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Summer of Sloane
Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
40 people are currently reading
3946 people want to read
About the author
Erin L. Schneider
1 book196 followersErin L. Schneider is native to the Pacific Northwest, attended college in Honolulu, and - although Hawaiian - should never be allowed on a surfboard. With more than twenty years in corporate merchandising, she’s now a full-time writer living in Seattle with her husband, Neal; their two boys, Kellan and Kasen; a rowdy German shepherd named Ronin; and two crazy cats, Ono and Poke. She’s a member of both the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and SCBWI, and is also co-founder of the YA Buccaneers.
SUMMER OF SLOANE is her debut novel, out May 3, 2016 from Disney-Hyperion. Visit Erin online at Erin L Schneider or on Twitter: @ErinLSchneider1.
Erin is represented by literary agent Lisa Grubka of Fletcher & Company.
SUMMER OF SLOANE is her debut novel, out May 3, 2016 from Disney-Hyperion. Visit Erin online at Erin L Schneider or on Twitter: @ErinLSchneider1.
Erin is represented by literary agent Lisa Grubka of Fletcher & Company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
February 13, 2017
Seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre and her twin brother Penn’s parents are divorced and the two live with their father in Seattle. Every summer they spend with their mother and step-father in Honolulu, Hawaii. The day before they are to leave for Hawaii, Sloane’s best friend Mick tells Sloane that she slept with Sloane’s boyfriend, Tyler, and is now pregnant. Sloane is devastated and feels betrayed by two people she always thought she could trust. Finding it hard to cope with this news, Sloane determines that she will make this summer in Hawaii a good one and leave all thoughts of Mick and Tyler behind despite what they have done. It’s easier said than done, since once in Hawaii Sloane is getting constant texts and emails from the two trying to explain and say how sorry they are.
This story was a real page-turner. There was fun summertime romance in this one, but also some serious drama along the way. I really liked Sloane and sympathized with her. I liked how she tried to stay strong and decided that she was going to have the fun summer she deserved, and not let the hurt stand in her way. I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters in Hawaii; the friends she had known from previous visits, and the new ones she was making, including a new romantic interest with handsome Finn, the son of a hotel magnate.
I disliked Tyler and Mick, but at least Tyler did seem genuinely sorry and repentant for what he had done. I thought Mick was absolutely horrible, and couldn’t believe the way she blamed Sloane for things, and tried to make Sloane feel guilty. I’m surprised that Sloane’s friendship with Mick lasted as long as it did. I liked Sloane’s new romantic interest Finn, and her twin brother Penn. And as always, Hawaii provided a great setting with its sun and beaches and waterfalls.
This story was a real page-turner. There was fun summertime romance in this one, but also some serious drama along the way. I really liked Sloane and sympathized with her. I liked how she tried to stay strong and decided that she was going to have the fun summer she deserved, and not let the hurt stand in her way. I enjoyed the secondary cast of characters in Hawaii; the friends she had known from previous visits, and the new ones she was making, including a new romantic interest with handsome Finn, the son of a hotel magnate.
I disliked Tyler and Mick, but at least Tyler did seem genuinely sorry and repentant for what he had done. I thought Mick was absolutely horrible, and couldn’t believe the way she blamed Sloane for things, and tried to make Sloane feel guilty. I’m surprised that Sloane’s friendship with Mick lasted as long as it did. I liked Sloane’s new romantic interest Finn, and her twin brother Penn. And as always, Hawaii provided a great setting with its sun and beaches and waterfalls.
January 23, 2016
I started reading this on a frigid winter night here in Canada, and it was exactly the book I needed to transport me somewhere else. Precisely, to the beaches of Hawaii—and thanks to Erin Schneider’s gorgeous writing, I almost felt like I was reading on the beach with a fruity drink in my hand instead of in my pajamas bundled up with the wind howling outside.
Yes, SUMMER OF SLOANE is the kind of book with the power to take your mind somewhere warmer and more exotic. But don’t mistake this for an airy beach read. It’s a story that tackles so many things with grace, humor, and truth.
Sloane has just finished her junior year of high school and she and her twin brother, Penn, are off to visit their mom in Hawaii for the summer, like they do every year. Only this year is different. Because before she gets on the plane, Sloane suffers a devastating blow—she finds out that her lifelong best friend and her boyfriend, the two people she loves and trusts the most, hooked up behind her back. After expressing her anger through a well-thrown right hook (not going to lie, I loved that part!), Sloane boards the plane with a broken hand and a shattered heart.
But Hawaii might just be the change in setting Sloane needs. After vowing to make it her summer and leave the drama back in Seattle, Sloane meets handsome and charismatic Finn, who makes her believe she can move on from what has happened and learn to trust someone again. But Finn has demons of his own, and Sloane is torn between the undertow of her past and the new life she could have on the horizon.
Right away, I was pulled in to Erin Schneider’s writing style. It’s the perfect blend of heavy and light, serious and funny. Sloane was strong but vulnerable, sad yet hopeful—and the moments where she learned to put herself first made me want to cheer out loud. Her struggles were extremely realistic. Even though she’s thousands of miles from home and the people who betrayed her, the ties with her past aren’t easy to sever, and the good memories don’t just get blotted out because of the betrayal itself. The way Sloane grapples with her dueling feelings made my heart hurt.
On another note, all of the supporting characters here are so wonderfully fleshed out, with quirks and heartaches and hopes of their own. I found myself invested in what happened to all of them.
This is a book with a lot of depth. And if you’re reading it before bedtime, know that there’s a great chance you’ll stay up a lot later than you intended because you’ll need to know what happens next. SUMMER OF SLOANE is virtually unputdownable.
Yes, SUMMER OF SLOANE is the kind of book with the power to take your mind somewhere warmer and more exotic. But don’t mistake this for an airy beach read. It’s a story that tackles so many things with grace, humor, and truth.
Sloane has just finished her junior year of high school and she and her twin brother, Penn, are off to visit their mom in Hawaii for the summer, like they do every year. Only this year is different. Because before she gets on the plane, Sloane suffers a devastating blow—she finds out that her lifelong best friend and her boyfriend, the two people she loves and trusts the most, hooked up behind her back. After expressing her anger through a well-thrown right hook (not going to lie, I loved that part!), Sloane boards the plane with a broken hand and a shattered heart.
But Hawaii might just be the change in setting Sloane needs. After vowing to make it her summer and leave the drama back in Seattle, Sloane meets handsome and charismatic Finn, who makes her believe she can move on from what has happened and learn to trust someone again. But Finn has demons of his own, and Sloane is torn between the undertow of her past and the new life she could have on the horizon.
Right away, I was pulled in to Erin Schneider’s writing style. It’s the perfect blend of heavy and light, serious and funny. Sloane was strong but vulnerable, sad yet hopeful—and the moments where she learned to put herself first made me want to cheer out loud. Her struggles were extremely realistic. Even though she’s thousands of miles from home and the people who betrayed her, the ties with her past aren’t easy to sever, and the good memories don’t just get blotted out because of the betrayal itself. The way Sloane grapples with her dueling feelings made my heart hurt.
On another note, all of the supporting characters here are so wonderfully fleshed out, with quirks and heartaches and hopes of their own. I found myself invested in what happened to all of them.
This is a book with a lot of depth. And if you’re reading it before bedtime, know that there’s a great chance you’ll stay up a lot later than you intended because you’ll need to know what happens next. SUMMER OF SLOANE is virtually unputdownable.
October 2, 2015
I was hooked from the very first line of SUMMER OF SLOANE and Schneider kept me entranced with Sloane’s flirty summer romance and the lovely, lush Hawaiian backdrop. Sloane is a fierce main character who literally fights for her respect. This debut novel follows Sloane as she rebuilds her life after her boyfriend and best friend hook-up (not a spoiler). Sloane has to figure out where to place her loyalties and how to make room in her heart for both heartbreak and new beginnings. I have no doubt that this book will be in every book bag in the summer of 2016, making next year the summer of Schneider! (I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review)
March 28, 2016
3.5 stars. This was a fun, addictive read and was exactly what I needed. I loved pretending I was in Hawaii. I loved that this book was about a girl learning to make decisions for herself. If you like summery romantic reads, I'd definitely recommend trying it. We're also doing a giveaway on OwlCrate's Instagram account - enter for a chance to win a copy!
May 3, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was so perfect. It was exactly what I needed it to be and had so many more elements and layers to it than I was expecting but in a good way. Are you looking for a book that will leave you rooting for the main character while also feeling conflicted about what she should do? because that's what this is. plus Finn is steamy and also sweet. I love love love the way that the cheating is handled in this book and everything is just so good about it and I am so so grateful that I got to read an ARC of this one.
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This was so perfect. It was exactly what I needed it to be and had so many more elements and layers to it than I was expecting but in a good way. Are you looking for a book that will leave you rooting for the main character while also feeling conflicted about what she should do? because that's what this is. plus Finn is steamy and also sweet. I love love love the way that the cheating is handled in this book and everything is just so good about it and I am so so grateful that I got to read an ARC of this one.
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February 25, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Summer of Sloane is the ultimate beach read, filled with drama and set in Hawaii. There is some really beautiful writing that makes the book so much more enjoyable. I am certain that this book will be in everybody’s beach bags this summer.
Summer of Sloane begins with a bang as Sloane discovers that her boyfriend cheated on her. With her best friend. In most books, the main character would have to face the two people that she is most angry with, but in this one, Sloane actually gets an immediate escape to Hawaii. I found this to be really interesting because it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read. Sloane gets the chance to start the summer fresh, away from her exes and make some new friends.
I absolutely loved the Hawaiian setting in Summer of Sloane. Of course, living in Canada, I don’t see too much tropical weather, but the way that the setting is described in the book made me feel like I was actually there. I especially loved the way that the hotel, the pools, and the sunny weather were described. I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, and just reading about the ocean and the tropical flowers made me want to go even more!
The writing in Summer of Sloane is really vivid. There is a lot of character development, even the side characters, and you really get to know them as you progress through the book. Even the descriptions of the scene and the bonfire parties are incredible. Reading this book is a true experience that is really easy to appreciate.
Summer of Sloane is very dramatic read set in lush Hawaii. The writing is beautiful and very descriptive. I would recommend this book to everybody, as it is perfect for the summer.
Summer of Sloane is the ultimate beach read, filled with drama and set in Hawaii. There is some really beautiful writing that makes the book so much more enjoyable. I am certain that this book will be in everybody’s beach bags this summer.
Summer of Sloane begins with a bang as Sloane discovers that her boyfriend cheated on her. With her best friend. In most books, the main character would have to face the two people that she is most angry with, but in this one, Sloane actually gets an immediate escape to Hawaii. I found this to be really interesting because it’s so different from anything I’ve ever read. Sloane gets the chance to start the summer fresh, away from her exes and make some new friends.
I absolutely loved the Hawaiian setting in Summer of Sloane. Of course, living in Canada, I don’t see too much tropical weather, but the way that the setting is described in the book made me feel like I was actually there. I especially loved the way that the hotel, the pools, and the sunny weather were described. I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, and just reading about the ocean and the tropical flowers made me want to go even more!
The writing in Summer of Sloane is really vivid. There is a lot of character development, even the side characters, and you really get to know them as you progress through the book. Even the descriptions of the scene and the bonfire parties are incredible. Reading this book is a true experience that is really easy to appreciate.
Summer of Sloane is very dramatic read set in lush Hawaii. The writing is beautiful and very descriptive. I would recommend this book to everybody, as it is perfect for the summer.
April 20, 2016
Initial Impressions 4/1/16: Probably about 4.25 stars
This book was SO much fun. It was perfect for that summery feel with a Hawaii setting and I instantly liked Sloane so much. I loved that the conflict felt realistic but wasn't overly dramatic. It felt like something that even if I couldn't relate to it wholly, I totally understood and I thought Sloane handled it well and yet also like a typical teenager. She was a great balance of acting her age and also acting maturely.
The romance was really cute! I was anxious for some swoon and it wasn't quite over the moon level with swoon-factor but I did love Finn and he was a really fun match for Sloane!
I also LOVED the different levels of friendship. Sloane has great relationships with her parents and also things she needs to work through. I loved the brother-sister relationship with Penn, her amazing friends in Hawaii, and despite all of the drama with Mick and Tyler, I actually really liked how that situation played out. It was the sort of situation where you know it can't go back to the way it was but it was just handled so well.
I totally could have used just a little more OOMPH of swoony parts towards the end but I did love the resolution! I was a solid conclusion but I also liked how there was a little bit that left you wondering where these characters might end up in a few months/years and how their relationships would grow or change. I actually found myself craving a Mick companion novel even though she ends up being kind of an antagonist in this book. I feel like especially the way things were left with her, I am so not done with her story yet! I just pictured myself reading a new novel about Mick and what she would go through after this entire experience and I totally want to read more about her! I'd love to see her redemption a little bit too. Even though *I* didn't quite forgive her for everything in this book, I like reading about characters who aren't perfect and who need to do a little soul-searching.
This book is fantastic for a fun and meaningful summer read. It's the perfect amount of levity and summer fun but includes a story that doesn't lack in drama. If I hadn't been reading this on my lunch breaks at work, I would have had a hard time putting it down! I can't wait to read more from Erin Schneider and I'm definitely pre-ordering so I can have this gorgeous hardcover for my shelves!
Note: I received this book from the author/publisher for review and also worked with Erin to design some Summer of Sloane candles! This in no way affected my thoughts or review of the book. All review thoughts are honest and uninfluenced.
Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 4/20/16: SUMMER OF SLOANE was a wonderful book! After a string of fantasies, I was totally in the mood for a contemporary/realistic story and Erin L. Schneider’s debut did not disappoint. A perfect mix of summer fun, friendship turning points, and great family moments not to mention a summer romance really captivated me and I didn’t want to put the book down!
I’ve never been to Hawaii but the setting was so wonderful that I could totally picture the characters (and myself) there! The combination of sensory descriptions really brought together a full picture of Hawaii and I could practically smell the tropical air myself! It was such a perfect set-up for a great summery book and it had me longing for some ocean, sun, and sand!
The book kicks off with a huge knowledge bomb being dropped on Sloane that effectively ends her relationship with her boyfriend and squashes years of best friendship all in one fell swoop. It’s a terrible start to her summer but the silver lining is a few months in Hawaii with her mom, her brother, and the friends she’s kept in touch with over the years. I actually really liked that the book didn’t wait to introduce this big conflict in Sloane’s life! It really set up the tone for the book and put the focus on Sloane and how much she really wanted to figure out her life outside of her best friend and (now ex) boyfriend. I sometimes get really turned off when books use a best friend fight as a source of the conflict because it usually sours me for one character or another and although Sloane is clearly on the outs with her best friend Mick, there’s that sense that somewhere in the book there’s the potential to either forgive and/or move on. The book allows Sloane to take her time to figure out what she wants to do with this situation. Really it just allows Sloane take back the summer for herself and not let this huge setback destroy her. Sloane ends up empowering herself instead of letting herself fall victim to some serious drama and I loved her attitude towards the whole thing!
The friendships that Sloane has with her Hawaii friends were so enjoyable to read! I love the sort of friendships that even when you’ve spent time apart, you just fall back into a rhythm when you see each other again. They were relaxed and yet extremely close and there was such an easy give and take. I always love seeing wonderful friendships in books and the relationship that Sloane has with her friends here was top notch! They really support each other and just seem like wonderful friends. The familial relationships were excellent as well. I love brother-sister bonds and really enjoyed the love and support between Sloane and her twin brother Penn. It was also great to see Sloane getting along with her mom even though they didn’t always have the best relationship (Sloane lives with her dad) and even though her mom tried a bit too hard to make up for it sometimes, it wasn’t really a source of conflict. I really appreciated that!
I also really enjoyed the romance between Sloane and Finn. There were a few hiccups due to what had already happened to Sloane and she became a bit closed off when conflict arose but for the most part, they had a great relationship and were both pretty chill with each other which was nice! I was hoping for a few more swoony moments but I really loved how easily they seemed to fall together and how much they both learned from each other over the summer.
SUMMER OF SLOANE had a nice romance and some great relationships, ultimately this book was about Sloane and coming to terms with what happened between her, her best friend Mick, and her boyfriend Tyler. Sloane ends up taking the summer back for herself and it was so wonderful to see her take charge of her own life and understand who she was as an individual. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a best friend or a boyfriend being such a big part of your life but I know I personally didn’t really get to know who I was on my own until I was in my twenties and I think the “young adult” age is really a time of self-discovery. SUMMER OF SLOANE was an excellent portrayal of that concept and it was great to see Sloane figure all of these things out while still maintaining that family and friendship support system. I really enjoyed the book and if I hadn’t been reading it on my lunch break, I totally could have read it in one sitting! I think readers will really, really enjoy this one! I even felt drawn to Sloane’s friend Mick and wanted a companion novel with her as the main character! I felt like her story wasn’t done yet and there’s a lot of room for a whole new book there.
This book was SO much fun. It was perfect for that summery feel with a Hawaii setting and I instantly liked Sloane so much. I loved that the conflict felt realistic but wasn't overly dramatic. It felt like something that even if I couldn't relate to it wholly, I totally understood and I thought Sloane handled it well and yet also like a typical teenager. She was a great balance of acting her age and also acting maturely.
The romance was really cute! I was anxious for some swoon and it wasn't quite over the moon level with swoon-factor but I did love Finn and he was a really fun match for Sloane!
I also LOVED the different levels of friendship. Sloane has great relationships with her parents and also things she needs to work through. I loved the brother-sister relationship with Penn, her amazing friends in Hawaii, and despite all of the drama with Mick and Tyler, I actually really liked how that situation played out. It was the sort of situation where you know it can't go back to the way it was but it was just handled so well.
I totally could have used just a little more OOMPH of swoony parts towards the end but I did love the resolution! I was a solid conclusion but I also liked how there was a little bit that left you wondering where these characters might end up in a few months/years and how their relationships would grow or change. I actually found myself craving a Mick companion novel even though she ends up being kind of an antagonist in this book. I feel like especially the way things were left with her, I am so not done with her story yet! I just pictured myself reading a new novel about Mick and what she would go through after this entire experience and I totally want to read more about her! I'd love to see her redemption a little bit too. Even though *I* didn't quite forgive her for everything in this book, I like reading about characters who aren't perfect and who need to do a little soul-searching.
This book is fantastic for a fun and meaningful summer read. It's the perfect amount of levity and summer fun but includes a story that doesn't lack in drama. If I hadn't been reading this on my lunch breaks at work, I would have had a hard time putting it down! I can't wait to read more from Erin Schneider and I'm definitely pre-ordering so I can have this gorgeous hardcover for my shelves!
Note: I received this book from the author/publisher for review and also worked with Erin to design some Summer of Sloane candles! This in no way affected my thoughts or review of the book. All review thoughts are honest and uninfluenced.
Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 4/20/16: SUMMER OF SLOANE was a wonderful book! After a string of fantasies, I was totally in the mood for a contemporary/realistic story and Erin L. Schneider’s debut did not disappoint. A perfect mix of summer fun, friendship turning points, and great family moments not to mention a summer romance really captivated me and I didn’t want to put the book down!
I’ve never been to Hawaii but the setting was so wonderful that I could totally picture the characters (and myself) there! The combination of sensory descriptions really brought together a full picture of Hawaii and I could practically smell the tropical air myself! It was such a perfect set-up for a great summery book and it had me longing for some ocean, sun, and sand!
The book kicks off with a huge knowledge bomb being dropped on Sloane that effectively ends her relationship with her boyfriend and squashes years of best friendship all in one fell swoop. It’s a terrible start to her summer but the silver lining is a few months in Hawaii with her mom, her brother, and the friends she’s kept in touch with over the years. I actually really liked that the book didn’t wait to introduce this big conflict in Sloane’s life! It really set up the tone for the book and put the focus on Sloane and how much she really wanted to figure out her life outside of her best friend and (now ex) boyfriend. I sometimes get really turned off when books use a best friend fight as a source of the conflict because it usually sours me for one character or another and although Sloane is clearly on the outs with her best friend Mick, there’s that sense that somewhere in the book there’s the potential to either forgive and/or move on. The book allows Sloane to take her time to figure out what she wants to do with this situation. Really it just allows Sloane take back the summer for herself and not let this huge setback destroy her. Sloane ends up empowering herself instead of letting herself fall victim to some serious drama and I loved her attitude towards the whole thing!
The friendships that Sloane has with her Hawaii friends were so enjoyable to read! I love the sort of friendships that even when you’ve spent time apart, you just fall back into a rhythm when you see each other again. They were relaxed and yet extremely close and there was such an easy give and take. I always love seeing wonderful friendships in books and the relationship that Sloane has with her friends here was top notch! They really support each other and just seem like wonderful friends. The familial relationships were excellent as well. I love brother-sister bonds and really enjoyed the love and support between Sloane and her twin brother Penn. It was also great to see Sloane getting along with her mom even though they didn’t always have the best relationship (Sloane lives with her dad) and even though her mom tried a bit too hard to make up for it sometimes, it wasn’t really a source of conflict. I really appreciated that!
I also really enjoyed the romance between Sloane and Finn. There were a few hiccups due to what had already happened to Sloane and she became a bit closed off when conflict arose but for the most part, they had a great relationship and were both pretty chill with each other which was nice! I was hoping for a few more swoony moments but I really loved how easily they seemed to fall together and how much they both learned from each other over the summer.
SUMMER OF SLOANE had a nice romance and some great relationships, ultimately this book was about Sloane and coming to terms with what happened between her, her best friend Mick, and her boyfriend Tyler. Sloane ends up taking the summer back for herself and it was so wonderful to see her take charge of her own life and understand who she was as an individual. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a best friend or a boyfriend being such a big part of your life but I know I personally didn’t really get to know who I was on my own until I was in my twenties and I think the “young adult” age is really a time of self-discovery. SUMMER OF SLOANE was an excellent portrayal of that concept and it was great to see Sloane figure all of these things out while still maintaining that family and friendship support system. I really enjoyed the book and if I hadn’t been reading it on my lunch break, I totally could have read it in one sitting! I think readers will really, really enjoy this one! I even felt drawn to Sloane’s friend Mick and wanted a companion novel with her as the main character! I felt like her story wasn’t done yet and there’s a lot of room for a whole new book there.
November 10, 2015
Thought this book was really good. Sloane is heartbroken because her boyfriend and best friend have cheated on her, so she runs off to her mother's place in Hawaii and spends the summer trying to forget. The book has the appearance of a light read, and in many ways that's what it is--we spend lots of time on the beach and see an eclectic cast of Hawaiian characters (Erin, the author, is Hawaiian). But there's also quite a lot more to it. In the end, the book veers in a direction I wouldn't have expected (although the roots were there throughout) and says some surprisingly powerful things about the value of letting go of resentment. When I closed the book, I really did find myself moved.
I received an advance reader copy of the book. It wasn't in exchange for anything, really (I wasn't expected or required to leave a review), but I decided to post one anyway.
I received an advance reader copy of the book. It wasn't in exchange for anything, really (I wasn't expected or required to leave a review), but I decided to post one anyway.
July 14, 2016
Summer of Sloane brought out the beach bum in me. It made me want to put on my bikini, hit the shore, play some beach volleyball--because what other way does one properly play volleyball--go jet skiing, get on a surfboard and wipe out--because apparently that's all I can manage to do--and just watch the surf come crashing in. Unfortunately, at the moment I'm nowhere near the beach. Yep, torture. But rest assured, friends, I'll be swimming in sea water soon enough.
Now on to the finer points, I have to say that this novel falls on the low side of a three. But first, I got to give it to the author because I fell instantly in love with her writing style. There's just a talent and ease to the way that she writes. I was immediately sucked into her story, I was able to visualize the scene with out unnecessary details or info dumps, and I had no problems relating to the main character, Sloane. Yet as much as I admire the writing there was a boatload of problems that I had with the story itself.
One thing I'm starting to connect with debut novels, is that seldom times do the author manage to venture far enough from obvious cliches to make stand out, unique characters. They tend to stick with what's familiar and overdone, instead of giving you fresh and unexpected. Another issue I'm starting to notice with debuts is that they can't seem to navigate without massive amounts of plot convenience. And I have to say: this novel is no exception. So Finn, the love interest, becomes your rich boy with a concealed past, and of course they run into each other everywhere (almost like they're destined to be, huh?). The parents of both Sloane and Finn are pretty much nonexistent--get this: Finn pretty much lives in a pent house all by himself--but when they do appear they are the coolest, buy-your-kid-alcohol and let-your-kid-run-wild-and-free parents that you could ever wish for. That definitely takes away some realism for me.
I think all the characters were pretty likable, well except for Tyler and Mick for obvious reasons. But as I've said above, they just weren't stand out characters. There wasn't much dimension to them. On top of that, I didn't see any real growth in Sloane. I mean, sure she does a great job of rebounding, but personally I didn't care for how she couldn't find strength on her own. Her world wasn't complete unless it was revolving around a relationship.
And I'm just going to come out and say it: the ending sucked big time. For one, it came to a complete stop out of nowhere. But even more annoying is how everything wraps into a perfect bow. Or I don't know, maybe it's just me and I wanted a better and more intricate plotted ending.
My last complaint is that for a novel that is set in Hawaii, and for the author to be a native Pacific Islander, I got to say that I expected more diversity and more of a cultural infusion in Summer of Sloane. Seriously this book could have been set anywhere that has a coast. HUGE disappointment for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, this is still a decent summer/beach read, but if you're expecting to submerse yourself in the rich Hawaiian culture or read a book speckled with Hawaiian language or even better, Hawaiian slang (Pidgin), you're seriously looking in the wrong place by picking up this book, because you'll find none. Most of the characters aren't even Hawaiian or from Hawaii, and the two that are rarely make an appearance in the novel.
So yeah, this wasn't bad but it wasn't all that special either. But still, as far as your next summer read go, put this one on your list. Or maybe save it for winter when you need to be reminded of what the hot sun feels like and what you have to look forward to. Your choice. :)
Now on to the finer points, I have to say that this novel falls on the low side of a three. But first, I got to give it to the author because I fell instantly in love with her writing style. There's just a talent and ease to the way that she writes. I was immediately sucked into her story, I was able to visualize the scene with out unnecessary details or info dumps, and I had no problems relating to the main character, Sloane. Yet as much as I admire the writing there was a boatload of problems that I had with the story itself.
One thing I'm starting to connect with debut novels, is that seldom times do the author manage to venture far enough from obvious cliches to make stand out, unique characters. They tend to stick with what's familiar and overdone, instead of giving you fresh and unexpected. Another issue I'm starting to notice with debuts is that they can't seem to navigate without massive amounts of plot convenience. And I have to say: this novel is no exception. So Finn, the love interest, becomes your rich boy with a concealed past, and of course they run into each other everywhere (almost like they're destined to be, huh?). The parents of both Sloane and Finn are pretty much nonexistent--get this: Finn pretty much lives in a pent house all by himself--but when they do appear they are the coolest, buy-your-kid-alcohol and let-your-kid-run-wild-and-free parents that you could ever wish for. That definitely takes away some realism for me.
I think all the characters were pretty likable, well except for Tyler and Mick for obvious reasons. But as I've said above, they just weren't stand out characters. There wasn't much dimension to them. On top of that, I didn't see any real growth in Sloane. I mean, sure she does a great job of rebounding, but personally I didn't care for how she couldn't find strength on her own. Her world wasn't complete unless it was revolving around a relationship.
And I'm just going to come out and say it: the ending sucked big time. For one, it came to a complete stop out of nowhere. But even more annoying is how everything wraps into a perfect bow. Or I don't know, maybe it's just me and I wanted a better and more intricate plotted ending.
My last complaint is that for a novel that is set in Hawaii, and for the author to be a native Pacific Islander, I got to say that I expected more diversity and more of a cultural infusion in Summer of Sloane. Seriously this book could have been set anywhere that has a coast. HUGE disappointment for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, this is still a decent summer/beach read, but if you're expecting to submerse yourself in the rich Hawaiian culture or read a book speckled with Hawaiian language or even better, Hawaiian slang (Pidgin), you're seriously looking in the wrong place by picking up this book, because you'll find none. Most of the characters aren't even Hawaiian or from Hawaii, and the two that are rarely make an appearance in the novel.
So yeah, this wasn't bad but it wasn't all that special either. But still, as far as your next summer read go, put this one on your list. Or maybe save it for winter when you need to be reminded of what the hot sun feels like and what you have to look forward to. Your choice. :)
May 4, 2016
4.5 stars
***Review to come***
***Review to come***
December 5, 2015
Wow! I just finished reading an advance reader copy of SUMMER OF SLOANE which I received in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly, I feel emotionally drained! In the opening scene, Sloane finds out that her longtime boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend - not once, but twice. Hurt and angry, she very understandably lashes out at both of them before taking off to spend the summer with her mom in Hawaii.
With physical distance between Sloane and her problems, she vows to make the most of the summer - the Summer of Sloane - and she really gives it her best shot. But over the next several weeks, her fortunes rise and crash like the waves off those incredible Hawaiian beaches and soon she lashes out again - at a most inappropriate time.
Sloane is so human and so flawed I wanted to scream and be angry and shake her silly. But at the same time, I wanted to give her a hug and tell her that everything would be okay.
While her "Summer of Sloane" does not turn out the way she hopes it will (no spoilers here!), she ends up experiencing and growing and changing more than she could've ever imagined. Summer of Sloane is a novel about family and forgiveness and responsibility. It's deeply emotional and heartfelt, and ultimately full of hope. Highly recommend.
And honestly, I feel emotionally drained! In the opening scene, Sloane finds out that her longtime boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend - not once, but twice. Hurt and angry, she very understandably lashes out at both of them before taking off to spend the summer with her mom in Hawaii.
With physical distance between Sloane and her problems, she vows to make the most of the summer - the Summer of Sloane - and she really gives it her best shot. But over the next several weeks, her fortunes rise and crash like the waves off those incredible Hawaiian beaches and soon she lashes out again - at a most inappropriate time.
Sloane is so human and so flawed I wanted to scream and be angry and shake her silly. But at the same time, I wanted to give her a hug and tell her that everything would be okay.
While her "Summer of Sloane" does not turn out the way she hopes it will (no spoilers here!), she ends up experiencing and growing and changing more than she could've ever imagined. Summer of Sloane is a novel about family and forgiveness and responsibility. It's deeply emotional and heartfelt, and ultimately full of hope. Highly recommend.
June 13, 2016
4.25 stars. I really liked this story! I really found it to be a refreshing summer contemporary, handling the complexities of relationships (of all sorts) pretty well. Plus, it totally made me want to visit Hawaii!
April 18, 2016
*ARC wish granted by Publishers/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
So I'm just going to admit it-I made an error in judgement. I saw this on netgalley. Saw it wasn't available. Saw the 'wish' button. Now, instead of being smart and just letting this one go, skeptical as I was, and moving on to another more well-deserved book...I wished for it. I mean, they never grant wishes anyway, do they?? Well, wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Of course the one book I wish I wouldn't get I actually got, making it so I had to read it or my Netgalley percentage would go up.
And okay, I REALLY am so grateful I got a book I wished for...so grateful. But I can't help but hate that it had to be this one because after I clicked it, I knew it wasn't for me. So, instead of being a butthole and totally bashing this book (I hate bashing, I really really do. I have to be VERY angry to bash at all), I'm going to just do some bullet points of what worked for me and what didn't.
The Good:
-Finn
-Finn's personality
-Finn's protectiveness
-Finn's little jealousy
-Just...FINN.
Did I prove my point there?
The Bad:
-The writing (Cheesy-ooooh you know I hate the cheesy)
-The ex and best friend (I did not, for one minute, believe a friend would think she could do what she did and actually be forgiven the next day..or AT ALL, really..)
-The scenarios
-The way resolutions were handled
-The childish reactions to certain things
I mean, I could go on and on, but what would be the point. I feel bad enough as it is. If I think of anything that is absolutely pertinent to what would make my friends choose to read, or not read, I will add it. But, for now, I am happy just saying that pretty much nothing worked for me. It was a really cool, if not totally heartbreaking, idea...but execution is key, and that is precisely what this book lacked-Execution.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
May 23, 2016
Oh geez. This book is going to give you some feelings. That is for sure. It will make you happy, sad, angry....it will cause you to suffer from all of the emotions! So just be ready.
The Summer of Sloane actually reads really quickly. You fill find yourself totally pulled in, time will pass, and eventually you will close the back cover finished....blink...and find yourself wondering how so much time passed without you even realizing it was passing.
Yeah. It is that good. It is a definite beach read too. Take it and lay out in the sun this summer. Get yourself a tan. You will practically feel like you are already doing that anyways while you reading it. It is set in Hawaii and it is done very well. I personally could have used a bit more beach, but it was still good :)
What I really like though is that Erin L. Schneider made us feel things for the characters, even the secondary characters that we don't see much of. You hate them, you love them, you want to punch and break their noses in three places. I actually have very strong feelings towards Mick and I still feel them even though I finished the book a few weeks ago. I don't think Mick can ever be redeemed for me. Not even if Erin L. Schneider writes Mick her own story (I will TOTALLY read this by the way if it ever happens).
And to top it all off, The Summer of Sloane still has a beautiful message for all of us readers. But like always, I am not going to be sharing with you what that lesson is. It won't mean as much if I don't let you go discover it yourself.
My Rating
4.5 Stars
This review is based on an eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Find more of my reviews here:
http://readingwithcupcakes.blogspot.com/
November 10, 2015
Oh man, LOVED this beautiful story about the power of forgiveness and the strength to heal. So many great lines-- I could seriously dog-ear the whole book.
Brave, honest, and compelling.
ALL.
THE.
STARS.
Brave, honest, and compelling.
ALL.
THE.
STARS.
February 4, 2017
3.5 stars
I've had this one on my TBR for a while and actually just found it in a pile of books when I was organizing my shelves. I had sort of forgotten I had it.
I liked Sloane. She's a good person who has shitty things happen to her. I loved that she stood up for herself and legit punched her cheating boyfriend in the face. That was fantastic. There are some great secondary characters. I loved the relationship Sloane had with her brother the most.
The plot is a good mixture of drama and fluff, but sometimes the drama was waaaaay over the top. Lots of overreacting, lots of miscommunication, and an obscene amount of forehead kissing.
Overall, it was a quick, mostly cute read with a satisfying ending.
I've had this one on my TBR for a while and actually just found it in a pile of books when I was organizing my shelves. I had sort of forgotten I had it.
I liked Sloane. She's a good person who has shitty things happen to her. I loved that she stood up for herself and legit punched her cheating boyfriend in the face. That was fantastic. There are some great secondary characters. I loved the relationship Sloane had with her brother the most.
The plot is a good mixture of drama and fluff, but sometimes the drama was waaaaay over the top. Lots of overreacting, lots of miscommunication, and an obscene amount of forehead kissing.
Overall, it was a quick, mostly cute read with a satisfying ending.
February 18, 2016
Review to come, but let me just say this story is all heart! Sloane is strong and so completely relatable. I was rooting for her the whole time! :)
May 19, 2016
4.5 stars!!
Sloane and her twin brother, Penn, children of divorced parents, have a lovely arrangement. They live with their father during the school year, then each summer they head to Hawaii to spend the summer with their mother. Not too shabby, right?! I was immediately drawn into the story when I knew it was taking place in Hawaii because how could I not want to read this story. Seriously. It's always been a dream of mine to go to Hawaii. And though I will probably never actually get there, reading about it is the next best thing. ;)
After an incident with Sloane's best friend and boyfriend, her summer in Hawaii couldn't have come at a better time. She needs some time away from these two, and "fun in the sun" with her summer friends seems like it will hit the spot. But traveling away from the problem doesn't make it go away. Even in Hawaii, she's stuck dealing with the drama. The only thing that makes it a bit better is a hot, swoony, son of the hotel owner, Finn. *insert swooning here*
I truly adored this story. The characters were so incredibly amazing. I read a lot, and I mean A LOT, of contemporary stories, and all too often I don't connect with the characters on any sort of substantial level. These characters though... OMG! I literally loved every single one of them!! Even when they were "behaving badly" or not being the nicest of people, they were still very realistic, involved in very real teenage interactions, and I connected with each and every one of them. There is so much personality in this book, and I have a feeling these characters will stick with me for a long time.
I have to mention the cheating that's involved in this book. It's a pretty common complaint from readers that many don't enjoy books with cheating. But in my opinion, it's all about how the cheating is handled in the story. Which brings me to my point... yes, there is cheating involved in this story. It's referenced quite a bit, actually. But what stands out the most is the way Erin wrote about that cheating, the affects of the cheating, and the healing that occurs after it. This is one of those more positively-addressed cheating books, if that makes any sense. The cheating doesn't just happen, and then get thrown under the rug. It's addressed, and it's addressed thoroughly. Though I don't condone cheating in real life, I can take it in my books when it's handled in such a lovely way, as it was in this story.
What a fantastic beach read to really get you in the summer mood!! I adored this book so much. From it's amazingly in-depth characters to its storyline that had just the right amount of drama, realistic situations, and typical teenage reactions, this book had it all. I really don't have anything that I would change, though I could have handled a bit more swooning toward the end of the story. This story did have some swoons, but much more on the "cute" side. A wonderful debut from an up-and-coming author that YA contemporary fans, such as myself, will surely not want to miss.
(Thanks to Disney Hyperion for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
Sloane and her twin brother, Penn, children of divorced parents, have a lovely arrangement. They live with their father during the school year, then each summer they head to Hawaii to spend the summer with their mother. Not too shabby, right?! I was immediately drawn into the story when I knew it was taking place in Hawaii because how could I not want to read this story. Seriously. It's always been a dream of mine to go to Hawaii. And though I will probably never actually get there, reading about it is the next best thing. ;)
After an incident with Sloane's best friend and boyfriend, her summer in Hawaii couldn't have come at a better time. She needs some time away from these two, and "fun in the sun" with her summer friends seems like it will hit the spot. But traveling away from the problem doesn't make it go away. Even in Hawaii, she's stuck dealing with the drama. The only thing that makes it a bit better is a hot, swoony, son of the hotel owner, Finn. *insert swooning here*
I truly adored this story. The characters were so incredibly amazing. I read a lot, and I mean A LOT, of contemporary stories, and all too often I don't connect with the characters on any sort of substantial level. These characters though... OMG! I literally loved every single one of them!! Even when they were "behaving badly" or not being the nicest of people, they were still very realistic, involved in very real teenage interactions, and I connected with each and every one of them. There is so much personality in this book, and I have a feeling these characters will stick with me for a long time.
I have to mention the cheating that's involved in this book. It's a pretty common complaint from readers that many don't enjoy books with cheating. But in my opinion, it's all about how the cheating is handled in the story. Which brings me to my point... yes, there is cheating involved in this story. It's referenced quite a bit, actually. But what stands out the most is the way Erin wrote about that cheating, the affects of the cheating, and the healing that occurs after it. This is one of those more positively-addressed cheating books, if that makes any sense. The cheating doesn't just happen, and then get thrown under the rug. It's addressed, and it's addressed thoroughly. Though I don't condone cheating in real life, I can take it in my books when it's handled in such a lovely way, as it was in this story.
What a fantastic beach read to really get you in the summer mood!! I adored this book so much. From it's amazingly in-depth characters to its storyline that had just the right amount of drama, realistic situations, and typical teenage reactions, this book had it all. I really don't have anything that I would change, though I could have handled a bit more swooning toward the end of the story. This story did have some swoons, but much more on the "cute" side. A wonderful debut from an up-and-coming author that YA contemporary fans, such as myself, will surely not want to miss.
(Thanks to Disney Hyperion for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
June 30, 2016
Review over on Little Lillie Reads!
This book was so flippin' good! I was incredibly surprised by how invested I was in this story, and how much I took a liking to it. From the very first sentence in the synopsis, you automatically think this is going to be a happy-go-lucky contemporary, with a cute romance. However, that is not the case in this book. It's got real world problems that cut like a knife and strike close to home, relatable characters that carry some baggage, and a wonderful storyline development that features a change in the outlook on life and the growth as individuals. Erin L. Schneider did a great job of catching your attention with her writing style and straight to the point detailing. Summer of Sloane is a book I ultimately sped through in two nights, because of how smooth and easy to approach the writing was.
What I loved the most about this book, had to be the plot line and the development of the characters and story arc. It started off rocky with a terrible circumstance, but throughout the story, you really get to watch the characters grow out of their comfort zones. Sloane was a fantastic main character, who really took this time away from the drama at home to find herself, take some risks, and fall in love - which seemed an impossible task at the start of the book. She proves to herself that it's alright to restart from fresh; surrounding herself with the people she loves and never-ending good vibes. I loved her family and the chemistry between herself and her Hawaiian crew of friends. It definitely made me want to venture off to the island and find myself a swoony boy.
Right from the start, we are presented with a terribly uncool situation. From there on, I didn't really think there would be any other way around this problem that didn't involve Sloane sulking around and rolling in her own despair. Boy was I (thankfully) wrong. She goes about the situation maturely - taking time for herself to sort out the mess made by those closest to her. Hawaii was a place of discovery for her, and really set in motion her adventures in paradise. The plot unravels beautifully, with some twists and turns to add some fuel to the fire. I found that each event that took place, or each secret that was revealed, played nicely in the progression of the plot, and never once was unnecessary.
Summer of Sloane is the story of self discovery after a bad breakup, going after a brighter tomorrow, and the emergence of a new beginning. From this story, I can take away that it is perfectly alright to learn from past mistakes and try to forgive, but never forget. I loved this book a lot more than I expected, and am glad to have found a new favorite to brag about. If there is one thing I had a problem with, it is the very constant recurring theme of cheating. That, my friends, is not a cool thing to get involved with. Besides this, I had a fantastic time reading this book. When you get in the mood for a fast read, with a cute romance, and some deep-level life lessons, this is a book that'll do you some good. I cannot wait to see what Erin L. Schneider brings to the table next.
This book was so flippin' good! I was incredibly surprised by how invested I was in this story, and how much I took a liking to it. From the very first sentence in the synopsis, you automatically think this is going to be a happy-go-lucky contemporary, with a cute romance. However, that is not the case in this book. It's got real world problems that cut like a knife and strike close to home, relatable characters that carry some baggage, and a wonderful storyline development that features a change in the outlook on life and the growth as individuals. Erin L. Schneider did a great job of catching your attention with her writing style and straight to the point detailing. Summer of Sloane is a book I ultimately sped through in two nights, because of how smooth and easy to approach the writing was.
What I loved the most about this book, had to be the plot line and the development of the characters and story arc. It started off rocky with a terrible circumstance, but throughout the story, you really get to watch the characters grow out of their comfort zones. Sloane was a fantastic main character, who really took this time away from the drama at home to find herself, take some risks, and fall in love - which seemed an impossible task at the start of the book. She proves to herself that it's alright to restart from fresh; surrounding herself with the people she loves and never-ending good vibes. I loved her family and the chemistry between herself and her Hawaiian crew of friends. It definitely made me want to venture off to the island and find myself a swoony boy.
Right from the start, we are presented with a terribly uncool situation. From there on, I didn't really think there would be any other way around this problem that didn't involve Sloane sulking around and rolling in her own despair. Boy was I (thankfully) wrong. She goes about the situation maturely - taking time for herself to sort out the mess made by those closest to her. Hawaii was a place of discovery for her, and really set in motion her adventures in paradise. The plot unravels beautifully, with some twists and turns to add some fuel to the fire. I found that each event that took place, or each secret that was revealed, played nicely in the progression of the plot, and never once was unnecessary.
Summer of Sloane is the story of self discovery after a bad breakup, going after a brighter tomorrow, and the emergence of a new beginning. From this story, I can take away that it is perfectly alright to learn from past mistakes and try to forgive, but never forget. I loved this book a lot more than I expected, and am glad to have found a new favorite to brag about. If there is one thing I had a problem with, it is the very constant recurring theme of cheating. That, my friends, is not a cool thing to get involved with. Besides this, I had a fantastic time reading this book. When you get in the mood for a fast read, with a cute romance, and some deep-level life lessons, this is a book that'll do you some good. I cannot wait to see what Erin L. Schneider brings to the table next.
November 30, 2015
I received this arc in return for an honest review.
Oh man, what a frustrating book! And I mean that in the best way possibly. I was so frustrated on Sloane's behalf, by her friends' betrayals, by the secrets they keep from each other. At times I just wanted to smack everyone because they were treating Sloane so crappily.
Which is, of course, what makes this such a compelling read.
Sloane and her brother spend every summer in Hawaii with their mom and stepdad, who spends much of her time trying to make up missed time with them by buying them things like cars and clothing and making their summers as fun as possible.
But this year Sloane's summer is different. Right before she left she learned that her best friend and her boyfriend have been hooking up in secret. It's such an utter betrayal that Sloane falls head first into trying to make her summer the best one it can be, to drown out the texts and letters and calls from her BFF and her BF.
And then when hotty Finn enters the scene, well, maybe he can help keep her distracted, too. Until she realizes that maybe he's more than a distraction. And maybe she can't ignore her BF and her BFF forever.
I love Sloane so much. She doesn't take crap from anyone, even people she loves, and she's not afraid to speak up and call people out for their BS, even if those people are rich and powerful.
I rooted for her the entire time, and never once did I think she was handling things poorly, or that she should rush to make up with her BF and BFF. I was with her and her decisions the entire way.
Also, this book made me want to sit on the beach and soak up the sun. It does a great job of capturing Hawaii and at times I felt I was living there with Sloane.
Fun and lovely and at times sad and thought-provoking, this book is a great read.
Oh man, what a frustrating book! And I mean that in the best way possibly. I was so frustrated on Sloane's behalf, by her friends' betrayals, by the secrets they keep from each other. At times I just wanted to smack everyone because they were treating Sloane so crappily.
Which is, of course, what makes this such a compelling read.
Sloane and her brother spend every summer in Hawaii with their mom and stepdad, who spends much of her time trying to make up missed time with them by buying them things like cars and clothing and making their summers as fun as possible.
But this year Sloane's summer is different. Right before she left she learned that her best friend and her boyfriend have been hooking up in secret. It's such an utter betrayal that Sloane falls head first into trying to make her summer the best one it can be, to drown out the texts and letters and calls from her BFF and her BF.
And then when hotty Finn enters the scene, well, maybe he can help keep her distracted, too. Until she realizes that maybe he's more than a distraction. And maybe she can't ignore her BF and her BFF forever.
I love Sloane so much. She doesn't take crap from anyone, even people she loves, and she's not afraid to speak up and call people out for their BS, even if those people are rich and powerful.
I rooted for her the entire time, and never once did I think she was handling things poorly, or that she should rush to make up with her BF and BFF. I was with her and her decisions the entire way.
Also, this book made me want to sit on the beach and soak up the sun. It does a great job of capturing Hawaii and at times I felt I was living there with Sloane.
Fun and lovely and at times sad and thought-provoking, this book is a great read.
June 21, 2016
“Summer of Sloane” is the perfect choice for those looking for a beach read that is fun with a side of seriousness.
Sloane is a character put into a very difficult situation through no fault of her own, and the way she works through it feels very natural and realistic. She’s someone who is easy to like, something that is not always easily found in young adult romances. All of the supporting characters added to the story and were well-developed. Most are the sorts of friends anyone would want to have. You’ll know the ones you definitely do not want when you read it.
I loved the pacing and the writing. It flowed steadily and the narration really sucked me into Sloane’s world. Not an easy feat since I have never been to Hawaii and probably never will get to go. I felt like I was sitting around a bonfire with my friends a good amount of the time. None of the conversation felt stilted or forced, and the writer gave each character a unique voice. There are also some very important life lessons thrown in that don’t seem at all preachy. It strikes a nice balance.
“Summer of Sloane” is a good book for anyone looking for a teen romance with a little bite. It’s also a cheap summer getaway to paradise.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sloane is a character put into a very difficult situation through no fault of her own, and the way she works through it feels very natural and realistic. She’s someone who is easy to like, something that is not always easily found in young adult romances. All of the supporting characters added to the story and were well-developed. Most are the sorts of friends anyone would want to have. You’ll know the ones you definitely do not want when you read it.
I loved the pacing and the writing. It flowed steadily and the narration really sucked me into Sloane’s world. Not an easy feat since I have never been to Hawaii and probably never will get to go. I felt like I was sitting around a bonfire with my friends a good amount of the time. None of the conversation felt stilted or forced, and the writer gave each character a unique voice. There are also some very important life lessons thrown in that don’t seem at all preachy. It strikes a nice balance.
“Summer of Sloane” is a good book for anyone looking for a teen romance with a little bite. It’s also a cheap summer getaway to paradise.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2016
Liked some things, was annoyed by others. It's about time we saw some YA that doesn't spoonfeed the fairy tale of , though. You have to do what's right for you.
Review to come. A pretty solid debut, it'll be interesting to see the author's future books.
Review to come. A pretty solid debut, it'll be interesting to see the author's future books.
December 3, 2015
There's a lot of heart written into this story, set against the beautiful back drop of Hawaii. When I wasn't wrapped up in the drama, I was swept away by its scenery. This is one debut author to definitely keep an eye on.
Full review to come, closer to publication date.
Full review to come, closer to publication date.
April 27, 2016
Check out this and other reviews on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
This book is amazing. I’m going to take a few minutes to talk about this book without spoilers, then if you want to, you can check out the section below where I go a little more in-depth with it.
When I first came across Summer of Sloane, I thought it was going to be another YA contemporary that didn’t really deal with anything tougher than a love triangle or something, but boy was I wrong. This is a deep, emotional book that tackles some really big issues – from a different point of view than I’m used to reading in YA contemporaries.
That wasn’t the case here. The book starts off with Sloane and her best friend, who pretty much tells Sloane that she did something awful, involving Sloane’s boyfriend, Ty. Sloane, completely heartbroken over this secret, is only too happy to be going to visit her mother in Hawaii like she does every summer.
This summer, Sloane decides to make the entire summer all about her. She gets to leave what happened in Seattle behind. She gets to leave the big issues behind until school starts again. She doesn’t have to deal with the nightmare that is the relationship with her best friend. She gets to go to Hawaii, and spend her days doing anything she wants – swimming, hanging out with her friends and her twin brother, Penn…and avoiding calls and texts from her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend.
Summer of Sloane is a really great story about self-discovery and learning how to move on after a bad breakup and how to take care of yourself and heal in the process. This book is a really emotional (and yet fun at the same time!) kind of novel with a really awesome main character (and the supporting characters are pretty awesome, too!
Okay, I really want to go on about some other things that happen in this book, and in order to do that, I might end up giving some really important plot lines away (even though they’re revealed in chapter one anyway), but I’m definitely giving you a little warning first, in case you want to skip this part!
Spoiler Alert!
Okay! Now to get to the in-depth review for this book.
At the beginning of the book, we find out about Sloane and her best friend McKinley. who have been best friends for years. They’ve been though everything together…except now, McKinley is telling Sloane something that she doesn’t want to hear: She’s pregnant…with Sloane’s boyfriend’s baby. Sloane is taken aback by this piece of information, and she wants to be there for McKinley, but she doesn’t believe there’s any way she could do that.
When she sees her boyfriend, Tyler, she has a few choice words for him…as well as a punch in the face that not only breaks Tyler’s nose, but fractures Sloane’s hand, as well. So for Sloane, summer really isn’t off to that great of a start.
That’s when she decides that she really can’t wait to get to Hawaii.
When she’s in Hawaii, she comes clean to her mother about what happened, and her mother tells her that she should put all of that out of her mind and spend the summer focusing on her…making it the Summer of Sloane. Sloane jumps on this idea – after all, doesn’t she deserve happiness? So she ignores texts, phone calls, and tons of e-mails (even letters) from McKinley and Tyler. She doesn’t know what to say to them, so she just doesn’t say anything at all.
At a bonfire with her brother and friends, Sloane meets a new guy, Finn. The two of them start spending time together, and Sloane starts to develop feelings for Finn. Between hanging out with her friends and working at the pool, Sloane hardly has time to even think about the disaster that awaits her back at home.
Until one night Tyler calls Sloane because something terrible happened…and maybe Sloane will have to find it in her heart to at least try to forgive those who have hurt her most.
What I really liked about this book is that it told the story from the point of view of the girl who was betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, as opposed to the story being told from the point of view of the girl who had gotten pregnant. It was different, and I think it made it more emotional, and enjoyable of a read.
And finally…
This book has a really amazing plot. Sloane definitely wasn’t the kind of girl who was going to sit around and put up with people talking down to her, hurting her, or treating her horribly, which makes her quite admirable. I loved the other characters in the book, including Sloane and Penn’s father…he genuinely seemed to care about his kids, and he does his best to make sure they’re happy.
I’m really glad that I read this – I originally thought I was going to have a hard time getting into this because I’ve read so many contemporaries lately, but this one really stood out and was just such a great read!
Note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is amazing. I’m going to take a few minutes to talk about this book without spoilers, then if you want to, you can check out the section below where I go a little more in-depth with it.
When I first came across Summer of Sloane, I thought it was going to be another YA contemporary that didn’t really deal with anything tougher than a love triangle or something, but boy was I wrong. This is a deep, emotional book that tackles some really big issues – from a different point of view than I’m used to reading in YA contemporaries.
That wasn’t the case here. The book starts off with Sloane and her best friend, who pretty much tells Sloane that she did something awful, involving Sloane’s boyfriend, Ty. Sloane, completely heartbroken over this secret, is only too happy to be going to visit her mother in Hawaii like she does every summer.
This summer, Sloane decides to make the entire summer all about her. She gets to leave what happened in Seattle behind. She gets to leave the big issues behind until school starts again. She doesn’t have to deal with the nightmare that is the relationship with her best friend. She gets to go to Hawaii, and spend her days doing anything she wants – swimming, hanging out with her friends and her twin brother, Penn…and avoiding calls and texts from her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend.
Summer of Sloane is a really great story about self-discovery and learning how to move on after a bad breakup and how to take care of yourself and heal in the process. This book is a really emotional (and yet fun at the same time!) kind of novel with a really awesome main character (and the supporting characters are pretty awesome, too!
Okay, I really want to go on about some other things that happen in this book, and in order to do that, I might end up giving some really important plot lines away (even though they’re revealed in chapter one anyway), but I’m definitely giving you a little warning first, in case you want to skip this part!
Spoiler Alert!
Okay! Now to get to the in-depth review for this book.
At the beginning of the book, we find out about Sloane and her best friend McKinley. who have been best friends for years. They’ve been though everything together…except now, McKinley is telling Sloane something that she doesn’t want to hear: She’s pregnant…with Sloane’s boyfriend’s baby. Sloane is taken aback by this piece of information, and she wants to be there for McKinley, but she doesn’t believe there’s any way she could do that.
When she sees her boyfriend, Tyler, she has a few choice words for him…as well as a punch in the face that not only breaks Tyler’s nose, but fractures Sloane’s hand, as well. So for Sloane, summer really isn’t off to that great of a start.
That’s when she decides that she really can’t wait to get to Hawaii.
When she’s in Hawaii, she comes clean to her mother about what happened, and her mother tells her that she should put all of that out of her mind and spend the summer focusing on her…making it the Summer of Sloane. Sloane jumps on this idea – after all, doesn’t she deserve happiness? So she ignores texts, phone calls, and tons of e-mails (even letters) from McKinley and Tyler. She doesn’t know what to say to them, so she just doesn’t say anything at all.
At a bonfire with her brother and friends, Sloane meets a new guy, Finn. The two of them start spending time together, and Sloane starts to develop feelings for Finn. Between hanging out with her friends and working at the pool, Sloane hardly has time to even think about the disaster that awaits her back at home.
Until one night Tyler calls Sloane because something terrible happened…and maybe Sloane will have to find it in her heart to at least try to forgive those who have hurt her most.
What I really liked about this book is that it told the story from the point of view of the girl who was betrayed by her best friend and her boyfriend, as opposed to the story being told from the point of view of the girl who had gotten pregnant. It was different, and I think it made it more emotional, and enjoyable of a read.
And finally…
This book has a really amazing plot. Sloane definitely wasn’t the kind of girl who was going to sit around and put up with people talking down to her, hurting her, or treating her horribly, which makes her quite admirable. I loved the other characters in the book, including Sloane and Penn’s father…he genuinely seemed to care about his kids, and he does his best to make sure they’re happy.
I’m really glad that I read this – I originally thought I was going to have a hard time getting into this because I’ve read so many contemporaries lately, but this one really stood out and was just such a great read!
Note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2016
Originally posted on Super Space Chick:
Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider was one of my most anticipated contemporary releases for 2016, largely because the plot synopsis reminded me of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Who can resist a complicated YA fiction book set in Hawaii?! I know I couldn’t! I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Summer of Sloane in January thanks to Andi who attended ALA and sent me her ARC to borrow (Thanks again Andi!)! I really enjoyed reading Summer of Sloane despite the terrible situation the main character finds herself in within the first two pages of the novel. This is one book that hooked me right away and held my interest until the very end. I even think reading Summer of Sloane in January enhanced my experience since I was craving the beaches being described while I read on the train in my winter coat and scarf.
Sloane McIntyre is a character that it’s impossible not to feel empathy for right off the bat. Within the first two pages of the book we find out that Sloane’s best friend is pregnant. Then we find out that the father of her baby is Sloane’s boyfriend of a year, Tyler. Within a moment Sloane loses the two people closest to her in her life and she’s forced to handle her feelings and the situation without having a best friend to confide in which is something I could never begin to imagine. Lucky for Sloane, she leaving the next morning with her twin, Penn, to stay with her mother who lives in Hawaii for the summer. Sloane gets to put off her problems a bit by decreasing her proximity to them, but as you’d imagine, she can’t completely leave them behind. I have to say that I loved Sloane as a character. She is a lot more mature than an average teenager would be in her situation and with all of the betrayal she’s faced, her instincts still lead her to put others before herself. I found myself rooting for her from page one.
I also really loved how prominent Sloane’s relationships with her mom, dad and brother are. I wish she would’ve spent more time with her Hawaiian best friend Mia but since the book is heavily about her romantic relationship, it’s understandable that her friendship took a backseat to her new love interest. And speaking of love interests, Finn is such an awesome guy! He definitely has his flaws but the positives outweigh the negatives in his case. Again, he has a great relationship with his little sister Luce and Sloane even forms a relationship with her as well. (I feel like inserting the ohana means family quote from Lilo and Stitch here). Summer of Sloane has classic instances of miscommunication between characters and in some cases, the deliberate lack of communication altogether. There was a slight predictability throughout the novel, especially one half of the ending (the other half, I did NOT see coming) but I still managed to be surprised at other points. For the most part, everything wrapped up nicely at the end so a sequel isn’t necessary although I would love an epilogue of some sort or a short story told in Tyler or Mick’s POV.
Final Thoughts: Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider is a cute, beachy contemporary with it’s fair share of drama. The main character loses the two people closest to her within the first couple of pages and she spends the remainder of the novel trying to find herself in Hawaii while visiting her mother along with her twin brother. The Hawaiian setting had me wishing for a beach visit of my own and the characters worked their way into my heart. If you’re a fan of Gayle Foreman but appreciate a bit more humor, I would suggest reading Summer of Sloane.
Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider was one of my most anticipated contemporary releases for 2016, largely because the plot synopsis reminded me of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Who can resist a complicated YA fiction book set in Hawaii?! I know I couldn’t! I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Summer of Sloane in January thanks to Andi who attended ALA and sent me her ARC to borrow (Thanks again Andi!)! I really enjoyed reading Summer of Sloane despite the terrible situation the main character finds herself in within the first two pages of the novel. This is one book that hooked me right away and held my interest until the very end. I even think reading Summer of Sloane in January enhanced my experience since I was craving the beaches being described while I read on the train in my winter coat and scarf.
Sloane McIntyre is a character that it’s impossible not to feel empathy for right off the bat. Within the first two pages of the book we find out that Sloane’s best friend is pregnant. Then we find out that the father of her baby is Sloane’s boyfriend of a year, Tyler. Within a moment Sloane loses the two people closest to her in her life and she’s forced to handle her feelings and the situation without having a best friend to confide in which is something I could never begin to imagine. Lucky for Sloane, she leaving the next morning with her twin, Penn, to stay with her mother who lives in Hawaii for the summer. Sloane gets to put off her problems a bit by decreasing her proximity to them, but as you’d imagine, she can’t completely leave them behind. I have to say that I loved Sloane as a character. She is a lot more mature than an average teenager would be in her situation and with all of the betrayal she’s faced, her instincts still lead her to put others before herself. I found myself rooting for her from page one.
I also really loved how prominent Sloane’s relationships with her mom, dad and brother are. I wish she would’ve spent more time with her Hawaiian best friend Mia but since the book is heavily about her romantic relationship, it’s understandable that her friendship took a backseat to her new love interest. And speaking of love interests, Finn is such an awesome guy! He definitely has his flaws but the positives outweigh the negatives in his case. Again, he has a great relationship with his little sister Luce and Sloane even forms a relationship with her as well. (I feel like inserting the ohana means family quote from Lilo and Stitch here). Summer of Sloane has classic instances of miscommunication between characters and in some cases, the deliberate lack of communication altogether. There was a slight predictability throughout the novel, especially one half of the ending (the other half, I did NOT see coming) but I still managed to be surprised at other points. For the most part, everything wrapped up nicely at the end so a sequel isn’t necessary although I would love an epilogue of some sort or a short story told in Tyler or Mick’s POV.
Final Thoughts: Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider is a cute, beachy contemporary with it’s fair share of drama. The main character loses the two people closest to her within the first couple of pages and she spends the remainder of the novel trying to find herself in Hawaii while visiting her mother along with her twin brother. The Hawaiian setting had me wishing for a beach visit of my own and the characters worked their way into my heart. If you’re a fan of Gayle Foreman but appreciate a bit more humor, I would suggest reading Summer of Sloane.
May 3, 2016
I’m so glad I signed up for this Sunday Street Team opportunity, because I just loved this book. Erin did such an amazing job with her debut novel. I received a copy from Netgalley to review, and ended up giving this book 5 out of 5 stars (and added it to my favorites list).
The writing in this book was incredible. It felt like you were watching a movie play out, or reading Sloane’s personal diary, or something else equally amazing. I didn’t want to put this book down at all. It’s definitely a book that you could read in one sitting. I unfortunately had plans and couldn’t do so, but when I re-read this book many times for years to come, I’m sure it’ll be a ‘one sitting’ book.
Sloane was a fantastic main character. The beginning of the book started out intense, and I felt terrible for her. But quickly things start turning around once she went to Hawaii. The beautiful imagery and overall atmosphere of the Hawaii trip made me want to visit there ASAP. I really enjoyed Sloane’s family: her twin brother Penn, her dad, and her mom/stepdad (although you don’t see that much of the stepdad). I thought they were all pretty likeable characters. Sloane’s Hawaii friends, old and new, were pretty fantastic as well…especially Finn. Cue swooning.
I loved Finn’s character so much. He made me mad a couple times while I was reading, but I couldn’t stay mad at him for long. He’s so much better than Tyler, the toolbag. I hated, hated, hated Tyler’s character vehemently throughout the whole book, except not quite as much towards the end. He still sucked though. Finn makes such an excellent addition to my book boyfriend list, up near the top.
In addition to adoring Finn, I also adored his little sister Luce. She was a good secondary character that helped move things along throughout the book. The backstories for most of the people in the book were kind of tragic, but most people do have some tragedy in their lives. I think that’s another aspect that makes this book so real, so perfect.
I only kept track of one funny line while reading: "It looks fast and slightly dangerous and I have to admit, it makes me feel kinda like a badass. Well, in a might-pee-my-pants badass kind of way." I spent most of the time just swept up into the story that I didn’t stop to write down lines.
Final note: Such an amazing debut novel! I’m recommending this to anyone who enjoys contemporary books. I ordered a copy for my personal library, and can't wait to re-read this beauty over and over again.
The writing in this book was incredible. It felt like you were watching a movie play out, or reading Sloane’s personal diary, or something else equally amazing. I didn’t want to put this book down at all. It’s definitely a book that you could read in one sitting. I unfortunately had plans and couldn’t do so, but when I re-read this book many times for years to come, I’m sure it’ll be a ‘one sitting’ book.
Sloane was a fantastic main character. The beginning of the book started out intense, and I felt terrible for her. But quickly things start turning around once she went to Hawaii. The beautiful imagery and overall atmosphere of the Hawaii trip made me want to visit there ASAP. I really enjoyed Sloane’s family: her twin brother Penn, her dad, and her mom/stepdad (although you don’t see that much of the stepdad). I thought they were all pretty likeable characters. Sloane’s Hawaii friends, old and new, were pretty fantastic as well…especially Finn. Cue swooning.
I loved Finn’s character so much. He made me mad a couple times while I was reading, but I couldn’t stay mad at him for long. He’s so much better than Tyler, the toolbag. I hated, hated, hated Tyler’s character vehemently throughout the whole book, except not quite as much towards the end. He still sucked though. Finn makes such an excellent addition to my book boyfriend list, up near the top.
In addition to adoring Finn, I also adored his little sister Luce. She was a good secondary character that helped move things along throughout the book. The backstories for most of the people in the book were kind of tragic, but most people do have some tragedy in their lives. I think that’s another aspect that makes this book so real, so perfect.
I only kept track of one funny line while reading: "It looks fast and slightly dangerous and I have to admit, it makes me feel kinda like a badass. Well, in a might-pee-my-pants badass kind of way." I spent most of the time just swept up into the story that I didn’t stop to write down lines.
Final note: Such an amazing debut novel! I’m recommending this to anyone who enjoys contemporary books. I ordered a copy for my personal library, and can't wait to re-read this beauty over and over again.
April 15, 2016
I admit readily that I wasn't expecting to love this book. I thought I might like it pretty well, because it's about Hawaii and I adore Hawaii, but it's not my usual genre, not my usual style, so that's as far as my expectations go... And there's a lesson in here about making assumptions based on genre and style, or something, because I was so wrong, and I'm an idiot, and this book is REALLY GREAT.
The book description (cheating boyfriend, betraying best friend, hot new dude) are really just the bare-bones premise of what this book is about. There's so much more going on here--complicated, imperfect people families dealing with change and difficulties, really smart insights about trust and resentment and what forgiveness means, who is responsible for how people move on after trust has been betrayed. Sloane is a fantastic character--she's far from perfect, and her hurt is felt deeply, and her reactions honest and true.
It's a thoughtful, emotionally complex book--all taking place in a stunning Hawaiian setting. Definitely recommended, and I am looking forward to whatever Erin Schneider writes next.
The book description (cheating boyfriend, betraying best friend, hot new dude) are really just the bare-bones premise of what this book is about. There's so much more going on here--complicated, imperfect people families dealing with change and difficulties, really smart insights about trust and resentment and what forgiveness means, who is responsible for how people move on after trust has been betrayed. Sloane is a fantastic character--she's far from perfect, and her hurt is felt deeply, and her reactions honest and true.
It's a thoughtful, emotionally complex book--all taking place in a stunning Hawaiian setting. Definitely recommended, and I am looking forward to whatever Erin Schneider writes next.
March 3, 2016
An emotionally intense beach read that manages to stay fun and romantic. Great sibling relationships, believable conflicts between current and former best friends, ex-boyfriends, summer flings....this has it all for lovers of contemporary teen fiction. Sloane's voice feels authentic and so does her inner turmoil. Should make for a wonderful summer read.
More later, when I'm in a review-writing mood, as I kinda want to flail a bit about the character interactions.
More later, when I'm in a review-writing mood, as I kinda want to flail a bit about the character interactions.
May 8, 2016
Summer of Sloane by Erin L Schneider
Disney-Hyperion
Release date: May 3, 2016
I give this book 4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a nonfiction YA contemporary book.
-------------------------------------------------
Here is the summary off of Amazon:
Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she'd be spending at her mom's home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there's no reason Sloane shouldn't enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn't always play by the rules, she knows he's the perfect distraction from everything that's so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn't nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane's carefree summer might not be as easy to come by as she'd hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.
-------------------------------------------------
I will try my best to not put any spoilers in this review. Saying that, there may be a few mild spoilers, so beware.
"But right now, the next few months are all about you, all about the fun you're going to have... It's all about the summer of Sloane!"
That beginning. Oh my gosh. That is an opening.
I could not put this book down. I read for about an hour and finished 25% of it. So it's not a crazy difficult book to read. It's fluffy, which isn't a bad thing. It reminds me of The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han and also has a vibe like Stephanie Perkins puts out in her Anna, Lola, and Isla books.
If you enjoy reading books about love triangles this is one for you. If not then you should probably skip this one since the very first page starts off kind of sketchy.
I am particularly enjoying this book because I can relate to it about 85% of the time. Also because I love books with twins. Sloane and Penn are no exception. I really like the relationship between Luce and Finn. When siblings get along and protect each other in stories, it makes it so much more enjoyable. Schneider really does well when describing Hawaii. It makes me as the reader feel like I could be there too. Sloane is a sweet girl.
More then half way through the book and I feel like it's getting a little cheesy. Nothing big since the first chapter is really happening. It seems a little repetitive. I do enjoy the banter between the characters though.
One thing that really annoys me in this book is how the characters are all 17-18, except for one or two 12-13 year olds, but they all drink a lot. I understand. I was 17-18 once but I hate that this is one of the main focuses of the book. Maybe it's because I have small kids that I am annoyed but I wouldn't want them to read this at 14-18 and be tempted into trying some of the things in this book. The same way I wouldn't want them to watch a show with the same content. Having a summer job is responsible and a good message to teenagers but underage drinking, especially being condoned by the parents is not. Trust me I get it but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
So I'm eating my words. Something else big happens. It isn't what I was expecting but I was expecting something big. I just didn't realize it would take so long to happen.
I really enjoyed Sloane's time in Hawaii but I honestly couldn't get myself to care much about the people back in Seattle because Sloane didn't care about them. She only ever talked bad about Mick and Tyler so I didn't really care what was going on back 'home'.
Another aspect I really did enjoy was the camaraderie between all the girls in the novel. It was refreshing to have all the girls want to be friends instead of enemies. At least in the part of the story we get to read.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had some flaws for me that I mentioned above but it was a cute, fluffy read that didn't take me long to finish. It is reminiscent of Effortless with You by Lizzie Charles or My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick along with the other books I mentioned before. If you like contemporary novels with some love, drama, and summer romances then this is he perfect book for you.
"...everyone is responsible for their own actions; it's just a matter of what they choose to do. And what we choose to do in response."
Disney-Hyperion
Release date: May 3, 2016
I give this book 4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a nonfiction YA contemporary book.
-------------------------------------------------
Here is the summary off of Amazon:
Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.
These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she'd be spending at her mom's home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.
Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there's no reason Sloane shouldn't enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn't always play by the rules, she knows he's the perfect distraction from everything that's so wrong back home.
But it turns out a measly ocean isn't nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane's carefree summer might not be as easy to come by as she'd hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.
-------------------------------------------------
I will try my best to not put any spoilers in this review. Saying that, there may be a few mild spoilers, so beware.
"But right now, the next few months are all about you, all about the fun you're going to have... It's all about the summer of Sloane!"
That beginning. Oh my gosh. That is an opening.
I could not put this book down. I read for about an hour and finished 25% of it. So it's not a crazy difficult book to read. It's fluffy, which isn't a bad thing. It reminds me of The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han and also has a vibe like Stephanie Perkins puts out in her Anna, Lola, and Isla books.
If you enjoy reading books about love triangles this is one for you. If not then you should probably skip this one since the very first page starts off kind of sketchy.
I am particularly enjoying this book because I can relate to it about 85% of the time. Also because I love books with twins. Sloane and Penn are no exception. I really like the relationship between Luce and Finn. When siblings get along and protect each other in stories, it makes it so much more enjoyable. Schneider really does well when describing Hawaii. It makes me as the reader feel like I could be there too. Sloane is a sweet girl.
More then half way through the book and I feel like it's getting a little cheesy. Nothing big since the first chapter is really happening. It seems a little repetitive. I do enjoy the banter between the characters though.
One thing that really annoys me in this book is how the characters are all 17-18, except for one or two 12-13 year olds, but they all drink a lot. I understand. I was 17-18 once but I hate that this is one of the main focuses of the book. Maybe it's because I have small kids that I am annoyed but I wouldn't want them to read this at 14-18 and be tempted into trying some of the things in this book. The same way I wouldn't want them to watch a show with the same content. Having a summer job is responsible and a good message to teenagers but underage drinking, especially being condoned by the parents is not. Trust me I get it but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
So I'm eating my words. Something else big happens. It isn't what I was expecting but I was expecting something big. I just didn't realize it would take so long to happen.
I really enjoyed Sloane's time in Hawaii but I honestly couldn't get myself to care much about the people back in Seattle because Sloane didn't care about them. She only ever talked bad about Mick and Tyler so I didn't really care what was going on back 'home'.
Another aspect I really did enjoy was the camaraderie between all the girls in the novel. It was refreshing to have all the girls want to be friends instead of enemies. At least in the part of the story we get to read.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It had some flaws for me that I mentioned above but it was a cute, fluffy read that didn't take me long to finish. It is reminiscent of Effortless with You by Lizzie Charles or My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick along with the other books I mentioned before. If you like contemporary novels with some love, drama, and summer romances then this is he perfect book for you.
"...everyone is responsible for their own actions; it's just a matter of what they choose to do. And what we choose to do in response."
March 25, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this novel in exchange for an honest review and this in no way affects my opinion of the book.
I am so unbelievably happy that I got a chance to review this novel as it was one of the best novels I've read in quite a while. As all of my close friends know, I absolutely despise winter. I hate the cold weather, I hate being cold, I hate having to scrape off my car windows. I always get very tired and down when winter hits and I had been feeling those blues a lot lately when I received this novel. This novel was everything I needed to help me fight off the winter blues.
The story starts with Sloane finding out an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend and her best friend. Sloane then leaves Seattle with a fractured hand and a broken heart. Upon arriving in Hawaii to spend the summer with her mom and her brother, Sloane hopes that this will be exactly what she needs. A summer away from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, a summer of fun and relaxation.
This novel was warm, flirty, fun and everything I could have hoped for. I literally could not put this novel down as I was so captivated and I am so thankful that I didn't have to work until late in the evening so I could lie on the couch all day and just completely devour this wonderful story. I would have been tempted to call in sick to work just to finish this novel had I needed to work earlier. I only have and need two words for this novel: Absolute perfection.
Though Sloane makes plenty of mistakes throughout this novel and had lots of problems, this only makes her a more believable character. She acts and reacts exactly as I would have in her shoes at that age. She goes through a lot in a short period of time and handles it all relatively well. She is one tough chick but what she goes through breaks her. Thankfully she has some good friends in Hawaii who will help her have a good summer and move on.
And then enters Finn. Now don't even get me started on Finn! Every book needs one delicious male character and boy did this novel ever! Finn is exactly what Sloane needs to get her mind off of everything that happened back in Seattle. He is sweet, caring, adventurous, and I've mentioned it before, YUMMY!
I don't usually read a lot of contemporary novels as I usually stick with fantasy, but this novel reminded me how much I can enjoy contemporary and how I need to step away from fantasy every once in awhile as there are some wonderful novels out there that I am missing.
I will be thrusting this novel at every person that I know. I cannot sing enough praise for the amazing writing of Erin L. Schneider.
I am so unbelievably happy that I got a chance to review this novel as it was one of the best novels I've read in quite a while. As all of my close friends know, I absolutely despise winter. I hate the cold weather, I hate being cold, I hate having to scrape off my car windows. I always get very tired and down when winter hits and I had been feeling those blues a lot lately when I received this novel. This novel was everything I needed to help me fight off the winter blues.
The story starts with Sloane finding out an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend and her best friend. Sloane then leaves Seattle with a fractured hand and a broken heart. Upon arriving in Hawaii to spend the summer with her mom and her brother, Sloane hopes that this will be exactly what she needs. A summer away from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, a summer of fun and relaxation.
This novel was warm, flirty, fun and everything I could have hoped for. I literally could not put this novel down as I was so captivated and I am so thankful that I didn't have to work until late in the evening so I could lie on the couch all day and just completely devour this wonderful story. I would have been tempted to call in sick to work just to finish this novel had I needed to work earlier. I only have and need two words for this novel: Absolute perfection.
Though Sloane makes plenty of mistakes throughout this novel and had lots of problems, this only makes her a more believable character. She acts and reacts exactly as I would have in her shoes at that age. She goes through a lot in a short period of time and handles it all relatively well. She is one tough chick but what she goes through breaks her. Thankfully she has some good friends in Hawaii who will help her have a good summer and move on.
And then enters Finn. Now don't even get me started on Finn! Every book needs one delicious male character and boy did this novel ever! Finn is exactly what Sloane needs to get her mind off of everything that happened back in Seattle. He is sweet, caring, adventurous, and I've mentioned it before, YUMMY!
I don't usually read a lot of contemporary novels as I usually stick with fantasy, but this novel reminded me how much I can enjoy contemporary and how I need to step away from fantasy every once in awhile as there are some wonderful novels out there that I am missing.
I will be thrusting this novel at every person that I know. I cannot sing enough praise for the amazing writing of Erin L. Schneider.
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