Karen Swan belongs to my auto - buy authors. Since I've discovered her book, I make sure to read all of her new releases, and so when I heard that "Summer at Tiffany's" is out in July, it was like Christmas coming earlier this time. I know it is a sequel to "Christmas at Tiffany's", which I - sadly - haven't read yet, although I started it, hoping to be able to read it before "Summer", unfortunately mission is not completed, didn't have enough time, but "Summer at Tiffany's" can be absolutely read as a stand - alone novel. There is enough information about the past and flashbacks that make us feel comfortable and give us retrospection and explain events or why the characters feel or act the way they are.
Karen Swan has thrown me right to the heart of the story, I truly felt as if I knew the characters - and they were all incredibly well written and developed. They were not flawless, they made mistakes and they also made me feel desperate from time to time, but this is what I call a true character. Cassie was great and I'd like to have her by my side as a friend, I think, even though there were moments that she really behaved as if she didn't know what it is that she wants in life, that she wasn't capable of making up her mind, of taking the easiest decision, and as much as Henry annoyed me (in a moment, in a moment!), she was old enough to cut herself off her past and look forward to the future.
Henry, yes. I had some issues with our handsome explorer Henry. Well, to be honest, I didn't feel any connection between him and me, I couldn't warm to him, I'd like him to be more developed, to be a little deeper. I felt as if he was absent from the book, as if we were reading about someone who has never entered the scenes. He was irritating with his ever changing moods, with putting a gun to Cassie's head and leaving for an adventure after giving her ultimatum. I can understand, of course, that he wanted to spend his whole life with Cassie, and I understand his desperation, annoyance, misunderstanding, but on the other hand he also should at least try to understand Cassie, to put himself in her shoes. Also, he was all the time either offended or mistrustful in the story and if I were Cassie, I think I'd consider the relationship twice.
On the other hand, I also felt desperate with Cassie, and I think I would also run out of patience if I were Henry. I mean, she was married before, I get it, and she was badly betrayed, but life goes on, yes or no? And it is not like she wasn't sure of stepping into a full commitment with Henry, because there was also the matter of Luke, right?
But other than that I truly felt for the characters and I found myself rooting for them and wanting that everything went OK for them. There was really incredible depth and warmth to them all, and they felt like real people - well, they were in fact living their own lives in this book, they were just popping out of the pages and all they did and said rang a bell and felt very realistic. They are so well portrayed and they are so easy to relate to, as all the mistakes they make and all the decisions they should make but they're not sure about them make them more realistic in my eyes. One of the highlights of the book was for sure the strong friendship going between them, you could see they all have a shared past, that they know each other's deepest secrets and that they accept each other no matter what, even if they don't agree with their decisions.
There is really a lot happening, Karen truly bombs us with a variety of settings and events, and you quickly find yourself deeply interested in the characters' lives, and you also find yourself rooting for them (no matter how much they annoy you!). And there is really a great range of characters, because next to Cassie and Henry we have their best friends and family, and not only those that are known from the first book, but Karen introduces us to some new faces, among whose Gem is the most significant to the story. She couldn't be more different to Cassie, where Cassie is soft and withdraw, Gem is open and tough - minded. Also, their views on marriage couldn't be more different, and those differences really add a lot to the whole story.
This story is full of twists and turns. I'd say - and I never thought I'm going to say this! - a little too many, as the book focuses on everything and it was really hard for me to see what's the main point of the story. I guess it was if Cassie and Henry stay together, but among the thousand other threads, subplots and happenings, it is really very easy to lose track of the events. But of course, even with all the subplots, it makes an incredibly enjoyable read, showing ups and downs of relationships, of friendships, and putting trust in the spotlight. Those details make the book a large one, but it also means that every single page of it bring something new and exciting.
The story keeps going with a really good pace, and as it progresses, the tension and drama is all the time more and more palpable. What I also liked is the fact that the book is full of surprises and you can't be sure how the action is going to develop and how it is going to end - the author really keeps us in suspense till the end of the story! Karen Swan's writing is just lovely, and I could read her books all year round. Her descriptions are incredibly vivid, no matter is she describes the settings or feelings, or people, and she has this talent to bring all her characters to life.
It is truly great summer read, and as I've read it during this incredible heatwave this year, the only thing I was missing was a glass of cooled fizz. This is a brilliant, captivating and hooking story and I'm sure that you're going to like it as much as I did, or even more. Highly recommended!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.