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The Summers
For Kate Sommers, there’s nothing that compares to summer at her family’s beach house on Cape Cod: the ocean breezes, the clam bakes, the boys. She and her three sisters seemed to have all their “firsts” over those long months—first job, first party, first crush. Kate’s first crush is her only crush—Ryan Landry, the boy next door, and her older sister Eliza’s on-again, off-again summer fling.
But it’s been three years since Kate and her sisters have spent a summer in Cape Cod. When their mom died, no one could imagine going back without her. Now eighteen, the whole Sommers family is headed to the Cape for Eliza’s wedding and Kate must find the strength to be there for her family.
When Kate spots Ryan, she realizes how much has changed since he last set eyes on her. She isn’t the gawky fifteen-year-old that she once was, and this could be the summer that Ryan finally takes notice. Eliza says she’s moved on, but Kate knows better than anyone that Ryan Landry isn’t the kind of guy you give up without a fight...
But it’s been three years since Kate and her sisters have spent a summer in Cape Cod. When their mom died, no one could imagine going back without her. Now eighteen, the whole Sommers family is headed to the Cape for Eliza’s wedding and Kate must find the strength to be there for her family.
When Kate spots Ryan, she realizes how much has changed since he last set eyes on her. She isn’t the gawky fifteen-year-old that she once was, and this could be the summer that Ryan finally takes notice. Eliza says she’s moved on, but Kate knows better than anyone that Ryan Landry isn’t the kind of guy you give up without a fight...
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2014
194 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Iva-Marie Palmer
11 books270 followersIva-Marie Palmer is the author of the young adult novels Gimme Everything You Got and The End of the World as We Know It. She also wrote the Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook series and Oh My Dog! for middle grade readers, as well as the books Romeo, Juliet and Jim and the Edgar Award-nominated The Jules Verne Prophecy with co-writer Larry Schwarz. Christmas People is her first adult novel.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 2, 2020
This was okay. I’m not sure if it was the story or the narrator that made it meh. The narrator has a nice voice, but her reading of the story felt flat.
The story takes place over a summer and it focuses on a teen with complicated emotions and family dynamics. There were four daughters, but the youngest barely made an appearance. I forgot she existed.
Some of the scenes didn’t make sense to me and didn’t have relevance to the story.
There were some interesting moments. I liked how Kate (the MC) was able to see beyond herself towards the end of the book. But at that age we are all a bit egocentric.
The story takes place over a summer and it focuses on a teen with complicated emotions and family dynamics. There were four daughters, but the youngest barely made an appearance. I forgot she existed.
Some of the scenes didn’t make sense to me and didn’t have relevance to the story.
There were some interesting moments. I liked how Kate (the MC) was able to see beyond herself towards the end of the book. But at that age we are all a bit egocentric.
August 5, 2023
Perfect summer read I loved it and it made my heart so happy 🥰🥰
dnf-2023
September 18, 2023The narrator sucked so bad . Give the book more life please
September 30, 2014
When author Iva-Marie Palmer sent me a message on Twitter offering me not only the opportunity to host a giveaway for a Kindle Paperwhite and other bits and bobs, but also the opportunity to read and review her novel The Summers, I was quite pleased. It sounded like a wonderful novel, set in Cape Cod (which makes a change as it's usually the Hamptons!) and I was very excited to download the novel to my Kindle. I love Young Adult books - they very rarely fail to make me happy - they're not as angsty as New Adult (some are, I'm sure, but I like the light-hearted ones, okay?) and if I ever feel like I need a lighter read, with a bit of sweet romance, Young Adult is usually the genre I lean towards as it ticks all of those boxes, and I was very, very interested to meet Ryan Landry.
Being a British person, it's quite unfathomable to me that American's travel to somewhere each summer for two or three months - in England, we maybe go on a fortnight's holiday (or, as I live in Tenerife, I don't go on holiday at all, and because I'm in full-time employment, I get four weeks holiday a year, that I can't take all in one go) so I live for these novels that are set in these glorious communities - Nantucket, Cape Cod, The Hamptons, where you can just celebrate Summer the way you're supposed to - hang out with friends, maybe get a little job for extra money, meet a cute guy.... They're living the dream, and I'm extraordinarily jealous. The Summers is one of those glorious types of novels I love, although it's tinged with a hint of sadness as the Sommers are returning to their beach house, after three years away, after the death of their mother.
Even though the Sommers family have been away from the Cape for so long, it's still like arriving somewhere comfortable, where you know everyone. There's the Landry's next door, and Kate's had a crush on their oldest son Ryan since she can remember, desperate for him to notice her, even though he's three years older. It's that wonderfully comfy-cozy, girl-next-door and boy-next-door typical romance and it just makes me sigh and wish to be American, and to live in Cape Cod. I thought it was so great that Kate and Ryan got on like a house on fire, straight away. No awkwardness, no skirting around each other, it was great. But my favourite aspect of the novel was Kate's absolute ambition to be a writer. I really admire an 18-year-old who knows she wants to be a writer and her story ideas were awesome. I loved the idea of the lady who maps things, I would actually read that.
I wasn't so hot on Kate keeping her romance with Ryan a secret. I could understand her reticence, since her sister had him as a summer fling three years previous, but at the end of the day Eliza was getting married so it was kinda irrelevent to the story, so she should have just manned up and told her. For a dish like Ryan, why wouldn't you?! I enjoyed getting to know Kate's sisters - and if Iva-Marie felt up to it, I'm sure we could have books about all four of the Sommers sisters... I particularly liked strong-minded Tea. She knew what she wanted, and a story about her would be all kinds of awesome. The ending was perhaps my least favourite part of the novel, because it was the ultimate in frustrating endings (and I've had my share of those this year). It just ended. With no real word on what would happen next... It wasn't definitive enough, and I like my endings definitive with a full stop. Even an Epilogue would have worked for me, but not what we got, which was kinda disappointing. Overall though, it's a great little beach read, perfect for lazy summer days.This review was originally posted on Girls Love To Read
Being a British person, it's quite unfathomable to me that American's travel to somewhere each summer for two or three months - in England, we maybe go on a fortnight's holiday (or, as I live in Tenerife, I don't go on holiday at all, and because I'm in full-time employment, I get four weeks holiday a year, that I can't take all in one go) so I live for these novels that are set in these glorious communities - Nantucket, Cape Cod, The Hamptons, where you can just celebrate Summer the way you're supposed to - hang out with friends, maybe get a little job for extra money, meet a cute guy.... They're living the dream, and I'm extraordinarily jealous. The Summers is one of those glorious types of novels I love, although it's tinged with a hint of sadness as the Sommers are returning to their beach house, after three years away, after the death of their mother.
Even though the Sommers family have been away from the Cape for so long, it's still like arriving somewhere comfortable, where you know everyone. There's the Landry's next door, and Kate's had a crush on their oldest son Ryan since she can remember, desperate for him to notice her, even though he's three years older. It's that wonderfully comfy-cozy, girl-next-door and boy-next-door typical romance and it just makes me sigh and wish to be American, and to live in Cape Cod. I thought it was so great that Kate and Ryan got on like a house on fire, straight away. No awkwardness, no skirting around each other, it was great. But my favourite aspect of the novel was Kate's absolute ambition to be a writer. I really admire an 18-year-old who knows she wants to be a writer and her story ideas were awesome. I loved the idea of the lady who maps things, I would actually read that.
I wasn't so hot on Kate keeping her romance with Ryan a secret. I could understand her reticence, since her sister had him as a summer fling three years previous, but at the end of the day Eliza was getting married so it was kinda irrelevent to the story, so she should have just manned up and told her. For a dish like Ryan, why wouldn't you?! I enjoyed getting to know Kate's sisters - and if Iva-Marie felt up to it, I'm sure we could have books about all four of the Sommers sisters... I particularly liked strong-minded Tea. She knew what she wanted, and a story about her would be all kinds of awesome. The ending was perhaps my least favourite part of the novel, because it was the ultimate in frustrating endings (and I've had my share of those this year). It just ended. With no real word on what would happen next... It wasn't definitive enough, and I like my endings definitive with a full stop. Even an Epilogue would have worked for me, but not what we got, which was kinda disappointing. Overall though, it's a great little beach read, perfect for lazy summer days.This review was originally posted on Girls Love To Read
October 1, 2015
Blurb:
For Kate Sommers, there’s nothing that compares to summer at her family’s beach house on Cape Cod: the ocean breezes, the clam bakes, the boys. She and her three sisters seemed to have all their “firsts” over those long months—first job, first party, first crush. Kate’s first crush is her only crush—Ryan Landry, the boy next door, and her older sister Eliza’s on-again, off-again summer fling.
But it’s been three years since Kate and her sisters have spent a summer in Cape Cod. When their mom died, no one could imagine going back without her. Now eighteen, the whole Sommers family is headed to the Cape for Eliza’s wedding and Kate must find the strength to be there for her family.
When Kate spots Ryan, she realizes how much has changed since he last set eyes on her. She isn’t the gawky fifteen-year-old that she once was, and this could be the summer that Ryan finally takes notice. Eliza says she’s moved on, but Kate knows better than anyone that Ryan Landry isn’t the kind of guy you give up without a fight...
To be young again and to feel the butterflies in your stomach when you see that first love. I really enjoyed the story.
For Kate Sommers, there’s nothing that compares to summer at her family’s beach house on Cape Cod: the ocean breezes, the clam bakes, the boys. She and her three sisters seemed to have all their “firsts” over those long months—first job, first party, first crush. Kate’s first crush is her only crush—Ryan Landry, the boy next door, and her older sister Eliza’s on-again, off-again summer fling.
But it’s been three years since Kate and her sisters have spent a summer in Cape Cod. When their mom died, no one could imagine going back without her. Now eighteen, the whole Sommers family is headed to the Cape for Eliza’s wedding and Kate must find the strength to be there for her family.
When Kate spots Ryan, she realizes how much has changed since he last set eyes on her. She isn’t the gawky fifteen-year-old that she once was, and this could be the summer that Ryan finally takes notice. Eliza says she’s moved on, but Kate knows better than anyone that Ryan Landry isn’t the kind of guy you give up without a fight...
To be young again and to feel the butterflies in your stomach when you see that first love. I really enjoyed the story.
August 18, 2014
SORRY was not a huge fan of this book.
I had to DNF at 64% when Kate and her sister decided to spy/ stalk Ryan's ex girlfriend. The ex girlfriend didn't even have her own dialogue, and she already got herself a stalker. I mean I wasn't a huge fan of Kate from the beginning, but this was totally the last straw.
I had to DNF at 64% when Kate and her sister decided to spy/ stalk Ryan's ex girlfriend. The ex girlfriend didn't even have her own dialogue, and she already got herself a stalker. I mean I wasn't a huge fan of Kate from the beginning, but this was totally the last straw.
Read
August 16, 2014Summers...way too short!
I enjoyed the storyline between the sisters and ultimately the love interest but it ended very anticlimactic. I did get very emotional as the author indulged in the loss of the family member...hoped for a much more exciting ending!
I enjoyed the storyline between the sisters and ultimately the love interest but it ended very anticlimactic. I did get very emotional as the author indulged in the loss of the family member...hoped for a much more exciting ending!
February 8, 2016
3.5 stars
A cute story that deals with a lot of family issues. In some instances, I think we could've used more info on things, but it's a fun, easy read nonetheless. I was worried the ending was going to leave us hanging, and was ready to rage, but it wrapped up nicely.
I enjoyed the characters a lot. Kate was a bit annoying at times, but I could understand considering she was always in her older sister's shadow. She grew on me, and by the end, I was rooting for her HEA. Ryan was cute, but seemed immature for 21 in a few scenes. Then a chapter later he'd be more like a 30 year-old man. Don't get me wrong, I loved him, but I just felt he was written inconsistently.
This is a romance, but more importantly it's about reconnecting with family and dealing with loss. Again, I kinda wanted more detail on what happened to the mother, but we never got that. Was she sick? Was it sudden? An accident? Murder? We are left in the dark, so that also was a reason I didn't rate it higher. The dad is basically non-existent in the story, which makes sense I suppose. But that actually made the loss of his wife seem more recent than three years prior. Again, just a little thing, but sometimes the little things matter most.
Overall, The Summers is a cute story. Something to read when you're in the mood to just sit back and enjoy something simple. There's no angst. Not much real drama. Just plain fun.
A cute story that deals with a lot of family issues. In some instances, I think we could've used more info on things, but it's a fun, easy read nonetheless. I was worried the ending was going to leave us hanging, and was ready to rage, but it wrapped up nicely.
I enjoyed the characters a lot. Kate was a bit annoying at times, but I could understand considering she was always in her older sister's shadow. She grew on me, and by the end, I was rooting for her HEA. Ryan was cute, but seemed immature for 21 in a few scenes. Then a chapter later he'd be more like a 30 year-old man. Don't get me wrong, I loved him, but I just felt he was written inconsistently.
This is a romance, but more importantly it's about reconnecting with family and dealing with loss. Again, I kinda wanted more detail on what happened to the mother, but we never got that. Was she sick? Was it sudden? An accident? Murder? We are left in the dark, so that also was a reason I didn't rate it higher. The dad is basically non-existent in the story, which makes sense I suppose. But that actually made the loss of his wife seem more recent than three years prior. Again, just a little thing, but sometimes the little things matter most.
Overall, The Summers is a cute story. Something to read when you're in the mood to just sit back and enjoy something simple. There's no angst. Not much real drama. Just plain fun.
December 1, 2014
I was expecting a different ending
It was good, I just wish she could of done a five years later kind of thing; like The Summer I Turned Pretty... or a sequel!
It was good, I just wish she could of done a five years later kind of thing; like The Summer I Turned Pretty... or a sequel!
May 2, 2015
Read my full review HERE at Into the Hall of Books.
I chose to read The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer because I love summer romances and because I wanted something nice and easy to read + listen to while I'm reading a couple of lengthier, more difficult stories -- good choice, because it delivered.
Kate Sommers has been coming to Cape Cod for summer vacation along with her sisters and parents for years...but this changes when her mother dies. After three years of not returning to their beach house, they do return for a purpose - Kate's sister is getting married and has chosen the beach as her venue. It's tough for them to return without their mother, but they each turn their grieving energies into an activity and push through while they plan for sister Eliza's wedding. Kate takes a job working for a published author while she also falls in love. But is this a summer romance? Or is this a romance that will last beyond summer vacation?
The Summers is never a heavy book despite the sadness in learning that Kate's mother has died - this is something we learn early, in the first chapter if I remember correctly. The sisters arrive at the beach house before their father (who is having a more difficult time with his grief) - they go in together and just...face the place, all of the memories, the fact that this year, she isn't coming the house with them. I did not feel sad; I felt uplifted by their sister relationship, because great ones are always attractive in stories. Another thing that these sisters face early-on is the condolences of friends and neighbors and people that they've known for ages - remember most of these people haven't seen them in about three years. These are the people with the serious we're-so-sorry faces and the ones that want to say something but never quite know what to say. I love that rather than avoid these times and people altogether, the sisters decide to go to a summer-kickoff party and deal with these moments all at once.
It isn't long after their return that Kate has found an old crush madly re-ignited - Ryan Landry. Ryan is her older sister Eliza's past summer fling - she used to date Ryan during the summers, multiple summers, so he was always off-limits to Kate. But now Eliza is getting married, so certainly she shouldn't care if Kate likes Ryan, right? When Kate finds out that Ryan feels the same, they begin secretly dating - Kate doesn't want Eliza to find out right away. Ryan agrees for a while, and things go really well and the two have a great summer romance. Their secret is bound to come out soon enough...but how?
Okay, so here is what I love: I love the sibling bonds between Kate and her sisters and between some of the other characters in the story. I love the way Kate and her sisters rally behind their father when he isn't as far along in his grieving process as they are - they understand his need to not be at their vacation home as much as they are - this is sweet. I love that there is an understanding that their mother has died but that this book isn't a grieving book - this is a summer romance and the book stays true to that while also keeping Kate's mom's memory alive and well throughout the story, never too heavy, never too sad. I love the romance between Kate and Ryan - it feels true to me, very fresh and new and experimental and sweet. Their interaction is clunky at times, but young love always is no matter what television and romance novels say, and I LOVE THIS. SO MUCH. And I love that there is a realistic portrayal of the intensity of their feelings toward one another. Love this romance aspect.
About the relationship being a secret: I have some feelings about that, but I'm not sure what they are. I understand Kate's initial hesitancy because this guy used to be her sister's summer boyfriend, but hey Kate, if you have a question about things, talk to your sister who has obviously moved on from Ryan! I think it is a big lesson for Kate that Ryan's feelings are hurt by wanting to keep him a secret, and a very realistic one. AND I really like Ryan as a character and love interest, so maybe that's why I do not love the secret-aspect of the story. HOWEVER, the way everything finally unfolds doesn't feel very dramatic or too tension-filled or angsty, so this keeps the story flowing and manages to keep Kate likable for me - I think she was acts like a young person does, and young people do things that are, in hindsight, not always the best or the smartest of decisions. So, secret relationships? Sometimes needed, sometimes not, relative to individual stories - is this how I feel? Maybe. Probably. In this situation, I would love to sit down and have a little talk with Kate about how she went about things. Moving on...
The Summers wrapped up kind-of quickly, and I find myself wondering how things are working out for these two. I wouldn't have minded a little more. I wouldn't mind more stories about this family, either! I like them. All-in-all, I enjoyed this quick, fun, summer read. I recommend The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer for people that enjoy summer romances and great sibling relationships. This was an easy story to become immersed in and I think it would be fun for a pool read or a beach read or perhaps something between heavier stories.
Audiobook Notes: The audiobook format of The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer is published by Brilliance Audio and is 7 hours and 16 minutes, Unabridged. It is narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who did a pretty good job with reading Kate with all of her uncertainties and overbearing moments and swooning over Ryan, with all of her insecurities and vulnerabilities and shared-sister time. Given that the end of the book was rushed, I found myself rewinding the audiobook and listening to the last chapter three times to really grasp the ending of the book before I decided to just read the last chapter without the audio accompaniment. So...this was not my very favorite audiobook ever, but it was produced and read well, and I would still recommend it for first reads or rereads.
I chose to read The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer because I love summer romances and because I wanted something nice and easy to read + listen to while I'm reading a couple of lengthier, more difficult stories -- good choice, because it delivered.
Kate Sommers has been coming to Cape Cod for summer vacation along with her sisters and parents for years...but this changes when her mother dies. After three years of not returning to their beach house, they do return for a purpose - Kate's sister is getting married and has chosen the beach as her venue. It's tough for them to return without their mother, but they each turn their grieving energies into an activity and push through while they plan for sister Eliza's wedding. Kate takes a job working for a published author while she also falls in love. But is this a summer romance? Or is this a romance that will last beyond summer vacation?
*********************************************
The Summers is never a heavy book despite the sadness in learning that Kate's mother has died - this is something we learn early, in the first chapter if I remember correctly. The sisters arrive at the beach house before their father (who is having a more difficult time with his grief) - they go in together and just...face the place, all of the memories, the fact that this year, she isn't coming the house with them. I did not feel sad; I felt uplifted by their sister relationship, because great ones are always attractive in stories. Another thing that these sisters face early-on is the condolences of friends and neighbors and people that they've known for ages - remember most of these people haven't seen them in about three years. These are the people with the serious we're-so-sorry faces and the ones that want to say something but never quite know what to say. I love that rather than avoid these times and people altogether, the sisters decide to go to a summer-kickoff party and deal with these moments all at once.
It isn't long after their return that Kate has found an old crush madly re-ignited - Ryan Landry. Ryan is her older sister Eliza's past summer fling - she used to date Ryan during the summers, multiple summers, so he was always off-limits to Kate. But now Eliza is getting married, so certainly she shouldn't care if Kate likes Ryan, right? When Kate finds out that Ryan feels the same, they begin secretly dating - Kate doesn't want Eliza to find out right away. Ryan agrees for a while, and things go really well and the two have a great summer romance. Their secret is bound to come out soon enough...but how?
*********************************************
Okay, so here is what I love: I love the sibling bonds between Kate and her sisters and between some of the other characters in the story. I love the way Kate and her sisters rally behind their father when he isn't as far along in his grieving process as they are - they understand his need to not be at their vacation home as much as they are - this is sweet. I love that there is an understanding that their mother has died but that this book isn't a grieving book - this is a summer romance and the book stays true to that while also keeping Kate's mom's memory alive and well throughout the story, never too heavy, never too sad. I love the romance between Kate and Ryan - it feels true to me, very fresh and new and experimental and sweet. Their interaction is clunky at times, but young love always is no matter what television and romance novels say, and I LOVE THIS. SO MUCH. And I love that there is a realistic portrayal of the intensity of their feelings toward one another. Love this romance aspect.
About the relationship being a secret: I have some feelings about that, but I'm not sure what they are. I understand Kate's initial hesitancy because this guy used to be her sister's summer boyfriend, but hey Kate, if you have a question about things, talk to your sister who has obviously moved on from Ryan! I think it is a big lesson for Kate that Ryan's feelings are hurt by wanting to keep him a secret, and a very realistic one. AND I really like Ryan as a character and love interest, so maybe that's why I do not love the secret-aspect of the story. HOWEVER, the way everything finally unfolds doesn't feel very dramatic or too tension-filled or angsty, so this keeps the story flowing and manages to keep Kate likable for me - I think she was acts like a young person does, and young people do things that are, in hindsight, not always the best or the smartest of decisions. So, secret relationships? Sometimes needed, sometimes not, relative to individual stories - is this how I feel? Maybe. Probably. In this situation, I would love to sit down and have a little talk with Kate about how she went about things. Moving on...
The Summers wrapped up kind-of quickly, and I find myself wondering how things are working out for these two. I wouldn't have minded a little more. I wouldn't mind more stories about this family, either! I like them. All-in-all, I enjoyed this quick, fun, summer read. I recommend The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer for people that enjoy summer romances and great sibling relationships. This was an easy story to become immersed in and I think it would be fun for a pool read or a beach read or perhaps something between heavier stories.
Audiobook Notes: The audiobook format of The Summers by Iva-Marie Palmer is published by Brilliance Audio and is 7 hours and 16 minutes, Unabridged. It is narrated by Whitney Dykhouse who did a pretty good job with reading Kate with all of her uncertainties and overbearing moments and swooning over Ryan, with all of her insecurities and vulnerabilities and shared-sister time. Given that the end of the book was rushed, I found myself rewinding the audiobook and listening to the last chapter three times to really grasp the ending of the book before I decided to just read the last chapter without the audio accompaniment. So...this was not my very favorite audiobook ever, but it was produced and read well, and I would still recommend it for first reads or rereads.
July 31, 2021
3.5 stars. It was a little creepy how Kate and her sister stalked Ryan's ex, and it also didn't make sense that Kate was so scared of telling Eliza about Ryan when Eliza was literally getting married. Kate is an 18 year old, to be fair, so she's supposed to have some ridiculous "teenage" logic. But, I feel like a lot of what she felt about being in Eliza's shadow could've been solved with communication. There were a lot of family issues that were pretty much lingering throughout the book, such as Eliza feeling that Kate wasn't present. I never really got this impression throughout the book, so it kinda caught me off guard when Eliza mentioned it. Because of all her insecurity surrounding her sister, I had a hard time with Kate at the beginning, but I felt bad for her and she grew on me. Although I love the whole childhood-crush-finally-gets-fulfilled trope, I kinda felt like Ryan wasn't really included in the book and he was just...there. I had no problem with his character, and I liked him, it's just that I didn't really feel the chemistry between him and Kate like I was hoping to. Also, I was always wondering how the mom died and thought it would be shown through some big reveal, but then I never got to know, which irked me a little because I want all the info and details! Overall, it's still a light and easy read.
July 25, 2022
Eh. I get where the author was trying to go with this, but it just fell flat. The plot was nothing special (I have read a few different versions of this book that were more successful) and the main character, Kate, was really, really dull. I felt nothing between her and Ryan and honestly, I felt like the whole relationship came out of nowhere. She had been pinning over him for years while he dated her sister and suddenly, he very abruptly wants to date her after not seeing her for years? Like, they barely had a full conversation before he was acting all jealous and they were making out. None of it felt committed. I feel like this might have worked much better if there were fully committed flash back chapters to the two of them together. Or a few scenes in the present where they actually get to know each other before immediately dating?
I must admit I skimmed the parts with the author/her summer job. It was boring. The bits with them all dealing with their mom's death also fell flat in the emotion department for me. So yeah, this read can be summed up as 'MEH'.
I must admit I skimmed the parts with the author/her summer job. It was boring. The bits with them all dealing with their mom's death also fell flat in the emotion department for me. So yeah, this read can be summed up as 'MEH'.
May 26, 2017
4 Crazy Ass Stars!!!!
So I have been listening to this while I ran errands and some housework over the last few days. I enjoyed it. It is based in one of my favorite vacation places, Cape Cod. My family and I lived on the Cape for almost 8 years and now we vacation there every year. While we mainly stay in the Sandwich area and this is more down Cape, there are still tons of things I can identify with. The Fourth of July fireworks for example. We always go over the fourth. My favorite thing of all is to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks go off from Plymouth and all clear nights you can see them all the way in Provincetown. And just like Kate and her sister, my kids do not want to give up our trips to the cape. They love it.
This was a good listen and I can't wait for out annual trip to the Cape even more after listening to this. I may just have to drag the fam down cape this year on a day trip.
So I have been listening to this while I ran errands and some housework over the last few days. I enjoyed it. It is based in one of my favorite vacation places, Cape Cod. My family and I lived on the Cape for almost 8 years and now we vacation there every year. While we mainly stay in the Sandwich area and this is more down Cape, there are still tons of things I can identify with. The Fourth of July fireworks for example. We always go over the fourth. My favorite thing of all is to sit on the beach and watch the fireworks go off from Plymouth and all clear nights you can see them all the way in Provincetown. And just like Kate and her sister, my kids do not want to give up our trips to the cape. They love it.
This was a good listen and I can't wait for out annual trip to the Cape even more after listening to this. I may just have to drag the fam down cape this year on a day trip.
June 13, 2019
Great concept, very predictable, good setting, but not enough for me to be captivated in the characters. Something was lacking for me with them. Perhaps, I just wanted more about the personalities of the 2 sisters or get to know Ryan more besides, OH, HE IS SO “GOOD LOOKING.” Maybe I should just continue reading it & try to finish it but the development of the characters isn’t intriguing to me. It just fading away the more and more I get deep into the book. Mother’s death and going back where they always hang out during the summer years ago is how they cope...they weren’t so much of coping and healing in there. It’s more into a boy next door giving you googly eyed moments & kisses. Too much drama for my taste. I only could do 37% of the book. I truly tried.
June 12, 2025
This was an absolutely perfect summer book, the vibes were so on point for this time of the year and the writing was so amazing. It’s like the summer I turned pretty but less painful, she fed some really stupid things but so does everyone else so it just cancels out, and it was one of the most realistic fiction books I’ve ever read in the best way. The picture was painted so beautifully It was like second nature imagining how everything was and the writing was just accurate but not too wordy so it was so easy to get through. I just thoroughly enjoyed this book and it really reminds me of since you’ve been gone with the writing style. It’s that classic 2000’s teen girl book and I ate it up.
September 21, 2022
Absolutely Awesome
This is a page turner. I knew right away that this book was to be bought. Its a refreshing, well written book. I wish I could be one of your pre readers. This book takes us on a remembered summer journey. A house that is their summer place, a devastating life event, that everyone deals differently with it. A little romance but with a twist and questions. All in all this is not a typical read. It is so much better. This storyline is Sometimes a little heart wrenching and emotional but an Awesome read because we do have the summer. Loved it
This is a page turner. I knew right away that this book was to be bought. Its a refreshing, well written book. I wish I could be one of your pre readers. This book takes us on a remembered summer journey. A house that is their summer place, a devastating life event, that everyone deals differently with it. A little romance but with a twist and questions. All in all this is not a typical read. It is so much better. This storyline is Sometimes a little heart wrenching and emotional but an Awesome read because we do have the summer. Loved it
June 23, 2023
I was hoping for a light, nostalgic summer read to help kick off the season and this was just so meh. It didn’t really feel like you got any depth into the characters and while I didn’t hate how quickly the plot moved, it also wasn’t moving. And tbh it really needed an epilogue or something. That ending was so unsatisfying
June 17, 2017
Breezy Beachy Fun
Well crafted and an easy, enjoyable read. Covers familiar tropes: siblings, young love, grief without feeling rutted in cliches. Makes the Cape seem pretty dreamy too.
Well crafted and an easy, enjoyable read. Covers familiar tropes: siblings, young love, grief without feeling rutted in cliches. Makes the Cape seem pretty dreamy too.
December 20, 2022
It's a great summer book, loved it and the audiobook
What I liked:
This book made me feel like summer 14' a summer i consider one of my favorites. Brought me back to my teen years.
I like the realistic plot, not too much drama just the necessary.
It was cute and memorable for me
What I liked:
This book made me feel like summer 14' a summer i consider one of my favorites. Brought me back to my teen years.
I like the realistic plot, not too much drama just the necessary.
It was cute and memorable for me
August 7, 2023
Easy read, the entire book felt very rushed, and honestly couldn’t stand Eliza, and even the “redemption” at the end for her felt rushed and didn’t really feel right. It was a story about grief but also wasn’t. Just felt too rushed and could have had a more more details.
May 16, 2024
Cute book!
Similar to “the summer I turned pretty” series but I still enjoyed.
Was hoping there was a second book because the ending is not how I usually like endings. I still enjoyed this easy summer read.
Similar to “the summer I turned pretty” series but I still enjoyed.
Was hoping there was a second book because the ending is not how I usually like endings. I still enjoyed this easy summer read.
May 24, 2025
I don’t know what took my so long to read this book but I’m so glad I did🤗
I loved that Ryan was so awesome and their relationship is so amazing and he’s so sweet😍
Also the double date was so so so so funny😂😆😝
I loved that Ryan was so awesome and their relationship is so amazing and he’s so sweet😍
Also the double date was so so so so funny😂😆😝
January 30, 2018
A good concept, but too much drama for the sake of drama.
July 28, 2022
sweet summer romance!!
Love this quick read! Was in the mood for more summer romance as I just finished the summer I turned pretty and this was 100% what I needed!
Love this quick read! Was in the mood for more summer romance as I just finished the summer I turned pretty and this was 100% what I needed!
July 31, 2023
Cute but not a stand out.
January 24, 2024
Had barely any life it just seemed so dull. Ryan felt boring. Kate and her sister both fell flat. I just felt tired the whole time reading this story. The ending was horrible.
February 22, 2024
Great story line. Wishing for a different ending.
May 17, 2024
3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cute little summer romance.
Cute little summer romance.
March 17, 2025
Great book
Love this book would of love to read another one .......…...............would recommend this book would differently read a part 2
Love this book would of love to read another one .......…...............would recommend this book would differently read a part 2
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