What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Summer of Us
Limpet, Steffan and Jared. Three best friends crammed into a clapped-out rust bucket of a car on a whirlwind road trip to forget their troubles and see out the end of the summer. But no matter how far they drive, they can’t escape the hidden secrets and slow-burning romance that could upset the balance of their friendship – perhaps forever.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
30 people are currently reading
1722 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Harcourt
5 books115 followersMaggie Harcourt was born and raised in Wales, where she grew up dreaming of summer road trips and telling stories for a living. As well as studying Medieval Literature at UCL, Maggie has variously worked as a PA, a hotel chambermaid and for a French chef before realising her dreams and beginning to write full time.
She now lives just outside Bath, UK, where she can usually be found in a bookshop or somewhere near the river. She guards the secret of her favourite coffee shop jealously, because she has the perfect spot picked out there for people-watching.
She now lives just outside Bath, UK, where she can usually be found in a bookshop or somewhere near the river. She guards the secret of her favourite coffee shop jealously, because she has the perfect spot picked out there for people-watching.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
June 2, 2017
We are not our histories, however deep they cut or however much they scar us. Whatever guilt we feel, rightly or wrongly, whatever baggage we carry, it is not all that we are.
Quite unsatisfactory. Considering the rather compact length (212 pages on my Kindle), the book felt so long and seemed to just went on and on. It also lacked interesting characters for me to cheer for.
Which was too bad really because the book sure has great message, like the one example above. But when you don't really feel for the characters, is 'good message' enough to make you like the whole thing?
I guess it wasn't for me in this case.
August 1, 2018
#BookTubeAthon Day 3, Book 2.
Challenge: Read a book about something you want to do.
Our characters are road-tripping!
And it was the most boring of road trips. And story. It started off okay, started dwindling as I read on then felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Even though these characters are going on this road trip because they’re best friends and dealing with different types of losses. I just couldn’t connect to it.
Challenge: Read a book about something you want to do.
Our characters are road-tripping!
And it was the most boring of road trips. And story. It started off okay, started dwindling as I read on then felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Even though these characters are going on this road trip because they’re best friends and dealing with different types of losses. I just couldn’t connect to it.
August 5, 2016
I bought Maggie Harcourt's The Last Summer of Us during my trip to Topping & Company Booksellers in Bath. As it's a summery story about three best friends on a road trip, it seemed like the perfect choice for me on my own trip across the UK!
I picked The Last Summer of Us to be one of my summer reads – and got stuck in shortly before summer ended. The Last Summer of Us begins sadder than expected: Limpet (an affectionate nickname) is attending her mother's funeral and feels suffocated by grief, so leaves the rest of her friends and family to meet her two best friends, Steffan and Jared, by the lake. Shortly after, the three teenagers – who are all struggling with family, life and the future in their own ways – spontaneously embark on a journey through the countryside, cramped together in Steffan's old car.
Limpet, Steffan and Jared were difficult characters to get to know. The Responsible One, The Rich One, The Quiet One. All three are uncomfortable over-sharing, anxious about how they are meant to continue after their last year of school; and find it tough to come to terms with the fact that their parents, the people who they're supposed to look up to, are far from perfect. But I adored the times when the friends just got to be free, happy, and themselves, and the little moments they shared, from Jared 'saving' Limpet from potential axe murderers to Steffan playing the violin, so absorbed that he doesn't notice his travel buddies approaching.
The Last Summer of Us is a different take on the road trip novel and even though I never felt close to Jared, Steffan and Limpet, all flawed and full of angst, I appreciated the chance to take a trip through the Welsh countryside, surprise ostriches and all!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
I picked The Last Summer of Us to be one of my summer reads – and got stuck in shortly before summer ended. The Last Summer of Us begins sadder than expected: Limpet (an affectionate nickname) is attending her mother's funeral and feels suffocated by grief, so leaves the rest of her friends and family to meet her two best friends, Steffan and Jared, by the lake. Shortly after, the three teenagers – who are all struggling with family, life and the future in their own ways – spontaneously embark on a journey through the countryside, cramped together in Steffan's old car.
Limpet, Steffan and Jared were difficult characters to get to know. The Responsible One, The Rich One, The Quiet One. All three are uncomfortable over-sharing, anxious about how they are meant to continue after their last year of school; and find it tough to come to terms with the fact that their parents, the people who they're supposed to look up to, are far from perfect. But I adored the times when the friends just got to be free, happy, and themselves, and the little moments they shared, from Jared 'saving' Limpet from potential axe murderers to Steffan playing the violin, so absorbed that he doesn't notice his travel buddies approaching.
The Last Summer of Us is a different take on the road trip novel and even though I never felt close to Jared, Steffan and Limpet, all flawed and full of angst, I appreciated the chance to take a trip through the Welsh countryside, surprise ostriches and all!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
May 8, 2015
A story of loss, regret and friendship cleverly disguised as a summer road trip filled with humour and future anecdotes. Harcourt has a real talent for balancing both sides of the coin seamlessly.
The Last Summer of Us covers some very serious and touching subjects; the death of a parent, alcoholism, theft, neglect, shame and responsibility, but more than that it’s about friendship – a true friendship that I found myself caring about more than I ever expected.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Welsh friendships so perfectly presented – our penchant to be fiercely loyal while mercilessly taking the mickey out of each other at every opportunity. It’s a trait that I’ve found to be rare elsewhere, but in Wales our ability to laugh at ourselves, and especially our friends, is expected and accepted, and it made me love this all the more.
I wish all three of these characters well in their unknown futures. I get that they're fictional, but right now that doesn't matter. I want them to be ok.
The Last Summer of Us covers some very serious and touching subjects; the death of a parent, alcoholism, theft, neglect, shame and responsibility, but more than that it’s about friendship – a true friendship that I found myself caring about more than I ever expected.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Welsh friendships so perfectly presented – our penchant to be fiercely loyal while mercilessly taking the mickey out of each other at every opportunity. It’s a trait that I’ve found to be rare elsewhere, but in Wales our ability to laugh at ourselves, and especially our friends, is expected and accepted, and it made me love this all the more.
I wish all three of these characters well in their unknown futures. I get that they're fictional, but right now that doesn't matter. I want them to be ok.
May 21, 2024
literally nothing happened this was not for me
ALSO WHO GIVES A 18 YR OLD GIRL THE NICKNAME OF LIMPET????
IDEK WHAT A LIMPET IS BUT STILL ITS SO YUCK
edit: i googled it, a limpet is a sea snail EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
ALSO WHO GIVES A 18 YR OLD GIRL THE NICKNAME OF LIMPET????
IDEK WHAT A LIMPET IS BUT STILL ITS SO YUCK
edit: i googled it, a limpet is a sea snail EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
April 24, 2018
Ugh this had such a good premise but it was just so boring. Everything felt off and I don‘t know why but the protagonists annoyed me so much. I‘m sorry but I hated reading this and I was so relieved and happy to finally finish it and put it away.
January 31, 2016
A summer read for those who like their teenagers sensitive and with plenty of issues, but who are cheerful souls. This is the story of three friends who are on their last ever adventure together. They each have lots of things to deal with in their lives, but their fondness for each other is written so sensitively. This is funny and sad and sweet. The Eleanor and Park lovers will enjoy this.
May 28, 2016
Visit Stay Bookish for more book reviews!
Do you know that feeling when you realize a book was meant for you to read? Well, The Last Summer of Us made me feel just that. Seriously, if Maggie Harcourt hadn’t already written this book, I would’ve had to eventually just because I needed this story in my life like yesterday. But she did write it– beautifully I might add– and I’m so glad.
It was impossible for The Last Summer of Us not to become my new favorite book. It just had so many aspects that I love packed into the story, namely:
summer adventures & road trips
I’m super obsessed with books set on the road and in the summer time. For real, I sometimes wish every contemporary I read has a summer road trip. In The Last Summer of Us, three best friends decide to hit the road after Limpet’s mother’s funeral. Her life turned upside down, she needs to get away for a while. But the trip she takes with Jared and Stefan is more than just a fun excursion to ignore her grief. Instead, it’s a journey of embracing friendship, healing scars and moving on.
Perhaps I’m not made of glass after all. Perhaps I’m made of something stronger.
friendship & family
Losing a family member is a heartbreaking experience to go through. Having friends to lean on when you’re mourning is such an important thing and I was glad that Limpet had her boys by her side. I really loved the dynamic between Limpet, Jared, and Steffan as well as how eloquently their characters are painted and developed. Moreover, I love the way The Last Summer of Us portrays the bond between them. Together, the trio learns about growing up and facing not only the past but also the future.
We started with a funeral. It ends with a wake. Our wake: Steffan, Jared and Limpet’s. The paradox that somehow worked. This is how we bow out. This is where we end. When we look back– and we will– this will be the moment we see. This is the ending and the beginning. This is all of it. All the mess and all the masks forgotten. All our scars charted and mapped. This is what it always was, what it was always going to be.
sweet & slow-burn romance
At first, I was worried. One girl and two guy best friends? It seemed like a recipe for a love triangle. But thank god there wasn’t one. Halfway through the book, it’s easy enough to distinguish the love interest because of the palpable chemistry between him and the main character. I’m prone to swooning over slow-burn romances and the one in The Last Summer of Us left me twitterpated and drawing hearts on the pages.
He smells of beginnings. Beginnings set in motion a long time ago and overlooked. Beginnings which no number of endings could bury.
lovely writing & strong voice
I pretty much vandalized my copy of this book with all the margin notes I wrote about how I absolutely loved the writing. Harcourt’s prose is emotional and punchy and the narrative is so real and compelling. I held my breath from the first page to the last and when I finished reading, I took a moment to revel in this beautiful, hopeful story.
We are not our histories, however deep they cut or however much they scar us. Whatever guilt we feel, rightly or wrongly, whatever baggage we carry, it is not all that we are.
I did not bury myself with my mother.
I am more. I am me.
The Last Summer of Us completely surprised me. I didn’t expect to finish it in one sitting and fall in love with it. I found it to be such a wonderful, touching read not to mention such a powerful book about friendship, family, and grief. I highly recommend it!
Do you know that feeling when you realize a book was meant for you to read? Well, The Last Summer of Us made me feel just that. Seriously, if Maggie Harcourt hadn’t already written this book, I would’ve had to eventually just because I needed this story in my life like yesterday. But she did write it– beautifully I might add– and I’m so glad.
It was impossible for The Last Summer of Us not to become my new favorite book. It just had so many aspects that I love packed into the story, namely:
summer adventures & road trips
I’m super obsessed with books set on the road and in the summer time. For real, I sometimes wish every contemporary I read has a summer road trip. In The Last Summer of Us, three best friends decide to hit the road after Limpet’s mother’s funeral. Her life turned upside down, she needs to get away for a while. But the trip she takes with Jared and Stefan is more than just a fun excursion to ignore her grief. Instead, it’s a journey of embracing friendship, healing scars and moving on.
Perhaps I’m not made of glass after all. Perhaps I’m made of something stronger.
friendship & family
Losing a family member is a heartbreaking experience to go through. Having friends to lean on when you’re mourning is such an important thing and I was glad that Limpet had her boys by her side. I really loved the dynamic between Limpet, Jared, and Steffan as well as how eloquently their characters are painted and developed. Moreover, I love the way The Last Summer of Us portrays the bond between them. Together, the trio learns about growing up and facing not only the past but also the future.
We started with a funeral. It ends with a wake. Our wake: Steffan, Jared and Limpet’s. The paradox that somehow worked. This is how we bow out. This is where we end. When we look back– and we will– this will be the moment we see. This is the ending and the beginning. This is all of it. All the mess and all the masks forgotten. All our scars charted and mapped. This is what it always was, what it was always going to be.
sweet & slow-burn romance
At first, I was worried. One girl and two guy best friends? It seemed like a recipe for a love triangle. But thank god there wasn’t one. Halfway through the book, it’s easy enough to distinguish the love interest because of the palpable chemistry between him and the main character. I’m prone to swooning over slow-burn romances and the one in The Last Summer of Us left me twitterpated and drawing hearts on the pages.
He smells of beginnings. Beginnings set in motion a long time ago and overlooked. Beginnings which no number of endings could bury.
lovely writing & strong voice
I pretty much vandalized my copy of this book with all the margin notes I wrote about how I absolutely loved the writing. Harcourt’s prose is emotional and punchy and the narrative is so real and compelling. I held my breath from the first page to the last and when I finished reading, I took a moment to revel in this beautiful, hopeful story.
We are not our histories, however deep they cut or however much they scar us. Whatever guilt we feel, rightly or wrongly, whatever baggage we carry, it is not all that we are.
I did not bury myself with my mother.
I am more. I am me.
The Last Summer of Us completely surprised me. I didn’t expect to finish it in one sitting and fall in love with it. I found it to be such a wonderful, touching read not to mention such a powerful book about friendship, family, and grief. I highly recommend it!
January 4, 2016
It is a very rare occurrence that I come across a book that I really don't get along with. It is also very rare that I feel an obligation to read a book for the sake of finishing it and getting a review published. Reading is something that I love to do, however during reading this book over the past few days, I have had to force myself to do it.
The characters were cliché, and in my opinion boring. I didn't like their relationships with each other. I thought that there was not enough contrast in the two male characters. I kept getting mixed up between the two. I wasn't keen on the male character either.
I did like some of the humour that the author instils in the conversations. Well... that's kind of all I liked.
The thing I found most annoying about this book was that I felt that the plot had so much potential. However rather than concentrating on one thing, be in the relationship at the centre of the plot or the history of the mothers of the characters, the author attempts to include all of these and does not expand on the points well enough.
I read this as part of my Carnegie shadowing for this year, and I regret to say that I will be greatly surprised if this book makes it onto the longlist.
The characters were cliché, and in my opinion boring. I didn't like their relationships with each other. I thought that there was not enough contrast in the two male characters. I kept getting mixed up between the two. I wasn't keen on the male character either.
I did like some of the humour that the author instils in the conversations. Well... that's kind of all I liked.
The thing I found most annoying about this book was that I felt that the plot had so much potential. However rather than concentrating on one thing, be in the relationship at the centre of the plot or the history of the mothers of the characters, the author attempts to include all of these and does not expand on the points well enough.
I read this as part of my Carnegie shadowing for this year, and I regret to say that I will be greatly surprised if this book makes it onto the longlist.
May 11, 2015
Originally published at: http://solittletimeforbooks.blogspot....
Summery road trip novels are a rarity in UKYA so I gobbled up The Last Summer of Us.
Set in a small town in Wales, Limpet, Jared and Steffan are going on a badly needed road trip. Everything has changed and it keeps on changing and they’re clinging to each other for security. All three are pretty messed up and all at the fault of their parents – you know that Philip Larkin poem, This Be the Verse:
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had,
And add some extra, just for you.”
Sums up Limpet, Jared and Steffan’s experiences of childhood and being a teenager pretty well, really. After this summer, at the end of their trip to the Welsh coast, nothing will ever be the same again. All of the things bubbling beneath the surface gives the three friends a jarring dynamic that just works. Unexpected feelings are coming to light and tension is building and it’s wonderful.
But the thing I most loved about Maggie Harcourt’s debut is how real it feels. Limpet, Jared and Steffan bicker, disagree, get angry and ruthlessly tease each other and sometimes they even do genuinely hurtful things to each other, even if their intentions were good. They’re all beautifully flawed and that’s not hidden. I don’t remember the last time I read a book where the love interest was so unromanticised. Jared is completely human and though Limpet is developing feelings for him, she doesn’t put him on a pedestal; he’s still Jared, but she’s just viewing the things that make him him a little differently. It made their relationship so much more touching and poignant.
Beautifully sad, but ultimately hopeful, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Summer of Us and I sincerely hope that this will be the first in a long line of UKYA like this.
Summery road trip novels are a rarity in UKYA so I gobbled up The Last Summer of Us.
Set in a small town in Wales, Limpet, Jared and Steffan are going on a badly needed road trip. Everything has changed and it keeps on changing and they’re clinging to each other for security. All three are pretty messed up and all at the fault of their parents – you know that Philip Larkin poem, This Be the Verse:
“They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had,
And add some extra, just for you.”
Sums up Limpet, Jared and Steffan’s experiences of childhood and being a teenager pretty well, really. After this summer, at the end of their trip to the Welsh coast, nothing will ever be the same again. All of the things bubbling beneath the surface gives the three friends a jarring dynamic that just works. Unexpected feelings are coming to light and tension is building and it’s wonderful.
But the thing I most loved about Maggie Harcourt’s debut is how real it feels. Limpet, Jared and Steffan bicker, disagree, get angry and ruthlessly tease each other and sometimes they even do genuinely hurtful things to each other, even if their intentions were good. They’re all beautifully flawed and that’s not hidden. I don’t remember the last time I read a book where the love interest was so unromanticised. Jared is completely human and though Limpet is developing feelings for him, she doesn’t put him on a pedestal; he’s still Jared, but she’s just viewing the things that make him him a little differently. It made their relationship so much more touching and poignant.
Beautifully sad, but ultimately hopeful, I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Summer of Us and I sincerely hope that this will be the first in a long line of UKYA like this.
January 12, 2016
Going into this book, I had no expectations, all I knew was that it sounded like the perfect read. It contained summer, friendship, secrets and road trips. Things that I am all very fond of (minus the secrets because that generally makes things go slightly pear-shaped, doesn't? Pesky things, secrets are) and although it had all the things I love I wasn't sure how I would feel - would I love it or have more than less affectionate feelings for it? I can honestly say, I didn't expect myself to laugh so much, to think so much and fall in love with this story like I did. For most part, I couldn't put this book down and several times when other people demanded socialization I may have growled in their direction. Just maybe. The Last Summer of Us swept me off my feet and enshrouded me in the wonderful embrace of road trips, friendship and the last summer of three friends all sufficiently flawed, but all extraordinarily saved, by those at their side.
The Last Summer of Us is told from the perspective of Limpet, who has just loss her mother. She is anchored by grief and guilt and feels herself sinking further into it as the hours pass by. By her side are her two best friends, Steffan and Jared. Dependable Steffan who too is recovering from the loss of his mother, Steffan, who is always there and who she believes always will be. Then there is Jared, the Quiet one, the one who is tainted by the unforgiving crimes that his father has committed, The one who watches. Who remembers. Who listens. Who observes yet doesn't judge.These three are all so unique, so different, yet all connected by a confining string of past experiences involving parents that have betrayed them, disappointed or left them, willingly or not, but gone all the same. After Steffan notices Limpet sinking deeper into the depression caused by her mother's death, he realises that they need to get away, even if it's just for a couple of days. So that's what they do. The pack their bags and pile into Steffan's rusted, crumbling old car driving across the Welsh countryside as they drink up the last days of summer, the last days of them, in order to encapsulate them - Limpet, Steffan and Jared - for eternity, in a glass jar, stored in their memory to submerge themselves in when the tides of life threaten to consume them. So that when they look back, they will always have that last summer of them. The summer their world shifted, endings burned and beginnings rose. A summer they will never forget.
I loved this plot. I loved the road trip, the self-discovery and the action of forming memories and wanting to bottle them in order to remember that rare, magical feeling of complete happiness and complete contentment. I loved the spontaneity that set them off on this whimsical road trip. I loved how this was set in Wales (I went there a few months ago for the first time and I adored it!) and I loved how it was set in the summer. This was a summery book, I could feel the heat and the sun and the beaches oozing from the book and it made my 4 degree Celsius day much more brighter! I fell in love with the friendship, the banter and the insightful, sensitive observations on the human process of grieving, forgiving and understanding. I found the elephant and ostrich scene enchanting as it was so unexpected and I liked how significant those moments were for Jared.
The one complaint I have about this book, however, is sometimes I felt like there were too many reflections and too many philosophical discussions that Limpet has with herself that it drags the pacing slightly. Instead of enjoying the moment and showing us what exactly her, Steffan and Jared are doing she's reminiscing on the past or on deep thoughts. I appreciate that she is grieving and she's coming to terms with this startling new reality without her mother, but I do think that there could have been less thoughts and more focus on the action, on the road trip itself.
I really liked the writing and the characters. I loved Limpet's and her voice shone through the pages very clearly. She was honest, she was insightful, she was flawed and she was aware of that and she was funny as well. I absolutely loved her character! The only thing that felt inauthentic to me was that she never really showed us her grief, but more told us, but perhaps that's more her character? I'm not sure. It felt like she wasn't close to her mom at all which, I can understand why given the circumstances, but I would've liked just a bit of something extra during those scenes, perhaps crying or missing something about her mom. There was a lot of guilt she felt which was expressed honestly and in a raw, gritty manner and something I think most people feel when they lose somebody which was written exceptionally well. But overall, I really liked Limpet. She was down to earth, she listened, she cared and I really enjoyed the voice in which her character was written with.
I really liked Steffan as well. He was always there for Limpet, ready to offer her support, a kind word, or to insult her so that she can emerge from the cloud above her head and insult him right back. I liked how he joked around and how he seemed to have a devil may care attitude, but then when he revealed his more sensitive side it made my heart swell. The scene where he's at his mom's graveyard may have made my throat constrict slightly. I loved his and Limpet's relationship and how they were like brother and sister, they drove each other insane but by the end of the day, they were always there for each other.
Jared was an indiscernible character. I think the author wrote his character very well in the sense that I felt his quiet, watching presence. I think because of this I couldn't connect to him as much as I'd like to. I felt like I understood him and I understood the grief and shame that engulfed him, but I would've liked more of an insight into who he is. Like Limpet said, everybody is a different person around different people and perhaps it's why we have such a hard time finding who we are, because we're representing a different person with each person we encounter. Her mom only knew her as her daughter, family friends who've only met her now know her as a girl grieving for her mother, her teacher only knew her as a student and we only got to see Jared from Limpet's perspective and I didn't feel like we saw enough of who he was at times. I think that it would've been wonderful if we got Jared's POV because he's such a quiet character that it would've been helpful for us as I don't feel like he revealed enough of his personality to Limpet and Steffan and because of that I didn't feel as connected to him as the other two.
I ADORED the friendship, I wasn't expecting to love it so much but I really did and it often had me squealing like a hysterical seal.I loved the banter, the jokes but also the serious moments that proved that there friendship was so incredibly strong in its foundations. I also liked that there wasn't a love triangle in this book and that it dispelled the common belief that a guy and a girl can't be just friends. But seriously, I loved the friendship. They teased Limpet constantly and she was mostly always the butt of the joke but she took it in her stride and they always showed their affection for her later on. They could make fun of each other but then speak about their turmoils five seconds later. The friendship in this book, from protecting each other, to helping each other get back on their feet and to allow the other to grieve and to be comforted and then allow each other to tease in order to remind that person who they are so that the grief doesn't consume them was perfect. I seriously loved their friendship. SO MUCH LAUGHTER WAS HAD.
"'Not having ostrich steak?' It's still funny. It is.
'I'm not sure Jared should - you know, not now he's bonded with them and everything. It'd be like eating one of his own.'"
"'The last survivor,' he says, holding out his hand. It's a sausage roll. The last sausage roll. I look at it. Then at him.
'You think I can't fend for myself, is that it? Pity food. You're offering me pity food.'
'Pity food's still food. You should take me up on it.'
'Pity. Food.'
'Do you know what I had to risk to get this before he did? Do you know the deep personal sacrifices I'm making here?"
"It's a sausage roll, Jared."
Also, can I just say, I totally ship Limpet and Jared? It's gradual build up of quickened heart beats and breathless moments and I loved that. Really. I love how they're best friends first and then they slowly fall in love with subtle hints and subtle glances. I also like how the romance isn't the whole book, it's a loosening thread of lace, interweaving throughout the book and I appreciate that The Last Summer of Us was more focused on recovery of grief, friendship and learning to forgive than romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Last Summer of Us. It was honest, it was heart-breaking, but it simultaneously managed to be uplifting and laced with nostalgia, hope and the bittersweet sensation of magical endings and new beginnings. The Last Summer of Us was filled with breath-taking quotes that echoed and underlined sentiments that I, myself, had dwelt upon in the past. In fact, I feel like reading this book again, in order for me to fully breathe in the words and devour them like oxygen, to think about the words over a longer period of time, more than just a wandering eye over a page. To once again have my breath snatched away by the honesty in the book and the freedom it expresses in the act of forgiving oneself, moving forward, needing to let go, knowing it's a necessity but not wanting to.
I also appreciated that this book showed that although goodbyes are so bitter, so awful, there's always a wonderful, enchanting new beginning waiting just around the bend. This came at precisely the right time. I've been missing home, I've been missing my friends and I've been wanting so badly to go back to South Africa and be surrounded by my friends and family. But this book showed me that goodbyes happen, that they're essential and a part of life and just because it's goodbye, doesn't mean it's the end and it doesn't mean it's a bad thing and I want to thank the author for helping me realise that.
The Last Summer of Us was a poignant, moving story that will have you laughing, crying and thinking. It will make you feel understood and it will make you understand, and isn't that what you've always wanted?
The Last Summer of Us is told from the perspective of Limpet, who has just loss her mother. She is anchored by grief and guilt and feels herself sinking further into it as the hours pass by. By her side are her two best friends, Steffan and Jared. Dependable Steffan who too is recovering from the loss of his mother, Steffan, who is always there and who she believes always will be. Then there is Jared, the Quiet one, the one who is tainted by the unforgiving crimes that his father has committed, The one who watches. Who remembers. Who listens. Who observes yet doesn't judge.These three are all so unique, so different, yet all connected by a confining string of past experiences involving parents that have betrayed them, disappointed or left them, willingly or not, but gone all the same. After Steffan notices Limpet sinking deeper into the depression caused by her mother's death, he realises that they need to get away, even if it's just for a couple of days. So that's what they do. The pack their bags and pile into Steffan's rusted, crumbling old car driving across the Welsh countryside as they drink up the last days of summer, the last days of them, in order to encapsulate them - Limpet, Steffan and Jared - for eternity, in a glass jar, stored in their memory to submerge themselves in when the tides of life threaten to consume them. So that when they look back, they will always have that last summer of them. The summer their world shifted, endings burned and beginnings rose. A summer they will never forget.
I loved this plot. I loved the road trip, the self-discovery and the action of forming memories and wanting to bottle them in order to remember that rare, magical feeling of complete happiness and complete contentment. I loved the spontaneity that set them off on this whimsical road trip. I loved how this was set in Wales (I went there a few months ago for the first time and I adored it!) and I loved how it was set in the summer. This was a summery book, I could feel the heat and the sun and the beaches oozing from the book and it made my 4 degree Celsius day much more brighter! I fell in love with the friendship, the banter and the insightful, sensitive observations on the human process of grieving, forgiving and understanding. I found the elephant and ostrich scene enchanting as it was so unexpected and I liked how significant those moments were for Jared.
The one complaint I have about this book, however, is sometimes I felt like there were too many reflections and too many philosophical discussions that Limpet has with herself that it drags the pacing slightly. Instead of enjoying the moment and showing us what exactly her, Steffan and Jared are doing she's reminiscing on the past or on deep thoughts. I appreciate that she is grieving and she's coming to terms with this startling new reality without her mother, but I do think that there could have been less thoughts and more focus on the action, on the road trip itself.
I really liked the writing and the characters. I loved Limpet's and her voice shone through the pages very clearly. She was honest, she was insightful, she was flawed and she was aware of that and she was funny as well. I absolutely loved her character! The only thing that felt inauthentic to me was that she never really showed us her grief, but more told us, but perhaps that's more her character? I'm not sure. It felt like she wasn't close to her mom at all which, I can understand why given the circumstances, but I would've liked just a bit of something extra during those scenes, perhaps crying or missing something about her mom. There was a lot of guilt she felt which was expressed honestly and in a raw, gritty manner and something I think most people feel when they lose somebody which was written exceptionally well. But overall, I really liked Limpet. She was down to earth, she listened, she cared and I really enjoyed the voice in which her character was written with.
I really liked Steffan as well. He was always there for Limpet, ready to offer her support, a kind word, or to insult her so that she can emerge from the cloud above her head and insult him right back. I liked how he joked around and how he seemed to have a devil may care attitude, but then when he revealed his more sensitive side it made my heart swell. The scene where he's at his mom's graveyard may have made my throat constrict slightly. I loved his and Limpet's relationship and how they were like brother and sister, they drove each other insane but by the end of the day, they were always there for each other.
Jared was an indiscernible character. I think the author wrote his character very well in the sense that I felt his quiet, watching presence. I think because of this I couldn't connect to him as much as I'd like to. I felt like I understood him and I understood the grief and shame that engulfed him, but I would've liked more of an insight into who he is. Like Limpet said, everybody is a different person around different people and perhaps it's why we have such a hard time finding who we are, because we're representing a different person with each person we encounter. Her mom only knew her as her daughter, family friends who've only met her now know her as a girl grieving for her mother, her teacher only knew her as a student and we only got to see Jared from Limpet's perspective and I didn't feel like we saw enough of who he was at times. I think that it would've been wonderful if we got Jared's POV because he's such a quiet character that it would've been helpful for us as I don't feel like he revealed enough of his personality to Limpet and Steffan and because of that I didn't feel as connected to him as the other two.
I ADORED the friendship, I wasn't expecting to love it so much but I really did and it often had me squealing like a hysterical seal.I loved the banter, the jokes but also the serious moments that proved that there friendship was so incredibly strong in its foundations. I also liked that there wasn't a love triangle in this book and that it dispelled the common belief that a guy and a girl can't be just friends. But seriously, I loved the friendship. They teased Limpet constantly and she was mostly always the butt of the joke but she took it in her stride and they always showed their affection for her later on. They could make fun of each other but then speak about their turmoils five seconds later. The friendship in this book, from protecting each other, to helping each other get back on their feet and to allow the other to grieve and to be comforted and then allow each other to tease in order to remind that person who they are so that the grief doesn't consume them was perfect. I seriously loved their friendship. SO MUCH LAUGHTER WAS HAD.
"'Not having ostrich steak?' It's still funny. It is.
'I'm not sure Jared should - you know, not now he's bonded with them and everything. It'd be like eating one of his own.'"
"'The last survivor,' he says, holding out his hand. It's a sausage roll. The last sausage roll. I look at it. Then at him.
'You think I can't fend for myself, is that it? Pity food. You're offering me pity food.'
'Pity food's still food. You should take me up on it.'
'Pity. Food.'
'Do you know what I had to risk to get this before he did? Do you know the deep personal sacrifices I'm making here?"
"It's a sausage roll, Jared."
Also, can I just say, I totally ship Limpet and Jared? It's gradual build up of quickened heart beats and breathless moments and I loved that. Really. I love how they're best friends first and then they slowly fall in love with subtle hints and subtle glances. I also like how the romance isn't the whole book, it's a loosening thread of lace, interweaving throughout the book and I appreciate that The Last Summer of Us was more focused on recovery of grief, friendship and learning to forgive than romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Last Summer of Us. It was honest, it was heart-breaking, but it simultaneously managed to be uplifting and laced with nostalgia, hope and the bittersweet sensation of magical endings and new beginnings. The Last Summer of Us was filled with breath-taking quotes that echoed and underlined sentiments that I, myself, had dwelt upon in the past. In fact, I feel like reading this book again, in order for me to fully breathe in the words and devour them like oxygen, to think about the words over a longer period of time, more than just a wandering eye over a page. To once again have my breath snatched away by the honesty in the book and the freedom it expresses in the act of forgiving oneself, moving forward, needing to let go, knowing it's a necessity but not wanting to.
I also appreciated that this book showed that although goodbyes are so bitter, so awful, there's always a wonderful, enchanting new beginning waiting just around the bend. This came at precisely the right time. I've been missing home, I've been missing my friends and I've been wanting so badly to go back to South Africa and be surrounded by my friends and family. But this book showed me that goodbyes happen, that they're essential and a part of life and just because it's goodbye, doesn't mean it's the end and it doesn't mean it's a bad thing and I want to thank the author for helping me realise that.
The Last Summer of Us was a poignant, moving story that will have you laughing, crying and thinking. It will make you feel understood and it will make you understand, and isn't that what you've always wanted?
December 11, 2021
poate merita poate nu i just can't read a book that starts out with a funeral
July 31, 2015
I was excited to read The Last Summer of Us when Sarah Churchill featured it on her Youtube channel, she mentioned it was a debut set in North Wales and was written by a Welsh author. I had high hopes and expected a familiar setting and witty dialogue that I would instantly feel at home with, for the most part this didn't happen.
Limpet is attending her mothers funeral with her two best friends Jared and Stefan, instantly we know something is off about the trio. Limpet's family don't want her around and cart her off with her friends on a road trip. Jared's dad is about to be released from prison and Stefan is making strange decisions involving his dad's belongings. After the three set off on their journey secrets are slowly revealed which make all the characters thoughtful and nostalgic. A punch up, ostrich farm and a music festival are just some of the fun situations they get into.
Each character in this book has a depressing back story which we learn more about throughout their road trip. I did like each of the characters but they were at points in their lives that made me not enjoy their thoughts, every situation turned into a reflection rather than just enjoying the moment.
I didn't understand why the author added elephants and ostriches to the story, I thought it was a way to make the journey more interesting but the Welsh atmosphere suffered because of this as it was not a realistic situation. I did like the dialogue and humour of the characters though and they bounced off one another nicely. I especially liked when Stefan decided to let Limpet drive his car. The music festival was good and I liked that both Limpet and Jared supported Stefan when it really mattered.
I didn't understand the secrecy behind Limpet's real name, when it was revealed at the end I was confused why the author made it seem like a big deal. Maybe there is a bigger meaning behind revealing herself but I didn't really get it. Jared and Limpet's relationship was a bit of a let down, I really didn't like the ending and it was left open a little to much. I want to know what happens to Stefan when he goes to America and what happens to Limpet and her family when they return home.
Limpet is attending her mothers funeral with her two best friends Jared and Stefan, instantly we know something is off about the trio. Limpet's family don't want her around and cart her off with her friends on a road trip. Jared's dad is about to be released from prison and Stefan is making strange decisions involving his dad's belongings. After the three set off on their journey secrets are slowly revealed which make all the characters thoughtful and nostalgic. A punch up, ostrich farm and a music festival are just some of the fun situations they get into.
Each character in this book has a depressing back story which we learn more about throughout their road trip. I did like each of the characters but they were at points in their lives that made me not enjoy their thoughts, every situation turned into a reflection rather than just enjoying the moment.
I didn't understand why the author added elephants and ostriches to the story, I thought it was a way to make the journey more interesting but the Welsh atmosphere suffered because of this as it was not a realistic situation. I did like the dialogue and humour of the characters though and they bounced off one another nicely. I especially liked when Stefan decided to let Limpet drive his car. The music festival was good and I liked that both Limpet and Jared supported Stefan when it really mattered.
I didn't understand the secrecy behind Limpet's real name, when it was revealed at the end I was confused why the author made it seem like a big deal. Maybe there is a bigger meaning behind revealing herself but I didn't really get it. Jared and Limpet's relationship was a bit of a let down, I really didn't like the ending and it was left open a little to much. I want to know what happens to Stefan when he goes to America and what happens to Limpet and her family when they return home.
September 17, 2015
After reading two fantasy books in a row, I've decided to get some light contemporary book and I picked up The Last Summer Of Us. The story starts with the funeral of Limpet's mother and I was like "Okay? Should I continue reading this or not?". And I guess the answer is obvious.
Limpet (a nickname), Steffan and Jared are best friends and each of them are dealing with their own family problems. So when the idea of a road trip came up, they've packed their things and jump in Steffan's car. The journey brought up some important revelations that made this trip (and summer) their last.
I am glad that this book was written on Limpet's POV because it's interesting to know how she sees her two best friends and how she feels being always the middle person. Jared and Steffan have their own unique personalities but together, they make me want to become a part of their friendship. I adore the relationship of the three. How they are supporting each other even they have their own problems. Sure they have their flaws but these made them more relatable.
I can say that this book was beautifully written. Though a bit confusing at some points, I can say that I still enjoy the humor. The dialogues are funny and entertaining. There are also some lines that will make you think about your own experiences in life. I've highlighted quite a lot of them and this is one of my presonal favorites:
Live. Life is a gift: Why would you want to give it back unopened?
I like the way this book ends. It is very inspiring. I like how the characters discovered more about each other and especially about themselves as their journey ends.
All the elements of a perfect summer read are in this book. An exciting roadtrip, a cool music playlist, camping, beach and music festival. Plus an ostrich farm!
All in all, this is a wonderful debut. This book is more than just a road trip, it is about self-discovery, acceptance and friendship. I'm looking forward to read more of Ms. Harcourt's books.
Limpet (a nickname), Steffan and Jared are best friends and each of them are dealing with their own family problems. So when the idea of a road trip came up, they've packed their things and jump in Steffan's car. The journey brought up some important revelations that made this trip (and summer) their last.
I am glad that this book was written on Limpet's POV because it's interesting to know how she sees her two best friends and how she feels being always the middle person. Jared and Steffan have their own unique personalities but together, they make me want to become a part of their friendship. I adore the relationship of the three. How they are supporting each other even they have their own problems. Sure they have their flaws but these made them more relatable.
I can say that this book was beautifully written. Though a bit confusing at some points, I can say that I still enjoy the humor. The dialogues are funny and entertaining. There are also some lines that will make you think about your own experiences in life. I've highlighted quite a lot of them and this is one of my presonal favorites:
Live. Life is a gift: Why would you want to give it back unopened?
I like the way this book ends. It is very inspiring. I like how the characters discovered more about each other and especially about themselves as their journey ends.
All the elements of a perfect summer read are in this book. An exciting roadtrip, a cool music playlist, camping, beach and music festival. Plus an ostrich farm!
All in all, this is a wonderful debut. This book is more than just a road trip, it is about self-discovery, acceptance and friendship. I'm looking forward to read more of Ms. Harcourt's books.
July 13, 2016
3,5/5
El libro me ha gustado porque trata de un roadtrip entre 3 amigos, eso ha hecho que las sensaciones y momentos me recuerden a historias pasadas con mis amigos, la libertad y comienzo de nuevas cosas. Aún así me ha costado acercarme a los protagonistas, no por los momentos o situaciones vividas, si no por la manera de escribir.
El libro me ha gustado porque trata de un roadtrip entre 3 amigos, eso ha hecho que las sensaciones y momentos me recuerden a historias pasadas con mis amigos, la libertad y comienzo de nuevas cosas. Aún así me ha costado acercarme a los protagonistas, no por los momentos o situaciones vividas, si no por la manera de escribir.
July 18, 2015
3,5. Ce livre est touchant, il est bon de lire un livre où les adolescents se recherchent et choisissent leurs places dans le monde, une place qui n'est pas celle de leurs parents. Ce livre offre une liberté, permet de prendre du recul sur soi même. Chaque personne est unique et notre histoire est à écrire. Bref, une jolie reflexion sur la personne.
February 8, 2024
I honestly had to force myself to read this book.
It's really boring.
It's really boring.
May 15, 2020
The Last Summer of Us is a story of three best friends. Each of them has family problems so they decide to go on a summer roadtrip. After all, it could be their last summer together.
Okay... if the word underwhelming was a book it would be this one. I'm sorry. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. The first chapter started very well. I thought: "This is interesting already I'm going to love this book." Then came the second chapter where things started to get progressively worse.
I liked the concept. It's a great idea, and it had the potential to become an amazing story. But from the second chapter to the thirteenth, I was so bored. The boredom was so intense, I thought about just putting the book down and not finishing it. There was just descriptions of landscapes, people, Limpet talking about some memories that are really not that interesting. Nothing special.
I'm glad I didn't put it down though, after those 100 and something boring pages, came the actually interesting part of the book, that I genuinely enjoyed. The story started getting interesting, there was more drama... Sadly, the last two chapters ruined the good part. They were not as bad as those 100 pages in the beggining, but it just didn't sit well with me. I expected something more dramatic, more memorable.
But I liked the characters. Two guys and a girl being best friends is not so common in books so it was refreshing to read about. Each character had their struggles and I'm glad they went through it together, as they should. The romance was cute, but nothing too cute that makes you wanna throw up.
At one point the story made me realise how transient and short life is, and how we don't value memories as much as we should. It made me nostalgic for memories I don't even have (haha).
Overall, The Last Summer of Us just isn't the book for me. Maybe you'll like it if you decide to read it.
I am going to rate it 2,5/5☆ because the part of the book I enjoyed saved it.
Okay... if the word underwhelming was a book it would be this one. I'm sorry. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. The first chapter started very well. I thought: "This is interesting already I'm going to love this book." Then came the second chapter where things started to get progressively worse.
I liked the concept. It's a great idea, and it had the potential to become an amazing story. But from the second chapter to the thirteenth, I was so bored. The boredom was so intense, I thought about just putting the book down and not finishing it. There was just descriptions of landscapes, people, Limpet talking about some memories that are really not that interesting. Nothing special.
I'm glad I didn't put it down though, after those 100 and something boring pages, came the actually interesting part of the book, that I genuinely enjoyed. The story started getting interesting, there was more drama... Sadly, the last two chapters ruined the good part. They were not as bad as those 100 pages in the beggining, but it just didn't sit well with me. I expected something more dramatic, more memorable.
But I liked the characters. Two guys and a girl being best friends is not so common in books so it was refreshing to read about. Each character had their struggles and I'm glad they went through it together, as they should. The romance was cute, but nothing too cute that makes you wanna throw up.
At one point the story made me realise how transient and short life is, and how we don't value memories as much as we should. It made me nostalgic for memories I don't even have (haha).
Overall, The Last Summer of Us just isn't the book for me. Maybe you'll like it if you decide to read it.
I am going to rate it 2,5/5☆ because the part of the book I enjoyed saved it.
April 14, 2020
So many things I wanted to happen, I ached for to happen, happened all in the end.
This book was moving and so heart-wrenchingly real that it made my heart break and beat faster and swell all at the same time.
Maggie Harcourt really has a way of crafting her words so that the image just seeps into your brain like a movie (that’s the beauty about books, isn’t it?).
I really liked the little passages of Limpet’s roadtrip playlist scattered in between a few chapters and mostly seeing some of my favorite artists pop up in there (ello, 5SOS — I was really surprised to even see my fav band in there).
It was so refreshing and brilliant and eye-opening that I want to soak in the adventures of Limpet, Jared and Steffan for ever and ever.
This book was moving and so heart-wrenchingly real that it made my heart break and beat faster and swell all at the same time.
Maggie Harcourt really has a way of crafting her words so that the image just seeps into your brain like a movie (that’s the beauty about books, isn’t it?).
I really liked the little passages of Limpet’s roadtrip playlist scattered in between a few chapters and mostly seeing some of my favorite artists pop up in there (ello, 5SOS — I was really surprised to even see my fav band in there).
It was so refreshing and brilliant and eye-opening that I want to soak in the adventures of Limpet, Jared and Steffan for ever and ever.
August 23, 2019
Maggie Harcourt's writing style was really fun to read and the subtle humor was great!
The characters were built well and were easy to connect with and I must say their personal lives were the best part of the book. If everything the characters had gone through was not in the book I don't think I would have enjoyed it.
The grief the characters had to deal with throughout the book was heart-wrenching, which contrasted really well with the friendship the characters had, funny and light-hearted.
Honestly, I've read better books about road trips but I still found the characters interesting and I found myself being sucked into their lives and thoughts and feelings.
The characters were built well and were easy to connect with and I must say their personal lives were the best part of the book. If everything the characters had gone through was not in the book I don't think I would have enjoyed it.
The grief the characters had to deal with throughout the book was heart-wrenching, which contrasted really well with the friendship the characters had, funny and light-hearted.
Honestly, I've read better books about road trips but I still found the characters interesting and I found myself being sucked into their lives and thoughts and feelings.
August 14, 2021
Would rather watch Dora than read this
June 25, 2023
eerste boek met mijn ereader! Het boek was oke maar i like the ereader!!!
May 3, 2015
The Last Summer of Us is a brilliant contemporary read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the summery feel of the story. I loved seeing the friendship between the three and the bittersweet feeling I got as I read it as you knew that this part of the three main characters lives was about to end.
I loved the story of the three friends as they embark on a road trip in a rusty old banger to give each of them time away from their different problems and to spend their last summer together. I really enjoyed seeing how their trip brought to the surface all the different things they had been worrying about underneath it all and gave them an opportunity to address all those things they had been ignoring.
I loved all the characters and the way they interacted together. It was really nice to see a really strong friendship between the three and look at the way in which they relied on each other and then considering the impact it would have once the summer was over. For me I really enjoyed getting under Limpet's skin over the course of the trip. She is at a stage in her life where is really struggling. She is coming to terms with her mother's death and dealing with all the gossip surrounding it. Add to this the fact that her father is also a mess and one of her best friends is about to leave and she is in a real state. Over the course of the story and the trip as her story comes out it is really telling about how much she has dealt with.
Special mention has to go to the fact I loved that this was UKYA not set in England. I loved that the story was set in Wales and seeing the feel that then have to the story.
All in all a perfect road trip story which is full of heart. Highly recommended.
I loved the story of the three friends as they embark on a road trip in a rusty old banger to give each of them time away from their different problems and to spend their last summer together. I really enjoyed seeing how their trip brought to the surface all the different things they had been worrying about underneath it all and gave them an opportunity to address all those things they had been ignoring.
I loved all the characters and the way they interacted together. It was really nice to see a really strong friendship between the three and look at the way in which they relied on each other and then considering the impact it would have once the summer was over. For me I really enjoyed getting under Limpet's skin over the course of the trip. She is at a stage in her life where is really struggling. She is coming to terms with her mother's death and dealing with all the gossip surrounding it. Add to this the fact that her father is also a mess and one of her best friends is about to leave and she is in a real state. Over the course of the story and the trip as her story comes out it is really telling about how much she has dealt with.
Special mention has to go to the fact I loved that this was UKYA not set in England. I loved that the story was set in Wales and seeing the feel that then have to the story.
All in all a perfect road trip story which is full of heart. Highly recommended.
January 2, 2018
https://thebooksareeverywhere.com/201...
There are two things I love a lot in YA – the first is road-trips, the other is romance. Another favourite is Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt, and I ordered this book as soon as I finished that one.
"He smells of beginnings."
I love the romance in this book. It’s so slow-burning that I didn’t know what was going to happen, and that was great. I love the anticipation of not knowing, and finding out what was going to happen at the very end.
"Beginnings set in motion a long time ago and overlooked."
I found this book a lot different to Unconventional. The whole voice of this book is completely different, but I actually liked that! I love the way Harcourt could write about such meaningful and serious subjects while keeping the story and experiences lighthearted.
"Beginnings which no number of endings could bury."
This book is a good all-round contemporary. It has all the ingredients for a great YA – good characters, strong writing, some great experiences and coming-of-age topics. It tackles deep subjects like grief yet shows romance, friendship and family.
I only had one issue with this book – the plot development. Maybe it’s just me, but it felt like a weird mixture of being both slow and fast-paced. I felt like the book went quickly but for a long time we weren’t really heading anywhere. But I have to say, I think that might be what Harcourt was aiming for. And getting to the end, everything became clear. I kind of understood.
★★★★
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
There are two things I love a lot in YA – the first is road-trips, the other is romance. Another favourite is Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt, and I ordered this book as soon as I finished that one.
"He smells of beginnings."
I love the romance in this book. It’s so slow-burning that I didn’t know what was going to happen, and that was great. I love the anticipation of not knowing, and finding out what was going to happen at the very end.
"Beginnings set in motion a long time ago and overlooked."
I found this book a lot different to Unconventional. The whole voice of this book is completely different, but I actually liked that! I love the way Harcourt could write about such meaningful and serious subjects while keeping the story and experiences lighthearted.
"Beginnings which no number of endings could bury."
This book is a good all-round contemporary. It has all the ingredients for a great YA – good characters, strong writing, some great experiences and coming-of-age topics. It tackles deep subjects like grief yet shows romance, friendship and family.
I only had one issue with this book – the plot development. Maybe it’s just me, but it felt like a weird mixture of being both slow and fast-paced. I felt like the book went quickly but for a long time we weren’t really heading anywhere. But I have to say, I think that might be what Harcourt was aiming for. And getting to the end, everything became clear. I kind of understood.
★★★★
-Beth
May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽
October 2, 2016
I was so excited to read this book as it was a summer read.
Three friends on a road trip. Sounds so exciting, isn't it ?
But it was not an exciting road trip at all.
Well story revolves around three friends Limpet, Jared and Steffan. All three of them have depressing backgrounds. Limpet's mother recently died due to drinking problem. Steffan's mother died of cancer. Well Jared's parents have done something dark too.
All three friends can not reveal their secrets to each other. They have some problems too.
I liked all the characters in this book. But somehow this book was not up to my expectations.
There were some things which did not made any concept in the book.
Like, the three of them meeting Simon and Becca? They didn't mean anything at all to the story, and it only made it more confusing. I didn't feel like they even went on a road trip, when nothing exciting happened to them. And the whole purpose of it, with Steffan saying a last goodbye to his moms grave Stone? It could have been so beautiful, but it was just plain flat. Flat. Flat. Flat.
The plot was so plain, sometimes I felt that this is not even a road trip.
Same was with the ending. Limpet reveals her real name in the end. Like what was the point in hiding the name all over the journey and revealing it at the end.
Three friends on a road trip. Sounds so exciting, isn't it ?
But it was not an exciting road trip at all.
Well story revolves around three friends Limpet, Jared and Steffan. All three of them have depressing backgrounds. Limpet's mother recently died due to drinking problem. Steffan's mother died of cancer. Well Jared's parents have done something dark too.
All three friends can not reveal their secrets to each other. They have some problems too.
I liked all the characters in this book. But somehow this book was not up to my expectations.
There were some things which did not made any concept in the book.
Like, the three of them meeting Simon and Becca? They didn't mean anything at all to the story, and it only made it more confusing. I didn't feel like they even went on a road trip, when nothing exciting happened to them. And the whole purpose of it, with Steffan saying a last goodbye to his moms grave Stone? It could have been so beautiful, but it was just plain flat. Flat. Flat. Flat.
The plot was so plain, sometimes I felt that this is not even a road trip.
Same was with the ending. Limpet reveals her real name in the end. Like what was the point in hiding the name all over the journey and revealing it at the end.
December 9, 2015
ABSOLUTAMENTE GENIAL.
La madre de la protagonista muere, y para alejarse de sus problemas deciden hacer un road trip con sus 2 mejores amigos.
En este viaje aprenderá a decir adiós a la gente que tanto quiere.
El personaje de Steffan te hará reír en más de una ocasión, y envidiar la relación que tiene junto a Limpet. También está el tranquilo y guapo Jared que te hará sonrojar de lo cuqui que es.
Un libro muy recomendable sobre los valores de la amistad, y de crecer interiormente. Aunque nos pasen cosas malas siempre habrá algo que nos haga darnos cuenta que la vida sigue y hay que afrontarla.
La madre de la protagonista muere, y para alejarse de sus problemas deciden hacer un road trip con sus 2 mejores amigos.
En este viaje aprenderá a decir adiós a la gente que tanto quiere.
El personaje de Steffan te hará reír en más de una ocasión, y envidiar la relación que tiene junto a Limpet. También está el tranquilo y guapo Jared que te hará sonrojar de lo cuqui que es.
Un libro muy recomendable sobre los valores de la amistad, y de crecer interiormente. Aunque nos pasen cosas malas siempre habrá algo que nos haga darnos cuenta que la vida sigue y hay que afrontarla.
August 25, 2016
This is one of those books that you just want to curl up with and read the afternoon away. Three friends and a banged out car, this book took me on a journey, of the characters and thinking back to my days when a road trip with your friends solved everything. Well formed characters, decent storyline and keeps you turning the pages. An ideal Sunday afternoon read.
Read
May 4, 2015DNF on page 88. Really bored, can't connect with the main character and am honestly finding the writing very basic. The whole thing lacks personality. Such a shame I was so looking forward to this!
July 5, 2015
Beautifully written and a real heartthrob! So much fun, banter and wonderful characters in a glorious setting. Truly made me want to go go on a road trip myself!
June 21, 2015
a decent enough read. didn't really grab me and I felt very little for the characters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews