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The Unsaid Summer
In 90s California there is no hotter star in pop culture than Brad Pitt.
And Bradley Pitt—a Filipino-American teen who shares the star’s name while growing up in Los Angeles—could not feel more different from the handsome actor that exudes confidence and charisma, which are two qualities Bradley is sure he lacks.
As Bradley deals with the complex emotions of life, his therapist instructs him to write letters to his best friend, Sammie. Through these letters, Bradley unveils all that happened the summer that his whole world was changed.
How far out of Bradley’s comfort zone was he willing to step? What did he do when he realized who he truly loved, but maybe a moment too late? And when it all came down to what hadn’t been said that summer, did Bradley take the easy path or was he too afraid to face the fear of rejection?
The Unsaid Summer is a bittersweet, literary, coming-of-age story permeated with Bradley’s raw sense of longing for acceptance from the girl he has a crush on, acceptance from his parents, and mostly—as a young man that often feels as though he doesn’t fit amongst his peers and in society—acceptance from himself.
With a cast of remarkably crafted, wonderfully diverse, and memorable characters, The Unsaid Summer takes readers on a nostalgic ride of love, self-discovery, and heartache as the reader learns all that Bradley left unsaid that summer.
And Bradley Pitt—a Filipino-American teen who shares the star’s name while growing up in Los Angeles—could not feel more different from the handsome actor that exudes confidence and charisma, which are two qualities Bradley is sure he lacks.
As Bradley deals with the complex emotions of life, his therapist instructs him to write letters to his best friend, Sammie. Through these letters, Bradley unveils all that happened the summer that his whole world was changed.
How far out of Bradley’s comfort zone was he willing to step? What did he do when he realized who he truly loved, but maybe a moment too late? And when it all came down to what hadn’t been said that summer, did Bradley take the easy path or was he too afraid to face the fear of rejection?
The Unsaid Summer is a bittersweet, literary, coming-of-age story permeated with Bradley’s raw sense of longing for acceptance from the girl he has a crush on, acceptance from his parents, and mostly—as a young man that often feels as though he doesn’t fit amongst his peers and in society—acceptance from himself.
With a cast of remarkably crafted, wonderfully diverse, and memorable characters, The Unsaid Summer takes readers on a nostalgic ride of love, self-discovery, and heartache as the reader learns all that Bradley left unsaid that summer.
359 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2023
9 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 1, 2023
First off, I absolutely loved the feel of the book. Texture is a big thing for me and the cover is amazing. The font and lettering is really beautiful work. It is also the perfect size book to take with you. The cover is gorgeous and so eye catching. I love the letter format of the book. It makes it feel so personal. This book touches on so many important topics facing our kids today. Mental health, inter-race identity (having a child that is mixed race poses a new dynamic for me that I haven’t experienced before), and just learning how to communicate and come into your own voice. I highly recommend this book for any teen and beyond. This story will impact so many people as there is a character for everyone to relate too. Well done!!!
November 2, 2023
Josef Lemoine’s debut, set in the 1990’s, stands with the great Coming-of-Age stories of all-time. Throughout the novel, Lemoine equalizes the fun and pain in Bradley Pitt’s life masterfully, and when that final sentence of his story hit, and after a bout of reflection, I made plans for a re-read.
Like my middle school must-reads (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, and THE OUTSIDERS), THE UNSAID SUMMER is the book I needed most in high school (and beyond). An absolute must-read that would have prevented years of self-doubt and missed opportunity, while educating me about biracial identity and the Filipino-American experience. And Lemoine’s use of epistolary form adds an even greater layer of intimacy to Bradley’s story, one that made the novel even more irresistible as the story progressed.
From experience, I refrain from judging a book by its cover, but like the story, the characters in the book are as vibrant as the book’s cover. I developed a deep connection to Bradley with each page, as he encountered those primal emotions that make us human: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, and surprise. And my experience became even more rich as a wild array of friends (old and new) and family entered and re-entered Bradley’s story, most of them pushing him to his innermost and outermost limits. I saw great chunks of my teenage self in Bradley as his fear of rejection pervaded all aspects of his life. Saw vivid pieces of my family, friends, and classmates in each character. And like my intro to Yoda on my first watch of STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, I couldn’t peel myself away from each word spoken by the novel’s most riveting character: Dresden. The wise, older friend I needed more than any in high school (and beyond).
For me, THE UNSAID SUMMER ranks among the great Coming-of-Age stories of the last several decades. In literature and film. Like those stories, the novel is driven by an exciting, vulnerable voice that forced me to reflect and meditate on every event until the story’s final moments. And the bittersweet, uplifting feeling I had while flipping that last page still lingers.
Like my middle school must-reads (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, and THE OUTSIDERS), THE UNSAID SUMMER is the book I needed most in high school (and beyond). An absolute must-read that would have prevented years of self-doubt and missed opportunity, while educating me about biracial identity and the Filipino-American experience. And Lemoine’s use of epistolary form adds an even greater layer of intimacy to Bradley’s story, one that made the novel even more irresistible as the story progressed.
From experience, I refrain from judging a book by its cover, but like the story, the characters in the book are as vibrant as the book’s cover. I developed a deep connection to Bradley with each page, as he encountered those primal emotions that make us human: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, and surprise. And my experience became even more rich as a wild array of friends (old and new) and family entered and re-entered Bradley’s story, most of them pushing him to his innermost and outermost limits. I saw great chunks of my teenage self in Bradley as his fear of rejection pervaded all aspects of his life. Saw vivid pieces of my family, friends, and classmates in each character. And like my intro to Yoda on my first watch of STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, I couldn’t peel myself away from each word spoken by the novel’s most riveting character: Dresden. The wise, older friend I needed more than any in high school (and beyond).
For me, THE UNSAID SUMMER ranks among the great Coming-of-Age stories of the last several decades. In literature and film. Like those stories, the novel is driven by an exciting, vulnerable voice that forced me to reflect and meditate on every event until the story’s final moments. And the bittersweet, uplifting feeling I had while flipping that last page still lingers.
November 2, 2023
This is the kind of book I couldn't put down and lost sleep over. In a really good way.
It’s a coming-of-age love story set in Southern California in the 90s that refreshingly celebrates the Filipino-American culture and experience, yet masterfully breaks down walls and speaks to everyone.
The novel is extremely well-written and the author is clearly gifted at storytelling. He writes richly and illustratively, but also has a clever way with words. The result is a story that is the kind of messy, real, and raw that is utter perfection. Perfection that it was equal parts sad and joyful, and I swear, you’ll find yourself laughing and crying like I did.
I saw myself in this story and in the characters and it felt exactly like *my* life and *my* love story, like it was written just for me. Trust me — you will be invested in Bradley and Sammie (the main characters) and by the end, care very deeply about them. And while there won't be any spoilers here, the story stays with you well after the ending, leaving you wanting more.
It’s a coming-of-age love story set in Southern California in the 90s that refreshingly celebrates the Filipino-American culture and experience, yet masterfully breaks down walls and speaks to everyone.
The novel is extremely well-written and the author is clearly gifted at storytelling. He writes richly and illustratively, but also has a clever way with words. The result is a story that is the kind of messy, real, and raw that is utter perfection. Perfection that it was equal parts sad and joyful, and I swear, you’ll find yourself laughing and crying like I did.
I saw myself in this story and in the characters and it felt exactly like *my* life and *my* love story, like it was written just for me. Trust me — you will be invested in Bradley and Sammie (the main characters) and by the end, care very deeply about them. And while there won't be any spoilers here, the story stays with you well after the ending, leaving you wanting more.
November 13, 2023
This took me a long time to read.
Not sure why. I feel The Unsaid Summer was just to long or at least to wordy. The ending left me wondering. Shaking my head. It's a good story tho.
Not sure why. I feel The Unsaid Summer was just to long or at least to wordy. The ending left me wondering. Shaking my head. It's a good story tho.
August 7, 2024
Wow! A great story with wonderful insights into a culture I had no knowledge of.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews