicking the crap out of this book, and I don't intend for it to. It's very readable and well-paced and, like I said, the romance is very well-done. The other elements, however, didn't work for me.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would've gotten at least 4 stars from me if it wasn't for the terrible editing (this was an arc copy so I'm not sure what it's like in the finished copy). I didn't really want to start on a negative note, but it seems that Perry couldn't decide if she liked the spelling Aidan or Aiden better. And then there were quite a few grammatical errors and moments where she referred to Aidan's hands instead of the singular hand. To add to that, I really don't get the relevance of the title or the book cover. The book was set during the school year and never mentioned it being summer. And I am pretty sure they never went to the beach... I think they anticipated going to the beach but didn't actually go.

Ignoring all of that, I really enjoyed this book. The story was a wonderful idea! There are very few young adult books that take on these issues. Although I have read at least one YA book about a veteran, I don't think I've come across a diabetic character before. Despite these issues, I didn't find it to be a soul wrenching, heartbreaking book unlike many other YA/NA books, which in my opinion is a good thing. I really wasn't in the mood for anything too heavy.

As for the characters, Kate and Aidan, I liked them. The book was written in dual POV, so I began to feel a connection with both of them. I admit that their love didn't exactly set my heart on fire, but they were cute. I don't 100% understand why Aidan was that worried about their age gap which was only two years. And some of the actions made irritated me a little, but I could understand where they were coming from and why they made those decisions. I actually think I liked the book more for what they were dealing with personally than their relationship. You know what else I liked? They didn't have a poisonous relationship. It wasn't one of those books about two damaged people who learn to lean only on each other and never deal with their own problems. Yes they start hanging out to distract themselves from what was happening in their lives, but they dealt with their own issues.

I really did like this book and I can only hope that the unfortunately very frequent errors aren't in the finished copy.

[Zemira Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about the book which doesn't have a correct information the blurb? Aidan was not in Iraq but in Afghanistan. If I did make a mistake, please feel free to correct me.

Based on the cover and title you would say it's about a summer romance between two wounded souls. Well, that's not completely correct. The characters are in fact going to school and there is no summer in this book (except for the title). And the cover is a fail cause it doesn't match the book, at all. Don't get me wrong, I like the colors and the picture itself it just doesn't batch with anything I read.

Kate's still hung up on her preppy ex when she meets Aiden, a nineteen year-old 'veteran'. Together they try to use each other to forget their problems. Kate's struggling with type 1 diabetes and Aidan losing his right arm and PTSD. Thrown in there's some family drama I won't bore you with. Nothing significant.

Can't say I was disappointed with TSIFY. That would mean having some expectations. This is the second J.Perry book I read and I think it will be the last. It just wasn't for me. I didn't think it was raw enough for me consider the heavy themes in the book. It was too light for my taste.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I thought the idea was great. Girl with diabetes is struggling after being diagnosed and going through a breakup when she meets a guy who lost a limb while fighting overseas. Guy turns out to be a genuinely nice guy but she doesn't tell him about the diabetes because they just met and she doesn't know when the timing is right. So far so good.

And then....we do a 180 and are all of a sudden finding the girl in the hospital because she took her insulin before eating on one of their dates and the guy freaks out after taking her to the hospital and realizing she never told him about her diabetes, and for some reason, everyone apparently feels that they have the right to be pissed off at her for that. What??

I almost gave this book a two-star rating because as someone who has had type 1 diabetes for 15 years, I can honestly say it's not a very fair or realistic interpretation of life with this condition (I hate the word disease). I just want to make something clear. When you have diabetes, taking your medicine and eating right DO NOT guarantee good blood sugars. It appears that not only the author, but quite a few reviewers do not seem to understand this concept. I was INFURIATED that there are parts of this book in which the diabetic character is actually treated like she's being irresponsible because her blood sugars are not perfect or for not telling people. Are diabetics just supposed to go out into the world screaming "I HAVE DIABETES. I MIGHT DIE IF I EAT A COOKIE." Please.

I am LIVID that people who have reviewed this book actually had the audacity to ask "if you have supportive parents and take your medicine, how hard can it be to live with diabetes?"

I'm so glad you asked. Here's a basic rundown.

• When I was a child, my friends would tell me that their parents didn't want them to invite me to their birthday parties because they didn't want to have to deal with what I could and could not eat.

• In middle school, I was made fun of for having to go to the bathroom to take shots after lunch.

• When I was in 8th grade, a diabetic 6th grader (A SIXTH GRADER) killed himself because his classmates made fun of him for having to pack his own lunch because what the school board mandated cafeteria served wasn't even close to healthy.

• I have a very hard time finding clothing that conceals my insulin pump and does not make me feel self-conscious about it.

• I have people ask me why I'm wearing a beeper on a weekly basis.

• I have anxiety about passing out at the wheel even when my blood sugars are doing great.

• If I had a dollar for every time someone found out about my diabetes told me they knew exactly what I was going through because their grandmother, uncle, cousin, cousin's first wife's husband's daughter's friend had it, I would be able to buy a mansion.

• If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I could eat that, I could retire today.

• If I am sad, upset, angry, lonely, or scared, my blood sugar will not be perfect.

• I can eat lettuce all day, and that does not mean my blood sugar will be perfect.

• Two things diabetics cannot eat: poison, and cookies with poison. Are you paying attention, because this one is really important.

• I do not have diabetes because I sat around eating Oreos my entire life.

• I am not skinny, but I am not overweight. My weight has nothing, I repeat NOTHING do to with the fact that I have diabetes. Please see below.

• There is more than one type of diabetes. Please educate yourself on all of the above before making rude or ignorant comments.

• I can eat sugar.

• No, really. Fruit has sugar people.

• If you have to ask me if I can eat something because I have diabetes, chances are no one should be eating it, because diabetics aren't the only people who should watch what they eat if they don't want to die of heart disease and high cholesterol.

• DID I MENTION I SPEND HALF MY LIFE STABBING MYSELF WITH NEEDLES?

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I just can't help but notice what a stark contrast there was between these two characters. There's the wounded and broody veteran that we are obviously supposed to have compassion for. He doesn't like speaking about what happened (understandable) and he doesn't let people in easily. Then we have the teenage girl who was diagnosed with a disease and is having a hard time feeling "normal" again because of her medical condition. But god forbid she not tell anyone about what she's been going through. For some reason, the tone of this book seemed to be this:

• Being pregnant is a very hard thing to deal with. Throwing up is much worse than giving yourself injections multiple times a day. And it's especially worse when your husband isn't happy about it.

• A veteran who loses a limb while fighting for his country is a very sad thing, and living with one harm is unimaginably hard and difficult. (This one I agree with.)

• Having diabetes is not a hard or sad thing. If you eat healthy and take medicine, you will never have problems ever. If you don't have perfect blood sugars, you are irresponsible. Furthermore, my body works on autopilot, and yours does not, and yet I seem to feel that you are making yourself a victim by having a hard time dealing with that, and I know exactly what you're going through because my grandma and my cousin's ex-girlfriend's sister had it.

Excuse my language, but that is bullshit. Please do not read this book if you want to know what it's actually like to have diabetes.

*sigh* Rant over.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! 5 stars, it just flew by! I loved the characters, their honestly, Aidan's openness, Kate's bluntness, and the way they just connected. This was such a cute but hard-hitting story about two people dealing with very different issues and ways of life, but that they still couldn't help their feelings. I can't wait for a relationship like theirs hopefully one day.
I just loved Aidan. His desperation at a certain part of the story, I just needed to read faster to find out what was going on, and yet I had tears streaming down my face so I could hardly see the words. I got so immersed in this story, it was exactly what I needed amongst all of my fantasy reads. I felt for Aidan so much in this story, will be reading more Perry in the future for sure.

[♥ Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

( actual rating: 2.5 stars )

*I received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

AT FIRST GLANCE:

The cover & title were partially misleading. The story does not actually take place in the summer, but perhaps “summer” was meant to be a metaphor? (I could be reaching here.) Though I’ve never known summer to represent rebirth or growth, that’s kind of how I chose to take it with this book. Whenever I think of summer, I think: endless possibilities, lazy-easy days, breezy nights, no worries, warmth, growing up. In many ways, both Kate and Aiden end up being that perfect version of summer for each other.
This isn’t your typical beach read. The subject matter is heavy, but unique.

THE WHOLE NINE:
Enter 19 year old Aidan, who comes back home from Afghanistan without his right arm. And yet:

"Aidan walks like Aidan wants to walk. Like Aidan wants to dress. No pretension."

He was a surprising breath of fresh air. The DUAL POVs really worked here, though I wouldn’t have minded if Aidan narrated the whole story. No matter what anyone says, I liked him. His thought process might not have been “realistic” but I’ve never lost an arm, so who am I to say what would be realistic or not?

The fact that he was obsessing over Kate and doing silly, normal, 19 year old guy things didn’t make me feel like I was losing out on a “deep” character with so much potential. It felt right, somehow. Like, it was essential for him to go through his normal guy phase in order to deal with his disability. To move on. And just breathe.

"I kiss her back, but this time our kiss is deep enough that the electricity flies through my body sending tingles to my toes, fingertips, every piece, every part."

Then there’s Kate.

"Kate screams, but it’s followed by a laugh, and I realize he’s driving with a one-armed guy, through a narrow canyon, shifting without question."

She wasn’t without flaws, but I liked how she had no filter. She said what she thought; acted like how she felt, and really represented a unique type of character not often seen in YA contemporary romances.

And this is the part of the review where I get critical.

The thing about this story was that (I felt) it tried to be too many things at once. First, this book definitely was not “new adult.” Though the subject matter may hint otherwise, it was totally YA through & through. If the characters were older, the story would have (and should have) been completely different.

Second, the romance/disability mix wasn’t as hard-hitting or gut wrenching as I’d expected. I kind of wish the story either focused more on the romance (without the disability factor), or just more on the disability (with a darker romance). I feel like the story was all HIGHS and the LOWS weren’t as low as it could’ve gone. It was really a lighthearted read for such a heavy subject matter.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
In short, this was a very quick, engaging, unique read. I never sought out reading YA contemporary romances featuring main characters w/ disabilities, but Aidan & Kate’s character was at the very least – memorable.

The dual POVs worked. But the chemistry was weak, and mostly the on-the-surface-type; their “bond” could’ve been fleshed out more. Their need for each other, their understanding, and their connection, felt like a physical thing, rather than something deeper and more meaningful.

If this story centered on an older couple, it would’ve been much darker and more my cup of tea. Don’t expect all-out-feels, emotional turmoil, angst, mental breakdowns, hot-and-cold bantering, witty dialogue, and piping hot chemistry. There was too much going on for any one thing to truly stand out and impress.

Loved the idea behind the story, not so much the execution; could have been so much better.

[Alyson {Error Nebula} · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look at the cover. Look at the title. Look at description.
This book sounds like the perfect romantic read?
Not necessary.

Kate and Aidan are both tragedy victims- she has a high-level diabetes, he lost an arm, and a friend.
Each is searching their escape from the situation, until they understand that there's no escape from reality.

At first, I though that Kate breaking up with Sheldon was something to increase the loneliness in her heart. I didn't feel like she really was concerned about the breakup, but was more inforced in slut-shaming his new girlfriend.


I find slut-shaming (calling a girl a slut and giving her stereotypes by how she looks) very insulting and a bad trait that I wish heroines in the YA fiction didn't have so often. It's like making your main character racist (which is taboo in our time), and judge a person by their skin color. Of course, slut shaming can be also seen a way of bullying in school and young people actually suffer from how society sees them. I don't say that every girl needs to dress provocative and everybody be okay with that, but some girls feel confident about their body, which is not always a bad thing.

After being introduced to Kate and her best friend Jen (which I was rolling my eyes at, because she was there all the time just to be the-best-friend-who-knows-everything-but-has-no-personality), we meet Aidan.

At the beginning I though, "oh, so now we have another lost soul... wow." But I was surprised how well his pain was expressed! How he lost his arm during battle, how he watched his friend die and how he needs now to live with invalidity and grief.
 

And actually, the first time they met felt like a really natural way to know new people: having mutual friends/family members. I actually though it was charming how Kate was all goofy around Aidan, and they found someone who listened to them, like they were made for each other.


The romance in the rest of the book wasn't strong and all the minor characters were so supporting with this pairing. Not even one person opposed that relationship, which looked really unrealistic to me.

Talking about the main characters, I wish they had a stronger role in this book, but I can't get everything.


Overall, I think I would enjoy The Summer I Found You more if it had a stronger build romance, bold characters and a bit more focus on the tragedies. This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best.

[Courtney LaSalle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ★☆
The Summer I Found You
Jolene Perry
Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I think this is a good Ya novel. Could use a few revisions, editing being a major one. This is an ARC copy so I hope the Author is going to fix the editing issues. Grammar, punctuation, run ons, and so forth. The biggest editing issue I saw was with the Heros name Aidan/Aiden. Yes that editing error bugged me more than anything. He is our hero the main guy the author/editor should know how to spell his name of all people...


I didn't dislike the novel I just felt it to be very vague and superficial, but then again I remember this a YA novel. I think im more jsut saying this book didnt have depth that I was looking for and I can see that it being a ya novel thats a little more ok because they are meant to be fun and breezy hmm more of a light read. (I think I requested this in the NA section but im just going to say they had a filing issue and its YA.) If this was a NA novel I def would have expected the author to explore deeper into both of the characters experiences. I yearned for more information on Aiden/Aidens experiences overseas. I felt the author really stayed on surface with this topic.

I Also REALLY wish the author would have gone deeper with the juvenile Diabetes as well. Especially since more and more children and teens are being diagnosed with this disease. I felt this book hit some major ballsy topics but again it only skimmed the surface and I am not satisfied with that.

I like many others do not understand the title of this novel. It doesnt work with the book. Neither does this cover art. I was expecting amazing summer things from the cover/title. Again I think for a young reader this book is good, but it is not for me!

Merged review:

Summer I found You 2.5 ★☆The Summer I Found YouJolene PerryNetgalley in exchange for an honest reviewI think this is a good Ya novel. Could use a few revisions, editing being a major one. This is an ARC copy so I hope the Author is going to fix the editing issues. Grammar, punctuation, run ons, and so forth. The biggest editing issue I saw was with the Heros name Aidan/Aiden. Yes that editing error bugged me more than anything. He is our hero the main guy the author/editor should know how to spell his name of all people...I didn't dislike the novel I just felt it to be very vague and superficial, but then again I remember this a YA novel. I think im more jsut saying this book didnt have depth that I was looking for and I can see that it being a ya novel thats a little more ok because they are meant to be fun and breezy hmm more of a light read. (I think I requested this in the NA section but im just going to say they had a filing issue and its YA.) If this was a NA novel I def would have expected the author to explore deeper into both of the characters experiences. I yearned for more information on Aiden/Aidens experiences overseas. I felt the author really stayed on surface with this topic.I Also REALLY wish the author would have gone deeper with the juvenile Diabetes as well. Especially since more and more children and teens are being diagnosed with this disease. I felt this book hit some major ballsy topics but again it only skimmed the surface and I am not satisfied with that.I like many others do not understand the title of this novel. It doesnt work with the book. Neither does this cover art. I was expecting amazing summer things from the cover/title. Again I think for a young reader this book is good, but it is not for me!

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC for Honest Review from Albert Whitman Teen via NetGalley

Well it has been awhile since I read a Jolene Perry book and I am so glad I was able to read this because it reminded me of why I love her books so much. Jolene is able to get to the heart of the matter and picks emotional topics to deal with.



In this book we have Kate who is dealing with her diagnosis of Diabetes and how to live with it while at the same time getting dumped by her perfect boyfriend.

As she is dealing with the break up she meets her best friend's cousin Aidan who is home from war after he loses his arm and career. Aidan feels lost as he's trying to find his way in life with his future as well as his new look in life with only one arm.

As Aidan and Kate befriend each other they find out they need each other so much more. For the first time Kate feels normal with Aidan not knowing about her Diabetes. For Aidan, Kate is a breath of fresh air with her lack of filter when she talks which makes him feel at ease with his loss of arm. For the the first time he feels normal and wants so much more.



Kate and Aidan learn a lot from each other but with this emotional relationship comes hardships and reality but even though they're young they learn from each other and learn to lean on one another and become strong as individuals as well as a couple.

Jolene has such a gift at getting to the emotions of her characters right away without all the other bullshit to filter through. I love the story lines she conquers and this YA story has heart, hope, hardships and love.


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[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wow. I just had sex with Aidan Connelly. Talk about best distraction ever."


(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company and Netgalley.)
17-year-old Kate is not impressed when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Okay she wasn’t expecting them to get married, but he could have waited ‘til after prom!
19-year-old Aidan had his arm blown off whilst in the army, and is now living with his auntie and uncle until he can manage on his own.
Aidan’s cousin sets him up with Kate, but he’s not ready for a relationship yet. Is he?
Are Kate and Aidan just what each other needs? And can both come to terms with their health issues?


This was a really sweet contemporary romance, with a couple of heart-poundingly good steamy moments!

I liked Kate, although I thought she was pretty irresponsible with regards to her diabetes. She just didn’t seem to take into consideration how dangerous it was letting her blood sugar go really high or really low, and made some really stupid decisions, like writing the wrong numbers down in her log of her blood sugars. I also thought she was really irresponsible to not tell people that she had diabetes, as it made it really difficult for people to help her when she couldn’t help herself.
I liked Aidan and thought that he actually coped quite well with the loss of his arm. I was really happy for him that he found Kate though, as it seemed like he really needed someone like her in his life to support him emotionally.

The storyline in this was pretty good. I liked how both Kate and Aidan had their problems, but coped with them in quite different ways, and I liked how they both struggled to know what to do with their lives.
This book was full of romance though, and Aidan and Kate were so sweet together! We got a massively steamy scene in there that was just heart-poundingly good, and I really couldn’t get enough of this pair! This book kept me up so late, because I really couldn’t wait to find out what happened next!
The ending to this was good, and I liked where it left us. I really loved Kate and Aidan though so it was sad to see the end of this book.
Overall; really good NA contemporary romance.
8 out of 10.

[Kim at Divergent Gryffindor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an eARC copy of this novel!

Before reading this book, I didn't think that I would like it as much as I did. To me, this was just an ordinary romance novel that I would go through, but boy was I wrong! This novel made me feel the feels, and that's what great romance novels are made of.

This novel revolves around Kate and Aiden's story - how they both used each other for escapes at first, and how their relationship slowly blossomed more than that to friendship, then eventually to love. The romance in this novel is really great and I love how Jolene Perry wrote it and the whole novel. The pacing was okay, and so is the flow of the story. This book, along with Stir Me Up, just made me addicted and drawn to marine romance novels out there, so if you know any good ones, feel free to recommend them to me! *winks*

There was one thing though. Or actually there are two. The first is that, I don't get the title of this book. It says "The Summer I Found You", but they didn't meet each other in the summer, I think? (Correct me if I'm wrong on this one, please.) The second one is that, I don't get why Kate's diabetes was that big of a deal. I know two people who have diabetes, and it's not really that dramatic.

These are the points that prevent me from giving this book a full five stars, but aside from that , I really liked the story, so I'm giving it four stars! I hope you guys will give this book a chance despite all the negative reviews, because I truly enjoyed reading this one! :)

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the full review on my blog.

Like all good YA contemporary, this story has a perfectly balanced mix of self-discovery and romance, and combined with its likeable characters and interesting story-line, The Summer I Found You is a great story all around. In a genre that can get too heavy as well as too light, this novel fits into the class of funny but still thought-provoking, which is exactly what I look for in contemporary YA. As a teenager, it was easy to relate to the characters’ struggles with who they are and what they want to do in the daunting future. Sometimes, it can take one moment or one person to put you on the path that’s for you, and this novel captures that essence wonderfully. Denial and acceptance is another major theme. The lucid, straightforward prose is complimented by Kate and Aidan’s characters – not only are they immensely likeable and great narrators, but they are also markedly human, and that’s perhaps what makes them such good characters. The story’s plot is equal parts heartbreaking and humorous, stitched together with the author’s excellent writing. I think Jolene Perry is an author to watch, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of her books.

I received this book as a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick, romantic read that will just warm your heart. Also, the cover is beautiful.

The story revolves around Kate, a senior in high school who was dumped by her boyfriend, and Aiden, a recently discharged military soldier. Both are dealing with their own personal issues while trying to navigate through life as anyone else would. They also have to come to terms with the fact that even though they are opposites, they just might be falling for each other.

I enjoyed how realistic the book was with the reality of what soldiers have to deal with upon their return with both physical and emotional wounds. Also, it showed the severity of Kate's diabetes and how deadly it can be if its taken lightly.

I will be recommending this book to a lot of people and will be picking up a physical copy when it becomes available.

[Kelley Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this puppy in two days. If I didn't need sleep, it would have been one.

Kate and Aiden were perfectly imperfect characters. Everything about them felt real, and the issues they deal with were very well portrayed. I liked how Kate is the one who is afraid to be honest and open (usually, let's face it, it's the guy.) While she's the super talkative young lady, she still holds on to her deepest secrets because she has the ability to hide them. Aiden doesn't. I liked that even though Aiden's condition seems a lot more life altering, it was Aiden teaching/forcing Kate to understand and take control of her situation.

Loved these characters, loved their story.

[booknuts_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really hoping to like this book but in the end I just couldn't get into it. The characters seemed more of complainers more than anything Kate bothered me and I kept rolling my eyes and wanted to slap her. How hard is it to live with diabetes with a healthy diet and good parents who care about you. Yeah she bothered me big time.

The romance was a disappointment for me. Kate seemed to fall for Aiden really quickly and get over her ex even more quickly then I thought. This book was just got for me.

[Hailey Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I didn’t love it. It was fun to remember the beginnings of a high school romance but I didn’t like how fast they progressed. I appreciated the character development in the sense they had things to overcome and work through. But I didn’t love how the author painted diabetes. I was hoping for more of a Purple Hearts story and it fell a little flat.

[Mummy Cat Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book centers around a return soldier who is bitter from loosing an arm and a young lady who struggles with her health.

Content: strong language and sex scene.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars. It was a sweet YA book about a 19 year old veteran who lost his arm and a 17 year old girl who is diabetic. They both fall in love and learn how to deal with their health, limitations, and future.