Dear Summer: Part A

by Coya Price

Summer Average Girl? Don't Believe The Hype.It's the mid-to-late 1990s in NYC. Pagers buzz with urgent messages, oversized hoop earrings glint in the streetlights, and every corner vibrates with the pulse of hip hop. Summer Rayne Williams might look like your average teenager, but behind her cool facade, Summer's life is a powder keg waiting to explode.

Secretly, she's the daughter of a powerful drug kingpin, a truth hidden behind a carefully constructed facade of normalcy. It's a legacy that seems to follow her, drawing her into relationships with boys whose charm masks a dangerous world of drug deals, street violence, and shifting loyalties.

Betrayals cut deep when those she trusts most shatter her world. Murder becomes a chilling reality, leaving scars on her soul. She even faces down the NYPD, their rough tactics pushing her to the edge. And through it all, Summer struggles to maintain her footing, battling to be an average girl in a world that keeps pulling her into the darkness.

Expelled from high school, caught in a web of secrets and lies, Summer Rayne must fight to hold onto her own identity and carve out a future amidst the chaos.

This isn't your typical teenage drama. Dear Summer is a raw, gritty, and unapologetically real story that will grab you by the throat and leave you breathless.

This is Part A, you also need Part B to complete the story.

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 29, 2024

Reviews

[Trina Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a throwback feeling! I first found this author on YouTube, she shows character art and the story is read little by little. I honestly flew through this book in 2 days, its well written and very engaging. She is a new author but this is a soon to be one of the most talked about series. I am starting part B, and can't wait to see what happens next. The 90's NYC feel was definitely felt, the friend group, the conversations, the boys. Good job, Coya!

[Jasmine Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will say this.... Coya did a great job, but you can tell she is building an immersive world. This is a slow burn/build of character development. If you are looking for extremely fast pace this isn't the book for you. You will get to learn the characters, and it's a very character driven, conversational book. She does a great job of non-cringe for the age of the characters, I very much felt like I was reading a diary. I am happy I am starting from the beginning of the bricks laying. I love Summer Rayne and everything that comes with this world. Looking forward to more from Coya.

[Tricia Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Dear Summer! This book is raw, real, and hits hard. Set in the gritty streets of 1990s NYC, it pulls you right into Summer Rayne Williams’ world—a girl who looks like everyone else but is caught up in secrets, betrayal, and a whole lot of danger. If you want a read that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go, this is it. Trust me, you won’t be able to stop once you start!!!

[Ashley B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

First of all, Summer and her friends feel like I’m meeting some new homegirls. This story kept me on the edge of my seat from the first chapter to the end of the book!
I was here for the drama, the laughs, and most of all the nostalgia!
When I finished the book, I hurried up and jumped right into Book B. Can’t wait to see how the story continues

[Reader]

this book is absolutely out of this world.. i've never been so invested in a book nor its characters the way i am now. i highly recommend reading part a and b , the storyline and characters has me HOOKED and im so excited to witness what new crazy adventures summer gets her self into in the new books to come.. you should too !

[Stacey Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm captivated by this 90's retro novel, which poignantly portrays the trials and triumphs of young love and friendship. It's a must-read for those who appreciate coming-of-age stories. I recommend this book

[Trinity Studios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immersed in this story from beginning to end. From the start I felt like I was back in the 90’s, and anyone born and raised in the 90’s in New York will feel a sense of nostalgia. I enjoyed the book deeply. Very compelling, very exciting. I loved every moment of it. Kudos to the writer.

[Safiya Agostini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this authors tale of being a teenager from NY in the 90's. I think a lot of us have similar stories yet you can't wait to see how it all plays out. I can't wait to read Part B!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥🔥I couldnt put this book down!

[Javonne Fontnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Summer has me reliving those days! Love this book”

[SANHII G · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Not goin hold you, this was dope, l lowkey feel like it could be on Netflix someday.”?

[Rahim Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this book and the story has me glued 😂😂😂 50 cent needs to buy this off you and put it on STARZ.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book along with the YouTube videos really bring it this to life! I can't wait for book 2!!!

[Tamika Bedeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books you do not want to.put down until the.end. From the first page the vibe and tone is set and you can easily become every character mentioned.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun coming-of-age novel! It was great to go back to the 90s when all my friends and I did was go to school, work, and hang out. If I had to guess, this book is circa '93 or '94, which were my junior and senior years of high school. Fun times for real! All of the petty ish, lowkey jealousy amongst some friends, the flyest fits and sneakers, and riding the bus all over the city just enjoying life before adulthood creeps in.

At one point, I had to throw on some 90s RnB and vibe out as I was reading. The nostalgia of it all had me smiling and reminiscing the entire time. You just had to be there!

Summer Rayne (Such a cute FIRST name and I can only imagine how hype she was when Carl Thomas's 'Summer Rain' dropped in 2000) is such a sweetheart and the best friend a person could have. Kiana was the friend everyone liked, and Claudia? I don't care too much for her because she's the jealous friend, and the most boy-crazy. All I'll say about her and Evan is...that wasn't a shocker. "Everybody did it at some point" <- Take what you want with that statement.

There's always the messy friend in the bunch too, and that would be Lauryn. I couldn't stand her either. Ayana was the typical little sister of the neighborhood that hung out with the older girls sometimes, and everybody looked after, especially the guys.

Tavior, Evan, and Justin were overall a cool bunch. Hey, it was the 90s, n-words were getting money, especially if you were on the East Coast living in the inner city of a Metropolitan city, and that's all I'm a say about that. You had to be there. I had a feeling Summer Rayne's Pops was in the mix though.

There were a lot of supporting characters in this book but it wouldn't have been right if they weren't included. If your neighborhood was full of kids, and you also knew their other friends and family, and you also had a bunch siblings and cousins too, then that's just how it was. Everybody knew everybody!

Thank you Coya Price for taking it back to the 90s, when life was one huge roller coaster of ISH, but days I wish I could go back to, and will forever treasure.

4.5 Stars. I took a half star off because I didn't need a description of every single person Summer Rayne spoke to.

On to Part B. My girl is now in high school in her sophomore year. Whewwwwwww what a time!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book A is fire! Imma bout to finish book B but all imma say is Kiana clumsy behind needs a wheelchair 🤣🤣🤣 this is really a great book tho